Movie of the Week

• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Cinemas

• Kung Fu Panda 4
• Mothers’ Instinct
• Silver Haze
• The Sweet East
• Drift
• Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
• Disco Boy
• The Origin of Evil

Streaming/On-Demand

• The Beautiful Game
• Madu
• STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces
• Our Son
• All Souls

Re-Releases

• Mary Poppins
• The Lavender Hill Mob

CAST: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen, Rachel House

CREW: Adam Wingard (director), Simon Barrett, Terry Rossio and Jeremy Slater (writers), Alex Garcia, Jon Jashini, Eric McLeod, Mary Parent, Brian Rogers and Thomas Tull (producers), Antonio Di Iorio and Junkie XL (composers), Ben Seresin (cinematographer), Josh Schaeffer (editor)

PLOT: The mighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla join forces against a deadly threat hidden deep within the realm of Hollow Earth, which if unleashed could threaten the Titans’ existence as well as that of humankind…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The (figurative and literal) biggest characters in the MonsterVerse team up for a colossal action-adventure for a thrilling new chapter in the franchise
• Director Adam Wingard returns after pitting the two Titans against one another in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, which proved to be a smash hit even within the pandemic-struck film climate
• The human cast is made up of returning faces like Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry, while Dan Stevens – who previously worked with Wingard on The Guest – joins as a fresh new character
• Expect to explore more of the fantastical Hollow Earth, as well as new secrets surrounding Kong’s home on Skull Island and the ambiguous nature of Godzilla (who himself has got a fancy new look)
• After last year’s acclaimed Godzilla Minus One (which is separate from this MonsterVerse franchise), this continues the glorious run of monster movies that are also great crowdpleasers

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is showing in cinemas from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, Ian McShane, Ke Huy Quan, Lori Tan Chinn, Ronny Chieng, J.K. Simmons

CREW: Mike Mitchell (director), Jonathan Aibel ad Glenn Berger (writers), Rebecca Huntley (producer), Steve Mazzaro and Hans Zimmer (composers), Christopher Knights (editor)

PLOT: The time has come for Po (Black), the legendary Dragon Warrior, to set aside his warrior duties and become the next Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. This prompts him to set out and find a suitable successor to adopt his Dragon Warrior mantle, but the emergence of a powerful, shapeshifting sorceress known as The Chameleon (Davis), who can absorb the kung fu abilities of her foes, forces Po to make an alliance with quick-witted thief Zhen (Awkwafina) to stop her before she can take over the realm…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Jack Black returns once more to his iconic animated role as Po the Panda in the fourth instalment of DreamWorks Animation’s hit franchise
• The mighty Dragon Warrior is up against his most powerful adversary yet, in the form of Viola Davis’ shapeshifting Chameleon who might also be able to bring back some of Po’s past foes
• Characters old and new leave lasting impressions, voiced by the likes of Oscar-winners Dustin Hoffman and Ke Huy Quan, as well as other popular figures like Awkwafina and Bryan Cranston
• Expect to see plenty more dazzling CG animation that breathes plenty of life into the spiritual world that the furry action takes place in
• It is rumoured to be the final chapter in Po’s story, and if so then it’s set to be a hugely entertaining, as well as emotional, conclusion

Kung Fu Panda 4 is showing in cinemas from Thursday 28 March 2024

CAST: Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Josh Charles, Anders Danielsen Lie, Caroline Lagerfelt, Baylen D. Bielitz, Eamon Patrick O’Connell

CREW: Benoît Delhomme (director, cinematographer), Sarah Conradt-Kroehler (writer), Jacques-Henri Bronckart, Kelly Carmichael, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway and Paul Nelson (producers), Anne Nikitin (composer), Juliette Welfling (editor)

PLOT: In the 1960s, Alice (Chastain) and Céline (Hathaway) are neighbours and best friends who live perfect lives with their families in the suburbs. However, after a tragic accident involving one of their children, their relationship becomes consumed by guilt and paranoia, and a battle of wits soon develops…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• A chilling tale of motherhood unfolds in this gripping psychological thriller set in the heart of 60s American suburbia
• Oscar-winning actors Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway both star and produce this remake of the 2012 French-language drama, which itself was based on Belgian author Barbara Abel’s novel
• It marks the directorial debut of award-winning cinematographer Benoît Delhomme, who has worked on such films as The Theory of Everything and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
• The viewer is plunged deep into the fractured mindset of its troubled leads, leaving them guessing their true intentions at every turn
• It leads to a shocking climax that brings forth the darker themes that had been bubbling away underneath the surface beforehand

