A Bigger Splash

Director Luca Guadagnino

Genre Crime | Drama | Mystery

Cast Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson

Rating R

Release Date May 4th, 2016

“The vacation of a famous rock star and a filmmaker is disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend and his daughter.”

“In A BIGGER SPLASH, the lives of a high profile couple, a famous rock star and a filmmaker, (Tilda Swinton and Matthias Schoenaerts) vacationing and recovering on the idyllic sun-drenched and remote Italian island of Pantelleria are disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend and his daughter (Ralph Fiennes and Dakota Johnson) - creating a whirlwind of jealousy, passion and, ultimately, danger for everyone involved. ”

Elvis & Nixon

Director Liza Johnson

Genre Comedy | History

Cast Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Colin Hanks, Alex Pettyfer

Rating R

Release Date April 22nd, 2016

“The untold true story behind the meeting between the King of Rock ‘n Roll and President Nixon, resulting in this revealing, yet humorous moment immortalized in the most requested photograph in the National Archives.”

“On a December morning in 1970, the King of Rock ‘n Roll showed up on the lawn of the White House to request a meeting with the most powerful man in the world, President Nixon. Starring Academy Award® nominee Michael Shannon as Elvis Presley and two-time Academy Award® winner Kevin Spacey as Richard Nixon, comes the untold true story behind this revealing, yet humorous moment in the Oval Office forever immortalized in the most requested photograph in the National Archives”

Keanu

Director Peter Atencio

Genre Comedy

Cast Keegan Michael-Key, Jordan Peele, Will Forte, Jason Mitchell

Rating R

Release Date April 29th, 2016

“Friends hatch a plot to retrieve a stolen cat by posing as drug dealers for a street gang.”

Key & Peele have done quite well for themselves with their Comedy Central skits, that goes without saying. They have both "dabbled" in the movie business but have yet to concoct their own film for the masses. That is until now. Introducing Keanu, what looks to be a hilarious comedic version of John Wick with a cute kitten causing all of the fuss. When I first watched the trailer in theaters I wasn't quite sure if this was a gag or an actual film. Once I knew it was for real I was filled with anticipation and sheer joy. I honestly can't wait for April 29th! Check out the trailer below.

Ratchet and Clank

Director Kevin Munroe, Jericca Cleland

Genre Animation | Action | Adventure

Cast James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye, Jim Ward, Rosario Dawson

Rating PG

Release Date April 29th, 2016

“When the galaxy comes under the threat of a nefarious space captain, a mechanic and his newfound robot ally join an elite squad of combatants to save the universe.”

“Ratchet and Clank tells the story of two unlikely heroes as they struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way they’ll learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one’s own identity.”

The Huntsman: Winter's War

Director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan

Genre Action | Adventure | Drama

Cast Jessica Chastain, Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt, Charlize Theron

Rating PG-13

Release Date April 22nd, 2016

“As two evil sisters prepare to conquer the land; two renegades - Eric the Huntsman - who previously aided Snow White in defeating Ravenna, and his forbidden lover, Sara set out to stop them.”

The Huntsman: Winter's War has me intrigued. The trailer looks action packed and the cast is incredible and includes a few of my favorite actors including Emily Blunt (loved her in Edge Of Tomorrow) and Chris Hemsworth. I am looking forward to this one and crossing my fingers that it does not dissapoint. Check out the exciting and intense trailer below.

The Jungle Book

Director Jon Favreau

Genre Adventure | Drama | Family

Cast Neel Sethi, Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Bill Murray

Rating PG

Release Date April 15th, 2016

“An orphan boy is raised in the jungle with the help of a pack of wolves, a bear, and a black panther.”

The Jungle Book is directed by actor/director Jon Favreau who previously directed Iron Man 1 & 2. The film has a ton of A-list voice acting talent including the always beautiful Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Bill Murray (his first ever Disney film), and plenty of others. The Jungle Book will release on April 15th, 2016 which is the 45th anniversary of the original 1967 film. It will be released in 3D and IMAX 3D.  I can't wait!! Check out the trailer below.

Barbershop: The Next Cut

Director Malcolm D. Lee

Genre Comedy

Cast Ice Cube, Cedric The Entertainer, Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson

Rating PG-13

Release Date April 15th, 2016

“It’s been more than 10 years since our last appointment at Calvin’s Barbershop. Calvin and his longtime crew are still there, but the shop has undergone some major changes. Most noticeably, our once male-dominated sanctuary is now co-ed. The ladies bring their own flavor, drama and gossip to the shop challenging the fellas at every turn. Despite the good times and camaraderie within the shop, the surrounding community has taken a turn for the worse, forcing Calvin and our crew to come together to not only save the shop, but their neighborhood.”

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man Holiday) Barbershop: The Next Cut or Barbershop 3 (10 years after the second film released) as you could call it takes place in Chicago and attempts to bring the focus to the current gang situation going in in the city. I think it looks really funny and includes a great cast that seems to have plenty of chemistry. Barbershop: The Next Cut will hit theaters on April 15th which is 2 months earlier than initially anticipated. Check out the trailer below.

