With the Oscars approaching, January sees many films which are in contention for awards being released and it’s always great to see actors and actresses, directors, producers and many others at the top of their game. Additionally, there is an ample quotient of films which, although they may not be what the academy historically looks for, will be exciting to watch nonetheless. Consequently, there is plenty to look forward to this month. Check out which films have been shortlisted after the jump.
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The Iron Lady (Out Jan 6)
Margaret Thatcher is the latest figure to get the biopic treatment in this insightful portrayal of an extraordinary and controversial woman. Rather than contemplating on Thatcher’s unpopular policies, Phyllida Lloyd’s film focuses on her rise to power as well as her relationship with her husband Denis. Playing The Iron Lady is none other than Oscar magnet Meryl Streep; she’s been nominated for an Oscar 16 times during her diverse career and has won it twice. The excellent trailer already showcases her acting chops, and she is joined by a strong cast including fellow Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent, so at the very least expect the acting to be of the highest calibre.
Starring | Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman, Anthony Head and Richard E. Grant.
Director | Phyllida Lloyd Certificate | 12A Run Time | 1 hour 45 minutes
Goon (Out Jan 6)
If you’re in the mood for a bit of humour this month, look no further than Goon. In ice hockey terms, ‘The Goon’ is the player who is tasked with protecting their teammates from the opposition, even if it means getting embroiled in a fist fight. Branded an outcast by his brainy family, bouncer Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) is plucked from obscurity to be the ‘goon’ for a minor league hockey team. From the looks of the trailer, Goon could be the ice hockey version of Happy Gilmore. If it can manage to provide a compelling underdog story as well as a few laughs, this could be a fun movie to watch.
Starring | Seann William Scott, Liev Schreiber, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Kim Coates, Eugene Levy and Marc-André Grondin.
Director | Michael Dowse Certificate | 15 Run Time | 1 hour 32 minutes
War Horse (Out Jan 13)
What is so special about War Horse? First it was a book, and then it got adapted into a play which broke box office records during its run in London’s West End. Now it has made its way to the big screen, with Steven Spielberg in the Director’s chair and an impressive cast. War Horse tells the story of young Albert (played by newcomer Jeremy Irvine) and his horse Joey, whose pleasant lifestyles are shattered when Joey is shipped off to the front line of World War I. Undeterred, Albert comes up with a plan to find his horse and bring it back home. The story has been marketed as heart-warming, and with some Oscar buzz already being generated, we’ll soon find out if War Horse can garner the same amount of success on screen as it has off it.
Starring | Jeremy Irvine, Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Mullan and Emily Watson.
Director | Steven Spielberg Certificate | 12A Run Time | 2 hours 26 minutes
Shame (Out Jan 13)
With an excellent breakthrough performance in last year’s X-Men: First Class, Michael Fassbender is at the top of every director’s list. His latest project is a bold and challenging drama entitled Shame; Fassbender plays Brandon, a New Yorker who is unable to control his sex life. When his younger sister (Carey Mulligan) sets up shop in his apartment, Brandon’s world is shaken up. Make no mistake about it; Shame will not hold anything back, giving us a blunt depiction of how sexual need shapes people’s lives. It has already earned praise from critics, winning best actor and critics choice accolades at the Venice Film Festival last year. We’ll see how it fares when audiences get the chance to see it from January 13.
Starring | Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale and Nicole Beharie.
Director | Steve McQueen Certificate | 18 Run Time | 1 hour 41 minutes
The Darkest Hour (Out Jan 13)
After so many films about aliens over the years, is it still possible to approach them in a manner that feels fresh? Chris Gorak, director of fantasy thriller The Darkest Hour, attempts to answer that question emphatically. The plot follows five young people who end up stranded in Moscow fighting to survive an alien invasion. Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov is a producer this time round and the visual effects look stunning. Furthermore, the concept of the aliens being invisible and feeding off energy is imaginative, and I can already see many situations where the 3D would be well utilised. *Sigh* Here we go again…
Starring | Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Rachael Taylor, Max Minghella, Joel Kinnaman and Dato Bakhtadze.
