With the Oscars just a few weeks away, most of Hollywood is focused on movies released in 2014. But if you've already seen Boyhood, Selma, and American Sniper, you'll still have plenty of brand-new options in the month of February. What new releases should you see this month? Let The Week be your guide:
Feb. 6
The Voices
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What it is: When he stops taking his antipsychotic medication, a chipper factory worker (Ryan Reynolds) becomes a serial killer under the command of his pet cat.
Why you should care: In the box-office doldrums of February, it's rare to see a truly unique movie pop into theaters — and the ultraviolent, ultrastrange The Voices certainly qualifies. The film's offbeat tone, which mixes horror and black comedy, scored with critics at last year's Sundance Film Festival. The Voices is an intriguing left turn in the career of director Marjane Satrapi, who made her debut with a terrific animated adaptation of her graphic-novel memoir Persepolis in 2007. And after years as a generic Hollywood leading man, it's a relief to see Ryan Reynolds taking on a more eccentric role, leading a cast that includes Anna Kendrick, Jacki Weaver, and Gemma Arterton.
What else is coming out: Jupiter Ascending, an ambitious (and long-delayed) sci-fi epic by the creators of The Matrix; SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water, a big-screen adaptation of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon that ushers the characters into the real world; Seventh Son, a blustery fantasy movie based on Joseph Delaney's The Wardstone Chronicles series; Love, Rosie, a saccharine rom-com about two star-crossed lovers (Lily Collins and Sam Claflin); Outcast, a Chinese co-production representing the latest in a staggeringly long string of crappy action movies starring Nicolas Cage.
Feb. 13
The Last Five Years
What it is: A big-screen adaptation of the stage musical, starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan as a couple who document the end of their relationship — her from the end, and working toward the beginning; him from the beginning, and working toward the end.
Why you should care: Every once in a while, Hollywood makes an Into the Woods or a Les Misérables, but musical fans are mostly left out in the cold. The Last Five Years is an unusually intimate story for a musical, and Jason Robert Brown's original songs, which helped propel the play into a global hit, are undeniably versatile and catchy. Anna Kendrick is a reliably appealing presence, and Jeremy Jordan proved his singing chops in Broadway musicals like Newsies and Bonnie & Clyde.
What else is coming out: Kingsman: The Secret Service, a gleefully goofy action flick starring Colin Firth as a secret agent tasked with training the next generation of spies; Fifty Shades of Grey, a buzzy adaptation of E.L James' best-selling mommy-porn novel, in which a reporter begins a sadomasochistic relationship with a mysterious billionaire.
Feb. 20
Hot Tub Time Machine 2
What it is: Following the events of the first Hot Tub Time Machine, Lou (Rob Corddry) is killed by a mysterious assassin. His friends use the titular hot tub to hop through time to figure out what happened and save him before it's too late.
Why you should care: You probably already know if you're interested in Hot Tub Time Machine 2. The original movie was a dumb, raunchy gagfest that doubled as a love letter to '80s-style ensemble comedies. It didn't exact need a sequel, but it's hard to complain when so many talented comedians are thrown into a movie together (including Adam Scott, replacing John Cusack as the gang's fourth member). The goofy, twisty narrative, which relies much more heavily on time hopping, offers ample opportunities for Back to the Future–style gags.
What else is coming out: McFarland, USA, a sleepy-looking sports drama starring Kevin Costner as the coach of a high school track team; The Duff, a high school comedy about a girl (Mae Whitman) who rebels when she discovers her clique has designated her to be its "Duff" ("Dumb Ugly Fat Friend").
Feb. 27
Maps to the Stars
What it is: A dark ensemble satire following a series of damaged characters as they make their way through life in Los Angeles, including an emotionally fragile actress (Julianne Moore), a famous psychologist (John Cusack), a troubled burn victim (Mia Wasikowska), and an ambitious limousine driver (Robert Pattinson).
Why you should care: Maps to the Stars is a longtime passion project for David Cronenberg, who worked for years to get the movie into production. After screening at Cannes, the film received mixed reviews, but even its detractors noted the film's riskiness and ambition. It won't be for everyone, but with a director this talented and a cast this strong, Maps to the Stars is poised to be one of the year's first cult hits.
What else is coming out: Focus, a slick-looking thriller starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie as partners turned rivals in an elaborate con scheme; The Lazarus Effect, a horror movie about a group of doctors who face unexpected consequences when they discover how to resurrect corpses; Everly, a sleazy action flick starring Salma Hayek as a prostitute who becomes a killer.
