What To Watch At The Cinema
Judas & The Black Messiah
FBI informant William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on its charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya, who swept awards season this year with his performance). A career thief, O’Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, special agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons). Hampton’s political prowess grows just as he’s falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback). Meanwhile, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) commands?
Available to watch from 19th May
Those Who Wish Me Dead
Still reeling from the loss of three lives, Hannah is a smoke jumper who's perched in a watchtower high above the Montana wilderness. She soon encounters Connor, a skittish boy who's bloodied, traumatised and on the run in the remote forest. As Hannah tries to bring him to safety, she's unaware of the real dangers to follow: two relentless killers hunting Connor, and a fiery blaze consuming everything in its path. Oscar winner Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted, Maleficent) stars as Hannah, and the film also features Nicholas Hoult (Skins, About a Boy), Aiden Gillen (Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders) and Tyler Perry (Gone Girl).
Available to watch from 19th May
The Human Voice
The Human Voice, directed by Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar and starring Tilda Swinton, is Almodóvar’s first work in the English language and had its world premiere to critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival last year. Madness and melancholy intersect to thrilling effect as Almodóvar reimagines Jean Cocteau’s short play The Human Voice for an era in which isolation has become a way of life. Laws of desire become the rules of the game as Swinton’s unnamed woman paces and panics in a glorious Technicolor apartment where décor offers a window into her state of mind. A short, sharp shot of distilled Almodóvar: passion, emotion, heartbreak, wit, and melodrama exquisitely bound up in a tale for our times. Showing across the UK for one night only on 19th May, visit TheHumanVoiceFilm.co.uk to book tickets.
Available to watch on 19th May only
Frankie
Unfolding over the course of a late summer’s day in the fabled resort town of Sintra, Portugal, Frankie follows three generations who have gathered for a vacation organised by the family matriarch (French legend Isabelle Huppert). In this fairy-tale setting, husbands and wives, parents and children, friends and lovers – stirred by their romantic impulses – discover the cracks between them, as well as unexpected depth of feeling. Also stars Brendon Gleeson, Marisa Tomei and Jérémie Renier.
Available to watch from 28th May
A Quiet Place Part II
Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (played by Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realise that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.
Available to watch from 28th May
The Reason I Jump
Based on the bestselling book by Naoki Higashida, The Reason I Jump is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida's revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. Moments in the lives of each of the characters are linked by the journey of a young Japanese boy through an epic landscape; narrated passages from Naoki’s writing reflect on what his autism means to him and others, how his perception of the world differs, and why he acts in the way he does: the reason he jumps. The film distils these elements into a sensually rich tapestry that leads us to Naoki’s core message: not being able to speak does not mean there is nothing to say.
Available to watch from 18th June
Sound of Metal
During a series of adrenaline-fueled one-night gigs, itinerant punk-metal drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed) begins to experience intermittent hearing loss. When a specialist tells him that his condition will rapidly worsen, he thinks his music career – and with it his life – is over. His bandmate and girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) check the recovering heroin addict into a secluded sober house for the deaf in hopes it will prevent a relapse and help him learn to adapt to his new situation. But after being welcomed into a community that accepts him just as he is, Ruben has to choose between his equilibrium and the drive to reclaim the life he once knew.
Available to watch now
Supernova
We can’t wait for this one, which comes out at the cinema next month. Sam (Colin Firth) and Tusker (Stanley Tucci), partners of 20 years, are travelling across England in their old campervan visiting friends, family and places from their past. Following a life-changing diagnosis, their time together has become more important than ever until secret plans test their love like never before.
Available to watch from 25th June
The Father
In Oscar winner The Father, Anthony Hopkins plays the eponymous role of a mischievous and highly independent man who, as he ages, refuses all assistance from his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman). Yet, such help has become essential following Anne’s decision to move to Paris with her partner. As Anne’s father tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.
Available to watch from 11th June
Nomadland
Now’s your chance to watch this Oscar best picture winner as intended – on the big screen. Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand – who also won an Oscar for her performance in this) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The third feature film from director Chloé Zhao, Nomadland features real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.
Available to watch from 17th June
Minari
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family who move to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own ‘American Dream’. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother (played by Youn Yuh-jung, who won this year’s Academy Award for best supporting actress for her portrayal). Amid the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
Available to watch now
Glastonbury Presents – Live At Worthy Farm
This five-hour spectacular will feature performances from a host of artists who were meant to play this year’s festival, including Coldplay, Damon Albarn, Haim, Idles, Jorja Smith, Kano, Michael Kiwanuka and Wolf Alice, alongside a number of unannounced surprise performances. Having been forced to cancel for a second consecutive year, Glastonbury will host this special event live at Worthy Farm Saturday 22nd May. Filmed across the festival site at landmarks including the Pyramid Field and the Stone Circle, the event will see a range of artists perform exclusive sets. A must for those missing live music.
Available to watch on 22nd May
Rare Beasts
Mandy (Billie Piper) is a modern woman in a crisis. Raising a son, Larch (Toby Woolf), in the midst of a female revolution, mining the pain of her parents' separation and professionally writing about a love that no longer exists, she falls upon a troubled man, Pete (Leo Bill), who is searching for a sense of worth, belonging and ‘restored’ male identity. Rare Beasts is a pitch-black comedy and is Piper’s directorial debut. The film also stars David Thewlis, Kerry Fox and Lily James.
Available to watch from 21st May
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