Film Reviews by Adam Ray Palmer

This month is a big one… for two reasons. Firstly, the Oscars are happening in roughly a week’s time, and secondly, the three films I have for you this month are utterly brilliant. You must seek them out. Plus, on the end of this column, I’ll give you a few Oscar predictions and what’s next up for Cineroom.

Parasite.

This is a dynamite of a film. You light the fuse, and simply watch it go off. Making history at the Oscars in 2020 (a first Best Picture nod for a South Korean movie), Parasite follows Ki-taek and his all unemployed family who take peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks family. As the Kim family slowly ingratiate themselves into the Parks’ lives, they get entangled in an unexpected incident. You’re hooked, aren’t you? Well if you’re not, when it wins big at the Oscars you will be. Genuinely, Bong Joon Ho has directed a gem. In cinemas: 7th February 2020

Mr. Jones.

Mr. Jones is an understated masterpiece. I caught this movie exactly a year ago in Berlin, and it floored me. This true story is one we should all know, but Gareth Jones, a welsh journalist, is someone we have no idea about. This two-hour rollercoaster follows Jones breaking the news in the western media of the famine in the Soviet Union in the early 1930s. The first hour is a slow burn, learning about the horrific regime; and the second half is a tense thriller. James Norton’s performance deserves recognition, as does Andrea Chalupa’s script. I’m desperate for people to check this out. In cinemas: 7th February 2020.

The True History of the Kelly Gang.

Quite the contrary to Gareth Jones, most have heard of Ned Kelly, but do you know his full story? Well, Justin Kurzel adapts Peter Carey’s novel depicting the true tale of the Australian bushranger Ned and his cronies as they flee from authorities during the 1870s. This film has been raved about from critics alike, and the trailers have been top drawer. Throw into the mix that Kurzel is an underrated genius of a director (Macbeth, 2015) and George MacKay is one of the best new talents working today – you have to find yourself a cinema showing this from 7th February onwards. You won’t regret it. In cinemas: 28th February 2020.

Snapshot Oscar predictions. Best Picture: 1917. Best Director: Sam Mendes. International Film: Parasite. Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix. Best Actress: Renée Zellweger. Support Actor: Brad Pitt. Support Actress: Laura Dern.

What’s coming up with Cineroom??Before this column ends, I wanted to quickly mention to follow Cineroom on Twitter (@CineroomTweets) and Facebook (@CineroomPosts) as for 2020, we have really ramped up the content. There’s at least 3-4 new pieces of content per week, as well as sharing lots of film news stories from the industry from a variety of sites. It’d be great to see you over