This Week’s Movie Menu (23 – 29 December 2024)

It’s Christmastime once again, and as we wrap our final presents and prepare to leave some milk and cookies out for Father Christmas, we have a truly special gift for all of you: a collection of all the exciting films that are showing on your screens this week, from the return of some Plasticine icons to an unusually primitive music biopic…

Movie of the Week

 

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024, dirs. Merlin Crossingham and Nick Park)

CAST: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Reese Shearsmith, Lauren Patel, Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, Lenny Henry

CREW: Nick Park (director, writer), Merlin Crossingham (director), Mark Burton (writer), Richard Beek and Claire Jennings (producers), Lorne Balfe (composer), Dave Alex Riddett (cinematographer), Dan Hembrey (editor)

PLOT: When Wallace (Whitehead) gets into trouble after his latest invention – a “smart gnome” named Norbot (Shearsmith) – develops an evil mind of its own, his loyal dog Gromit investigates – and finds that the culprit may in fact be their vengeful former nemesis, Feathers McGraw…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Aardman’s iconic Plasticine duo are back with their second feature-length film after the Oscar-winning Curse of the Were-Rabbit
  • Ben Whitehead takes over from the late Peter Sallis as the hapless inventor Wallace, while Gromit remains a silent treasure as he gets into even more physical escapades
  • Most notably, the film sees the return of former villain Feathers McGraw, the penguin and criminal mastermind last seen in the classic short The Wrong Trousers
  • Expect plenty of hilarious sight gags and witty puns that have kept the series going ever since the pair made their screen debut
  • It is a fun, funny and above all entertaining film that is perfect to watch with family this Christmas

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is streaming exclusively on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday 25 December 2024 (and internationally on Netflix from Friday 3 January 2025)

What’s Showing in Cinemas This Week?

 

Better Man (2024, dir. Michael Gracey)

CAST: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, Anthony Hayes, Kate Mulvany, Frazer Hadfield, Jake Simmance, Liam Head, Jesse Hyde, Chase Vollenweider, Adam Tucker, Chris Gun, Jack McMinn, Jamie Condon

CREW: Michael Gracey (director, writer, producer), Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson (writers), Paul Currie, Jules Daly, Coco Xiaolu Ma and Craig McMahon (producers), Batu Sener (composer), Erik Wilson (cinematographer), Martin Connor, Jeff Groth, Lee Smith and Spencer Susser (editors)

PLOT: A chronicle of the life and career of British pop star Robbie Williams (as himself) – except Williams is presented as an anthropomorphic CGI chimpanzee…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Yes, you read that right: Robbie Williams is literally a primate in his out-there biopic based on the singer’s life
  • Williams portrays himself, along with Jonno Davis as the motion-capture performer of said ape, in a sweary and provocative vision unlike most other musician profiles
  • It’s directed and co-written by Michael Gracey, best known for directing the modern musical smash hit The Greatest Showman
  • Many of Williams’s songs are recontextualised in ways that advance the emotional journey, ensuring that the viewer is mentally as well as audibly invested
  • Against all odds, the film works as both an entertaining and unconventional biopic, and as a celebration of the iconic pop star himself

Better Man is showing in cinemas from Thursday 26 December 2024

 

The Order (2024, dir. Justin Kurzel)

CAST: Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, Alison Oliver, Odessa Young, Marc Maron, Huxley Fisher, Sebastian Pigott, Phillip Forest Lewitski, George Tchortov, Victor Slezak, Philip Granger, Daniel Doheny

CREW: Justin Kurzel (director, producer), Zach Baylin (writer), Stuart Ford, Bryan Haas and Jude Law (producers), Jed Kurzel (composer), Adam Arkapaw (cinematographer), Nick Fenton (editor)

PLOT: In 1983, FBI agent Terry Husk (Law) investigates a series of bank robberies and other criminal activity involving a group of neo-Nazis and their radical leader Bob Mathews (Hoult)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • This tense and nail-biting crime thriller uncovers a sinister true chronicle in 20th century American history
  • Australian director Justin Kurzel directs from a script by Oscar-nominated King Richard script Zach Baylin
  • Jude Law is on top gruff form as the FBI agent tasked with finding a chilling Nicholas Hoult as real alt-right figure Bob Matthews
  • It exposes just how deeply racism is rooted in American society, which is especially relevant in today’s dark political times
  • Some exciting set-pieces and a few reliable procedural conventions make it exciting viewing wherever you may choose to watch it!

