A Dog's Purpose

Director Lassie Hallstrom

Genre Comedy | Drama | Family

Cast Britt Robertson, Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton

Rating PG

Release Date January 27th, 2016

“A dog looks to discover his purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes and owners.”

From director Lasse Hallstrom (Chocolat, Safe Haven), A Dog's Purpose is a heartfelt comedy drama based on the book by W. Bruce Cameron. I'm not ashamed to admit that the trailer tears me up each and every time! Also, I read the book which I really enjoyed. Can't wait for this! The film stars Britt Robertson, Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, and Peggy Lipton. Check out the official trailer below.

Gold

Director Stephen Gaghan

Genre Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Cast Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramirez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Toby Kebbell

Rating R

Release Date January 27th, 2017

“An unlikely pair venture to the Indonesian jungle in search of gold.”

Directed by Stephen Gaghan (Siriana), Gold is an adventure drama starring Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramirez, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Toby Kebbell. Check out the official trailer below.

I Am Michael

Director Justin Kelly

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast James Franco, Zachary Quinto, Emma Roberts, Daryl Hannah

Rating Unrated

Release Date January 27th, 2017

“A gay activist and magazine founder is saved from his homosexuality after turning to God.”

From director Justin Kelly (King Cobra), I Am Michael is the incredible true story of Michael Glatze, a high profile Gay activist who caused a public uproar when he decided he was no longer Gay and became a Christian pastor. The cast includes James Franco, Zachary Quinto, Emma Roberts, and Daryl Hannah. I am somewhat indifferent as far as what I expect from this film but the impressive cast has me intrigued. Check out the trailer below.

Raees

Director Rahul Dholakia

Genre Action | Crime | Thriller

Cast Shah Rukh Khan, Sunny Leone, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Mahira Khan

Rating Unrated

Release Date January 25th, 2017 (India)

“Criticizing the prohibition of alcohol, prostitution and illegal drugs in Gujarat, this film unfolds the story of a cruel and clever bootlegger, whose business is highly challenged by a tough cop.”

“The film is set in the early 80’s and 90’s in Gujarat. The fictitious story of a man who builds an empire in the state of Gujarat, the only state that still follows prohibition. It’s a story about his rise and his relationships, which help him become the single most powerful man in the state.”

Split

Director M. Night Shyamalan

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kim Director, Haley Lu Richardson

Rating PG-13

Release Date January 20th, 2017

“Kevin, a man with at least 23 different personalities, is compelled to abduct three teenage girls. As they are held captive, a final personality - “The Beast” - begins to materialize.”

Split is a horror thriller directed and written by mastermind M. Night Shyamalan (The Visit, The Sixth Sense), and looks to be a very effective and intense film. Actually who am I kidding, I can't wait to see this! The impressive cast includes James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kim Director, and Haley Lu Richardson. Check out the official trailer below.

xXx: Return of Xander Cage

Director D.J. Caruso

Genre Action | Adventure | Thriller

Cast Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Nina Dobrev, Ruby Rose

Rating PG-13

Release Date January 20th, 2017

“Xander Cage is left for dead after an incident, though he secretly returns to action for a new, tough assignment with his handler Augustus Gibbons.”

Directed by D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, I am Number Four, Eagle Eye), xXx: The Return of Xander Cage stars Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Nina Dobrev, and Ruby Rose. Check out the official trailer below.

The Founder

Director John Lee Hancock

Genre Biography | Drama | History

Cast Michael Keaton, Linda Cardellini, Patrick Wilson, Nick Offerman

Rating PG-13

Release Date January 20th, 2017

“The story of McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc.”

The Founder is directed by John Lee Hancock, who previously directed The Rookie, The Blind Side, and Saving Mr. Banks. The film is based on true events and chronicles how Ray Kroc became the founder of the fast-food empire, McDonald's. According to the studio, the release was moved from November 2015 to August 2016 because they felt it will be a legitimate Academy Awards Contender. With the cast consisting of Michael Keaton, playing the role of Ray Kroc, and supporting roles from John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman, they might be right. Check out the trailer below.

