NOTHING de-stresses those January Blues like curling up with a glass of wine and watching a good movie.

And we have just the cure for you this week, as there is a wild mixture of gangsters, gigantic tree-like monsters and Martin Scorsese’s latest cinematic triumph to help you beat those weary Winter nights.

From tomorrow to February 2, in answer to young Conor’s daunting woes and relentless bullies, A Monster Calls. When faced with the difficult prospect of losing his mother to cancer, he summons a mighty Yew-tree creature called The Monster (voiced by Liam Neeson).

He appears to Conor to tell him three stories, each of which will reveal a great truth to the child and leads him on epic, stunning adventures that will restore his courage and faith.

Dennis Lehane is no doubt one of most prolific modern crime writers today, and the latest of his novels to be adapted to the big screen is Live by Night.

Ben Affleck takes it all in his stride by producing, directing and starring in this 1920’s Prohibition-era, gangster-run society thriller.

In a crooked network of underground distilleries and gangs, there is money to be made in keeping the river of alcohol flowing in America, so model citizen Joe Coughlin (Affleck) sets himself up as a gangster to capture the essence of the American dream.

But Coughlin may have missed the memo on unspoken rules in the mob world: never steal a powerful mob boss’ business and definitely don’t take his girl.

If it is possible to believe, directing legend Martin Scorsese has taken more than 25 years to develop and bring Shusaku Endo’s historical novel Silence to life.

The dedication to his craft alone makes this religious drama unlike any other you’ve ever experienced – it is pure art.

When a Christian mentor (Liam Neeson) goes missing in Japan, it is up to two missionaries (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) to save their fallen mentor.

But in a dark corner of history when Christianity was outlawed in Japan, they face death even setting foot onto the island.

lEvie Myers