“Serenity”
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke, Diane Lane
Synopsis: Baker Dill is a fishing boat captain leading tours off a tranquil, tropical enclave called Plymouth Island. His quiet life is shattered, however, when his ex-wife Karen tracks him down with a desperate plea for help. She begs Dill to save her – and their young son – from her new, violent husband by taking him out to sea on a fishing excursion, only to throw him to the sharks and leave him for dead.
What You Need to Know: Steven Knight has had an interesting career. Having penned films that range from awards-friendly “Eastern Promises” to the laughably bad “Seventh Son” and “The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” it’s easy to forget that he also directed the Tom Hardy starring “Locke” which worked much better than it ever should’ve. With that as his only director credit to date and a cast that includes Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway – reliable, Oscar-winning performers- “Serenity” shouldn’t be such an eyebrow raiser but the premise is a lot to stomach. That being said, because of his last directed project and the actors attached, we’re holding out hope that this one exceeds expectations.
Release Date: January 25th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbrOMrjhyvI
“The Kid Who Would Be King”
Cast: Ashbourne Serkis, Patrick Stewart, Rebecca Ferguson
Synopsis: Alex thinks he’s just another nobody, until he stumbles upon the mythical Sword in the Stone, Excalibur. Now, he must unite his friends and enemies into a band of knights and, together with the legendary wizard Merlin, take on the wicked enchantress Morgana. With the future at stake, Alex must become the great leader he never dreamed he could be.
What You Need to Know: We’ve patiently (for the most part) waited eight years for director Joe Cornish to make his return to the big screen following his insanely ambitious debut “Attack the Block,” one of the best science fiction films of the 21st-century and the launching pad for “Star Wars” star John Boyega’s career, as well as the aforementioned Jodie Whittaker. Once again playing with genre and expectations, he’s made a family friendly modern take on the Arthurian tales of Excalibur, a premise made exciting due to the visionary behind it.
Release Date: January 25th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg-h8TwQCgs
“The Image Book”
Cast: Jean-Luc Godard
Synopsis: The new film by legendary filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, and possibly his swan song, is a stunning aural and visual collage that examines civilization on the verge of collapse through a provocative mix of cinema clips, news footage, and Godard’s own gnomic narration.
What You Need to Know: It’s odd to be talking about a new Jean-Luc Godardfilm in the same breath as films such “Escape Room” and yet, here we are, in January, the places where films with no obvious homes go. If not for Godard’s name, “The Image Book” would be a hard sell by premise alone, not particularly trying to play to mainstream audiences opposed to dedicated cinephiles who consume anything and everything the auteur produces. Our critic understood the divide, saying “Some audiences will naturally loathe “The Image Book,” some will find moments of transcendence within, and others will leave perplexed and baffled.”
Release Date: January 25th
