Top 20 Movies to Look Out For In January (2023)

 According to Cat

 
20 - Rock Dog 3: Battle the Beat (1/24)

 
Production/Distribution: Lionsgate, HB Wink Animation, Huayi Brothers Media, Splash Entertainment, Timeless Films
Director: Anthony Bell
Writer: Rob Muir
Actors: Graham Hamilton, Ashleigh Ball, Andrew Francis, Kathleen Barr, Eddie Izzard, Bethany Brown, Nicole Oliver, Doron Bell, Jason Simpson, Donny Lucas, Cathy Weseluck, Richard Newman, Michael Adamthwaite, James Higuchi, Sabrina Pitre, Brian Dobson, Brian Drummond, Andrea Libman
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Music, Animation
Rated: PG
Length: 1h 30min
 
IMDb Blurb: When the young performers on a music contest show admit they have never heard of Angus Scattergood, Bodi is compelled to join the show to restore the Rock Legend's good name.
 
Happy New Year, everyone!
 
This month’s slate of new release movies has turned out to be slightly underwhelming. This Top 20 is really a mixed bag of films I’m actually really excited about – and the best of the rest because there just wasn’t that much to choose from.
 
Rock Dog 3 fits into the latter category. Honestly, I don’t know why this particular franchise needed another sequel or a full-fledged trilogy. Here we are, though. It looks cute and the core characters still seem to be involved. There are a lot of R-rated movies on this list so Rock Dog 3 also offers some more family-friendly fun.
 
This 3^rd installment is releasing straight to DVD and digital on-demand.
 
19 - Maybe I Do (1/27)

 
Production/Distribution: Endeavor Content, Vincent Newman Entertainment, Vertical Entertainment
Director: Michael Jacobs
Writer: Michael Jacobs
Actors: Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, Setty Brosevelt, Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Gina Jun, Kirk Kelly, Natalie Ortega
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rated: PG-13
Length: 1h 35min
 
IMDb Blurb: Michelle (Roberts) and Allen (Bracey) are in a relationship. They decide to invite their parents to finally meet about marriage. Turns out, the parents already know one another well, which leads to some differing opinions about marriage.
 
Maybe I Do lands late enough in January that it’s really in the window of time that fits into pre-Valentine’s festivities. What better time to release a star-studded rom-com?
 
The cast here is really what stood out to me – and then I had a few giggles along the way while watching the trailer. I have a feeling that there will be a chunk of cringe associated with Maybe I Do as well, given the context of the plot. That’s one of the main reasons it’s placed this low.
 
I also tend to avoid stories where the dramatic elements involve cheating – especially when it’s treated in a blasé manner. The trailer didn’t make the best impression with me in that regard. It’s just not my cup of tea. I feel like I could trudge through that, for the most part, if the comedy and the rest of the story have a good enough payoff. I’m willing to give it a chance, at least.
 
Maybe I Do will have a limited theater release. Digital rental and streaming details are unavailable at this time.
 
18 - The Seven Faces of Jane (1/13)

Production/Distribution: Superconductor, Gravitas Ventures
Directors: Julian Acosta, Xan Cassavetes, Gia Coppola, Ryan Heffington, Boma Iluma, Gillian Jacobs, Ken Jeong, Alex Takacs
Writers: Julian Acosta, Xan Cassavetes, Ben Del Vecchio, Ryan Heffington, Tran Ho, Boma Iluma, Nick Iwataki, Gillian Jacobs, Antonio Macia, Alex Takacs, Kaydee Volpi
Actors: Gillian Jacobs, Joel McHale, Sybil Azur, David Balcorta, Sergio Calderón, Angelina Capozzoli, Lupe Carranza, Kamori Clark-McGeoy, Daniela Hernandez, Kevin L. Johnson Jr., Leticia LaBelle, Paris Nicole, Chido Nwokocha, Emanuela Postacchini, Joni Reiss, Anthony Skordi, Soledad St. Hilaire, Breeda Wool
Genre: Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: 1h 32min
 
IMDb Blurb: Its protagonist is Jane (Jacobs), who finds herself tumbling through a gauntlet of surreal, beautiful and heartbreaking adventures. After dropping off her daughter at a summer camp for the first time, and encouraging her reticent child to engage in new experiences, Jane finds herself heeding her own advice.
 
