This Week In Movies: ‘John Coltrane,’ ‘Norman,’ ‘The Lost City Of Z’

We’re in the middle of April, spring has sprung and so are good quality movies… well at least the independent fare. The best films to see this week are of the indie kind such as two documentaries, Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary and Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent which promise great insights into their respective crafts – jazz and the culinary arts. Also, Richard Gere returns to the big screen offering some more non-Richard Gere films with Norman. He’s been experimenting with his character selections for some time now and it’s hit and miss, but you can’t fault him for trying. Enjoy the trailers and listen to our podcast for our in-depth reviews of this week’s releases and more!

WIDE RELEASE

The Fate of the Furious (PG-13, 136m, Action)
Director: F. Gary Gray
Voice Cast: Michelle Rodriguez, Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Charlize Theron
Synopsis: When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of terrorism and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.

The Lost City of Z (PG-13, 141m, Action, Adventure, Drama)
Director: James Gray
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland
Synopsis: A true-life drama, centering on British explorer Col. Percival Fawcett, who disappeared while searching for a mysterious city in the Amazon in the 1920s.

Spark: A Space Tail (PG, 1hr 30m, Animation, Comedy)
Director: Aaron Woodley
Cast: Susan Sarandon, Jessica Biel, Patrick Stewart, Hilary Swank
Synopsis: Spark, a teenage monkey and his friends, Chunk and Vix, are on a mission to regain Planet Bana – a kingdom overtaken by the evil overlord Zhong.

INDIE & LIMITED RELEASES

Norman (R, 117m, Drama, Thriller)
Director: Joseph Cedar
Cast: Richard Gere, Lior Ashkenazi, Michael Sheen, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Synopsis: Norman Oppenheimer is a small time operator who befriends a young politician at a low point in his life. Three years later, when the politician becomes an influential world leader, Norman’s life dramatically changes for better and worse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMFNuDJmc1Q

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (1h 39m, Documentary, Music )
Director: John Scheinfeld
Cast: Denzel Washington, Common, Bill Clinton
Synopsis: The film explores the global power and impact of the music of John Coltrane and reveals the passions, experiences and forces that shaped his life and revolutionary sounds.

Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent (R, 120m, Documentary )
Director: Lydia Tenaglia
Cast: Mario Batali, Anthony Bourdain, Francesca De Luca, Rocston Issock
Synopsis: Both a biopic of a complicated man and an exploration of the gathering forces that converged to shape a new American cuisine and create the cult of “celebrity chef”… A consummate hedonist, Jeremiah Tower’s career spans the riotous sexual revolution of the 70’s to the high rolling “greed-is-good” spirit of the ’80s. Key interviews with celebrities & celebrity chefs cement Tower’s influence on today’s food culture and reveal how he transformed the restaurant industry and in the process changed the way we eat.

Tommy’s Honour (PG, 117m, Drama, Sport)
Director: Jason Connery
Cast: Ophelia Lovibond, Sam Neill, Peter Mullan, Peter Ferdinando
Synopsis: In every generation, a torch passes from father to son. And that timeless dynamic is the beating heart of Tommy’s Honour – an intimate, powerfully moving tale of the real-life founders of the modern game of golf.

A Quiet Passion (PG-13, 125m, Biopic)
Director: Terence Davies
Cast: Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Ehle, Duncan Duff, Keith Carradine
Synopsis: The story of American poet Emily Dickinson from her early days as a young schoolgirl to her later years as a reclusive, unrecognized artist.