‘The Whale’ image courtesy of A24.
From Fri 3 Feb, we welcome in The Whale, the haunting new drama from Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream). The film focuses on Charlie, a reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity, as he attempts to reconnect with his teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption. Brendan Fraser (The Mummy, George of the Jungle) earned an Oscar nomination for the lead role, in a performance so good it has ushered in what’s been called the ‘Brenaissance’. Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Hong Chau (Downsizing, The Menu) also give stellar performances, with Chau being nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Charlie’s nurse and best friend. Powerful, poignant, and truthful, The Whale promises to be a tale for the ages. Find out more with this fantastic review from ABC News, and watch the awe-inspiring trailer.
‘Blue Jean’ image courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment.
From Fri 10 Feb catch Blue Jean, the BAFTA-nominated debut feature from emerging British filmmaker Georgia Oakley that follows the story of Jean, (Rosy McEwen), a queer schoolteacher in 1980s Thatcherite England. Forced to live a double life, the arrival of a new student threatens to expose her, and Jean is pushed to extreme lengths to keep her job and her secret intact. Shot on gorgeous 16mm, with muted, warm colours that contrast sharply with the backdrop of governmental and social cruelty, Jean’s journey inspires hope, while also reflecting issues we still recognise 40 years later. Read Variety’s glittering review, and check out the trailer.
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ image courtesy of Disney.
Fri 17 Feb sees the start of the much-anticipated Phase 5 of the MCU as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania comes to our screens. Paul Rudd (Clueless, Friends) and Evangeline Lilly (The Hurt Locker, Lost) reprise their roles as our titular heroes, and are supported by a stellar cast featuring the likes of Michael Douglas, (Basic Instinct, Falling Down), Michelle Pfeiffer (Stardust, Scarface) and Jonathan Majors (Da 5 Bloods, The Last Black Man in San Francisco). In their latest adventure, Ant-Man and The Wasp are pushed to their limits as they journey to the Quantum Realm and come face-to-face with Kang the Conqueror, a villain to rival Thanos. Make sure you catch this on the big screen – you don’t want to miss one of the most important new MCU films in years. Watch the trailer.
‘Cocaine Bear’ image courtesy of Universal Pictures.
We round out the month with Cocaine Bear, opening from Fri 24 Feb. An outlandish new comedy/thriller from actor-turned-director Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, Charlie’s Angels), the film is based on the wild somewhat-true story of an American black bear that ingested a duffel bag full of cocaine dropped by a drug smuggler in the wilderness of Georgia. So the legend goes, the bear then became one of the most dangerous predators to ever exist… this outlandish reimagining of the incident pits locals and tourists against the murderous bear, as they join forces to survive its rampage. Featuring a posthumous performance from the legendary Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Marriage Story), Cocaine Bear will be one of the most fun cinematic experiences in recent memory. Check out the trailer!
‘Package’ image courtesy of Jamal Walker.
We also have a trio of unmissable special screenings coming up – on Thu 9 Feb and Sat 11 Feb we host two special screenings, followed by Q&As, of Jamal Walker’s debut film Package in partnership with Walk With…W and We Are Parable. When N’yaah searches for a job due to parental pressure, he is ecstatic to finally find one; however, it turns out to be in the dark world of black market delivery. None the wiser and full of excitement, he jumps on his bike and goes out to make his parents proud. The first screening is already sold out, so make sure to get your tickets for the 11 Feb while you can!
‘Othello’ image courtesy of National Theatre.
Finally, our 2023 NT Live season continues on Thu 23 Feb with Othello, an extraordinary new production of Shakespeare’s most enduring tragedy. Desdemona is a bright, headstrong daughter of a senator; elevated by her status but stifled by its expectations. Othello is a refugee of slavery; having risen to the top of a white world, he finds that love across racial lines has a cost. Wed in secret, both crave a new life together. But as unseen forces conspire against them, they find their future is not theirs to decide. Filmed live on the Lyttleton stage of the National Theatre, and starring 2018 Olivier Award winner Giles Terera, alongside the talented Rosy McEwen (Blue Jean), this mesmerising take on the timeless classic is not to be missed.
View our full cinema listings.
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