It’s a big month for film and TV. We’re heading into the second half of awards season with the BAFTAs and Oscars on the horizon (February 2nd and 9th respectively) so we don’t blame you if you’ve lost track with all that’s been going on. Not to worry though, James Palmer and George Forster have written a nice little list of what to look out for.
Here’s Flip Screen’s Guide to February 2020.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Season 7)
Dan Goor and Michael Schur – Airing February 6th
When it was announced that the incredibly popular Brooklyn Nine-Nine had been saved from the desolate wasteland of cancellation, fans were rightfully overjoyed. Now a season on from its new run on NBC, Jake and the gang are back for a seventh season and are as strong as ever. Announcing its return with a super stylised 80s cop show trailer, the Nine-Nine have to contend with former Captain Holt’s demotion as well as an attempted assassination. Unlike other hit shows that border on overstaying their welcome, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has always gone from strength to strength.
Parasite
Bong Joon Ho – UK release February 7th
After taking awards season by storm, Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite is coming to UK theatres on February 7th. The story of a poor Korean family infiltrating the lives of a family at the other end of the social ladder, Parasite has won awards for its ensemble cast, best foreign film and the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival. We try to stay pretty neutral for these lists but don’t get it twisted – book your tickets to this film right now. No excuses.
Birds of Prey
Cathy Yan – Released February 7th
One of the brighter spots of the much maligned Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn helms an all female lineup of unlikely heroes whose paths collide in an effort to save a young girl from the evil crime lord, Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). Featuring performances from Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Rosie Perez and with early reactions praising its weird and wonderful style, Birds of Prey promises all the poppy fun of its predecessor without all the developmental chaos that marred its arrival.
Narcos: Mexico (Season 2)
Eric Newman – 13th February
Returning for its second season, this spin-off continues to follow the establishment of the drugs trade in 1980s Mexico, charting the rise of the Guadalajara drug cartel. After the cat and mouse game from last season ending as brutally as can be, the finale revealed its narrator to be DEA agent Walt Breslin (Scoot McNairy). If the trailers are anything to go by, season 2 will elevate the tension and suspense that has been building since episode 1.
Emma
Autumn de Wilde – Released February 14th
Based on the Jane Austen novel of the same name, Emma takes on the familiar ground of the trials and tribulations of Georgian genteel women but with an altogether more comedic tone. Starting Anya Taylor-Joy as the eponymous Emma and Bill Nighy as Mr. Woodhouse, Emma has ample star power to add to an already impressive source material. A diversion from her better known roles in psychological horrors and thrillers such as Split, Marrowbone and The Witch, Taylor-Joy has proven comedic chops in the darkly funny Thoroughbreds. For somebody less versed in the Pride and Prejudice ilk of period piece, Emma is set to be an excellent primer for the genre.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Jeff Fowler – Released 14th February
If you’ve been living under a rock you may have missed this, but the movie adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog has been dominating pop film discussions for months now (albeit for the wrong reasons). After its initial trailer was bullied for the design of Sonic looking like the hedgehog cake from Saturday Night Live, the film was delayed in order to create a new vision of of the titular speedster, one that may actually look like him. Whilst Jim Carrey’s Dr. Eggman will excite some people, Sonic still has the potential to revive some of the Lovecraftian nightmares many of us are still getting over after Cats.
Still, should be a laugh.
Hunters
David Weil – Released to Amazon Video on 21st February
In 1977 New York, an eclectic group of ‘hunters’ helmed by Meyer Offerman (Al Pacino) track down high-ranking Nazi officials hidden in the city as they plan a genocidal fourth-reich. A timely and cathartic balm for those of us dismayed that ‘new Nazis’ are apparently just another thing we have to deal with now, Hunters seems like perfect binge material. Set for a 10-episode season on Amazon Video, you can expect to see plenty of bloodshed and sweet sweet karmic justice – whether or not they check pathos at the door, I’m all in.
Better Call Saul (Season 5)
Vince Gilligan – Released 23rd February
Much like its predecessor, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul has been a slow build but it finally seems we’re getting into the fan favourite character of Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk). Whilst the show continues to blend a mix of courtroom law with underworld crime, it appears as if these two worlds will finally merge together within this season, as Saul finally breaks bad.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Celine Sciamma – Released 28th February
This French film from Celine Sciamma has received heaps of praise, including plenty from our own Flip Screen writers who have had the joy of watching this at preview screenings and festivals. Whilst it seems to have be forgotten about during the awards season, it did compete for the Palme d’Or at Cannes as well as winning Queer Film and Best Screenplay. The historical drama seems poised to become a classic in its own right as well as a landmark of LGBTQ+ filmmaking.
Flip Screen 