Though exams (shudder) are almost upon us, in just about two weeks we shall all be boarding trains, planes and automobiles and on our blessed way home. Ah, winter break… you really could not come any sooner. One time-honoured tradition for me is to spend at least a few weekends at the cinema, taking in all of the wonderful films out for the holiday season. Usually, there are at least a few good ones that just seem amazing, and this season is no different. Without further ado, here are the top films to go see in theatres this winter break:
1. Moana
I absolutely adore everything about this film. A female POC protagonist? Check. Dwane the Rock Johnson? Check. Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creater of Hamilton: An American Musical? Check, yet again. Moana, the title character, is a strong-willed teenager, out to save her people, and everything from the trailer indicates that this will be the next Disney Classic. A must-see for me. [Image: Jon Negroni]
2. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
An absolute requirement for any self-respecitng Potterhead. Eddie Redmayne is effing adorable, as per usual, and I’m sure I’ll be both enchanted and warmed by his performance. Also, the film is set in New York during the 1920s! Yes, it had its rampant racism and sexism, but there are also speakeasies and flapper fashion :)
[Image: Entertainment Weekly]
3. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
This film looks SO GOOD and I am super excited. Not only does it have another badass female protagonist (loving this new, empowering Star Wars reboot theme) but it also boasts a strong cast of actors, such as Felicity Jones (the main character), Diego Luna, and Mads Mikkelson. And because it’s separate from the original and following trilogies, you can enjoy it even if you’re not fully immersed in Star Wars knowledge. It also looks incredibly dark and I’m loving every second of it.
[Image: StarWars.com]
4. Hidden Figures
The film is about a historically-overlooked group of women who were instrumental to one of NASA’s pinnacle projects. It stars Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monáe as the three amazing scientists whose contributions have been overshadowed, undervalued but so crucial to the US Space Race. I highly recommed seeing this – it’s time these women were recognized for the heros they were.
[Image: 20th Century Fox]
5. La La Land
To be perfectly honest, I’m not too sure what this film is about but it has both Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 97%, so I’m sold. From what I can tell from the site, it’s about two artists – she’s an actress and he’s a musician – and their stories will make you cry, with both sorrow and joy.
[Image: Rolling Stone]
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