Tokyo Weekender - February 2016

FEB 5
PREVIEWS | MOVIES | 31
10 OF THE BEST: THE MUST SEE MOVIES OF 2013
> BEST OF THE REST This Month’s Releases
POINT BREAK
FEBRUARY 20
Kathryn Bigelow’s cult action hit
gets an update as Edgar Ramirez
and Luke Bracey take over the
roles made famous by Keanu
Reeves and Patrick Swayze.
One’s an undercover cop, the
other is the leader of a bank-robbing extreme sports gang.
THE MARTIAN
Ridley Scott has made some of his finest films in the sci-fi genre.
Heading back to the stars, Scott’s new feature “The Martian”
is a less horrifying affair than his former sci-fi voyages (think
“Alien”) but it’s no less lacking in drama and intensity. Matt Damon
stars as Mark Watney, an astronaut belonging to a team carrying out
a manned mission on Mars. After an emergency evacuation the crew
presumes Watney to be dead and abandons the planet, leaving him
behind. Stranded on the red planet the astronaut must find a way to
survive against impossible odds on an unforgiving landscape using
what little provisions he has at his disposal. Back home scientists and
crewmates Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor,
and Donald Glover work tirelessly to mount a daring rescue mission.
Scott returns to his towering best and picked up a Best Picture
nomination for his effort.
FEB 11
SHERLOCK: THE
ABOMINABLE BRIDE
FEBRUARY 19
A testament to the popularity of
both Benedict Cumberbatch and
Japan’s love of a good mystery,
this feature-length episode of
the excellent BBC television
series gets a full theatrical release.
LOVE THE COOPERS
FEBRUARY 19
Still feeling Christmassy?
Probably not but this is Japan:
things don’t have to make
sense. Discover the true
meaning of Christmas in this
ensemble comedy with Diane
Keaton, John Goodman, Anthony Mackie, Amanda Seyfreid, Ed
Helms and more.
MAGGIE
FEBRUARY 5
Arnie takes a stab at a serious
role as he plays a loving father
in a zombie-ravaged near future
who will stop at nothing to
protect his infected daughter.
CAROL
One of this year’s biggest Oscar hopefuls with a total of six
nominations, “Carol” arrives on our screens having already
obtained numerous accolades and featured on many critics’
“Top Films of 2015” lists. An adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith
novel “The Price of Salt,” the film tells the story of a young woman,
Therese Belivet, who dreams of a better life while working as a shop
girl in a Manhattan department store. After a chance encounter
with Carol, an alluring woman who frequents the store, a romance
blossoms between the two. Set against the backdrop of New York
City in the less-than-tolerant 1950s, Carol struggles to break free from
the confines of a stifling, loveless marriage while dealing with the
problems caused as she finally begins to embrace her true feelings.
Cate Blanchett takes the title role and has been honored with a Best
Actress nomination for her efforts. Co-star Rooney Mara is similarly
honored in the Best Supporting category for her turn as Therese.
Classily directed by Todd Haynes, the two leads give magnificent
performances in this touching romance.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2
FEBRUARY 20
Adam Sandler’s computeranimated
family comedy
returns as Dracula attempts to
make a real vampire out of his
fangless son. Fun for the kids, if
not quite on Pixar’s level.
COOTIES
FEBRUARY 20
Elijah Wood leads a group
of oddball teachers against
an elementary school full of
zombified kids in this R-rated
horror-comedy.
This month’s movie previews were written by Christopher
O’Keeffe. For more movie news and reviews visit
www.tokyoweekender.com
www.tokyoweekender.com FEBRUARY 2016