Movie of the Week

• Saturday Night

Cinemas

• Companion
• Hard Truths
• The Tasting
• The Colors Within
• Luther: Never Too Much

Streaming/On-Demand

• You’re Cordially Invited
• Into the Deep

Re-Releases

• Before Sunrise
• The Apartment

CAST: Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O’Brien, Emily Fairn, Matt Wood, Lamorne Morris, Kim Matula, Finn Wolfhard, Nicholas Braun, Cooper Hoffman, Andrew Barth Feldman, Kaia Gerber, Tommy Dewey, Willem Dafoe, Matthew Rhys, J. K. Simmons, Jon Batiste, Naomi McPherson, Taylor Gray, Mcabe Gregg, Nicholas Podany, Ellen Boscov, Billy Bryk, Joe Chrest, Catherine Curtin, Leander Suleiman, Paul Rust

CREW: Jason Reitman (director, writer, producer), Gil Kenan (writer, producer), Jason Blumenfeld and Peter Rice (producers), Jon Batiste (composer), Eric Steelberg (cinematographer), Nathan Orloff and Shane Reid (editors)

PLOT: In 1975 New York, on the evening of October 11, young Lorne Michaels (LaBelle) scrambles to put together the first-ever episode of a revolutionary live comedy show tentatively called Saturday Night…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Director and co-writer Jason Reitman dives into the chaotic behind-the-scenes nature of the iconic Saturday Night Live in this hilarious and surprisingly tense historical comedy
• Reitman and his Ghostbuster: Afterlife co-writer Gil Kenan set the film within a real-time structure, beginning at 10pm all the way up to the show’s premiere an hour and a half later
• As you can imagine, so much happens within that timeframe, much of it very funny and filled with some great gags that long-time SNL fans can pick up on
• The stacked ensemble cast features a who’s-who of hot talent, including The Fabelmans’ Gabriel LaBelle, Bottoms star Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith as a dead-on Chevy Chase, Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons as famed entertainer Milton Berle, and Succession breakout Nicholas Braun in TWO roles as Muppets creator Jim Henson and absurdist comedian Andy Kaufman!
• With the show itself celebrating its landmark 50th anniversary this year, it’s the perfect time to revisit the moment when it all began

Saturday Night is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 January 2025

CAST: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend

CREW: Drew Hancock (director, writer), Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, J.D. Lifshitz, Josh Mack and Raphael Margules (producers), Hrishikesh Hirway (composer), Eli Born (cinematographer), Brett W. Bachman and Josh Ethier (editors)

PLOT: Iris (Thatcher) embarks on a twisted romance with Josh (Quaid)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• If the above plot sounds vague, that’s by design, as the less you know about this warped and shocking movie, the better!
• Sophie Thatcher, last seen in Heretic, and The Boys star Jack Quaid form a couple that you can’t take your eyes off of, for better or worse
• Drew Hancock makes his feature writing and directing debut, and has the support of producers Zach Cregger and Roy Lee, who previously collaborated on Cregger’s shocking horror Barbarian
• There are things which the trailers will not show you which will give you perhaps an entirely different film to the one that you may already think that you’re getting
• It’s set to be one of the year’s most surprising and twist-heavy movies – and we’re not even out of January yet!

Companion is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 January 2025

CAST: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, David Webber, Tuwaine Barrett, Ani Nelson, Sophia Brown, Jonathan Livingstone, Samantha Spiro

CREW: Mike Leigh (director, writer), Georgina Lowe (producer), Gery Yershon (composer), Dick Pope (cinematographer), Tania Reddin (editor)

PLOT: In present-day London, Pansy (Jean-Baptiste) and her sister Chantelle (Austin) lead very different lives. While Chantelle is bright and cheerful, Pansy is consistently angry with the world, with these polar opposite personalities eventually clashing during a Mother’s Day celebration…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Mike Leigh returns to contemporary filmmaking for the first time in over a decade with this emotional and tough-to-stomach family drama
• Leigh reunites with his Oscar-nominated Secrets & Lies star Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who is a force of nature as someone who is on paper extremely difficult to like, but opens up so many hidden layers to her character
• The filmmaker’s signature improvisational style is put to good use here, as it allows the supporting players free reign to develop their on-screen personas and build their interpersonal relationships up to an explosive third act
• You’ll find yourself horrified but also laughing hard at some of the stuff coming out of Jean-Baptiste’s mouth, and later shedding a few tears from the person who’s hurting underneath it all
• It’s one of Leigh’s finest films among his most recent catalogue of critical hits, and definitely worth seeing if you want to see the filmmaker back in his storytelling element

