1917
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Andrew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden
Sam Mendes’ World World I drama has been praised for its use of long takes stiched together seamlessly to make it look like you’re watching one continuous shot, and while it’s not the only good thing about the movie it is probably the most impressive, masking a less-than-thrilling storyline. Still, worth seeing.
Bad Boys for Life
Director: Adel Al Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens
In 1995, Bad Boys was a big hit making an action star of Will Smith and giving Martin Lawrence an unlikely career as a leading man. By 2003, the appetite was still high for the buddy cop movie as it made double what the first installment did at the box office. Will the third one make the same impact?
Dolittle
Director: Staphen Gaghan
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Antonia Banderas, Michael Sheen
We can only assume Downey Jr. has some kind of connection to the Dr. Dolittle story as there’s no way he needs the money from this role. In this version (which has a stellar cast), the good doctor is a recluse, living alone with only a range of exotic animals for friends. All that changes when he decides to find a cure for Queen Victoria’s illness, a journey that takes him and his animal pals to a strange and wonderful land.
Like A Boss
Director: Miguel Arteta
Starring: Rose Byrne, Salma Hayek, Tiffany Haddish
Seemingly aimed firmly at the ‘girls’ night out’ demographic, this comedy is in the same vein as Bridesmaids and Girls Trip, which both starred Byrne and Haddish. They’re friends who run a make-up company that gets into some finanical trouble. As a result they have to come up with a way to raise some cash – with predictably hilarious results. A throwaway flick with charm.
Parasite
Director: Boon Joon-Ho
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee
It’s rare for a movie to combine cinematic fireworks and social commentary in quite the thrilling and mischievous way that Korean director Bong Joon-ho manages with Parasite, a slick home-invasion drama that mirrors the masks worn by its characters – polite until they drop the pretence. The director of The Host and Snowpiercer is no stranger to genre gymnastics, and here he tells the story of a poor Seoul family infiltrating the lives of a super-rich household through suspense, drama, laughs and farce, allowing moments of pure terror, quiet observation and baroque noise to sit happily alongside each other.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Director: J. J. Abrams
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega
The final part in the final Star Wars trilogy has been more warmly received than The Last Jedi, thanks to its return to pure action. It’s not as interesting as a result, but at least weird dudes on the internet seem to approve of its use of the Force.
The Grudge
Director: Nicolas Pesce
Starring: Tara Westwood, Junko Bailey, David Lawrence Brown
If you’re tired of reboots, look away now, as this is a new version of the 2004 Hollywood adaptation of a 2002 Japanese horror. Those two are both excellent, and we recommend you seek them out over this rather pointless exercise. If you’re not aware, it’s about a house that has something nasty lurking inside it.
