Movies Opening This Weekend – February 16th, [videos]

Hollywood has something for everyone in your family this weekend, as Bruce Dern, Kristin Scott Thomas, Billy Zane, Tom Hiddleston, and Rutger Hauer star in the latest studio releases. ‘Oh Lucy’ is the tender film about a woman living in Tokyo who begins to learn English. While in class, her teacher calls her Lucy, and she discovers she likes having an alter ego.

‘The Party’ is a film that will remind you of ‘The Big Chill,’ fraught with emotional interactions and guilt. There are a few foreign films that you’ll enjoy, and two animation entries; ‘Early Man’ which chronicles early man, and ‘Tehran Taboo’ an adult animated film that pulls back the curtain on how western values are dealt with in Tehran. Our pick of the week is a wonderful film called ‘The Boy Downstairs’ which is beautifully written and directed by Sophie Brooks, Think ‘Goodbye Girl’ meets ‘Annie’ and you’ll enjoy the dialogue and situational comedy.

Enjoy the movies this weekend, we always do!

The Monkey King 3 (2018)
(NR) Action | Adventure | Fantasy
Director: Soi Cheang
Stars: Aaron Kwok, William Feng, Zanilia Zhao, Shenyang Xiao

This exciting and colorful foreign film reveals the drama and fantasy of the Japanese culture in its entire spender. [watch trailer]

The Boy Downstairs (2017)
(PG-13) 91 min – Comedy
Director: Sophie Brooks
Stars: Zosia Mamet, Matthew Shear, Deirdre O’Connell, Sarah Ramos

A young woman breaks up with her safe boyfriend, only to find the real danger in love has arrived with the meeting of her neighbor. This is a wonderful New York romance, filled with delicious dialogue and juxtaposition. Director Sophie Brooks does a spectacular job in assembling talented actors with a quirky script. [watch trailer]

Tehran Taboo (2017)
(NR) 90 min – Animation
Director: Ali Soozandeh
Stars: Farhad Abadinejad, Jasmina Ali, Rozita Assadollahy, Alireza Bayram

In what can only be described as the most interesting film of the year, ‘Tehran Taboo’ is the story of four young people living in Tehran, Iran, hoping to fulfill their lives in the Islamic culture. The animation and sub-titles will have you hanging at the end of your seat. [watch trailer]

Nostalgia (2018)
(R) 114 min – Drama
Director: Mark Pellington
Stars: Hugo Armstrong, Shinelle Azoroh, Annalise Basso, Bruce Dern

A woman’s home burns to the ground, leaving her with the choices of what artifacts and objects need to be restored, and which do not. Each object she holds represents memories in her life than take her back to life’s long and tangled journey. ‘Nostalgia’ will remind you of the memories that shaped your life. Ellen Burstyn and Bruce Dern are spectacular in this film, one you’ll want to see this weekend. [watch trailer]

Loveless (2017)
R) 127 min – Drama
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Stars: Maryana Spivak, Aleksey Rozin, Matvey Novikov, Marina Vasileva

A divorcing couple set their differences aside to find their son who disappeared. This foreign film has all the emotion and pain of real life. [watch trailer]

The Party (2017)
(R) 71 min – Comedy
Director: Sally Potter
Stars: Timothy Spall, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson, Bruno Ganz

A complicated woman decided to hold a party to celebrate her big promotion. The guests of the party turn the moment into a dramatic confession of those attending. Kristin Scott Thomas is wonderful in this film, and the ensemble cast warms your heart. [watch trailer]

Samson (2018)
(PG-13) Action | Drama
Directors: Bruce Macdonald | Gabriel Sabloff
Stars: Jackson Rathbone, Billy Zane, Taylor James, Rutger Hauer

A young Hebrew man dies, but rises with a Supernatural strength he’ll need to save his countrymen. Think ‘300’ meets ‘Braveheart’ and you’ll understand the drama. [watch trailer]

Aiyaary (2018)
(NR) 157 min – Action
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Stars: Sidharth Malhotra, Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah, Rakul Preet Singh

This is an interesting foreign film with occasional scenes in English, designed to pull you into the drama of an officer and his young protégé. The two have a falling out, and the young officer has the surveillance skills and wit to take the fight to the intelligence organizations of is country. [watch trailer]

Early Man (2018)
(NR) 157 min – Action
(PG) 89 min – Animation
Director: Nick Park
Stars: Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Timothy Spall

This is the story of man during the dawn of time, where he roamed the earth filled with dangerous woolly mammoths and cunning creatures. If you ever wondered what it was like for mankind during the Jurrasic days, this film fills in the blanks. [watch trailer]

Black Panther (2018)
(PG-13) 134 min – Action
Director: Ryan Coogler
Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira

Set in the future, Marvel Studios delivers a different kind of film. Black Panther is a futuristic force that does battle in the current day, fighting to take his place as King. [watch trailer]

Double Lover (2017)
(NR) 107 min – Drama
Director: François Ozon
Stars: Marine Vacth, Jérémie Renier, Jacqueline Bisset, Myriam Boyer

Chloé is a young French woman who mistakenly falls or her psychoanalyst. The two decide to live together, but soon discovers he’s not the man he portends to be. This is a romantic story of trust and honesty being tested at the highest level. [watch trailer]

Oh Lucy! (2017)
(NR) 95 min – Comedy
Director: Atsuko Hirayanagi
Stars: Shinobu Terajima, Josh Hartnett, Kaho Minami, Kôji Yakusho

This foreign film is the sleeper of the weekend, a film that spoils the eyes as well as the heart. A sad woman living in Tokyo begins to attend an English class where her teacher tells her, that while a student in his class, she will be called ‘Lucy.’ The woman begins to like being Lucy, living the life of an English speaking woman. This film is a different kind of romantic film, but well worth your time and ticket price. [watch trailer]

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