At times the month of March seemed like it was never going to end, and then suddenly April is over and now we’re basically in May.
A full month of lockdown is now complete, people’s screen times on their phones have never been higher and all of a sudden that motivation to get fit is being replaced by sitting around and binge-watching TV.
So fear not, there’s some new content dropping on Netflix, Sky Cinema, Disney+ and Amazon Prime in the month of May. All information about what’s scheduled for the month ahead has not been fully released yet, but I’ve got some picks of some films that are coming up very soon.
Sky Cinema: Once Upon A Time in… Hollywood (2019) – May 1
Director: Quentin Tarrantino – 161mins – Age Certificate: 18
Last summer Quentin Tarrantino returned for his tenth motion picture Once Upon A Time in…Hollywood, armed with an A-list cast of Leonardo Di Caprio, Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt – who went on to scoop Best Supporting Actor in this year’s Oscars.
Set in 1969 Hollywood, the film follows Rick Dalton (Di Caprio), a Western TV show actor whose career seems to be on the decline, Cliff Booth (Pitt), Dalton’s stunt double who is struggling to find work and Dalton’s new neighbours Sharon Tate (Robbie) and Roman Polanski.
Tarrantino does a great job of juggling multiple storylines and creating well-rounded characters. It might also be worth reading up about Sharon Tate and Charles Manson before viewing this film to gain a better understanding
Once Upon A Time in…Hollywood is full of excellent acting, great action scenes and a gripping storyline with Brad Pitt being the standout performer. It’s well worth two and a half hours of your time.
Guy Movies Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Disney+ & Sky Cinema: Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – May 4
Director: J. J. Abrams – 142mins – Age Certificate: 12A
Released only on DVD a matter of weeks ago, Disney+ are celebrating ‘Star Wars Day’…May the 4th, by dropping Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.
Reportedly the final film of the Skywalker series, the film was greeted with mixed reviews from critics, but some fans seemed to quite enjoy it when it was released in cinemas back in December.
Emperor Palpatine is back and reveals to Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) that a new armada of Star Destroyers have been built to end The Resistance. The rebels must fight against The New Order, as Rey (Daisy Ridley) searches to find out her true heritage.
There are some gaping plot holes, and some eye-roll moments throughout the film, but it does boast some great visual effects and an amazing score. Despite taking the afternoon off work to see this, I wasn’t the most impressed with the ending of the saga, but you might enjoy it.
If anyone is deciding to do a Star Wars marathon for the very first time, I do urge you to watch it in cinematic release date, which can be found here.
Guy Movies Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Netflix: The Half of It (2020) – May 1
Director: Alice Wu – 104mins – Age Certificate: TBC
This coming-of-age drama, directed by Alice Wu, is being released to Netflix on May 1 and has so far got some very promising early reviews.
Straight A-student Ellie (Leah Lewis), is a bit of a loner and makes her money by doing homework for her fellow classmates. She reluctantly agrees to help student Paul pen letters to his female love interest, however Ellie is secretly in love with her as well.
High school films that show positive LGBT representation have been hailed over the years (see Love, Simon and The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and The Half of It certainly has the blueprint to become another success and looks like an interesting watch.
Amazon Prime Video: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – May 24
Director: George Miller - 120mins - Age Certificate: 15
Who doesn’t want to see Tom Hardy on their screens? Mad Max: Fury Road was a critical success when it was released in May 2015, and was nominated for ten Oscars – winning six – in the 2016 ceremony.
Despite being the fourth film in the series (the first three came out between 1979 to 1985) this film still works as a standalone, so watching the previous three isn’t essential.
This post-apocalyptic action movie sees the collapse of civilisation and the world is full of desert wasteland as Max Rockatansky (Hardy) and Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) team up to attempt to outrun the war lords.
Mad Max: Fury Road, was in development as early as 1997, but after a number of disputes and issues, the film was finally able to be shot and released. This pulsating action film is well worth the watch.
Guy Movies Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Netflix: The Lovebirds (2020) – May 22
Director: Michael Showalter – 86mins – Age Certificate: TBC
I’m crossing my fingers that this romantic-comedy is much better than last month’s recommendation Love Wedding Repeat, and with director Michael Showalter (The Big Sick – a must watch and available on Amazon Prime Video) at the helm, I’m expecting big things.
A couple who appear to be the perfect match become tangled up in a suspected murder incident. They must work together but test their relationship in order to clear their name.
Starring Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick and Stuber) and Issa Rae (The Hate U Give), this film has the premise to become a light-hearted fun watch, that won’t take itself too seriously and has the potential to be acclaimed critically. Put it in your diary.
Amazon Prime Video: Ready Player One (2018) – May 1
Director: Steven Speilberg - 140mins - Age Certificate: 12A
If you’ve not read Ernest Cline’s novel of the same title, you will probably love this film. Directed by cinema legend Steven Speilberg, Read Player One was released in cinemas in March 2018.
It’s the year 2045, and the world is in a disastrous place with the whole of humanity essentially living on a virtual reality platform called the OASIS (it's a lot more exciting than Zoom and Microsoft Teams); to escape from the real world.
The creator of the OASIS, James Halliday (Simon Pegg), dies and leaves behind instructions for players to embark on a challenge, with the winner inheriting Halliday’s fortune and ownership of the OASIS.
Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) aims to win the challenge to prevent evil Nolan Sorrento’s corporation from doing so.
Filled with excellent special effects and a nostalgic nod to 80s pop culture, the film struggles to live up to the book because of licensing issues and the attempt to cram all the major details of Cline’s 579-page novel into a two-and-a-half-hour film. Watch the film THEN read the book, it's a modern great.
Guy Movies Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sky Cinema: Stuber (2019) - May 9
Director: Michael Dowse – 93mins – Age Certificate: 15
Another film starring the very talented Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, The Lovebirds), but this time he’s teaming up with WWE wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) in this action-comedy.
Stu (Nanjiani) is an Uber driver who is trying desperately to gain his first five-star review. He picks up Vic (Bautista), an LA Police Department Detective, who can’t drive after undergoing laser eye surgery but is in need of a chauffeur to help catch a drug lord.
Despite critics sitting on the fence with this film, it’s fun and doesn’t take itself very seriously while subtly addressing toxic masculinity. Nanjiani and Bautista are a surprisingly effective on-screen duo.
Guy Movies Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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