January Film Releases 2014

Another year, another batch of films to stretch and stagnate the imagination. January sees the appearance of Hollywood royal Leonardo Di Caprio alongside long anticipated 12 Years A Slave. One that’s set to be a disappointment is Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom. From Idris Elba’s aberrant South African accent to the apparent appraisal of violent methods to overthrow government it seems they’ve made a hash of it all, which doesn’t prove well for a subject that is still in the memory of many. Nevertheless the recent death of the great South African leader will undoubtedly prove a boost to ticket sales.

Paranormal Activity- The Marked Ones

Release Date: 3rd January

After what seemed like an endless stream of Paranormal Activity films, with the fifth expected to be released at the back-end of 2014, things are moving in a refreshing direction with The Marked Ones. Central to the film is still the idea of paranormal entities creating increasingly threatening situations  but the Marked Ones drags the action into the open world, introducing audiences to an array of new paranormal incidents. With a new setting, cast and set of ideas, The Marked Ones looks promising.

The Wolf Of Wall Street

Release Date: 17th January

Starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey and directed by Martin Scorsese, most, including myself, won’t need more reason than the all-star cast to see this black comedy, Leonardo Di Caprio’s on-screen aura is always a good enough reason to visit the cinema. The film  is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. The release of The Wolf Of Wall Street will mark Di Caprio’s fifth collaboration with Scorsese, following; The Aviator, Gangs of New York, Shutter Island and The Departed.

12 Years A Slave

Release Date: 24th January

A year after the UK release of Django Unchained comes 12 Years A Slave, a film that has many parallels to Tarentino’s Western but one that promises to top its dizzy heights. Based on an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom, a free black man from upstate New York is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life. Directed by Steve McQueen and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt, it is yet another all-star January release. If you’re not yet sold on 12 Years A Slave, I challenge you to watch the trailer and not be touched by Ejofor’s rousing ” I will survive! I will not fall into despair. I will keep myself hardy until freedom is opportune!” speech.

Film Review: Django Unchained

 

It’s taken a while, and if I’m honest, I never thought it would match the sheer expectation and high praise from its initial release but wow, Django Unchained, what a film.

First of all I admit I am not a fan of Quentin Tarentino, both on a professional and personal level, the guy is an arrogant arse and acts in a manner which is odd even for an American. Pulp Fiction was an enjoyable watch but Reservoir Dogs and Inglourious Bastards both seemed like one trick ponies. Storylines that were different and progressive yet heavily based on dialogue and often quite unstimulating. Nevertheless Tarentino always offers an alternative approach to directing, a different angle and twist where many would stick to cliché ridden, liner storylines and finally with Django Unchained, my eyes have opened, even if he did cameo himself.

At times the prolonged scenes of talking were making me weary but the ending was invigorating, the characters were sensational and the humour kept me ticking over. It was the most captivating film I’ve watched in a long while.

One of the reasons I was so drawn in was Christopher Waltz. His character, Dr Shultz, was the most fascinating of characters through both his charm and wit and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for the Austrian Film star in future. Alongside him Di Caprio was on form as usual, Samuel J Jackson, surprisingly, portrayed another crooked and aggressive character whilst Jamie Foxx lingered in the shadow of Waltz for the most part until his sensational showdown.

DU is a quality film but if it had been ever so slightly shorter and relied less on the word “nigger” then it could have been one of the best film releases of the year.

8/10

January Film Releases 2013

Last year was a fantastic year for film. I know someone says it every year but it truly was in my eyes. Big blockbusters such as The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises and Skyfall were all great successes but it was also a year that I found myself engaging with films on a whole new level. Kick starting this year we have an incredible January line-up, so many films which hold a certain degree of promise, yet so little time to exploit the Orange two for one deal. Anyway, let us begin.