Mothers’ Instinct is showing in cinemas from Wednesday 27 March 2024

CAST: Vicky Knight, Esmé Creed-Miles, Charlotte Knight, Archie Brigden, Angela Bruce, Alfie Deegan, Sandra Kwiek, Brandon Bendell, Carrie Bunyan, Sarah-Jane Dent, Cain Aiden

CREW: Sacha Polak (director, writer), Marleen Slot (producer), Joris Oonk and Ella van der Woude (composers), Tibor Dingelstad (cinematographer), Lot Rossmark (editor)

PLOT: Franky (Knight) is a young nurse who harbours a deep anger for a childhood incident that left her physically scarred. She soon embarks on a relationship with one of her patients, Florence (Creed-Miles), with whom she begins to find emotional sanctuary as she confronts her traumatic past…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The creative team behind 2019’s emotional drama Dirty God, including writer-director Sacha Polak, reunite for another tender yet uplifting character study
• It is loosely based on star Vicky Knight’s own experiences as a survivor of a deadly fire during childhood, which left her with burns across 33% of her body
• As she did in Dirty God, Knight delivers an outstanding lead performance that is both naturalistic and deeply moving, and shares plentiful romantic chemistry with co-star Esmé Creed-Miles
• The film won plenty of praise following its debut at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival, where Knight won the Teddy Award Jury Prize which highlights LGBTQ+ centric films
• There won’t be a dry eye in the house as audiences react to the cathartic emotional journey of the main character, and by extension Knight herself

Silver Haze is showing in cinemas from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Talia Ryder, Earl Cave, Simon Rex, Ayo Edebiri, Jeremy O. Harris, Jacob Elordi, Rish Shah, Gibby Haynes, Andy Milonakis, Nichole Byron, Jordan Nessinger, Peter Vack, Betsey Brown

CREW: Sean Price Williams (director, cinematographer), Nick Pinkerton (writer), Craig Butta, Alex Coco and Alex Ross Perry (producers), Paul Grimstad (composer), Stephen Gurewitz (editor)

PLOT: Lillian (Ryder) is a high school student who, during a class field trip to Washington D.C., becomes entrapped within an increasingly bizarre political world…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The directorial debut of cinematographer Sean Price Williams (who has worked with the Safdie Brothers and Alex Ross Perry among other filmmakers) is one hell of a bizarre, ultra-surrealist ride
• Never Rarely Sometimes Always star Talia Ryder leads a game ensemble cast that includes Ayo Edebiri, Jacob Elordi, Simon Rex and others
• It wears its influences firmly on its sleeve, from the absurdist works of Lewis Carroll and David Lynch to the biting political satire of comedians like Frankie Boyle and Dave Chappelle
• Just when you think you know exactly which direction the wildly unpredictable plot is going… you really, really don’t
• Never has there been a film that dabbles in such weird imagery and far-reaching concepts within contemporary modern cinema, and we are here for all of it!

The Sweet East is showing in cinemas from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Cynthia Erivo, Alia Shawkat, Ibrahima Ba, Honor Swinton Byrne, Zainab Jah, Suzy Bemba, Vincent Vermignon

CREW: Anthony Chen (director, producer), Susanne Farrell and Alexander Maksik (writers), Niama Abed, Cynthia Erivo, Emilie Georges, Peter Spears and Solome Williams (producers), Ré Olunuga (composer), Crystel Fournier (cinematographer), Hoping Chen (editor)

PLOT: Jacqueline (Erivo), a young refugee from Liberia, finds herself alone and penniless on a Greek island. Whilst trying to survive and also confront her troubled past, she begins a friendship with local tour guide Callie (Shawkat), with whom she becomes close as they try to find solace in one another…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Before she defies gravity in the upcoming Wicked adaptation, Cynthia Erivo puts in a haunting central performance in director Anthony Chen’s moving refugee drama
• Erivo, who also produces the film and even contributes an original song for the soundtrack, shares a burning connection with co-star Alia Shawkat
• It takes a harrowing glimpse at life in the war-torn country of Liberia, where the protagonist has barely escaped from
• There are also some upsetting scenes showing the harsh realities of people who have fled their home countries and have nowhere to go but the cold and unforgiving streets
• You’ll be moved by the tender acting and the gentle but hard-hitting drama that it manages to pack into itself

Drift is showing in cinemas from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Ryuichi Sakamoto

