Bradley Cooper, left, and Christian Bale star in David O. Russell’s 1970s-based drama “American Hustle.” (Courtesy Columbia Pictures)
Wide-release film synopses from the Los Angeles Times.
OPENING AS OF FRIDAY, DEC. 20
‘American Hustle’ 
Two con men are compelled to work with a wild federal agent to concoct a sting targeting New Jersey power brokers and the mafia in this drama based on the FBI’s Abscam operation of the 1970s. With Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. (R, 2:09)
‘Inside Llewyn Davis’
Amid the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961 New York, an aspiring musician navigates a series of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, some of which are of his own making. With Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman and Garrett Hedlund. (R, 1:44)
‘Personal Tailor’(Not reviewed)
Xiaogang Feng directs this Chinese comedy about a company that grants wishes to those looking for a single day of escape from their ordinary lives. (Not rated.) At Dole Cannery 18 (not rated, 1:58)
‘Saving Mr. Banks’
A biographical drama about Walt Disney’s attempts to acquire the screen rights to “Mary Poppins” from reluctant novelist P.L. Travers. With Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti and Jason Schwartzman. (PG-13, 2:05)
‘Walking with Dinosaurs’
A young pachyrhinosaurus comes of age and tries to protect his herd on a great migration in this animated film. With the voices of John Leguizamo, Justin Long and Tiya Sircar. (PG, 1:27)
OPENING WEDNESDAY, DEC. 25
’47 Ronin’ (Not reviewed)
A 3-D fantasy-adventure with Keanu Reeves as an outcast who joins with 47 samurai to seek vengeance on the overlord who killed their master. (PG-13, 2:07)
‘Grudge Match’ (Not reviewed)
Two retired boxers (Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro) settle a long-standing beef by heading back into the ring. (PG-13, 1:54)
‘Justin Bieber’s Believe’(Not reviewed)
A documentary on the 19-year-old pop star that promises behind-the-scenes access and new interviews and concert footage. (PG, 1:31)
‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ (Not reviewed)
Ben Stiller directs and stars in this adapation of James Thurber’s classic story of a daydreamer who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a fantasy world filled with heroism, romance and action. (PG, 1:54)
‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (Not reviewed)
Martin Scorsese reteams with Leonardo DiCaprio for this adaptation of Jordan Belfort’s memoir surrounding his indulgent ride as a crooked banker in the 1990s. (R, 2:45)
Ben Stiller, right, directs and stars as a daydreamer set to make his fantasies a reality in ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.’ –20th Century Fox
NOW PLAYING
‘A Touch of Sin’
In modern-day China, four downtrodden individuals — a miner, a migrant, a receptionist and a factory worker — are pushed over the edge. With Zhao Tao, Jiang Wu and Wang Baogiang. In Mandarin with English subtitles. At Pearlridge West 16 (not rated, 2:05)
‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ (Not reviewed)
With the ’70s behind him, San Diego’s top-rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York’s first 24-hour news channel by storm. With Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig. (PG-13, 1:59)
‘Commitment’ 1/2
A North Korean teenager volunteers to become a spy in South Korea to save his sister’s life, but draws attention to himself after saving a classmate from bullying. With Choi Seung-hyun, Han Ye-ri and Kim You-jeong. In Korean with English subtitles. At Dole Cannery 18 (not rated, 1:48)
‘Delivery Man’ 1/2
An affable underachiever has to reckon with his past when he learns that his anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier have resulted in more than 500 children. With Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt and Cobie Smulders. (PG-13, 1:43)
‘Frozen’
An optimistic princess sets off on a journey with a rugged mountain man to find her sister. With the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. (PG, 1:48)
‘Gravity’
When their shuttle is destroyed during a routine spacewalk, an astronaut and an engineer are stranded in space together. With Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. (PG-13, 1:31)
‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’
Reluctant hero Bilbo Baggins continues his quest to face the fearsome dragon Smaug and help 13 dwarves reclaim their lost kingdom in this second installment of a trilogy adapting J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.” With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage and Benedict Cumberbatch. (PG-13, 2:40)
‘Homefront’ 1/2
A widowed former DEA agent retires to a small town for the sake of his 10-year-old daughter, only to cross paths with a local meth kingpin. With Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder and Kate Bosworth. (R, 1:40)
‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ 1/2
The young warrior and reluctant revolutionary Katniss Everdeen returns to the arena for another battle to the death in this second film of a series adapting Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” book trilogy. With Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson. (PG-13, 2:26)
‘Nebraska’
Having received a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father thinks he’s struck it rich and wrangles his son into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. With Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb and Stacy Keach. (R, 1:54)
‘Philomena’
