MoviefiedNYC’s Opening in January

The Truth About Emanuel – Kaya Scodelario

There are definitely some interesting films (Tim’s Vermeer, Like Father, Like Son, That Awkward Moment) opening this month but it just doesn’t compare to the the last quarter of 2013 where we have an over abundance of gems to pick from. I don’t know about you, but I’m still trying to catch up with all the big films (August Osage County, Her, Nebraska, etc) as awards season is already under way, not to mention all the documentaries I’m dying to see. (Cutie and the Boxer, Dirty Wars, etc).
So, whether you choose to check out that indie you heard so much about or the latest big studio release, don’t forget to click on the movie title to view the trailer. We want to make sure you know what you are getting into before you head to the theater.
– Myrna E. Duarte

January 3
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones – Andrew Jacobs

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is written and directed by Christopher Landon (writer of Disturbia and all the Paranormal Activity sequels), and continues the legacy of the supernatural forces in a spin-off story set in a small Hispanic (why do they have bring my people into it) neighborhood in California.

Beyond Outrage

Beyond Outrage

Beyond Outrage is the sequel to the 2010 film Outrage, written and directed by Takeshi “Beat” Kitano, who directed his first feature in 1989, Violent Cop. Detective Kataoka (Fumiyo Kohinata) wants to start a war between the Sanno crime family and the neighboring Hanabishi family, in the hopes that they destroy each other. His trump card is Otomo (Kitano) – the rumored-dead boss of a defunct family destroyed by the Sanno, who has just been released from prison.

January 10
Hercules: The Legend Begins

Hercules: The Legend Begins – Kellan Lutz

The Legend of Hercules is directed by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2), who also wrote the film with Daniel Giat (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee). In 1200 B.C. Greece, a queen gives birth to a son, fathered by Zeus, who is destined to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the king. But this prince, Hercules (Kellan Lutz), knows nothing of his identity or his destiny. He only wants the love of Hebe, Princess of Crete, who has been promised to his brother. When he learns of his greater purpose, he must choose: flee with his true love or fulfill his destiny and become a true hero. Maybe both?

Raze

Raze

Raze directed by Josh C. Waller, released by IFC Films is the story of a young woman abducted by an elite, secret society and wakes to find herself in the company of fifty other women who are, just like her, forced to fight for their lives in an unimaginable hell…another day at the office.

The Truth About Emanuel

The Truth About Emanuel – Kaya Scodelario and Jessica Biel

Emanuel (Kaya Scodelario), a troubled girl, becomes preoccupied with her mysterious, new neighbor (Jessica Biel), who bears a striking resemblance to her deceased mother (of course). In offering to babysit her newborn, Emanuel unwittingly enters a fragile, fictional world, of which she becomes the gatekeeper.

January 16
Sundance 2014

The Sundance Institute marks the 30th anniversary of the Sundance Film Festival this month. Taking place January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah, Please stay tuned for MoviefiedNYC’s Sundance round up in the next few days.

January 17
Devil’s Due

The Devil’s Due – Allison Miller

Directed by V/H/S segment directors Tyler Gillett & Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Devils’ Due tells the story of a couple after a mysterious, lost night on their honeymoon, that finds themselves dealing with an earlier-than-planned pregnancy. While recording everything for posterity, the husband begins to notice odd behavior in his wife that they initially write off to nerves, but, it becomes evident that the dark changes to her body and mind have a much more sinister origin.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit – Chris Pine

Kenneth Branagh (Thor) directs Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit with a script by Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List), Anthony Peckham, Adam Cozad and David Koepp. The film essentially exists as an original story following Jack Ryan (from films like Patriot Games, The Hunt for Red October and The Sum of All Fears) before he joined the CIA. Branagh is also playing the villain with Keira Knightley as the love interest, Kevin Costner as Ryan’s mentor. I admit I’m curious.

The Nut Job

The Nut Job

The Nut Job is an action-packed comedy that follows the travails of Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure. Brendan Fraser, Katherine Heigl and Liam Neeson also voice characters in the film from director Peter Lepeniotis (an animator on Toy Story 2), who also wrote the film with Lorne Cameron (Brother Bear) and Daniel Woo.

