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The calm before the summer blockbuster storm is here. We have a few bigger budget pictures to recommend, but April mostly includes limited releases from film festivals finally getting their theatrical debuts.
See:
10. Your Highness (David Gordon Green; April 8th)
Synopsis: A fantasy-comedy about an arrogant, lazy prince (McBride) who must complete a quest in order to save his father's kingdom.
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Why You Should See It: It isn't as funny as Pineapple Express, but anything from this collective is worth checking out. Danny McBride and his bud Ben Best wrote the screenplay for this outrageous medieval/action/adventure/stoner comedy. I hope at least one of those words piques your interest.
9. Ceremony (Max Winkler; April 8th)
Synopsis: Sam Davis (Angarano) coerces his estranged friend to spend a weekend together in a beachside town, though his true intention is to prevent his crush, Zoe (Thurman), from marrying a famous documentary filmmaker (Pace).
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Why You Should See It: While it was difficult to buy the relationship between Uma Thurman and Michael Angarano, I found a lot of charm and laughs in Max Winkler's directorial debut. It is currently on VOD and you can read my TIFF review here.
8. In a Better World (Susanne Bier; April 1st)
Synopsis: While Anton (Persbrandt) and Marianne (Dyrholm) contemplate divorce, their bullied son Elias (Rygaard) forms a bond with a new student that puts him in potential danger.
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Why You Should See It: From the director of the original Brothers, comes this drama that picked up the Best Foreign Film Oscar this year. It has gotten great reviews and will see a limited release this month.
7. POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (Morgan Spurlock; April 22nd)
Synopsis: Morgan Spurlock examines the process of product placement in entertainment -- in a documentary completely financed and made possible by brands, advertising, and product placement.
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Why You Should See It: In his best film since Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock plunges into the pits of advertising. This meta-documentary is as entertaining as it is informative. Check out my Sundance review here.
6. Incendies (Denis Villeneuve; April 22nd)
Synopsis: A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.
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Why You Should See It: Our own Dan Mecca wasn't a big fan of this Oscar-nominated foreign drama, but I'm still eager to check it out myself. Other reviews have proclaimed it is a tense, visceral experience that is a must-see. Decide for yourself when it hits limited theaters this month.
5. Hanna (Joe Wright; April 8th)
Synopsis: A 16-year-old (Ronan) who was raised by her father (Bana) is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent (Blanchett) and her operatives.
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Why You Should See It: Joe Wright has taken on an entirely new genre after Price and Prejudice, Atonement, and even The Soloist. For his fourth feature, he heads into assassin thriller territory. Guided by a pumping soundtrack from The Chemical Brothers, there are a few astounding action scenes. While it ultimately feels a bit hollow, this is definitely one to check out in theaters.
4. 13 Assassins (Takashi Miike; April 29th)
Synopsis: A group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord.
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Why You Should See It: If you've seen a Miike film, then you have an idea on how he could twist the Kurosawa-inspired samurai genre. I've yet to see the film during its festival run, but it is now on VOD and will hit theaters at the end of the month.
3. Source Code (Duncan Jones; April 1st)
Synopsis: An experimental government program sends soldier Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) back in time, where he wakes up in the body of a commuter who witnesses a train bombing. Presented with just 8 minutes to figure out who is responsible, his mission is further complicated by his feelings for a fellow passenger (Monaghan).
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Why You Should See It: After his debut feature Moon rocked audiences, Duncan Jones is back with another sci-fi tale. Wrapped in a mainstream, crowdpleaser mold, this Jake Gyllenhaal-led time travel adventure has recieved great reviews since its SXSW premiere. Check out our reviews here.
2. Armadillo (Janus Metz Pedersen; April 15th)
Synopsis: In February 2009 a group of Danish soldiers accompanied by documentary filmmaker Janus Metz arrived at Armadillo, an army base in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. Metz and cameraman Lars Skree spent six months following the lives of young soldiers situated less than a kilometer away from Taliban positions.
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Why You Should See It: If you saw Restrepo last year, this is a fantastic companion. Pedersen injects more style with this gripping war documentary. Check out our 10 out of 10 TIFF review here.
1. Meek's Cutoff (Kelly Reichardt; April 8th)
Synopsis: Settlers traveling through the Oregon desert in 1845 find themselves lost in harsh conditions, unsure whether their guide has intentionally led them into danger.
