entertainment
JANUARY
12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave is the film adaption of the 1853 autobiography
written by Solomon Northup. The film tells the incredible story of
one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United
States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from
upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty,
personified by a malevolent slave owner (Michael Fassbender), as
well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay
alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable
odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist
(Brad Pitt) alters his life forever.
Release date: 17 January
FEBRUARY
American Hustle
Much like Russell’s other films, American Hustle defies genre, hinging
on raw emotion, and life-and-death stakes.
A fictional film set in the seductive world of one of the most stunning
scandals to rock the nation, American Hustle tells the story of
brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) who, along with
his equally cunning British partner and lover, Sydney Prosser (Amy
Adams), is forced to work for an unhinged FBI agent, Richie DiMaso
(Bradley Cooper). DiMaso pushes them into a world of New Jersey
powerbrokers and mafia that is as dangerous as it is enchanting. The
passionate and volatile New Jersey political operator, Carmen Polito
(Jeremy Renner) is caught between the con-artists and the federal
agents, and Irving’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence)
could just be the one to pull the thread that brings the whole world
crashing down. Three-time Academy-Award nominee Director David
O Russell is still bathing in the glow of Silver Linings Playbook, which
was nominated for eight Academy Awards and which coincidently
also starred both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (who, in fact,
won the Best Actress Oscar). Russell also had success with his 2010
10
film The Fighter, which earned seven Oscar nominations, one apiece
for both Christian Bale and Amy Adams. Hence, with such a starstudded cast, and a director of this calibre who holds a vast amount of
experience with these actors, American Hustle is widely anticipated to
make headway in the box office.
Release date: 14 February