Happy April! The second quarter of the year is here and brings our natural world's beauty (and for my fellow allergics, pollen)!
Movies
Very Excited
The Beast | 4/5 | Theaters - Limited
In the near future emotions have become a threat. Gabrielle decides to purify her DNA in a machine that will immerse her in her past lives and rid her of any strong feelings. But then she meets Louis, and although he seems dangerous, she feels a powerful connection to him as if she has known him forever.
I quite enjoy Léa Seydoux and George MacKay as performers, so the idea of them doing a sci-fi, surreal, romance really catches my eye. The trailer is great and it was a Golden Lion Best Picture Nominee at the Venice Film Festival.
Girls State | 4/5 | Apple TV+
What would American democracy look like in the hands of teenage girls? In this documentary, young female leaders from wildly different backgrounds in Missouri navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up.
2020’s Boys State was a good, and fascinating documentary that followed young boys as they created and ran their own form of government. It was scary, funny, sad, and hopeful. I’m hoping Girls State is just as intriguing. It seems like it will!
Monkey Man | 4/5 | Theaters
Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.
Dev Patel’s directorial debut is interesting, considering his past filmography. I’m not sure if it will actually be good, but I think it’ll be fun to watch regardless. The trailer promises something akin to John Wick, so one can hope!
The People’s Joker | 4/5 | Theaters - Limited
A law-breaking comedian who is grappling with her gender identity forms a new anti-comedy troupe with a friend and finds herself battling a fascistic caped crusader.
Originally, I was going to try and see this during Beyond Fest last year, but the movie was facing some legal issues around using the Batman mythology for parody. Thankfully it’s now out of film jail and it appears to be a weird, transgressive romp.
The Greatest Hits | 4/12 | Hulu
Harriet finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time – literally. While she relives the past through romantic memories of her former boyfriend, her time-traveling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present. As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders – even if she could change the past, should she?
Lucy Boynton was great in Sing Street and Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and Justin H. Min was excellent in After Yang. Their casting and a fun premise give me hope this will be elevated to a great romance.
Omen | 4/12 | Theaters - Limited
Between Brussels, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, Augure borrows from magic realism to paint a portrait of “undesirables” and “sorcerers” through the intertwined stories of protagonists of different genders and generations, confronted with the prejudice and suspicion of those around them.
What a trailer! This multiple Cannes Film Festival nominee looks incredible. I also personally want to try and take in more contemporary African cinema, as each time I watch one, it leaves me in a state of wonder.
We Grown Now | 4/19 | Thetaers - Limited
Two young boys, best friends Malik and Eric, discover the joys and hardships of growing up in the sprawling Cabrini-Green public housing complex in 1992 Chicago.
I’m kind of a sucker for Sony Pictures Classics releases, so, though I don’t know much about any of the other creators of this, the SPC attachment and the Film Independent Spirit Best Picture Nomination have caught my interest.
Terrestrial Verses | 4/26 | Theaters - Limited
A satirical take on the mundane absurdities of life in modern-day Iran, these nine vignettes illuminate the lighter side of enduring under authoritarian rule. Whether choosing a name for a newborn, graduating from grade school, getting a driver’s license, applying for a job, or seeking approval for a film script, if you live in Iran, you best come fluent in Orwellian discourse. Progressing along a rough timeline from birth to death, each story is shot in a static camera angle as a single petitioner negotiates with an authority figure hovering just outside of frame, who is practiced in the language of doublespeak.
I’m mostly interested in taking in some modern Iranian movies, similar to my desire relating to Omen. It has also gone 8/8 in film festival nominations to wins. That’s very intriguing!
Pretty Excited
The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem | 4/5 | Netflix
From Rickrolling to viral conspiracy theories, explore how an anonymous website evolved into a hub for real-world chaos in this documentary.
Chicken for Linda! | 4/5 | Theaters - Limited
Paulette realizes she has unfairly punished her daughter Linda. To make up for it, she promises to cook her a chicken with peppers, even though she cannot cook at all. But where to find a chicken on a strike day, when all the shops are closed?
Food, Inc. 2 | 4/12 | Theaters - Limited
Filmmakers Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo reunite with investigative authors Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser to take a fresh look at our efficient yet vulnerable food system.
Sting | 4/12 | Theaters - Limited
After raising an unnervingly talented spider in secret, 12-year-old Charlotte must face the truth about her pet and fight for her family’s survival.
Egoist | 4/19 | Theaters - Limited
After losing his mother at the age of 14, Kōsuke spent his depressed adolescence hiding his gay identity in a rural town. Now working as a fashion magazine editor, he spends his free time with his close friends. One day, he meets Ryūta, a personal trainer who works in part to support his aging mother.
Sasquatch Sunset | 4/19 | Theaters
In the misty forests of North America, a family of Sasquatches—possibly the last of their enigmatic kind—embark on an absurdist, epic, hilarious, and ultimately poignant journey over the course of one year. These shaggy and noble giants fight for survival as they find themselves on a collision course with the ever-changing world around them.
