This “In Theatres” combo edition features the best January releases that are still at the cinema, as well as the highly-anticipated February films coming soon. See below for the Top 6 movies on my radar, as well as an extra list of releases for a great mix of action, romantic and thriller films.
1) ‘Molly’s Game’
Release Date: Friday January 5
Main Stars: Jessica Chastain (‘Zero Dark Thirty’), Idris Elba (‘The Wire’) and Kevin Costner (‘Dances with Wolves’)
Director: Aaron Sorkin (Directorial Debut)
Summary:
‘Molly’s Game’ is a crime drama film based on real-life Molly Bloom’s memoir of how she transformed from an Olympic skier to the mastermind behind the world’s most exclusive underground high-stakes poker empire. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) back in September, and I have been anxiously awaiting it’s release ever since. I’m excited to see what Jessica Chastain brings to her portrayal of Molly, as she has wowed me again and again in her past few roles. However, I’m just as intrigued by her supporting cast of Idris Elba as Molly’s lawyer Charlie Jaffey, and Kevin Costner as Molly’s father Larry Bloom.
2) ‘The Post’
Release Date: Friday January 5
Main Stars: Meryl Streep (‘The Iron Lady’), Tom Hanks (‘Forrest Gump’)
Director: Steven Spielberg (‘Catch Me If You Can’)
Summary:
‘The Post’ is a historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg featuring Meryl Streep as The Washington Post‘s first female newspaper publisher Kay Graham and Tom Hanks as her hard-working editor Ben Bradlee. The story follows the two as they publish the leaked documents knowns as the Pentagon Papers, which described the classified involvement of the U.S. government in the Vietnam War. I am extremely excited to see how this true story is brought to life by Hollywood’s elite. Streep and Hanks prove time and time again how they can transform themselves completely into characters based on real people. I cannot wait to see them do it again in this dramatic re-telling of an unrelenting battle between the press and the government.
3) ’12 Strong’
Release Date: Friday January 19
Main Stars: Chris Hemsworth (‘Thor’), Michael Pena (‘Crash’), and Michael Shannon (‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’)
Director: Nicolai Fuglsig (‘Exfil’)
Summary:
’12 Strong’ is an action war film based on the non-fiction book ‘Horse Soldiers’ written by Doug Stanton. The story follows a team of Special Forces operatives as they are deployed to Afghanistan in the aftermath of 9/11. The film stars Chris Hemsworth as Captain Mitch Nelson and I’m intrigued to see how he performs in another role outside of his bread and butter of the God of Thunder. I loved his performances in ‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War’, ‘The Cabin in the Woods’, and ‘Ghostbusters’, so I’m eager to see him continue to build a portfolio outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). I’m also interested to see how the soldiers band together, as Hemsworth is surrounded by an excellent supporting cast including Michael Pena and Michael Shannon.
4) ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’
Release Date: Friday January 26
Main Stars: Dylan O’Brien (‘Teen Wolf’) and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (‘Game of Thrones’)
Director: Wes Ball (‘Maze Runner’ Series)
Summary:
‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ is a sci-fi dystopian film based on the novel of the same name by James Dashner. This is third and final installment of the ‘Maze Runner’ trilogy and picks up from where the events of ‘Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials’ left off. The story follows Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and what’s left of the original Gladers, along with their new friends, as they work together to find a cure for the deadly Flare virus. The second film was released in 2015, however main star Dylan O’Brien was severely injured on set, which is why the final film was pushed to a 2018 release. I’m happy that O’Brien has made a full recovery and I’m eager to see how the story plays out in comparison to the books.
