LES MISERABLES

Dec. 25

The timeless musical tale of love and longing in the midst of the French revolution has an all-star cast taking on Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), Fantine (Anne Hathaway) and her daughter cosette (Amanda Seyfried).

SACREBLEU

Unlike other movie musicals, with their prerecorded vocal tracks, the cast of Les Mis sang their songs live on camera, just like in a stage production — luckily, the piano playing in their ear will be swapped for a 70-piece orchestra. "This is the first time anyone's ever tried it like this," says Hathaway, while Jackman admits that "the idea of singing live is daunting." At least you've starred on broadway before, buddy. How do you think Russell Crowe feels?

ZERO DARK THIRTY

Dec. 19

Director Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) examines the 10-year manhunt that led to the killing of Osama Bin Laden — from the gathering of info by an intelligence specialist (Jessica Chastain) to Navy SEAL Team Six hitting the ground in Abbottabad.

What’s in a name?

Not only is the film title a military term that means 30 minutes after midnight, but, according to Bigelow, “it refers also to the darkness and secrecy that cloaked the entire decade-long mission.” We’re guessing her 1991 flick Point Break didn’t pack quite the same symbolism.

THE IMPOSSIBLE

Dec. 21

It’s 2004, and a family on Christmas vacation in Thailand is separated by the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. Amidst the chaos, Maria (Naomi Watts) and her eldest son must somehow find husband Henry (Ewan McGregor), who is with their two youngest boys. Based on the true sto