The Seven Faces of Jane’s trailer was intriguing. It reminded me a bit of Look Both Ways (2022), which we reviewed back in August of this past year. This production, however, strikes me more like it could be closer to an anthology – given the number of directors and writers attributed to the film. That wasn’t entirely clear in the trailer, however.
 
Even if it isn’t an anthology, the concept is interesting. This is also the debut feature-length film where Ken Jeong (Occupation: Rainfall, Extinct, Murderville) has a directorial credit. I’m curious how that will turn out, and whether his comedic voice will shine through to elevate the drama.
 
Single genre drama just isn’t what I’ve been craving lately, and thus its placement.
 
The Seven Faces of Jane is set to have a limited release theatrical run and will also be available right away through digital rental services.
 
17 – Last Resort (1/6)

 

Production/Distribution: Eloïse Films, Saban Films
Director: Jean-Marc Minéo
Writer: Jean-Marc Minéo
Actors: Alex Santi, Angelina Ismalone, Armin Parvin, Clayton Norcross, Jon Foo, Julaluck Ismalone
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h 47min
 
IMDb Blurb: Tells the story of a former special forces soldier who becomes a one-man army when his wife and daughter are taken hostage during a bank robbery.
 
Last Resort seems to be a solid action offering. Fans of the genre should look forward to some cool fight choreography and a story that seems to hit all the right notes to meet expectations. I can’t say that it’s offering anything shiny and new, but there’s nothing wrong with a movie you can just turn your brain off to enjoy now and again.
 
Some bad guys have decided to take the wrong hostages during the bank heist and just wait ‘til the dad mops the floor with the bad guys on his way in to save the day. It’s a pretty straight-forward recipe.  
 
Last Resort is releasing to digital and on-demand services on 1/10, after it has had a few days of theatrical release under its belt.
 
16 - Firenado (1/3)

Production/Distribution: Dark Abyss Productions, Uncork'd Entertainment

Directors: Rhys Frake-Waterfield, Scott Jeffrey
Writer: Tom Jolliffe
Actors: Sian Altman, Nicola Wright, Daniel Godfrey, Leah McInnes, Toby Wynn-Davies, Gordon Joseph Millar, Stuart Falconer
Genre: Action, Disaster, Crime
Rated: Unrated
Length: 1h 18min
 
Rotten Tomatoes Blurb: The film, one to rival Geostorm and The Day After Tomorrow, tells of four scientists that uncover a ground-breaking technology capable of controlling weather. On the first use of the device, it malfunctions and creates a Fire Tornado. As the Firenado leaves a wake of destruction, the group assist in evacuating nearby residents but stumble upon into an organized crime home invasion. Stuck between a rock and a hard place; the group struggle to survive the two threats.
 
Okay, so if you’ve tuned in to our monthly trailer streams here at Trust the Dice, you will likely have heard us discussing Uncork’d Entertainment as a bit of a little-production-company-that-could sort of situation. The productions they release aren’t always at blockbuster caliber but they really get a good one out every once in a while. You likely won’t see any of these up for Oscar consideration, but you stand a good chance to be entertained.
 
Firenado quite possibly could be one of those rare diamonds in the rough. The production value shown in the trailer seemed pretty good, all things considered. I’m curious as to how the fiery tornado, the weather experiment, and the heist elements come together. I’m really rooting for this one – though I wouldn’t go as far as the film comparisons that the blurb on RottenTomatoes had. Hey, Firenado could surprise us all. Who knows.  
 
Firenado is releasing to digital on-demand.
 
15 - Snow Falls (1/17)

Production/Distribution: Colton Tran Films, Skowl Films, Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Director: Colton Tran
Writers: Luke Genton, Colton Tran, Laura M. Young
Actors: Jonathan Bennett, Patrick Fabian, Victoria Moroles, Anna Grace Barlow, Colton Tran, Johnny Berchtold, James Gaisford
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
Length: 1h 37min
 
IMDb Blurb: After a winter storm strands five friends in a remote cabin with no power and little food, disorientation slowly claims their sanity as each of them succumbs to a fear that the snow itself may be contaminated or somehow evil.
 
