Movie of the Week

• Wicked

Cinemas

• Layla
• Blink
• The Man with a Thousand Faces
• Snow Leopard
• The Magic Reindeer: Saving Santa’s Sleigh

Streaming/On-Demand

• The Piano Lesson
• Joy
• Spellbound
• The Merry Gentlemen
• Out of My Mind
• Bread & Roses
• Absolution
• Witches

CAST: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, Peter Dinklage, Aaron Teoh, Grecia de la Paz, Colin Michael Carmichael, Adam James, Alice Fearn, Andy Nyman, Courtney-Mae Briggs, Sharon D. Clarke, Jenna Boyd, Karis Musongole

CREW: Jon M. Chu (director), Dana Fox and Winnie Holzman (writers), Marc Platt and David Stone (producers), John Powell (composer), Alice Brooks (cinematographer), Myron Kerstein (editor)

PLOT: In the land of Oz, green-skinned Elphaba Thropp (Erivo) attends Shiz University where she shares a room with popular student Galinda Upland (Grande). As Elphaba and Galinda form an unsteady bond, they embark on an adventure that will ultimately determine their fates…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The hugely popular musical is finally brought to the big screen, with this being the first of a major two-part adaptation (Part 2 is set for release next year)
• Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande illuminate the screen as two of Oz’s most iconic residents, leading a cast that also includes Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum as the not-so-wonderful Wizard of Oz himself
• Many of the well-known songs are performed with gusto by the cast, and set to some dazzling effects in front of some exquisite production and costume design
• The film dives deeper into its characters and world-building, thanks to an extended runtime that allows for further exploration of the themes found within Act 1 of the musical
• Until the story concludes next year, feel yourself falling in love with the power and the magic of Oz once more on the biggest screen possible

Wicked is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Bilal Hasna, Louis Greatorex, Safiyya Ingar, Terique Jarrett, Darkwah, Sarah Agha, Baby, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Buket Komur, Emma McDonald, Ghazi Al Ruffai

CREW: Amrou Al-Kadhi (director, writer), Savannah James-Bayly (producer), CJ Mirra (composer), Craig Dean Devine (cinematographer), Fiona Brands (editor)

PLOT: Layla (Hasna), a struggling drag queen, hides their desperate desire for love underneath a confident persona. After a disastrous performance at a corporate Pride event, Layla catches the attention of marketing executive Max (Greatorex), with whom they begin a whirlwind romance that is threatened by Layla’s growing insecurities…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• After this year’s outstanding drag romance Unicorns, the vibes continue with this joyful and emotionally complex drama
• Bilal Hasna delivers a compelling central performance as a drag queen in search of genuine human connection
• It is a striking feature debut for writer-director Amrou Al-Kadhi, who sensitively depicts life as someone juggling multiple identities
• Some of the drag performances are among the most memorable in recent cinema, thanks to some sweet music choices and captivating cinematography
• As in Unicorns, you’ll feel ecstatic when in the company of queer artists who love what they do and are proud of who they ultimately are

Layla is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Édith Lemay, Sébastien Pelletier, Mia Pelletier, Léo Pelletier, Colin Pelletier, Laurent Pelletier

CREW: Daniel Roher and Edmund Stenson (directors), Diane Becker and Melanie Miller (producers), Tamar-kali (composer), Jean-Sébastien Francoeur (cinematographer), Ryan Mullins and Miranda Yousef (editors)

PLOT: Édith Lemay and Sébastien Pelletier, a Canadian couple, receive devastating news that three of their children have been diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease that will eventually rob them of their eyesight. In response, the couple decide to take their family on a trip around the world to let them experience the world in all its beauty before they no longer can…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• A family’s tragedy ultimately becomes its greatest strength in this powerful documentary about the unconditional love between all members of a tight familial unit
• The film is co-directed by Daniel Roher, previously of the Oscar-winning documentary Navalny about the late Russian politician
• You’ll fall in love with this couple as they do everything in their power to give their children the opportunity to experience life before it is so cruelly taken from them
• Some exceptional shots of international locations, from snowy mountains to far-reaching plains, similarly take the audience on a journey across the world’s many wonders
• Despite the impending condition, the film is ultimately filled with hope that life can be lived even without all of the senses intact