5) ‘Black Panther’
Release Date: Friday February 16
Main Stars: Chadwick Boseman (’42’), Lupita Nyong’o (’12 Years A Slave’) and Michael B. Jordan (‘Creed’)
Director: Ryan Coogler (‘Creed’)
Summary:
‘Black Panther’ is a superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and is the 18th film in the MCU. Chadwick Boseman reprises his role as T’Challa a.k.a. Black Panther, and the film takes place following the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’. The story centres upon T’Challa’s succession to the throne as King of Wakanda after the death of his father. However, this journey may not be as easy as initially anticipated as his claim to the throne is challenged by his long-time enemy Erik ‘Killmonger’ Stevens (Michael B. Jordan). I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS MOVIE, and I am praying that my concussion brain will finally let me see it in theatres!! I fell in love with Chadwick Boseman when he portrayed Jackie Robinson in the film ’42’, but my love grew when he took on the role of T’Challa in ‘Civil War’. I cannot wait to see him square off against Michael B. Jordan as well as to see the help he will receive from the incredible supporting cast of Lupita Nyong’o, Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Daniel Kaluuya and Dana Gurira.
6) ‘Annihilation’
Release Date: Friday February 23
Main Stars: Natalie Portman (‘Black Swan’), Jennifer Jason Leigh (‘The Hateful Eight’) and Gina Rodriguez (‘Jane the Virgin’)
Director: Alex Garland (‘Ex Machina’)
Summary:
‘Annihilation’ is a sci-fi action film based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer. The story follows the aftermath of a mission by a group of soldiers who entered an environmental disaster zone where only one soldier (Oscar Isaac) makes it out alive. In an attempt to save her husband, biologist Lena (Natalie Portman) heads into the danger zone in an attempt to figure out what will cure him. I love the intensity that Natalie Portman brings to her roles and this performance looks like it will not disappoint. Also, I am loving that the expedition she goes on is with a group of powerful women portrayed by an amazing supporting cast of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson.
Extra Film Releases
‘Hostiles’
Release Date: Friday January 19
‘Hostiles’ [Credit: Entertainment Studios]
Summary:
‘Hostiles’ is a western film set in 1892 starring Christian Bale, Paul Anderson, Jesse Plemons and Rosamund Pike. The story follows Captain Joseph Blocker (Bale) as he escorts a Cheyenne war chief and his family through hostile territory back to their home in Montana.
‘Forever My Girl’
Release Date: Friday January 19
‘Forever My Girl’ [Credit: Roadside Attractions]
Summary:
‘Forever My Girl’ is a romantic film based on the novel of the same name by Heidi McLaughlin. The story follows country star Liam (Alex Roe) as tries to win back the heart of Josie (Jessica Rothe), his childhood sweetheart that he left at the altar eight years earlier.
‘Den of Thieves’
Release Date: Friday January 19
‘Den of Thieves’ [Credit: STXfilms]
Summary:
‘Den of Thieves’ is an action heist film featuring Gerard Butler, 50 Cent, and Pablo Schreiber. The film follows a top-tier group of L.A. County Sheriff Deputies, lead by Big Nick O’Brien (Butler), as they work to take down an elusive crew of bank robbers during their mission to takedown L.A.’s Federal Reserve Bank.
‘Winchester’
Release Date: Friday February 2
‘Winchester’ [Credit: Lionsgate]
Summary:
‘Winchester’ is a thriller film featuring Helen Mirren in the lead role of firearm heiress Sarah Winchester. The film follows the widow as she is haunted by the souls of all the people killed by the firearms of her late husband’s gun empire.
‘The 15:17 To Paris’
Release Date: Friday February 9
‘The 15:17 to Paris’ [Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]
Summary:
‘The 15:17 to Paris’ is a thriller drama film directed by Clint Eastwood based on the autobiography ‘The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Soldiers’ by Jeffrey E. Stern. The film stars American soldiers Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos as themselves during their 2015 train ride to Paris as they confronted a terrorist attempting to take over the train.
‘Every Day’
Release Date: Friday February 23
‘Every Day’ [Credit: Orion Pictures]
Summary:
‘Every Day’ is a romantic film based on the novel of the same name by David Levithan. The story follows 16-year-old Rhiannon (Angourie Rice) as she falls in love with a spirit named A who wakes up in a different body each day.