I confess. I have a soft spot for movies that take an old recipe and twist it up with a new element. The premise of Snow Falls might feel really familiar because it’s been done before – in a broad sense, at least. The trailer was giving me serious Cabin Fever (2002) vibes. The twist, however, is that this situation is dealing with isolation due to mysterious power outage and heavy snow.
 
This one feels a little on-the-nose for what broad swaths of the country have been going through this winter with the Arctic blast that came through and buried parts of the northern states in deadly blizzard conditions. For those that might feel triggered due to real-life harrowing snowy conditions – please consider this your warning on this film.
 
The allure and mystery for me regarding Snow Falls centers on the big question – are these young people just going stir crazy and being psychologically affected in some sort of mass hysteria sort of way because of being stranded in those conditions, or is something else going on? The precise midnight power outage and crazy cell phone interference shown in the trailer, coupled with the concept of ‘what if the snow has a contagion’ intrigue me. I want to know what’s really going on, so you can bet I’ll be watching this one as soon as it becomes feasible.
 
Snow Falls is releasing direct to digital on-demand services.
 
14 - Jethica (1/13)

Production/Distribution: Spartan Media Acquisitions, Pretty Ideas
Director: Pete Ohs
Writers: Andy Faulkner, Callie Hernandez, Will Madden, Pete Ohs, Ashley Denise Robinson
Actors: Callie Hernandez, Ashley Denise Robinson, Andy Faulkner, Will Madden, Stephanie Hunt, Alan Palomo, Ross Yingst, Nican Robinson
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 1h 12min
 
IMDb Blurb: When Jessica's stalker surprises her in New Mexico, she must seek help from beyond the grave to get rid of him for good.
 
Having a stalker is a terrifying situation. I had a cyber-stalker once, and it was a horrible experience – and that was back in a time before social media was a thing. I can only imagine what that sort of thing would be like now. In-person stalkers are even scarier.
 
Now imagine that your stalker passes and then continues to harangue you from beyond the grave. You can’t exactly put a restraining order on a ghost – in a literal sense, at least.
 
I appreciate that Jethica is approaching this concept with a dark comedy spin. I was entertained by the trailer and I want to get the answers to how this all started – and what happened to the stalker to send him to the afterlife.  
 
Jethica will have a limited theater release before landing on the Fandor platform on 2/14. After that, it is slated to have an exclusive run on Screambox. The exact dates for that were not immediately available.
 
13 – Fear (1/27)

Production/Distribution: Hidden Empire Film Group, Hidden Empire Releasing
Director: Deon Taylor
Writers: John Ferry, Deon Taylor
Actors: Joseph Sikora, Ruby Modine, Andrew Bachelor, Iddo Goldberg, Annie Ilonzeh, Tyler Abron, T.I., Terrence Jenkins, Jessica Allain, Evan Shafran
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
Length: 1h 40min
 
Rotten Tomatoes Blurb: A year into living through a worldwide pandemic, a group of friends gather in the remote Tahoe Mountains, to stay at the "Historic Strawberry Lodge". What was supposed to be a much needed getaway and celebratory weekend, quickly turns into a waking nightmare. As the truth about the historic lodge slowly unravels in front of them, this group of friends will be pushed to the brink of survival.
 
This Fear shouldn’t be confused with the 1996 movie of the same name which featured a young Marky Mark as its antagonist. I had a trip down memory lane when I saw this movie title, let me tell you. (Not because of the cast, either. One of my favorite songs came from that soundtrack.) I digress…
 
Focusing on this particular Fear movie, this feels like a pretty straight-forward horror offering. The cast is respectable, and there’s just enough mystery involved with the trailer to leave you with a few questions worth watching for the answers.
 
Aside from that, it feels like it’s generally paint-by-numbers for horror fans. When you gather in the woods and reveal your darkest fears in a horror movie, you just know that pretty much everyone in that situation is going to die horribly.
 