Blink is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Various

CREW: Sonia Kronlund (director, writer), Elisabeth Perez (producer), Filip Drózdz, Alexander Nanau, Zara Popovici and Julien Poupard (cinematographers), Sophie Brunet (editor)

PLOT: A small group of women unite after realising that they are connected by a single anonymous lover who frequently changes his identity, his profession, and every other detail about him. With the help of a private investigator, they conduct a study into who this mysterious man may truly be…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The ultimate catfish is the subject of this mysterious and surprisingly suspenseful documentary from filmmaker Sonia Kronlund
• The French documentarian follows the numerous victims of a man with the seemingly inhuman ability to keep changing everything about himself
• Some shocking developments in the central women’s search are captured directly on camera, including the extravagant number of people that his fraudulence may also have affected
• It reveals how painfully easy it can be for anyone to alter their identity in an age of intricate technology and software
• The film ultimately leads to a conclusion that will catch you off guard, but not necessarily in the ways you might be expecting

The Man with a Thousand Faces is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Jinpa, Xiong Ziqi, Tseten Tashi, Losang Choepel, Genden Phuntsok

CREW: Pema Tseden (director, writer), Lei Wang (producer), Dukar Tserang (composer), Matthias Delvaux (cinematographer), Jin Di (editor)

PLOT: In a village within the Tibetan mountains, a snow leopard sneaks into a sheep pen and kills nine rams. While the herder (Jinpa) angrily demands retribution and compensation as a camera crew captures the unusual event, the herder’s monk brother (Tashi) opts for a more humane solution…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This studious and contemplative drama explores the fragile balance between nature and humanity
• It is the final film by prominent Chinese Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden, who tragically passed away shortly before the film’s 2023 festival debut
• Some striking visual effects bring the titular snow leopard to life, turning it into a character with its own personality and emotional arc
• The film raises numerous important questions about what it is to conserve tradition and to coexist in a rapidly changing world
• It’s a bittersweet farewell from the filmmaker, who leaves us with one last captivating study of human and animal nature

Snow Leopard is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Matthew Whelan, Emma Jenkins, Dermot Magennis

CREW: Kari Juusonen (director, writer), Hannu Tuomainen (writer, producer), Marteinn Thorisson (writer), Antti Haikala (producer), Eimear Noone (composer), Benjamin Mercer (editor)

PLOT: Niko (Whelan), a young reindeer, is given the opportunity to fly along with Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. However, when the sleigh is suddenly stolen, Niko sets out on a journey to retrieve it…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Families can get into the Christmas spirit with this fun and imaginative animated adventure
• It is the third film in the successful European franchise about a heroic young reindeer named Niko
• Fans of the series may recognise some familiar faces among the cast of colourful characters, while newcomers can be delighted by their hilarious antics
• Some valuable life lessons about the importance of helping others will go over well with the film’s young target audience
• Christmas may be just over a month away, but now’s the perfect time to start counting down the days, which this film should encourage quite strongly!

The Magic Reindeer: Saving Santa’s Sleigh is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler, Corey Hawkins, Melanie Jeffcoat, Gail Bean, Jerrika Hinton, Stephan James, Malik J. Ali, Jay Peterson, Matrell Smith

CREW: Malcolm Washington (director, writer), Virgil Williams (writer), Todd Black and Denzel Washington (producers), Alexandre Desplat (composer), Michael Gioulakis (cinematographer), Leslie Jones (editor)

PLOT: In 1930s Pittsburgh, Boy Willie Charles (Washington) arrives at the house of his uncle Doaker (Jackson) and his sister Berniece (Deadwyler) to try and persuade them to let him sell the family heirloom – a piano with their enslaved ancestors carved into it – in order to purchase his own land. However, Berniece stubbornly refuses to part with the piano, and its possibly supernatural components…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The latest in producer Denzel Washington’s adaptations of playwright August Wilson’s works is the most cinematic adaptation yet
• Malcolm Washington, the Oscar-winning actor’s son, makes his directorial debut with this genre-bending drama, while his other son John David Washington takes on a pivotal lead role
• The ensemble cast is made up of standout character actors, including Samuel L. Jackson, Justice League survivor Ray Fisher, and Danielle Deadwyler in a truly captivating supporting turn
• As in Wilson’s original play, the film touches upon some surprising supernatural elements that tie into the dark history of this central family
• It’s a riveting emotional experience that almost transcends its stage origins to become something far more deserving of the screen

