Starting the week of March 20, there are several high-action movies, starting with The Gunman, with Sean Penn, directed by Pierre Morel, plus the sci-fi Insurgent, with Shailene Woodley and Taylor Lautner as an energetic bike messenger in Tracers.
BIG BUDGET FILMS
The Gunman (R for profanity, sexuality and graphic violence) Directed by Pierre Morel – who also directed Taken, this is an international action thriller, that revolves around a military vet-turned-soldier of fortune. The vet, played by Sean Penn, is ready to retire, but ends up on the run to clear his name when he unfairly becomes marked for assassination. With Idris Elba, Javier Bardem, Ray Winstone and Jasmine Trinca.
See The Gunman film review. Distributed by Open Road Films, it runs for 115 minutes. Strangely, Idris Elba arrives onscreen late in the adventure. His portrayal of as an Interpol Agent seems like a red herring. Ray Winstone, appearing as a former co-conspirator of Jim’s, with a cockney accent seems like a waste.
Watch the Gunman trailer:
Insurgent (PG-13 for sensuality, pervasive violence, intense action, mature themes and brief profanity) Second installment of the sci-fi series based on Veronica Roth’s best-selling Divergent trilogy. Sequel finds the intrepid heroine (Shailene Woodley) confronting her demons while continuing the fight against an unholy alliance posing a threat to what’s left of society. Ensemble cast includes Theo James, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet, Zoe Kravitz, Miles Teller, Ashley Judd, Octavia Spencer, Maggie Q, Janet McTeer and Mekhi Phifer.
Watch the Insurgent trailer:
Tracers (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, peril and intense violence) Action thriller, set in NYC, about a bike messenger (Taylor Lautner) on the run from Chinese mobsters who joins forces with a parkour-practicing gang with the help of a fetching femme fatale (Marie Avgeropoulos). With Rafi Gavron, Adam Rayner and Sam Medina.
Watch the Tracers trailer:
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
Amour Fou (Unrated) Costume drama, set in Berlin in the Romantic Era, about a young poet (Christian Friedel) who enters a suicide pact with a terminally-ill socialite (Schnoeink) after failing to convince his kissing cousin (Sandra Hueller) to do so. Supporting cast includes Stephan Crossmann, Barbara Schnitzler and Marc Bischoff. (In German with subtitles)
Compared to What (Unrated) Prestige biopic painting an intimate portrait of former Congressman Barney Frank, who represented Massachusetts’ 4th District in the House of Representatives from 1981-2013.
Danny Collins (R for profanity, nudity and drug use) Al Pacino plays the title character in this fact-based tale as an aging, aspiring rock star who decides to clean up his act and reconnect with his family after rereading a 40 year-old letter sent to him by John Lennon. With Jennifer Garner, Christopher Plummer, Annette Bening, Bobby Cannavale and Melissa Benoist.
Do You Believe? (Unrated) Serendipitous, faith-based drama revolving around a dozen strangers who turn to Christ after their lives unexpectedly intersect in catastrophic fashion. Co-starring Lee Majors, Mira Sorvino, Cybill Shepherd, Ted McGinley, Sean Astin, Brian Bosworth, Andrea Logan White and Shwayze.
Growing Up and Other Lies (Unrated) Buddy drama about a guy (Josh Lawson) moving back to Ohio who persuades his BFFS (Adam Brody, Wyatt Cenac and Danny Jacobs) to spend his last day in NYC reminiscing while walking all around Manhattan. With Amber Tamblyn, Scott Adsit and Lauren Miller
Hunting Elephants (Unrated) Israeli crime comedy, set in Jerusalem, about a trio of revenge-minded retirees (Sasson Gabai, Patrick Stewart and Moni Moshonov) who hatch a plan to rob a bank with the help of a precocious 12 year-old (Gil blank).
Featuring Yael Abecassis, Tzvika Hadar and Moshe Ivgy. (In Hebrew and English with subtitles)
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (Unrated) Rinko Kikuchi handles the title role in this character-driven drama inspired by the urban legend about a cash-strapped woman who migrates from Japan to the U.S. in order to find the loot the film Fargo suggested is buried somewhere in Minnesota. With Shirley Venard, Nobuyuki Katsube, and David and Nathan Zellner. (In English and Japanese with subtitles)
Lily & Kat (Unrated) Coming-of-age dramedy about the strain placed on a couple of inseparable friends’ (Jessica Rothe and Hannah Murray) relationship when one suddenly announces that sheA’s moving from NYC to London in less than a week. Cast includes Jack Falahee, David Wilson Barnes and Mimi Gianopulos.
Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed (Unrated) Road comedy, set in Spain in 1966, revolving around a rabid Beatles fan (Javier Camara) who picks up a couple of hitchhikers (Francesc Colomer and Natalia de Molina) while en route to a movie set where John Lennon is rumored to be shooting a film. With Ramon Fontsere, Rogelio Fernandez and Jorge Sanz. (In Spanish with subtitles)
Secret of Water (Unrated) Eye-opening, eco exposeA’ illustrating the toll that humans’ misuse of H2O is taking on the planet and a precious natural resource.
She’s Lost Control (Unrated) Psychological drama about a lonely sexual surrogate (Brooke Bloom) whose life starts to unravel when she crosses an ethical line by becoming emotionally involved with her new doctor client (Marc Menchaca). With Laila Robins, Ryan Homchick and Roxanne Day.
Zombeavers (R for gory violence, crude humor, graphic sexuality, gratuitous nudity and pervasive profanity) High attrition-rate, horror comedy about a group of college kids whose plans for a wild weekend of debauchery at a riverside cabin is ruined by the arrival of a horde of bloodthirsty zombie beavers. Co-starring Rachel Melvin, Cortney Palm and Lexi Atkins.
