Feature - 2017: (Filmic) Reasons to be Cheerful

I was partaking of a delicious and urgently required breakfast on New Year's morning together with friends, when what should pop up on the playlist than Ian Dury and the Blockheads' Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3. It was a reminder (thank you to my very solicitous host) of what we need at the beginning of 2017, a year already fraught with uncertainty and potential gloom. That'd be things to look forward to. Pleasures to help us live in the moment, while not giving up on the future. Reasons, in short, to be cheerful.

Well let me assure you there are plenty of cinematic ones on the way. In those terms, if in no other, 2017 promises to be a very good year indeed. So let me contribute to your personal 'cheerful list' by suggesting one film to be released in the UK each month that you might want to investigate. It's very far from exhaustive, but allow yourself to be tantalized. 

January - La La Land

This month is a complete embarrassment of riches in cinema terms, so much so that I'll have to go the the flicks twice a week every week to cover everything essential. But let me choose this one - the much talked-about musical by the director of the riveting Whiplash. Supposedly it can convert even the most ardent hater of musicals. This could be the perfect antidote to your January blues.

February - Moonlight

Receiving great reviews in the US, this tells the story of young black American Chiron. Three actors chart his journey from childhood in a Miami ghetto to young adulthood. It'll be a much tougher view of America than La La Land, but fingers crossed the uplift comes through great film-making.


March - Beauty and the Beast 

Disney make a live-action version of their animated classic. Emma Watson is Belle, while Ewan McGregor is the talking candlestick. A bit of a departure from his return as Renton in January's T2 Trainspotting. Is the House of Mouse wise in reworking one of their most successful features? Tag along with your children/nephews/nieces to find out.

April - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Donald Trump will have been President for three months by the time of this release. We may need something this big, this daft and this much fun. (There'll be three Marvel Studio releases this year, including adventures for Spiderman and Thor. Let's hope they're all massively entertaining to distract us, if only for an evening.)

May - The Zookeeper's Wife

From the trailer we know that it looks ravishing and has lots of furry critters. But it's also a Schindler-esque tale of survival in Nazi-occupied Poland. Jessica Chastain stars. She tends to be very good. 

June - My Cousin Rachel

Rachel Weisz plays Rachel Ashley in what should be a spooky Daphne du Maurier adaptation. It'll have revenge, mystery, romance and a Cornish setting for those suffering from Poldark withdrawal.

July - War for the Planet of the Apes

Rise of was far better than anyone expected it to be. Dawn of was pretty damn stunning, with Andy Serkis superb as ape-protagonist Caesar. Can War for bring it home as a great prequel trilogy? Come on. Come on!!!!!

August - Baby Driver

Edgar Wright should be one of the biggest-name directors by now after the trio of genre comedies that kicked off with Shaun of the Dead. However audiences haven't flocked to see his more recent stuff. This crime thriller with a sizzling-hot cast might just set him back on track. (I promise never to use the phrase 'sizzling hot cast' again.)

September - It

It is my favourite Stephen King novel - and while Tim Curry was great as Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 TV adaptation, as a whole that version simply didn't capture the imagination and menace of the book. Maybe this time around it will all come good. Expect grisliness, dark humour and intensity, along with a clutch of hopefully strong child performances.

October - Blade Runner 2049

Harrison Ford revisits his role (he's doing that a lot these days) as replicant-hunter Deckard, in this sequel to the 1982 science fiction dystopian classic. Ryan Gosling takes the lead. This could be a really good idea. Or not. October will tell.

November - Murder on the Orient Express

Kenneth Branagh directs this re-imagining of the Agatha Christie novel. He also plays Hercule Poirot. It boasts an impressive cast including Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi and Penelope Cruz. This could be a really good idea. Or not. November will tell.

December - Star Wars Episode VIII

It's the one after VII and the one before IX. It's also Carrie Fisher's swansong. For that alone you'll go see it, right? It might also (and really should) take the franchise into new, unexpected territory. May the Force take us through to the end of the year unscathed.

Okay - my one-film-per-month conceit hasn't scratched the surface of all the cinematic delight on offer this year. January alone is stupid with movies to make your mouth water (such as Silence and Jackie and Manchester by the Sea). I'll do my best to keep you up to speed with it all in a fresh and spoiler-free fashion. So be cheerful, be positive, and seek out great films in 2017. I'll be with you every step of the way.