An Irish woman enlists a journalist to help her track down the out-of-wedlock son she was forced by her Catholic community to give away for adoption in this drama based on Martin Sixsmith’s 2009 book “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee.” With Steve Coogan and Judi Dench. (PG-13, 1:38)
‘Thor: The Dark World’
The hammer-wielding demigod Thor battles to save Earth and his home world of Asgard from an ancient enemy in this sequel to the 2011 movie “Thor.” With Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Stellan Skarsgard. (PG-13, 1:52)
’12 Years a Slave’ 1/2
In the antebellum United States, a free black man from upstate New York is abducted and sold into slavery, forcing him to fight for years to survive. With Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Dano. At Kahala 8 (R, 2:14)
‘Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas’ (Not reviewed)
Coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise holiday visit, the stern, sassy matriarch Madea shakes up a small rural town preparing for its annual Christmas Jubilee. With Tyler Perry, Kathy Najimy, Chad Michael Murray and Anna Maria Horsford. (PG-13, 1:45)
Will Ferrell, left, and Christina Applegate return in the comedy sequel ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.’ –Paramount Pictures
ARTHOUSE
DORIS DUKE THEATRE
Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St. (532-8768, honolulumuseum.org); $8-$10
‘Ludwig II’
1 and 7:30 p.m. today
A period film looking back at Germany’s Ludwig II, known for his patronage of the arts, political commitment, idealism and pacifism. In German with English subtitles. (2012, Germany, 2:10)
Family Film Sunday: ‘From Up on Poppy Hill’
11:10 a.m. Sunday, $1-$3
Yokohama teens attempt to save their school’s clubhouse from the wrecking ball as Japan prepares for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. (2012, Japan, 1:31)
Ballet in Cinema: Bolshoi Ballet’s ‘The Sleeping Beauty’
1 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday, $20, $18 for members
Originally performed Nov. 20, 2011, at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. (2:50)
‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ Movie Marathon
3 p.m. Thursday, $32, $30 for members
Triple-movie feature of acclaimed trilogy (Part 1, “Beginnings”; Part 2, “Eternal”; and Part 3, “Rebellion”) based on the hit anime series. For ages 6 and up. In Japanese with English subtitles. (6:00)
Tyler Perry, center, is back as Madea to shake up a small town’s holiday event and pay a friend’s daughter a surprise visit in ‘Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas.’ –Lionsgate
MOVIE MUSEUM
3566 Harding Ave. (735-8771); $5, $4 members
‘Seagull Diner’ (‘Kamome Shokudo’)
Noon, 4:15 and 8:30 p.m. today and 6 p.m. Sunday
Sachie leaves her home in Japan and opens a restaurant in Finland to serve “Japanese soul food.” For ages 10 and older. In Japanese and Finnish with English subtitles. (2006, Japan, 1:42)
‘Nada So So’
2 and 6:15 p.m. today
When 8-year-old Yotaro’s mother marries 3-year-old Kaoru’s father, it forever binds them together as siblings, with Yotaro making a promise to his dying mother that he will always look after his “little sister.” Fifteen years later the scenario changes as Kaoru has grown into a beautiful young woman, and Yotaro must deal with a girlfriend who is feeling neglected. For ages 12 and older. In Japanese with English subtitles. (2006, Japan, 1:58 )
Double feature: Noon and 4:15 p.m. Saturday
» ‘Another Fine Mess’
Comedy duo Laurel and Hardy are two homeless vagabonds on the run from the police; they hide in a vacant mansion where they manage to get themselves in yet another predicament. For all ages. (1930, 0:28)
» ‘Emil and the Detectives’ (‘Emil und die Detektive’)
Adaptation of Erich Kastner’s novel about a young boy, robbed on a train ride to Berlin, who befriends fellow youngsters to help catch the thief. For all ages. In German with English subtitles. (1931, Germany, 1:09)
‘A Ghost of a Chance’ (‘Sutekina kanashibari’)
1:45, 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday
In this supernatural comedy, a lawyer persuades the ghost of a samurai to appear in court as the sole witness to a crime, but only a select few can see or hear him. In Japanese with English subtitles. (2011, Japan, 2:23)
‘The Intouchables’
Noon, 2, 4 and 8 p.m. Sunday
Comedy based on a true story about two friends, a quadriplegic white aristocrat named Philippe and Senegalese immigrant ex-con Driss. Winner of 16 awards. Rated R. In French with English subtitles. (2011, France, 1:52 )
‘Pelican Man’ (‘Pelikaanimies’)
Noon, 1:30, 3, 4:30 and 8 p.m. Monday
Young Emil finds out that a new visitor in town is actually a pelican in disguise. “Mr. Berd” tries to learn the human ways especially since he’s fallen in love with Helena, a “birdlike” ballerina. For all ages. In Finnish with English subtitles. (2004, Finland, 1:24)
‘A Christmas Carol’
6 p.m. Monday
Charles Dickens’ classic about an old miser who is visited by ghosts one evening to teach him about the spirit of Christmas. For all ages. (1951, United Kingdom, 1:26)
‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’ (‘Les neiges du Kilimandjaro’)
Noon, 3:45 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday
A man is robbed by a former co-worker after both are downsized. In French with English subtitles. (2011, France, 1:47)
‘Nothing Special’
2 and 5:45 p.m. Thursday
An up-and-coming insurance executive who has big dreams learns to accept her life as is. For ages 15 and older. (2010, 1:40)
MONDAY MOVIE CAFE
Cupola Theatre, Honolulu Design Center, second floor, 1250 Kapiolani Blvd. (436-4326); $10, $5 students
‘The Art of the Piano: Greatest Pianists of the Twentieth Century’
7 p.m. Monday
A rare performance by piano masters, with information on piano techniques and styles. (1999, 1:48)