Out April 7
The Jungle Book
(VIC, QLD)
PG
USA, 2016, adventure/drama/family
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o
What's it about?
Mowgli is an orphan boy who's been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when he's threatened by fearsome tiger Shere Khan. Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by stern panther Bagheera, and the free-spirited bear Baloo.
Read review
Watch Jon Favreau's interview by Marc Fennell on The Feed
Where To Invade Next
M
USA, 2015, documentary
Director: Michael Moore
Starring: Michael Moore
What's it about?
Academy Award-winning director Michael Moore returns to tell the Pentagon to "stand down" – he will do the invading for America from now on. Moore confronts the most pressing issues facing America today and finds solutions in the most unlikely places.
[link title="Watch Michael Moore talk new doco 'Where to Invade Next' in Periscope post" url="node/43117"]
[link title="Michael Moore on 'Where to Invade Next' censorship row: 'I will make no cuts'" url="node/50697"]
[link title="Where To Invade Next review: Moore's schtick doesn't quite stick" url="node/46589"]
Spirits' Homecoming
South Korea, 2016, drama
Director: Cho Jung-rae
Starring: Kang Ha-na, Choi Ri, Son Sook, Seo Mi-ji
What's it about?
Two Korean girls, Jung-Min and Young-hee are kidnapped by the Japanese Imperial Army and taken to a 'Comfort Station' in China. There, they join other kidnapped girls in serving Japanese soldiers as sexual slaves known as 'Comfort Women'. Decades later, an elderly lady attempts to reunite with the spirit of her lost friend. Inspired by the testimony of Kang Il-chul.
Rams
M
Iceland, 2015, drama
Director: Grímur Hákonarson
Starring: Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Theodór Júlíusson, Charlotte Bøving
What's it about?
In a secluded valley in Iceland, two brothers, Gummi and Kiddi, live side by side, tending to their sheep, but they have not spoken to each other in four decades. When a lethal disease suddenly infects Kiddi’s sheep, the entire valley comes under threat, as the authorities decide to cull all the animals in the area to contain the outbreak. Gummi and Kiddi have to come together in order to save their sheep.
The Huntsman Winter's War
PG
USA, 2016, action/adventure/drama
Director: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain
What's it about?
As two evil sisters prepare to conquer the land, two renegades - Eric the Huntsman - who previously aided Snow White in defeating Ravenna, and his forbidden lover, Sara set out to stop them.
Out April 14
Wide Open Sky
G
Australia, 2015, documentary
Director: Lisa Nicol
What's it about?
Wide Open Sky follows the story of an outback Australian children's choir, chronicling their journey from auditions to end-of-year concert, and the trials of trying to run a children's choir in a remote and disadvantaged region. Here, sport is king and music education is non-existent. Despite this, choir mistress Michelle has high expectations and hopes to teach the children contemporary, original, demanding music.
Our Little Sister
PG
Japan, 2015, comedy/drama
Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Starring: Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho
What's it about?
Three sisters live together in their late grandmother's house since their parents left home to run off with different partners. One day, the threesome learns of the death of their "traitor" father and it is only halfheartedly that they go to his funeral, where they unexpectedly meet their half-sister Suzu, 13, and immediately fall for the spell of this exquisite young creature, inviting her to move in with them.
The Divergent Series: Allegiant
M
USA, 2016, action/adventure/mystery
Director: Robert Schwentke
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Jeff Daniels
What's it about?
After the earth-shattering revelations of Insurgent, Tris must escape with Four and go beyond the wall enclosing Chicago. Once outside, Tris and Four must quickly decide who they can trust as a ruthless battle ignites beyond the walls of Chicago which threatens all of humanity. In order to survive, Tris will be forced to make impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.
The Boss
MA15+
USA, 2016, comedy
Director: Ben Falcone
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Peter Dinklage, Kristen Bell, Kathy Bates
What's it about?
A business mogul is sent to prison after she's caught for insider trading. She's released six months later and forced to move in with a former employee she used to torture. After spending some time with the latter's Girl Scout daughter, Darnell decides to build a brownie empire from scratch. But when she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America's latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.
[link title="Watch: Melissa McCarthy in First Trailer for 'The Boss'" url="node/52472"]Watch Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone's interview by The Feed's Marc Fennell
The Jungle Book
(ACT, NSW, SA, WA, TAS)
PG
USA, 2016, adventure/drama/family
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley
What's it about?
Mowgli is an orphan boy who's been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when he's threatened by fearsome tiger Shere Khan. Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by stern panther Bagheera, and the free-spirited bear Baloo.
Fan
India, 2016, drama/thriller
Director: Maneesh Sharma
Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Waluscha De Sousa, Shriya Pilgaonkar
What's it about?
Gaurav is a young man, whose world revolves around his God, the mega movie star Aryan Khanna (both played by Shahrukh Khan). From the by lanes of Delhi, young Gaurav embarks on a journey to the city of dreams, Mumbai, in order to wish his God on his birthday. When things don't go according to plan, Gaurav's love and passion for his God turns in to a dangerous obsession that crosses the fine line.
