There’s only one film anybody is interested in this month, so I’ll keep this month short and sweet…
Okay, I may be joking, but seriously, for any Marvel fan (or any fan of cinema, for that matter) April is simply a waiting game. Rest assured, if you hate Marvel there are a couple of other things coming out this month that are almost definitely worth your time.
Shazam! dir. by David F. Sandberg
Release Date: 5th April
Starring: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Michelle Borth
I’ll be perfectly honest, when I first saw a trailer for Shazam! I thought it looked like absolute tripe. To put it bluntly, DC’s attempts at replicating the MCU have been nothing short of a disaster and it didn’t even cross my mind that this could be different. Whilst Wonder Woman made quite the necessary statement and Aquaman was a surprise box office success, both have been quite quickly forgotten, plunged into the shadows of bigger and better things going on in the Marvel camp. Perhaps the biggest problem the studio has faced is that it takes itself a little too seriously, but if there’s one positive thing I gaged from the trailer it’s that this film is the exact opposite to that – Shazam! is a ridiculous adventure comedy and that is almost definitely what DC need. The most exciting thing, though, is the early reception the film has received, with almost unanimous praise coming from most corners of the film community. Get ready to be surprised by this one.
Eighth Grade, dir. Bo Burnham
Release Date: 26th April
Starring: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson
You’d be forgiven for being a little confused at the mention of Eighth Grade this month. The directorial debut from comedian Bo Burnham made some serious waves last summer, lauded for its raw take on the coming-of-age drama and picking up a whole host of indie awards as a result. From a first-time filmmaker with an unknown cast, the film was a massive risk and most likely never set to reach UK shores, but its surprise success meant it was bound to find its way over to us – even if that happens to be almost a year late. Eighth Grade follows teenager Kayla (Elsie Fisher) in her last week before moving to high school, navigating the world of bullies, inner demons and social media. At first glance, it all seems a bit generic, but this film has been absolutely adored by basically everyone that has watched it, mixing Burnham’s unique humour with a groundbreaking performance from Fisher – she is definitely one to watch. A24 have done an incredible job in championing up and coming talent in recent years, and the success of Eighth Grade over the pond proves that this won’t be letting up any time soon.
EDITOR’S PICK: Avengers: Endgame dir. by The Russo Brothers
Release Date: 25th April
Starring: Every big name actor that has ever stepped foot on Planet Earth
The one we’ve all been waiting for, this month’s editor’s pick quite simply couldn’t have been anything else. Avengers: Endgame doesn’t half have a lot to live up to, with the cinematic event of the decade, Infinity War, taking everything we thought we knew about the Marvel Cinematic Universe and exploding it into dust. Clocking in at a 3-hour run time, packed with literally everyone that’s ever acted in a film, and helmed once again by the Russo brothers, there is absolutely no doubt that Endgame will take the art of cinema to new levels once again; but, beyond the spectacle, what is there to look forward to? First of all, we have the seemingly simple matter of what the hell next? With Thanos holding all the infinity stones and the Avengers more than a few men down, it’s practically impossible to predict how this whole saga is going to end. If Infinity War proved one thing, it’s that everyone behind this film isn’t afraid to take risks -expect a big and bold ending. Of course, this all means that whatever happens is going to leave a large and lasting impact on Marvel for the future; with many of our favourite heroes coming to the ends of their contracts, there’s bound to be a big shake up. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or have absolutely no clue what’s going on (don’t worry, sometimes I’m convinced that even the fanboys are a bit confused), this is a spectacle not to be missed.
