Ewan McGregor

I already have my tissues ready just watching the trailer for August: Osage County, which stars Meryl Streep as the matriarch of a family who gathers for the funeral of her husband (Sam Shepard). The kids all come home to Oklahoma, most notably Julia Roberts as eldest daughter Barbara, and unkind words, snark, and tears are unleashed. August: Osage County is full of familiar faces, and the rest of the extended family includes Ewan McGregor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Abigail Breslin, and Margo Martindale. Whew!

Obviously, if Streep is involved you know you're in for a dramatic treat, and she's bringing it in the preview, but it also looks like Roberts and the supporting cast are at the top of their game, too. This adaptation of a stage play looks so powerful already, and I can't wait to see it when it comes into theaters Nov. 8 — right in time for award season. Watch the trailer after the jump.

Successfully reimagining a classic fairy tale is a tough job, but Jack the Giant Slayer sufficiently blends old and new elements to create a story that is entertaining for all ages, even if the 3D is a little dizzying. The story centers on Jack (Nicholas Hoult), a poor farm boy who, in a moment of weakness, accepts some enchanted beans from a monk in exchange for his horse. Though the monk warns him not to get the beans wet, inevitably it rains, and lo and behold, a monstrous beanstalk shoots up through Jack's home. This in itself is an issue, but the greater problem is that the kingdom's runaway Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) happens to be trapped in Jack's house at the top of the beanstalk. Also at the top of the beanstalk? Man-eating giants.

Hoult is an ideal Jack — not a boy, not yet a man. He lends just the right amount of innocence and determination to the character, attempting to prove himself and earn the love of the damsel in distress. In fact, the film is well cast all around: Ian McShane and Ewan McGregor also star as the king and his army captain, respectively. Stanley Tucci plays the king's scheming aide, whose evil intentions make him an even bigger obstacle for Jack than the giants. The characters are classic, but the actors make them feel fresh, thrilling, and funny. To see what else I thought about Jack the Giant Slayer, just read more

In The Impossible, Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts play Henry and Maria, parents to three boys who get separated in the 2004 tsunami in Thailand, which is based on a real family who survived the tragedy. The movie is starting to get award buzz (Watts was recently nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG award for her role), and while I found The Impossible to be a well-done film, there are a few caveats to consider before you check out the drama.

• It's good. The acting is strong, the visual effects are stunning, and you stay invested in the family's story.
• But . . . It is very, very tough to watch. Director Juan Antonio Bayona doesn't spare you from any aspect of the tsunami, kicking off with a first-person-like experience of the wave hitting. There is extensive underwater footage that can make you feel claustrophobic, and the injuries sustained by Maria are very graphic. The visuals may also be gut-wrenching for other reasons, too; the tsunami only happened eight years ago, and even if you don't have a personal link to the tragedy, it's still traumatic to see it so up close and personal.
• Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts are great. As parents who are separated by the disaster, they convey how scared they are while hiding that fear from their children.
• But . . . The child actors leave an even bigger impression. Watts is certainly deserving of praise, but I was more affected by the actors that play the three sons, Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin), and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast). With their cherubic faces and rare range for such young actors, the boys are sympathetic and magnetic. In particular, Holland stands out as the oldest son who has to be his mother's strength at times and withstands some of the most difficult emotional ordeals.
• It's moving. To call this movie a tearjerker is a severe understatement.
• But . . . Ultimately, it feels a bit emotionally manipulative, and I was left feeling exhausted after experiencing the ups and downs of the family's plight. This is far from escapist entertainment.

Watching Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor in the trailer for The Impossible, it's hard to believe it's been almost eight years since a massive tsunami rocked Southeast Asia. As we all know, the giant tidal wave hit the region the day after Christmas, and in the new film based on a real family, Watts and McGregor play husband and wife vacationing with their young sons in Thailand during that time. The family is playing by the resort's pool when the unexpected wave breaks, smashing everything in its path and separating their family.

It looks as though the whole family survives — though they are taken in different directions — but this is still a pretty emotional trailer. By the time the cover of U2's "One" swells up, I was already reaching for the tissues. The Indian Ocean earthquake and resulting tsunami were a huge global tragedy, and it can be tricky to tackle these real-life catastrophes in movies. Having said that, it looks like The Impossible is taking a good route by telling the story on a micro-level, as it was experienced by just one family. The movies comes out Dec. 21, and you can check out the trailer after the jump.