Top 10 movies to watch this weekend in UAE

Dubai - Khaleej Times delves through the latest releases this weekend.

We have been waiting for this since we first heard of it last year. We absolutely cannot contain ourselves and what an unbelievable movie with which to kick-off this week's page. Sorry, you can probably tell we're just a wee bit excited for Steven Spielberg's The Post. Starring the titans of the silver screen, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, together in the same movie for the very first time (can you believe it?), The Post is a gritty political thriller, yet ultimately a Spielbergian uplifting story of good versus evil: the knights in this case being The Washington Post and the foes being the Richard Nixon administration.
Set around the Pentagon Papers, which featured damning evidence of US intervention in Vietnam well before the war, incriminating former president Johnson in the process, Streep plays newspaper heiress, Katharine Graham, the first female publisher of a major US paper. Hanks plays Post editor-in-chief, Ben Bradlee. When The Post picks up the Pentagon Papers story after the New York Times is banned from doing so, the two must go up against the might of the US government to reveal the truth. This is a gripping true story, which has more than a few parallels with today's political and social environment. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 88%

12 Strong
A modern day 300, 12 Strong follows a dozen US special forces troops sent into Afghanistan directly after the New York World Trade Centre terrorist attack of 2001. Starring a boat-load of names including Chris Hemsworth in the leading role, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena and Hemsworth's wife Elsa Patakay playing his onscreen partner, the movie looks a solid action flick without having anything too special to say. The group of 12 rides in against the Taliban on horseback at one point, taking on thousands of armed recruits. It doesn't look as silly as it sounds, but it's not particularly clever either.  There are so far no ratings.

Downsizing
Premiering at the Dubai International Film Festival, we really thought this movie would be a quirky, fun look at a ludicrous answer to Earth's overpopulation. Remember Honey, I Shrunk The Kids? Imagine that except this stars Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig who voluntarily undergo the shrinking procedure, ostensibly to save the environment and consume less while taking up less space, but actually because in 'Tiny Town' your savings go from 120 thousand dollars to 12.4 million. Shrink and live in a palatial wonderland because you're only five inches tall. Unfortunately, the movie fails to really nail any key issues it attempts to address.  Rotten Tomatoes gives it 51%
Hollow in the Land
Starring an actor from one of our favourite Netflix series, Travellers (Jared Abrahamson), we were always going to be intrigued by this gripping drama. It just so happens it actually turns out to be quite good. The premise is very straight forward - a woman with a turbulent past, Dianna Agron, has to go out in search of her missing brother who may or may not have done something terrible. It's the performances in this one, though, which make it a worthy watch.? Rotten Tomatoes gives it 75%
Nirdosh?
After a murder is committed, Shinaya Grover gets arrested by the police on the basis of being the primary suspect, but as Inspector Lokhande carries forward the investigation of the case multiple suspects and possibilities emerge. Starring Arbaaz Khan, Manjari Phadnis, Mukul Dev
Jumanji: Welcome to ?the Jungle
?Four teenagers discover an old video game console and are literally drawn into the game's jungle setting becoming the adult avatars they chose. Starring Dwayne Johnson,  Karen Gillan,  Kevin Hart

Bunyan and Babe?
Twelve-year-old Travis Barclay and his little sister Whitney are sent begrudgingly on a summer trip to visit their grandparents' farm in Delbert County. After Travis has a run-in with a greedy land developer, he is chased into the forest, where he stumbles upon a magic portal to the hidden world. Voices: John Goodman, Jeff Foxworthy, Kelsey Grammer
Diwanji Moola
?The reopening of a long forgotten race brings together a family, old-time friends and an entire colony of the downtrodden to raise a new champion. Starring Kunchacko Boban,  Nyla Usha,  Nedumudi Venu
Aadu 2
Sequel to the film Aadu. Shaji Pappan and his gang try to redeem their arts club through the game of tug-o-war. Chaos erupts as the half-witted gang gets entangled in a bigger conspiracy. Starring Jayasurya, Saiju Kurup, Dharmajan, Vinayakan
UAE cinema listing: Jan 18 - Jan 24
(With inputs from David Light/Khaleej Times)

• Dubai