April 2019 Movie Guide

TGATP NOTE: I missed doing my movie guide for March so I have included some movies that came out in late March in this April guide. This is a Level 3 post. Check out my Terms of Service for full disclosures.

This month, I cannot wait for the 26th when the latest Avengers hits! I am so excited about “Avengers: Endgame” that I am going to forego the press screening – for some odd reason Disney never screens in IMAX or Dolby – and buy tickets to see it in the only true IMAX in NYC – the AMC Lincoln Loews. I am also looking forward to a reimagined “Shazam” and the remake of Stephen King’s horror classic “Pet Sematary”. I highly reccommend seeing both “Breakthrough” and “Amazing Grace” to celebrate Easter and “Teen Spirit” is one of my favorite films of the year, so far.

We also have the Tribeca Film Festival this month with tons of films and events. Check out https://www.tribecafilm.com for ticket info.

March 22

Shazam

It is a wee bit confusing that the superhero in “Shazam” is also called “Captain Marvel” since we have the Avengers Captain Marvel. I was a big Shazam fan as a kid because it was the one superhero comic that combined silliness with super powers . This is sure to be a blast for the whole family.

Plot Summary: Billy Batson is a streetwise 14-year-old who can magically transform into the adult superhero Shazam simply by shouting out one word. His newfound powers soon get put to the test when he squares off against the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.

Cast: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Faithe Herman, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen

Director: David F. Sandberg

Genres: Comedy ,  Adventure ,  Action
Production Co: New Line Cinema, DC Entertainment
Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures

March 29

US

Jordan Peele knocks it out of the park again with this scary, fun film. While I didn’t love it as much as “Get Out” when I first saw it, once I thought about it I recognized the sheer genius of the story. My one change? The Tethered should have simply been our naturally manifested worst selves, instead of the products of some government conspiracy.

Plot Summary: Accompanied by her husband, son and daughter, Adelaide Wilson returns to the beachfront home where she grew up as a child. Haunted by a traumatic experience from the past, Adelaide grows increasingly concerned that something bad is going to happen. Her worst fears soon become a reality when four masked strangers descend upon the house, forcing the Wilsons into a fight for survival. When the masks come off, the family is horrified to learn that each attacker takes the appearance of one of them.

Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Anna Diop, Evan Alex, Shahadi Wright Joseph

Director: Jordan Peele

Genres: Thriller , Horror

Production Co: Monkeypaw Productions, Universal Pictures, QC Entertainment, Blumhouse Productions, Mongrel Media
Distributors: Universal Pictures

Dumbo

Seeing the animated version of Disney’s “Dumbo” is one of my earliest childhood memories. I remember how sad it was to me. I have yet to see this version but it looks womderful.

Plot Summary: Struggling circus owner Max Medici enlists a former star and his two children to care for Dumbo, a baby elephant born with oversized ears. When the family discovers that the animal can fly, it soon becomes the main attraction — bringing in huge audiences and revitalizing the run-down circus. The elephant’s magical ability also draws the attention of V.A. Vandevere, an entrepreneur who wants to showcase Dumbo in his latest, larger-than-life entertainment venture.

Cast: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin, Nico Parker, Finley Hobbins, Roshan Seth

Director: Tim Burton

Genres: Fantasy , Drama , Children
Production Co: Bobker/Kruger Films
Distributors: Walt Disney

April 5th

The Wind

Really creepy period piece set on the prarie, the Wind will stay with you and creep you out long after the credits have rolled.

Plot Summary: Lizzy is a tough, resourceful frontierswoman settling a remote stretch of land on the 19th-century American frontier. Isolated from civilization in a desolate wilderness where the wind never stops howling, she begins to sense a sinister presence that seems to be borne of the land itself, an overwhelming dread that her husband dismisses as superstition. When a newlywed couple arrive at a nearby homestead, their presence amplifies Lizzy’s fears, setting into motion a shocking chain of events.

Cast: Caitlin Gerard, Julia Goldani Telles, Ashley Zukerman, Miles Anderson, Dylan McTee

Director: Emma Tammi
Genres: Western , Thriller , Horror
Production Co: Divide/Conquer, IFC Films, Divide / Conquer, Soapbox Films, Mind Hive Films

Pet Sematary

Featuring the scariest parting sentence of any book ever written, “Pet Sematary” is my favorite Stephen King novel of all time. The originak film, while scary, veered toward campiness. The new version changed the story completely and not for the better! While horror fans should see it, I was very disappointed.

Plot Summary: Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, relocate from Boston to rural Maine with their two young children. The couple soon discover a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his neighbor Jud Crandall, setting off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unspeakable evil with horrific consequences.

Cast: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, Jeté Laurence, Hugo Lavoie, Lucas Lavoie

Director: Kevin Kolsch, Dennis Widmyer
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Alphaville Films
Distributors: Paramount Pictures

The Best Of Enemies

The pairing of Taraji Henson and Sam Rockwell in this true story from the civil rights era looks like the first Oscar-worthy film of the year. In these racially fraught times, it is so important that we remember what we have come through. I would love to see some high school outreach to get high school kids in the seats for this one.

Plot Summary: The true story of the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater, an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a local Ku Klux Klan leader. During the racially charged summer of 1971, Atwater and Ellis come together to co-chair a community summit on the desegregation of schools in Durham, N.C. The ensuing debate and battle soon lead to surprising revelations that change both of their lives forever.

Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Sam Rockwell, Babou Ceesay, Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Nick Searcy, John Gallagher Jr., Bruce McGill

Director: Robin Bissell
Production Co: Material, STX Entertainment
Distributors: STX Films

Amazing Grace

An amazing film about an amazing woman! This is the closest we will all get to experiencing a 1970’s Aretha concert. All concert and no story, this is a perfect tribute to the Queen Of Soul. 

Plot Summary: Singer Aretha Franklin performs gospel songs at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972.

Cast: Aretha Franklin

Director:  Sydney Pollack

April 12th

Little

I loved this instant classic about a successful but really mean black professional, who is forced to relive her childhood to heal her scars. The whole cast is pitch perfect and the story is wonderful.

Plot Summary: Jordan is a take-no-prisoners tech mogul who torments her long-suffering assistant, April, and the rest of her employees on a daily basis. She soon faces an unexpected threat to her personal life and career when she magically transforms into a 13-year-old version of herself right before a do-or-die presentation. Jordan will now need to rely on April more than ever — if April is willing to stop treating Jordan like a 13-year-old child who has an attitude problem.

Cast: Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Justin Hartley, Tracee Ellis Ross, Tone Bell, Mikey Day, JD McCrary

Director: Tina Gordon Chism

Genres: Fantasy , Comedy
Production Co: Legendary Entertainment, Dentsu, Will Packer Productions, Universal Pictures
Distributors: Universal Pictures

Missing Link

Anything Hugh Jackman is involved with is a must-see in my book. Add Stephen Fry and Zach Galifianakis and I am definitely there.

Plot Summary: Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link — 8 feet tall and covered in fur — recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, the trio encounters their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world. Through it all, they learn that sometimes one can find a family in the places one least expects.

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis, Zoe Saldana, David Walliams, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Timothy Olyphant, Amrita Acharia

Director: Chris Butler

Genres: Children , Animated , Adventure , Comedy
Production Co: Laika, Annapurna Pictures
Distributors: Annapurna Pictures

Teen Spirit

I loved this film and it is just what we need in these fraught times! A Flashdance type  story – there is even a tiny homage to that 80’s classic in the beginning – this feel-good movie follows a very talented Polish teen on her quest to win a version of an “American Idol” type TV show in the UK. You will fall. in love with all of these characters.

Plot Summary: A shy teenager dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition.

Cast: Elle Fanning, Zlatko Buric, Rebecca Hall, Agnieszka Grochowska, Clara Rugaard, Millie Brady, Olive Gray, Ruairi O’Connor

Director: Max Minghella

Genres: Drama , Music

Production Co: Blank Tape, Automatik, Automatik Entertainment, Aperture Media Partners

April 19th

Breakthrough

Just in time for Easter comes this wondrous story of a Godly miracle. It’s a Christian movie. However, the story has universal importance and appeal. I wept with Joy thoroughout this one. As a Christian, it made me realize that even though we don’t often think about it, we are still living in Biblical times. The Bible is still being written and we are still experiencing  miracles.

Plot Summary: Tragedy strikes when Joyce Smith’s adopted son, John, falls through the ice on a frozen lake in Missouri. Trapped underwater for more than 15 minutes, rescuers bring John back to the surface and rush him to the nearest hospital. While doctors fear the worst, the 14-year-old boy continues to fight for his life as Joyce, her husband and their pastor stay by his bedside and pray for a miracle.

Cast: Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, Marcel Ruiz, Sam Trammell, Dennis Haysbert, Isaac Kragten

Director: Roxann Dawson

Genres: Drama
Production Co: Franklin Entertainment
Distributors: 20th Century Fox

Penquins

The annual Disney Nature film to celebrate Earth Day celebrates and raises money for vital penquin conservation programs. 

Plot Summary: In the icy Antarctic spring, a penguin named Steve joins millions of fellow males on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a life partner and start a family.

Cast: Steve the Penquin and the other Penquins of Anartica

Director: Jeff Wilson , Alastair Fothergill

Genres: Documentary
Production Co: Disneynature
Distributors: Walt Disney

The Curse of La LLorona

I am a big horror fan, so looking forward to this lastest scary take on the legend of La Llorona aka “The Weeping Woman”.

Plot Summary: In 1970s Los Angeles, the legendary ghost La Llorona is stalking the night — and the children. Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother, a social worker and her own kids are drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope of surviving La Llorona’s deadly wrath is a disillusioned priest who practices mysticism to keep evil at bay.

Cast: Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Patricia Velasquez, Marisol Ramirez, Sean Patrick Thomas, Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen, Roman Christou, Tony Amendola

Director: Michael Chaves

Genres: Thriller , Horror

Production Co: New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster
Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures

April 26th

Avengers: Endgame

I have been waiting for this with the excitement of a kid for Christmas. I bought my ticket first day they went on sale and will be seeing it on the very first day! The end of the Avengers saga looks to be as exciting as Infinity War was. All I know is that my gals Gamora and Shuri and Black Panther and all the Avengers better come back and make it through till the end! Otherwise, I am not gonna be a happy camper.

Plot Summary: Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers — Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner — must figure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos — the evil demigod who decimated the planet and the universe.

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Josh Brolin, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Genres: Adventure , Action , Science fiction , Fantasy
Production Co: Marvel Studios
Distributors: Walt Disney