The Films To See – February 2018

Black Panther

Across Marvel, DC and whatever other movie studio is daring enough to enter the foray, one thing is certain with every year – there will be a superhero movie. Guaranteed. The thing is, quantity doesn’t necessarily equate to quality, and so it’s totally understandable to lose passion when it’s hard to keep up with what’s going on, and the smattering of different superheroes.

Here is a superhero you can get excited about – Black Panther. The first Marvel film for 2018, the 18th entry into the Marvel cinematic universe and the first starring a black superhero, Black Panther follows T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), king of fictional African nation, Wakanda. T’Challa returns to the technologically advanced Wakanda to take control of the throne, only to be threatened by two enemies who team up take down Wakanda and it’s monarchy.

Director Ryan Coogler, (Fruitvale Station, Creed), sought to create an eye-catching cinematic experience, blending real-world African architecture and styles of dress. “The writers treated Wakanda like a truly African country. When you go to countries in Africa, you’ll find several tribes, who speak their own languages, have their own culture, and have distinct food and way of dress”, Coogler said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “They live amongst each other, and together they make the identity of those countries. That’s something we tried to capture. We wanted it to feel like a country, as opposed to just one city or town”.

Keep an eye and ear out for the film’s soundtrack; Kendrick Lamar produced and curated the film’s soundtrack that features artists such as Future, James Blake and SZA.

In cinemas 15 February

Loving Vincent

It almost goes without saying, but film and cinematography is an art form, with every frame acting as a canvas. Loving Vincent tells the story about the life and mysterious death of iconic post-impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh. The first fully painted animated feature film, each of the film’s 65,000 frames is an oil painting on canvas, the team of 125 painters employing the same technique Van Gogh used. Loving Vincent adds new meaning to the “art” of film.

In cinemas 8 February

Molly’s Game

High-stakes poker, the FBI and the Russian mob. This film tells the true story of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game during the 2000s, dodging death at the hands of the Russian mob, before being arrested by the FBI in 2013. Bloom’s poker games were notorious, boasting regular players such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. Aaron Sorkin, the creative genius behind A Few Good Men and Moneyball, makes his directorial debut, with Idris Elba, Kevin Costner and Michael Cera rounding out the cast.

In cinemas 1 February

50 Shades Freed

The last installment in the Fifty Shades trilogy details business magnate and BDSM aficionado Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), and his newly married wife, Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson). It’s not long before ghosts from both of their pasts return to threaten their new life. The marriage might be on the rocks, but the Grey’s still find ample time to get their rocks off. Right, so here’s your Valentine’s Day plan – take your significant other to dinner, knock back some vino, watch 50 Shades, Uber home, then hit the sheets. She’ll thank you for it, and then you’ll thank me for it.