A Trip to the Movies

Posted By Becket Morgan

BreakingModern — Take a break from holiday activities with a trip to the movies. Whether you’re looking for a new take on an old classic, an action film perfect for IMAX, a musical powerhouse or a historical drama, the current films in theaters have something for everyone.

In Theaters Now:

Annie

A modern remake of the beloved classic, the story follows Annie (Quvenzhané Wallis), a young and happy foster kid who’s making her way while dealing with her awful foster mom, Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). When she is taken in by the mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) he thinks he’s her savior, but her bright and sunshiny nature might just save him right back. Also starring Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.

The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies

The third and final installment in the Hobbit trilogy, the Battle of the Five Armies follows the people of Lake Town as they battle with the dragon and Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) to retake the Lonely Mountain. Epic battles among elves, men, dwarves, orcs and animals, and amazing special effects, follow Bilbo the hobbit (Martin Freeman) and his companions as they fight their way to freedom. Also starring Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly and Orlando Bloom.

Interstellar

Set in Earth’s near future, the planet’s food supply has been devastated by crop blight and humanity is facing extinction. The discovery of a mysterious wormhole — apparently created by alien technology — offers a solution that may just save mankind. Interstellar follows a crew of explorers who must travel outside of our solar system in search of a new planet for humans to call home. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and John Lithgow.

Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6 is an animated feature following the special bond that develops between Baymax (Scott Adsit), a lovable and inflatable robot, and the young robotics genius Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter). In the wake of a devastating explosion, Hiro and his friends work to uncover the mastermind behind the terrible event and fight to save their city — and each other. Also starring Damon Wayans Jr., Alan Tudyk and Maya Rudolph.

Birdman

Riggan Thomas (Michael Keaton), once an iconic movie superhero called the Birdman, is trying to re-establish himself as a theater director. Birdman follows Riggan’s desperate battle to remain relevant and to fight the obstacles that continue to fall in his way. Also starring Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts.

The Imitation Game

Based on the life story of the legendary Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), The Imitation Game follows the cryptanalyst and his team at Britain’s Government Code and Cypher School as they race against time during the perilous days of World War II. Also starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode and Rory Kinnear.

Theory of Everything

Based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, Theory of Everything follows the famous physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) through his relationship with his wife, Jane (Felicity Jones), his diagnosis with motor neuron disease and his many successes in physics.

Opening Christmas Day

Into the Woods

Adapted for the screen from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Into the Woods intertwines the plots of many of your favorite Brothers Grimm fairy tales to explore the consequences of different wishes and quests. Main characters from “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel,” and “Cinderella” act and sing together while the Baker (James Corden) tries to break his family’s spell. Also starring Anna Kendrick, Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine and Meryl Streep.

Unbroken

Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie, follows the life of Louis Zamperini (Jack O’Connell), an Olympic athlete who joined the armed forces during the Second World War and was subsequently captured by the Japanese navy. Also starring Domhnall Gleeson, Miyavi and Garrett Hedlund.

Selma

Selma is a historical drama based on the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery led by James Bevel (Common), Hosea Williams (Wendell Pierce) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo). Also starring Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth and Carmen Ejogo.

For BMod, I’m Becket Morgan.

All screenshots: Becket Morgan

Featured/Header image: “Untitled” by Alex via Flickr Creative Commons