Flickreel’s Winter 2015 Movie Preview

Ah, the winter. Known, primarily, as the season of goodwill, it’s a time to reflect on the year just gone, and embark on the next one coming. Mulled wine is on the menu, we have an abundance of new socks to choose from, and characters in Eastenders seem to be dropping like flies. But the most important aspect of the bitterly cold months we have no choice but to embrace every year, is cinema.

For the winter represents the award’s season. Between December and February, those most hopeful of winning Oscars are released, as every week we have an internal battle as to which picture we’re going to pay to see – often resulting in a triple bill to ensure we’re left satisfied. It’s the time of year family films are out for Christmas, and the more grown-up endeavours hit our screens too, with a remarkable collection of films for us to indulge in. Let’s go through our highlights then, shall we?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

You may have heard of this one. The Force Awakens is the biggest cinematic release – collecting the most fanfare and fascination – since, well, The Phantom Menace – except this time, we’re actually confident it’s going to be really, really good. With J.J. Abrams at the helm, and an intriguing cast blending the old with the new, there are several good reasons why we’re excited. Also, it’s a new Star Wars movie. A new Star Wars movie.

In the Heart of the Sea

Ron Howard’s latest picture, set in 1820, depicts the breathtaking set of events that inspired Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. Hoping for a somewhat better outing that the Danny Glover and Vinnie Jones production Age of the Dragons, which took from the same tale, we’re rather encouraged by the inclusion of Ben Whishaw, Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson. Tom Holland, AKA Spider-Man is also on board. Literally.

The Danish Girl

Academy Award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne returns to the silver screen, to portray Danish artist Einar Wegener in Tom Hooper’s latest production. Starring opposite Alicia Vikander – in a career best performance – we study a man who wanted to become a woman, and so did: eventually becoming known as Lili. This profound, moving drama is pure Oscar bait – and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if the Academy were to bite.

Joy

Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro star in a David O. Russell film, and the surprise is, it’s not even 2012. Instead, the trio return to the screen together in Joy, the story of a woman who builds a dynasty. It must be good too, because unlike the director’s preceding endeavour, the abomination that was Accidental Love, the filmmaker has actually put his real name to this one.

The Hateful Eight

Very little to say about this one other than the fact it’s a new Tarantino flick, which, in itself, is enough of a reason to give it a shot. With a familiar cast assembled, featuring regulars such as Samuel L. Jackson and Tim Roth, it’s intriguing to see what Channing Tatum can bring to the mix. It’s the venerable director’s eighth film, and if the previous two are anything to go by, it could be one of his very best.

Creed

The idea of a new addition to the Rocky franchise is hardly a salivating one – but Creed is a little different. Sylvester Stallone turns trainer, mentoring Adonis Johnson – played by Michael B. Jordon, who is the son of former rival Apollo Creed. If you needed any other reason why you should be incredibly excited about this release, well, it’s directed by Ryan Coogler whose debut feature Fruitvale Station is one of the most poignant and compelling dramas released this side of the millennium. Also, who doesn’t love a good old boxing movie?

The Revenant

Fresh off the back of Birdman – which won the top prize at the Oscars earlier in the year – Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu returns rather swiftly, by his standards, with The Revenant. The trailer is absurd, but so mesmerising. What to expect, well we haven’t really the foggiest, but sometimes going in knowing as little as possible is a good thing. Though we do know something: the lead roles belong to Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. That’s not a bad start.

Room

You’ll be hard pressed to find a film this coming year that can move you in quite the same Room will manage. Directed by Lenny Abrahamson and based on the popular Emma Donoghue novel, Room picked up the top prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, and deservedly so. Brie Larson turns in her finest performance yet, while the title marks the beginning of what could be an illustrious career for the young Jacob Tremblay.

The Big Short

Adam McKay is renowned, primarily, for his comedic endeavours. With The Other Guys, Step Brothers and Anchorman in his back catalogue, it’s intriguing to see him turn his head to something a little more serious, with the financial drama The Big Short soon to hit our screens. Brad Pitt stars alongside Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Steve Carell, as four outsiders who take on the world of finance. Seems like a thankless task, but needless to say we’ll be there to see it unravel.

Spotlight

Talking of thankless tasks, that’s exactly what it feels like for the investigative journalist team attempting to uncover a dark and disturbing set of events that took place in Catholic Church, on behalf of the Boston Globe back in 2001. Tom McCarthy’s well-paced Spotlight manages to remain on the right side of melodrama throughout, with star turns from Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Stanley Tucci. This is one you really don’t want to miss.

Youth

How does any director follow up The Great Beauty? The film that took home the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film back in 2014, is one of the most indelible cinematic experiences you can hope for. But somehow, Italian auteur Paolo Sorrentino has managed to release a picture equally as innovative, resourceful and downright absurd – in the most endearing way possible – with Youth. Starring Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel, there are few words you can use to describe this particular offering, except that it’s bloody brilliant.

Deadpool

The superhero genre is on something of a high at the moment, but whatever goes up, must, inevitably, come down. However Deadpool appears to be turning the genre on its head, with a foul-mouthed, eponymous protagonist, played by Ryan Reynolds. Director Tim Miller appears to be affectionately abiding by the tropes of the superhero movie, but at the same time offering something completely new that ensures we remain utterly beguiled by the Marvel Universe. Perhaps not one to take your kids to, mind.

Triple Nine

We all love a good heist movie, and it would appear that John Hillcoat is aware of that fact, as he presents his latest feature Triple Nine. With Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie and Casey Affleck all featuring, this has the potential to be one helluva heist.

Grimsby

Sacha Baron Cohen is undoubtedly one of the most creative, daring comedians of his generation. The man behind Ali G, Borat and Bruno is now set to release just his second cinematic offering outside of his regular disguises, following on from The Dictator in 2012. In Grimsby, he plays a football hooligan who teams up with his spy brother, played by Mark Strong, for a deadly assignment. It sounds irreverent, stupid and completely inane – and we didn’t expect anything less.

Hail, Caesar!

While looking forward, fervently, to see what Channing Tatum can bring to Tarantino’s world, now let’s see what he can offer the Coen brothers, as he stars in their latest feature, the comedy/musical Hail, Caesar! Scarlett Johansson is also involved, as is Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Josh Brolin, Jonah Hill, and of course, regular collaborators Frances McDormand and George Clooney. Set in the glorious, romanticised Hollywood era of the 1950s, it’s fair to say that with this abundance of quite incredible films of the horizon, in a few decades we could be looking back rather fondly at this particular time, too.