Entertainment: Five Mind Blowing films to watch this February

 Jupiter Ascending
Originally slated for release in the summer of 2014, the latest from Andy and Lana Wachowski (The Matrix) was pushed back to allow them time to complete “more than 2,000 special effects shots”. The delay prompted questions over the studio’s lack of confidence – but that might just be a sign that the film bucks straightforward blockbuster formula, with a story that sees Mila Kunis starring “as a sort of cosmic Snow White alongside Channing Tatum as a man-wolf space bounty hunter”. The space opera aims big: cast member Douglas Booth has described it as “a cross between Star Wars and The Matrix”. Released 5 February in Argentina, 6 February in Malaysia and 19 February in Australia.

 Fifty Shades of Grey
Anticipation for the screen adaptation of EL James’s bestselling erotic novel is being whipped to fever pitch: its star Dakota Johnson was photographed by Mario Testino for the cover of this month’s Vogue and its trailer has become Universal’s most-viewed teaser ever. The tale of the twisted affair between Anastasia Steele (Johnson) and sadistic CEO Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) is directed by Turner Prize-nominee Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy), who has described it as “a very dark Grimm’s fairy tale, told for adults”. Released 11 February in France, 12 February in Brazil and 13 February in the US.



 The Voices
Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick – and a talking cat. An evil talking cat, to be precise, countered by a benevolent talking dog. Directed by Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis) and written by Michael R Perry (Paranormal Activity 2), The Voices mashes together tones and genres in a comic portrayal of a mentally ill factory worker. According to The Playlist: “Normally homicide and hilarity do not mix especially well, but The Voices ... manages to do exactly that in a way where both the tension and the grisly laughs are in perfect synch.” Released 6 February in India and the US, 12 February in the Netherlands and 26 February in Portugal.


 The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Director John Madden and writer Ol Parker follow up their 2011 sleeper hit The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with a comedy-drama starring many of the same cast. Seasoned thesps Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Celia Imrie are joined by Richard Gere and Tamsin Greig for the sequel, which updates the tale of a group of British retirees living out their golden years in the Indian city of Jaipur. In its review of the original movie, Variety made the point that “there’s an interesting parallel between the way companies outsource customer care to call centres in India and the way seniors are forced to retire to developing nations where their money will go further”. Released 26 February in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.

The Trial of Viviane Amsalem 

Israeli siblings Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz end their trilogy of films about an Israeli family with a courtroom drama that has moments of bitter comedy. Ronit stars as Viviane, first seen in To Take a Wife (2004) yearning to leave her marriage of 20 years; in the follow-up Seven Days (2008) she was separated from husband Elisha (Simon Abkarian). Now, the Orthodox Jewish woman struggles to get a divorce from Elisha in a religious court. The film reflects the difficulties faced by women in Israel seeking to end their marriages: divorce in the country is granted by rabbinical judges and in this case, the process takes five long years. It first screened at Cannes, where Variety praised it for a “beautifully modulated script, ripe with moments of liberating humour” which “builds to a crescendo of indignation, allowing Elkabetz several cathartic outbursts, but they’re no more riveting than the actress’ silences”. Released 21 January in the US, 19 February in Greece and 20 February in Poland.