Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
You know those books about a magical school full of wizards and witches who fight against that man with no nose, using wands and spells and stuff? They were adapted into a series of films that no-one saw, remember? Well, the little-known author of that series wrote another book that’s set in the same world but isn’t about the boy they call Harry. Instead it’s about a bloke called Newt who has to chase down a load of crazy monsters that have been let loose on 1926 New York.
This, of course, is the film of that book, which in turn was based on a book that appeared in Harry Potter. It’s all very confusing, so just focus on this film, and enjoy Eddie Redmayne speaking in a very posh accent, having floppy hair and running about after delightful CGI creatures.
Backing him up is a strong cast that includes Colin Farrell, Dan Fogler, Samantha Morton and Ron Perlman – and they’re all under the direction of David Yates, who made some of the best entries in the Harry Potter franchise. For Potterheads who missed out on tickets for Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, this is the next best thing. In cinemas November 18
Star Trek Beyond
It’s Star Wars season soon, with Rogue One poised to destroy box-office records and nerds’ pants the world over, so in the run-up, why not treat yourself to a viewing of that other spacey shooty sci-fi favourite, Star Trek? This latest entry focuses on the famous five-year mission and the dangers that the crew encounter mid-way through – namely some big bad guy called Krall who wants to destroy the Federation for some arbitrary reason. It’s a fun, flashy and whizz-bang action flick with a whole host of great characters (and, of course, a perfectly serviceable rent-a-villain), and it possesses that almost mythical ability to please both fans and non-fans alike. On DVD and Blu-ray November 21
Indignation
This romantic drama is the directorial debut of James Schamus, a top-drawer screenwriter who penned classics such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Lust, Caution (he loves a mid-title comma, does James). Now he’s stepping behind the camera for the first time for an adaptation of Philip Roth’s 2008 novel about a young Jewish boy who’s at loggerheads with his college dean, while also falling for a wealthy, enigmatic student. The hugely underrated Logan Lerman (The Perks Of Being A Wallflower) anchors the film, and will hopefully get some well-deserved recognition off the back of it. Schamus is a confident director, too, so we look forward to seeing what else he has up his sleeve. In cinemas November 18
Keanu
If you missed this film when it was playing in cinemas (and you did, because everyone did), then this is your chance to catch it second time round on the small screen. It stars the hilarious Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael Key – who fronted one of the best sketch shows in history, Key & Peele – as two friends who infiltrate a group of ruthless gangsters while on the hunt for their kidnapped kitten.
It’s a ridiculous premise, which means its perfectly suited to the pair’s personal brand of absurd comedy – if you like stupid stuff, this is an absolute must-see. The same applies if you like adorable cats – you won’t find many that are cuter than this little dude. On DVD and Blu-ray November 21
Panic
This tense, stylish thriler follows the plight of an agoraphobic music journalist who develops an infatuation with a woman who lives across the street from him and eventually witnesses her kidnapping. He then sets out to find her, which is obviously rather difficult for a man who’s terrified of leaving his flat.
Despite this minor inconvenience, he arms himself with a hammer and ventures into London’s criminal underworld before getting himself mixed up pretty badly in the whole situation. David Gyasi (Cloud Atlas) plays the spooked avenger, and puts in a wonderfully nervous, jittery performance that couples with some stunning shots of London to create a nifty little thriller with a lot to say. In cinemas November 18
