With just over a month to go let’s have a look at some of the movies that are showing when the UK’s big screens reopen. What their stories will be and what makes them worth going to see?

Spiral: From the book of Saw (17th May)

A police veteran and two detectives investigate a series of murders that look familiar to some prior cases. Soon, however, the killer begins targeting one of them as part of a dark game.

17 years after the Saw franchise began Spiral is aiming to give the series a revival. Its cast will be led by Chris Rock playing against type in a more serious role (he also pitched the idea for the film’s story), alongside the brilliant Samuel L. Jackson. Series stalwart Darren Lynn Bousman is also returning to direct, meaning Spiral is sure to continue Saw’s energetic dark visual style. This mixture of unique style with a fresh cast and story possibilities will satisfy Saw die-hards and casual audiences alike. And the big screen will only enhance the film’s atmosphere. So horror lovers go and give Spiral a watch when cinemas reopen.

The 8th (25th May)

This documentary charts the 35-year struggle of many dedicated female activists in Ireland as they fought to change the 8^th amendment, which effectively banned abortions.

The 8^th feels particularly timely given recent news stories regarding women’s rights and safety. And from all indications, The 8^th will be full of both insight and emotional depth. As filmmakers, Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy, and Maeve O’Boyle, who themselves lived under the shadow of the effects of the amendment in Ireland, dive deep into the debate around the amendment. Looking at both sides but mostly focusing on those leading the charge on the pro-choice side and the ray of hope the campaign provides to the world at this moment. The subject matter of The 8th is very important right now. And a cinema screening will only add to the film’s power.

In the Heights (25th Jun)

Over the course of three days in Washington Heights, a number of characters’ lives are charted. Including bodega owner, Usnavi, who is saving up all he can in the hopes of one day making a better life.

After the success of Hamilton last year, another filmed adaptation of a Lin-Manuel Miranda musical is something that everyone should be wanting. With catchy tunes, beautiful visuals, a story that celebrates Latinx culture, and a talented cast and crew In The Heights will surely be a wonderful time. But for the best experience, nothing is going to compare to hearing these songs on cinema speakers.

Another Round (25th Jun)

Four teachers decide to try an experiment and see if they can improve their lives by making sure they have a constant level of alcohol in their blood.

Another Round’s intriguing premise and the fact that it has been nominated for several Oscars this year, including best international film and best director is alone enough reason to recommend seeing it. But because it reteams acclaimed director Thomas Vinterberg with the incredibly talented Mads Mikkelsen, who both worked together on the masterpiece The Hunt, Another Round becomes something that must be seen on big screens when they reopen. Purely because of the calibre of their work.

Fast and Furious 9 (8th Jul)

A new threat emerges to try and destroy Dom and his team’s idyllic existence. That threat is a man who happens to be the most skilled driver and assassin that the group has encountered yet. Dom’s brother, Jakob.

Of all the delayed blockbuster releases Fast and Furious 9 looks like one of the most fun. The franchise continues its ever-increasing tongue-in-cheek comic-book-esque silliness by resurrecting Sung Kang’s Han and having Dom’s brother Jakob (played by the ever-fun John Cena) be a supervillain joining with Cipher from Fate of the Furious. Justin Lin is also coming back to the director’s chair. He previously directed Fast Five. One of the most acclaimed Fast and Furious films. All these ingredients indicate Fast and Furious 9 will be an overblown, well-made, cheesy, good time made for a day out with friends. Which is something we could all use right now.

And those are just a few films that will be coming out when cinemas reopen. Are you looking forward to any of these releases and are you ready to head back to the cinema? Please let us know and remember to stay safe.

Also Read: BirdBox Film Club: Championing Womens’ Voices In Film

The post What to Watch When Cinemas Reopen appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Musicals exist in this strange realm, akin to sci-fi and fantasy. They live in parallel universes, similar to our own, except a character can take five and sing a power ballad about how they’re feeling with a full orchestra playing somewhere off-screen. They appeal to our need to be heard, to process the complicated and confusing emotions we run through daily living in the modern world. It feels like 2020 might be when we need that escape the most.

Initially expected in June, In The Heights will likely arrive later this summer. The adaption of the Tony-winning musical, from Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda, follows a group of characters in the predominantly Latinx community of Washington Heights, New York City. Things take an exciting turn when Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) sells a winning lottery ticket from his struggling bodega, meaning someone from that rundown section of Manhattan has won a whopping $96,000. The film, directed by John M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), looks like a colourful and vibrant visual feast full of optimism and is, potentially, tipped for Oscar glory.