The Piano Lesson is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton, Bill Nighy, Joanna Scanlan, Charlie Murphy, Tanya Moodie, Ella Bruccoleri, Rish Shah

CREW: Ben Taylor (director), Jack Thorne (writer), Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey (producers), Steven Price (composer), Jamie Cairney (cinematographer), David Webb (editor)

PLOT: In 1968, student nurse Jean Purdy (McKenzie) collaborates with scientist Robert Edwards (Norton) and veteran surgeon Patrick Steptoe (Nighy) to develop the world’s first IVF treatment, leading to the birth of the first child conceived via the procedure…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This extremely likeable account of the controversial but ultimately inspiring development of IVF will warm your heart in all the right places
• Ben Taylor, a veteran of Netflix’s Sex Education, makes his feature directorial debut with a script by prolific writer Jack Thorne
• Thomasin McKenzie radiates charm and charisma opposite James Norton and Bill Nighy, whom the young actor shares meaningful on-screen chemistry with
• The film touches upon the relentless backlash from conservative scientific and religious communities, who were quite fierce in their disdain for the then-unproven scientific reproductive method
• The end results will certainly leave you in a touching spot, as well as with the firm belief that IVF is a vital procedure that every woman should have unrestricted access to

Joy is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, Nathan Lane, Javier Bardem, Nicole Kidman

CREW: Vicky Jenson (director), Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin and Julia Miranda (writers), Bruce Anderson, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and John Lasseter (producers), Alan Menken (composer), Todd Heapy and Miguel Pablos Contreras (cinematographers), Susan Fitzer (editor)

PLOT: In the magical kingdom of Lumbria, the tenacious young princess Ellian (Zegler) must set out on a journey to break a spell that has transformed her parents, King Solon (Bardem) and Queen Ellsmere (Kidman), into monsters…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The second feature from Skydance Animation is a glorious fairy tale musical that should enchant the whole family
• Rachel Zegler leads a starry voice cast that also includes Oscar winners Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman, as well as familiar character actors like John Lithgow and Nathan Lane
• Former Pixar head honcho John Lasseter is one of the producers on the film, and has recruited Shrek co-director Vicky Jenson to lead the charge, as well as legendary Disney composer Alan Menken to create some dazzling new musical numbers
• The colourful animation introduces a whole new world (to quote one of Menken’s most memorable Disney tracks) filled with magic, humour and plenty of imagination
• It could well position Skydance as a new challenger to the crown of animation, opposite the likes of Pixar, DreamWorks, Laika and many others

Spellbound is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes, Marc Anthony Samuel

CREW: Peter Sullivan (director, producer), Marla Sokoloff (writer), Barry Barnholtz, Brian Nolan and Jeffrey Schenck (producers), Brooke DeRosa (composer), Lars Lindstrom (cinematographer), Randy Carter (editor)

PLOT: Ashley (Robertson), a former Broadway dancer, learns that her parents’ small-town performing arts venue is in danger of foreclosure. In order to save the theatre, Ashley decides to stage a Christmas-themed all-male revue…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Get ready for a raunchier side to Christmas with this fun festive comedy with plenty of eye-candy for all!
• Britt Robertson leads the charge as she whips a collective of muscular and impossibly good-looking men into shape for a good cause
• She shares some saucy chemistry with Chad Michael Murray, as one of the dancers who takes a shining to his new boss
• Director Peter Sullivan is no stranger to Christmas movies, having made dozens of titles for Netflix and the Hallmark Channel, while screenwriter Marla Sokoloff is best known as Gia on the hit sitcom Full House
• If you’re after some delightful festive cheer, then there’s no better place to get that on top of some formidable abs!