Ride Along

Ride Along – Ice Cube and Kevin Hart

When a fast-talking guy (Kevin Hart) joins his girlfriend’s brother (Ice Cube), a hot-tempered cop, to patrol the streets of Atlanta, he gets entangled in the officer’s latest case. Now, in order to prove that he deserves his future bride, he must survive the most insane 24 hours of his life on a ride along designed to scare the hell out of him. John Leguizamo also stars in Ride Along, directed by Tim Story (Think Like a Man, Fantastic Four) and written by Greg Coolidge (Employee of the Month).

Like Father, Like Son

Like Father, Like Son

Like Father, Like Son is written & directed by highly acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda, of Maborosi, Without Memory, After Life, Distance, Nobody Knows, Still Walking and Air Doll. It first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and also played at the New York Film Festival. Ryota has earned everything he has by his hard work, and believes nothing can stop him from pursuing his perfect life and living as a winner. Then one day, he and his wife, Midori, get an unexpected phone call from the hospital. Their 6-year-old son, Keita, is not their son – the hospital gave them the wrong baby. Ryota is forced to make a life-changing decision, to choose between “nature” and “nurture”. I’m in!

Life of a King

Life of a King – Denise Haysbert and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Life of a King directed and written by Jake Goldberg is the unlikely true story of ex-convict Eugene Brown (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his one-man mission to give inner-city kids of Washington D.C. something he never had – a future. After his release and reentry into the workforce, Eugene developed and founded the Big Chair Chess Club to get kids off the streets and working towards lives they never believed they were capable of. From his introductory chess lessons to group of unruly high school students in detention to the development of the chess club and the teens’ first local chess competitions, this movie reveals his difficult, inspirational journey and how he changed the lives of a group of teens with no endgame. I’m ashamed to admit I am a sucker for these stories.

January 24
I, Frankenstein (3D)

I, Frankenstein – Aaron Eckhart

Set in a dystopic present (love dystopic anything) where vigilant gargoyles and ferocious demons rage in a battle for ultimate power, Victor Frankenstein’s creation Adam (Aaron Eckhart) finds himself caught in the middle as both sides race to discover the secret to his immortality. Written for the screen and directed by Stuart Beattie (writer of G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra), I, Frankenstein is based on the graphic novel by Kevin Grievous, and also stars Bill Nighy (I’m in!), Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Jai Courtney, Socratis Otto, Mahesh Jadu, Caitlin Stasey and Aden Young.

Gimme Shelter

Gimme Shelter – Rosario Dawson and Vanessa Hudgens

Gimme Shelter is written & directed by American indie filmmaker Ron Krauss (Rave, Alien Hunter and Amexica). As a pregnant teenager, Apple’s (Vanessa Hudgens) journey takes her through a perilous struggle until finding salvation in a suburban shelter for homeless teens. With a communal sisterhood connection and female empowerment, the shelter elevates Apple to break the shackles of her past (Disney) and inspires her to embrace the future with clarity, maturity and hope not only for herself but her unborn child. Based on a true story.

January 31
That Awkward Moment

That Awkward Moment – Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Zac Efron

That Awkward Moment (formerly known as Are We Officially Dating?) is written and directed by Tom Gormican, with a script that made the Black List. Zac Efron (Me and Orson Welles, 17 Again), Miles Teller (The Spectacular Now, 21 & Over) and Michael B. Jordan (Chronicle, Fruitvale Station) star in the R-rated comedy about three best friends who find themselves (where we’ve all been) at that confusing “moment” in every dating relationship when you have to decide “So where is this going?” Imogen Poots and Jessica Lucas also star in the film.

Best Night Ever

Best Night Ever – Samantha Colburn and Eddie Ritchard

Directed by Jason Friedberg (Vampires Suck), Claire is about to get married and she goes to Las Vegas with her sister and two friends for her bachelorette party. Things quickly spiral out of control. (Yawn!)

Tim’s Vermeer

Tim’s Vermeer – Tim Jenison

In Tim’s Vermeer we meet Tim Jenison, a Texas based inventor (LightWave) who attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in all art: How did 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer manage to paint so photo-realistically – 150 years before the invention of photography? The epic research project Jenison embarks on to test his theory is as extraordinary as what he discovers. The documentary is directed by Teller, produced by Penn Jillette, and first premiered at the Telluride & Toronto Film Festivals this fall. Tim’s Vermeer is in the running for Best Documentary at the Oscars.