I think most of us can relate to the basic underlying premise that brings the group of friends together, though. After slogging through this pandemic, connecting with friends in person has been harder to come by – especially at the beginning of everything. Our collective consciousness has had to deal with fears stemming from the global viral situation. I get why they might want to just have a purge of all of that sort of stuff before trying to have a fun getaway at a historic lodge.
 
Of course, that’s when all the haunted house stuff sweeps in to knock everything sideways. Whoops. I’m intrigued to find out the story behind the lodge and what is lurking beneath the surface of Fear.
 
Fear is releasing to a limited theatrical run. Details for on-demand or streaming are not available at this time.
 
12 - When You Finish Saving the World (1/20)

Production/Distribution: CAA Media Finance, Fruit Tree, A24
Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Writer: Jesse Eisenberg
Actors: Julianne Moore, Finn Wolfhard, Billy Bryk, Alisha Boe, Jack Justice, Jay O. Sanders, Eleonore Hendricks, Catherine Haun, Annacheska Brown, Sara Anne, Laura-Love Tode, Mimi Fletcher, Jordyn Aurora Aquino, Monica Sanchez, DezBaa', Kenneth McGlothin, Jeanette Aguilar Harris
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rated: R
Length: 1h 28min
 
IMDb Blurb: Evelyn and her oblivious son Ziggy seek out replacements for each other as Evelyn desperately tries to parent an unassuming teenager at her shelter, while Ziggy fumbles through his pursuit of a brilliant young woman at school.
 
When You Finish Saving the World’s trailer resonated with me more than I’d like to admit. My mom and I are a lot alike and that was the source of much head-butting when I was younger. Awkward family dynamics in dramas tend to make me squirm, but the comedy woven into this story seems to push past that for me. I actually find myself wanting to watch this one.
 
Of course, part of that is due to the spectacular cast. I love Julianne Moore (Bel Canto, The Woman in the Window, Dear Evan Hansen) and Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio) and feel they were great choices for these roles.
 
As a little tidbit of trivia, When You Finish Saving the World is an adaptation from the Audible Original of the same name. Wolfhard is the only actor reprising his role in the big-screen version. Both the Audible and the screenplay for the film were penned by Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland, Vivarium, Resistance). This will also be his directorial debut. I’m interested to see his vision for this story.
 
When You Finish Saving the World will have a limited theatrical release. Information regarding video-on-demand and streaming is unavailable at this time.

11 - The Offering (1/13)

 

Production/Distribution: Millennium Media, DECAL
Director: Oliver Park
Writers: Hank Hoffman, Jonathan Yunger
Actors: Paul Kaye, Nick Blood, Allan Corduner, Emily Wiseman, Jonathan Yunger, Velizar Binev, Nathan Cooper, Anton Trendafilov, Daniel Ben Zenou, Jodie Jacobs, Boyan Anev, Sofia Weldon, Yonko Dimitrov
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
Length: 1h 33min
 
IMDb Blurb: A family struggling with loss finds themselves at the mercy of an ancient demon trying to destroy them from the inside.
 
The trailer for The Offering was very effective with its ominous tone and really gave me vibes from the Mortuary Assistant (2022) video game. Of course the two are technically unrelated. Be that as it may, there are some thematic similarities with aesthetics and the whole demon-possessed corpse situation.
 
I concur with Selina’s assertion when we watched the trailer on-stream that it’s really interesting and a fresh new twist that this story is being told from a Jewish perspective. Generally possession movies lean towards general Christianity or Catholicism. This different spin helps elevate this particular movie’s watchability when the general theme has been covered so many times before.
 
The Offering is set to hit theaters for a limited release. Digital on-demand and streaming details are unavailable at this time.
 

