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by Sandra Olmsted

In Theaters Now

FREE FIRE (A24 release) Although billed as crime comedy in the vein of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) or Snatch (2000), Free Fire lacks the dark humor, or much humor at all, just a brutal shootout played out in real or extended time. R for strong violence, pervasive language, sexual references and drug use and runs an excruciating 90m.

THE LOST CITY OF Z (Bleecker Street release) Director James Gray’s romanticized true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) follows his expeditions to prove the existence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization in the Amazon. Long at 141m, but beautifully evocative of the early 1900s. PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, brief strong language and some nudity.

   UNFORGETTABLE (Warner Bros release) First-time director Denise Di Novi’s passable thriller sometimes balances campiness, romance, and dark psychology. A woman (Katherine Heigl) sets out to win back her ex (Geoff Stults) by driving his new wife (Rosario Dawson) mad or by resorting to violence. R for sexual content, violence, some language, and brief partial nudity, 100m.

   BORN IN CHINA (The Walt Disney Company release) In honor of Earth Day, Disneynature’s new True Life Adventure film visits the wilds of China to follow a panda and her growing cub, a young golden monkey displaced by his baby sister, and a mother snow leopard raising two cubs. Rated G, 79 mins, in English and Chinese.

THE PROMISE (Open Road release) As the Ottoman Empire falls, a love triangle envelops medical student Michael (Oscar Isaac), sophisticated Ana (Charlotte Le Bon), and American journalist Chris (Christian Bale). The cast redeems this lackluster historical drama. Rated PG-13 for thematic material including war atrocities, violence and disturbing images, and some sexuality, 133m.

   THEIR FINEST (STX Entertainment release) With the help of a strong cast and a finely tuned balance of comedy and drama, director James Ponsoldt dazzles with his small budget but big production values recreation of WWII London during the Blitz. Catrin (Gemma Arterton), a married secretary promoted to scriptwriter, and established screenwriter Tom (Sam Claflin) fall for each other while working on a propaganda film about Dunkirk. R for some language and a scene of sexuality, 117m.

   THE CIRCLE (STX Entertainment release) Writer/director James Ponsoldt’s thriller based on Dave Eggers’ best-seller combines humor and moralizing about technology and privacy. Mae’s (Emma Watson) dream job at Eamon Bailey’s (Tom Hanks) company becomes a nightmare. PG-13 for a sexual situation, brief strong language and some thematic elements including drug use, 110m.

   GRADUATION (Sundance Selects release) Writer/director Cristian Mungiu’s tragedy follows Romanian doctor Aldea, whose daughter Eliza is attacked before an exam that would have assured her a scholarship to a prestigious British university. To protect her future, Aldea makes desperate moral choices. Winner of the Best Director prize at Cannes. R for some language, 128m, in Romanian.

Upcoming Films

MAY 5: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 2 repeats the craziness, exuberance, and wittiness as enemies become friends and the Guardians tackle mysteries and problems in Marvel’s expanding universe. PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and brief sugges tive content, 136m.

NORMAN A fascinating protagonist, excellent performances, and elaborate political intrigues make make this Sony Pictures Classics, starring Richard Gere, a delight. R for some language, 117m.

MAY 12: SNATCHED Goldie Hawn returns to the screen and joins Amy Schumer in a mother-daughter buddy comedy from Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. R for crude sexual content, brief nudity, and language throughout, 91m.

Warner Bros.’ KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD probes the youth of Arthur as he struggles with his destiny. PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some suggestive content and brief strong language,126m.

   THE WALL Roadside Attractions and Amazon Studio’s psychological thriller follows two soldiers pinned down by an Iraqi sniper with only a crumbling wall for protection during a battle of marksmanship, wits, and wills. R for language throughout and some war violence, 81m.

MAY 19: Director Ridley Scott returns to the franchise with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation‘s release of the much anticipated ALIEN: COVENANT. When space colonists discover their utopian paradise contains a terrible threat, can they escape? R for sci-fi violence, bloody images, language and some sexuality/nudity, 123m.

   DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE LONG HAUL In Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation upcoming franchise installment, Greg’s plot to get to a gamers convention diverts the family’s road trip to grandma’s 90th birthday. PG for some rude humor, 90m.

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer revisit the boy-in-bubble theme with Amandla Stenberg as Maddy, a girl with no immune system, and Nick Robinson as Olly Bright, the boy who falls for her. PG-13 for thematic elements and brief sensuality, 136m.

CHUCK In 1975, Chuck Wepner (Liev Schreiber), liquor salesman and modest prizefighter, goes 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali. Naomi Watts and Elisabeth Moss costar in IFC Films’ true tale of resilience and redemption. R for language throughout, drug use, sexuality/nudity and some bloody images, 101m.

   THE LOVERS Debra Winger and Tracy Letts play a long-married couple whose romantic spark reignites, despite having long running affairs and the complications of the smartphone age in A24’s anticipated romantic drama. R for sexuality and language, 94m.

   MAY 26: Paramount Pictures resurrects TV’s popular BAYWATCH series with Dwayne Johnson as head lifeguard Mitch Buchanan, who with a troublesome recruit (Zac Efron) uncovers a criminal plot to destroy the Bay. R for language throughout, crude sexual content, and graphic nudity, 119m.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES, Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) hunts for Poseidon’s Trident to thwart Captain Salazar’s plan to kill every pirate, including Jack. Splashy special effects, ghostly pirates, and high seas battles promise to make Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ latest installment the Memorial Day weekend’s big blockbuster. PG-13 for sequences of adventure violence, and some s

uggestive content, 129m.

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