From Michael Phillips, the most promising movies through the end of March.
Greetings from Chicago, where we just spent the second-warmest Christmas in nearly 150 years.
Warm weather meant football outside, and eating strata and habanero-spiced chili and homemade pie inside at my wife’s parents’ place. My father-in-law’s annual model train set-up around the Christmas tree included a drive-in movie scene, complete with two dozen little cars and a drive-in screen (portrayed by a portable DVD player) showing “American Graffiti. That film comes from a time when director George Lucas hadn’t yet become the Palpatine of merchandising, and a steady presence under so many Christmas trees since the first “Star Wars” in 1977.
But enough talk of “Star Wars” and global warming. Let’s look ahead to what the new year will bring. Here are 10 films to anticipate as winter rolls along, whatever global warming has to say about it. Tales of racial injustice, dementedly righteous ex-girlfriends of famous comic book psychopaths, a Disney title repurposed very possibly for the better and much more await, along with Robert Downey Jr. and a large animal menagerie.
Dates are subject to change and studio release schedules.
In order of appearance:
“Just Mercy.” Based on the memoir by civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson, cofounder of the Equal Justice Initiative, the film tells the true story of how Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan, of “Creed” and “Black Panther”) takes on the case of Alabama death row inmate Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx) in the late 1980s. Brie Larson, Rob Morgan and Tim Blake Nelson co-star; the director is Destin Daniel Cretton, who did the wellregarded “Short Term 12.” Opens Jan. 10.
“Dolittle.” Now that Iron Man is free from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Robert Downey Jr. is available for the latest screen incarnation of the multilingual animal lover created in 1920 by Hugh Lofting. Downey Jr. follows in the footsteps of Rex Harrison and Eddie Murphy; in the reboot, reclusive widower Dolittle must save an ailing Queen Victoria by trekking halfway around the world to find a cure. Antonio Banderas and Michael Sheen co-star; various animals are voiced by, among others, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, Marion Cotillard and, yes, John Cena. Opens Jan. 17.
“The Rhythm Section.” Debut novelist Mark Burnell adapts his spy story, directed by cinematographer-turned-helmer Reed Morano, about a Bourne-again heroine (Blake Lively), her various identities and a barrage of global adversaries. Jude Law co-stars. Opens Jan. 31.
“Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).” In the 2016 “Suicide Squad,” Margot Robbie triumphed as the Joker’s partner in crime, Harley
Quinn, in a grubby, mediocre entry in the DC Comics universe. Here’s a spinoff with a good chance of being a lot better; Robbie moves up from the supporting roster, Cathy Yan’s the director and hope springs eternal. Opens Feb. 7.
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” Premiering last year at the Cannes Film Festival, French director Céline Sciamma’s love story went on to great acclaim in limited release in the U.S. and made a slew of Top 10 lists (mine included). It’s a beaut — a precise, meticulous period drama set in late 18th century Brittany, about a painter (Noémie Merlant) hired to capture the image of a noblewoman (Adèle Haenel) soon to be married. Artist and subject fall in love, the film is their story. Opens Feb. 14 (Feb. 21 in Chicago).
“The Photograph.” Another Valentine’s Day special, this one from Canadian writer-director Stella Meghie. When a famous photographer dies, her grieving daughter (Issa Rae) pieces together her mother’s secret romantic life, while embarking on a love affair of her own with a journalist (Lakeith Stanfield). Expect a story spanning the generations, a la “The Notebook.” Opens Feb. 14.
“Fantasy Island.” The ABC-TV series starring Ricardo Montalban handed 1977-1984 audiences weekly doses of romantic dreams come true. Now the Blumhouse folks give us a different sort of escapism, with Michael Peña taking over as Mr. Roarke, and the titular island transformed into what appears to be a horror show, full of violent comeuppance and lessons learned the hard way. Opens Feb. 14.
“The Way Back.” Originally titled “The Has-Been,” director Gavin O’Connor (“Miracle,” “Warrior”) reunites with Ben Affleck for a hard-charging drama of a onetime basketball star struggling with addiction. He returns to his alma mater to bring discipline and life lessons to a new generation of players. Opens March 6.
“A Quiet Place Part II.” John Krasinski’s character made the ultimate noble sacrifice at the end of the 2018 smash. But Krasinski returns as writer-director for the sequel, again starring the reliably terrific Emily Blunt, again set in a near-future ruled by blind extraterrestrials with excellent hearing. Cillian Murphy co-stars. Opens March 20.
“Mulan.” The 1998 animated Disney adventure goes live action, under the direction of Niki Caro (“Whale Rider”). The remake stars Liu Yifei as the warrior’s daughter who disguises herself as a man to fulfill her imperial Army destiny. Will Caro’s film do “The Lion King,” “Dumbo” and “Aladdin” one better, by not being lame? We’ll know soon enough. Opens March 27.