To coin an old sports-phrase, the movie studios like to move
the goal-line around a lot. For decades, the month of May was considered to be
the start of the Summer Movie Season. This year, things warm up a little
early…and that’s not a bad thing. Here are the notable releases for the month
of April.
It all heats up with…
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER – Marvel continues its
ever-expanding connected universe with Cap’s first sequel. Chris Evans returns
as Steve Rogers in this action-packed espionage-thriller. Joining him are
Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Grillo, Anthony Mackie, and Robert
Redford.
NYMPHOMANIAC: VOLUME II – Lars von Trier wraps up his opus
to human sexuality. Stars Stellan Skarsgard, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stacy
Martin, Shia LaBoeuf, Willem Dafoe, Uma Thurman, and Jamie Bell.
RIO 2 – Our animated feathered friends return for their
first sequel. Includes the voice-talents of Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, and
Jamie Foxx.
OCULUS – Be wary of horror films not good enough to be
released in October. This one involves creepy little kids and stars Karen
Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Rory Cochrane, and Katee Sackhoff.
DRAFT DAY – Kevin Costner is the general manager of the
Cleveland Browns with the opportunity to save his team’s season and future.
Co-stars Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary, Ellen Burstyn, and Frank Langella.
Directed by Ivan Reitman (GHOSTBUSTERS).
THE RAILWAY MAN – Based on the bestselling autobiography,
Colin Firth (THE KING’S SPEECH) stars as a British Army Officer tormented at a
Japanese labor camp during WWII. Co-stars Nicole Kidman.
ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE – Famed independent director Jim
Jarmusch (BROKEN FLOWERS) takes a bite out of the vampire apple. Stars Tom
Hiddleston (THOR), Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin, and
Jeffrey Wright.
JOE – This little indie film is being touted as the possible
return of Nic Cage to serious filmmaking. This adaptation of a Larry Brown
novel has Cage starring as an ex-con who befriends a hard-luck kid. Directed by
David Gordon Green (PINEAPPLE EXPRESS).
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL – In this adaptation of the #1
best-selling novel, Greg Kinnear stars as a father whose son claims to have
visited heaven. Directed by Randall Wallace (WE WERE SOLDIERS).
TRANSCENDENCE – Wally Pfister, who served as the director of
photography for Christopher Nolan’s THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY, directs this
sci-fi thriller about a man (Johnny Depp) who uploads his own mind into a
super-computer. Co-stars Rebecca Hall (IRON MAN 3), Paul Bettany, Morgan
Freeman, and Kate Mara.
BEARS – A Disney film about a family of…bears.
FADING GIGOLO – John Turturro directs and stars in this
oddball comedy. Co-stars Woody Allen, Sofia Vergara, Sharon Stone, and Liev
Schreiber.
THE QUIET ONES – The studio which brought us THE WOMAN IN
BLACK a few years back returns with another horror film not good enough for
October.
LOCKE – Taking place in the setting of a single car ride,
this early Oscar-buzzer stars Tom Hardy (THE DARK KNIGHT RISES) as a man whose
life is turned upside-down after one phone call. Directed by Steven Knight
(EASTERN PROMISES).
*
Next month, Reel Speak previews the month of May. 
No comments:
Post a Comment
A few rules:
1. Personal attacks not tolerated.
2. Haters welcome, if you can justify it.
3. Swearing is goddamn OK.