Hard to believe, but we are in the second month of 2016 and time is already flying by... however, that does mean that we have a great new selection of movies to look forward to over the coming weeks.
A Bigger Splash
As always, there is a terrific range of indie movies to watch out for this February and we take a look at some of the films that you cannot miss if you are looking for a break from the blockbusters and mainstream movies.
- A Bigger Splash - released 12th February
A Bigger Splash marks the return of Luca Guadagnino to the director's chair for his first live-action feature film since I Am Love back in 2009; he has been working in documentary features and short films since.
A Bigger Splash sees him reunite with Oscar winner Tilda Swinton for the first time since they worked together on I Am Love - it is great to see them working together again.
The filmmaker has assembled a terrific central cast as Swinton stars alongside Ralph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Dakota Johnson; it is a loaded cast and I am excited to see what they deliver.
When a high-profile couple - a rock star and a filmmaker decide to vacation on a remote Italian island, their rest is disrupted by the sudden visit of an old friend and his sexy, yet mysterious daughter. Suddenly, what was supposed to be an ideal getaway turns into a whirlwind of jealousy, passion and danger for everyone in the group.
A Bigger Splash really is promising to be one of the best character-driven indie movies this February. Swinton is one of the best actresses around and it is always exciting to see her back on the big screen.
- Welcome To Leith - released 12th February
2016 is set to be another great year for documentary film and Welcome To Leith is one of the films in this genre that you cannot afford to miss.
Michael Beach Nichols and Christopher K. Walker team up in the director's chair for the first time. Walker will be making his feature film directorial debut with the film while Nichols is no stranger to this genre with the likes of Flex Is Kings and The Man Behind the Curtain already under his belt.
Welcome to Leith received its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and is set to be one of the most talked about documentaries of coming months as it explores some interesting and controversial ideas and issues.
The film tells the story of the tiny prairie town of Leith, North Dakota, saw its population of 24 grow by one. The newcomer was Craig Cobb, a notorious white supremacist. Quietly snapping up plots of land, he planned to take over the town government and establish Cobbsville, a haven for white separatists.
In organizing a rally of supremacists and neo-Nazis and courting them to take up residence, Cobb does not endear himself to Leith. As his behaviour becomes more threatening, tensions soar, and the residents desperately look for ways to expel their unwanted neighbour.
This chronicle of a rural community's struggle for sovereignty amidst extremism quite cleverly manoeuvres us into an uncomfortable confrontation with our own values. Like the residents, we feel our anger escalate, but as disturbing and hateful as his racist attitudes are, Cobb is afforded certain protections under the law.
Welcome To Leith is a film that has been winning over the critics and it is one of the documentaries that I am looking forward to the most this year.
- The Survivalist - released 12th February
Stephen Fingleton is a name to watch out for over the next couple of years as he is set to make his feature film directorial debut this month with The Survivalist.
The Survivalist has already been playing successfully on the festival circuit and Fingleton has picked up an Outstanding Debut by a British writer, director or producer Bafta nomination for his work on the film.
Martin McCann is set to take on the central and title character and is joined on the cast list by Mia Goth, Andrew Simpson, Douglas Russell, and Olwen Fouere.
In a kill-or-be-killed world where starvation is rife and strangers are always dangerous, The Survivalist lives off the grid, and by his wits. When a starving woman and her teenage daughter discover his forest refuge, his loneliness drives him to overcome his suspicion and strike a bargain with them in return for bed and board.
But as desire becomes stronger than necessity, the exchange becomes an uneasy, ongoing arrangement which threatens not only his carefully constructed world but also his life.
As well as being in the director's chair, Fingleton has also penned the film's screenplay and he looks set to be one of the most exciting new British directors of 2016.
- Freeheld - released 19th February
Ellen page and Julianne Moore are two of the exciting actresses around and they are set to team up in new drama Freeheld.
The movie is based on the true story of Laurel Hester, a police officer who tries to get her pension benefits transferred to her domestic partner after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Moore is set to take on the role of Hester, Page is on board as he girlfriend Stacie Andree and Peter Sollett returns to the director's chair.
Freeheld is the third feature film of Sollett's directing career and his first since Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist back in 2008 - it is great to see him back and working with such a wonderful cast list.
As if Moore and Page were not exciting enough, they are joined on the cast list by Michael Shannon, Steve Carell, Luke Grimes, and Skipp Sudduth.
Freeheld is the true story of Laurel Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page) and their fight for justice. A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie.
However, the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this. Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells (Shannon), and activist Steve Goldstein (Carell), unite in Laurel and Stacie's defence, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
- Orthodox - released 19th February
Stephen Graham is one of the most exciting and talented British actors around who moves easily between blockbuster roles, television work and independent film. February sees him back in the latter as he leads the cast in Orthodox.
The movie sees David Leon in the director's chair as he makes the transition from short films to his first feature film project. He already has short films Father and Orthodox and this new feature is inspired by that short film in 2012.
As well as being in the director's chair Leon has also penned the film's screenplay and assembled a terrific cast list. Graham will take on the central role of Benjamin and is joined by Michael Smiley, Giacomo Mancini and Christopher Fairbank.
Growing up in an orthodox Jewish community, Benjamin (Graham) is bullied for his religion. Taking to boxing as a means of self-defence, his choice alienates him from both his family and community as he becomes increasingly involved in dangerous, unlicensed fights. As the responsibility of business, marriage and family overwhelm him, Benjamin is forced to make a choice which devastates everything he has spent his life building.
Years later, Benjamin returns from prison to find he has lost everything. Desperate and searching for redemption he returns to the boxing club and the friend he thought he could trust, uncovering a series of truths which turns all he knows upside down.
I am looking forward to seeing the wide range of British movies that will hit the big screen in 2016 and Orthodox is one that is not to be missed this February.