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Why You Should See It: This bleak, methodical western certainly won't be for everyone, but Reichardt continues her signature style with this journey. The brilliance, aside from the gorgeous cinematography reminiscent of Days of Heaven, lies in the struggle. Fantastic performances from Michelle Williams and a nearly unrecognizable Bruce Greenwood make this the #1 film to see this month.
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Matinee:
Insidious (James Wan; April 1st)
Synopsis: A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
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Why You Should See a Matinee: From the filmmakers behind Saw and Paranormal Activity comes this haunted house (or child) tale. Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson deliver solid performances as our leads, but the early "creep" factor wears off as the horror tricks get silly and derivative leading up (and including) the finale.
Water for Elephants (Francis Lawrence; April 22nd)
Synopsis: Set during the Great Depression, veterinary student Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson) abandons his studies after his parents are killed in a car accident. Taking up with a third-rate traveling circus, his bond with a difficult animal begins to turn the show around, though his feelings for the star performer (Witherspoon) prove dangerous since she's the wife of the sadistic ringmaster (Waltz).
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Why You Should See a Matinee: I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence takes on completely different subject matter with this adaptation. I trust Christoph Waltz and this is a strong opportunity for Robert Pattinson to shed some of his Twilight image, but the romantic drama seems a bit recycled.
Rubber (Quentin Dupieux; April 1st)
Synopsis: A tire named Robert discovers his destructive telepathic powers and sets his sights on the residents of a desert town.
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Why You Should See a Matinee: Dupieux, who you may know as Mr. Oizo, has created one of the oddest films of the year with this killer tire film. I wish it took advantage of the premise a bit more, but there is enough on display to entertain.
Super (James Gunn; April 1st)
Synopsis: An everyday guy (Rainn Wilson) transforms himself into wannabe superhero the Crimson Bolt after his wife leaves him for Jacques (Kevin Bacon), a suave drug-dealer. Joined by teen-sidekick Libby (Ellen Page), the duo engage in war against crime and look to take down Jacques and his empire.
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Why You Should See a Matinee: This dark, twisted superhero film from James Gunn has gotten divisive reviews during its festival run. I've heard it being compared to Observe and Report and if you are like me, that will certainly grab your interest.
American: The Bill Hicks Story (Matt Thomas & Paul Harlock; April 8th)
Synopsis: Photo-animated feature documentary, uniquely narrated by the 10 people who knew Bill best.
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Why You Should See a Matinee: This documentary on the late comedian seems to be the definitive portrayal of a life sadly cut short.
Scream 4 (Wes Craven; April 15th)
Synopsis: Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott (Campbell), who has put herself back together thanks in part to the self-help book she authored, returns to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. Reconnecting with her family and friends, her appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface...
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Why You Should See a Matinee: This seems like a completely unnecessary update for Wes Craven, but I'm sure diehard Scream fans will line up to see what new tricks he has up his sleeve.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams 3D (Werner Herzog; April 29th)
Synopsis: A breathtaking new 3D documentary from the incomparable Werner Herzog follows an exclusive expedition into the nearly inaccessible Chauvet Cave in France, home to the most ancient visual art known to have been created by man. A hit at this year's Toronto Film Festival, Cave of Forgotten Dreams is an unforgettable cinematic experience that provides a unique glimpse of pristine artwork dating back to human hands over 30,000 years ago -- almost twice as old as any previous discovery.
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Why You Should See a Matinee: Herzog's latest documentary is equal parts entertaining and tedious. The 3D photography in the caves is impressive, but Herzog seems to drag what should have been an hour TV special out to its maximum length. If you are looking for an answer on how 3D can be used effectively, I recommend it.
Exporting Raymond (Phil Rosenthal; April 29th)
Synopsis: A documentary on Phil Rosenthal's experiences during the making of Voroniny, the Russian-language version of Everybody Loves Raymond.
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Why You Should See a Matinee: We've all seen odd translations of American films and television shows in foreign countries, but Phil Rosenthal aims to take an entertaining spin on how that process exactly works in this documentary.
Fast Five (Justin Lin; April 29th)
Synopsis: A federal agent (Johnson) is dispatched to Rio de Janeiro, where former cop Brian O'Conner (Walker) an ex-con Dom Toretto (Diesel) are assembling a final race as a desperate chance to gain their freedom.
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Why You Should See a Matinee: Aside from Transformers: Dark of the Moon, this could be the dumbest blockbuster of 2011. It doesn't mean it won't contain some fun. Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel are some of the only true action stars we've got left and I'm looking forward to their face off.
Which films are you looking forward to this month?
