The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (3 January)

Just when we thought Ben Stiller was quieting down, he directs and stars in this film, based on James Thurber’s classic story, which was originally adapted into a film starring Danny Kaye (the other one) in 1947. Stiller is Walter Mitty, an indistinct kind of guy, whose daydreaming helps him escape his mundane job and anonymous life.

Before you get any ideas, it’s not Ally McBeal, but a red-blooded fantasy adventure with some offbeat comedy, in which Walter embarks on a real-world journey to restore balance. If you’re a hardened cynic, you may want to skip this one.

The Wolf of Wall Street (10 January)

Martin Scorsese’s much-anticipated black comedy, The Wolf of Wall Street, is based on the memoirs of Jordan Belfort. If follows his rise to become a wealthy New York stockbroker living the high life, to his inevitable fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

After working together on The Departed and Shutter Island, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are at it again, supported by Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, Jon Favreau and Margot Robbie. At just under three hours, expectations will be high for this star-studded drama come awards season.

Don Jon (10 January)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a fine actor, who is gradually becoming a household name with a string of important roles. Who would have dreamed that the Third Rock from the Sun actor would be starring in Christopher Nolan’s films and sharing the screen with the likes of Bruce Willis? With Don Jon he takes this even further, as writer, director and lead actor in his film.

Gordon-Levitt  portrays a blue-blooded Jersey boy, who develops unrealistic expectations about love from watching porn, in this unconventional, yet charming comedy romance. Oh, did we mention it also stars Scarlett Johansson?

Anchorman 2 (10 January)

“News team ASSEMBLE!” From crying in a phone booth to Gladiatior-style skirmishes with other news anchors, Ron Burgundy has carved a special place in our hearts with his brash machismo and manly catchphrases. Just when we thought Anchorman 2 would never happen, the moustache-brandishing man’s man is back.

Now with the 70s a hazy not-too-distant memory, San Diego’s top newsman is at it again, taking on the Big Apple. Will Ferrell returns with his old team and a whole new host of over-the-top comedy acts to make sure we get the year off to a good start.

12 Years A Slave (17 January)

Steve McQueen is alive and well! We’re not talking about the steely-eyed American actor known as “The King of Cool”, but the British film director and screenwriter, best known for the films Hunger, Shame and now 12 Years A Slave.

McQueen is making waves as a film director and if he continues on this trajectory will soon be challenging popular culture for the title of the real Steve McQueen. His acclaimed epic historical drama and adaptation of an 1853 autobiography by Solomon Northup stars Chiwetel Ejiofor (2012), and is already tipped to garner several nominations at the upcoming Academy Awards.

NEW DVDs

The Conjuring

James Wan’s The Conjuring isn’t just a slick horror movie; it’s based on a real-life case, in which paranormal investigators tried to exorcise a dark presence from a home.

The Saw and Insidious director masters every horror cliché in the book, building tension with shadows and sounds, to deliver a spine-tingling atmosphere and plenty of scares. The Conjuring stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, and look out for Ron Livingston, the guy from Office Space.

Ill Manors (27 January)

Riz Ahmed (Four Lions, The Reluctant Fundamentalist) stars in this gritty British crime drama about the lives of four drug dealers, one user and a prostitute. Ben Drew’s hard-hitting and powerful gangster film debut trumps its modest budget and features solid performances from a relatively unknown cast with a gripping intersection of lives in a beautifully realised story.

It’s not easy-viewing, but it’s riveting and surprising that it didn’t get a cinematic run in South Africa.