Birds Of Prey
Director: Cathy Yan
Starring: Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ewan McGregor
DC hasn’t really hit it off in the cinema since Christopher Nolan’s three-part Batman trilogy. Capitalising on one of the few redeeming features of Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie is front and centre this time as Harley Quinn. In this film a ragtag bunch of strange outcasts with amazing abilities team up to… Wait, this plot sounds familiar… This is a lot more fun than Suicide Squad, with great performances.
Call of the Wild
Director: Chris Sanders
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Gillan, Dan Stevens, Bradley Whitford
A classic tome in American literature, this adaptation of the Jack London adventure story has some fantastic effects and a grizzly but understated turn from Harrison Ford as the leading man. He’s ably supported by a realistic CGI dog who is thrust from his domesticated life on easy street to the Alaskan gold rush.
Escape from Pretoria
Director: Francis Annan
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ian Hart
He will probably never shake off the Harry Potter thing, but Daniel Radcliffe has now been in around 20 movies or TV shows since the last movie about the little wizard in 2011. Here he plays Tim Jenkin opposite the always-dependable Ian Hart. They play two political captives that make a break for it.
Finding the Way Back
Directors: Gavin O’Connor
Starring: Ben Affleck, Janina Gavankar, Michaela Watkins
Ben Affleck has abandoned the Batcape for this inspirational sports movie. He plays a former basketball star who’s battling some personal demons. Out of work, he goes back to his old college and starts coaching the team there. Will it lead him on the path to recovery? That would be nice wouldn’t it.
Onward
Director: Dan Scanlon
Starring: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt
The latest from Disney Pixar sees two elfin brothers (voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) trying to bring their father back to life to prove there’s still magic left in their world. They only half succeed, bringing back his legs.
Paradise Hills
Director: Alice Waddington
Starring: Emma Roberts, Awkwafina, Danielle Macdonald
A rebellious teen is sent to an idyllic school to reform troublesome girls but soon finds out it has a dark secret. This is the first feature film from director Alice Waddington, following the success of her 2015 short Disco Inferno. It looks like it has bags of style and a quirky storyline to go with Emma Roberts in the lead role. This Handmaid’s Tale-a-like could be good.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Director: Jeff Fowler
Starring: Jim Carret, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden
Has a movie trailer ever had such universally bad reviews (Cats, perhaps?) that the filmmakers have gone back and reshot the film? This time around the blue hedgehog looks more like he does in the game and is all the better for it. Add in Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik and you have the makings of a fun kids film.
