CinemaScopes: April 2021
Michael B. Jordan in Tom Clancy’s “Without Remorse”
New film releases are finally starting to pick up, with more cinemas opening around the country (specifically on the West Coast). The backlog of film debuts begins this month as we lead up to the summer season. Here are some top picks for April.
Concrete Cowboy
Directed by Ricky Staub
Rated R
April 2nd on Netflix
Inspired by the novel Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri, Ricky Staub’s coming-of-age drama follows a young teenager named Cole (Caleb McLaughlin), who is sent to spend a summer with his estranged father Harp (Idris Elba), the horse-riding figure in the city’s community of black cowboys. Inspired by the actual residents in the North Philly neighborhood in which the movie takes place. Co-starring Jharrel Jerome, Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint, and Clifford “Method Man” Smith.
The Unholy
Directed by Evan Spiliotopoulos
Rated PG-13
April 2 In Theaters
The film follows Alice (Cricket Brown), a young hearing-impaired girl who, after a supposed visitation from the Virgin Mary, is inexplicably able to hear, speak and heal the sick. As word spreads and people from near and far flock to witness her miracles, a disgraced journalist (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) hoping to revive his career visits the small New England town to investigate. When terrifying events begin to happen all around, he starts to question if these phenomena are the works of the Virgin Mary or something more sinister. Also starring William Sadler, Cary Elwes, and Katie Aselton.
Thunder Force
Directed by Ben Falcone
Rated PG-13
April 9th on Netflix
In a world terrorized by supervillains, one woman has developed the process to give superpowers to regular people. But when scientist Emily Stanton (Octavia Spencer) accidentally imbues her estranged best-friend Lydia (Melissa McCarthy) with incredible abilities, the two women must become the first superhero team. Now, it is up to Thunder Force to battle the super-powered Miscreants and save Chicago from the clutches of The King (Bobby Cannavale).
Voyagers
Directed by Neil Burger
Rated PG-13
April 9th in Theaters
With the future of the human race at stake, a group of young men and women, bred for intelligence and obedience, embark on an expedition to colonize a distant planet. But when they uncover disturbing secrets about the mission, they defy their training and begin to explore their most primitive natures. As life on the ship descends into chaos, they become consumed by fear, lust, and the insatiable hunger for power. Starring Colin Farrell, Tye Sheridan, and Lily-Rose Depp.
Marvel’s The New Mutants
Directed by Josh Boone
Rated PG-13
April 10th on HBO Max
This terrifying, action-filled film based on the MARVEL comic series follows five young people who demonstrate special powers who are forced to undergo treatment at a secret institution — allegedly to cure them of the dangers of their powers. But it’s soon clear that their containment is part of a much bigger battle between the forces of good and evil! Starring Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Alice Braga, Blu Hunt, and Henry Zaga.
Mortal Kombat
Directed by Simon McQuoid
Rated R
April 16th – In Theaters & HBO Max
Inspired by the blockbuster video game franchise, the film finds MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan), unaware of his heritage—or why Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family’s safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) at the direction of Jax (Mehcad Brooks), a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden, along with experienced warriors Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and rogue mercenary Kano, as he prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.
Stowaway
Directed by Joe Penna
Rated NR
April 22nd on Netflix
A three-person crew (Toni Collette, Daniel Day Kim, and Anna Kendrick) on a mission to Mars faces an impossible choice when an unplanned passenger (Shamier Anderson) jeopardizes the lives of everyone on board.
Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse
Directed by Stefano Sollima
Rated R
April 30th on Amazon Prime
An elite Navy SEAL (Michael B. Jordan) uncovers an international conspiracy while seeking justice for the murder of his pregnant wife in the explosive origin story of action hero John Clark – one of the most popular characters in author Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan universe. Also starring Jamie Bell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Guy Pearce, and Lauren London.
Things Heard And Seen
Directed by Shari Springer Berman/Robert Pulcini
Rated NR
April 30 – Netflix
After leaving Manhattan for small-town life, a young woman (Amanda Seyfried) discovers that both her husband (James Norton) and their new home harbor sinister secrets in this horror thriller. Also starring F. Murray Abraham, Karen Allen, Natalie Dyer, and Rhea Seehorn.
-Lori Vernon
