There are big names and big titles hitting the theaters on the eve of Thanksgiving. This weekend provides various subjects to attract a mixture of moviegoers over the holiday weekend. 

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman star in the epic-drama, Australia.  The story takes place in the island nation’s Nothern Territory during 1939-1942 where English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley, played by Kidman, and her working right-hand man and lover, Drover (Jackman), are driving cattle, on route to a ranch inherited by Lady Ashley from her murdered husband. During their travels the Japanese attack the port city of Darwin, and the pair’s mission becomes to save the orphans of the city. The film is directed by Baz Lauhrmann, who also directed Moulin Rouge!, also starring Kidman. The trailer is filled with amazing visuals, and dramatic glimpses of the story. It will be interesting to see how it this super-hyped flick will be received by audiences. 

Director Gus Van Sant depicts the birth of the gay-rights movement through the story of Harvey Milk (played by Sean Penn) in the new documentary/feature entitled Milk.  Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Milk went on to become an icon of the gay-rights community. The film follows Milk’s journey with his long-time partner, Scott Smith, played by James Franco (Spiderman) and his intern, Emile Hirsh (Into the Wild). Milk and the mayor of California, George Moscone, were assassinated in 1978 by Dan White, played by Josh Brolin (W.) who was a former city supervisor who wanted his job back. The flim has already received extremely positive press, including rumblings that Sean Penn could be nominated for another Oscar for his performance as Milk.

Four Christmases starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn shows us just how crazy families can be during the holiday season. Brad and Kate are a happily unmarried couple who for Christmas lie to their families to escape them and enjoy a weeklong vacation in a sunny tropical destination of their choice.  However this year, all flights are cancelled due to an intense fog and they must spend Christmas with each other’s two sets of divorced parents. Vaughn is expected to deliver his usual comedic charm, which includes a scene with a baby projectile vomiting on Witherspoon. The film also has many cameos worth mentioning: Reese’s parents played by Mary Steenburgen (Step Brothers) and Jon Voight (National Treasure). Robert Duvall (Kicking and Screaming) and Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner’s Daughter) play Vince’s parents.

For action movie buffs, the third installment of the Transporter series bashes its way into theaters this week. Transporter 3 continues the story of Frank Martin, (Jason Stallman) a professional transporter who has returned to Paris to continue his discreet business of delivering packages with no questions asked. This time “the transporter” has been tricked into wearing a device that will kill him if he steps 75 meters away from his car, unless he delivers the goods, Valentina (Natalya Rudakova), the kidnapped daughter of the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. This is the first of the series that is not distributed by 20th Century Fox and the first directed by Olivier Megaton. Will this action packed ride have enough ammo to keep audiences as entertained as the first two movies in the Transporter series?

 —Jessica Delli Santi