2015 has already delivered some great British movies with The Theory of Everything and Testament of Youth hitting the big screen in recent months... and that looks set to continue as we go through the rest of the year.
Hyena
It is going to be a very versatile year for British film with hard-hitting drama, period movies, book adaptations and action all set to hit the big screen between now and the end of 2015.
We take a look at some of the British movies that we are really looking forward to and some that really cannot be missed.
- Hyena - released 6th March
Hyena is a British movie to watch out for this week as Gerard Johnson return to the director's chair for only his second feature film.
Johnson made his debut back in 2009 with Tony and now he has reunited with actor Peter Ferdinando - who took on the title role in that film - for this latest project.
And the director has brought together a fantastic cast as Ferdinando is joined by Stephen Graham, Neil Maskell, Elisa Lasowski, MyAnna Buring, and Richard Dormer as they explore dark themes of police corruption and sex trafficking.
Hyena has already been enjoying success on the festival circuit and is set to be one of the grittiest and darkest British movies to hit the big screen this year.
Hyena revolves around Michael Logan (Peter Ferdinando) an anti-hero for our times: a natural predator and a complex mix of high-functioning addict and corrupt police officer. But his dark world is evolving. A recent influx of ruthless Albanian gangsters is threatening to change London's criminal landscape. Michael's razor sharp instincts have always kept him one-step ahead, but now his increasingly self-destructive behaviour and the sheer brutality of the new gang lords find Michael in a spiralling descent of fear and self-doubt.
- Far From The Madding Crowd - released 1st May.
Far From The Madding Crowd is already one of the most anticipated films of the year as the Thomas Hardy novel is reimagined for the big screen by director Thomas Vinterberg.
Vinterberg has been behind films such as Dear Wendy and It's All About Love during his career, but Far From The Madding Crowd is his first film since he enjoyed success with The Hunt back in 2012. Far From The Madding Crowd is a UK/US co-production that will see Oscar nominated actress Carey Mulligan return to period drama as she takes on the central role of Bathsheba Everdene.
She is joined on the cast list by Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge, and Juno Temple - it really is a super talented line-up that will bring this popular and well-loved novel to life.
Far From The Madding Crowd is the story of independent, beautiful, and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Schoenaerts), a sheep farmer, captivated by her fetching wilfulness; Frank Troy (Sturridge), a handsome and reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood (Sheen), a prosperous and mature bachelor. This timeless story of Bathsheba's choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love - as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance.
There are a handful of period dramas coming our way in 2015, and Far From The Madding Crowd is one that really is not to be missed. Mulligan is one of this country's most talented actresses and is great to see her back in a major leading role.
- High Rise
Ben Wheatley is one of the most talked about British directors in recent years, and he is back with his new film High Rise.
Wheatley has delivered movies such as Kill List and Sightseers, but this would be his first film since A Field In England... and I have to say, this is one that I am really looking forward to.
High Rise is an adaptation of the novel by J.G. Ballard, and has been adapted by Amy Jump - who wrote Sightseers and Kill List - and a terrific cast has been assembled by the director.
The movie sees Tom Hiddleston back on the big screen, while Jeremy Iron, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, and James Purefoy will all star alongside him.
High-Rise is the story of Laing, a young doctor who moves into an aspirational high-rise building in 1975 on the eve of Margaret Thatcher's rise to power. Seduced by the luxurious lifestyle and cutting-edge technology offered by the building's famed architect Anthony Royal, Laing hopes for a fresh start. The high-rise gives its wealthy tenants all the conveniences that modern life has to offer, but at the same time isolates them from the outside world. Before long, life inside the tower block is out of control.
No UK release date for High Rise has yet been announced.
- Slow West
Michael Fassbender has another busy year ahead of him, and Slow West is just one of the movies that we are going to get to see in 2015.
Slow West premiered at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year, where it was met well by the critics. The movie marks the feature film directorial debut for John Maclean, and he has also penned the screenplay.
