What to watch in cinemas this week | Jan. 9–15
Hard Truths, Companion, The Last Showgirl, We Live in Time, and September 5.
Each week I provide a somewhat-curated list of films to see in cinemas. Meant as more of a resource than weekly essay, you can refer to this series whenever you feel like going to the movies. Also, can check out previous weeks’ selections because those films might still be in theaters.
Recommendation of the week
Hard Truths (Mike Leigh)
is something I’ve not been able to see, but it comes with a centerpiece performance by Marianne Jean-Baptiste that people are already saying will be the Best Actress snub at the Oscars. (It’s my problem for paying attention to this discourse on awards predictions.) Nonetheless, it’s directed by one of the great British filmmakers who can capture the best screen (and theatrical if you’re in London) performances of all time. One of my favorite critics, for this film, simply wrote, “walloping.”
Plot bio: Pansy is a woman tormented by anger and depression, hypersensitive to the slightest possible offence and ever ready to fly off the handle. She criticises her husband and their adult son so relentlessly that neither bothers to argue with her. She picks fights with strangers and sales clerks and enumerates the world’s countless flaws to anyone who will listen, especially her cheerful sister Chantelle, who, despite their clashing temperaments, might …more
German release: ?
American releases
Companion (Drew Hancock)
is the feature debut of Mr. Hancock, but, as the marketing incessantly insists, it’s from the crew that brought you Barbarian. That means it’ll be a contemporary thriller/horror going for memeable moments that may or may not work. That doesn’t seem to be so hard in that genre.
Plot bio: Hey you. Tired of swiping? Sick of getting ghosted? Are you feeling like a part of you is missing? FindYourCompanion.com is guaranteed to find you a Companion who’s made for you.
German release: 6 February.
The Last Showgirl (Gia Coppola)
is another film from one of the Coppolas (granddaughter of Francis, niece of Sofia, first cousin once removed of both Nicolas Cage and Jason Schwartzman). This is supposed to be a big art-house comeback film for Pamela Anderson, who was completely upstaged at the Golden Globes by Demi Moore, who did exactly that but actually won an award and is receiving way more attention.
Plot bio: When the glittering Las Vegas revue she has headlined for decades announces it will soon close, a glamorous showgirl must reconcile with the decisions she’s made and the community she has built as she plans her next act.
German release: 20 March.
German releases
We Live in Time (John Crowley)
is something I want to see just to check out Garfield and Pugh’s real accents. Also, they are two of the seven best actors of their age group. Looks like a real weeper though.
Plot bio: An up-and-coming chef and a recent divorcée find their lives forever changed when a chance encounter brings them together, in a decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.
September 5 (Tim Fehlbaum)
is coming to Germany, and I’ll be watching it in the city (Munich) it takes place. I wrote about this film a month ago for its American release.
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