Going forward, I’ll be previewing notable movies to be (wide) released within the next 30 days at the beginning of each month. I’ve always found it to be a bit of a hassle to keep track of movies that I’d like to see and when they actually get released, so hopefully this will be a helpful tool for everyone. My “intrigue” rating is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being a hard pass and 10 being a must-see.
The Grudge – Friday January 3rd
Intrigue: 3
Do we *really* need another one of these? Trailer looks super generic. Hopefully Sam Raimi producing and Andrea Riseborough (Birdman, Oblivion) and John Cho leading can salvage some of it.
The Informer – Friday January 10th
Intrigue: 4
Seems like a silly premise, seeing as it follows an ex-con and his attempt to head back to prison to bring down the mob. Trailer isn’t anything special either. I’m not much of a Joel Kinnamon fan, but Ana de Armas (Knives Out), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), Common and Clive Owen all bring established reputations. The bar still seems pretty low here, unfortunately.
Just Mercy – Friday January 10th
Intrigue: 6.5
Based on the true story of Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer who heads to Alabama to help a man named Walter McMillian (who is wrongly imprisoned). Interesting trailer that makes it appear well-shot and potentially very moving. Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson are always stellar in whatever they do and I expect that to continue here. O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Tim Blake Nelson also co-star. Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) seems perfectly suited here in the director’s seat.
Underwater – Friday January 10th
Intrigue: 6.5
Some serious The Abyss/Sphere vibes in the trailer. Appears to follow an ocean drilling team and their fight to stay alive after their station is attacked by…something. It’s good to see Kristen Stewart continuing her resurgence. TJ Miller, Vincent Cassel (Black Swan), and John Gallagher Jr. (10 Cloverfield Lane) also co-star. I’m a sucker for Sci-Fi thrillers/horrors so I’m very much ready for this.
Bad Boys for Life – Friday January 17th
Intrigue: 6
It’s been 16 years since we last saw Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, and Joe Pantoliano together on the big screen, but I’m glad they’re finally back. Have no idea what the plot is this time around but that’s not what’s important. We’ll still get plenty of action and Mike and Marcus banter, and that’s all that matters. Vanessa Hudgens also co-stars.
Dolittle – Friday January 17th
Intrigue: 3
A live-action remake following the Doc who can speak to animals. Thought the trailer would be a little more lighthearted and was actually delighted to find post-Avengers Robert Downey Jr. with a very thick accent. Not really sure what to expect from this, just not sure who exactly it’s for. Rest of the cast besides RDJ is also loaded with familiar names (Tom Holland, John Cena, Emma Thompson to name a few). Stephen Gaghan (Syriana) is directing.
The Gentlemen – Friday January 24th
Intrigue: 7
Definitely seems like a movie cut from the same cloth as Snatch (also directed by Ritchie). Trailer is off the rails, so hopefully that’s a good thing. I’ll see anything with McConaughey but throwing Hugh Grant and heavy-accent Colin Farrell into the mix only makes it more enticing. Can’t wait to have fun with it.
The Turning – Friday January 24th
Intrigue: 6
Pretty terrifying trailer, with the overbearing score the most notable part. A young governess (Mackenzie Davis) is hired to help take care of two children who’ve recently lost their parents, but instead finds something terrifying lurking in their home. It’s based on the novella The Turn of the Screw. Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) and Brooklynn Prince star as the kids. Looks like there are plenty of ingredients for a classic horror here, so hopefully that’s what materializes.
Gretel & Hansel – Friday January 31st
Intrigue: 5
Another remake of the classic tale, though this one looks far darker than the last one. Trailer is spooky to say the least. Sophia Lillis (IT) and Sammy Leake star as the titular characters, with Alice Krige (Thor: The Dark World) as Holda. I think it turns out pretty eery, hopefully this new take is more than just that though.
The Rhythm Section – Friday January 31st
Intrigue: 5
The description for this movie is wild. Apparently it’s about a woman who takes the identity of an assassin to find out who was responsible for the plane crash that killed her family. That’s a concept that sounds loaded with potential (even if it’s hard to take much from the bizarre trailer). Just not sure this is a very good role for someone like Blake Lively (though I certainly hope she proves me wrong!). Reed Morano is directing with Jude Law and Sterling K. Brown co-starring.