“Teen Spirit“
Cast: Elle Fanning, Rebecca Hall, Zlatko Buric
Synopsis: Violet (Elle Fanning) is a shy teenager who 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.
What You Need to Know: If anything can be gleaned from her career thus far, it’s that actress Elle Fanning is a deeply emotive actress with immeasurable range. With “Teen Spirit,” the feature film debut by actor-turned-director Max Minghella, Fanning gets to add “teen pop-star” to the list of characters she’s had the chance to embody, bringing with her a distinct sense of vulnerability and steely, quiet resolve. Written and directed by Minghella and, our critic argued that as much as the performers bring to the table, it might not be enough of a star vehicle to guarantee exposure. They wrote, “The satirical edge that appeared in a film such as ‘Pitch Perfect’ could have helped make this movie a little edgier and without the flat feel that takes over the film.”
Release Date: April 12th
“Missing Link”
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis
Synopsis: Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link 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, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend.
What You Need to Know: The big sell here is the production company, Laika, and their dedication to the stop-motion artistry that tends to fade into the background when the more familiar styles of Pixar and such dominating the conversation. With films such as “Coraline” and “Kubo and the Two Strings,” anything that’s released under that header is going to be a must-watch, especially in a season where family films are about to be universally taken over by billion dollars worth of superhero merchandising and special effects. While animated family films are hardly taking hits when it comes to the box office, a film like “Missing Link” would be a welcome reprieve to those not wishing to bring their children to yet another superhero film.
Release Date: April 12th
“Her Smell“
Cast: Elizabeth Moss, Dan Stevens, Cara Delevingne
Synopsis: Becky Something is a ’90s punk rock superstar who once filled arenas with her grungy all-female trio Something She. Now she plays smaller venues while grappling with motherhood, exhausted bandmates, nervous record company executives, and a new generation of rising talent eager to usurp her stardom. When Becky’s chaos and excesses derail a recording session and national tour, she finds herself shunned, isolated and alone.
What You Need to Know: It would seem that that our troubled female pop/punk singer stories are getting a bit of a moment, with this month’s “Teen Spirit” and last year’s “Vox Lux.” The more the merrier, especially if they’re allowing superb actresses such as Elizabeth Moss the chance to flex her acting muscles with such stunning results. Directed by her “Queen of Earth” director Alex Ross Perry, “Her Smell” not only looks like a prime opportunity for Moss to once again stun us this year (following a great supporting role in Jordan Peele’s “Us“) but also a moment for Perry to approach something outside of his typical element. Our critic who saw it at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival said that Moss is worth the price of a ticket alone but, if that’s not enough to persuade you, “Add in the picture’s 35mm photography, weighty themes, and entertaining musical numbers, and you have a film that is worthy of a spot on your must-see list.”
Release Date: April 12th
“Little Woods“
Cast: Tessa Thompson, Lily James, James Badge Dale
Synopsis: Little Woods, North Dakota, is a fracking boomtown well beyond its prime. Ollie is trying to survive the last few days of her probation after getting caught illegally running prescription pills over the Canadian border. But when her mother dies, she is thrust back into the life of her estranged sister Deb, who is facing her own crisis with an unplanned pregnancy and a deadbeat ex. The two find they have one week to settle the mortgage on their mother’s house or face foreclosure.
What You Need to Know: Between adding her name to the ever-growing docket of Hollywood elite on the Marvel payroll, making cameo appearances in Janelle Monae music videos and stealing scenes in “Creed II” and “Sorry to Bother You,” actress Tessa Thompson had time to film an independent character drama “Little Woods” on her way to world domination. Written and directed by first time feature film director Nia DaCosta, “Little Woods” allows both Thompson and James ample oppertunity to shine and showcase their versatility and chemistry and estranged sisters. Premiering at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, the film is a wonder of small moments, understanding what doesn’t need to be said to be conveyed onscreen. It’s a stunning debut for DaCosta, a talent I hope to see in the directors chair for a long time ahead. Our critic who saw it agreed, saying it “…offers a rare and insightful look at the life of America’s struggling working class with the exceptional modern-day Western…”
Release Date: April 19th
“Rafiki“
Cast: Samantha Mugastia, Sheila Munyiva
Synopsis: Good Kenyan girls become good Kenyan wives,” but Kena and Ziki long for something more. When love blossoms between them, the two girls will be forced to choose between happiness and safety
What You Need to Know: Directed by Wanuri Kahiu, “Rafiki” made waves when it premiered last year at the Cannes Film Festival. The first Kenyan film to be selected to screen at the festival, as well as premiering while the conversations about the LGBTQ community were immensely tense in Kenya, it was initially banned in the country. The ban was lifted for a brief period of time to meet eligibility for the Foreign Language category at the Oscars but the film ultimately didn’t make the cut. However, it has still amassed great praise for the film itself and handling of the romance between the two women, playing as a crucial reminder of the necessity of films and studios to continue to support, bolster and promote minority voices.
Release Date: April 19th
“Avengers: Endgame“
Cast: At this point who isn’t in the cast?
Synopsis: The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, “Avengers: Endgame.”
What You Need to Know: Literally nothing. Go into this film blind if you can because once it’s out it’s going to be damn near impossible to avoid spoilers. The ticket sales have already broken records and there’s no denying that “Avengers: Endgame” on a purely box office level, is going to be one of the biggest of all time. That being said, the greater question is where quality wise the Russo Brothers are going to be able to stick the landing. The pressure is unforgiving and even at a whopping three hour run time, there’s quite a lot of story to introduce and resolve by the time the credits role with a decade worth of stories lending weight to character intent and motive. It’s going to be a spectacle, it’s hopefully going to lean into the need for stakes and possibly be a downright mess, but Marvel knows the expectations following this one – the end to a chapter in the studios book – and hopefully are more than up to the challenge.
Release Date: April 26th
