‘Conclave‘ Image courtesy of Black Bear Pictures.
From Fri 6 Dec, Edward Berger returns to the directors chair for the first time since 2022’s Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front with his latest critically acclaimed feature Conclave.
Premiering at Telluride Film Festival, this mystery thriller centres upon Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, portrayed by an immense Ralph Fiennes, who organizes a papal conclave to select the next pope. Sequestered in the Vatican until the process is complete, he unexpectedly finds himself uncovering a conspiracy that could lead to the Church’s very downfall. Supported by Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, Conclave excels in both its storytelling and as an immersive experience with a rich sound design effectively capturing the hushed and atmosphere of this secretive world. Make sure you catch it while it’s on the big screen.
Have a read of RogerEbert.com’s adoring review, and watch the thrilling trailer for Conclave.
‘Queer‘ Image courtesy of MUBI.
The following week, from Fri 13 Dec, we welcome the return of Luca Guadagnino with Venice Film Festival favourite Queer. Guadagnino’s recent run of features, including Call Me by Your Name, Bones and All, and Challengers, have propelled him to be one of the most vital and acclaimed directors in contemporary cinema – and his stellar form continues with his most recent work.
Set in 1950s Mexico City, we follow Lee who, after fleeing from a drug bust in New Orleans, wanders around the city’s clubs and becomes infatuated with drug user Allerton, a discharged American Navy serviceman. Daniel Craig gives us a career best performance in this masterful examination of male loneliness and the way a solitary life can so easily shade into a life sentence. Guadagnino also powerfully showcases a queer love that, instead of delivering the salvation it promises, withers under the gaze of the real world.
Check out the gorgeous trailer for Queer, and read IndieWire’s rave review.
‘Defenders of Anarchy‘ Image courtesy of You’re Projecting Film Club.
Also making their raucous debut at Rich Mix on Fri 13 Dec is queer collective You’re Projecting Film Club.
The newly established collective is on a mission to revive and dissect unhinged, trashy and problematic faves from cinema history, throwing screenings that are also drag shows, that are also club nights. Their first event, Defenders of Anarchy is a drag cabaret and celebration of the iconic schoolgirl heist franchise St Trinian’s, with back-to-back screenings of The Belles of St Trinian’s (1954) and St Trinian’s (2007).
Drag performers Bonk The Drag Queen and Mild Peril will be causing some high camp chaos between the films, making this is a film night-drag show-afterschool detention you can’t miss! After the screenings and performances, You’re Projecting’s DJ lineup will be turning up the mayhem until 1am, with sets from film-themed DJ sensation Flick Chicks, hyper pop rave kitten AVG, and dreamy gothy techno princess Xtra Pale. Find out more and get your tickets here.
‘Mufasa: The Lion King‘ Image courtesy of Disney.
Then from Fri 20 Dec we welcome Mufasa: The Lion King to our screens, a prequel to the legendary animated picture.
Barry Jenkins brings his directorial prowess to the live-action movie – in what was a somewhat surprising announcement – for a visually stunning portrayal of an orphaned Mufasa and his eventual rise to the top. Featuring an ensemble of voices including Aaron Pierre, Thandiwe Newton, Mads Mikkelsen and Seth Rogan, plus music from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mufasa: The Lion King promises to be the family hit of the year and the warm cure to all winter colds.
Take a look at the gorgeous trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King.
‘Better Man‘ Image courtesy of Entertainment Film.
Rounding out the year in a magnificent musical fashion, from Fri 27 Dec, we screen Better Man, also known as the Robbie Williams biopic where he’s portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee.
Michael Gracey, best know for The Greatest Showman, provides another stunning cinematic marvel as we follow Robbie Williams’ journey through childhood, to Take That, to his achievements as a solo-artist – all while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring including feeling ‘less evolved’ than other people. Best summed up by Time Out, the film is ‘a fun, bombastic, brilliant choreographed and totally enthralling’, make sure you check out this bananas gamble that pays off.
Have read of The Guardian’s glowing review and watch the marvellous trailer for Better Man!
‘Nosferatu‘ Image courtesy of Universal Pictures.
And looking ahead (briefly) to the New Year, get ready for the highly anticipated return of visionary director Robert Eggers with the gothic horror Nosferatu. Eggers masterfully re-interprets the 1922 original into atmospheric fever-dream in which Transylvanian Count Orlok’s re-location to the sleepy German town of Wisborg spells horror for its inhabitants. A true horror for the ages, Nosferatu opens on Thu 2 Jan with pre-sales starting from Fri 13 Dec.
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