Kam Williams Reviews Movies Opening May 1, 2015

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Avengers: Age of Ultron (PG-13 for suggestive comments and intense violence, action and scenes of destruction) Eleventh installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise finds Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) joining forces to prevent a diabolical villain with a God complex (James Spader) from wiping humanity off the face of the planet. With Samuel L. Jackson, Elizabeth Olsen, Idris Elba, Hayley Atwell, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Anthony Mackie and Linda Cardellini.

Far from the Madding Crowd (PG-13 for violence and some sexuality) Third screen adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel, set in Victorian England, revolving around a trio of suitors, a shepherd (Matthias Schoenaerts), a sergeant (Tom Sturridge) and a wealthy bachelor (Michael Sheen), vying for the affections of a fetching, headstrong farmer (Carey Mulligan). With Juno Temple, Jessica Barden and Eloise Oliver.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared (R for profanity and violence) Screen adaptation of Jonas Jonasson’s novel of the same name about a frisky geezer (Robert Gustafsson) who celebrates his 100th birthday by making a break from his retirement home to embark on a daring adventure of a lifetime. With Iwar Wiklander, Mia Skaringer and David Wiberg. (In Swedish, Spanish, Russian German, English and French)

Any Day (Unrated) Romance drama about a just-paroled murderer (Sean Bean) in search of redemption who moves in with his sister (Kate Walsh), gets a job at a pizzeria and starts dating a woman (Eva Longoria) he meets in a grocery store. Cast includes Tom Arnold, Shane Black and Sonya Eddy.

Cas & Dylan (Unrated) Unlikely-buddies dramedy about a suicidal, senior citizen with a brain tumor (Richard Dreyfuss) who embarks on a cross-country road trip with the free-spirited, 22 year-old girlfriend (Tatiana Maslany) of a guy (Christopher Cordell) he accidentally ran over. With Aaron Poole, Jayne Eastwood and Corinne Conley.

Gerontophilia (Unrated) Romantic comedy about love which blossoms between a teenaged summer intern (Pier-Gabriel Lajoie) and one of the residents (Walter Borden) in the old folks home where he works as an orderly. Featuring Katie Boland, Yardly Kavanagh and Shawn Campbell. (In English and French with subtitles)

Marie’s Story (Unrated) Fact-based biopic, set in 19th Century France, about a neglected, deaf and blind girl (Ariana Rivoire) who realized her potential with the help of the Catholic nun (Isabelle Carre) who started teaching her how to communicate for the first time at the age of 14. With Gilles Treton, Brigitte Catillon and Noemie Churlet. (In French and sign language with subtitles)

Maya the Bee Movie (G) Animated adventure about a lowly drone with a big heart (Coco Jack Gillies) who leads the search party after the Queen bee’s (Miriam Margolyes) royal jelly is stolen. Voice cast includes Jacki Weaver, Noah Taylor and Nina Hagen.

Ride (R for profanity and drug use) Helen Hunt wrote, directed and stars in this California dreaming dramedy as a concerned mom who quits her job as an editor at the New Yorker to be with her son (Brenton Thwaites) in L.A. after he drops out of college to surf while finding himself. Supporting cast includes Luke Wilson, Richard Kind and Robert Knepper.

Welcome to Me (R for sexuality, profanity, graphic nudity and brief drug use) Quirky character study about a lottery winner suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder (Kristen Wiig) who stops taking her meds and starts hosting her own TV talk show. With Linda Cardellini, James Marsden, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, Loretta Devine and Jennifer Jason Leigh.