10 - New Gods: Yang Jian (1/20)

Production/Distribution: Bilibili, Light Chaser Animation Studios, Zhejiang Dongyang Xiaoyuzhou Movie & Media, GKIDS
Director: Ji Zhao
Writer: Muchuan
Actors: David Chen, Alex Hom, Jason Ko, Liam Kyle, Christine Lin, Nicholas Andrew Louie, Risa Mei, Max Moreno, Luke Naphat, Kamran Nikhad, David Shatraw, Stephanie Sheh, Parry Shen, James Sie, Angela Tran, Kai Wang, Jeff Wong, Jimmie Yamaguchi
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Animation
Rated: Unrated
Length: 2h 7min
 
IMDb Blurb: Fifteen hundred years after the war of gods, the heaven declined. Yang Jian, the God of Erlang, made a living by working as a catcher. One day, Yang Jian was ordered to hunt down a young man, his own nephew.
 
New Gods: Yang Jian promises to be an action-packed adventure through Chinese folklore. It also helps that the visuals are absolutely stunning. I have enjoyed other films in this style and from this production company. I expect this one will also be a great experience.
 
New Gods: Yang Jian will be available in both subtitles and dubbed versions for English speakers. (I didn’t have a chance to research how many languages it will be available in, if any others.)
 
This latest installment in the New Gods series will have a limited theatrical run. Streaming and digital on-demand details are unavailable at this time.
 
9 - The Old Way (1/6)

Production/Distribution: Intercut Capitall, Saturn Films, Tri-Fold Pictures, EchoWolf Productions, Capstone Studios, Saban Films
Director: Brett Donowho
Writer: Carl W. Lucas
Actors: Nicolas Cage, Clint Howard, Abraham Benrubi, Adam Lazarre-White, Dean Armstrong, Kerry Knuppe, Nick Searcy, Noah Le Gros, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Shiloh Fernandez
Genre: Action, Western
Rated: R
Length: 1h 35min
 
IMDb Blurb: An old gunslinger and his daughter must face the consequences of his past, when the son of a man he murdered years ago arrives to take his revenge.
 
The reason I’m actually really excited to see The Old Way is very simple. This has Nicolas Cage (The Croods: A New Age, Pig, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) in a traditional western.
 
All of the elements of a typical western genre film are present. There will be horse riding, gun battles, a quaint town with a local saloon, law men with shiny badges, and gorgeous landscape vistas. Then add Cage into the mix. I don’t even know how to process this correctly. I’m giddy.
 
The Old Way falls under the ‘shut up and take my money’ category for sure. This film will have a limited theater release and will be available for on-demand rental beginning 1/13.
 
8 - Plane (1/13)

 

Production/Distribution: Di Bonaventura Pictures, G-BASE, Lionsgate, MadRiver Pictures, Olive Hill Media, Pimienta, Riverstone Pictures
Director: Jean-François Richet
Writers: Charles Cumming, J.P. Davis
Actors: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Claro de los Reyes, Daniella Pineda, Evan Dane Taylor, Joey Slotnick, Paul Ben-Victor, Remi Adeleke, Tony Goldwyn, Yoson An, Lilly Krug, Tara Westwood, Kelly Gale, Oliver Trevena, Amber Rivera, Ariel Felix, Quinn McPherson, Jeff Francisco, Jessica Nam, Modesto Lacen, Rose Eshay, Ricky Robles Cruz, Haleigh Hekking, Angel Fabián Rivera, Heather Seiffert, Kate Bisset
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h 47min
 
IMDb Blurb: A pilot finds himself caught in a war zone after he's forced to land his commercial aircraft during a terrible storm.
 
I don’t feel like there are going to be any surprises with Plane. It’s going to be a turn your brain off and enjoy some action type of movie. The trailer gave me vibes along the lines of a mashup of Con Air (1997) and Rambo (2008).
 
Grab your popcorn and settle in while Gerard Butler (Den of Thieves, Hunter Killer, Greenland) and Mike Colter (Luke Cage, Black and Blue, Evil) team up to kick some ass and save some people.
 
Plane is set for a wide theatrical release. Digital rental and streaming information is unclear at this time.
 