The Order is showing in cinemas from Thursday 26 December 2024

 

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024, dir. Pat Boonnitipat)

CAST: Putthipong Assaratanakul, Usha Seamkhum, Sarinrat Thomas, Sanya Kunakorn, Pongsatorn Jongwilas, Tontawan Tantivejakul, Duangporn Oapirat, Himawari Tajiri

CREW: Pat Boonnitipat (director, writer), Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn (writer), Jira Maligool and Vanridee Pongsittisak (producers), Jaithep Raroengjai (composer), Boonyanuch Kraithong (cinematographer), Thammarat Sumethsupachok (editor)

PLOT: In Thailand, M (Assaratanakul) is an aimless college dropout who volunteers to become the primary carer of his terminally ill grandmother Mengju (Seamkhum), in the hopes that he will inherit her estate. However, as the two of them grow closer, and as their extended family make their own selfish ambitions known, M begins to have a change of heart…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • The smash-hit comedy-drama from Thailand makes its way to UK cinemas for an emotional post-Christmas treat
  • It has broken several box office records across Asia, grossing $50 million worldwide (a large number for a small film like this) and sitting as one of Thailand’s biggest films of all time
  • Keen-eyed social media users may recognise it as the film that briefly went viral, after users posted videos of themselves crying after watching it
  • The film has also been put forward as Thailand’s official entry for the upcoming International Feature Film Oscar
  • With its effective storytelling, heartwarming characters, and a genuinely touching tone, it is a real treat for anyone with a beating heart

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is showing in cinemas from Thursday 26 December 2024

What’s Returning to Cinemas This Week?

 

Spirited Away (2001, dir. Hayao Miyazaki)

CAST (ENGLISH VERSION): Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, David Odgen Stiers, Susan Egan, Paul Eiding, John Ratzenberger, Bob Bergen, Rodger Bumpass, Tara Strong, Michael Chiklis, Lauren Holly, Jim Ward, Jack Angel

CAST (JAPANESE VERSION): Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Bunta Sugawara, Yoomi Tamai, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Takehiko Ono, Akio Nakamura, Tatsuya Gashūin, Yō Ōizumi, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Takashi Naitō, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Koba Hayashi, Ken Yasuda

CREW: Hayao Miyazaki (director, writer), Donald W. Ernst, John Lasseter and Toshio Suzuki (producers), Joe Hisaishi (composer), Atsushi Okui (cinematographer), Takeshi Seyama (editor)

PLOT: Whilst driving with her parents (Chiklis/ Naitō and Holly/Sawaguchi) to their new home, ten-year-old Chihiro (Chase/Hiiragi) finds herself in a mysterious world populated by spirits. After her parents are transformed into pigs, Chihiro is forced to work in a local bathhouse run by the powerful witch Yubaba (Pleshette/Natsuki), where she allies with a boy named Haku (Marsden/Irino) to find her way back home…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning masterpiece returns to the big screen for a new generation to enjoy in the way it was always meant to be seen
  • The anime icon was inspired to create the film after encountering a friend’s ten-year-old daughter, and decided that his next film – his first since 1997’s Princess Mononoke – would be based on her
  • Upon its release in Japan, the film quickly became the highest-grossing film in the country’s history, a record that it would hold for nineteen years
  • Its international release was handled by then-Pixar head John Lasseter, which not only earned it critical acclaim as well as the Oscar for Best Animated Feature (making it the first anime recipient of an Academy Award), but also brought Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli firmly into the mainstream
  • With its magical characters and stunning animation set to Joe Hisaishi’s beautiful musical score, it is often regarded as one of the best animated films of all time, and even one of the best films of all time

Spirited Away is showing in cinemas from Thursday 26 December 2024

That’s about it for this week – be sure to come back next week for a whole new set of movies to work up an appetite for!

Want to see our past menus?

Want to find a specific film?

Search for it in the box below:

Captain America: Brave New World (dir. Julius Onah)

Sam Wilson investigates a dangerous new conspiracy as Captain America…

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (dir. Michael Morris)

Bridget Jones embarks on the next chapter of her ever-rocky love life…

Heart Eyes (dir. Josh Ruben)

A masked serial killer stalks a couple on Valentine’s Day…

Memoir of a Snail (dir. Adam Elliot)

In 70s Australia, young Grace is tragically separated from her twin brother…

Love Hurts (dir. Jonathan Eusebio)

A real-estate agent is forced to return to his violent past life…

Dog Man (dir. Peter Hastings)

After an accident, a cop and his dog companion are brought together in an unexpected way…

September 5 (dir. Tim Fehlbaum)

During the 1972 Munich Olympics, an American broadcasting team covers a devastating event…

Kinda Pregnant (dir. Tyler Spindel)

A woman pretends to be pregnant for attention…

The Fire Inside (dir. Rachel Morrison)

In 2012, 16-year-old boxer Claressa Shields makes Olympic history…

Hard Truths (dir. Mike Leigh)

Two sisters have two very different reactions to grief…

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