by IMDb-Editors | Public
After six increasingly outrageous entries, does the Fast and Furious franchise still have any gas left in the tank? Early reviews suggest it does, with many describing Furious 7 as one of the strongest installments yet. At the very least, it will be the biggest of them, and not just at the box office (where it could earn close to $1 billion worldwide). It has a huge cast – a nice mix of old and new – and a ton of wild set pieces, including cars parachuting out of a plane and a car jumping between two skyscrapers.
There’s also the sentimental value of seeing Paul Walker playing his most popular character in what wound up being his final role before his tragic car accident in late 2013. Reviews imply that the Furious 7 team found a surprising, very emotional way to send him off; word is that there will be few dry eyes in the theater during the credits.
-Ray
Release Info: Opens in theaters on April 3rd.
I was pulled in by this trailer and its take on fidelity, and I'm happy to see Anton Yelchin in the lead role. Equally satisfying is the chance to see Bérénice Marlohe back on screen after being seduced by her in Skyfall.
--Arno
Release Info: Opens in theaters on April 3rd.
Putting on my old man voice: Back when there were record stores and teenagers clamored to them each week for the latest releases, there were plenty of characters like Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, who stumbled into infamy as the nascent filmmaker duo collided with The Who, and ultimately became co-managers of the band (they handled Jimi Hendrix for a while there, too).
This looks like the must-see documentary of the month.
--Arno
Release Info: Opens in theaters on April 3rd.
I'll admit it, the first half of season one didn't completely sell me until episodes seven and eight, when the producers finally pulled back on the intricate exposition to show how starkly Jamie Fraser's existence in 1743 differed from Claire Randall's more liberated life in 1945.
Now that Claire and Jamie have wedded and bedded, "Outlander" has finally let go of the reins slowing its pacing. Accordingly, the second half of the season roars out of the gate with a heart-stopping resolution to the midseason cliffhanger, and gets more exciting from there.
The story grows darker, too, with surprising twists that made me feverish to watch the next episode, then the next, and the next. Yes, I may have begun my journey feeling lukewarm about "Outlander," but the last moments of the season finale left me profoundly sullen at knowing I'd down many a scotch before getting to enjoy season two. --Melanie McFarland
Premieres: 9pm Saturday, April 4 on Starz.
In its final season, "Mad Men" is taking a hard look at whether having it all is really possible, and whether the prosperity promised as the reward for hard work is really worth the sacrifice. And without giving away the year in which the midseason premiere takes place, let's say some of the men's fashion choices are veering toward the tragic.
After the series airs its finale, it will not only stand as one of the greatest works in the medium, but as a show that raised the creative bar for television producers and writers. We intend to drink in every moment of this drama's final seven episodes.
Premieres: 10pm Sunday, April 5 on AMC.
--Melanie
A few of us here at IMDb – myself included – have had the chance to see 28 Days Later writer Alex Garland’s directorial debut, Ex Machina. We’re all in agreement that it’s one of the smartest, most original sci-fi movies to come along in quite some time. The dialogue is great, the three performances are all strong – in particular, Oscar Isaac as a “bro” tech genius – and the final act leaves you with a ton to discuss. This is an early contender for one of the best movies of the year, and is an absolutely a must-see for sci-fi fans.
-Ray
Release Info: Opens in theaters on April 10th.
There are a lot of reasons to look forward to Netflix's take on "Daredevil," starting with the seemingly perfect casting of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock and Vincent D'Onofrio as Kingpin, and ending with the prayer that this version will finally eclipse that 2003 misfire starring Batfleck.
But mostly we're curious to see how this measures up against all the other superhero titles on television right now -- and glad that we can spin through the entire series in just a couple of sittings.
Regardless of what our verdict ends up being, that Daredevil is getting a decent serialized treatment is likely to be welcomed by comic book fans. --Melanie McFarland
Premieres: Friday, April 10 on Netflix.
