My Salinger Years, The Rescue & more: 4 new UAE films opening January 7

What will you be watching?

My Salinger Year. Imagine The Devil Wears Prada (2006) set in a literary agency and you’ll have a pretty decent picture of what to expect from My Salinger Year. Slightly more twee, Sigourney Weaver plays the fearsome company head serving the notoriously reclusive J.D. Salinger’s professional needs. When aspiring writer Joanna (Margaret Qualley) takes on an assistant’s role, she is thrust into her and her contemporaries’ hero’s sphere, although must overcome menial tasks combined with Weaver’s ire to achieve her dream of escaping the 9 to 5 and becoming a published author. It’s based on the 2014 memoir of the same name by Joanna Rakoff. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 61%

The Rescue. A Chinese blockbuster, The Rescue looks to draw on most disaster films, mix them up and come out with a feast for the senses. Ostensibly similar to Deepwater Horizon (2016), an oilrig blows up and it is up to the elite-trained coast guard to overcome their personal differences and save the day. Expect helicopter extravaganzas and a bevy of stunts. IMDb gives it 6.5

Wild Mountain Thyme. A traditional rom-com to melt everyone’s heart in what is statistically the most depressing week of the year, Wild Mountain Thyme checks every quirky romance box. Two friends in rural Ireland meant for each other but unable to make it happen: tick. A dashing American visitor (Jon Hamm) willing to sweep the lady (Emily Blunt) away: tick. An obstinate father (Christopher Walken) convinced the local lad (Jamie Dornan) is no good: tick. Will these crazy kids overcome all these obstacles and more? IMDb gives it 5.4

Redemption Day. Another twist on the Taken (2008) motif, a decorated US Marine (Gary Dourdan) must travel to North Africa to rescue his kidnapped archaeologist wife (Serinda Swan) who is set to be beheaded in three days. “This one is strictly off the books,” a tooled-up Dourdan imparts before jumping out of an inconspicuous vintage Peugeot on a desert road in order to descend upon a terrorist stronghold. You know how it goes. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 20%