Out April 21
Marguerite
M
France, 2015, drama
Director: Xavier Giannoli
Starring: Catherine Frot, André Marcon, Michel Fau
What's it about?
Paris in the 1920s. Marguerite Dumont is a wealthy woman with a passion for music and the opera. For years, she has performed regularly for a circle of guests. But Marguerite sings tragically out of tune and no one has ever told her. Her husband and her close friends have always encouraged her in her illusions. Things become very complicated the day she gets it into her head to perform in front of a genuine public, at the Opera.
[link title="Watch: Catherine Frot on her 'Marguerite' character's "marvellous oblivousness" " url="node/60601"]
Pawno
MA15+
Australia, 2015, drama/romance
Director: Paul Ireland
Starring: John Brumpton, Maeve Dermody, Damian Hill
What's it about?
Pawno is a character driven ensemble film set in the diverse and multicultural suburb of Footscray in Melbourne, and revolving around one day in the lives of twelve characters. The film is set in an ageing Pawnbrokers shop and at the core of the story beats a romance, yet love is rarely simple. Within a day, lives intersect and motives are examined.
[link title="Pawno shoots for multicultural realism" url="node/26381"]
Midnight Special
M
USA, 2016, adventure/drama/sci-fi
Director: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Michael Shannon, Kirsten Dunst, Joel Edgerton, Adam Driver
What's it about?
A father, Roy, goes on the run to protect his young son, Alton, a boy with mysterious powers that even Roy himself cannot comprehend. What starts as a race from religious extremists and local law enforcement quickly escalates to a nationwide manhunt involving the highest levels of the Federal Government. Risking everything, Roy is committed to helping Alton reach his ultimate purpose, whatever that might be and whatever it costs.
The 16 buzziest movies at SXSW Film Festival
Eddie the Eagle
PG
Germany/UK/USA, 2016, biography/comedy/drama
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Taron Egerton, Christopher Walken
What's it about?
Inspired by true events, Eddie the Eagle is a feel-good story about Michael "Eddie" Edwards, an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself - even as an entire nation was counting him out. With the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach, Eddie takes on the establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by making an improbable and historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.
Keanu
M
USA, 2016, comedy
Director: Peter Atencio
Starring: Keegan-Michael Key, Method Man, Jordan Peele, Will Forte
What's it about?
Two straight-laced cousins (comic duo from Comedy Central's show Key & Peele) hatch a plot to retrieve their stolen kitten by posing as drug dealers for a street gang. What could possibly go wrong?
Out April 28
A Month of Sundays
PG
Australia, 2015, comedy
Director: Matthew Saville
Starring: Anthony LaPaglia, Julia Blake, Justine Clarke
What's it about?
Frank Mollard wont admit it, but he cant move on. Divorced but still attached, he cant sell a house in a property boom - much less connect with his teenage son. One night Frank gets a phone call from his mother. Nothing out of the ordinary. Apart from the fact that she died the year before.
Dad's Army
PG
UK, 2016, comedy
Director: Oliver Parker
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon
What's it about?
A cinema remake of the classic sitcom Dad's Army (1968). It is 1944 and the Allies are about to invade France and finally defeat the German army. But in Walmington-on-Sea, morale amongst the Home Guard is low. A new mission – to patrol the Dover army base – is a great chance to revive spirits and reputation. But there’s a spy on the loose and the outcome of the war is suddenly at stake.
Captain America: Civil War
USA, 2016, action/adventure/sci-fi
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson
What's it about?
Following the events of Age of Ultron, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man or Captain America, which causes an epic battle between former allies.
[link title="Watch 'Captain America: Civil War' teaser trailer" url="node/52732"]
[link title="Watch: 'Captain America: Civil War' Super Bowl trailer" url="node/57966"]
An (Sweet Bean)
M
Japan, 2015, drama
Director: Naomi Kawase
Starring: Kirin Kiki, Masatoshi Nagase, Miki Mizuno
What's it about?
Sentaro runs a small bakery that serves dorayaki pastries filled with sweet red bean paste (“an”). When an old lady, Tokue, offers to help in the kitchen he reluctantly accepts. She will soon prove to have magic in her hands…
Watch food-themed films online with SBS On Demand: Feast on Film
Green Room
MA15+
USA, 2016, crime/horror/thriller
Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Patrick Stewart
What's it about?
Down on their luck rock band The Ain’t Rights are about to call it quits when they get an unexpected booking at an isolated, run-down club deep in the backwoods of Oregon. What seems a third-rate gig escalates into something much more sinister when they witness an act of violence backstage that they weren’t meant to see.
Mother's Day
M
USA, 2016, comedy
Director: Garry Marshall
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson
What's it about?
Set in the week leading up to Mother's Day, the film follows multiple storylines in three different generations.
God's Not Dead 2
PG
USA, 2016, drama
Director: Harold Cronk
Starring: Hayley Orrantia, Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe
What's it about?
When a high school teacher is asked a question in class about Jesus, her reasoned response lands her in deep trouble and could expel God from the public square once and for all.
[link title="From 'Exodus' to 'God's Not Dead 2': The new wave of religious movies, explained" url="node/62067"]