7 - Infinity Pool (1/27)

Production/Distribution: Film Forge, Hero Squared, 4 Film, Celluloid Dreams, Croatian Film Association, Elevation Pictures, Eurimages, Neon, Topic Studios, Téléfilm Canada
Director: Brandon Cronenberg
Writer: Brandon Cronenberg
Actors: Alexander Skarsgård, Amanda Brugel, Amar Bukvic, Caroline Boulton, Cleopatra Coleman, Jeff Ricketts, John Ralston, Mia Goth, Roderick Hill, Thomas Kretschmann
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Rated: R
Length: 1h 57min
 
IMDb Blurb:  James and Em Foster are enjoying an all-inclusive beach vacation in the fictional island of La Tolqa, when a fatal accident exposes the resort's perverse subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence and surreal horrors.
 
What do you get for the wealthy person that has everything? A body double they can watch receiving punishment like a whipping boy of old, of course. Things are far deeper and more twisted than that in Infinity Pool. It’s Brandon Cronenberg (Broken Tulips, Antiviral, Possessor) at the helm, after all. He seems to be leaning into the strange and body horror that his father’s films are well known for. The first cut of Infinity Pool was so out there that it initially received an NC-17 rating and had to be re-edited to bring it down to R. Just let that thought marinate for a moment.
 
Infinity Pool is going to be one wild ride that horror fans are going to want to be on.
 
Of course, then you have the phenomenal cast involved. Alexander Skarsgård (Mute, Big Little Lies, The Northman) and Mia Goth (Everest, Emma., X) caught my attention here.
 
Infinity Pool is set for a theatrical release and details of subsequent digital on-demand or streaming are unavailable at this time. There is a small loophole to that, however. This year’s Sundance Film Festival is going to be a hybrid event with in-person and online participation available. Infinity Pool is one of the festival entrants and will be available online on-demand via the festival for a short window starting 1/24 through the end of the festival’s run.
 
6 - Missing (1/20)

 
Production/Distribution: Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, Stage 6 Films, Screen Gems
Directors: Nicholas D. Johnson, Will Merrick
Writers: Aneesh Chaganty, Nicholas D. Johnson, Will Merrick, Sev Ohanian
Actors: Nia Long, Storm Reid, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Lisa Yamada, Megan Suri, Thomas Barbusca, Tim Griffin, Tracy Vilar, Zeke Alton
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Rated: PG-13
Length: 1h 51min
 
Metacritic Blurb: When her mother (Nia Long) disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s (Storm Reid) search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers...and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.
 
Missing is said to be the sequel to Searching (2018). It doesn’t seem to be a true sequel situation because none of the characters are shared between the two films, but they are apparently confirmed to be within the same ‘world’ or ‘universe’ even. I’ve seen some articles online about a subtle sub-plot that ran in the background of Searching that was somewhat of a ‘blink and you missed it’ sort of thing. That’s said to be continued into Missing, though to what degree I’m unsure. (I’m going to need to re-watch Searching to see if I can catch it.) You won’t need to have watched the first before this one, however.
 
That aside, Missing is a testament to the online resourcefulness of this current younger generation. I also really appreciate the framework of experiencing the movie via the screens in the manner that Searching started. We’ll get more of that here.
 
I’m curious to find out what the big mystery is and whether or not the mom is ok.
 
Missing is set for a theatrical release and digital on-demand and streaming info is not available at this time. I imagine it will eventually land on Hulu after the 45 day window, considering this is a Sony film.
 
5 - The Pale Blue Eye (1/6)

 

Production/Distribution: Cross Creek Pictures, Grisbi Productions Le, Streamline Global Group, Netflix
Director: Scott Cooper
Writers: Louis Bayard, Scott Cooper
Actors: Charlie Tahan, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Christian Bale, Fred Hechinger, Gillian Anderson, Harry Melling, Lucy Boynton, Robert Duvall, Simon McBurney, Timothy Spall, Toby Jones
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Rated: R
Length: 2h 8min
 
IMDb Blurb: A world-weary detective is hired to investigate the murder of a West Point cadet. Stymied by the cadets' code of silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case - a young man the world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe.
 
It feels like I’ve been waiting for The Pale Blue Eye to release for forever. This was one of the few films we made an exception for this month. It was in contention or even listed on a previous Top 20 month. We don’t usually like to repeat, but considering the scarcity of good material eligible for consideration this month, and the delay of the Netflix release for The Pale Blue Eye, here we are.
 
