Here at Radio Ronin we love our movies. We clearly take them seriously (i.e.-The Unseen Movie Review) and are always looking to expand our movie experience (i.e.-trying to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe — trying). One goal, especially for 2020, that Josh and Spencer have is to watch more movies — whether it’s in the cinema, on a streaming service, or a throwback film, and review them for listeners.
Those reviews will be available on the Radio Ronin Patreon page and will be available to every contributor from Fan to Goblin! They’ll be 15-20 minutes episodes of not just movie reviews, but also of local restaurants, places and really whatever they can and want to review. It should be interesting … to say the least … and their first movie review should be dropping soon.
But, with the start of the new year we are looking forward to a number of movies. Instead of inundating you with a Top 25 of 2020, we wanted to break it down by month to month to highlight the movies we’re excited for each month debuting not just in the theater, but also on streaming services (i.e.-Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc.). We might be a few days into the new month, but here are the top five movies we’re looking forward to seeing in January and where you can catch it.
1917 (In Theaters on January 10)
This WWI film premiered in Europe in December along with a limited release on Christmas here in the U.S. (so it would be eligible for 2020 awards). The film won Best Picture and Best Director (Sam Mendes) at the 2020 Golden Globes before most Americans were able to see it in the theaters upon its’ wide release. Additionally, the film ended up on many critics’ Top 10 films of 2019 lists. Needless to say, this bodes EXTREMELY well that 1917 will be one of the top films of 2020 (though it was released in 2019).
All of the Ronin are BIG fans of war movies, especially time period war movies. 1917 looks to not disappoint as it follows two young British soldiers who are to hand deliver a message to a British battalion to stop their planned attack on German forces. It stars a bunch of British stars — of course including Benedict Cumberbatch (if he’s not in it, is it really a British movie?).
All joking aside, this movie looks great and it’s definitely THE film we’re looking most forward to watching this month.
Dolittle (In Theaters on January 17)
Did you know that Iron Man can talk to animals?! Robert Downey Jr. stars in the fantasy adventure film adaptation Hugh Lofting’s early 20th century novels. This film focuses on Lofting’s second Dolittle novel The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle which follows Doctor Dolittle’s adventures after his wife died and he became a hermit inside his mansion full of animals — which of course he can talk with. Dolittle is coaxed out of his solitary lifestyle to on this mystically journey to save Queen Victoria.
The film also features many stars like Emma Thompson (macaw), Rami Malek (gorilla), John Cena (polar bear), Tom Holland (dog), Craig Robinson (squirrel), Selena Gomez (giraffe) and Octavia Spencer (duck) — to name a few — voicing the animals that Dr. Dolittle can communicate with. It also features Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen and Jessie Buckley who don’t play an animated talking animal. Luckily no Eddie Murphy, tough in this rendition be played a good donkey.
The film looks visually stunningly well done with reputable actors. But, with a budget of $175 million and a release date that was initially set for May 2019 and moved twice, finally to MLK Jr. Day weekend — you have to wonder if they’re just trying to release it? Yet looks to generate around $25-30 million during its’ release over the holiday weekend. Who knows? However it looks like a fun family popcorn movie that could surprise projections.
Troop Zero (On Amazon Prime on January 17)
This film made its world premiere at Sundance last February and will be released broadly on the streaming service Amazon Prime. This film looks fun. It centers around a group of elementary-school outcasts led by Christmas Flint (played by Mckenna Grace) to infiltrate the high and mighty Birdie Scouts youth group in order to win a talent show.
The movie seems like a hybrid of Troop Beverly Hills, Little Miss Sunshine, Little Giants and Little Rascals. But, it stars a superbly talented cast of Viola Davis, Mckenna Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Epps and Allison Janney that seems to be able to carry the film based off the trailers. The humor and talent look to be there — and should be a fun film to catch without having to leave your home — or bed.
Look for Josh and Spencer to provide a review of this film later this month on the Radio Ronin Patreon page.
Bad Boys for Life (In Theaters on January 17)
Um, anything we write here will pale in comparison to Chunga’s Unseen Movie Review of Bad Boys for Life FO-EVAH starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. So go listen to Chunga’s Unseen Movie Review on the latest episode of Radio Ronin. Seriously, we can’t do it justice.
WOOOOOOOOO!!!
Tyler Perry’s A Fall From Grace (On Netflix on January 17)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxLb3aLb5j4&feature=emb_title
Yes this is a Tyler Perry film and no it doesn’t include an appearance of Madea. It’s probably good since this film is a thriller that centers around a woman … and, well … her fall from grace as the title implies. But, really the story is about a recently divorced woman who finds love again with a younger man that turns out to be full of lies, secret and deceit. Interestingly enough the movie doesn’t really focus around just that, because the woman (played by Crystal Fox) murders him. But, the film focuses around not just the main character but her lawyer (who has never tried a case) who digs deep to try to vindicate her.
This film could easily be written by John Grisham and thrown on the Lifetime channel. It’s totally one of those movies that you’d catch yourself watching on a lazy weekend afternoon totally immersed in the story. And, really that’s the reason why this one of the five movies we’re looking forward to watching this month.
But, really, couldn’t they have put Madea in it, at least once?
So, what movies are you looking forward to seeing this month? 1917? Dolittle? Tropp Zero? Or perhaps something else? Let us know by sharing your opinion in the comments below! WE WANT TO KNOW!
And, remember you catch Josh & Spencer’s Ronin Reviews beginning this month on our Patreon page. And, of course, don’t miss the prestigious and much acclaimed segment — Chunga’s Unseen Movie Review EVERY THURSDAY on Radio Ronin!
