This weekend of January has it all: a prestigious Oscar contender, an action sequel, a remake, an arthouse period drama, and more. So keep reading.
Parasite
Directed by: Bong Joon Ho
With: Song Kang Ho, Lee Sun Kyun, Cho Yeo Jeong, Choi Woo Shik, Park So Dam, Lee Jung Eun, and Kim Chung-sook
What is it about: All unemployed, Ki-taek and his family take peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks, as they ingratiate themselves into their lives and get entangled in an unexpected incident.
Heads Up: From acclaimed Korean director Bong Joon Ho (The Host, Mother, Snowpiercer, Okja) comes this film that is not only a smashing commercial success around the world, but also a critical hit with critics calling it one of the best films of the decade. It won The Palme d’Or at Cannes amongst its numerous accolades, and it’s a strong contender to win big prizes at the Oscars where it’s competing for 6 awards including Best Picture, Best International Film, and Best Director. So see it cinema, and then see it again if you can.
Bad Boys for Life
Directed by: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
With: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and Joe Pantoliano
What is it about: The Bad Boys Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett are back together for one last ride in the highly anticipated Bad Boys for Life.
Heads Up: The third in the Bad Boys series comes 25 years after the first and 17 years after the second. Lawrence and Smith aren’t exactly boys anymore, and they aren’t the box-office draw they used to be either. The first two were directed by Michael Bay, who is not returning to the director’s chair this time around, and instead a pair of European imports are helming this one. See it if you are nostalgic for the franchise, but keep your expectations in-check.
Dolittle
Directed by: Stephen Gaghan
With: Robert Downey Jr., Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Rami Malek, Emma Thompson, John Cena, Kumail Nanjiani, Octavia Spencer, and Tom Holland
What is it about: A physician discovers that he can talk to animals.
Heads Up: This star-studded remake of Dr. Dolittle starring Robert Downey Jr. is his first leading post Iron-Man/Avengers. This looks like a tentpole summer flick, so releasing it in January (which is often considered a studio dumping ground) doesn’t bode well for its future, and indeed the reviews just came out yesterday and they are calling it a catastrophe and a train-wreck, with the general consensus that “it may be enough to entertain very young viewers, but they deserve better than this rote adaptation’s jumbled story and stale humor“. It’s up to you, but I’m skipping this one.
A Hidden Life
Directed by: Terrence Malick
With: August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, Matthias Schoenaerts, Maria Simon, Bruno Ganz, and Michael Nyqvist
What is it about: The Austrian Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector, refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II.
Heads Up: This drama based on true events is considered Terrence Malick‘s best film since Tree of Life. If you are a fan of this auteur’s work, then this one has to be in your list.
