Wild Horse Nine, Godzilla Minus Zero, and I Play Rocky stand out the most among the twelve new releases heading to cinemas this week. You’re spoilt for choice!
Santa is still in his workshop. However, that hasn’t stopped him from giving cinema-goers some early Christmas movie presents this week. No less than TWELVE new movies are opening on screens this week, and some are real gems. The standouts include Wild Horse Nine, Godzilla Minus Zero, I Play Rocky, and La Bola Negra. Having seen three of these already, I can confirm that they will be Oscar-nominated, with I Play Rocky possibly joining them on the ballot papers come voting time. Wild Horse Nine could finally win John Malkovich his Oscar, Godzilla Minus Zero has a great shot at Best Visual Effects, and La Bola Negra is on for Best Film Not In The English Language. However, the three of them could battle it out for Best Film, as all three are real heavyweight contenders.
WILD HORSE NINE
Walt Disney-Released Wednesday 4th November
Synopsis: CIA agents Chris and Lee are dispatched to Easter Island shortly before the coup in Chile in 1973. As the longtime partners wrestle with their dark pasts and present conspiracies, Chris’s newfound bond with a pair of rebellious students threatens to send everyone’s trip on this remote paradise sideways.
Cast: John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey.
Director: Martin McDonagh
Cert: 15
We saw the film at the BFI London Film Festival and were blown away by it. Our editor, Phil Roberts, said this about the film:
“Overall, Wild Horse Nine is nothing short of phenomenal. This is pure cinematic gold, intricately crafted with heart, soul, and bags of rib-tickling humor. Martin McDonagh continues his extraordinary run of cinematic brilliance with another rare gem that deserves serious awards recognition. Sam Rockwell is faultless, delivering yet another sensational performance that ranks among the very best of his career. But make no mistake, this is John Malkovich’s magnum opus. Here, the veteran actor delivers a career-defining performance, bringing to life a wonderfully multifaceted character brimming with poise, vulgarity, bitterness, sarcasm, sadness, poignancy, and tragedy. It’s a remarkable balancing act that defies expectations, and if the decision were mine, I’d hand him the Best Actor Oscar right now! This is a performance for the ages, and I sincerely hope the Academy recognizes the extraordinary work he has delivered here.”
You can read his full review here.
GEORGE MICHAEL: THE FAITH TOUR
Universal Pictures-Released Friday 6th November
Synopsis: George Michael: The Faith Tour is a feature-length concert film and live album release capturing George Michael’s historic 1988 world tour.
Cast: George Michael
Directors: David Austin and Andrew Morahan
Cert: 12A
I PLAY ROCKY
Entertainment Film Distributors-Released Friday 6th November
Synopsis: Actor Sylvester Stallone writes the screenplay for “Rocky”, betting everything on himself to play the lead character against seemingly impossible odds. The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie.
Cast: Anthony Ippolito, AnnaSophia Robb, Toby Kebbell, P. J. Byrne, Jay Duplass, Matt Dillon, Stephan James, and Tracy Letts
Director: Peter Farrelly
Cert: 12A
LA BOLA NEGRA
Altitude Film Entertainment-Released Friday, 6th November
Synopsis: Across three distinct eras, the intertwined lives of three men remain bound by a shared thread of desire, sexuality, enduring pain, and the lasting weight of their complex legacies.
Cast: Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Penélope Cruz, and Glenn Close
Directors: Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi
Cert: 15
We saw the film at the BFI London Film Festival and found it to be amazing. I said in my social media comments:
“La Bola Negra is a fine, emotional, funny, charming, dramatic, tragic and heartbreaking film that is destined to become a classic.
Amazing performances, visuals, and a story across three time periods, the film captures our hearts as well as our minds.”
RAMAYANA: RISE OF A LEGEND
Sony Pictures-Released Friday 6th November
Synopsis: Born of fire and penance, Ravana rises to power, blessed by the gods and feared by all. But pride soon turns to vengeance, and his defiance threatens the balance of creation itself.
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Cert: 12A
ALSO RELEASED THIS WEEK
GODZILLA MINUS ZERO
Anime Ltd-Release date: Friday 6th November
Cert: 15
We’ve seen the film, and it is a monster! Seriously, see it on the biggest screen you can. We said in our review:
“Overall, Takashi Yamazaki’s GODZILLA MINUS ZERO is another masterful triumph of cinema. With another powerful, resonant, gripping story and jaw-dropping special effects, it’s an absolute joy from start to finish. A step down from Minus One, but still INCREDIBLE! It is similar to Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, but in a different way. While the Hollywood version lets the monsters take over the film, relegating the humans and their story to supporting the monster smackdowns, this film does the opposite. It focuses mostly on the human side, showing the creatures at various times but never letting them dictate or overwhelm the film. It is a delicate balancing act, one the film manages to achieve at every turn. And it is all the more rich and enjoyable for it.”
You can read our full review here.
The Irregular at Magic High School THE MOVIE – Yotsuba Succession Arc
Sony Pictures-Release date: Friday 6th November
Cert: 15
MERRY CHRISTMAS AUBREY FLINT
Signature Entertainment-Release date: Friday 6th November
Cert: PG
ONE IN A MILLION
Dogwoof-Release date: Friday 6th November
Cert: TBC
RAISE THE RED LANTERN
Central City Media-Release date: Friday 6th November
Cert: 12A
THINK OF ENGLAND
Tull Stories-Release date: Friday 6th November
Cert: 18
TRACES OF JUSTICE
Trinity Films-Release date: Friday 6th November
Cert: 15
Choose your next cinema visit from these great movies hitting screens this week.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
