Nonetheless, summer is near, and April has some awesome-looking specialty releases in store, with my #1 ranking as one of my most anticipated movies of the year, period.
1. Furious 7 (April 3) - I never expected to love the Fast & Furious movies as much as I did. I marathoner them over a weekend last year in anticipation of my Fast & Furious 6 press screening, and they took me by surprise. Here is a series that, despite some serious ups and downs, is never less than entertaining, and is often something much more profound. Action is rarely as intense, over the top, or as outright thrilling as it is with Dom (Vin Diesel) and the gang, and the supremely diverse ensemble boasts perfectly piqued chemistry. This time around, James Wan (The Conjuring) takes the reins, the first new blood at the helm since Justin Lin took over on Tokyo Drift, but early reviews suggest that the franchise is in capable hands. Of course, Furious 7 is a bittersweet entry, as it marks the last appearance of the late Paul Walker, who delivered great work in the series. I expect to shed a few tears at this one.
2. Lost River (April 10) - One of my main celebrity squeezes is Ryan Gosling, who is arguably the greatest actor of his generation, and ranks among the most talented actors working today. He handles drama and comedy with equal skill, but Lost River finds him stepping behind the camera for the first time. A glimpse at Rotten Tomatoes is likely to deter even some of Gosling's most diehard fans; Lost River has been pummeled by critics since it premiered at Cannes last year. But thankfully, Warner Bros. is still giving the film a theatrical release. I still can't help but anticipate the film, hoping that I'll fall into the minority, as I did with the Gosling-starrer Only God Forgives. The neo-noir fantasy film certainly boasts an impressive cast, including Christina Hendricks, Ben Mendelsohn, Saoirse Ronan, and Matt Smith. Even if this proves a disappointing failure, I imagine it'll be fascinating to watch.
3. Ex Machina (April 10) - Some of the most compelling new entries to the sci-fi canon come not from the major studios, but on the indie scene. Ex Machina certainly seems to fit the bill, as the Alex Garland film has received raves from early screenings at festivals and such. Domhnall Gleeson stars as Caleb, a coder at a mammoth internet company who wins a visit to the mountain retreat of the company's reclusive CEO, played by the ever reliable and increasingly ubiquitous Oscar Isaac. While there, Caleb becomes part of an experiment that involves interacting with the world's first truly operational AI. I can only imagine the forays into the uncanny valley, twists in the plot, and astounding images that will be on display.
4. Dior and I (April 10) - One of my favorite super-specific subgenres of film is the fashion documentary. I've devoured docs like Bill Cunningham New York, Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's, The September Issue, and Valentino: The Last Emperor. Hopefully, Dior and I proves as compelling as these others. The film gives viewers a look at the storied fashion house during during a crucial window: the creation of new artistic director Raf Simons' first haute couture collection since assuming the position. Perhaps because I'm so far from high fashion, I always find the love, attention to detail, and creative thought that goes into crafting garments engrossing. (It also doesn't hurt that stars like Marion Cotillard and Jennifer Lawrence appear in the film.)
5. Unfriended (April 17) - Sure, most mainstream horror releases are bland and disappointing. Yes, found footage movies are everywhere, making it hard for anything new to be accomplished within the style. But still, I'm intrigued by the ballsiness of Unfriended, which takes place entirely on a high school girl's computer screen. The premise: a group of friends talking over a Skype group call receive a message from a dead classmate on the anniversary of her death. While they're on the call, weird shit starts happening, and people start dying. The trailer does a great job of selling the conceit; it looks like a truly disturbing, considerably fresh spin on found footage. Clunky title aside (though it's better than the original title, Cybernatural), Unfriended could prove the rare studio horror joint that actually delivers the goods.
Other Notable Releases: 5 to 7 (April 3), Boychoir (April 3), About Elly (April 8), Tangerines (April 16), Child 44 (April 17), Monkey Kingdom (April 17), True Story (April 17), Cheatin' (April 17), The Water Diviner (April 22), Adult Beginners (April 22), Eden (April 23), Iris (April 29)
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