April’s Top Movies

All the Money in the World

Follows the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother Gail (Michelle Williams) to convince his billionaire grandfather (Christopher Plummer) to pay the ransom. When Getty Sr. refuses, Gail attempts to sway him as her son’s captors become increasingly volatile and brutal. With her son’s life in the balance, Gail and Getty’s advisor (Mark Wahlberg) become unlikely allies in the race against time that ultimately reveals the true and lasting value of love over money. Inspired by the real-life 1973 Getty kidnapping.
Vitals: Director: Ridley Scott. Stars: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Timothy Hutton, Charlie Plummer.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: R, 132 min., Crime Drama, Box office gross: $25.038
million, Sony.
Extras:Eight deleted scenes, “Ridley Scott: Crafting a Historical Thriller” featurette, “Hostages to Fortune: The Cast”; “Recast, Reshot, Reclaimed” featurette that follows the unprecedented recasting of the character J. Paul Getty a little over a month before the film’s theatrical release.

Available: 04/10.
 

The Commuter

Liam Neeson plays an insurance salesman, Michael, on his daily commute home, which quickly becomes anything but routine. After being contacted by a mysterious stranger, Michael is forced to uncover the identity of a hidden passenger on his train before the last stop. As he works against the clock to solve the puzzle, he realizes a deadly plan is unfolding and is unwittingly caught up in a criminal conspiracy. One that carries life and death stakes for himself and his fellow passengers.
Vitals: Director: Jaume Collet-Serra. Stars: Liam Neeson, Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Jonathan Banks, Sam Neill, Elizabeth McGovern.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 105 min., Suspense-Action, Box office gross: $36.242 million, Lionsgate.
Extras: “End of the Line” featurette, “Off the Rails” featurette.

Available: 04/17.
 

Den of Thieves

Gritty crime drama follows the intersecting and often personally connected lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and the state’s most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank in downtown Los Angeles.
Vitals: Director: Christian Gudegast. Stars: Gerard Butler, 50 Cent, Pablo Schreiber, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jordan Bridges, Evan Jones, Dawn Olivieri, Cooper Andrews, Sonya Balmores, Eric Braeden, Brian Van Holt, Maurice Compte, Lewis Tan, Meadow Williams, Michael Papajohn.
2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 140 min., Action, Box office gross: $44.694 million, Universal.
Extras: Alternate ending, “Alpha Males,” “Into the Den,” “Alameda Corridor,” outtakes, commentary with director Christian Gudegast and producer Tucker Tooley, theatrical trailers.

Available: 04/24.
 

 

 

Father Figures

Fraternal twins Kyle (Owen Wilson) and Peter (Ed Helms,) accidentally discover they’ve been living with a lie all their lives. The kindly man in the photo on their mantle isn’t their father after all, but an invention their mother (Glenn Close) concocted to conceal the truth: that she actually doesn’t know who their real father is. See, it was the seventies, and things were crazy, and … well. Armed with only a handful of clues, the brothers resolve to find the mystery man in what results in a wild road trip of discovery and revelations — about their mother, themselves and each other.
Vitals: Director: Lawrence Sher. Stars: Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, Glenn Close, J.K. Simmons, Katt Williams, Terry Bradshaw, Ving Rhames, Harry Shearer, Christopher Walken, June Squibb.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: R, 113 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $17.501
million, Warner.
Extras: Deleted scenes. Blu-ray adds a gag reel.

Available: 04/03.
 

The Greatest Showman

An original musical screenplay brings to life the story of P.T. Barnum and his creation of “the greatest show on earth.” Rising from nothing, P.T. sets out to make a better life for his family. His creativity and drive take him on an fantastic journey beyond what he or anyone else could have imagined. In the end he creates a magical experience that will be enjoyed and celebrated by generations to come: the Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Vitals: Director: Michael Gracey. Stars: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 105 min., Musical/Drama, Box office gross: $169.744 million, Fox.
Extras: Two hours of behind the scenes footage, sing-alone edition and music machine “jukebox” features.

Available: 04/10.
 

Hostiles

Set in 1892, the Western tells the story of a legendary Army captain (Christan Bale) who, after stern resistance, reluctantly agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief (Wes Studi) and his family back to tribal lands. Making the harrowing and perilous journey from Fort Berringer, an isolated Army outpost in New Mexico, to the grasslands of Montana, the former rivals encounter a young widow (Rosamund Pike), whose family was murdered on the plains. Together, they must join forces to overcome the punishing landscape, hostile Comanche, and ruthless outliers that they encounter along the way.
Vitals: Director: Scott Cooper. Stars: Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Ben Foster Wes Studi.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: R, 133 min., Western, Box office gross: $29.532 million, Lionsgate.
Extras: “A Journey to the Soul: The Making of Hostiles” three-part documentary.

