A Week In Movies: Awards Season Gathers Pace, Superhero Movie Rumours Abound, Expendables 3 Drops A Teaser

Things always go quiet in the film industry over the holidays as everyone takes one last break before the full onslaught of awards season campaigning. Nominations for both Oscars and Baftas come in the next two weeks, and there's also action for the influential writers, directors, producers and actors guilds. 

Awards-worthy movies expanding into cinemas this weekend include Mark Wahlberg's Lone Survivor, Spike Jonze's Her, the biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and the Cambodia documentary The Missing Picture. All have picked up attention from critics groups over the past month and are looking to catch the eye of Oscar voters. Read our review of 'Lone Survivor', watch the trailer for Spike Jonze's 'Her', read our review of 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' or our review of 'The Missing Picture'.

Meanwhile, most of the movie news centres on rumours about big studio franchises, such as the possibility that Joaquin Phoenix, Dwayne Johnson and/or Denzel Washington will costar in the Batman vs Superman movie, or that the next superhero mash-up will involve the Fantastic Four taking on the X-men. Read more about Batman vs Superman casting here.

The Expendables 3 doesn't come out until next summer, but a teaser trailer popped up this week featuring Sylvester Stallone's returning gang of movie action stars. Joining them this time are Harrison Ford, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Kelsey Grammer, Wesley Snipes and Kellan Lutz. Clearly both terrible and unmissable, the movie opens next summer. Watch 'Expendables 3' Trailer.

Much more high-brow, Tim's Vermeer is a witty documentary about an inventor nerd who decides to crack the code of 17th century painter Johannes Vermeer and recreate one of his most elaborate paintings. From gonzo magicians Penn and Teller, the film looks like a lot of fun as well as a provocative exploration of the nature of art. It opens this month. Click here to watch the 'Tim's Vermeer' Trailer.

We also had our first look at Draft Day, a Moneyball-style American football drama starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner. The film looks snappy and funny, with a terrific supporting cast including veterans Ellen Burstyn and Frank Langella. It opens in April. Click here to watch the 'Draft Day' Trailer.

And finally, there was a new trailer for Neighbors (international title: Bad Neighbours), a comedy about new parents Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne who start a neighbourhood war when a frat house, led by Zac Efron and Dave Franco, moves in next door. It looks pretty hilarious, although you worry that the best bits might be in the trailer. Click here to watch the 'Bad Neighbours' Trailer.