It’s a new year. And we’re all excited for new movies coming January 2021 and beyond the rest of the year. As we all know, the coronavirus has forced people to live in a world where you can’t easily go to the movies. Most are closed at the moment, and the financial stability of chains and indie theaters are in jeopardy. I’ve already gone into some detail about this a couple months ago. However, note some of it is a touch outdated.
With this pandemic, studios have gotten creative in terms of home distribution. For example, you have movies going straight to streaming services like Netflix. Some movies are On Demand only. Some head to what few theaters there are, only to come home a couple weeks later. Warner Bros. is going bold and having movies go home and theaters on the same day.
Naturally, there’s a lot of excitement about shiny, new movies heading home. Yet an overlooked tidbit in the era of streaming wars is the bevy of classic titles. Whether directly or not, every film is influenced by what came before. And sadly, the major studios don’t do much to excite new audiences on classic titles.
That’s where this little article comes in. While people may be excited for some of the new titles heading to digital stores and Netflix queues, it’s important to recognize and check out the titles that gave if life in the first place. So allow me to share the new movies coming January 2021, and the perfect complementary title for it.
New: Promising Young Woman
Old: Hard Candy
From first-time director Emerald Fennell, best known for her portrayal of Camilla Shand in The Crown, Promising Young Woman is a distinct revenge story. Carey Mulligan stars as a woman who has an interesting pastime. Every weekend, she goes to a club, pretends to act drunk, gets picked up by nice guys, and seeks vengeance against such men.
It’s a great concept that is original yet topical. All the while, reminding the world the most important lesson of all: men are trash. But would you believe there is another film that talked about a similar subject?
2005’s Hard Candy focuses on a 14-year old girl who traps and tortures a man who she suspects of being a sexual predator. It’s a visceral film, with a striking combination of terror, commentary and two strong actors carrying it through.
Hard Candy was one of the first movies that made Elliot Page a household name. In fact, this was what got him the role of Juno in 2007. And it is easy to see why, as this was a role that offered plenty for any young actor. And while a touch overlooked today, now is the perfect time to check it out, especially as its subject matter is sadly relevant today.
Promising Young Woman is currently in theaters and is coming to VOD (video on demand) stores sometime in January. Hard Candy is free on Tubi.
New: News of the World
Old: The Searchers
From Captain Phillips and Bourne series director Paul Greengrass, News of the World is against type for Greengrass. This follows a former Confederate soldier played by Tom Hanks. With a new job traveling the country and reading the newspapers, he winds up protecting and trying to return a lost girl stolen by her family as an infant by the Kiowa tribe.
At the very least, it’s interesting to watch as a film that harkens back to the classic Western. In fact the plot is very similar to 1956’s The Searchers. While not exactly the same, both films are about a former veteran going on a massive odyssey to help an abducted girl from a Native American tribe. And The Searchers is the definitive Western.
It’s not just considered one of the best Westerns ever made. Rather, it’s considered one of the greatest films ever made. American Film Institute, Cahiers du Cinema, and many other influential organizations and magazines have praised it highly. Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Martin Scorsese have cited this film as an influence on their body of work. It even influenced the series finale for Breaking Bad. All in all, it’s an iconic feature for both John Wayne and director John Ford. Sure enough, it will continue to influence Westerns and non-Westerns alike for generations to come.
The only downside? It’s racist towards Native Americans.
News of the World is in theaters now and coming to VOD stores sometime in January. The Searchers is currently on HBO Max.
New: One Night in Miami
Old: Boyz n the Hood
Regina King has always been an amazing presence in the industry. But in the past few years, she has been at an all-time high. Whether it be If Beale Street Could Talk or HBO’s Watchmen, she’s firing on all cylinders. This continues further with her film directing debut. One Night in Miami is an adaptation of the Kemp Powers stage play of the same name. In fact, Kemp Powers, who recently co-wrote and co-directed the Pixar hit Soul, wrote the screenplay for this. At the very least, it’s easy to say this is faithful to the source material.
Detailing a meeting between Malcolm X, Muhammed Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke, this features four incredible acting talents embodying the legacy and personality of all four brilliant figures and thinkers. And for a first-time film, King has earned accolades and praise for her early work here.
So naturally, the best way to celebrate Regina King’s directorial debut is with Regina King’s film debut. Boyz n the Hood was King’s first movie, fresh off her work on the television series 227. And Boyz serves as one of the most influential films from the 90s. It debuted at Cannes, was the debut feature for director John Singleton, and Singleton’s Best Director nomination at the Academy Awards meant he became the youngest director (28) and the first African-American to be nominated in that category.
This critical and commercial hit also kickstarted several acting careers aside from King. For example, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, and Angela Bassett. Ultimately, it is important to remember Regina King is not in Boyz n the Hood for very long. But it was still a massively important feature that gave Black talent a chance to shine, and influencing future Black talents for years to come.
One Night in Miami will release on Prime Video January 15. Boyz n the Hood is currently available on VOD stores.
New: The Little Things
Old: Seven
From The Blind Side‘s John Lee Hancock, The Little Things is a very simple story. Two cops, played by Denzel Washington and Rami Malek, have conflicts with each other while investigating a serial killer. It’s a classic cop drama with a cat-and-mouse story. So naturally, there were a lot of compelling options for other cat-and-mouse titles.
The best comparison? 1995’s Seven. Directed by David Fincher, this features two detectives hunting down a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins for each of his murders. The film was a massive box office success, becoming the seventh-biggest film of 1995, and was hailed as an instant crime classic. And in 2021, Seven‘s ending is still discussed amongst film fans.
The only downside? Kevin Spacey is in it (and also Morgan Freeman).
The Little Things will release in theaters and HBO Max on January 29. Seven is currently on HBO Max.