Napoleon

Need to Know
Napoleon is an epic historical drama film that takes a look at the namesake military commander’s origins and his swift, ruthless rise to the position of emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Joséphine.

Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Youssef Kerkour, Matthew Needham

Why Is It Worth Watching?
With his distinct approach to cinema and an undeniable expertise in combining visual effects and incredible storytelling, Ridley Scott is one of the best filmmakers of our generation.
By no means a stranger to crafting breathtaking historical epics, with the likes of Gladiator and, more recently, The Last Duel under his belt, the veteran director now takes on the life of famed French military commander Napoleon Bonaparte, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix.
Phoenix will be reuniting with the director on screen for the first time in 23 years. He last played the main antagonist Commodus in Gladiator, a role that won him an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Napoleon is a spectacle-filled, action epic that details the riveting rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor, but simultaneously also shines a light on his fascinating but rocky relationship with Empress Joséphine.
Shot against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking brilliance and elevated by phenomenal performances from the cast, the movie masterfully captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power while also highlighting his visionary military and political tactics, that are showcased in some of the most astonishing battle sequences seen on screen.

The Killer

Need to Know
An assassin, after botching an important hit, finds himself part of an international manhunt and is on the run. But an unexpected incident involving his partner propels him into a vendetta that causes him to break his one rule of never making things personal.

Director: David Fincher
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Kerry O’Malley, Sophie Charlotte

Why Is It Worth Watching?
Director David Fincher and screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker reunite after their masterpiece Se7en. Based on a French graphic novel series by Alexis Nolent, the movie’s plot follows the chaos that ensues after an assassin with a perfect record finally misses. A lot is conveyed in narration, as we listen to the thoughts of the cold, calculated and emotionally detached assassin that Michael Fassbender effortlessly portrays. An attack on his girlfriend sees him turning the tables and realising that the only defence he’s left with is an offence.
Though seemingly a fast-paced thriller on the surface, the movie doesn’t shy away from taking its sweet time unravelling specific plot points. In those moments the assassin’s personality traits such as his dollar-store, philosophical takes on himself, his job and life, and his reliance on listening to The Smiths to calm his nerves as he carries out murders, unexpectedly give the movie a comedic and borderline silly twist making it less serious and more of a fun watch than expected.