Remember

Director Atom Egoyan

Genre Drama | Thriller

Cast Christopher Plummer, Dean Norris, Martin Landau, Henry Czerny

Rating R

Release Date April 1st, 2016 (Limited Release)

“With the aid of a fellow Auschwitz survivor and a hand-written letter, an elderly man with dementia goes in search of the person responsible for the death of his family.”

“Remember” is the contemporary story of Zev, who discovers that the Nazi guard who murdered his family some 70 years ago is living in America under an assumed identity. Despite the obvious challenges, Zev sets out on a mission to deliver long-delayed justice with his own trembling hand. What follows is a remarkable cross-continent road-trip with surprising consequences.”

Eye in the Sky

Director Gavin Hood

Genre Drama | Thriller | War

Cast Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Alan Rickman, Barkhad Abdi

Rating R

Release Date April 1st, 2016

“A military officer in command of a drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya sees her mission escalate from “capture” to “kill” just as a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone.”

Helen Mirren and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) together in a film? Sounds like the recipe for success. Eye In The Sky looks like a more intense and bigger scale version of the straight to on-demand but very well done film Good Kill which starred Ethan Hawke. The disconnect between a drone pilot taking lives from thousands of miles away provides a serious moral dilemma that is very real and something very much on this countries radar. Director Gavin Hood (Enders Game, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) might have a masterpiece on his hands with Eye In The Sky, I can't wait to see it. Check out the trailer below.

Midnight Special

Director Jeff Nichols

Genre Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Cast Adam Driver, Kirsten Dunst, Paul Sparks, Michael Shannon

Rating PG-13

Release Date March 18th, 2016

“A father and son go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers.”

Midnight Special is very much an under-the-radar film but it actually includes an impressive cast including Adam Driver, Kirsten Dunst, Michael Shannon, and Joel Edgerton. It is directed and written by Jeff Nichols who also directed the hit independent film MUD. According to Nichols, Midnight Special which was completed in just 40 days, was written as a reflection of him becoming a father. Regardless of why the film came to fruition in the first place, it looks pretty good. Check out the trailer below.

Holidays

Director Anthony Scott Burns, Kevin Kolsch, Nicholas McCarthy, Adam Egypt Mortimer, Gary Shore, Kevin Smith, Sarah Adina Smith, Scott Stewart, Dennis Widmyer, Ellen Reid

Genre Horror | Comedy

Cast Lorenza Izzo, Kevin Smith, Seth Green, Clare Grant

Rating Unrated

Release Date April 15th, 2016 (Limited & On-Demand

“HOLIDAYS is an anthology feature film that puts a uniquely dark and original spin on some of the most iconic and beloved holidays of all time by challenging our folklore, traditions and assumptions.”

“HOLIDAYS is an anthology feature film that puts a uniquely dark and original spin on some of the most iconic and beloved holidays of all time. The film challenges our folklore, traditions and assumptions, making HOLIDAYS a celebration of the horror on those same special days’ year after year. A collaboration of some of Hollywood’s most distinct voices, the directors include Kevin Smith (Tusk), Gary Shore (Dracula Untold), Scott Stewart (Dark Skies), Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer (Starry Eyes), Sarah Adina Smith (The Midnight Swim), Nicholas McCarthy (The Pact), Adam Egypt Mortimer (Some Kind of Hate), and Anthony Scott Burns (Darknet).”

10 Cloverfield Lane

Director Dan Trachtenberg

Genre Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Cast Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher, Jr., Matt Vairo

Rating Unrated

Release Date March 11th, 2016

“Waking up from a car accident, a young woman finds herself in the basement of a man who says he’s saved her life from a chemical attack that has left the outside uninhabitable.”

I'm not quite sure how I feel about 10 Cloverfield Lane yet, I figure it could go a few different ways. Are we talking about a sequel to the shaky camera film Cloverfield that ranks in the top 10 list of films causing the audience to leave the theater early due to camera induced nausea? Or something altogether new and exciting? I guess I will have to wait and see just like everyone else but the trailer, the cast, and J.J. Abrams involvement (although possibly minimal) has me intrigued.

Criminal

Director Ariel Vromen

Genre Action | Crime | Drama

Cast Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Costner, Gal Gadot, Gary Oldman

Release Date April 15th, 2016

“The memories & skills of a deceased CIA agent are implanted into an unpredictable and dangerous convict.”

Criminal is directed by Ariel Vromen who also directed The Iceman which starred Michael Shannon. Criminal has a star studded cast including the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Costner, Gal Gadot (she seems to be in everything these days) and Gary Oldman. I feel like Criminal is one of those movies that can either make or break itself by having such a great cast. On one hand it should draw plenty of attention but on the other hand the expectations will be relatively high leaving a small margin for error. My hope is that Criminal is able to deliver, it does look promising. Check out the trailer below.

