• COFFEE & KAREEM. RAVERS. DOGS DON'T WEAR PANTS. TAPE. LADY AND THE TRAMP. BUTT BOY. TROLLS WORLD TOUR. FOUR KIDS AND IT. GOLD DUST. ROOTWOOD. DEAD BY DAWN. SAME BOAT. DANGER CLOSE. THE BEAST. THE IRON MASK. GETAWAY. ABOMINABLE. FINDING THE WAY BACK. SEA FEVER. THE SHED. ENEMY LINES. THE DANISH BOYS. THE LATIN BOYS. THE ISRAELI BOYS. MAKING WAVES.
* NOMAD: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF BRUCE CHATWIN. SILVANA.
* Flare. Raindance. LFF. FrightFest. Outfest. LIFF. Tribeca.
• A QUIET PLACE PART II. MULAN. BLACK WIDOW.

AFTER CLASS
BABYTEETH
BAD EDUCATION
BEANPOLE (Rus)
BLOOD ON HER NAME
CLEMENCY
THE DEATH & LIFE OF JOHN F DONOVAN
GUNS AKIMBO
HAPPY BIRTHDAY (Fr)
I SEE YOU
INVISIBLE LIFE (Br)
KNIVES AND SKIN
THE LODGE
THE LONGEST NIGHT (Ec)
MARTIN EDEN (It)
MATTHIAS & MAXIME (Can)
ON A MAGICAL NIGHT (Fr)
THE PAINTED BIRD (Cz)
THIS IS NOT BERLIN (Mex)
TREMORS (Gua)

* films I've seen, reviews en route

A QUIET PLACE PART II

dir John Krasinski; with Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy, Djimon Hounsou, Lauren-Ashley Cristiano, Wayne Duvall, Okieriete Onaodowan 20/US
release US/UK delayed

MULAN

dir Niki Caro; with Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Gong Li, Jason Scott Lee, Tzi Ma, Rosalind Chao, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Jun Yu, Jimmy Wong 20/US
release US/UK delayed

This is the kind of live-action remakes Disney should be doing, retelling the story in a completely new style. Here, an animated romp becomes a full-on action adventure with a powerful female protagonist. Niki Caro was an inspired choice as director, with her ability to combine art and storytelling. And the trailer looks seriously gorgeous too. The 1998 original is one of Disney's underappreciated little masterpieces (apart from that chatty dragon), and this could be even better if it doesn't get too digital.

NO TIME TO DIE

dir Cary Fukunaga; with Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, Rami Malek, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Jeffrey Wright, Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen 20/UK
release UK/US autumn
Making a Bond movie seems to get more complicated year by year, and this one certainly went through some messy gyrations, including a false start with Danny Boyle. But Cary Fukunaga is a terrific filmmaker who should be able to bring something fresh to the franchise, and it will be interesting to see Craig reconnecting with figures from his previous 007 adventures. It's not only about the action - the story needs to be clever and engaging, and the characters just a little bonkers.

THE NEW MUTANTS

dir Josh Boone; with Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton, Blu Hunt, Alice Braga, Happy Anderson, Henry Zaga, Colbi Gannett, Thomas Kee 20/US
release US/UK delayed
Shot more than two years ago, then delayed by both Disney's acquisition of Fox and extensive reshoots, this looks like an interesting new direction for Marvel's X-Men, described as a cross between Stephen King and John Hughes. This certainly tracks with filmmaker Boone, who previously directed The Fault in Our Stars before moving on to King adaptations. And the cast has an intriguing mix of young stars who are also great actors.

PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN

dir-scr Emerald Fennell; with Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Laverne Cox, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Alison Brie, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Molly Shannon, Sam Richardson, Connie Britton, Max Greenfield, Adam Brody, Alfred Molina 20/US
release US/UK 17.Apr.20
The trailer for this thriller doesn't give much away, aside from Mulligan's scene-tearing performance as a woman seeking some kind of vengeance against someone who did her wrong. The attitudes look fierce, with a terrific cast of actors given rather a lot to chew on. It's definitely the kind of trailer that makes you sit up in the cinema and take notice. The big question is director Fennell, a writer-actress who is making her feature directing debut. But one of her writing-producing credits is Killing Eve.

THE WAY BACK

dir Gavin O'Connor; with Ben Affleck, Glynn Turman, Michaela Watkins, Al Madrigal, Janina Gavankar, Da'Vinchi, Hayes MacArthur, Rachael Carpani 20/US
release US 6.Mar.20, UK 24.Apr.20
Affleck reunites with The Accountant director O'Connor for another story of a man struggling with his demons - this time an alcoholic who takes a coaching job at the high school where he was a basketball star. It looks a bit grim, but the parallels with Affleck's own life make it worth a look. Oddly, in the UK not only has the released been pushed, well, way back, but the title has been changed too: Finding the Way Back. Is this a copyright issue or another example of underestimating the British public (see also the Fast & Furious franchise)?

BLACK WIDOW

dir Cate Shortland; with Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, David Harbour, Ray Winstone, William Hurt, O-T Fagbenle, Robert Downey Jr 20/US
release US/UK delayed
Marvel finally gives Johansson the spin-off she deserved way back when she first played this character a decade ago. Of course, after the events of Endgame, it's unclear how this movie will fit into the over-arching Avengers story - a prequel? flashback? alternate reality? game changer? Whatever, the presence of powerhouse costars like Pugh and Weisz bodes very well indeed. As does the quirky hiring of Aussie director Shortland, gifted at making wrenching indie dramas. Bring it on.

---

Also on my want-to-see list...

Spring: ANTEBELLUM    ANTLERS   
THE LOVEBIRDS    PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY   
SPONGEBOB: SPONGE ON THE RUN    THE GREEN KNIGHT   
SPIRAL    THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW   
Summer: GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE    SOUL   
TOP GUN: MAVERICK    WONDER WOMAN 1984   
FREE GUY    THE FRENCH DISPATCH    JUNGLE CRUISE   
MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU    TENET   
TOP GUN: MAVERICK    RESPECT   
No UK release date: THE DEATH OF DICK LONG    GRETEL & HANSEL