Gift from Room 7
Opened Jan. 23
Comedy. Drama. Directed by Lee Hwan-gyeong. Yong-gu (Ryoo Seung-ryong), a mentally challenged man with the mind of a 6-year-old child who is also single-handedly raising his 7-year-old daughter Ye-seung (Gal So-won), is falsely charged with child rape and murder. Imprisoned, Yong-gu is detained in Room 7 where violent criminals are incarcerated. When Yong-gu steps in to Room 7, his jail inmates respond with discomfort and annoyance to their new inmate. However, they soon become attached to Yong-gu and his innocence, and all the Room 7 inmates embark on a special mission to protect Yong-gu and his daughter who can never stay apart for a single moment.
Jack Reacher (U.S.)
Opened Jan. 17
Action. Mystery. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie. The film begins in the middle of the street, when a mysterious lone gunman fires six shots that leave five dead in front of PNC Park in Pittsburgh during rush hour. The city is thrown into a state of horror and within hours cops gather around the crime scene to gather evidence. The evidence leads police to a former U.S. army sniper, James Barr (Joseph Sikora). But the accused man says, “You got the wrong guy, get Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise).” Soon, Jack Reacher who has also seen the news report turns up at the crime scene, where he is startled when Barr spills out more than he bargained for. With the help of Helen (Rosamund Pike), James’ lawyer, Jack tries to unravel the truth behind the atrocity.
Hotel Transylvania (U.S.)
Opened Jan. 17
Animation. Comedy. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. Dracula (Adam Sandler) has just retired from public life to open Hotel Transylvania, a high-end resort, where monsters and their families can live in peace without any humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula invites his famous monster friends Frankenstein (Kevin James), Frank’s bride Eunice (Fran Drescher), Murray the Mummy (Cee Lo Green), Griffin the Invisible Man (David Spade), Wayne and Wanda Werewolf (Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon) to celebrate the 118th birthday of his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez). But the vampire’s well-organized party is disrupted when a human backpacker Jonathan (Andy Samberg) accidently stumbles into the hotel and builds up a friendship with Mavis.
Cloud Atlas (U.S. Germany)
Opened Jan. 9
Science Fiction. Directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer. The film consists of six stories, set across centuries and continents. In the 1840s on a voyage through the Pacific Islands, Adam Ewing (Jim Sturgess) befriends a scheming doctor (Tom Hanks) and falls into trouble. In the 1930s, young composer Robert Frobisher (Ben Whishaw) is hired to assist the legendary musician Vyvyan Ayrs (Jim Boradbent) as he seduces Ayrs’ wife while also writing his letters to his true love, Sixsmith (James D’arcy). In 1970s San Francisco, an investigative reporter (Halle Berry) uncovers the truth about a nuclear power plant. In the present day, publisher (Broadbent) is confined to an old-people’s home staffed by a brutal nurse (Hugo Weaving). In Neo-Seoul, Sonmi-451 (Doona Bae) rises up against the system that bred her. Lastly, Zachary (Tom Hanks) befriends a woman (Berry) who holds the last knowledge of civilization.
Life of Pi (U.S.)
Opened Jan. 1
Drama. Action. Adventure. Directed by Ang Lee. Pi (Suraj Sharma)’s family prepares to move upon hearing that the government’s financial aid for the family’s zoo will be cut off. The family boards a ship to Canada with their zoo animals. But an unexpected storm sinks the ship and only Pi, who gets on a lifeboat, survives the deadly accident. On the lifeboat, an injured zebra, a starved hyena and an orangutan with a handful of bananas increase the tension. However, the real surprise is unveiled when Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger, appears from the bottom of the boat. As time goes on, starved animals attack and eat each other until Pi and Richard Parker are the only ones left. Pi finds a survival guidebook on board and learns to live with the tiger on a lifeboat.