CREW: Neo Sora (director), Aiko Masubuchi, Takashi Numa, Eric Nyari, Norika Sky-Sora and Albert Tholen (producers), Ryuichi Sakamoto (composer), Bill Kirstein (cinematographer), Takuya Kawakami (editor)

PLOT: In late 2022, shortly before his death, esteemed Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto performs one final concert with just him and his piano…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The final live performance of legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto is captured on film for the whole world to see
• Sakamoto, who passed away from cancer a year ago this week, had a illustrious musical career that saw him compose for numerous films including The Revenant and The Last Emperor (which he won an Oscar for)
• The intimate film came about when Sakamoto was no longer able to perform live due to his illness, but still wanted to leave his audience with one last concert
• Throughout, Sakamoto plays a number of beautiful melodies on his piano, some of which you may recognise while others you may be hearing him play for the first (and last) time
• It is a powerful tribute to a world-renowned musician whose powerful music constantly reminds us of the pure talent that has sadly left us

Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus is showing in cinemas from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Franz Rogowski, Morr Ndiaye, Laetitia Ky, Leon Lučev, Matteo Olivetti, Robert Więckiewicz, Michał Balicki

CREW: Giacomo Abbruzzese (director, writer, editor), Lionel Massol and Pauline Seigland (producers), Vitalic (composer), Hélène Louvart (cinematographer), Ariane Boukerche and Fabrizio Federico (editors)

PLOT: Aleksei (Rogowski) has travelled across Europe from Belarus to Paris, where he hopes to become a disco dancer in the city’s nightclubs. In order to obtain a French passport, he enlists in the Foreign Legion, but soon finds himself dropped into the jungles of the Niger Delta, where he crosses paths with charismatic revolutionary Jomo (Ndiaye)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The disco-tinged grittiness of Saturday Night Fever collides with the militaristic anarchy of Full Metal Jacket in this unpredictable European drama
• Franz Rogowski is the headlining act as a wannabe disco dancer, who naturally gets in way over his head with other avenues
• Life within the French Foreign Legion is glimpsed at in all its tough and often unforgiving glory
• Expect some utter bangers to pop up on the soundtrack for you to lose yourself in amidst the carnage
• Ultimately, it’s a rather harrowing tale of the lengths that one can go to when trying to follow their dreams

Disco Boy is showing in cinemas from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Laure Calamy, Doria Tillier, Dominique Blanc, Jacques Weber, Suzanne Clément, Céleste Brunnquell, Véronique Ruggia, Clotilde Mollet, Naidra Ayadi

CREW: Sébastien Marnier (director, writer), Caroline Bonmarchand (producer), Philippe Brault and Pierre Lapointe (composers), Romain Carcanade (cinematographer), Jean-Baptiste Beaudoin and Valentin Féron (editors)

PLOT: On the brink of poverty, Stéphane (Calamy) reaches out to her wealthy estranged father Serge (Weber), who has since remarried and had a new family. Upon Stéphane’s arrival at her father’s large mansion, she receives a cold welcome from Serge’s wife Louise (Blanc), daughter George (Tillier) and granddaughter Jeanne (Brunnquell), who view her as a threat to their plans to secure Serge’s wealth – but are unaware that Stéphane has some secrets of her own…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This darkly funny French satire explores the profound corruption of wealth and greed
• Filmmaker Sébastien Marnier unveils plenty of jaw-dropping twists and turns along the way to always keep the viewer guessing
• Laure Calamy, the star of hit comedy show Call My Agent!, plays into her devilish side as she goes up against a group of cunning socialites
• The comparisons to last year’s Saltburn are unavoidable, but it’s also been likened to The Talented Mr. Ripley and Knives Out for its mysterious nature
• The shocking reveals are only just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the surprises that it has in store for audiences!

The Origin of Evil is showing in cinemas from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Bill Nighy, Micheal Ward, Valeria Golino, Callum Scott Howells, Kit Young, Sheyi Cole, Robin Nazari, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Susan Wokoma, Layo-Christina Akinlude, Cristina Rodlo, Sian Reese-Williams

CREW: Thea Sharrock (director), Frank Cottrell Boyce (writer), Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin, Colin Farrell, Ben Knight and Anita Overland (producers), Adem Ilhan (composer), Mike Eley (cinematographer), Fernando Stutz (editor)

PLOT: The English team for the Homeless World Cup, comprised of football players who have been left without a place to live, manages to qualify for the annual tournament in Rome, and with their coach Mal (Nighy) they set out to achieve glory…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Director Thea Sharrock, fresh off her sweary British comedy Wicked Little Letters, presents a meaningful sports drama about a very noble football tournament
• The Homeless World Cup, an annual event held in conjunction with the campaign to end homelessness, is the focus of this moving and empowering film
• It is the culmination of an eleven-year project for screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce, who partnered with the Homeless World Cup Foundation and several participants to create truthful and humanising characters based on their experiences
• There’s plenty of star power in front of the camera, particularly with the presence of BAFTA-winners Bill Nighy and Micheal Ward, as well as behind it with Colin Farrell being one of the producers
• Filled with emotional scenes and winning scenes of the titular beautiful game itself, you’ll be cheering more than once at this utter crowd-pleaser!

