While February can be a tough month for releases, with all eyes on the films vying for Oscars in March, there are still plenty of new titles brave enough to compete for attention on streaming platforms and On cinemas. This year, that set includes a slate of theatrical releases that cover the spectrum, from arthouse films to crowd-pleasing commercials. In the world of small screen productions, a new spin-off series and a cult revival are among the hottest offerings this month.
So whether you’re taking a break from designing Academy Awards predictions, celebrating some iteration of Valentine’s Day, or just looking for a way to pass the slowly shortening nights, there are plenty of new offerings to watch at the movies. or on the sofa. this month.
‘Freeridge’
The creators of Netflix’s teen series «On My Block» return with a spin-off about four friends coming of age in a south central Los Angeles neighborhood. Building on the formula of the original series, «Freeridge» follows the friends as they navigate the normal – and sometimes paranormal – obstacles of young adulthood. In season one, that means that in addition to potentially disastrous breakups, makeovers, and hookups, the group finds themselves wrestling with the cursed memory of a neighbor who keeps showing up to claim them, even though he’s seemingly dead.
The first season of “Freeridge” premieres on Netflix on February 2.
’80 for Brady’
With roots in a sweet story of real-life friendship and a cast headlined by screen legends Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field, «80 for Brady» is a favorite for Galentine’s Day itineraries this year. In the film, which also stars queer icons Billy Porter and Sarah Gilbert, four best friends who share a love for the New England Patriots make a pilgrimage to Houston for the 2017 Super Bowl. trouble getting tickets to the biggest sports game and, of course, mischief ensues. Based on the trailer, which features the four leads making game-day-style introductions in Patriots jerseys, the film will deliver an over-the-top dose of camping.
“80 for Brady” opens in US theaters on February 3.
‘Harlem’
Tracy Oliver Season 1 “Harlem” offered plenty of humor, early adulthood trauma, and sweet scenes of friendship. But in season two, the show and the women of New York’s historic neighborhood really come to life thanks to a new set of personal, professional and romantic developments that put the four best friends to the test. Anthropology professor Camille (Meagan Good) is under pressure to take second chances with her first love (Tyler Lepley) and the new boss she previously failed to impress (Whoopi Goldberg). Tye (Jerrie Johnson), the founder of a successful queer dating app, once again faces the consequences of her questionable romantic choices. And inseparable duo Quinn (Grace Byers) and Angie (Shoniqua Shandai) are grappling with a new phase in their friendship, as the fashion designer (Byers) struggles not to be more successful or confident than her singer friend ( Shandai).
The second season of “Harlem” premieres on Amazon Prime Video on February 3.
«Call the Cabin»
Fresh from starring in the holiday drama “Spoiler Alert,” actor Kit Cowan stars opposite Jonathan Groff (“Mindhunter”) in M. Night Shyamalan’s latest twisted thriller, “Knock at the Cabin.” In the film, adapted from the 2018 novel «The Cabin at the End of the World,» Andrew (Cowan), Eric (Groff) and his young daughter Wen (Kristen Cui) are held hostage by members of a doomsday cult. . They interrupt the family’s vacation in the woods with a daunting request. The group, armed with sharp-edged farm equipment and led by the imposing Leonard (Dave Bautista), demands that the small family choose one of their members to sacrifice in order to stop the end of the world, which isn’t exactly a bond. father-daughter. experience.
“Knock at the Cabin” opens in US theaters on February 3.
‘Attach’
Director Gabriel Bier Gislason puts a sapphic, folkloric spin on possession in his first feature, “Attachment.” The horror film stars Josephine Park («Baby Fever») as Maja, a Danish actress whose life has lost meaning amid her career and the loss of her mother. But the former child star finds new purpose when he falls for Leah («Game of Thrones» Ellie Kendrick), a London academic forced to return home to her overbearing mother (Sofie Gråbøl) after injuring her leg. in a bizarre, accident inflected by body horror. Although Maja is determined to assimilate to life in Ellie’s Hasidic neighborhood when she escorts her new girlfriend to her home, she will have to deal with much more than culture shock and a distant, religious mother to make the new her relationship works.
