One of the most packed weekend with Must-See releases, and I doubt that you can fit all of them in one week. Keep reading for all the movies out!
All the Money in the World
Directed by: Ridley Scott
With: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, and Mark Wahlberg
What is it about? The story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.
Heads Up: This film went through an uphill battle, ever since the the controversy around its original costar Kevin Spacey broke, threatening its very existence, and kudos to 80 years old director Ridley Scott for being able to save the day by reshooting all the the scenes of Spacey (who was replaced with Christopher Plummer), and even managed to get it out on time. Our own Faizan Rashid was not very impressed by the film, giving it 2/5 in his review, but even he found a bright spot in Mr. Plummer performance. From the review: “The only reason anyone should sit through over two hours of watching the clumsy race to find the ransom money and never-ending banal talk is Plummer playing Getty Sr. as the best screen incarnation of Scrooge“.
The Florida Project
Directed by: Sean Baker
With: Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe
What is it about? Set over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Disney World.
Heads Up: One of the year’s highest acclaimed films with a cast of unknown and first-times actors (with the exception of Willem Dafoe). Sean Baker‘s previous film Tangerine, which he shot with an iPhone camera, had won a ton of accolade and was also one of 2015’s most acclaimed films. The Florida Project is getting more mainstream success and got nominated to many prestigious awards, including a “Best Supporting Actor” Oscar nomination for Willem Dafoe, so I am so eager to see this film, and it goes without saying that I highly recommend it.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Directed by: Wes Ball
With: Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, and Patricia Clarkson
What is it about? Young hero Thomas embarks on a mission to find a cure for a deadly disease known as the “Flare”.
Heads Up: This is third installment in the YA series which had a modest critical and commercial reception with its previous two films. This one is the conclusion to the series, so if you were already a fan, then you might as well see this one through, but there is no rush to watch it, especially with the kind of films that are coming out this weekend.
The Breadwinner
Directed by: Bryan Buckley
With: Evan Peters, Barkhad Abdi, Melanie Griffith, and Al Pacino
What is it about? A headstrong young girl in Afghanistan disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family.
Heads Up: This is from the Irish animation studio Cartoon Salon which made two Oscar nominated films in the last 10 years (Secret of Kells, and Song of The Sea). This one is also a winner and a nominee for a slew of awards, including an Oscar nomination for “Best Animated Feature Film” and it also looks gorgeous and tells a very powerful and important story. So yeah take the family and go see it.
The Death of Stalin
Directed by: Armando Iannucci
With: Steve Buscemi, Rupert Friend, Paddy Considine, Andrea Riseborough, Jason Isaacs, and Jeffrey Tambor
What is it about? Follows the Soviet dictator’s last days and depicts the chaos of the regime after his death.
Heads Up: This is a film we did not find the time to squeeze in when it screened at DIFF2017 (we were so busy, OK!), and now we will get a chance to catch up. It is from Armando Iannucci, the mastermind behind TV’s VEEP, The Thick of It, and the writer/director of the brilliant political satire film In The Loop, so even though this weekend is packed with films to see, this one should get your attention as well.
Good Time
Directed by: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
With: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Taliah Webster, and Jennifer Jason Leigh
What is it about? After a heist goes awry, a bank robber spends a night trying to free his mentally handicapped brother from being sent to Riker’s Island prison.
Heads Up: DIFF365 and Vox Mall of Emirates bring us this highly acclaimed crime drama which is in many “best of 2017” lists, including our own critics. In a rare 5/5 review, our editor-in-chief Faizan Rashid called it “Remarkably exhilarating and utterly unforgettable, Good Time completely delivers on the bold promise of its title”. I also think it is a really good film, and needs to be seen by cinephiles.
Padmaavat
Directed by: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
With: Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh
What is it about? Set in medieval Rajasthan, Queen Padmavati is married to a noble king and they live in a prosperous fortress with their subjects until an ambitious Sultan hears of Padmavati’s beauty and forms an obsessive love for the Queen of Mewar.
Heads Up: Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s latest film is also his third film in a row starring Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, who make for one of the most memorable Bollywood duos in recent years. This film was marred with controversy and faced a lot of violent protest throughout its production, and it might ignite a fresh round of riot now that’s being released. Beyond all that, Mr. Bhansali makes gorgeous films, even if they go a little bit longer than they need to be, and his grip on the plot machination is not always good. Early reviews are not very positive calling it “boring” and “tedious Rajput-worshipping”.
