WHAT TO WATCH: Your essential Christmas and New Year movie guide

Thursday 29 December, 2011

Find out the hottest films to hit our screens this holiday, from all-out action to award season contenders!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Who’s in it? Rooney Mara, Daniel Criag
When’s it out? 26 December
The lowdown: Adapted from Stieg Larsson’s posthumous novels, The Millennium Series and with an already popular Swedish version we can wait to see how Rooney and Daniel tackle the tricky character in the thriller.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Who’s in it? Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner
When’s it out? 26 December
The lowdown: Tom reprises the role of Ethan Hunt for a fourth instalment of the franchise, expect more of the same but bigger and better. Already going down a storm in the US it, it’s a great holiday watch.

The Iron Lady
Who’s in it? Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent
When’s it out? 6 January
The lowdown: Meryl Streep has yet another amazing movie transformation as she plays the formidable Maggie Thatcher aka The Iron Lady!

Shame
Who’s in it? Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan
When’s it out? 13 January
The lowdown: Shame sees Michael star alongside Carey Mulligan in the daring drama about sex addiction, which has already been Oscar-tipped.

Warhorse
Who’s in it? Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullen, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch
When’s it out? 13 January
The lowdown: The moving story of a young man and his horse on the backdrop of a world at war.

Who’s in it? Leonardo Di Caprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Ed Weswick
When’s it out? 20 January
The lowdown: Another year, another Oscar-worthy performance from Leonardo DiCaprio. This time the actor steps into the shoes of controversial politico J Edgar Hoover, who founded America’s FBI.

W.E.
Who’s in it? Andrea Riseborough, Abbie Cornish
When’s it out? 20 January
The lowdown: Super-stylish and set in two time periods, W.E. tells the romantic real-life tale of King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson concurrently with the developments of a contemporary affair.

The Descendants
Who’s in it? George Clooney
When’s it out? 20 January
The lowdown: The Descendants sees Clooney’s character, attempt to rekindle his relationship with his two daughters after their mother slips into a coma. A potential runner come award season!