20th Century Women

Director Mike Mills

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup

Rating R

Release Date January 20th, 2017

“The story of three women who explore love and freedom in Southern California during the late 1970s.”

Written and directed by Mike Mills, 20th Century women is a comedy drama with a very solid cast. The film stars Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, and Billy Crudup. Check out the official trailer below. 

Detour

Director Christopher Smith

Genre Thriller

Cast Emory Cohen, Tye Sheridan, Stephen Moyer, Bel Powley

Rating R

Release Date January 20th, 2017

“A young law student who, while grieving for his dying mother, struggles to decide whether he should kill his unfaithful step-father.”

From director Christopher Smith, Detour is a stylistic indie drama with an impressive cast of up-and-coming acting talent. The cast includes Emory Cohen (The Place Beyond the Pines, Brooklyn), Tye Sheridan (Mud, Joe), Stephen Moyer (True Blood), and Bel Powley (The Diary of a Teenage Girl). I am a huge fan of Cohen and Sheridan so I am excited to check this one out, the trailer looks pretty damn cool as well. Also it will be interesting to see Stephen Moyer in a role other than that of the vampire, Bill, in HBO's series Trueblood. The release seemed to come out of nowhere so I am crossing my fingers hoping it gets a wide-release, although that is unlikely.  Check out the official trailer below.

Trespass Against Us

Director Adam Smith

Genre Action | Crime | Drama

Cast Michael Fassbender, Brendan Gleeson, Lyndsey Marshal, Georgie Smith

Rating R

Release Date January 20th, 2017

“A man looks to find a way to escape the criminal ways of his outlaw family.”

Directed by Adam Smith, Trespass Against Us is a crime drama starring Michael Fassbender, Brdendan Gleeson, Lyndsey Marshal, and Georgie Smith. This will be a limited release but it looks like it might be worth checking out. Check out the official trailer below.

The Resurrection of Gavin Stone

Director Dallas Jenkins

Genre Comedy | Drama | Family

Cast Brett Dalton, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Shawn Michaels, and Neil Flynn

Rating PG

Release Date January 20th, 2017

“A washed-up former child star, forced to do community service at a local megachurch, pretends to be a Christian to land the part of Jesus in their annual Passion Play, only to discover that the most important role of his life is far from Hollywood.”

From director Dallas Jenkins (What If, The Ride), The Resurrection of Gavin Stone is an inspirational comedy that hopes to entertain the entire family. The cast includes Brett Dalton, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Shawn Michaels, and Neil Flynn. Check out the official trailer below.

Patriots Day

Director Peter Berg

Genre Drama | History | Thriller

Cast Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Michelle Monaghan, J.K. Simmons

Rating R

Release Date January 13th, 2017

“An account of Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis’s actions in the events leading up to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath, which includes the city-wide manhunt to find the terrorists behind it.”

Directed by Peter Berg (Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon), Patriots Day is a powerful film that revisits a traumatic day in U.S. History, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Michelle Monaghan, and J.K. Simmons. Check out the official trailer's below.

Live by Night

Director Ben Affleck

Genre Crime | Drama

Cast Ben Affleck, Zoe Saldana, Chris Sullivan, Elle Fanning

Rating R

Release Date January 13th, 2017

“A story set in the Prohibition Era and centered around a group of individuals and their dealings in the world of organized crime.”

Actor director Ben Affleck, who was behind the camera for hits such as Gone Baby Gone, The Town, and Argo, seems to have a knack for films centered around crime and violence. His upcoming film, Live by Night, is a crime drama set in the prohibition era with Affleck in the lead role. Live by Night is based on the Dennis Lehane novel of the same name. Lehane is a widely respected author, having written best-sellers such as Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River, Shudder Island, etc. This is the second Lehane book Affleck will have turned into a film, the first being Gone Baby Gone. The cast also includes Zoe Saldana, Chris Sullivan, Elle Fanning, Scott Eastwood, Sienna Miller, Brendan Gleeson, and many more. I am a huge fan of prohibition era films like Lawless and shows such as Boardwalk Empire so I am pretty excited about this one. Check out the official trailer below.

Want more?! Check out the official final trailer for the film below.

