What’s out? 2nd – 8th Feb

Welcome back to the weekly roundup of films released this week! We have a horror, Oscar-nominated drama, a bank heist action film and a WW1 film released on Friday 2nd Feb. So, are you thinking of heading to the cinema this weekend? Wanting to know a little more about what the new films are about? Well, let me help you out with that one.

Den of Thieves

Synopsis

A gritty crime saga which follows the lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and the state’s most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.

Starring: Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Pablo Schrieber, 50 Cent

Analysis

A bank heist film where not only are the robber’s bad people, for you know robbing. But the police are even worse due to their tactics in getting results! This film sadly does not fill me with that much excitement. I am guessing that due to no Fast and Furious films being released this year that they filled this trailer with as much driving as possible to steal that demographic. I had hoped that O’Shea Jackson would have steered well clear of a film like this as it is an action film prime for the February dumping ground. For those who don’t know… Films that are released in January and February in the UK, but are action orientated are only usually slated there because the studio has limited faith in the film. The one exception was Deadpool and that was because there had to be a gap between superhero films.

I would probably dodge this, but sometimes you just need an action film to get your adrenaline up and I honestly have no idea who will win out between the cops and the robbers…So it could have a decent twist or two in there. Maybe,

Journey’s End

Synopsis

Set in a dugout in Aisne in 1918, it is the story of a group of British officers, led by the mentally disintegrating young officer Stanhope, as they await their fate.

Starring: Paul Bettany, Sam Claflin, Asa Butterfield, Toby Jones

Analysis

There is usually a UK centric WWI or WWII film released in the first couple of months of the year, so it isn’t overly surprising to see one this year. From the trailer, I would be more inclined to see this than 12 Strong from last week as although 12 was based on a true story. Journey’s End looks as if it delves into the actual repercussions of war on these young men who had no idea what they were going into. To me, a smaller, intimate story in the subject of war is rarely touched on and a lot more appealing.

Phantom Thread

Synopsis

Set in 1950’s London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville

Analysis

Slated as Daniel Day-Lewis’ final film (though we have heard that before) and directed by Paul Thomas-Anderson we should have a great film on our hands. Will it be as Good as There Will Be Blood? Most likely not, but there are few films that are. Up for a bunch of Oscars and released just at the right time to make folks aware alert here in the UK. Though, watch out for that third act.

Winchester

Synopsis

Eccentric firearm heiress believes she is haunted by the souls of people killed by the Winchester repeating rifle.

Starring:  Dame Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Sarah Snook

Analysis

The second big horror film release of the year goes the generic haunted house route, but with Dame Helen Mirren and Jason Clarke, we have two very good actors who could prop up the lacklustre premise. When a horror film says based on actual event’s pinch all the salt you can. Or you can do the fun game that I try to do and think of all the horror films you know based on actual events and figure out which ones are actually based on those events and which ones are made from the head of the writer of the film bar the name and location. I didn’t put this on my dread list but it will be mention in my post later in the month about my sadness and disappointment in 2018 for horror.

If you want a film with a few jumps, then this is the film for you.

Next week we have 50 Shades Freed (because the world hates us), Loveless (a film I am very much looking forward to) and Clint Eastwood’s The 15:17 to Paris (Interesting premise). So, see you next time for more movie chatter!

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