The SLMan Culture List: April

THE WAR FILM: Warfare

Warfare is written and directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and SLMan favourite Alex Garland (Civil War, 28 Days Later). Overwatching the movement of US forces through insurgent territory, it embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs in the home of an Iraqi family. A visceral, boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare, it’s told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it. The 95-minute film stars some of the best young talent out there – you might recognise D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs), Will Poulter (The Revenant), Cosmo Jarvis (Shogun), Kit Connor (Heartstopper), Finn Bennett (True Detective), Taylor John Smith (Where The Crawdads Sing), Michael Gandolfini (The Many Saints of Newark), Noah Centineo (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before), Evan Holtzman (Civil War), Henrique Zaga (Queer), Joseph Quinn (Gladiator II) or Charles Melton (May September). With the ‘who’s who’ feel of Saving Private Ryan, this one could be another modern classic that propels a new generation of actors to greatness.

11th April

Visit Picturehouses.com

THE SCI-FI: Andor – Series 2

We think Andor is the best Star Wars spin-off yet, and it returns for its long-awaited conclusion on 23rd April. Rife with political intrigue, danger, tension and high stakes, the series is a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which (refresher) showed a heroic band of rebels stealing the plans to the Empire’s weapon of mass destruction, The Death Star, thus itself setting the stage for the events of the original 1977 film. Andor sets the clock back five years from the events of Rogue One to tell the story of the film’s hero, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), and his transformation from disinterested, cynical nobody to rebel hero with an epic destiny. In season two, the characters and their relationships intensify as the horizon of war draws near and Cassian becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas become profound.

23rd April

Visit DisneyPlus.com

THE HORROR MOVIE: Sinners

From Ryan Coogler – director of Black Panther and Creed – this new horror stars Michael B. Jordan. Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (both played by Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. Jordan’s joined by Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Miles Caton and the always excellent Delroy Lindo.

18th April

Visit Picturehouses.com

THE MUSIC DOC: Neil Young: Coastal

For one day only, music fans are invited to take a journey with maverick musician Neil Young as he cruises the coast on his recent solo tour. Directed by Young’s wife, Daryl Hannah, Coastal offers a glimpse behind the curtain of an iconoclast as he navigates a post-pandemic return to the stage – from his everyday observations on the bus to his wry banter with his audience. The illuminating film also features songs rarely if ever played live, performed in strikingly beautiful theatres.

17th April

Visit Picturehouses.com

THE SPORTS DOC: The Clubhouse: A Year With The Red Sox

The latest in Netflix’s sporting BTS series takes a look at the world of baseball. Following the 2024 Boston Red Sox on and off the field, it grants viewers unprecedented access to one of sports’ most historic teams. The result is a never-before-seen glimpse into the personal and professional lives of MLB ballplayers as they grapple with the mental pressure and physical demands of a gruelling 162-game season.

8th April

Visit Netflix.com

THE THRILLER: Gangs Of London – Series 3

In Gangs of London series three, undercover cop turned gangster Elliot (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) is now operating as a top-level criminal alongside the Dumanis, but their business is thrown into chaos when a shipment of cocaine is spiked, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians all over London. The ensuing chaos attracts attention from the authorities, putting the gangs of London under pressure like never before. The ripple effects – both personal and professional – will have devastating consequences for everyone from the mighty Wallaces (led by Joe Cole) to local street gangs. This was a targeted attack and it’s only the beginning, but the question is – who did it and why?

Out now

Visit NowTV.com

THE OTHER MUSIC DOC: One To One: John & Yoko

From Kevin Macdonald (Whitney, The Mauritanian) and Sam Rice-Edwards (Meet Me in the Bathroom, The Rescue), One To One: John & Yoko brings to life electrifying, never-before-seen material and newly restored footage of John Lennon's only full-length, post-Beatles concert. With remastered audio overseen by their son, Sean Ono Lennon, the film is both compelling and bittersweet, challenging pre-existing notions of the iconic couple. On 30th August 1972, Lennon played the One To One benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, delivering a dazzling performance from him and Ono. Macdonald’s riveting documentary uses that legendary musical event as the starting point to explore 18 defining months in the lives of John and Yoko. Filmed in a meticulously faithful reproduction of the NYC apartment the duo shared, the film offers a bold new take on a seminal time in the lives of two of history’s most influential artists.

11th April

Visit Picturehouses.com

THE EPIC: The Return

Fresh from a decent awards-season run for his performance in papal drama Conclave, Ralph Fiennes stars alongside Juliette Binoche in a new film by director Uberto Pasolini. The film reunites The English Patient co-stars in a powerfully original and psychologically revealing adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey. If anyone can tackle the immensity of the source material, it’s Fiennes.

11th April

Visit Picturehouses.com

THE CRIME CAPER: The Diamond Heist

Guy Ritchie’s latest project is a three-part docu-series. It’s summer 2000. A group of south-east London criminals are orchestrating what just might be the most audacious heist of all time. Their plan: use a bulldozer to ram-raid the brand-new Millennium Dome in broad daylight, steal the world’s second biggest flawless diamond in a haul worth £350m, and escape by speedboat down the Thames. There’s just one tiny problem: the Flying Squad are watching.

16th April

Visit Netflix.com

THE CRIME DRAMA: Havoc

Walker (Tom Hardy) is a bruised detective fighting his way through the criminal underworld threatening to engulf his entire city. In the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong, Walker finds himself with a number of factions on his tail: a vengeful crime syndicate, a crooked politician, and his fellow cops. When attempting to rescue the politician’s estranged son, whose involvement in the drug deal starts to unravel a deep web of corruption and conspiracy, he is forced to confront the demons of his past. A high-octane action thriller written and directed by Gareth Evans (The Raid, Gangs of London), Havoc stars Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Luis Guzmán, Timothy Olyphant and Forest Whitaker.

25th April

Visit Netflix.com

THE COMEDY: The Studio

Seth Rogen stars in this new Apple TV+ series as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of embattled Continental Studios. As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his team of infighting execs battle their own insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in pursuit of elusively great films. With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps and breathes movies, it's the job Matt's been pursuing his whole life – and it may very well destroy him.

Out now

Visit TV.Apple.com