OVERRATED OR OSCAR-WORTHY? THE BEST NEW FILMS WORTH WATCHING
Don’t you hate that feeling when you’ve spent 2.5 hours watching a film only to get the end credits and think, “Well that was bit rubbish”? Us too. Fortunately for you however, we’ve been busy watching all the latest big screen releases to bring you our hand-picked selection of the movies we think are actually worth your time.
From Pamela Anderson’s star turn in The Last Showgirl to Adrien Brody’s extraordinary performance in the 3.5-hour-long (there’s an interval, phew!) The Brutalist, these are the films you won't regret watching. You can thank us later....
The Last Showgirl
We’ve got a lot of time for Pamela Anderson (who doesn’t?) and her turn as an ageing Vegas showgirl struggling with an uncertain future is worth all the hype it's getting and more. The bittersweet film focuses on Shelly (Anderson), a 57-year-old dancer grappling with the closure of the Le Razzle Dazzle revue show that she’s been a part of for the past three decades, as well as a difficult relationship with her daughter (played by Billie Lourd). It’s a powerful story of resilience (and rhinestones) and Pamela’s performance is truly brilliant. Will it propel her to Oscar victory? Possibly not, but she’s absolutely a winner in our eyes. In cinemas from 10th February
The Brutalist
Don’t fancy spending 3.5 hours at the cinema? Truth be told, we didn’t either but was it worth it? Without a doubt. It’s also important to note that there’s an interval, so it doesn't feel as long as it should. The film chronicles the journey of Hungarian-born Jewish architect, László Tóth (Adrien Brody) and his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) who emigrate to the US in 1947. Initially forced to toil in poverty, László soon wins a contract that will change the course of the next 30 years of his life. It won big at this year's Golden Globes, led the pack with the most BAFTA nominations and will it scoop an Oscar? Probably. In cinemas from 24th January.
Wicked
It might have been released last November, but we’re still not over the joyful ride that was the big screen adaptation of Wicked. The prequel to The Wizard Of Oz sees Emmy-winning Cynthia Erivo and pop sensation Ariana Grande step into the shoes of the two classmates and friends Elphaba and Galinda who grow up to become the rivalling Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. We defy you not to cry. Available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ (for a fee).
A Complete Unknown
If there’s one thing the world can probably agree on after watching this film, it’s that Timothée Chalamet is an exceptionally good actor. The 29-year-old plays Bob Dylan in the period that made him a megastar. From his early beginnings as an anonymous folk singer looking to make his name in New York’s Greenwich Village to 1965’s Newport Folk Festival, where he scandalised his following by using electric instruments, it's a true trip down memory lane. It’s also a crowd-pleaser - just don’t expect it to be entirely accurate. In cinemas from 17th January.
Maria
Is Angelina Jolie starring in the role of legendary opera singer Maria Callas as good as it sounds? Oh yes! The film opens in 1977 Paris, with Callas’s dead body being removed from her apartment. Slightly morbid, yes, but then the story 'rewinds’ by a week to take us through her final days before her death. While Callas’s voice was used in the film rather than Jolie’s, it takes nothing away from her performance, which is perfectly on point. In cinemas now.
The Substance
Demi Moore’s comeback role is absolutely not your typical Oscar fare – remember when Olivia Colman won for The Favourite or Meryl Streep for The Iron lady? Yeah, the Substance isn’t that. This is a high octane, body horror – a little laugh out loud at times, a lot ‘hand-over-your-eyes/did that just happen?’. Moore plays Elizabeth Sparkle, a former award-winning Hollywood actress turned TV exercise guru. She’s fired from her job after being deemed ‘too old’ by her sleazeball network agent, and much like Death Becomes Her, Sparkle takes the titular Substance, which promises to make her young again. It does, but the fine print means...well, we’ll leave you to find out. The final 20 minutes, played out to a thumping soundtrack, is genuinely jaw-dropping. Available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.
Emilia Pérez
This Spanish-language musical crime drama won Best Picture - Musical or Comedy at this year’s Golden Globes, and for good reason. Sofia Gascón plays Manitas, a Mexican cartel leader who hires to help him transition into living as a woman named Emilia Pérez. Fast forward several years and Pèrez decides she wants to reunite with the family she left behind. It’s bold, ambitious and a cinematic experience you’ll remember long after the credits roll. Available to stream now on Netflix.
A Real Pain
Written, directed and produced by Jesse Eisenberg, this perfectly-timed comedy sees Jewish cousins David (played by Jessie) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to visit the childhood home of their beloved grandmother. Only their road trip soon becomes more of a psychotherapy session (or several) as old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. A thoroughly moving tale of friendship between polar opposites. In cinemas now.
2025-01-16T17:48:46Z
