January has been a slow month for newfangled theatrical releases . That ’s to be expected , considering the month carries the moniker “ Dumpuary , ” which point the movies in January and February that studios unfreeze without much hope for critical plaudits and box office returns . Flight Riskis the latest addition to the Dumpuary canon .
Dumpuary does n’t always intend “ speculative . ”Den of Thieves 2 : Panterais a solid heist movie , while Steven Soderbergh crafted a nifty ghost story inPresence . As we count toward February , Captain America : Brave New Worldis at the top of the slating for new release . BeyondCaptain America , there is a spate of underrated movies in February , including an A24 come - of - age story , a Mubi thriller , and an end - of - the - mankind love affair .
Parthenope (February 7 in theaters)
Italian film maker Paolo Sorrentino has not maneuver a movie since 2021’sThe Hand of God , which received an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature Film . The movie was about a young male come of age in 1980s Italy . His raw motion-picture show forA24,Parthenope , highlight a vernal woman ’s hunt for dearest and felicity .
Parthenope ( Celeste Dalla Porta ) was named after the metropolis in Naples . As she becomes a young cleaning woman , Parthenope garners tending from everyone in her orbit : teenagers , untested adults , and old professionals . It ’s Parthenope ’s beau who obsess over her the most . Like most ofSorrentino ’s films , Parthenopeuses the picturesque Italian mise en scene to his advantage in this coming - of - age tale .
Bring Them Down (February 7 in theaters)
It ’s a showdown betweenBarry KeoghanandChristopher AbbottinBring Them Down . Set in Ireland , Abbott play Michael , a sheepman who take over for his ill father , Ray ( Colm Meaney ) . Michael becomes embroiled in a difference involving a rival granger , Gary ( Paul Ready ) , and his Logos , Jack ( Keoghan ) .
The ensue conflict brings out the worst in both face , especially Michael , who admit a non-white family secret that could destroy his syndicate . Keoghan is known for bring chaotic energy to his characters , like he did inThe Killing of a Sacred Deerand Saltburn . Combine that with the steadiness of Abbott , andBring Them Downbecomes a fascinating cat - and - mouse thriller .
When I’m Ready (February 7 in theaters, February 14 on digital)
What would you do if the world was coming to an end ? Who would you spend your final days with ? Rose ( June Schreiner ) and Michael ( Andrew Ortenberg ) cull to experience humanity ’s imminent doom together in Andrew Johnson’sWhen I ’m Ready . The last - ditch feat to ruin an asteroid hurling toward Earth fails , meaning humanity has less than a calendar week until impact .
With extinction imminent , Rose and Michael embark on a road stumble to know the earthly concern ’s pleasures one last time . One of the chore on Rose ’s list is to see her grandmother before dying . As the young lovers trek across the country , they interact with an eclectic radical of individuals , including Julia ( Lauren Cohan ) and Keith ( Dermot Mulroney ) . For those call for a little carpe diem inspiration , When I ’m Readyfeels like that kind of movie .
