It’s time for February’s monthly recommendations and boy is this month packed. There are quite a few ‘February is Valentine’s’ movies in the pipeline – including the JLo x Owen Wilson film that I really can’t decide *how* I feel about – but some of my recommendations actually air on quite the opposite side of that spectrum.

Last Looks – Limited Release, February 4th

Charlie Hunnam, Morena Baccarin, and Mel Gibson – not necessarily a line up I would have put together, but exciting nonetheless. Mel Gibson playing an over the top actor and complete lush, Hunnam trying to figure out whether he’s guilty of murder or not. I’m a big fan of Hunnam, especially after The Gentlemen, and I’ve loved Morena since Firefly, so I’ll be on the lookout for a theatre showing this film.

The Worst Person in the World – Theaters, February 4th

This Norwegian language film is an easy pick – it’s already a darling of cinephiles having debuted at Cannes Film Festival to great acclaim and a Rotten Tomatoes score sitting at 98%. From what I’ve read, it’s an intimate look into the life of a young woman working through the decline of a relationship, new love, and career with a darkly funny streak and gorgeous cinematography.

Death on the Nile – Theaters, February 11th

Kenneth Branagh returns as Hercule Poirot along with another star studded cast that rivals the last foray by Branagh, Murder on the Orient Express. As long as they can nail the tone without going too over the top, this movie will be a blast to watch with performances by Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright, Annette Benning, and others. Murder was such an enjoyable movie, I’m happy they decided to revisit Hercule Poirot on another adventure.

The Sky is Everywhere – AppleTV+, February 11th

The trailer for the Sky is Everywhere has me absolutely enchanted. The story of loss certainly resonates with me, though Lennie’s loss of an older sibling hits differently than the loss of a parent. The sadness is there, but so is the lightheartedness as Lennie navigates a new love interest and works to reinvigorate her love of music. And don’t forget visual moments that seem more at home in a comic book, including music notes that literally hang in the air! I’m almost sad that this isn’t getting a larger theatrical release, as some of the visuals showcased in the trailer would look stunning in that medium.