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Our favourite cinema picks of the month by Rhys Wilson-Plant

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
A story so steeped in truth and yet vivid imagination, combines to create a visceral and memorable film that aligns itself with the sci-fi elite. The story centres on a father and son who are on the run, with the government and a cult after the boy, in search of his special powers. What can be said about Jeff Nichols? Other than he has once again hit the ball out of the park with his newest film. He paces out the film masterfully and feeds us information as the story unravels, creating a suspenseful and emotion finale. He is a writer/director with a recent track history of Take Shelter (2011) and Mud (2012). Jeff Nichols is a name you will hear again.
Director: Jeff Nichols
Release Date: 8 April

 

 

THE JUNGLE BOOK
After being threatened by the tiger, Shere Khan (Idris Elba), the man-cub, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) flees his only known home, the jungle. Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), the panther, and the bear Baloo (Bill Murray) guide him on a journey of self-discovery. This is by no means the first rendition of The Jungle Book, but it doesn’t disappoint. The lack of subtext and theme is forgotten in the midst of an engrossing tale of a boy who explores the wide ranges of the jungle and all of its joys and dangers.
Director: Jon Favreu
Release Date: 15 April

 

 

EYE IN THE SKY
Eye in the Sky does a pretty good job at voicing moral concerns in modern warfare by placing two newbie’s behind the controls of a drone, and questioning whether eliminating targets is worth the collateral damage. In many ways, Eye in the Sky is trying to be too thematic, rather than focusing on the story. The action jumps across location and character so much so, that the audience is placed outside of the action, looking in.
Director: Gavin Hood
Release date: 15 April

 

 

CRIMINAL
Criminal is a quasi-Frankenstein concept, in which the mind of a dead CIA operative is uploaded to the mind of a death row inmate. The idea is to use the information to find a CIA hacker who threatens the world’s security after engineering his way into U.S military tech. The concept is so far-fetched and off base with its tone that it seems undeniably ridiculous and the only thing that mounts this absurdity is the non-stop violence throughout.
Director: Ariel Vromen
Release Date: 15 April