Challengers | 4/26 | Theaters
Tennis player turned coach Tashi has taken her husband, Art, and transformed him into a world-famous Grand Slam champion. To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, she signs him up for a “Challenger” event — close to the lowest level of pro tournament — where he finds himself standing across the net from his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend.
Nowhere Special | 4/26 | Theaters - Limited
John, a 35-year-old window cleaner, has dedicated his life to bringing up his 4-year-old son, Michael, after the child’s mother left them soon after giving birth. When John is given only a few months left to live, he attempts to find a new, perfect family for Michael, determined to shield him from the terrible reality of the situation.
Intrigued
Housekeeping For Beginners | 4/5 | Theaters - Limited
Dita never wanted to be a mother, but circumstances force her to raise her girlfriend’s two daughters, tiny troublemaker Mia and rebellious teen Vanesa. A battle of wills ensues as the three continue to butt heads and become an unlikely family that must fight to stay together.
Arcadian | 4/12 | Theaters - Limited
A father and his twin sons must survive an attack on their remote farmhouse.
Civil War | 4/12 | Theaters
In the near future, a group of war journalists attempt to survive while reporting the truth as the United States stands on the brink of civil war.
Unsinkable | 4/12 | Theaters - Limited
The true story of rushed investigations, political interference, and the grasp for corporate accountability woven amongst heart wrenching flashbacks of the Titanic disaster as it unfolded.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare | 4/19 | Theaters
In 1940, Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming form a clandestine combat organization for Britain’s military that changes the course of World War II and prefigures the modern black ops unit through its unconventional and entirely ‘ungentlemanly’ fighting techniques against the Nazis.
Spy x Family Code: White | 4/19 | Theaters
After receiving an order to be replaced in Operation Strix, Loid decides to help Anya win a cooking competition at Eden Academy by making the principal’s favorite meal in order to prevent his replacement. The Forgers decide to travel to the region where the meal originates, but accidentally set off a chain of events which could put the world’s peace at risk.
Boy Kills World | 4/26 | Theaters - Limited
When his family is murdered, a deaf-mute named Boy escapes to the jungle and is trained by a mysterious shaman to repress his childish imagination and become an instrument of death.
Humane | 4/26 | Theaters - Limited
In the wake of an environmental collapse that has forced humanity to shed 20% of its population, a family dinner erupts into chaos when a father’s plan to enlist in the government’s new euthanasia program goes horribly awry.
TV
Very Excited
A Brief History of the Future | 4/3 | PBS
The series challenges the dystopian framework embraced by popular culture by offering a refreshing take on the future exploring potential solutions to our existential threats. The program invites viewers to imagine a world that is full of discovery, hope, and possibility – inspiring each of us to understand our power to shape the future that future generations need us to so they can flourish.
I’m here to represent grown-up PBS kids! I think this will be thought-provoking but probably end up telling us about issues and that we should change, but not offer up actual ideas of solutions, which is frustrating. However, I will hold out hope that it will be better than other TV programs of its ilk.
Ripley | 4/4 | Netflix
A grifter in 1960s New York is hired to convince a wealthy man's son to return home from Italy and begins a life of deceit, fraud and murder.
Andrew Scott. That’s all I need…….
But really, I think it’s cool that we’re getting another interpretation of the “Talented Mr. Ripley” novels. It looks pretty dang good!
Sugar | 4/5 | Apple TV+
An enigmatic private detective struggles with personal demons as he investigates the disappearance of a Hollywood producer's beloved granddaughter.
Colin Farrell. That’s also all I need……
Okay, but again the premise sounds very fun and the trailer promises something very interesting.
Fallout | 4/12 | Prime
The story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind — and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.
I’m hesitantly excited about this adaptation of a video game. The trailer looks like it could be something special or a shallow knock-off of the beloved games series. I’ll admit I don’t have any personal stake, as I don’t care for the games. That detachment from the source material could help bolster my enjoyment.
Art Happens Here | 4/26 | PBS
Actor John Lithgow goes back to school to celebrate the power of arts education
There’s not a YouTube video of this trailer, but I love this idea. This is a PBS, one-night special with an actor I love and about a subject I feel very passionately about. I think it’ll be something wonderful.
Pretty Excited
The Sympathizer | 4/15 | Max
An espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States.
Our Living World | 4/17 | Netflix
This stunning nature series narrated by Cate Blanchett explores the intelligence, resourcefulness and interconnectedness of life on our planet.
The Spiderwick Chronicles | 4/19 | Roku Channel
The coming-of-age story of the Grace Family, as they move from New York to Michigan and into their family’s ancestral home. Upon arrival, the family not only uncovers mysteries hidden inside their great grandfather’s Spiderwick Estate, but also discovers a secret, fantastical world around them.
Intrigued
Franklin | 4/12 | Apple TV+
In December 1776, Benjamin Franklin is world-famous for his electrical experiments. But his passion and power are put to the test when he embarks on a secret mission to France—with the fate of American independence hanging in the balance.
Dead Boy Detectives | 4/25 | Netflix
Charles Rowland and Edwin Payne — who decided not to enter the afterlife in order to stay on earth — investigate crimes involving the supernatural.