Silence

Director Martin Scorsese

Genre Drama | History

Cast Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson, Adam Driver, Ciarán Hinds

Rating R

Release Date January 13th, 2017

“In the seventeenth century, two Jesuit priests face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and propagate Christianity.”

Directed by mastermind Martin Scorsese, Silence is a powerful historical drama starring Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson, Adam Driver, and Ciarán Hinds. I know this is a serious film and I am sure it will be amazing considering Scorsese's eye for directing and ability to produce only quality films, I can't help but find humor in the fact that this time around Neeson is the guy people are searching for. Check out the official trailer below. 

Sleepless

Director Baron bo Odar

Genre Action | Crime | Thriller

Cast Jamie Foxx, T.I., Michelle Monaghan, Dermot Mulroney

Rating R

Release Date January 13th, 2017

“A cop with a connection to the criminal underworld scours a nightclub in search of his kidnapped son.”

Directed by Baron bo Odar, Sleepless crime drama starring Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, Dermot Mulroney, and David Harbour. Jamie Foxx is not Denzel but this looks to be his best attempt at a Training Day of his own, check out the official trailer below.

The Bye Bye Man

Director Stacy Title

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast Douglas Smith, Lucien Laviscount, Cressida Bonas, Doug Jones

Rating PG-13

Release Date January 13th, 2017

“Three friends stumble upon the horrific origins of the Bye Bye Man, a mysterious figure they discover is the root cause of the evil behind man’s most unspeakable acts.”

“When three college students move into an old house off campus, they unwittingly unleash a supernatural entity known as The Bye Bye Man, who comes to prey upon them once they discover his name. The friends must try to save each other, all the while keeping The Bye Bye Man’s existence a secret to save others from the same deadly fate.”

Monster Trucks

Director Chris Wedge

Genre Animation | Action | Adventure

Cast Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Thomas Lennon, Barry Pepper 

Rating PG

Release Date January 13th, 2017

“Looking for any way to get away from the life and town he was born into, Tripp (Lucas Till), a high school senior, builds a Monster Truck from bits and pieces of scrapped cars. After an accident at a nearby oil-drilling site displaces a strange and subterranean creature with a taste and a talent for speed, Tripp may have just found the key to getting out of town and a most unlikely friend.”

Directed by Chris Wedge (Ice Age, Epic), Monster Trucks is a live-action CGI-heavy comedy starring Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Thomas Lennon, and Barry Pepper. It looks a bit corny but could be a fun lighthearted comedy. Check out the official trailer below.

100 Streets

Director Jim O'Hanlon

Genre Drama

Cast Gemma Arterton, Idris Elba, Ryan Gage, Ken Stott

Rating Unrated

Release Date January 13th, 2017

“Three people, three extraordinary stories. All lived out within a hundred London streets.”

From director Jim O'Hanlon, 100 Streets is a powerful drama revolving around three different stories taking place on the streets of London. The film stars Gemma Arterton,Idris Elba, Ryan Gage, and Ken Stott. Check out the official trailer below.

The Book of Love

Director Bill Purple

Genre Drama

Cast Jason Sudeikis, Jessica Biel, Maisie Williams, Mary Steenburgen

Rating PG-13

Release Date January 13th, 2017

“Henry is an introverted architect. After the death of his wife in a car accident, he sets out to help Millie, a homeless teen, to build a raft to sail across the Atlantic.”

From director Bill Purple, The Book of Love is a compelling drama that made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2016. The film stars Jason Sudeikis, Jessica Biel, Maisie Williams, and Mary Steenburgen. Justin Timberlake is credited with the score and the music. Check out the official trailer below.

A Monster Calls

Director J.A. Bayona

Genre Drama | Fantasy

Cast Lewis MacDougall, Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Kebbell

Rating PG-13

Release Date January 6th, 2017

“A boy seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mom’s terminal illness.”

“The monster does not come walking often. This time it comes to Connor, and it asks for the one thing Connor cannot bring himself to do. Tell the truth. This is a very touching story about a boy who feels very damaged, guilty and mostly angry. He struggles at school with bullies, and pity looks from everyone, and at home with his mother’s sickness. Will Connor overcome his problems? Will everything be okay? Will Connor be able to speak the truth?”