Another Broadway adaption, this time for Netflix, comes in the form of The Prom. This star-studded story, directed by Glee’s Ryan Murphy, follows a self-involved Broadway actress (played by Meryl Streep) as she and gaggle of theatrical characters descend on a small town in Indiana where the school has cancelled their prom. Why? Because a female student has asked if she can bring her girlfriend and this rag-tag bunch of performers are looking for an ‘issue’ to solve. The original show wasn’t a massive hit during its initial Broadway run but seeing the likes of Streep alongside Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, and Kerry Washington will likely be something that draws in a big audience. But, The Prom isn’t the only choice when it comes to queer-centric musicals expected this year as Billy Elliot meets RuPaul in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie which due this October. Richard E. Grant and Sharon Horgan join newcomer Max Harwood in this adaption of the Olivier nominated musical set in Sheffield the story follows a sixteen-year-old boy with aspirations to become a drag queen.

It’s also safe to assume we’ll see Leos Carax’s Annette on the film festival circuit this year (if they go ahead). The film, which finished shooting last year, has been in the works for a while with stars like Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman, Rhianna, and Michelle Williams all attached at some point before Oscar-winner Marion Cottillard joined Adam Driver for this Los Angeles set love story with original music from 70s alt-rock band Sparks. Described by Cottillard as having ‘profound depth’ and a ‘singularity’ to it, Annette is likely to be one of the stranger, yet like visually stunning and moving, musical offers of the year.

The last musical release of 2020 is likely to be a big one as a beloved classic returns to the screen after 60 years. Despite most of its promotional shots looking like they’ve been swiped from a Marks & Spencer catalogue, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake is expected on December 18th. The story, a revised take on Romeo and Juliet, sees young love blossom at the centre of a gang war between the Jets and the Sharks. This remake aims to update the 1961 classic for today’s audiences though it’s unclear, outside of the casting actual Puerto Rican actors to play the Sharks, how it’s planning on doing that. From the on-set photographs and the new stills released in Vanity Fair last month, it looks as though the film is retaining the 1950s setting unlike the latest ‘millennial’ revival currently running on Broadway that does away with most of the iconic choreography (as well as two songs) and aims for a stronger political message adding Black Lives Matter and border walls into the mix. It may well go the route of the 2009 Broadway revival, a production saw Stephen Sondheim, the original lyricist, team up with Lin Manuel Miranda to translate some of the lyrics and the dialogue into Spanish for a more authentic feel. Still, it’s unclear if Spielberg’s remake, which explicitly sought Spanish speaking actors, is going to do the same. Whatever Spielberg does, will it be enough? Will any of these big, bold, musicals be enough? Will the singing and dancing be enough to raise our spirits?

It might seem facetious to ask what it is about our current times that is drawing us back towards the musical? The constant onslaught of politics, social issues, Brexit, division, COVID-19, and the rise of populism (to name a few) might mean that, globally, we are craving the escapism and magic that movie musicals bring. After all, it’s scientifically proven that music makes us feel better and who doesn’t need a pick me up in 2020? 

Hell, even beyond 2020 we’ll be craving that hit of dopamine a big dance number brings. Thankfully, it was recently announced that Jake Gyllenhaal will star in an adaption of Fun Home, the award-winning musical based on Alison Bechdel’s seminal graphic novel, while Scarlett Johansson and Taron Egerton are supposedly circling a Little Shop of Horrors remake but that casting has already been criticised. There’s still a long-awaited adaption of Wicked in the works and, of course, the much talked about Hamilton movie will eventually make its way to the screen. By the looks of it, we’ll have the movie musical to escape into for a few years yet. Fingers crossed.

Once, the musical was once the toast of Hollywood, almost like comic-book movies are today, and now it’s safe to say they’re less bankable. But, it’s still here. It’s fighting, with every jazz hand and Fosse neck it can, to stick around and we need it. In the face of it all, we need the singing, the dancing, and the joy. We need the escape, to find a place that isn’t like our modern times, one where emotion is made sense of through song. To quote one of the aforementioned musicals, we hope that ‘peace and quiet and open-air / wait for us somewhere’ but until then, let the musicals whisk us away. God knows we need it.

Also Read: How The Coronavirus has Affected The Film Industry

The post Is 2020 the Year of the Musical? appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.