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While it’s certainly an improvement over winter’s annual junk pile (sorry, “Hall Pass”), the ever-growing gush of spring sequels is still reliably packed with cine-trash. These past three years alone have given us the likes of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and everyone’s favorite mediocre movie to hate: “Sex and the City 2.” Spring 2011 promises lots of big-buget déjà vu, including “Kung Fu Panda 2,” “The Hangover Part II,” “Hoodwinked Too!” “Pirates of the Caribbean 4,” “Scream 4” and “X-Men: First Class.” Though some, specifically the latter two, are hard to resist, many will surely follow the trend and prove disposable. Need ways to avoid the waste and break up the sequel cycle? Look no further than these nine alternatives:
Sucker Punch
Aided by co-writer Steve Shibuya, fanboy favorite Zack Snyder (“300” and “Watchmen”) takes his first crack at original material with this butt-kicking female action fantasy. Set in the mind of a girl (Emily Browning) wrongfully trapped in a 1950s mental hospital, the effects-heavy flick blurs the line between dreams and reality while presumably pushing visual boundaries. The supporting cast includes Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone and Carla Gugino. (March 25)
Heartbeats
The much-lauded follow-up to his striking, if slightly pretentious, debut, “I Killed My Mother,” Xavier Dolan’s “Heartbeats” continues to showcase the 21-year-old French wunderkind’s uncommon skills for evoking international masters and blazing bold and personal trails. Centered on two best friends (Monia Chokri and Dolan himself) pining for the same carved-by-Michelangelo stud (Niels Schneider), the movie deals with loyalty, desire and heartbreak as it augments the resume of one of the most exciting young filmmakers in the world. (March 25)
Win Win
The third feature from Tom McCarthy (America’s answer to Mike Leigh), “Win Win” further exhibits its maker’s deeply empathetic point of view and gentle balance of humor and drama. Set in his home state of New Jersey and broader in appeal than his previous efforts (“The Station Agent” and “The Visitor”), McCarthy’s latest is his most personal and most accessible movie yet. It’s about a small-time attorney and wrestling coach (Paul Giamatti) whose newfound star athlete brings life’s struggles into perspective. True to form, it’s touching, but far from sentimental. (April 1)
Certified Copy
Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami’s “Certified Copy” is a beautiful and enigmatic meditation on the nature of relationships, and a journey that sees two actors (Cannes Best Actress winner Juliette Binoche and opera singer William Shimell in his film debut) playing off each other in fascinating, almost improvisational, fashion. Are their characters really strangers to one another? Are they in fact married? The film shifts and evolves and leaves much to interpretation. It also leaves a lasting impression. (April 1)
Hanna
Director Joe Wright may have lost his way with his poor translation of “The Soloist,” but that’s no reason to discount the chops on display in his first two films, “Pride & Prejudice” and “Atonement.” “Hanna,” an adventure thriller and Wright’s fourth feature, reunites him with two of his best camera subjects: The European countryside and “Atonement” star Saoirse Ronan. Ronan plays the title character, a skilled assassin on the run. The film features Eric Bana as Hanna’s father and Cate Blanchett as her key pursuer. (April 8)
Meek’s Cutoff
Michelle Williams re-teams with her “Wendy and Lucy” director, Kelly Reichardt, for Reichardt’s third and most ambitious feature, a tale that’s set along the titular offshoot of the Oregon Trail. Seemingly reminiscent of American classics like “Stagecoach,” “Days of Heaven” and “There Will Be Blood,” “Meek’s Cutoff,” about a family that must struggle to survive in the wilderness circa 1845, looks to boost the natural skills of a rising-star filmmaker who’s still just warming up. The movie also stars Bruce Greenwood, Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan. (May 6)
The Beaver
Mel Gibson’s despicable behavior will surely turn many people away from this oddball dramedy, but it may also be the any-press-is-good-press push the film needs to widen its interest and its audience.
In it, Gibson plays a toy company CEO who uses a beaver hand puppet as a means to reconnect with his family. Co-star Jodie Foster directs the film, which spent years in production standstill and might just be weird enough — and controversial enough — to work. (May 20)
Beautiful Boy
Speaking of controversy, “Beautiful Boy” takes a unique approach to the modern epidemic of mass shootings, focusing on the parents of a college-campus murderer misunderstood and hated by a nation. Maria Bello and Michael Sheen play mom and dad, who must grapple with both their son’s suicide and the guilt and heartache of being accused of raising a monster. The provocative film is directed by Shawn Ku, a young talent who’s been making a name for himself on the festival circuit since 2004. “Beautiful Boy” could be his breakout. (May 20)
The Tree Of Life
Quite possibly the most anticipated film of 2011 among cinephiles, Terrence Malick’s epic, long-delayed fifth feature follows the life of a boy from the Midwest, and in doing so, explores the very essence of life itself. Shrouded in secrecy through its years of development, “The Tree of Life” only recently revealed it first trailer, which offers peeks of Malick’s characteristically stunning and sweeping visual style. The movie stars Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain as the boy’s 1950s-era parents, and Sean Penn as the grown version of the boy, struggling to find meaning in the modern world. (May 27) SPR
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