I love Edgar Allen Poe. While The Pale Blue Eye is not derivative of any of his work specifically, it is an adaptation of a novel that features him as a character. Much like a movie we reviewed in 2022, it focuses on Poe’s time as a military cadet and postulates that dark and sinister occurrences during that time helped fuel the burgeoning writer’s sense of macabre and mystery.
 
Of course, then you take a look at the cast and it’s a foregone conclusion that The Pale Blue Eye should be at least an intriguing watch with the likes of Christian Bale (The Big Short, Ford v Ferrari, Amsterdam), Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, Crooked House, The Crown), Robert Duvall (Crazy Heart, Widows, Hustle), Harry Melling (The Current War, The Old Guard, The Devil All the Time), Toby Jones (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, The Wonder, Empire of Light), Timothy Spall (Early Man, The Corrupted, The Last Bus), and Lucy Boynton (Don't Knock Twice, Rebel in the Rye, Bohemian Rhapsody) on board.
 
The Pale Blue Eye will be available on Netflix.
 
4 - Shotgun Wedding (1/27)

Production/Distribution: Mandeville Films, Maximum Effort, Nuyorican Productions, Lionsgate, Amazon Prime Video
Director: Jason Moore
Writer: Mark Hammer
Actors: Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, Lenny Kravitz, Cheech Marin, Jennifer Coolidge, Alex Mallari Jr., Callie Hernandez, D'Arcy Carden, Desmin Borges, Héctor Aníbal, Melissa Hunter, Sônia Braga, Steve Coulter
Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance
Rated: R
Length: 1h 40min
 
IMDb Blurb: A couple's extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by criminals. In the process of saving their families, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place.
 
A blend of rom-com and action is actually how I prefer my romantic comedies. Sometimes they feel less cheesy when there are chases, fight scenes, and explosions going on.
 
I really enjoyed the trailer for Shotgun Wedding and have been eagerly awaiting its release. I think Jennifer Lopez (Second Act, Hustlers, Marry Me) and Josh Duhamel (Night of the Animated Dead, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Bandit) have great chemistry for these parts and both have the range to pull off these characters well. Cheech Marin (Cars 3, The War with Grandpa, Maya and the Three) is also in this as well!
 
Shotgun Wedding is releasing as an Amazon Prime Video original.
 
3 - M3GAN (1/6)

 

Production/Distribution: Atomic Monster, Blumhouse Productions, Divide/Conquer, Universal Pictures
Director: Gerard Johnstone
Writers: Akela Cooper, James Wan
Actors: Allison Williams, Amie Donald, Arlo Green, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jack Cassidy, Jen Van Epps, Jenna Davis, Kimberley Crossman, Kira Josephson, Michael Saccente, Natasha Kojic, Ronny Chieng, Stephane Garneau, Violet McGraw
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror
Rated: PG-13
Length: 1h 42min
 
Moviefone Blurb: A brilliant toy company roboticist uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to emotionally bond with her newly orphaned niece. But when the doll's programming works too well, she becomes overprotective of her new friend with terrifying results.
 
What could possibly go wrong with a life-size AI doll?
 
I have a feeling we’re going to find out the precise answer to that question in M3GAN. That doll is horrifyingly creepy – even when it’s just standing there and not ganking people.
 
I’m telling you, stuff like this is what’s going to make the ‘rise of the machines’ happen eventually. Let’s’ all take this as a cautionary tale, yes?
 
I’m excited to see the mayhem unfold. M3GAN is set to creep out audiences on the big screen in a theatrical release. Details for digital on-demand and streaming aren’t available at this time.
 
