“Glass”
Cast: James McAvoy, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Sarah Paulson, Anya Taylor-Joy
Synopsis: Following the conclusion of “Split,” “Glass” finds David Dunn pursuing the superhuman figure of The Beast in a series of escalating encounters, while the shadowy presence of Elijah Price emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.
What You Need to Know: “Split” was something of a career resurgence for director M. Night Shyamalan, who’d become a bit of a filmmaking punchline. 2015’s “The Visit” had set the foundation, while “Split” – though not without its naysayers – solidified it, aided immensely by a powerful, and at times infuriating, performance by James McAvoy. However, Shyamalan is going to Shyamalan and that means there was still a twist. This time, the surprise was that the world of “Split” was, in fact, a part of the “Unbreakable” universe, making the inevitable sequel all the more expected. With “Glass,” which brings Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis back into the fold, we get to see if the director can keep the shaky foundation together as the world is expanded upon and characters we met nearly two decades ago re-introduced.
Release Date: January 18th
“Adult Life Skills”
Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Lorraine Ashbourne, Brett Goldstein
Synopsis: Anna is comfortable living in her mom’s garden shed making funny videos with her thumbs all day, but as she approaches 30, she starts feeling the pressure to move on and “grow up” without compromising her youthful spirit.
What You Need to Know: For anyone who didn’t watch the impossibly bleak “Broadchurch,” the latest incarnation of “Doctor Who” with the first woman taking on the titular role was their introduction to Jodie Whittaker. Whittaker possesses an immediate charisma, whether she’s playing a grieving mother, alien time traveler or, in this case, a woman stuck in arrested development. Marking the feature film debut of writer-director Rachel Tunnard, “Adult Life Skills” looks to play with the familiar sad comedy genre, one that when done right is undeniably effective.
Release Date: January 18th
“The Standoff at Sparrow Creek”
Cast: James Badge Dale, Patrick Fischler
Synopsis: After a mass shooting at a police funeral, reclusive ex-cop Gannon finds himself unwittingly forced out of retirement when he realizes that the killer belongs to the same militia he joined after quitting the force. Understanding that the shooting could set off a chain reaction of copycat violence across the country, Gannon quarantines his fellow militiamen in the remote lumber mill they call their headquarters.
What You Need to Know: Actor James Badge Dale has a tendency to steal whatever film he’s in, be it due to the films own lack of quality and his ability to shine or his own innate magnetism. From his should be star-making turn in HBO’s “The Pacific” to films “Flight” and “Only the Brave” where he played supporting roles, Dale has always (perhaps purposefully) found himself in everyman, scene-stealing roles. However, his charm alone doesn’t seem like quite enough to save “The Standoff at Sparrow Creek,” a film by first-time director Henry Dunham. Our critic wasn’t a huge fan per se, writing “Twists can be a crutch for many young filmmakers. They’re cheap ways to arouse reactions from an audience, and in the case of ‘Sparrow Creek,’ these revelations show a lack of confidence in the main plot that is alarming,” but James Badge Dale is great and the film, for its faults, still shows promise and isn’t a terrible way to spend an afternoon in January.
Release Date: January 18th