There are some huge movies just around the corner--the next few weeks will see the release of Aquaman, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Mary Poppins Returns, and Bumblebee. But, like last week's, it’s another quiet one. That's not say the movies lined up in the US are bad--both Vox Lux and Mary Queen of Scots arrive with big stars (including Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Margot Robbie) and good reviews, but they are unlikely to last long on screens before these huge studio monsters roll in.
The UK sees the release of several movies that already hit US screens back in the Fall, including the brilliant satire Sorry to Bother You and Robert Redford's final movie, The Old Man & The Gun. There's also the release of the first My Hero Academia movie, Two Heroes, which is a must-see for anime fans.
Over on Netflix, the big budget Jungle Book adaptation Mowgli makes its streaming debut. This lavish, star-studded movie is directed by Lord of the Rings/Planet of the Apes star Andy Serkis, and is a darker take on the classic novel. There's also the Young Adult adaptation Dumplin', starring Jennifer Aniston and featuring the songs of country legend Dolly Parton. So here's the week's new releases in the both the US and UK.
Vox Lux
See it in US and UK theaters on December 7
As an actor, Brady Corbet is best known for acclaimed movies such as Mysterious Skin and Melancholia, but he is now emerging as one of the most interesting young directors working. Following his amazing period drama Childhood of a Leader, we have Vox Lux. This is a satire about the perils of fame, starring Natalie Portman as a former teen pop star having to deal with her fading career, a teenage daughter, and various traumatic events that have shaped her life. The movie also stars Jude Law as a sleazy manager and rising star Stacy Martin, and reviews suggest it is a strange and engrossing look at the dark side of celebrity.
Mary Queen of Scots
See it in US theaters on December 7
This historical drama was originally set to Scarlett Johansson back in 2007, but then languished in development hell for a decade before Suicide Squad-star Margot Robbie and Lady Bird's Saoirse Ronan were cast in the lead roles. Ronan plays the title character, with Robbie as her cousin, rival, and English monarch, Queen Elizabeth I. While the story of their rivalry has been filmed before--most notably in the Cate Blanchett-starring Elizabeth: The Golden Age, this version tells it more from Mary's point of view. It's the movie debut for acclaimed theater director Josie Rourke, and the cast also includes former Doctor Who David Tennant, Guy Piece (Iron Man 3), Jack Lowden (Dunkirk), and Gemma Chan (appearing in the upcoming Captain Marvel).
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes
See it in UK theaters on December 4
This is the first movie from the popular superhero anime and manga My Hero Academia, and it has already proved to be a big hit in Japan and the US. It's set between Seasons 2 and 3 of the anime, but also works as a standalone story. In his review for GameSpot, Dave Klein described the movie is "missed opportunity," in that it didn't develop any of the characters, but nevertheless stated that "if you're looking for a fun extra dose of My Hero, Two Heroes is is certain to satisfy that craving."
White Boy Rick
See it in UK theaters on December 7
Yann Demange's tense Irish thriller '71 was one of the best and most gripping independent movies of the last few years, and his US debut, White Boy Rick, arrives in UK theaters this weekend. It's got a great cast--including Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Eddie Marsan--and a fascinating strange-but-true storyline. It focuses on Richard Wershe Jr. (played by newcomer Richie Merritt), a teenager who, at age 14, became the youngest ever FBI informant.
The Old Man & The Gun
See it in UK theaters on December 7
Legendary actor Robert Redford has confirmed that this crime drama will be his final movie. It's a moving, elegiac way for him to close his career and focuses on the real-life story of Forrest Tucker, a bank robber who was arrested at the age of 76, having performed more than 80 hold-ups in his life. The film is directed by David Lowery, who made last year's beautiful and moving fantasy A Ghost Story.
Sorry To Bother You
See it in UK theaters on December 7
Boots Riley's Sorry To Bother You is an absurd, ambitious, hugely imaginative dark sci-fi comedy, and one of 2018's best movies. Atlanta's Lakeith Stanfield plays an African-American telemarketer who discovers that using a white accent on the phone causes him to excel at his job. Soon he is climbing the corporate ladder but finds himself embroiled in a sinister conspiracy. Riley assembles a stellar cast--including Tessa Thompson, Forest Whitaker, Terry Crews, Danny Glover, and Armie Hammer--and directs with flair and imagination.
Mowgli
See it on Netflix on December 7
This adaptation of the classic novel The Jungle Book was originally due to arrive in theaters back in late 2016. But following the huge success of Disney's own Jungle Book movie, the rival version was delayed, and ultimately sold to Netflix. Directed by Planet of the Apes and Black Panther star Andy Serkis, the all-star cast includes Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Serkis himself, and it is a darker take on the story than the Disney version. With Disney's own sequel also in development, it remains to be see how many Jungle Books the public actually wants, but at least this offers something a little different.
Dumplin'
See it on Netflix on December 7
Dumplin' is based on Julie Murphy's popular 2015 Young Adult novel, and stars Jennifer Aniston as a former beauty queen who now runs her own pageant. When her lovestruck daughter Willowdean (Danielle Macdonald) enters the pageant to prove her self-worth, an inevitable clash between mom and daughter occurs. Director Anne Fletcher previously made the hugely popular teen dance hit Step Up, and Dumplin' should prove to be a similarly successful mix of drama, comedy, and music. The movie's positive teen message is supported by a soundtrack by none-other than country legend Dolly Parton, who sings 12 songs, six of them brand new tunes for the movie.
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