UK Cinema Releases: 23rd February

Welcome back to the weekly roundup of films released this week in UK cinemas and also Netflix! We have a Blade Runner-esque Sci-Fi, an Oscar-nominated comedy-drama, and a family drama released on Friday 23rd Feb. So, if are you thinking of heading to the cinema this weekend and need to know what to look out for with the new releases, let me help you out with that one.

 

Dark River

Synopsis

Following the death of her father, Alice (Ruth Wilson) returns home to Yorkshire for the first time in 15 years, to claim the tenancy of the family farm she believes is rightfully hers. Once there she encounters her older brother Joe (Mark Stanley) a man she barely recognizes, worn down by years of struggling to keep the farm going whilst caring for their sick father.

Starring: Ruth Wilson, Mark Stanley, Sean Bean

Analysis

There is quite a bit of mystery to this story from the trailer, you are asking yourself a number of questions and that is good. It is intriguing to see where the characters go during the process of the film. Will Alice be able to recover from what happened and move forward with her life? Will Joe be able to cope with the farm and with what happened to his sister and the after-effects of that?

The film is set in rural England and perfectly displays the beauty and the grimness of the area with the gorgeous landscapes entrancing you, but the constant grey clouds keeping you tense. I am looking forward to catching this one.

 

I, Tonya

Synopsis

Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.

Starring: Margot Robbie, Allison Janney, Sebastian Stan

Analysis

Based on true events, this film has been nominated for a number of Oscars and for Allison Janney in the Best Supporting Actress has been winning in other awards shows. I, Tonya seems to be taking a cue from The Big Short in its representation and you cannot go wrong with that as that tongue in cheek style works wonders.  Margot Robbie excels as usual and is able to hide within her character, aided by the fact that she is one of the few who is able to completely change their accent to the role.

This should be your pick of the week unless you are in Northern Ireland and Ireland where Lady Bird is just being released this week. Then you have three great choices to pick from. Am I saying for you to go to the cinema multiple times this week? Yes, yes I am!

 

Mute (Netflix or in a Curzon cinema)

Synopsis

Berlin. Forty years from today. A roiling city of immigrants, where East crashes against West in a science-fiction Casablanca. Leo Beiler, a mute bartender has one reason and one reason only for living here, and she’s disappeared. But when Leo’s search takes him deeper into the city’s underbelly, an odd pair of American surgeons seem to be the only recurring clue, and Leo can’t tell if they can help, or who he should fear most.

Starring: Eugen Bauder, Alexander Skarsgård, Robert Sheehan, Paul Rudd,  Justin Theroux

Analysis

A misfire if I ever saw one, and it is horrible to say that as I loved Moon and Source Code, but I feel allowing Duncan Jones to get stuck for a number of years on a project hurts the film, and now himself a little too much. Skarsgard is either miscast or just forgot how to use his facial features when playing a mute. In a quick comparison, you become enthralled with Sally Hawkins character in The Shape of Water by her ability to emote. If we had gotten an ounce of that from Skarsgard, maybe the film could have done better. If this had been centred more towards Paul Rudd’s character as he tries to assist others then this would be a bit more compelling, but alas, it is another one to forget and not one I would say to run to in the limited cinemas showing it. A lazy Sunday where you don’t want to focus on much might be the best place for it, which is worrying trend with Netflix features.

Next week we have Jennifer Lawrence’s Red Sparrow, A Fantastic Woman, the comedy Game Night (actually have high hopes for this) and the animation Monster Family. So, see you next time for more movie chatter!

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