January is always an exciting movie month at the cinema as we are usually treated to a whole host of movies that are set to be major Oscar contenders… January 2014 is no different.
The Oscars race has never been so wide open as a string of movies and performances are in with a chance of triumphing on the night, and we take a look at some that are heading our way over the next four weeks.
- American Hustle - released 1st January
American Hustle is just one of the movies to watch out for this awards season as it marks the return of the fantastic David O. Russell to the director’s chair. O. Russell has brought us the likes of The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook: this is his first film since the success of the latter at the end of last year.
O. Russell has assembled one hell of an impressive cast as he reunites with Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner is also on board; this collection of actors have all either won Oscars or been nominated for one.
Set in the seductive world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock the United States, American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Bale), who along with his equally cunning British partner and lover Sydney Prosser (Adams) is forced to work for a wild unhinged FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Cooper).
DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that’s as dangerous as it is enchanting. Jeremy Renner is Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con artists and Feds.
American Hustle is set to kick off the 2014 film year in fine style as it already a film that has won over the critics. Not only that, but it also kicks of a month of fantastic ensemble casts.
- Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - released 3rd January
Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom is the first biopic movie of 2013, as producer Anat Singh - a man who personally knew Mandela, has brought Nelson Mandela’s biography of the same name to the big screen.
This is a project that has been many years in the making and sees William Nicholson write the screenplay and Justin Chadwick in the director’s chair.
Idris Elba takes on the role of the former South African President, in what is one of the most accomplished performances of his career. He has already picked up a Golden Globe nomination for his work… could he be in line for an Oscar nod? Naomie Harris is on board as she gives a powerful performance as Winnie Mandela.
The film celebrates Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his election as President of South Africa.
It explores the Mandela unknown to most of the world - the lover of fast cars and women, the boxing enthusiast and playboy, the skilful lawyer and the gun-toting freedom fighter - an intimate portrait of the making of a modern icon.
- 12 Years A Slave - released 10th January
If there is one movie that you are not to miss this January, then make sure it is the fantastic 12 Years A Slave - it is a film that is already in the running as the best movie of 2014.
Steve McQueen is in the director’s chair as he brings the memoir and the story of Solomon Northup - a free man who is tricked into slavery - to the big screen. This is the third feature film of McQueen’s career as he follows on from Hunger and Shame.
Chiwetel Ejiofor will take on the central role of Solomon, while Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt and Paul Dano are also on board - we will also be introduced to the acting talents of newcomer Lupita Nyong'o with this film.
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender) as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity.
In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Pitt) forever alters his life.
I can guarantee that this will be one of the most powerful movies that you will see all year. While it is a harrowing tale of slavery, it is also about the power of the human spirit. It is as beautiful and moving as it is hard-hitting, and will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
- The Wolf of Wall Street - released 17th January
It is always exciting when a Martin Scorsese movie is about to hit the big screen, even more so when he has reunited with actor Leonardo DiCaprio. This is the fifth collaboration between the actor and the director, and their first since Shutter Island.
This is another film that is based on a true story, as the memoir of former stockbroker Jordan Belfort is brought to the big screen.
DiCaprio is set to take on the role of Belfort and is joined by an all-star cast that includes Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Margot Robbie and Kyle Chandler.
The film follows a New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration.
The Wolf of Wall Street is just another of the movies that could well be in the Oscar race having picked up a Best Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Actor - Musical or Comedy Golden Globe nominations.
- August: Osage County - released 24th January
We have already looked at some movies that have very impressive cast lists, and August: Osage County has one of the best ensemble line-ups of the entire year.
August: Osage County is a big screen adaptation of the play of the same name by Tracy Letts and sees John Wells back in the director’s chair: George Clooney and Grant Heslov are also on board as producers.
However, it is the cast list that will grab everyone’s attention as Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Sam Shepard and Dermot Mulroney are all on board.
- Lone Survivor - released 31st January
Lone Survivor is another of the stand out January films as director Peter Berg is back to bring a true story to the big screen.
Based on The New York Times bestselling true story of heroism, courage and survival, Lone Survivor tells the incredible tale of four Navy SEALs on a covert mission to neutralize a high-level al-Qaeda operative who are ambushed by the enemy in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Faced with an impossible moral decision, the small band is isolated from help and surrounded by a much larger force of Taliban ready for war.
As they confront unthinkable odds together, the four men find reserves of strength and resilience as they stay in the fight to the finish.
Mark Wahlberg will take on the lead role of Marcus Luttrell while Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Eric Bana and Alexander Ludwig are all also on board.
Other January movies that are not to be missed, include Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Inside Llewyn Davis, Out of the Furnace and The Railway Man