Let the manipulations begin, seriously. I love that Kristen Stewart finally has Twilight behind her and can get back to being more of an actress and less of a celebrity, and the thought of her working alongside Juliette Binoche and Chloë Grace Moretz for Olivier Assayas is a promise of some of the finest work from them all.
--Arno
Release Info: Opens in theaters on April 10th.
Many "Game of Thrones" fans would likely pick the penultimate episode of the third season (commonly referred to as the “Red Wedding”) as the biggest “game-changer” for the show so far. I’d argue, though, that the fourth season of the show shook things up even more: there were a handful of major deaths, particularly toward the end, and a few key characters made radical changes in location in the final episode.
Yes, I’m being overly vague – there’s always a chance that someone out there reading this isn’t caught up. Or, gasp, hasn’t even started watching. Hey! You! What’s up? Is everything okay? Don’t worry, I won’t judge too much – though I’d like to gently remind you that it’s never too late to start watching what’s undoubtedly one of the absolute best shows on TV right now.
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Premieres: 9pm Sunday, April 12 on HBO.
I knew this comedy's portrayal of the tech industry was spot-on, even though I couldn't bring myself to watch it at first -- it reminded me too much of being at work.
Soon enough, I devoured all of season one and nearly ran out of breath while laughing through the season finale, which is so hilarious that even reading the title makes me stifle giggles.
As season two starts, though, the nerd herd at Pied Piper faces the new challenge of being the hot kids in town, and having stumbled upon their game-changing innovation by accident, the new scrutiny they'll face could end up crushing their sanity. (Well, everyone except for Erlich's, and maybe Gilfoyle's, who takes comfort in having Satan as his co-pilot.)
The brilliance of "Silicon Valley" cannot be understated, or adequately captured in metrics. You simply have to watch. -- Melanie McFarland
Premieres: 10pm Sunday, April 12 on HBO.
It seems like forever since the last season of "Orphan Black" was on and I am ready for my Clone Club fix. The upcoming season will put the focus on the male clones and I'm a bit wary of it. One of the things that I love about the many faces of Tatiana is that her characters are so distinct that you can forget she's playing all the roles. So far we've only seen a little of what Ari Millen can do but it seems like they are relying onscars and facial hair to distinguish between his many characters. But I'm willing to give it a chance.
--Michelle
Premieres: 9pm Saturday, April 18, on BBC America.
I'm not sure how I missed it but I just recently discovered Russell Crowe's directorial feature debut which is finally getting a U.S. release after a successful fun overseas. The film was nominated for five Australia Academy Awards and won three awards (it tied for Best Film with The Babadook). As I was watching the trailer, I was so moved by the beautiful cinematography I was pleasantly surprised to see it was shot by Andrew Lesnie, whose work includes The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies, I am Legend, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. This is a film I definitely want to see on the big screen.
I like the thought of Nick Kroll paired with Mark and Jay Duplass (the brothers are in producer mode here) now that I've acclimated to their respective forms of comedy. Like Amy Schumer, it's no surprise to see Kroll working out adulthood issues on the big screen after breaking through on TV, and I'm looking forward to seeing him play a relatable character.
--Arno
Release Info: Opens in theaters on April 24th.
Having seen the initial sizzle reel for this comedy after Showtime announced its pick-up, and resolving to set my DVR to record it based on that small preview alone, it was tough to imagine anyone other than the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in the lead role. To say he was perfect is putting it subtly.
That said, Steve Coogan and Kathryn Hahn are fabulous comedic talents on their own; together, they display a wonderful chemistry that I can't wait to see more of. Plus, the comedy's central idea of struggling to maintain relevance in a culture idolizes youth, materialism and vacuous trends, is likely to strike a chord among a large swath of viewers. This might be just the happy pill Showtime's comedy stable needs.
Premieres: 9:30pm Sunday, April 26, on Showtime.
--Melanie McFarland