The Beautiful Game is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Anthony Madu

CREW: Joel Kachi Benson and Matt Ogens (directors), Rachel Halilej, Katie McNeill and Jamie Patricof (producers), Jackson Greenberg (composer), Charlie Goodger and Motheo Moeng (cinematographers), Georgia Dodson (editor)

PLOT: In Lagos, 12-year-old Anthony Madu goes viral after a clip of him performing a ballet routine in the streets circulates the Internet, and soon he receives an offer to study at one of the world’s most prestigious ballet schools in England. As he faces numerous obstacles during his training, as well as feeling of homesickness, Anthony never stops chasing his dream…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Disney’s inspirational new documentary charts the unexpected rise of young Anthony Madu in the world of ballet
• The film, co-directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Matt Ogens, takes a deep look at Madu’s early influences that led to his life-changing viral dance clip
• As he travels from Lagos to England for rigorous training, we see the overwhelming pressure placed upon him and several other budding dancers
• Interviews with family members and acquaintances further detail Madu’s playful personality that are soon expressed through his dance moves
• It proves that just about anyone from any corner of the globe can succeed in whatever path they end up choosing, making it a true Disney film at heart

Madu is streaming exclusively on Disney+ from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Steve Martin

CREW: Morgan Neville (director, producer), Charlise Holmes and Meghan Walsh (producers), Bryan Donnell, Emily Topper and Graham Willoughby (cinematographers), Alan Lowe and Jeff Malmberg (editors)

PLOT: A two-part documentary charting the life and career of comedian and artist Steve Martin…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The incredibly witty story of Steve Martin is told by the man himself in this commemorative new documentary
• It’s such an expansive story that filmmaker Morgan Neville has split it into two separate films, with the first focusing on Martin’s earlier career and the second on his more recent accomplishments
• Archival footage of a young Martin at work show just how iconic he became within the world of comedy, while special interviewees share their own recollections of working with him
• Seeing how some of Neville’s previous subjects were Fred Rogers and Anthony Bourdain, expect the sentiment to flow considerably as the filmmaker pays extended tribute to his latest focus
• Anyone who has grown up with or around the impressive body of work that Steve Martin has put out will most certainly want to see how this massive project celebrates them all

STEVE! (martin) a documentary in two pieces is streaming exclusively on Apple TV+ from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Luke Evans, Billy Porter, Christopher Woodley, Andrew Rannells, Robin Weigert, Kate Burton, Phylicia Rashad, Isaac Cole Powell, Michael Countryman, David Pittu, Cassandra Freeman, Gabby Beans, Liza J. Bennett, Nuala Clearly, Francis Jue, Alfredo Narciso, Emily Donahue

CREW: Bill Oliver (director, writer), Peter Nickowitz (writer), Eric Binns, Guilherme Coelho, Jennifer 8. Lee, Christopher Lin and Fernando Loureiro (producers), Ola Fløttum (composer), Luca Fantini (cinematographer), Zach Clark and Tyler Jensen (editors)

PLOT: Nicky (Evans) and Gabriel (Porter) have been together for thirteen years, but when Gabriel tells Nicky he wants a divorce, they become embroiled in a custody battle for their eight-year-old son Owen (Woodley)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This moving family drama highlights the difficult process of divorce from a refreshing LGBTQIA+ perspective
• Luke Evans and Billy Porter deliver some of their finest dramatic work as two sides of a fractured family unit
• Young actor Christopher Woodley stands out among his more experienced co-stars with an authentic debut performance
• Director and co-writer Bill Oliver lends a gentle sensitivity to some of the more upsetting scenes that recall the likes of Kramer vs Kramer and Marriage Story
• The story may move you to tears, for it speaks to universal truths surrounding the complications of separating from your partner

