The last weekend of January is looking to be a quiet one at the movies, with only one new major release, though this week’s Oscar nominations are likely to draw curious moviegoers towards the list of nominated films.
The only new wide release this week is Maze Runner: The Death Cure, the third and final installment in the film series adapted from the young-adult novels by James Dashner. I have not yet seen either of the first two films, even though YA dystopian science-fiction actually is a genre that I enjoy. If you are a fan of this series, I’d imagine you can expect more of what you like — director Wes Ball returns along with the whole cast, led by Dylan O’Brien. If you’re more into actresses, then Patricia Clarkson will be your draw as (I think?) the primary villain. Early reviews are quite poor, but this is not the kind of film that depends on such things.
Opening in limited release is Padmaavat, an epic historial drama from India, based on tales about the legendary Hindu Rajput queen. This film is said to be one of the most expensive films ever made in India, and it’s be the first Bollywood film to be released in IMAX 3D.
Finally, it’s the month of nationwide expansions for prestige films, and this week it’s Hostiles, a new Western from writer-director Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Black Mass), which has been playing in limited release since Christmas weekend. Boasting an impressive all-star cast that features Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Ben Foster, and newly-minted Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet in addition to solid reviews, this could be a sizable hit. Then again, it doesn’t seem to have any buzz at all. I’m curious to see how this plays out.
What are you planning to see this weekend?