Director | Chris Gorak Certificate | 12A Run Time | 1 hour 29 minutes
Haywire (Out Jan 18)
After 2011’s interesting but bleak drama Contagion, Steven Soderbergh is back with action-packed thriller Haywire. Gina Carano stars as Mallory Kane, a highly trained CIA agent who works in the most dangerous areas of the world. When she is betrayed by someone within her own agency, she becomes the target of skilled assassins, and must find out the truth to stay alive. Carano is a real life MMA fighter, and it is reflected in the trailer with glimpses of some hard-hitting encounters. Among those receiving a beatdown are Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas and Antonia Banderas, an impressive cast by any standards. Look out Angelina – looks like there is a new kick-ass heroine in town…
Starring | Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton and Antonio Banderas.
Director | Steven Soderbergh Certificate | 15 Run Time | 1 hour 33 minutes
Corialanus (Out Jan 20)
I’m not a huge Shakespeare fan, but Ralph Fiennes’ modern adaptation of Corialanus looks to be an intriguing mix of political drama and gritty action. As well as taking on directorial duties for the first time, Fiennes stars as the titular character Corialanus, a Roman general whose autocratic tendencies make him a reviled figure. Banished from Rome for his extreme views, he allies with sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge. With stars such as Oscar-winner Vanessa Redgrave and Brian Cox (X-Men 2) rounding out the strong cast, this awards contender is definitely worth a look.
Starring | Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Chastain, John Kani and James Nesbitt.
Director | Ralph Fiennes Certificate | 15 Run Time | 2 hours 3 minutes
J. Edgar (Out Jan 20)
Meryl Streep is not the only one impersonating a real-life figure this month; Leonardo DiCaprio plays the titular character in Clint Eastwood’s biopic of the secretive former head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover. Spanning over 50 years of American history, the film charts Hoover’s rise to power as well as giving us an insight into his personal life. There have already been whispers of Oscar for this one, and you can decide if it is worthy of a golden statue when it is released on January 20.
Starring | Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Judi Dench and Naomi Watts.
Director | Clint Eastwood Certificate | 15 Run Time | 2 hours 16 minutes
Underworld: Awakening (Out Jan 20)
Underworld: Awakening is the fourth film in the popular franchise, and it takes more than 15 years after the events of Evolution. The stunning Kate Beckinsale reprises her role as deadly vampiress Selene, who wakes up to a world where humans are aware that vampires and werewolves exist and are trying to eliminate both species. If the trailer is anything to go by, we can expect some great action in addition to some impressive visuals. Time will tell if the use of 3D was an inspired idea or not, but there’s still plenty to look forward to. If you need to catch up on your Underworld history, check out the two minute recap trailer below.
Starring | Kate Beckinsale, Tyler McClendon, Sandrine Holt, Robert Lawrenson, Michael Ealy and India Eisley.
Directors | Björn Stein and Måns Mårlind Certificate | 18 Run Time | 1 hour 28 minutes
The Grey (Out Jan 27) *ONE TO WATCH*
Recent performances in The A-Team and Taken both point to the same conclusion – Liam Neeson is a BADASS. Incidentally, Taken 2 will be released later on this year but in The Grey the man with ‘a very particular set of skills’ is Ottoway, a member of an oil drilling team struggling to survive after a plane crash leaves them stranded in the Alaskan wilderness. If battling the elements wasn’t enough, Ottoway’s team also have to contend with a pack of ravenous wolves. This film is about more than survival though; The Grey also promises a profound look at why Neeson’s Ottoway is motivated to get back home. If that’s not enough, the scene where Neeson’s Ottoway affixes broken bottles to his hands and then proceeds to ‘box’ the wolves already looks like a standout. If you need any more reasons as to why this is my one to watch this month, check out the trailer.
Starring | Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, James Badge Dale, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson and Frank Grillo.
Director | Joe Carnahan Certificate | TBC Run Time | TBC
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