ach autumn/winter cinemas see an influx of unabashedly award-hungry films. That translates to a handful of months in which movie theatre fare is actually better than HBO and Showtime. To help you capitalize on the quality, Martiniboys.com presents its Holiday Movie Guide, complete with Zimmerman, musically inclined murderous barbers, kite flying, vampires, and hard walking. Ironically, don't expect bells jingling or jolly fat men.



Youth Without Youth
Opening December 14, 2007

There are people that exude agedness, despite their youth. Inevitably, when they tell you their actual age, you say, "what? But you look like a damn geriat- I mean, um, you're mature" (see Flight of the Conchords' "Cheer up, Murray"). That's youth without youth. On the other hand, Youth Without Youth is Francis Ford Coppola's first film since 1997. It follows the complex, pre-WW2 romantic entanglement of Dominic (Tim Roth) and Veronica (Control's Alexandra Maria Lara). Early reviews have been lukewarm, but every Coppola film is an event. -S.T.



Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Opening December 21, 2007

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton pair up for another scissor-heavy story; this time, there's singing. In this adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical, the titular Sweeney murders, gives fades, serves pies, and belts out tunes. Can Depp sing? Depp can do anything (see his slide guitar work on Oasis's "Fade In-Out"). Alan Richman and my future girlfriend, Helena Bonham Carter (sorry, Tim), also star. -S.T.



Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Opening December 21, 2007

As a blurbist I should enjoy a good Cox joke; still, I don't (see the Clerks meditation on a vocation's capacity to define the individual). However, I will see anything with Tim Meadows. A Walk the Line parody from Judd Apatow and Jake Kasdan (Freaks and Geeks), Walk Hard stars the still underrated John C. Reilly - isn't he do for a new Scorsese flick? - and Jenna Fischer. Dewey will sing, fight, indulge, and walk. Look for a host of cameos from actual musicians and Apatow regulars, including Jack White as Elvis and Paul Rudd, Justin Long, Jack Black, and Jason Schwartzman as the Beatles. -S.T.