“The Artist” (Nov. 23)
Normally, a black-and-white silent film from a French director with two unknowns in the leading roles wouldn’t be something this highly anticipated. “The Artist,” however, has been charming audiences since its debut at Cannes. Directed by Michael Hazanavicius, “The Artist” is the tale of a silent movie star who falls in love with a younger star about to get her own big break during the onset of sound and “the talkies.” Will a growing rivalry threaten their love? Probably. It stars Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo and a number of familiar faces in supporting roles, including John Goodman and Missi Pyle.

“A Dangerous Method” (Nov. 23)
This period piece features stars Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender and Keira Knightley in a dramatized version of history. The film follows the complicated relationship between Sigmund Freud (Mortensen) and Carl Jung (Fassbender) in one of those stories in which great friends turn into great enemies when a woman comes between them. Academy Award-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton adapted the screenplay from his 2002 play “The Talking Cure,” which he based on John Kerr’s 1993 nonfiction book, “A Most Dangerous Method.” As Freud and Jung help mental patient Sabina Spielrein (Knightley), they develop not only psychoanalysis, but also a potent rivalry.

“New Year’s Eve” (Dec. 9)
“New Year’s Eve,” in the style of “Valentine’s Day,” follows couples and singles in New York City on New Year’s Eve. The A-list cast, including Jessica Biel, Hilary Swank, Sofia Vergara, Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl and Zac Efron, is sure to attract audiences. One night has the power to change everything, especially when that night is New Year’s Eve. There are a million stories about what happens on New Year’s Eve, and the film offers a glimpse at a few. If you’re looking for a light and entertaining comedy this holiday season, “New Year’s Eve” is the perfect one.

“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Dec. 9)
Gary Oldman doesn’t have an Oscar. Strike that, he doesn’t even have a nomination. Just let that sink in for a while. Hopefully “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” finally brings him one. He stars as George Smiley, a once-fired spy rehired by the Circus (British Intelligence) to try to discover a mole at the very top. Tomas Alfredson, the Swedish director from “Let the Right One In,” a cult vampire thriller, is in charge of “Tinker,” whose script was adapted from the well-known John le Carré spy series. Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, and Mark Strong, along with a host of other British acting elites, provide support. The trailer promised a stylish and intelligent spy movie, and with all the talent involved, it’s hard to imagine it being anything other than extraordinary.

“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” (Dec. 16)
In 2009, the first of this “Sherlock Holmes” reboot series brought us the witty “bromance” between Robert Downey Jr.’s Holmes and Jude Law’s Watson, which, if the previews are any indication, will continue to flourish in this new film. This sequel finds Holmes facing his greatest adversary­­—Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), an evil plotter who rivals Holmes in cleverness. Just as Watson prepares to get married, Holmes gets them both wrapped up in Moriarty’s latest scheme. “A Game of Shadows,” thankfully, will include more of Hans Zimmer’s music and less of the supernatural stuff that held back the 2009 film.

“Young Adult” (Dec. 16)
Director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody reunite for their first movie together since “Juno,” but this movie looks to the be polar opposite of the honest-to-blog-good teen dramedy. “Young Adult” stars Oscar-winner Charlize Theron as Mavis Gary, a fiction writer who returns to her hometown to steal back her married high school sweetheart. Gary will probably be one of the most unlikable and immature protagonists in recent film history, and Theron looks to be prickly yet perfect in the part.

“The Adventures of Tintin” (Dec. 21)
Belgium’s finest cultural export from 1929 until 1976 was “Tintin,” a comic book series that narrated the adventures of the title character, a boy reporter, his dog, Snowy and their eccentric friend, Captain Haddock. The comics were excellent, featuring complex plots, sophisticated artistry and memorable characters. The upcoming movie, based on three of the best Tintin comics, details his first adventure with the Captain as they search for a legendary shipwreck. Reviews from Belgium, where the film already debuted, have been mostly positive, with the consensus that director Steven Spielberg has translated the spirit of the intrepid boy reporter onto the big screen. Hopefully the filmmakers include the best parts of the original: Captain Haddock’s creative swears, which include “pithecanthropic pickpocket!” “macrocephalic baboon!” and “fancy-dress fascist!”

“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” (Dec. 21)
The fourth installment in this Tom Cruise-franchise finds Pixar stalwart Brad Bird (“The Incredibles”) at the helm, and a talented cast from cinema and television surrounding the Scientologist star. Once again, Ethan Hawke and his IMF team must go rogue after being accused of bombing the Kremlin. Jeremy Renner (“The Hurt Locker”), Paula Patton (“Precious”), Josh Holloway (“Lost”), and Simon Pegg (“Star Trek”) play the new members of the IMF, with Anil Kapoor (“Slumdog Millionaire”) taking on the villainous role. While some may think the franchise is old news, the action sequences look to be better than ever, with parts filmed in IMAX. And if you see it in IMAX, you get to watch the prologue to the new Batman movie. That’s a win-win if I’ve ever heard of one.

“Extremely Loud and Incredible Close” (Dec. 25 limited, Jan. 20 wide-release)
Based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s 2006 novel, this film tracks the story of Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn), a young boy struggling with his father’s death after the 9/11 attacks. Oskar finds a key his father left behind, and he journeys across New York searching for the matching lock. Along the way, he meets many bizarre characters, and we learn about his grandparents, who survived the Dresden bombings. With ties to 9/11 and World War II, as well as Academy Award-winning stars Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock as Oskar’s parents, the film looks like Oscar bait for sure. Hopefully it will do justice to Foer’s clever and touching book.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Dec. 25)
David Fincher teams up again with “Social Network” actress Rooney Mara for a gritty thriller based on the wildly popular book series. After coming ever so close to an Oscar statue last year, Fincher looks to be back in his comfort zone of movies like “Se7en” and “Fight Club”, and in fine form, too. Mara plays Lisbeth Salander, a hacker who teams up with Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig, James Bond himself) to solve a forty-year old mystery. Christopher Plummer (“Beginners”), Robin Wright (“The Princess Bride”), and Joel Kinnaman (“The Killing”) also star. Going by the eight-minute sizzle reel shown to press, “Girl” will be one of the best thrillers of this decade.

“War Horse” (Dec. 25)
Due for release on Christmas Day, “War Horse” is Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of the critically acclaimed stage play of the same name (it won the Tony for Best Play), which was based on a Michael Morpurgo novel. The movie tells the story of a boy, Albert, played by newcomer Jeremy Irvine, whose beloved horse Joey is sold to the cavalry to fight in World War I. Joey embarks on a journey across the front lines and trenches of the war as his faithful owner sets out on a parallel voyage to get back his treasured horse. With a strong ensemble cast featuring David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch and Emily Watson, “War Horse” is already gaining Oscar buzz. Promised to be an epic combination of lush cinematography, emotional gravitas and teary moments, “War Horse” is surely a must-see this holiday season.

“The Iron Lady” (Dec. 30 limited, Jan. 13 wide-release)
A biographical film revolving around the life, power and ensuing decline in popularity of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the inimitable Meryl Streep plays The Iron Lady herself. Set in the present day, the film follows Thatcher in her old age as everyday objects around her begin to trigger flashbacks, ranging from her beginnings as a politicized young woman and her rise to power to the major political tensions and events of her time on 10 Downing Street. Esteemed British actor Jim Broadbent (“Harry Potter”) fills the role of Thatcher’s husband. While the portrayal of controversial figure Thatcher may split audiences, the movie should be worth seeing just to get another glimpse of Streep at her finest.