“Attachment” premieres February 9 on Shudder.
‘Blue Caftan’
Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Touzani’s second feature, “Blue Caftan,” centers on an offbeat love story between a Moroccan dressmaker; her wife, who is dying of cancer; and a handsome young apprentice who enters their lives at a crucial time. The young man, Youssef, joins Halim and Mina in their struggling caftan shop and reawakens something in the closeted tailor, who as a result finds a new appreciation for the woman who has been by his side for decades. The film, which has been praised as a clever and unexpected defense of marriage, premiered last year at the Cannes Film Festival and was Morocco’s official selection for the 2023 Oscars. Academy after being shortlisted in January, his popularity among critics has been a boon for the emerging filmmaker.
“Blue Caftan” opens in US theaters on February 10.
‘Pacification’
Catalan filmmaker Albert Serra’s new film “Pacification” combines political intrigue with sweaty tropical nights in a colonial thriller set in contemporary French Polynesia. In addition to Benoît Magimel, who plays a French politician who acts as a liaison between the powerful in Paris and the islands, the film features a scene-stealing performance from Pahoa Mahagafanau, who identifies as Third Gender Polynesian (RaeRae or Mahu). , like a local dancer who finds himself embroiled in foreign dealings after having caught their eye.
Pacification opens in US theaters on February 17.
‘Of a time’
Australian writer-director Goran Stolevski’s second feature, “Of An Age,” is a poignant and measured ode to formative relationships. The film, which is divided into two chapters set in 1999 and 2010, begins with a fateful day when Kol meets the brother of his high school best friend and ballroom dance partner, Ebony. Overnight, the attentions of the older and openly gay Adam awaken Kol to the possibilities of life outside of suburban Melbourne and away from his conservative Serbian family. And when the three meet a decade later at Ebony’s wedding, the effects of that day and the feelings it ignited remain as strong as ever.
“Of An Age” opens in US theaters on February 17.
‘Party Downstairs’
After more than a decade, the beloved cult comedy series «Party Down» returns to the air for its third season, with a lineup of original cast members including Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch and Megan Mullally. In the new season, a party to celebrate one of the old gang’s few success stories, Kyle (Ryan Hansen), brings the band of worn-out Los Angeles actors back together, 10 years after they first met. like waiters. Unsurprisingly, the evening ends in disaster, prompting some members of the group to don the caterer’s trademark pink bow ties, a responsibility some take very seriously, including the iconic and deranged Constance Lynch. Jennifer Garner and Zoë Chao join veteran cast members for a new round of mishandled parties, existential crises and antics. And true to the original series, which has always been a popular destination for guest appearances, the new season will feature performances by the likes of Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”), Liv Hewson (“Yellowjackets”) and Judy Reyes (“Claws”). ), among others.
The third season of “Party Down” premieres on STARZ on February 24.
In case you missed it…
‘Close’
“Close”, the second feature from Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont, centers on two inseparable 13-year-old boys who find their bond tested at the start of a new school year. As the film opens, best friends Leo and Remi live an idyllic existence, spending afternoons biking between each other’s houses and nights whispering under the covers. But those happy summer days soon come to an end as the new term begins and a group of unknown classmates begin to question their closeness. At next month’s Academy Awards ceremony, the film, which won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, will face strong competition in the best international feature category, hoping to win. for Dhont to win his first Oscar.
«Close» is presented in theaters in the United States.
‘The last of us’
Episode three of HBO’s video game series «The Last of Us» nearly broke the internet when it aired on January 29, introducing partners Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) to unsuspecting audiences everywhere. parts. The episode traces the couple’s 20-year romance, during which they build a sense of normalcy even as the world is ending at the hands of a massive fungal infection that turns humans into zombies.
“The Last of Us” is playing on HBO Max.