Available: .04/24
 

 

 

Insidious: The Last Key

The fourth installment of the Insidious-franchise. In this edition, Shaye reprises her role as parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier, who returns to her family home to face the unrelenting demons that have plagued her since childhood. Accompanied by her two investigative partners, Specs and Tucker (Whannell and Sampson), Elise must delve deeper into the Further to unlock the mystery and destroy her greatest fear.
Vitals: Director: Adam Robitel. Stars: Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Josh Stewart, Kirk Acevedo, Caitlin Gerard, Spencer Locke, Bruce Davison.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 103 min., Horror-Thriller, Box office gross: $67.347 million, Sony.
Extras: Alternate ending, eight deleted scenes, Franchise Recap: “Dive Into the Insidious Universe,” three featurettes: “Becoming Elise,” “Going Into the Further” and “Unlocking Keyface.”

Available: 04/03.
 

The Maze Runner: The Death Cure

In the epic finale to the Maze Runner saga, Thomas leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions the Gladers have been asking since they first arrived in the maze.
Vitals: Director: Wes Ball. Stars: Kaya Scodelario, Dylan O’Brien, Walton Goggins, Nathalie Emmanuel, Katherine McNamara, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rosa Salazar, Giancarlo Esposito, Patricia Clarkson, Barry Pepper, Ki Hong Lee, Jacob Lofland, Paul Lazenby, Dylan Smith, Jake Curran.
2018, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 144 min., Science Fiction/Adventure, Box office gross: $57.535 million, Fox.
Extras: Audio Commentary by Wes Ball, T.S. Nowlin and Joe Hartwick Jr.; exclusive 24-page prequel origins comic book written by screenwriter T.S. Nowlin. Blu-ray adds deleted and extended scenes; five featurettes: “The Final Run” “Dystopia,” “Allies Reunited,” “A Look Back,” “Going Out on Top”; “Visual Effects”; gallery of over 300 images.

Available: 04/24
.
 

Molly’s Game

Based on the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe. Based on the book by Molly Bloom.
Vitals: Director: Aaron Sorkin. Stars: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O’Dowd, Bill Camp.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: R, 141 min., Drama, Box office gross: $28.112 million, Universal.
Extras: “Building an Empire” featurette.

Available: 04/10.
 

 

 

Paddington 2

Following the worldwide hit “Paddington,” this much-anticipated sequel finds Paddington (Ben Whishaw) happily settled with the Brown family in London, where he has become a popular member of the local community, spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes. While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s hundredth birthday, Paddington sees a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief.
Vitals: Director: Paul King. Stars: Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Ben Whishaw, Peter Capaldi, Julie Walters, Sally Hawkins, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Bonneville.
2018, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 103 min., Family, Box office gross: $40.442 million, Warner.
Extras: “Paddington: The Bear Truth.” Blu-ray adds “How to Make a Marmalade Sandwich,” music video with Phoenix Buchanan, “The Magical Mystery of Paddington’s Pop-Up Book,” “The Browns and Paddington: A Special Bond,” “Knuckles: A Fistful of Marmalade,” “The (Once) Famous Faces of Phoenix Buchanan,” audio commentary by director/co-writer Paul King.

Available: 04/24.
 

Phantom Thread

Gorgeous romance directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, reuniting him with Daniel Day-Lewis after their collaboration in “There Will Be Blood. “Set in the glamour of 1950’s post-war London. Renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Day-Lewis) and his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) are at the center of British fashion, dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, debutants and dames with the distinct style of The House of Woodcock. Women come and go through Woodcock’s life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and comfort, until he comes across a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover. Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
Vitals: Director: Paul Thomas Anderson. Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, Vicky Krieps.
2016, CC, MPAA rating: R, 130 min., Drama Romance, Box office gross: $14.945
million, Universal.
Extras: Camera tests with audio commentary by Anderson, “For the Hungry Boy” collection of deleted scenes, “House of Woodcock Fashion Show,” behind the scenes photographs from the film by Michael Bauman with demo versions of Jonny Greenwood’s score.

Available: 04/10.
 

The Post

This historical drama is based on the events surrounding the release of the Pentagon Papers, documents that detailed the history of the United States’ political and military involvement in Vietnam. A thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post’s Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents. The two must overcome their differences as they risk their careers — and their very freedom — to help bring long-buried truths to light
Vitals: Director: Steven Spielberg. Stars: Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Alison Brie, Sarah Paulson, Bradley Whitford, Carrie Coon, Jesse Plemons, Michael Stuhlbarg, Bruce Greenwood, David Cross, Matthew Rhys, Bob Odenkirk.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 116 min., Drama, Box office gross: $81.423 million, Fox.
Extras: “The Style Section: Re-Creating an Era,” “Stop the Presses: Filming The Post,” “Arts and Entertainment: Music for The Post.” Blu-ray adds “Layout: Katharine Graham, Ben Bradlee & The Washington Post,” “Editorial: The Cast and Characters of The Post.”

Available: 04/17.
 

Proud Mary

Mary (Taraji P. Henson) is a hit woman working for an organized crime family in Boston, whose life is completely turned around when she meets a young boy whose path she crosses when a professional hit goes bad.
Vitals: Director: Babak Najafi. Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Billy Brown, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Danny Glover, Neal McDonough.
2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 89 min., Crime Thriller, Box office gross: $20.877 million, Sony.
Extras: Three featurettes: “Mary’s World,” “The Beginning of the End” and “If Looks Could Kill.”

Available: 04/10.