Knight of Cups

Director Terrence Malnick

Genre Drama | Romance

Cast Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Antonio Banderas

Rating R

Release Date March 4th, 2016

“Once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup. Drinking it, he forgot he was the son of a king, forgot about the pearl and fell into a deep sleep.”

Written and directed by Terrence Malnick (The Tree of Life) and starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, & Natalie Portman, Knight of Cups looks like an artfully shot film about self-discovery and the toll life inevitably takes on all of us. Granted that is my own personal opinion of what I think the film will entail, the trailer looks quite unique and it could certainly go a few different ways. With this cast it deserves a look either way. See for yourself below. 

Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice

Director Zack Snyder

Genre Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Cast Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg

Rating PG-13

Release Date March 25th, 2016

“Fearing the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on Superman, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs. With Batman and Superman fighting each other, a new threat, Doomsday, is created by Lex Luthor. It’s up to Superman and Batman to set aside their differences along with Wonder Woman to stop Lex Luthor and Doomsday from destroying Metropolis.”

The first few trailers for Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice left me a little skeptical I must say, they just felt like they were a bit too goofy for my taste. I am a huge fan of The Dark Knight films and I felt like Christian Bale played the role of Batman very well. I enjoyed how dark and gritty the films were and I really hope that Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice can set that same tone. Can Ben Affleck get the job done? Sure he can, you just need to have a little faith. Check out the trailer below.

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice The Ultimate Edition—which features 30 minutes of new footage incorporated into an extended, R-rated cut of the film—will be available early on Digital HD on June 28th along with the theatrical version of the movie, and both will be available to purchase on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Ultra HD Blu-ray on July 19th.”

— Collider

Check out the Official Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition trailer below!!

Hardcore Henry

Director Ilya Naishuller

Genre Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Cast Haley Bennett, Tim Roth, Sharlto Copley, Cyrus Arnold

Rating R

Release Date April 8th, 2016

“A first-person action film from the eyes of Henry, who’s resurrected from death with no memory. He must discover his identity and save his wife from a warlord with a plan to bio-engineer soldiers.”

I think it is rather obvious that Hardcore Henry is a film that offers something we have yet to experience. I mean a legit first-person R-rated action film?! Pinch me because I must be dreaming! I just hope this is half as cool as it looks because that alone would be enough to make it worth my while. Check out the trailer below. 

The Boss

Director Ben Falcone

Genre Comedy

Cast Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage, Kristen Schaal

Rating R

Release Date April 8th, 2016

“A titan of industry is sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.”

I am not ashamed to admit that I am a Melissa McCarthy fan, I think she is hilarious. She is enjoyable in Mike & Molly but she really shines with her r-rated brand of humor. Admittedly her newest film Spy was one of my favorites and I thought she was fantastic in The Heat alongside Sandra Bullock. I also get a kick out of the fact that her husband appears in all of her films and she is always somehow humiliating him (pictured above). Check out the trailer below.

Gods Not Dead 2

Director Harold Cronk

Genre Drama

Cast Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe, David A.R. White, Ray Wise

Rating PG

Release Date April 1st, 2016

“When a high school teacher is asked a question in class about Jesus, her reasoned response lands her in deep trouble and could expel God from the public square once and for all.”

Gods Not Dead 2 is directed by Harold Cronk who also directed Gods Not Dead, and stars Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe, and David A.R. White. The first film received quite a bit of negative feedback from critics but viewers seemed relatively pleased. Hopefully the sequel receives a warmer critic welcome, or not, I guess it doesn't really matter as long as the people buying the tickets are pleased. Check out the trailer below.

Everybody Wants Some!!

Director Richard Linklater

Genre Comedy

Cast Zoey Deutch, Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin, Ryan Guzman

Rating R

Release Date April 8th, 2016

“A group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.”

From director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Boyhood), Everybody Wants Some is considered to be a spirited sequel to 1993's Dazed and Confused and a continuation of his critically acclaimed 2014 film Boyhood. Linklater states that Everybody Wants Some!! essentially picks up where Boyhood left off which is a freshman arriving at college meeting his new roommates. I really enjoyed Boyhood and I felt that it was a unique and vastly entertaining film and I can't wait to see Linklater's newest work. Check out the trailer below.

Hush

Director Mike Flanagan

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast John Gallagher Jr, Kate Siegel, Michael Trucco, Samantha Sloyan

Rating R

Release Date April 8th, 2016 (Limited Theaters & Netflix)

“A deaf woman is stalked by a psychotic killer in her secluded home.”

Directed and co-written by Mike Flanagan, who also directed Oculus and the yet to be released horror film Before I Wake, Hush is an intimate take on the horror genre. Filmed in less than 18 days, Hush contains under 15 minutes of dialogue meaning that 70 minutes of the hour and 127 minute run-time go by without a single word being spoken. Sounds creepy huh? Flanagan co-wrote the film with his new wife Kate Siegel who stars in the film and also starred in Oculus. Can you handle the tension Hush promises to deliver? We will find out soon enough. The film will be made available on Netflix the day of it's limited theatrical release on April 8th. Check out the trailer below.