Hard Truths is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 January 2025

CAST: Isabelle Carré, Bernard Campan, Mounir Amamra, Eric Viellard, Olivier Claverie, Geneviève Mnich, Rébecca Finet, Michaël Perez, Boris Gillot, Raphaël Thiéry, Mathieu Lourdel, Bass Dhem, Jacqueline Galas

CREW: Ivan Calbérac (director, writer), Eric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmyayer and Isabelle Grellat (producers), Laurent Aknin (composer), Philippe Guilbert (cinematographer), Véronique Parnet (editor)

PLOT: Hortense (Carré), a big-hearted but lonely woman, has an encounter with grumpy wine shop owner Jacques (Campan) after she signs up for one of his wine tasting session, which soon blossoms into a romance between the two…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This French romantic-comedy is as sweet as the numerous wines constantly on display throughout
• Writer-director Ivan Calbérac adapts his own play, as he had previously done with his 2015 hit The Student and Mister Henri
• Leads Isabelle Carré and Bernard Campan share a charming repertoire as their characters engage in an intoxicating union
• It’s a must-watch for any wine afficionados who are eager to see some of France’s finest on the big screen
• With fun supporting characters and plenty of humorous obstacles, it’s a warm-hearted affair for all aspiring lovers

The Tasting is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 January 2025

CAST (ENGLISH VERSION): Libby Rue, Kylie McNeill, Eddy Lee, Eileen Stevens, Hinano Kuzukawa, Eden Harker, Maxine Wanderer, Lani Minella

CAST (JAPANESE VERSION): Sayu Suzukawa, Akari Takaishi, Taisei Kido, Yui Aragaki, Yasuko, Aoi Yūki, Minako Kotobuki, Keiko Toda

CREW: Naoko Yamada (director), Reiko Yoshida (writer), Eunyoung Choi, Yoshihiro Furusawa, Genki Kawamura and Kôhei Sakita (producers), Kensuke Ushio (composer), Yoshimitsu Tomita (cinematographer), Kiyoshi Hirose (editor)

PLOT: Totsuko (Rue/Suzukawa) is a high school student who has the unusual ability to see people as colours, and becomes drawn to the colours radiating from her classmate Kimi (McNeill/Takaishi). Soon, she finds herself forming a band with Kimi and theremin player Rui (Lee/Kido), and the three quickly develop an endearing friendship…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Feel the colours within this tender and endearing coming-of-age anime drama from director Naoko Yamada
• Previously known for films like A Silent Voice and Liz and the Blue Bird, Yamada utilises her unique storytelling gifts to convey a charming narrative that most will identify with
• The depiction of the lead character’s synaesthesia makes the film a positive step forward in terms of neurological representation
• Appropriately, the animation is beaming with colour, making it a visual treat in addition to a heartwarming one
• Having already received plenty of praise at festivals around the world, this film should announce Yamada as a true rising star in the field of anime filmmaking

The Colors Within is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 January 2025

CAST: Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson, Roberta Flack, Jamie Foxx

CREW: Dawn Porter (director), Trish D. Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Leah Smith and Datari Turner (producers), Robert Glasper (composer), Bryan Gentry (cinematographer), Mark Faston (editor)

PLOT: The life and career of legendary soul and R&B singer Luther Vandross…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The iconic Luther Vandross is the subject of this brand-new documentary that dives into his influential life and times
• A blend of archive footage and never-before-seen media shows how Vandross overcame negative press to become one of soul music’s most cherished names
• Interviews with celebrity fans and close friends like Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick and Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx (who also produces) give the viewer an outside perspective on Vandross’s life
• In addition to the titular track, expect to hear plenty of Vandross’s most notable songs all throughout the film
• Generations old and new will have the chance to experience the musical enchantment that Luther Vandross on the big screen

Luther: Never Too Much is showing in cinemas from Thursday 30 January 2025

CAST: Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Geraldine Viswanathan, Meredith Hagner, Celia Weston, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Leanne Morgan, Jimmy Tatro, Jack McBrayer, Lauren Holt, Stony Blyden

CREW: Nicholas Stoller (director, writer, producer), Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Lauren Neustadter, Conor Welch and Reese Witherspoon (producers), Michael Andrews (composer), John Guleserian (cinematographer), Daniel Gabbe and Hugh Ross (editors)

PLOT: After his daughter Jenni (Viswanathan) suddenly gets engaged, her father Jim (Ferrell) volunteers to help organise her dream wedding – only to find just days before the event that their destination venue has inadvertently double-booked with another wedding party, this one organised by Margot (Witherspoon) whose sister Neve (Hagner) is the bride-to-be. Jim and Margot decide to share the venue, only for chaos and disaster to quickly unfold…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Weddings have never been more stressful than they are in this hilarious comedy about two competing marriages
• Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon both star and produce the film by writer-director Nicholas Stoller, known for past comedies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Five-Year Engagement and Bad Neighbours
• Expect plenty of mishaps and physical set-pieces that play directly into the lead stars’ natural comedic talents
• It should provide laughs aplenty for those looking to de-stress from their own complicated wedding planning
• Most of all, it’s a comedy that will have everyone laughing, with some heartfelt moments to soften the rougher edges