2 - House Party (1/13)

 
Production/Distribution: New Line Cinema, SpringHill Entertainment, The Hideaway Entertainment, Warner Bros., HBO Max
Director: Calmatic Will
Writers: Stephen Glover, Jamal Olori
Actors: Allen Maldonado, Andrew Santino, Anthony L. Fernandez, Aviel Ayoung, Bill Bellamy, Bottara Angele, Chinedu Unaka, Christopher Wolfe, D.C. Young Fly, Jacob Latimore, Jason Toler, Karen Obilom, Lester Purry, Maria Arroyo, Melvin Gregg, Michael Heidemann, Nakia Burrise, Olivia Sky, Paris Nicole, Ren Burttet, Rotimi, Shakira Ja'nai Paye, Tamera Kissen, Tosin Cole, Trevion Twosifix Pleasant
Genre: Comedy
Rated: R
Length: 1h 40min
 
Metacritic Blurb: Aspiring club promoters and best buds Damon and Kevin are barely keeping things together. Out of money, down on their luck and about to lose the roofs over their heads—and freshly fired from their low-lift jobs as house cleaners—the pair needs a huge windfall to make their problems go away. In a ‘what the hell?’ move, they decide to host the party of the year at an exclusive mansion, the site of their last cleaning job, which just happens to belong to none other than LeBron James. No permission? No problem. What could go wrong?
 
I’ve been hearing about this new House Party movie for a while now. My initial feelings were mixed, given that there were already 5 movies in the franchise that Kid N’ Play started back with the original in 1990. However, with this reboot, we’re getting a new and more updated take on the story without re-hashing what’s gone on in the past.
 
The concept of this House Party incarnation is actually a great setup for a hilarious movie and I have found myself actually really excited to see it. The cameos alone make this film worthwhile – and that allegedly includes the OGs Kid N’ Play popping in to the party.
 
I’m also a bit giddy as a Whovian that Tosin Cole (Unlocked, Pirates, Till) is one of the leads here. I don’t remember seeing him in much until he crossed my path on Doctor Who (2005-) as a companion of the 13^th Doctor from 2018-2021. I digress…
 
House Party was originally set to be released directly to HBO Max, however with the recent merger with Discovery, the studio decided to give the film a theatrical run. You can bet it will land on the streaming platform after the now customary 45 day window. I wasn’t able to locate on-demand details at this time.
 
1 - Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (1/12)

Production/Distribution: Miramax, STX Films, Tencent Pictures
Director: Guy Ritchie
Writers: Ivan Atkinson, Marn Davies, Guy Ritchie
Actors: Aubrey Plaza, Bugzy Malone, Cary Elwes, Conor MacNeill, Eddie Marsan, Eugenia Kuzmina, Hugh Grant, Jason Statham, Josh Hartnett, Kaan Urgancioglu, Lourdes Faberes, Max Beesley, Peter Ferdinando, Sam Douglas
Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 1h 54min
IMDb Blurb: Special agent Orson Fortune and his team of operatives recruit one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars to help them on an undercover mission when the sale of a deadly new weapons technology threatens to disrupt the world order.
 
We’ve finally reached my #1 pick for January of 2023. “Finally” is also the appropriate word when it comes to Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. I’ve been chomping at the bit for this movie to be released for well over a year now. I really don’t know why it got delayed, but here we are. There were hints at the time
 
This was another of our exceptions this month, because Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre was actually listed on a prior Top 20 – but that was back in March of 2022. It was my #5 pick that month. Most of what I said can be summarized by an excerpt from that article entry: “When you put Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, Aladdin, Wrath of Man) and Jason Statham (The Expendables, Redemption, The Meg) together, magic happens.”
 
There’s so much more to love about Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. I wish it were available now rather than having to wait for mid-month. There will be a theatrical release followed by HBO Max after 45 days. Digital on-demand information is not available at this time, but I can imagine they’ll want to get this one out there sooner than later considering how long its been on the shelf.

Movies to Look out For

According to Selina

Teen Wolf: The Movie .20

Beautiful Beings .19

Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre .18

In From the Side .17

Fear .16

Firenado .15

The Seven Faces of Jane .14

Jethica .13

The Old Way .12

Snow Falls .11

Pathaan .10

Plane .9

Shotgun Wedding .8

Infinity Pool .7

The Pale Blue Eye .6

M3GAN .5

Missing .4

The Offering .3

New Gods: Yang Jian .2

House Party .1

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