Maclean is behind short films such as Pitch Black Heist and Man on a Motorcycle but he is making the transition into feature film for the first time with this project. Fassbender worked with Mclean on those two short projects, and Slow West will mark their third collaboration.
This may be his first feature, but that has not stopped him from assembled a terrific cast as Fassbender is joined by Ben Mendelsohn and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
'Slow West' follows a 16-year-old boy on a journey across 19th Century frontier America in search of the woman he loves, while accompanied by mysterious traveller Silas.There is no UK release date for Slow West yet.
- Suffragette - released 11th September.
We have already looked at one Carey Mulligan film, but now we will look at a second with Suffragette. Suffragette will see Sarah Gavron - who was behind Brick Lane - back in the director's chair, while Abi Morgan has penned the screenplay.
Suffragette will be the first live action film for Gavron since Brick Lane - her last film project saw her tackle the documentary genre with Village at the End of the World in 2012.
Suffragette follows the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State.Meryl Streep takes on the role of Emmeline Pankhurst in the film, and she and Mulligan are joined by Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Romola Garai, and Anne-Marie Duff.
There was a lot of excitement surrounding this film from the moment that it started filming and it could well be one of the early awards contenders.
- The Falling - released 24th April
The Falling is a movie that has been playing on the festival circuit since last year, and will be hitting the big screen in the UK at the end of April.
The Falling marks the return of Carol Morley to the director's chair, who has already brought us Dreams of a Life, Edge, and The Alcohol Years during her career.
The Falling sees Morley on directing and writing duties, and has brought together a cast that includes Maisie Williams, Maxine Peake, Monica Dolan, and Florence Pugh.
Set in 1969, the movie focuses on the character of Lydia, a troubled teen who is at the centre of a mysterious fainting epidemic at her school. Williams is best known for her role in Game of Thrones, and I can't wait to see her breakout with this very different role.
- Spectre - released 23rd October
Bond is back in 2015, as Spectre is set to be released this autumn. Spectre is the twenty-fourth film in the James Bond series and will see Daniel Craig return to the role for his fourth film as 007.
There is also a familiar face in the director's chair as Sam Mendes returns. The Oscar winning director steered Skyfall to billion dollar success and critical acclaim back in 2012, and it is exciting to see him back and exploring this iconic character once again.
Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Ben Whishaw are also back as M, Moneypenny, and Q, however, there are plenty of new faces to watch out for as Monica Bellucci, Lea Seydoux, Christoph Waltz, Dave Bautista, and Andrew Scott are all also on board.
A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind Spectre.
Spectre is one of this year's movies that I cannot wait to see and it looks set to be one of the most successful at the box office - will it follow in Skyfall's footsteps and break the billion-dollar barrier?
- Mr Holmes - released 19th June
Another UK/US co-production comes in the form of Mr Holmes, which will see Ian McKellen take on the role of the iconic sleuth Sherlock Holmes.
Mr Holmes was screened out of competition at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, and I cannot wait to see McKellen take on this great role - could this be the role that finally sees him win a much-deserved Oscar? Perhaps it is a little early to be talking about potential 2016 Oscar contenders. The movie will see McKellen reunite with director Bill Condon, as he returns to the director's chair for the first time since The Fifth Estate back in 2013.
Hattie Morahan, Patrick Kennedy, Hiroyuki Sanada, Roger Allam, Philip Davis, Frances de la Tour, and Milo Parker will join McKellen on the cast list.
Mr. Holmes is a new twist on the world's most famous detective.1947, an aging Sherlock Holmes returns from a journey to Japan, where, in search of a rare plant with powerful restorative qualities, he has witnessed the devastation of nuclear warfare. Now, in his remote seaside farmhouse, Holmes faces the end of his days tending to his bees, with only the company of his housekeeper and her young son, Roger.
Grappling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy as he revisits the circumstances of the unsolved case that forced him into retirement, and searches for answers to the mysteries of life and love - before it's too late.
Other British movies to watch out for include Brooklyn, A Little Chaos, Kids In Love, and Kill Your Friends.