Four Best Films of the Year

In the first Pixar cartoon to have an African-American lead character, Jamie Foxx provides the voice of a music teacher who dreams of making it as a jazz pianist in New York. But just after a successful audition, he falls into a hole in the street, and finds himself in a spiritual world where human spirits are given their personalities.

Fern packs her few belongings and drives off into the Nevada desert. She soon discovers that she isn’t alone: there is a large community of senior citizens forced to live on the road, supporting themselves with short-term jobs along the way. What makes Nomadland unique is that while Fern is played by an Oscar-winning actress, Frances McDormand, nearly all of the people she meets are nomads(游牧民).

The year’s finest animated film doesn’t come from Dreamworks or Pixar, but from Cartoon Saloon. Their latest fairy tale is set in the mid-17th century, when English soldiers were trying to control the wild woods near Kilkenny. One hunter’s daughter named Robin learns that there aren’t just wolves in the forest, but wolfwalkers, who can change into wolves at night.

The prehistoric family from the cartoon of 2013, The Croods, makes a welcome return. In the sequel(续集), they meet another family, the Bettermans, whose advanced lifestyle and technology make the Croods look even more primitive. “The Croods lead with their heart while the other with their brain,” says Joel Crawford, the film’s director. “Of course, there’s conflict, but they learn to appreciate each other’s differences. There are some deep and powerful themes, but it’s a comedy too.”

The Gold Rush (1925)

Charlie Chaplin as the Little Tramp eats his shoe for Thanksgiving dinner while trapped in a storm in this lovely silent film classic from 1925. Watch this one if you are in the mood to see a leather shoe cut and eaten as if it were a tasty turkey and it makes you grateful for what you have!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

This Jon Hughes comedy starring Steve Martin and John Candy is already a Thanksgiving classic for many. Neal (Martin) has to change his route because of a snowstorm. As he struggles to find a way for Thanksgiving, he gets stuck with positive Del (Candy).

One True Thing (1998)

Mary Streep was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in this movie as a wife and mom who struggles with cancer. Renee Zellweger plays the grown daughter who has to come home to help with the holidays. The two try to hold the family together, especially during a tense Thanksgiving meal when guests get all the attention.

Free Birds (2013)

In this family-friendly animated romp, two turkeys steal a time machine and head back to the first Thanksgiving to try to keep turkeys off the menu. An all-star cast featuring Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler, and George Takei provides the voices.

Most of you love watching movies. They can be funny, sad, imaginative, inspiring, and so much more! There are so many possibilities and so many great movies to watch!

The making of a movie usually begins with a script. 【小题1】 The producer is the person who is responsible for coordinating (协调) aspects of the film like budget and scheduling. The producer plans out how the project will be carried out and he usually starts by hiring a director!

【小题2】 The director will usually identify themes or feelings that he or she wants the movie to convey to its audience and will then assemble (聚集) all the other people who will be needed, such as costume­designers, make­up artists, special effects crew, stuntmen (特技表演者), cameramen, and, of course, actors!

Next, shooting begins! 【小题3】 Often a director will want to get several “takes” (versions) of a scene or moment and usually only a few minutes of the movie are finished in one day's work. 【小题4】 So once filming is completed, the director must then work with editors to piece them all together, deciding which takes to use and adding in any special effects or touch­ups.

The entire process from acquiring the script to editing the scenes generally takes months or even years! Once it's ready, the finished movie is then distributed to movie theatres. 【小题5】