Avatar returns, Baumbach takes on DeLillo, and Cannes favourite Corsage joins us right at the end of the month, as a year full of thrilling cinematic events reaches its climax.
‘White Noise’ image courtesy of Altitude Film Distribution.
Now screening, White Noise is the latest release from American indie darling Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story, The Squid and the Whale, Frances Ha). Premiering at Venice and based on Don DeLillo’s critically acclaimed 1985 novel of the same name, the film tells the tale of Jack (Adam Driver) and Babette (Greta Gerwig) Gladney. The couple’s comfortable suburban life is upended when a nearby chemical leak causes ‘The Airborne Toxic Event’, releasing a noxious black cloud over the region that forces the Gladney family to evacuate. This dystopian black comedy is Baumbach’s highest budget feature by quite some distance, and we can expect to see a wider, bigger story than his previous filmography, especially if you’ve followed the director from his mumblecore beginnings. Check out the trailer for White Noise.
‘Bones and All’ image courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures.
From Fri 9 Dec we are bringing in Bones and All, the latest hit from Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Suspiria, A Bigger Splash). Timothée Chalamet (Dune, Lady Bird, Beautiful Boy) and Taylor Russell (Waves, Escape Room) star as young cannibals who flee on a road trip together. Both outsiders in Reagan’s America, feelings between them grow, but all roads lead back to their terrifying past, and to a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their otherness. This horror romance road movie is the first time that Chalamet and Guadagnino have collaborated since Call Me by Your Name, and if that is anything to go by, we are in for a treat with this one. Check out this glistening 5* review from The Guardian, and watch the trailer here!
‘The Menu’ image courtesy of WDSMP UK.
Also now screening is The Menu from Mark Mylod, known for his TV directing in Shameless and Succession. This black comedy horror film stars Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit, Last Night in Soho, Emma) as Margot Mills and Nicholas Hoult (Skins, Mad Max: Fury Road) as Tyler, on a trip to the super-exclusive Hawthorne restaurant situated on a private island, run by the secretive celebrity chef Julian Slowik, played by Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter series, In Bruges, The Grand Budapest Hotel). The restaurant’s menu features an immersive dining experience, which takes a horrific turn as Slowik’s mentality and motivations are slowly revealed. The Menu is very funny and entertaining, while also acting as satire and poking fun at the elite. If you liked Triangle of Sadness and Squid Games, you’ll love the twists and turns of Mylod’s creepingly familiar food caper – watch The Menu’s trailer.
‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ image courtesy of WDSMP UK.
Now, what we’ve all been waiting for; from Fri 16 Dec we are proud to welcome Avatar: The Way of Water to our screens. This comes from visionary director James Cameron (Titanic, The Terminator, Aliens), who returns to directing following a 13-year hiatus after 2009’s Avatar. Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang, The Way of Water is set more than a decade after the events of the first film. Its plot has been kept under wraps, however, we do know that it tells the story of the Sully family, the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.
The Way of Water has been carefully curated by Cameron, waiting until technology had advanced far enough for the water effects to be fully realised. As we saw with Top Gun: Maverick earlier this year, the real life elements have been utilised to the fullest extent – look out for the scene where Kate Winslet holds her breath underwater for a whopping seven minutes – a record for any film shot underwater! Whether it is in 3D or 2D, this blockbuster promises two things: to push the boundaries of what is possible for the medium of film, and to be a colossal cinematic event. Make sure you catch it on our big screens to fully take in all of those special effects. Check out the awe-inspiring trailer for The Way of Water – and for a great preview of that unforgettable soundtrack!
‘Corsage’ image courtesy of Picturehouse Entertainment.
Finally, from Wed 28 Dec we are bringing in film festival favourite Corsage from Marie Kreutzer (The Ground Beneath My Feet). Vicky Krieps (Old, Phantom Thread, Bergman Island) stars, giving a performance that won her the Cannes ‘Un Certain Regard’ Performance Prize for her portrayal of Empress Elizabeth of Austria. When Elizabeth is faced with a future of strict ceremonies, royal duties, and being made to wear a tight corset, she rebels against her public image, and comes up with a plan to protect her legacy.
The winner of London Film Festival’s ‘Best Film Prize’, the internationally produced drama has been hotly anticipated since its debut at Cannes. Nominated as the Austrian submission for the Academy Awards, Corsage has been hotly tipped to win even more prizes come awards season. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw said “Krieps gives an exhilaratingly fierce, uningratiating performance,” – a fitting pick for fans of The Great, Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and those looking for a story to get lost in after the festivities. Watch the trailer for Corsage here.
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