Month: January 2026

THE CHORAL

The Choral is a 2025 British historical drama film co-produced and directed by Nicholas Hytner, with a screenplay by Alan Bennett. Set in 1916, during World War I, in the fictional town of Ramsden, Yorkshire, the film follows the members of the local choral society, which recruits a group of teenage boys and girls for a performance of Edward Elgar‘s The Dream of Gerontius, a work chosen because it was not written by a German. It stars Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, Robert Emms, and Simon Russell Beale.

With their choirmaster joining the army, a choral group in the Yorkshire town of Ramsden decides to take a chance on appointing Dr. Henry Guthrie as his replacement, despite Guthrie’s homosexuality, Germanophilia, and atheism. A brick is thrown through the audition room window with a note stating “Hun muck,” referring to Guthrie and/or the choice of work (the St. Matthew Passion by German composer Bach). Instead, Guthrie proposes Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, which is accepted despite misgivings about the composer’s Catholicism and the work’s inclusion of purgatory. To supplement the diminishing number of male singers, Guthrie recruits male voices from the nearby military hospital.

Two of the singers start a relationship, as Bella’s sweetheart Clyde is “missing, believed dead. He arrives back in the town after having his arm amputated, but Bella feels committed to her new young man. Guthrie receives news of the sinking of the German battleship Pommern and Elgar’s approval almost simultaneously—he is grief-stricken, as his lover was a sailor on that battleship. Guthrie’s gay pianist, Robert, tells him of his intention to register as a conscientious objector rather than be conscripted, but fails to convince his conscription board of this.

• Ralph Fiennes as Dr Henry Guthrie^[4][5]
• Roger Allam as Alderman Bernard Duxbury^[6][4]
• Mark Addy as Mr Fyton^[4][7]
• Alun Armstrong as Mr Trickett^[4][7]
• Simon Russell Beale as Edward Elgar^[8]
• Robert Emms as Robert Horner^[9][7]
• Lyndsey Marshal as Mrs Bishop^[10][6]
• Emily Fairn as Bella^[8][11]
• Jacob Dudman as Clyde^[8]
• Taylor Uttley as Ellis^[8][7]
• Shaun Thomas as Mitch^[7][6]
• Tamzin Griffin as Miss Niner^[8]
• Angela Curran as Mrs Pemberton^[8]
• Reuben Bainbridge as Black Bright^[8]
• Oliver Briscombe as Lofty^[7][6]
• Amara Okereke as Mary (Salvation Army nurse/singer)^[11][7]
• Ron Cook as the vicar^[8]

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A PRIVATE LIFE

A Private Life (French: Vie privée) is a 2025 French black comedy-mystery-thriller film directed and co-written by Rebecca Zlotowski, starring Jodie Foster, alongside Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric, Vincent Lacoste, and Luana Bajrami.

The film had its world premiere at the out-of-competition section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 20 May.  It was theatrically released in France by Ad Vitam on 26 November. The film received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for Foster’s performance, which earned her nominations for the César Award and the Lumière Award for Best Actress, making her the first American to receive nominations in these categories at their respective ceremonies.

The renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner mounts a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered.

• Jodie Foster as Lilian Steiner^[4]
• Daniel Auteuil as Gabriel Haddad
• Virginie Efira as Paula Cohen-Solal
• Mathieu Amalric as Simon Cohen-Solal
• Vincent Lacoste as Julien Haddad-Park
• Luana Bajrami as Valérie Cohen-Solal

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CHARLIE THE WONDERDOG

After discovering his superpowers, Charlie the Wonderdog (voiced by Owen Wilson), the beloved family pet, embarks on a quest to fulfill his destiny and safeguard those he loves. Along the way he discovers that true heroism is rooted in courage, kindness, and believing in oneself.

1. Shea Wageman

   Director, Writer

2. Steve Ball

   Writer

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28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a 2026 post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland. It was shot back-to-back with its predecessor, 28 Years Later (2025), and serves as the fourth installment overall in the 28 Days Later film series. The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple was released by Sony Pictures Releasing in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2026, as part of a double bill with its predecessor, with the film being individually released the following day on 14 January. It is scheduled to be released in the United States on 16 January 2026. Much like its predecessor, the film received positive reviews from critics. A sequel to The Bone Temple is in development.

Taking place after the events of the previous film, Spike is inducted into Sir Jimmy Crystal’s gang of acrobatic killers in a post-apocalyptic Britain ravaged by the Rage Virus. Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kelson forms a new relationship with potentially world-changing consequences.^[4]

• Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Ian Kelson, a former GP dedicated to memorializing the victims of the epidemic.
• Jack O’Connell as Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, the psychopathic leader of “the Jimmys,” a cult modelled after Jimmy Savile.^[5]
• Alfie Williams as Spike, a teenager who is on a personal quest on the mainland.
• Erin Kellyman as Jimmy Ink, a member of the Jimmys.
• Chi Lewis-Parry as “Samson,” a physically imposing Alpha leader of the infected.
• Emma Laird as Jimmima, a member of the Jimmys.
• Louis Ashbourne Serkis as Tom, a male survivor.
• Maura Bird as Jimmy Jones, a member of the Jimmys.
• Ghazi Al Ruffai as Jimmy Snake, a member of the Jimmys.^[6]
• Sam Locke as Jimmy Fox, a member of the Jimmys.^[6]
• Cillian Murphy as Jim, a former bicycle courier and survivor of the original outbreak. Murphy reprises his role from 28 Days Later,^[7] with his appearance in The Bone Temple’s ending serving as his character’s reintroduction, which sets up the planned third film.^[8]

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1/13/2026 #TheChoral #APrivateLife #CharlieTheWonderdog #28YearsLater:TheBoneTemple