Oh, the drama. Soldiers who decide to go to war, immigrants trying to assimilate. These are just a couple of the topics this winter’s dramas tackle. But there’s also more heartwarming fare: A boy searches for his musician parents with some help from Robin Williams, a family spends the holidays together for the first time in four years. Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford and Forest Whitaker add a bit of stardust to these serious stories.
“Lions for Lambs”
Starring: Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Derek Luke, Andrew GarfieldDirector: Robert RedfordStory: Two students (Michael Pena, Derek Luke) join the military and embark on their first tour of Afghanistan, despite the advice of their liberal college professor (Redford). Meanwhile, an ambitious senator (Cruise) decides to give a TV journalist (Streep) a huge scoop that may affect the lives of those soldiers. Buzz: Writer Joe Carnahan, unapologetic about being a “Hollywood democrat,” made it clear to Entertainment Weekly that this film has a message. And Redford remarked, “It’s hard to be impartial … about where our political system has taken us.” In other words, don’t expect Bill O’Reilly to go see this one. Redford’s last directing venture was the disappointing “Legend of Bagger Vance,” but don’t count him out; he might have another “Quiz Show” or “Ordinary People” up his sleeve. Web site: http://lionsforlambs.unitedartists.com/Release date: Nov. 9
