David Farnor | On 30, Dec 2015

Not getting your art-house fix from Netflix? Wish there were more indie films on Amazon Prime? Every week, we round up the new releases on MUBI, a subscription VOD service that hand-picks films from around the world.

As the New Year approaches, MUBI celebrates with a modern indie classic, looks to the future with a dystopian sci-fi and prepares to bid goodbye to one of Quentin Tarantino’s finest.

Here’s what’s new and coming soon this week – and what’s about to depart in January.

Babel – Boxing Day

The third of Iñárritu’s collaborations with writer Guillermo Arriaga, Babel’s multi-lingual anthology follows a tourist shot in Morocco, her children back home being dragged to Mexico for their nanny’s wedding and, in Japan, the story of a deaf teenage girl. The result has the feel of a modern day take on silent classic Intolerance, a state-of-the-world address, warning of the need for greater communication in the global village.

Friends With Money – 27th December

Nicole Holofcener’s ear (and eye) for the awkward humour of human relationships is on fine form with this 2006 comedy-drama, which stars
Joan Cusack, Frances McDormand, Jennifer Aniston and regular collaborator Catherine Keener as female friends living in Los Angeles.

Hero – 28th December

Zhang Yimou’s martial arts gem sees a nameless defence officer summoned by the King of Qin to retell how he succeeded in beating three legendary assassins. It may be headlined by Jet Li, but the real star of the show is the visuals; colour-coded and beautifully choreographed, it’s a stunning masterpiece of direction.

Tom Jones – 29th December

A young Albert Finney stars in Tony Richardson’s likeable literary adaptation, which follows the eponymous male, who, after being abandoned as a baby, is raised to become a womanising rogue.

Minority Report – 30th December

Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise team up once again for this underrated sci-fi. Based on Philip K Dick’s novel and with scene-stealing supporting turns from Samantha Morton and Colin Farrell, this dark depiction of a fascist future, in which criminals are arrested before they commit crimes, is wonderfully convincing – and chillingly prescient. The thrilling action and smart script are a bonus.

In Search of a Midnight Kiss – 31st December

Alex Holdridge’s breakout mumblecore follows a broke 29-year-old who finds himself meeting up on New Year’s Even with a woman off Craigslist who’s determined to be with a guy at midnight. The rom-com features a star-making turn from Scoot McNairy and strong support from top indie veterans Brian McGuire and Bret Roberts.

 

Titles leaving MUBI UK soon

Kill Vol. 1

Available until: 31st December

L for Leisure

Available until: 1st January

La Chinoise

Available until: 2nd January

Manhattan Murder Mystery

Available until: 3rd January

The Big Heat

Available until: 4th January

Nowhere Boy

Available until: 5th January

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Available until: 6th January

Children of Heaven

Available until: 7th January

My Winnipeg

Available until: 8th January

Night and Day

Available until: 9th January

War Work

Available until: 10th January

Airplane!

Available until: 11th January

Cast Away

Available until: 12th January

Our Children

Available until: 13th January

A MUBI subscription costs £4.99 a month. To find out more, visit www.mubi.com

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