Gangster Squad

Release Date: 10th January

Now, I’m a big fan of gangster films, be it based on the mafia  or set in the ghetto, I’ve always found them easy to enjoy. However when directors try to shift the attention from the wrong to the right side of the law I’ve found them uncomfortable watches. Gangster films from a criminals perspective are brilliant because the antagonist is crooked, reckless, immoral, they’re generally exciting to watch, but when a director tries to put law enforces in the same position it’s usually entirely the opposite. Although this film uses that perspective, it looks like a quality piece that could change my crude judgment. Firstly it has a sterling cast, John Brolin and Sean Penn are the standouts and from what I’ve seen of them so far, look like they’re going to carry the film. Secondly the cinematography looks plain fantastic and the actions scenes look rather intense which, from the trailer, promise to be regular features. There is a feel of the Untouchables to Gangster Squad which, although I wasn’t a massive fan of, doesn’t discourage me from seeing it in the cinema.

Django Unchained

Release Date: 18th January

If you’ve been to the cinema over the past couple of months you can’t help but to have noticed Django Unchained, it’s pre-release presence has been massive. One of the most significant aspects to note is the director, one Quentin Tarantino. Directors often find it hard to become household names but Tarantino has firmly established himself as one of the best directors around. His films never seem to follow the conventional lines of movie making, with obscure plots and a strange sense of humour which, entwined with scenes of intense action and gore, always seems to gain critical acclaim. Django Unchained follows that pattern. At the heart of the film there’s a serious story set in the pre-Civil War period about a freed slave (Jamie Foxx) who assists mentor (Christopher Waltz) in accomplishing bounties, eventually leading the freed slave to  free his wife from a plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) but the film still promises to live up to the catalogue of Tarantino films. Like most big blockbusters, Django Unchained has already been released in the USA where it has been met with positive reviews. There has been a slight dispute over the excess racism and the positive view of slavery the film promotes but they don’t seem to be massive issues. With Tarantino, a quality ensemble of actors and even a cheeky cameo from Jonah Hill, what more could you ask for?

The Last Stand

Release Date: 25th January

I can be certain this won’t be my favourite film of the year, never mind the month. It won’t win any Oscars or any praises for being a innovatory film but there’s one thing I can be certain of, it’s going to be an Arnie classic. I’m a massive fan of the Schwarzenegger, he might not be the best actor around but he’s my favourite worst actor of all time. The film promises to be a classic standoff of epic proportions, involving the sheriff of a town near the Mexican border facing off against a mob of gangsters looking to escape persecution by passing through the sleepy town into Mexico. What makes this film even more exciting is that it’s Arnie’s first leading role since leaving the Terminator series in 2003.

Lincoln

Release Date: 25th January

No, somebody’s not decided to make a film about the most disgusting place on the planet to live, instead it’s the latest film by award-winning director Steven Spielberg. Lincoln is set in nineteenth century America as the Civil War rages on American president Abraham Lincoln battles in Congress to forever ban slavery from within American borders, one of the most important events in American history that promises to produce an epic film. It features some class acting talent from Lee Pace (or King Thranduil as I will forever know him), Tommy Lee Jones with a rather peculiar hair piece, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and star man Daniel Day-Lewis. Spielberg has been playing with the idea of this film for many years, even stating that he’d scrap the entire project if he couldn’t get his man Daniel Day-Lewis to play the lead role. Being a history buff with the film covering such a significant event, possessing a sterling cast and director, Lincoln promises to be a quality drama, an epic, it’s definitely my most sought after film this January.

Zero Dark Thirty

Release Date: 25th January

From the director of Hurt Locker, we have one of the most controversial and intriguing film releases of the year. Zero Dark Thirty follows the events that led to Osama Bin Laden’s death, seen through the eyes of CIA operative Maya (Jessica Chastain). Jessica appears to take the lead role as a strong, dominant female character in her stride, promising to steal the show. The concept of the film is one that’s attracted a fair bit of attention due to its importance over the  past couple of years. This could work against the film, as the focal point is obviously the eventual operation that led to Osama Bin Laden’s death so it beckons the question whether the film can carry the pace for the entire 150 minutes. Although there’s the fear there’s going to be far too much drama and not enough action I do look forward to seeing how director Kathryn Bigelow interprets the build up to this important event.