AVENGERS RETURN IN DROVES
This time the good guys take on Thanos, a.k.a. Josh Brolin, Chris Lackner writes.
MOVIES
Big release (April 27): Avengers: Infinity War.
Big picture: Marvel continues its seemingly infinite war on your pocketbook. This blockbuster essentially unites every character in the Marvel universe (minus the X-Men) to battle Thanos, an intergalactic thug who plans to use six Infinity Stones — imagine “one ring to rule them all” only six of them — to reshape the universe according to his twisted whims.
Given the amount of screen time the Guardians of the Galaxy seem to get in this superhero crossover — Thanos (Josh Brolin) is Gamora’s dad, after all — one wonders whether they should have received top billing instead of the Avengers. The action sequences and CGI will captivate — as usual — but the real trick for the directors is balancing the scene-stealing charisma of the likes of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland). As Gamora (Zoe Saldana) puts it about her old man, “The entire time I knew him, he only ever had one goal: to wipeout half the universe.” (Ivanka: you may want to borrow that line for your future biography).
Forecast: Dr. Strange, Black Panther, The Hulk, Groot, Captain America, Ant-Man … the hero list in this one is endless and the running time (two hours and 29 minutes) is nearly “infinity.” Just wait until Disney inevitably buys the rights to the X-Men characters.
Then the average Marvel movie will be five hours long.
TV
Big events: The Handmaid’s Tale (April 29, Bravo).
Big picture: We move beyond Margaret Atwood’s famous novel in season 2 of this award-winning series.
After a two-episode première, fans can look forward to 11 more episodes set in the dark, dystopian world of Gilead. Masked figures, robed figures, religious fanatics, slavery, freedom fighters, public hangings, revolutionary women, corrupt patriarchies — this isn’t light viewing, but it’s plenty rewarding. Expect a visit to “the Colonies” — which make the Districts in Hunger Games look like Disney’s Magical Kingdom.
Season 2 finds a pregnant Offred (Elisabeth Moss) battling for the rights of her future child; and she is not alone in standing up to the regime. New cast members include Clea DuVall, Cherry Jones and Bradley Whitford. Forecast: You’ll find this a tale worth telling.
MUSIC
Big releases on April 27: Janelle Monáe (Dirty Computer); Keith Urban (Graffiti U); Okkervil River (In the Rainbow Rain); Willie Nelson (Last Man Standing). Big picture: In an ever-crowded field of competition, soulful songstress Monáe makes the case for being the most talented woman in the music industry — and the heir to Prince while infused with healthy, creative doses of everyone from Michael Jackson and Nina Simone to Aretha Franklin. Monae’s single, Make Me Feel, makes a strong case for song of the year.
Meanwhile, country crooner Keith Urban has a poor rationale for his new album title: “I was toying with the letter U,” Urban told Rolling Stone Country. “Obviously, it’s the first letter of my last name, but I liked that when you say it, it’s also the word ‘you.’ ”
Thanks, Keith. Keep those “deep thoughts” to yourself next time, buddy.
For a rare thing — uplifting, joyful indie rock! — take a plunge in Okkervil River.
And finally, Nelson, who turns 85 on April 29, is an aging outlaw who just can’t seem to holster his weapon of choice: music. (Better U, than him, Keith.)
Forecast: Monáe will make you feel like dancing — at least until Thanos comes to destroy us all.