A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2019 - Episode IV

For decades, the Summer Movie Season has traditionally started on Memorial Day Weekend, when studios start to roll out their crowd-pleasing, action-packed, colorful blockbuster-hopeful films. But studios love to move the goalposts in the game they play, and in recent years the month of April has become coveted ground for those crowd-pleasers. This month follows that trend, and will end by delivering what is possibly the movie event of the decade. Here are the notable films for the month of April. 

It all rises again with…

PET SEMATARY – The second adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name, in which a family moves to a new home located near a graveyard with the ability to resurrect whatever, or whoever is buried there. Jason Clarke (ZERO DARK THIRTY), and John Lithgow star. 

SHAZAM! – DC Comics brings one of their most name-worthy, and perhaps their oddest heroes to the big screen. A young boy (played by William Batson), stumbles upon powers which allow him to transform into a super-powered adult (played by Zachary Levi). Mark Strong (KICK-ASS), co-stars. It is directed by David F. Sandberg, who helmed the horror spinoff ANNABELLE: CREATION in 2017. 

HELLBOY – The third film to bear the name of HELLBOY is unfortunately not a sequel to the first two films done by Guillermo del Toro, and is instead a full reboot/reset. David Harbour (TV’s STRANGER THINGS), plays the demon from hell working for the U.S. government. It also stars Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, and Thomas Haden Church. It is directed by Neil Marshall, who has directed two of the most critically acclaimed episodes of TV’s GAME OF THRONES. 

MISSING LINK – This stop-motion animated film follows a myths and monsters investigator who sets off to prove the existence of a legendary creature. It features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, and Timothy Olyphant. 

MARY MAGDALENE – If a break is needed from all the fun movies, Joaquin Phoenix plays Jesus Christ and Rooney Mara plays Mary Magdalene in this biblical drama. It is directed by Garth Davis, who brought us the most-excellent Oscar nominated LION in 2016. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 YEARS A SLAVE), co-stars. 

STOCKHOLM -  Based on the true story of the 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm. It stars Noomi Rapace, Ethan Hawke, and Mark Strong. 

PENGUINS – This Disney-produced documentary follows a group of penguins in the Antarctic. 

THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA – This horror film is the sixth entry/spinoff in THE CONJURING universe/series. This time around a female ghost called the Weeping Woman causes misfortune to anyone she crosses. Linda Cardellini (GREEN BOOK), stars. 

THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE – Famed director Terry Gilliam (TIME BANDITS, 12 MONKEYS), has been trying to make this film for 29 years and this month he finally brings it to the big screen. Adam Driver (THE FORCE AWAKENS), plays an advertising executive who is pulled into a time-jumping fantasy. It co-stars Jonathan Pryce, Stellan Skarsgard, and Olga Kurylenko. 

AVENGERS: ENDGAME – The grand finale movie event of the decade by Marvel Studios, which launched this current superhero series way back in 2008. It is a follow-up to last year’s AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, in which the devasted Avengers, led by Captain America (Chris Evans), and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), try to figure out what to do after the Mad Titan Thanos (Josh Brolin), has wiped out half of the people of Earth and the universe. The massive and impressive cast includes Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), Karen Gillian (Nebula), and Bradley Cooper as Rocket….among others. It is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who helmed INFINITY WAR along with THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), and CIVIL WAR (2016). 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the month of May.