Awards season may be over but it’s pretty safe to say that after the Oscars, British film’s in a darn good place right now. Don’t worry about things going downhill now awards season is over though – there’s plenty more to look forward to.
Starred Up
Featuring Jack O’ Connell (aka Cook from Skins), this gritty prison drama from David Mackenzie (Hallam Foe) stars Jack as Eric Love, a 19-year-old inmate who’s transferred from a young offenders institute to a grown-up prison. Trouble is, his troublemaking dad Neville is also inside, while a crooked prison governor is grappling with a well-meaning social worker (Homeland’s Rupert Friend) over Eric’s future. It’s dark, violent and doesn’t pull any punches, but Jack O’ Connell’s excellent performance firmly cements him a one of Britain’s brightest future stars.
Under The Skin
Brought to us by director Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast) this haunting sci-fi thriller has already got people talking – not least thanks to lead Scarlett Johansson’s impeccable British accent – take note Shia LeBeouf. The film features Scarlett as Laura, an extra-terrestrial being (stay with us – she’s a cool alien) that preys on male hitchhikers to send back as meat to her home planet. It’s cool, spooky and best of all, British.
A Long Way Down
Hooray! Another Nick Hornby novel gets the film treatment. This time there’s not Hugh Grant but it does star Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul along with rising star Imogen Poots, Rosamund Pike, Toni Collette and Pierce Brosnan. It’s about four people who meet on a roof on New Years Eve – when they’re all trying to kill themselves. Instead of jumping to their untimely deaths, they form a pact that none of them will commit suicide until at least Valentines Day. It’s a lot more heartwarming than it sounds. Honest.
The Double
Based on Dostoyevsky’s novel of the same name, this film stars Jesse Eisenberg as a man who goes mad after constantly another version of himself – one that’s everything he’s not. The film’s directed by the IT Crowd’s Richard Ayoade (Maurice) and is his second directorial outing after 2010’s Submarine. It’s also produced by Michael Caine.
The Quiet Ones
In the list of ideas that are bound to end badly, trying to create your own poltergeist is probably up there. Nevertheless that’s what Jared Harris’ character sets out to do in this new Brit horror that’s ‘inspired by true events’. It also stars the delectable Sam Claflin, and Blackout’s Olivia Cooke. It also looks bloody terrifying.
Follow Jess on Twitter @jess_commons
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.