Last week in trailers: Annihilation, South Africa’s Catching Feelings, David Bowie doc & more

It’s not a good time to release trailers: Star Wars: The Last Jedi just came out, it’s almost Christmas, and everyone is hyper-focussed on taking a much-needed break.

Unwilling to compete for that attention, major studios have avoided releasing trailers — which is why this week we have a hodgepodge collection of indie sci-fis, a local drama, and cheesy Christmas fun.

Annihilation

Based on the eponymous novel by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation tells the story of Lena, a biologist who volunteers to explore an environmental disaster zone that seriously injured her husband.

The film is directed by Ex Machina‘s Alex Garland and stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac.

Annihilation arrives in South Africa on 23 February 2018.

The 15:17 to Paris

In 2015, a terrorist attacked a train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris. He was subdued by three young Americans, two of whom were off-duty members of the army. There were no fatalities.

The 15:17 to Paris, directed by Clint Eastwood, tells the heroes’ story with an unusual biographical twist: it stars the heroes as themselves.

The film will be released in SA on 9 March 2018.

The Greatest Showman

During FOX’s A Christmas Story Live! last night, The Greatest Showman cast performed for the world’s first live movie commercial.

Though it’s a little rough around the edges, it’s hard not to love the energy of live performances — and, hey, it brings something fresh to this weekly roundup.

Catch The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya, and Michelle Williams, in theatres on 29 December.

Catching Feelings

Catching Feelings is a local drama directed by, written by, and starring Kagiso Lediga (Wonder Boy for President).

According to the synopsis, the film “follows a jaded academic and his journalist wife, who have their lives turned upside down when a celebrated and hedonistic older writer unexpectedly moves into their urban Johannesburg home with them”.

The trailer promises a fun yet realistic story that delves in on themes of love, race, and navigating life as a middle-class South African.

Catching Feelings is in cinemas 9 March 2018.

The Clapper

The Clapper details the life of a paid infomercial audience member who gains viral fame and the opportunity for his own TV series — though he swiftly realises fame isn’t quite all it’s cracked up to be (shocking).

The Clapper stars Ed Helms, Amanda Seyfried, Adam Levine, and Tracy Morgan. It doesn’t have an SA release date yet (it’s out in the US in January 2018), but Netflix has secured worldwide distribution rights, so expect it on the platform some time next year.

The Polka King

On everyone’s Christmas list this year was a chance to hear Jack Black’s Polish accent — and Netflix has our backs.

The Polka King is an original Netflix film that tells the true story of Polish emigrant Jan Lewan, who founded the world’s only known Polka Ponzi scheme. It stars Jack Black, Jenny Slate, and Jason Schwartzman.

The Polka King arrives on the platform worldwide on 12 January 2018.

Christmas Inheritance

Christmas Inheritance has everything you need in a cheesy low-budget holiday romance: big city girl moves to small town, learns things about her dead mother, falls for charitable small town boy who had his heart callously broken.

Oh, and the small town is called Snow Falls. What a gift.

Christmas Inheritance is currently available on Netflix.

Bright

Netflix really, really, really wants you to watch Bright, the company’s biggest film to date. So here’s another trailer.

The buddy-cop sci-fi starring Will Smith tells of a human-orc duo that stumbles upon a powerful magic wand that could destroy the world.

Bright is directed by Suicide Squad‘s David Ayer, and begins streaming on 22 December.

David Bowie: The Last Five Years

HBO documentary David Bowie: The Last Five Years takes an intimate look at the artist’s final years through the eyes of his friends, artistic collaborators, and archival footage.

The film focuses on the themes that hold Bowie’s work together: themes of alienation, fame, and spirituality.

David Bowie: The Last Five Years will be released on HBO GO on 8 January 2018. It doesn’t have a wider release as yet.

Little Women

Based on the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, Little Women is a miniseries that deep-dives into the lives of the March sisters, exploring the experiences of women during the American Civil War.

The show stars Angela Lansbury as Aunt March, and Willa Fitzgerald, Annes Elwy, Kathryn Newton, and Maya Thurman-Hawke as the four young women.

Little Women premieres in the US on 13 May 2018.

Feature image: Screenshot, Paramount Pictures via YouTube