CultBox takes a look at this month’s cinematic highlights…
Oblivion (12A)
Release date: Wednesday 10 April.
The Talent: Joseph Kosinski (Dir.), Tom Cruise, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough.
The Plot: It’s 60 years in the future and humankind has successfully fought off an alien invasion that has destroyed our Moon and left the planet uninhabitable. A drone repairman (Cruise) remains on Earth and discovers secrets that change his life.
The Buzz: Oblivion is a rare beast. A sci-fi film that isn’t part XI of an established franchise. A sci-fi film that isn’t based on a comic book. A sci-fi film that isn’t directed by J. J. Abrams. How on (desolated) Earth is it going to attract an audience?
Step forward a certain Mr Cruise. No matter what your opinion on his personal life or beliefs it cannot be denied that his name on a film usually denotes blockbuster quality. With a look that conjures images of classic ‘70s sci-fi like Logan’s Run and Silent Running and an impressive trailer, this could be the film that’ll give Star Trek Into Darkness a run for its money.
Olympus Has Fallen (15)
Release date: Wednesday 17 April.
The Talent: Antoine Fuqua (Dir.), Gerard Butler, Rick Yune, Aaron Eckhart.
The Plot: When terrorists take over the White House it’s down to Gerard Butler’s Secret Service agent to save the day … and … erm … that’s about it.
The Buzz: Olympus Has Fallen is Hollywood’s first crack at the White House under siege story this year, with White House Down due on our screens in September. As originality goes it’s probably not going to be winning any awards as both films will no doubt be compared with Air Force One and Die Hard.
And yet, the talent on show seems to suggest that this should be a solid action/thriller that will no doubt keep you entertained for a couple of hours. As one wag on Twitter has already stated “It’s the best Die Hard film to be released this year”.
Evil Dead (18)
Release date: Thursday 18 April.
The Talent: Fede Alvarez (Dir.), Jane Levy, Jessica Lucas, Shiloh Fernandez.
The Plot: A group of friends discover the legendary Book of the Dead in the cellar of the remote cabin that they happen to be taking shelter in. What happens next is anyone’s guess … unless you’ve seen the original.
The Buzz: How wise is it to remake a well-loved horror classic? Based on recent examples (Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw 3D) it’s probably up there with that decision to invest in a timeshare apartment on the North/South Korean border. But with Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell on producing duties perhaps it won’t be that bad.
Let’s be honest, this film is not going to have the same effect as the original did, but by shunning CGI and keeping the gore old school this remake just might work. Reviews remain positive and if nothing else you can earn yourself 50 points if you can spot Raimi’s famous Oldsmobile.
Iron Man 3 (TBC)
Release date: Friday 26 April.
The Talent: Shane Black (Dir.), Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle.
The Plot: After the events in New York at the end of Avengers Assemble a new foe rises to take on Iron Man. With his personal life destroyed, Tony Stark must go back to basics to reap revenge on those responsible.
The Buzz: So why would you go to see Iron Man 3? You’re a fan of the comic books? Yes. You enjoyed the previous films? Okay. You’re in love with Robert Downey Jr? That’s a given. Perhaps the real reason to see it lies with new-to-the-franchise director Shane Black.
Who isn’t excited by the man who put the words into the mouths of Riggs and Murtaugh doing the same for Tony Stark? This could be a match made in heaven. And what with the inclusion of Sir Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin and the ‘back to basics’ nature of the plot, we’ll hopefully see a return to the more character-driven drive of the original Iron Man at the expense of some of the wilder excesses of the sequel.
The Look of Love (18)
Release date: Friday 26 April.
The Talent: Michael Winterbottom (Dir.), Steve Coogan, Anna Friel, Imogen Poots, Tamsin Egerton.
The Plot: This British film tells the true life tale of the rise and fall of pornography baron and property magnate Paul Raymond (Coogan) through the three central (and troubled) relationships in his life; his wife, his mistress and his daughter.
The Buzz: Coming from two thirds of the team that brought us BBC Two’s excellent The Trip, you might be mistaken into thinking that this could be some kind of bawdy sex comedy; and indeed it does star some of Britain’s best comedy actors. But this is ultimately a tragic story of how life’s excesses can often bring pain and loneliness.
It won’t do huge numbers at the box office but this is a solid biopic that should be seen, not just for Coogan, but for the impressive performances from the three central female actors who play the spoiled and abused women in Raymond’s life.
What are you looking forward to at the cinema this month? Let us know below…