5 Films You Can’t Miss in February 2015

The Interview

Now there’s a slight chance you may have heard of this one already. If you haven’t, then you really need to start paying more attention to the outside world, as this Seth Rogen and James Franco-starring comedy is cited as being one of the most controversial film releases of all time. That’s all down to the film’s premise, which has its protagonists set off to North Korea to kill the dictator Kim Jong-un. The reaction – and subsequent decision to pull this film from the movie theatres, which has since been revoked – is intended to deter the public from wanting to see it. But let’s face it, it serves only to make us all the more intrigued, even if it turns out to be unworthy of the hype.

Jupiter Ascending

From the creative minds behind The Matrix franchise, comes Andy and Lana Wachowski’s latest endeavour, Jupiter Ascending. Though the release for this movie was pushed back – which is never a good sign – with the likes of Channing Tatum and Eddie Redmayne on board, there’s still more than enough to pique our interest. When you throw Mila Kunis, Sean Bean, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Terry Gilliam into the mix, we are well and truly intrigued.

Selma

Criminally overlooked in a variety of categories at the Oscars, Ava DuVernay’s profound Martin Luther King biopic Selma has been included in the Best Picture race, which is befitting of a film that will move and compel you like no other. With a stunning turn from lead star David Oyelowo, this subtle production brings an incredible degree of nuance and humanity to such a revered icon. To even label this a biopic seems unfair; it’s just an important, captivating movie. And a really bloody good one at that.

It Follows

It’s not every year you get a horror movie up to the standard of It Follows. David Robert Mitchell’s second film is presented in a stylistic, teen movie way – and yet the finished product could not be further from this; being a chilling, haunting piece that stays with you for a long, long time. Maika Monroe plays the lead Jay, who can’t escape the sense that she’s being followed. Well let me tell you, she is being followed – and it’s terrifying. The first thing you may want to do after seeing this movie is to buy running shoes – because walking down the street alone has just become one of the scariest propositions you could possibly imagine.

Love Is Strange

Few films have depicted love and companionship quite like Ira Sach’s latest production. With two exceptional lead performances from John Lithgow and Alfred Molina, this is a film that is brutally honest and tackles strong themes; and yet has a warmth and affability to it all the way through. Love is Strange – and so are any of your excuses not to see this movie.