Best New Movie Bets: April [The Complete Guide]

Under the Skin: Scarlett Johansson’s meditative indie about an alien coming to earth has been garnering critical buzz. Potential viewers should be warned that if you are a dialogue enthusiast, there is reportedly about one line uttered, in the entire film. Despite sounding dreadfully boring, director Jonathan Glazer has sold personal interest by promising an introspective look at celebrity by using aliens as a profound metaphor.

Johansson, who stunned with a riveting vocal performance in “Her,” is poised to remind audiences that she can captivate in a small project and hold attention in a role where a lot of Hollywood’s signature glitz and glamour are out of sight. This is Glazer’s first feature film since he helmed the controversial “Birth” starring Nicole Kidman. Known to plot quietly, Glazer is a director of the more avant garde so this definitely isn’t a film for everyone. Release Date: April 4

Joe: After a string of frat-style comedies (“Pineapple Express”, “Your Highness”, “The Sitter”), director David Gordon Green continues on the creative course that he embarked on with “Prince Avalanche” to yet again explore something poignant. The plotline is reminiscent of last year’s spectacular coming-of-age story “Mud”. The story surrounds Joe (Nicolas Cage), an ex-con who becomes a hero to 15-year-old Gary (Tye Sheridan) suffering in a terrible home life.

The comparisons between “Mud” and “Joe” are inevitable, for instance both have Tye Sheridan cast in the similar role of a young acolyte. However; early reviews indicate a much more violent atmosphere in “Joe”.

It is refreshing to have Nicolas Cage attached to an in-depth quality drama after a series of straight-to-DVD thrillers. He is a remarkable talent and getting a chance to remind viewers why he has been one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation is an exciting prospect. Release Date: April 11

The Railway Man: In this drama, the harrowing true story of Eric Lomax is adapted from his best-selling autobiography. Lomax survived the “Death Railway” as a prisoner of war forced to help build the Thai/Burma railway in World War II.  Surviving is one part of the story, as told in flashbacks where Jeremy Irvine (“War Horse”) plays the role of Lomax. The other part is struggling to reconcile the horrors of his treatment and move on with his life.

This part of the story is portrayed by Colin Firth. Years after his torment and marrying his beloved Patti (Nicole Kidman), he tracks down one of the Japanese officers (Hiroyuki Sanada) responsible and struggles with a reckoning to make peace. Despite having had a few release setbacks that shouldn't be an indictment of its quality. Release Date: Apri 11

Transcendence: This is a movie that offers up mixed feelings. When it was first announced there was immense personal excitement, due mostly to it being the directorial debut of Wally Pfister who lensed Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, among other Nolan works. The downside came when the trailer premiered. It was scrambled together, giving away most of the plot, which was curious given all of the pre-production hoopla surrounding its secrecy. The storyline is enticing, a moral question lingering in the digital age about people’s minds being uploaded onto a computer.

Another glimpse into a dark future that doesn’t feel comfortably distanced from today’s technological era. Billed as starring Depp, the trailer seems to indicate that Rebecca Hall is the actual star of the film and Depp could possibly be limited to being a computer voice akin to Scarlett Johansson’s aforementioned turn in “Her”. There is still anticipation for it. There's just a little more caution than before. Release Date: April 17 Read Eclectic Pop's Full Review by clicking here

Locke: Here’s the pitch: Tom Hardy is in a car for an hour and a half as his character, Locke, heads to resolve a personal conflict. Written and directed by Steven Knight who penned the outstanding Russian mob thriller “Eastern Promises”, he knows how to write hushed drama. “Locke” was filmed in sequential order and in 6 real-time, continuous shoots, which is practically unheard of. One of the most notorious sequential shoots is Hitchcock’s 1948 film “Rope” and it is an effective directing technique that seamlessly builds tension in a unique manner. 

Hardy is the sole actor carrying the film. All of the other characters are portrayed by vocal performances only. There are few actors who could actually pull off this feat and Hardy is one of them. Amid his mesmeric performance in cult favorite “Bronson”, menacingly bold turn in “The Dark Knight Rises” and his display of stirring machismo in “Lawless” and “Warrior”, Hardy has been steadily building one of the most impressive filmographies in the business.

After a Hardy-less 2013, “Locke” kicks off the first of three planned releases he will be leading in 2014, “The Drop” and “Child 44” are the others. Release Date: April 25 [Note: Child 44's release date was moved to April 17, 2015]

The Other Woman: Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann star in this vengeful romantic comedy that boasts girl-power galore. Diaz plays the unknowing mistress of a married man (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). When she learns of his deceit, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with his wife (Leslie Mann) and they collude on a hilarious plan for revenge. The trailer indicates it is going to be a lot of fun, a movie where women forge friendships and set their sights on the actual problem.

Diaz is a master at buddy chemistry and she knows how to play well off of just about any co-star. This will be director Nick Cassavetes first comedy after a myriad of heavy dramas, “The Notebook” and “John Q” to name a few. It should be interesting to see how he tackles the lighter side of life. Release Date: April 25 Read Eclectic Pop's Full Review by clicking here

Brick Mansions: The late Paul Walker stars in this action packed remake of the French film “District 13”. Walker plays an undercover agent who must penetrate a gang that is in possession of a neutron bomb. French actor David Belle returns to reprise the exact same role he portrayed in the original. Belle is the founder of parkour, the electrifying activity where people leap, vault, climb and jump to their desired destination.

The action being based in the adrenalin fueled world of parkour is an exciting prospective. While, it has been thrown-in sporadically by other action endeavors (“Casino Royale” for instance), it will be the main technique employed here. The original French version has already spawned a sequel so there is unspoken pressure for this version to do the same. Repeating this version's potential success without Walker would be hard to fathom. Release Date: April 25