You’re Cordially Invited is streaming exclusively on Prime Video from Thursday 30 January 2025

CAST: Richard Dreyfuss, Stuart Townsend, Scout-Taylor Compton, Jon Seda, AnnaMaria Demara, Lorena Sarria, Callum McGowan, Tom O’Connell, Ron Smoorenburg, Tofan Pirani, Maverick Kang Jr., Quinn P. Hensley

CREW: Christian Sesma (director), Chad Law and Josh Ridgway (writers), Daemon Hillin (producer), Andy Fosberry (composer), Niccolo De La Fere (cinematographer), Eric Potter (editor)

PLOT: Cassidy (Compton), a young woman coping with childhood trauma, heads on a diving expedition on the advice of her grandfather Seamus (Dreyfuss), in an attempt to overcome her fears. However, the trip turns into a fight for survival as pirates force Cassidy to venture underneath shark-infested waters to retrieve some valuable treasure…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This gripping nautical action-thriller will have you as scared of the water as you were during Jaws
• Speaking of the Spielberg classic, Richard Dreyfuss has a sizeable supporting role opposite Scout-Taylor Compton of Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake
• The underwater cinematography makes the vast atmosphere much more terrifying as you can’t always see what’s coming
• Expect some brutal showdowns as our heroes face off against not just a band of merciless pirates but also a massive deadly shark
• Mixed into it all is a tender tale about overcoming trauma, which the film conveys through some eye-opening moments during the high-octane action

Into the Deep is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 27 January 2025

CAST: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert, Hanno Pöschl, Karl Bruckschwaiger, Tex Rubinowitz, Erni Mangold, Dominik Castell, Haymon Maria Buttinger, Bilge Jeschim

CREW: Richard Linklater (director, writer), Kim Krizan (writer), Anne Walker-McBay (producer), Fred Frith (composer), Lee Daniel (cinematographer), Sandra Adair (editor)

PLOT: Whilst on a train to Vienna, American tourist Jesse (Hawke) meets Parisian university student Céline (Delpy), whom he convinces to spontaneously wander around the Austrian city with him, across a night where they learn more about each other as a romance begins to blossom between them…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The first entry in director Richard Linklater’s acclaimed Before trilogy is back in cinemas to mark its 30th anniversary
• It marked the first time that audiences would encounter Ethan Hawke’s Jesse and Julie Delpy’s Céline, at the very beginning of their multi-year courtship
• The two actors share an intimate chemistry amidst the nighttime backdrop of Vienna, with their conversations about a wide variety of topics lending realistic weight to their eventual connection
• Their story would of course continue in 2004’s Before Sunset and conclude (for now, anyway) in 2013’s Before Midnight, with the characters even popping up in Linklater’s experimental animated feature Waking Life
• It’s your chance to witness the start of one of modern cinema’s greatest love stories on the big screen, where its magic endures the most

Before Sunrise is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 January 2025

CAST: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen, Frances Weintraub Lax, David Lewis, Edie Adams, Hope Holiday, Joan Shawlee, Naomi Stevens, Johnny Seven, Joyce Jameson, Hal Smith, Willard Waterman, David White

CREW: Billy Wilder (director, writer, producer), I.A.L. Diamond (writer), Adolph Deutsch (composer), Joseph LaShelle (cinematographer), Daniel Mandell (editor)

PLOT: In New York, lonely insurance clerk Bud (Lemmon) attempts to climb the corporate ladder by allowing his superiors the use of his spacious apartment for them to conduct their extramarital affairs. Things become complicated, however, when Bud develops a bond with Fran (MacLaine), who happens to be the lover of his firm’s head of personnel Sheldrake (MacMurray)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Billy Wilder’s timeless romantic-comedy gets an all-new 4K restoration to mark its 65th anniversary
• Jack Lemmon (reuniting with his Some Like It Hot director) shares plentiful chemistry with Shirley MacLaine amidst some stunning black-and-white cinematography
• The film initially sparked controversy for its adulterous themes, which were a rarity during the Hays Code era which heavily restricted what films could and could not show
• Nevertheless, the film became a major box office hit, won five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director for Wilder, and is now regarded as one of the greatest films ever made
• Still delivering plenty of laughs and romance all these years later, The Apartment is a big-screen experience that is a must for all cinema lovers

The Apartment is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 January 2025