Must See Movies for January

We're about one week into January, and it's safe to say that there really hasn't been many good movies to check out. Actually, just yesterday I received two free passes to go to a pre-screening of The Devil Inside. I decided to stay home and watch the Rangers game instead. Anywho! Here's 7 films, plus a couple of mentions if you're interested in some possible Oscar worthy films that I'm not all that interested in. All plot info comes from Moviefone.

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Release Date: January 13th (NY); January 20th (LA)

Director: Lynne Ramsey

Starring: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller

Plot: Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, We Need to Talk About Kevin explores nature vs. nurture on a whole new level as Eva's own culpability is measured against Kevin's innate evilness. Ramsay's masterful storytelling simultaneously combines a provocative moral ambiguity with a satisfying and compelling narrative, which builds to a chilling, unforgettable climax.

Run Time: 112 Min

I've had this film on my radar for a while due to the fact I love both Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly. John C. has a gift...he can be in some of the funniest films, and yet you put him in a dramatic role and he's one of the best. Tilda Swinton is able to steal a scene...she's such a powerful performer, and in a role as dramatic as this one, I'm excited to see what she brings to the table. Due to the film having a brief release before the new year, she will be eligible to be nominated for Best Actress.

Beauty and the Beast (3D)

Release Date: January 13th

Director(s): Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

Run Time: 84 Min

I'm not even going to justify why this has to be seen. This is one of the best animated films of all time, and Disney has been putting their films into 3D, which is just a gift since they're able to bring the format to life. I'll stop here, and I'll just advise you to watch this film.

Haywire

Release Date: January 20th

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Gina Carano, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Bill Paxton

Plot: Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive. Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious--and dangerous--trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she'll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.

I'll be completely honest, I tried to ignore this movie for a while. It didn't really appeal to me much at all, but as time went on, I realized that while this film may not be a particularly good movie, it seems like it'll be a damn good action movie if not for anything else. Plus, a cast that involves Douglas, Fassbender, and McGregor is one that any moviegoer should have some sort of interest in. 

Coriolanus

Release Date: January 20th

Director: Ralph Fiennes

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Venessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain

Plot: Caius Martius 'Coriolanus', a revered and feared Roman General is at odds with the city of Rome and his fellow citizens. Pushed by his controlling and ambitious mother Volumnia to seek the exalted and powerful position of Consul, he is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office. When the public refuses to support him, Coriolanus's anger prompts a riot that culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius to take his revenge on the city.

Run Time: 122 Min

I really wish this film was released in 2011 so that it could have a run for a few awards. Ralph Fiennes is a one of a kind actor, and to see him directing a Shakespeare classic is something that I can't wait for. Plus a supporting cast that includes Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, and Jessica Chastain, who continues to be in every film ever created, this seems like a film that could have been a potential Best Picture nominee, so instead, we'll just have to settle for a damn good film in January.

The Grey

Release Date: January 27th

Director: Joe Carnahan

Starring: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, James Badge Dale

Plot: Liam Neeson plays an unlikely hero who is forced to lead a group of roughneck guys in their fight to survive and return home when their plane crashes into the remote Alaskan wilderness. Battling injuries and merciless weather, the men must escape the icy elements -- and a vicious pack of rogue wolves on the hunt -- before their time runs out. 

Will this movie be any good at all? No. It won't. But you know what? It's Liam Neeson fighting a bunch of fucking wolves. What else can you ask for?

Man on a Ledge

Release Date: January 27th

Director: Asger Leth

Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris, Edward Burns

Plot: In this heart-pounding thriller, Nick Cassidy makes a desperate and life-threatening move to prove his innocence after he is framed for the theft of a rare, prized diamond. Recently escaped from prison and with nowhere else to go, Nick climbs onto the ledge of a towering skyscraper, inviting the eyes of New York City to anxiously watch as one wrong step could mean plunging to his death. But as one police negotiator soon learns, Nick's daredevil stunt, captivating the eyes of the public and media, masks a dangerous ploy to reveal the truth about his tarnished name. With the help of his brother and with time running out, Nick's intricate plan must work perfectly, but when you're on the 25th floor ledge of a building, going down takes on an entirely more hair-raising meaning.

Run Time: 102 Min

I've been skeptical of Sam Worthington, primarily due to his one-dimensional portrayal in Avatar, but after seeing him in The Debt,  the guy can act. And after watching the trailer, it's really got something about it. I'm not sure what, but it's got something. This may not be close to being the best film of the year, but it may be an enjoyable film that will bring in some money at the box office and should impress a good amount of critics.

A couple of other films to keep an eye on, solely for the Oscar race, are The Iron Lady, Albert Nobbs, and In Darkness. The Iron Lady stars Meryl Streep, which is Oscar worthy in itself, Albert Nobbs stars Glenn Close who plays the role of a man, and In Darkness is a Polish WWII, which is always Oscar bait.