The Merry Gentlemen is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Wednesday 20 November 2024

CAST: Phoebe-Rae Taylor, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Kirby, Judith Light, Michael Chernus, Courtney Taylor, Emily Mitchell, Christian Rose, David Klein, Jennifer Aniston

CREW: Amber Sealey (director), Daniel Stiepleman (writer), Dan Angel, Michael B. Clark, Robert Kessel and Peter Saraf (producers), Linda Perry (composer), Noah Greenberg (cinematographer), Jacob Craycroft (editor)

PLOT: Melody Brooks (Taylor), a non-speaking paraplegic with cerebral palsy, navigates school life with the support of her friends, family, and her inner voice who happens to be Jennifer Aniston (herself)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Disney’s newest coming-of-age drama is an inspiring story that breaks down many of the barriers surrounding disability representation
• Director Amber Sealey’s film is adapted from the book by Sharon M. Draper, which tells the unique story of a child who strives for independence despite her condition
• Phoebe-Rae Taylor, a debut young actor from Essex who has the same disability as the character she plays, leaves a striking impression opposite her more able co-stars
• The actor is also fortunate enough to have none other than Jennifer Aniston provide her character’s inner monologue, giving her a voice that is recognisable by all
• Charming and uplifting in all the right ways, this is a coming-of-age film that anyone, able-bodied or otherwise, can easily relate to

Out of My Mind is streaming exclusively on Disney+ from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Zahra Mohammadi, Taranom Seyedi, Sharifa Movahidzadeh

CREW: Sahra Mani (director, producer), Justine Ciarrocchi and Jennifer Lawrence (producers), Masoud Sekhavat Doust (composer), Abdul Sami Murtaza (cinematographer), Marie Mavati and Hayedeh Safiyari (editors)

PLOT: In 2021, after the Taliban takes control of the Afghan city of Kabul, three women set out in real time to reclaim their autonomy before it is stripped away…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This powerful and angering documentary focuses on the seismic effect on women’s rights in Afghanistan after the 2021 Taliban takeover
• Filmmaker Sahra Mani depicts the journey of three different women – a dentist, a former government employee, and an activist – within the newly restrictive atmosphere
• Oscar-winning A-lister Jennifer Lawrence produces the film through her production company Excellent Cadaver
• It had a special screening at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it won critical praise for its fierce subject matter
• You’ll be inspired to make a stand for women’s rights all over the world, including Afghanistan, after watching this gripping and emotional feature

Bread and Roses is streaming exclusively on Apple TV+ from Friday 22 November 2024

CAST: Liam Neeson, Ron Perlman, Frankie Shaw, Daniel Diemer, Yolonda Ross, Levon Panek, Ghia Truesdale, Tom Kemp, Bruce Busta Soscia, Ryan Homchick, Josh Drennen, William Xifaras, Javier Molina, Kayla Kohla, Omar Moustafa Ghonim, Kris Eivers, Ryan Caraway

CREW: Hans Petter Moland (director), Tony Gayton (writer), Michael Besman, Roger Birnbaum, Eric Gold and Warren Goz (producers), Kaspar Kaae (composer), TBA (cinematographer), Dino Jonsäter (editor)

PLOT: An aging gangster (Neeson), eager to do right by his estranged family, takes on a new job for a local mob boss (Perlman), only for things to take a more meaningful turn…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Liam Neeson does what Liam Neeson does best in this thrilling and emotional crime thriller
• He plays a seasoned mobster who – shocker! – desires to protect his family from his shady past
• The veteran actor livens up scenes opposite Ron Perlman, in a sinister villain role as a fellow gangster
• He also reunites with director Hans Petter Moland, who directed Neeson in the dark comedy Cold Pursuit
• It’s a reliable vehicle for the action star, as well as a formidable use of his many dramatic talents

Absolution is streaming exclusively on Sky Cinema from Saturday 23 November 2024

CAST: Catherine Cho, Sophia Di Martino, David Emson, Marion Gibson, Trudi Seneviratne, Shema Tariq

CREW: Elizabeth Sankey (director, writer, editor), Jeremy Warmsley (producer, composer), Manon Ardisson and Chiara Ventura (producers), Chloë Thomson (cinematographer)

PLOT: The connections between postpartum mental health and the portrayal of witches in Western society and general popular culture is explored…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Filmmaker Elizabeth Sankey dives into society’s widely accepted view of witches with a poignant and relatable angle
• Sankey opens up about her mental health following the birth of her child, and how it correlates with the many things women were accused of mere centuries ago
• It uses various clips from films such as The Wizard of Oz and Rosemary’s Baby to dive into the common stereotype of the wicked witch and its misogynist tendencies
• The filmmaker combines these deeply personal topics to conclude how women are perceived in patriarchal society as an “other” thanks to the witch’s role in popular culture
• It all makes for a fascinating feature-length video essay that is both entertaining and informative

Witches is streaming exclusively on MUBI from Friday 22 November 2024