SPRING FILM PREVIEW
Hugh Jackman in Logan
A
wards season is officially over . Finally ! This one seemed inordinately long and as much as I appreciated the films , actors , directors and creative folks who were nominated – and ultimately honored – I ’ m happy to be focusing on some new material . While many of the films coming out this spring won ’ t come close to receiving any sort of awards recognition , it ’ s OK to watch them simply for their entertainment value . Here are a few anticipated films out this month .
By Lori Vernon
Logan
Director : James Mangold March 3 • Rated R
After 17 years playing the iconic character , Hugh Jackman takes his self-proclaimed final turn as Logan aka Wolverine in Marvel Comic ’ s Logan , based on the “ Old Man Logan ” comic book storyline . Set in the near future , a weary Logan ( Jackman ), now a limo driver known as James Howlett ( his birth name ) cares for an aging and increasingly unstable Professor X ( Patrick Stewart ) in a Mexican hideout following the eradication of the X-Men . But Logan ' s attempts to hide from his past and his legacy are
thwarted when a young mutant girl named Laura ( Dafne Keen ) shows up , and Logan must protect her from the dark forces that want to exploit her . Also starring Boyd Holbrook , Stephen Merchant , Richard E . Grant and Elizabeth Rodriquez .
Kong : Skull Island
Director : Jordan Vogt-Roberts March 10 • Rated PG-13
In 1971 , a diverse team of explorers and soldiers discover a beautiful but treacherous uncharted island in the Pacific while searching for legendary mythical creatures . The inhabitants of Skull Island soon materialize - including the mighty Kong , king of the apes . The large cast includes Tom Hiddleston , Brie Larson , John Goodman , John C . Reilly , Samuel L . Jackson , Jason Mitchell and Corey Hawkins . This film serves as a precursor to 2014 ’ s Godzilla , part of Legendary ’ s joint venture MonsterVerse series , which will also include the sequels Godzilla : King of the Monsters ( 2019 ), and Godzilla Vs . Kong ( 2020 ).
Beauty and The Beast
Director : Bill Condon March 17 • Rated PG
This live-action adaptation of Disney ’ s classic 1991 animated musical stars Emma Watson as Belle , a bright , beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a misunderstood beast ( Dan Stevens ). Despite her fears , she befriends the castle ’ s enchanted staff ( including Emma Thompson as Mrs . Potts , Luke Evans as Gaston , Kevin Klein as Maurice and Ian McKellen as Cogsworth ). Belle learns to look beyond the Beast ’ s frightening exterior to find the heart and soul of the misunderstood Prince within . The story has been updated for today ’ s audience and features songs from the original movie ( not the Broadway play ) including several new songs written by Alan Mencken and Tim Rice . The stellar cast also includes Stanley Tucci , Gugu Mbatha-Raw , Ewan McGregor and Josh Gad .
Life
Director : Daniel Espinosa March 24 • Not Rated
Life , a Sci-fi thriller set on the International Space Station , tells the story of a team of scientists that makes one of the most important discoveries in history : evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars . After successfully retrieving a space probe from Mars , the crew is tasked with studying the capsule ’ s samples . As they begin to conduct their research , their methods backfire and end up having unintended consequences as the life form ’ s rapid growth and unimaginable intelligence threatens not only the team on the Space Station , but possibly life on Earth . The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal , Rebecca Ferguson , and Ryan Reynolds .
The Zookeeper ' s Wife
Director : Niki Caro March 31 • Rated PG-13
Set in 1939 Poland , this film tells the real-life story of working wife and mother Antonina Zabinski ( Jessica Chastain ) who lives with her husband , Dr . Jan Zabinski ( Johan Heldenbergh ) as they oversee the thriving Warsaw Zoo . When the Nazis invade Poland , Jan and Antonina are forced to report to the Reich ' s newly appointed chief zoologist , Lutz Heck ( Daniel Brühl ). The Zabinskis begin to fight back on their own terms , covertly working with the Resistance to save the lives of Jews being sent to the Warsaw Ghetto , but at considerable risk to themselves and their children . Adapted from the book by Diane Ackerman , written from Antonina Zabinski ’ s diaries .
14 illinoisentertainer . com march 2017