There is nothing better than a trip to the cinema on a cold autumn evening, so here are some new releases we think you might like and a very new one that ‘some people’ don’t want you to see …
Coming on Friday: The Apprentice
The Apprentice is Ali Abbasi’s sizzling exploration of Donald Trump’s rise to power in 1980s America, and he has already faced some heat from the presidential candidate. Many Hollywood production companies did not want to touch the film, with Abbasi’s attempts to get the film made starting in 2019. The film was released this week in the US, and will be premiering tonight, Tuesday 14 October, at the London Film Festival. For Irish viewers, we can expect it in cinemas this Friday, October 18.
Starring Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Martin Donovan and Borat 2’s Maria Bakalova, The Apprentice is already a box office smash in America. From what we have seen already, Jeremy Strong is dead pan and brilliantly odd in his portrayal of Roy Cohn, while the overall visual of Sebastian Stan playing Donald Trump really does hammer home what a bizarre time we are living in. The film follows the origins of Trump in 1970s and 1980s Manhattan, where Roy Cohn teaches his “apprentice” how to fight back against a federal lawsuit alleging that Trump and his father engaged in discrimination against people trying to rent housing from them. Maria Bakalova stars as Ivana Trump and the brilliant Bulgarian actress will no doubt electrify the film – especially the “pre-nup scene” in which Trump and Ivana argue over their pre-nuptial agreement. This scene seems to be the real one ruffling some feathers, as well as others.
This provocative portrait of the man and his mentor – the notorious lawyer who will never let the truth get in the way of winning a fight – has already caused controversy and we have no doubt it will cause more, especially with the presidential election in sight. This is what art is all about. Watch the trailer now.
The Outrun
Newlyweds Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden, our favourite Slow Horses star, have produced Outrun together. The story follows a young woman Rona (Ronan) who, after living life on the edge in London, attempts to come to terms with her troubled past. She returns to the wild beauty of Scotland’s Orkney Islands, where she grew up, as she hopes to heal. Saoirse Ronan has said in recent interviews that the subject matter of alcoholism and addiction is something she has first-hand experience with, from people she is close to. This makes the telling of this story all the more personal, and can speak to many people, whether they know it or not. Directed by Nora Fingscheidt, the film is a beautifully harrowing portrayal of an individual’s understanding of themselves and others. It is a story of confronting your past and looking for change. Watch it in cinemas now.
The Substance
Demi Moore stars in this eerie, modern horror film that combines glamour and gore like no other. Think Poor Things meets Black Swan. As you watch, one cannot help but appreciate the artistic endeavour of this production, with the goal to teeter the line between the beautiful and the grotesque. If that sounds like something you would like, then book in. Written, directed and co-produced by Coralie Fargeat, and also starring Maid’s Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid. It follows the story of a fading celebrity (Moore) who takes a black-market drug; a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself. A poignant topic for the pressures of our time and the cast is just brilliant. Trigger warning for the gore and the horror, but it must be recommended for its grit and artistic direction.
King Frankie
Love/Hate’s Peter Coonan stars in King Frankie and makes his directional debut, so we are delighted to see his name on the big screen. The film follows the story of a Dublin taxi driver who, following the death of his father, is forced to face his past and the demons that come with it. Coonan shows his range and that he is far from “Fran the man” in Love/Hate as he plays a quiet taxi driver, who we learn early on in the film is incredibly kind. Also starring Olivia Caffrey and Ruairi O’Connor (with some familiar Love/Hate faces in there too). The story will keep you at the edge of your seat; a gripping drama of hard times and lessons learned.
A Different Man
Starring Adam Pearson, Sebastian Stan, The Worst Person in The World’s Renate Reinvse, Liana Runcie and more, this American black comedy and psychological thriller is something to behold. The story follows an aspiring actor who undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. However, his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare as he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost. As these psychological thrillers tend to go, there is a muddling of what is real and what is not, and it takes the viewer on a journey to get inside the character’s head. It is the two mighty performances of Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan that make this film a true masterpiece; touching on similar themes of societal pressures to that of The Substance – both truly thought-provoking films.
