This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Conn Coll chapter.
With finals looming over our heads, we all could use a nice relaxing study break. So why not plan some fun activities for you’re finally home! Here are my recommendations for the must-see movies over break.
Lincoln November 16, 2012
Speaking from personal experience, this is definitely a movie worth seeing, even if you aren’t a History major like me! With riveting performances from Sally Fields, Tommy Lee Jones, and, of course, Daniel Day-Lewis, who is exceptional as our sixteenth president, Lincoln is sure to be an Oscar front-runner. The film is also surprisingly funny, with a brilliant joke about George Washington in a very peculiar place in an English home, and brings to light how far we as a nation have come since abolishing slavery and how far we still have to go.
Les Miserables December 25, 2012
This classic musical comes to life in this feature-length version with a stellar cast: Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Amanda Seyfried. Set in nineteenth-century France, Lés Mis tells the story of Jean Valjean, a convict desperately seeking redemption as revolution begins to spark in France. Although no film could ever completely recreate the magic of the stage adaptation, I have high hopes for this film, especially Anne Hathaway’s performance as Fantine, one of the most sympathetic characters. Even if you aren’t a fan of musicals, don’t count this one out.
The Hobbit December 14, 2012
Director Peter Jackson continues to bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantastical world to life in this film that is sure to break the bank this December. The Hobbit is the prequel to The Lord of the Rings and reunites some favorite characters, including Ian McKellan as Gandalf, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Andy Serkis as the voice of Gollum. But it also introduces some new actors, like Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Bennedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Necromancer, which fans of Sherlock are very excited about. I was never a huge fan of the LOTR series myself, but an epic all-night movie marathon with my friends this summer definitely changed my mind, so consider me converted. Even if fantasy isn’t your thing, The Hobbit is sure to be visually stunning and worth seeing.
Silver Linings Playbook November 21, 2012
Disclaimer: I have an enormous girl crush on Jennifer Lawrence. Even before she was cast as Katniss in The Hunger Games, she totally stole my heart in the indie flick Winter’s Bone and I will be a lifelong fan of all of her work. Silver Linings Playbook is her latest venture and connects her with the dreamy Bradley Cooper, who plays a former mental patient hoping to reconcile with his ex-wife. However, Cooper meets the mysterious Tiffany (Lawrence) who ends up derailing his plan. Already receiving rave reviews, this movie is sure to be a hoot!
Hitchcock January 10, 2013
It may be impossible to recreate the horror film magic that is Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, so it’s a good thing that Hitchcock doesn’t even bother to try. Instead, this film focuses on the relationship between the famed director (played by the amazingly talented Anthony Hopkins) and his wife Alma Reville (the stunning Helen Mirren) during Psycho’s shooting. From some of the reviews I have read, the film in its entirety may be a tad disappointing, especially for underplaying Scarlett Johanson and Jessica Biel, but Hopkins’ performance is sure to be entertaining, which is why I keep this on my must-see list.
Playing for Keeps December 7, 2012
In comparison to the other films I’ve mentioned, Playing for Keeps may not be as scrutinized by critics and it certainly won’t be considered during the Awards season. However, everyone should be able to appreciate a sappy, sentimental rom-com near the holidays and this seems like the perfect one. It stars Gerard Butler as a fallen-from-grace sports star trying to reconnect with his ex, Jessica Biel, and his son, young Noah Lomax. With appearances from Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta Jones, and the hilarious Judy Greer, Playing for Keeps is sure to touch your heart. And besides, who wouldn’t want to spend 106 minutes looking at Gerard Butler on a mega-screen?
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