Knuckles | 4/26 | Paramount+
Knuckles embarks on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.
Books
Very Excited
I Cheerfully Refuse | 4/2 | Leif Enger
Set in a not-too-distant America, I Cheerfully Refuse is the tale of a bereaved and pursued musician embarking under sail on a sentient Lake Superior in search of his departed, deeply beloved, bookselling wife.
I read that this is for fans of Emily St. John Mandel, of which I am. The premise sounds so weird that I can’t help but be intrigued. I also love this cover art; it really grabbed my attention.
Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent | 4/23 | Judi Dench
For the very first time, Judi opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra. In a series of intimate conversations with actor & director Brendan O'Hea, she guides us through Shakespeare's plays with incisive clarity, revealing the secrets of her rehearsal process and inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans.
Judi Dench spilling the tea, wrapped in Shakespeare discussions? Yes, please!
Pretty Excited
Indian Burial Ground | 4/16 | Nick Medina
All Noemi Broussard wanted was a fresh start. With a new boyfriend who actually treats her right and a plan to move from the reservation she grew up on—just like her beloved Uncle Louie before her—things are finally looking up for Noemi. Until the news of her boyfriend’s apparent suicide brings her world crumbling down.
Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder | 4/16 | Asako Yuzuki, Translated: Polly Barton
Inspired by the real case of a convicted con woman and serial killer—the “Konkatsu Killer”—Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.
Anime
Very Excited
Bartender: Glass of God | 4/4 | Crunchyroll
At Eden Hall, each glass has a story. A quiet bar lies tucked away in the streets of Tokyo, and it seems only the most desperate souls burdened by their own troubles manage to find its doors. But after a glass of God poured by the brilliant bartender Ryū, they leave renewed. Ryū has a gift—he knows how to soothe the soul with the perfect drink. Who will he meet next?
BARTENDING ANIME!!!!! It looks like a slice-of-life anime, which I love! The trailer looks amazing, and I can’t wait.
Kaiju No. 8 | 4/13 | Crunchyroll
In a world plagued by creatures known as Kaiju, Kafka Hibino aspired to enlist in The Defense Force. He makes a promise to enlist with his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro. Soon, life takes them in separate ways. While employed cleaning up after Kaiju battles, Kafka meets Reno Ichikawa. Reno's determination to join The Defense Force reawakens Kafka's promise to join Mina and protect humanity.
I’m sold with just Kaiju in the title. I need no further information to convince me to watch. This is also from the company that did Attack on Titan, so they have a history of greatness.
Pretty Excited
Karasu wa Aruji o Erabanai | 4/6 | Crunchyroll
The story is set in an alternate world called Yamauchi, ruled by the Yatagarasu clan, who are able to transform between human and crow forms. Yukiya, a beautiful and eccentric Yatagarasu boy, is chosen to serve the young prince. While encountering various events in the conspiracy-filled imperial court, he forms a strange master-servant relationship with the young prince
Sound! Euphonium 3 | 4/7 | Crunchyroll
After the Kitauji High School Wind Ensemble pulls a stunning performance in Oumae Kumiko's first year, their results in her second year feel underwhelming to the entire club. They intended to achieve a gold medal at the national competition, but their participation ends with what is known as a "dud gold" at the Kansai competition: a gold medal that does not include being chosen to advance to the national competition. With the end of the cycle, the ensemble's seniors retire, and a new leadership takes charge; Kumiko, soon to be a senior herself, is appointed the new club president. Now it is up to her to, under the guidance of their teacher Taki Noboru, shoulder Kitauji to the Nationals once again and help the band achieve the gold medal they have been aiming for.
The Grimm Variations | 4/17 | Netflix
Inspired by the classic Brothers Grimm stories, this anthology features six fairy tales with a dark twist, exposing the shadowy side of human desire.
Games
Very Excited
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Sweep the Board! | 4/26 | Nintendo Switch
Embark on an adventure through iconic settings from the anime Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) in this action-packed board game. Compete with friends as you brave the elements on your quest to become the strongest demon slayer!
Mario Party, but make it Demon Slayer. I think my fiancée and I will play the absolute shit out of this. Will it be amazing? Probably not. But I’m going to have so much fun playing as my personal fav, Kyojuro Rengoku!
Pretty Excited
Stellar Blade | 4/26 | PlayStation 5
Eve and her comrades land on the surface to reclaim the extinct Earth and cross paths with a survivor named Adam.
Braid Anniversary Edition | 4/30 | PC
Braid is a puzzle-platformer, drawn in a painterly style, where you can manipulate the flow of time in strange and unusual ways. From a house in the city, journey to a series of worlds and solve puzzles to rescue an abducted princess.
Intrigued
Tales of Kenzera: Zau | 4/23 | PC
Wield the dance of the shaman. Reclaim your father’s spirit. Brave the beautiful and treacherous land of Kenzera with the God of Death in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a metroidvania-style adventure crafted by Surgent Studios.
Does anything catch your eye? Do you have something not listed here that you’re excited about this month? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading. Til next time!
- Colton