New in Cairo Cinemas: What to Expect from This Week’s Film Releases
Cairo 360
It’s been a colourful few weeks in the world of film with moviegoers flocking to cinemas for the likes of Blade Runner 2049, Flatliners and It Comes at Night. The pedigree of this week’s new releases might not quite be of the same standard, but some of today’s finest acting talent are out on show.
6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain
What’s it About? Like all pro athletes, ice hockey player, Eric LeMarque, finds life after sport a little hollow, but quickly comes to find two new hobbies: snowboarding and crystal meth. The two come to meet in the most inconvenient of ways in this true story when LeMarque finds himself stranded in the High Sierras during a storm.
Why it Might Be Good: Man versus nature is/can be a fitting movie spectacle and there’s plenty of space for some winter-scenic visuals. The cast isn’t too shabby either, with the underrated Josh Hartnett playing LeMarque and Mina Sirvino playing his wife.
Why it Might Be Bad: This is very much what can only be described as a Christian film; during his ordeal, LeMarque found God and the film is very much about his religious enlightening as much as anything.
The Snowman
What’s it About? More snowy planes in this Michael Fassbender-starring thriller that tells of a detective investigating the disappearance of a woman who’s scarf is found creepily wrapped around the neck of a snowman, which reignites cold cases into an at-large serial killer given the name – wait for it – THE SNOWMAN.
Why it Might Be Good: The cast is fantastic; one of Hollywood’s best working actors today, Fassbender, is joined by some mighty fine talent in the shape of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Val Kilmer, J.K. Simmons, Chloë Sevigny, James D’Arcy and up-and-comer, Rebecca Ferguson, who plays assistant to Fassbender’s detective.
Why it Might Be Bad: Aside from the cast, there doesn’t seem to be a lot to gleam from the synopsis that suggests this is anything but a by-the-numbers crime thriller – though being written by Norwegian author, Jo Nesbø, and directed by Swede, Tomas Alfredson, could give this a uniquely European shine.
The Crucifixion
What’s it About? This week’s dose of horror revisits the world of exorcism. After a priest is accused of the murder of a nun, a skeptical journalist investigates his claims that she died while he was performing an exorcism ritual. But as she soon finds out there’s more than just the two possible stories.
Why it Might Be Good: Early reviews haven’t been great, but they haven’t been terrible either, with many praising its visuals, execution and the fact that it doesn’t do anything to offensive to the filmic sensibilities.
Why it Might Be Bad: Well, the very same reviews are also keen to point out that there’s nothing closer to groundbreaking or original here and that it touches on all he beats of an a typical exorcism horror. This might be one for hardcore horror fans only.
Wind River
What’s it About? Blood runs wild on the snow this week, but this time around, it’s the murder of a young Native American Woman, which veteran tracker, Cory Lambert, investigates, while seeking redemption for a long-forgotten tragic mistake.
Why it Might Be Good: Besides earning 7.9 on IMDB and an 87% fresh on Rotten Tomato, this mystery drama is directed and written Oscar-nominated Taylor Sheridan, the man who wrote some of the best movies of the same genre, including Hell or High Water and Sicario, so you are expected to be hanging on the edge of your seats.
Why it Might Be Bad: Apart from Arrival’s co-star, Jeremy Runner, as well as Captain America: Civil War’s Elizabeth Olsen, don’t expect to see any familiar faces on the screen.
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House
What’s it about? Another based-on-a-true-story movie, Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House traces the backstage of the Watergate scandal, telling the story of Mark Felt, the FBI agent who helped journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover it.
Why it Might Be Good: As the film is based on Mark Felt’s book of the same title, many history fanatics will get too see what happened behind the curtains through the eyes of an insider. In addition, having two of the biggest names in Hollywood, Liam Neeson and Diane Lane, on the bill can be an attraction.
Why it Might Be Bad: Let’s be realistic, this movie is not for everyone, or at least not for those who are looking for a fun night at the movies. But if this happens to be your cup of tea, then watch out, because the reviews on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes are not promising.
To find out where and when you can catch these films in the capital, check out the Cairo 360 Cinema Guide.
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