Our Son is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 25 March 2024

CAST: Mikey Madison, G-Easy, Jess Gabor, Zach Villa, Samuel Roukin, Mia Love Disnard, Moise Amadou, Billie J Bradford, Calvin Clausell Jr., Xavier Jiminez, Joseph H. Johnson Jr., Church Lockett, Jaime Navarro, Craig Ng, Eric C. Sun, Faye Nightingale

CREW: Emmanuelle Pickett (director), Anthony Ragnone II (writer), Sarah Gabriel, Marc Goldberg, James Harris and Mark Lane (producers), Oliver Coates (composer), Sean Bagley (cinematographer), Nicholas Gallucci, Jacqueline Kramer and Chris Willett (editors)

PLOT: River (Madison) is a young mother who is pressured into becoming a police informant against drug lord Silas (G-Easy), who is also the father of her young daughter Jade (Disnard). However, when an undercover operation goes wrong, River finds herself on the run and fighting for her life…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This nail-biting crime thriller explores a darker side to the War on Drugs
• Mikey Madison, known for roles in the Scream franchise and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, dazzles in a lead role that faces stress and pressure from all angles
• She stars alongside G-Easy, the famed rapper who here takes on his biggest movie role to date as the film’s threatening antagonist
• It highlights the brutal and harsh methods that law enforcement officers use in order to crack down on narcotic distributions
• With its sinister edges, this is a thriller that will have your heart pounding

All Souls is available to rent/buy from digital platforms from Monday 25 March 2024

CAST: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley, Reta Shaw, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, Elsa Lanchester, Arthur Treacher, Reginald Owen, Ed Wynn, Jane Darwell, Arthur Malet, James Logan, Don Barclay, Alma Lawton, Marjorie Eaton, Marjorie Bennett

CREW: Robert Stevenson (director), Don Da Gradi and Bill Walsh (writers), Walt Disney (producer), Edward Colman (cinematographer), Cotton Warburton (editor)

PLOT: In early 1900s England, the Banks household is in disarray after children Jane (Dotrice) and Michael (Garber) drive away their latest carer. Soon, their strict father George (Tomlinson) hires a mysterious new nanny named Mary Poppins (Andrews), who along with her close friend Bert (Van Dyke) brings magic into the family’s lives…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Disney’s iconic live-action musical celebrates its 60th anniversary with a brand-new remastered edition showing exclusively in cinemas
• Walt Disney oversaw the adaptation of P.L. Travers’ beloved book series, and later named it one of his favourite movies (Travers, by contrast, detested the film to where she never allowed the studio to make another film from one of her books)
• It became an immediate hit with critics and audiences for its memorable songs, heartfelt characters and Julie Andrews’ star-making turn as the title character
• Andrews won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance, while the film received a total of 13 nominations (the most for any Disney production) and took home 5 overall statuettes
• Witness your chance to see the beloved family classic on the big screen, where it first made an impression 60 years ago!

Mary Poppins is showing in cinemas from Friday 29 March 2024

CAST: Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway, Sid James, Alfie Bass, Marjorie Fielding, Edie Martin, John Salew, Ronald Adam, Arthur Hambling, Gibb McLaughlin, John Gregson, Clive Morton, Sydney Tafler, Marie Burke, Audrey Hepburn, William Fox, Michael Trubshawe, Jacques B. Brunius, Paul Demel, Eugene Deckers, Andreas Malandrinos, Cyril Chamberlain, Moultrie Kelsall, Christopher Hewett, Meredith Edwards, Patrick Barr, David Davies

CREW: Charles Crichton (director), T.E.B. Clarke (writer), Michael Balcon (producer), Georges Auric (composer), Douglas Slocombe (cinematographer), Seth Holt (editor)

PLOT: Henry Holland (Guinness), a meek bank clerk tasked with overseeing the shipment of gold bullions, comes up with a unique scheme to steal and then smuggle the bullions out of the country, with the help of his eccentric neighbour Alfred Pendlebury (Holloway)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The classic British caper from the iconic Ealing Studios is back on the big screen with an all-new 4K restoration
• Director Charles Crichton’s hilarious crime comedy became a huge box office hit in Britain, and was even listed among the BFI’s list of the greatest British films of all time
• There are substantial roles for Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway, and even Audrey Hepburn in a small role at the very beginning of her own iconic career
• It went on to win the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, as well as the BAFTA for Best British Film, and was recently adapted into an acclaimed stage play
• The film is a landmark of British comedy, which more than 70 years later is still remembered as an absolute riot for any age

The Lavender Hill Mob is showing in cinemas from Friday 29 March 2024