New in Theaters: “The Long Walk”, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”, and “Spinal Tap II”

1.  “The Long Walk”  (R)  Trailer

In a dystopian future, the government runs an annual contest where 100 men must walk until there is only one of them left, and there’s no finish line.

If they fall below a pace of three miles per hour, they are given a warning and after their third warning they are shot and killed by the soldiers following them.  But whoever survives the walk is set for life financially.

It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son Cooper Hoffman as the main protagonist and Mark Hamill as the Major in charge of the death squad.  It’s based on the 1979 Stephen King novel, which he published as Richard Bachman.

 

 

2.  “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”  (PG)  Trailer

This final movie in the film trilogy is set in the 1930s, with Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) being humiliated by getting kicked out of a party due to being newly divorced.  The challenge then becomes how will she regain her social status.

Sadly, Maggie Smith passed away in September of last year, so she won’t make an appearance.  But there’s a touching dedication to her at the end of the film.

 

 

3.  “Spinal Tap II:  The End Continues”  (R)  Trailer  (Limited)

Rob Reiner returns as documentarian Marty Di Bergi to capture bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer) as they reunite for one final concert and try to convince their 12th drummer that it’s not fatal to join the band.

Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Metallica’s Lars Ulrich all have cameos and, of course, Rob Reiner is back to direct it.

 

 

4.  “Code 3”  (R)  Trailer  (Limited)

Rainn Wilson plays a burned-out paramedic who decides to resign, but first has to do one last 24-hour shift to train his replacement, Aimee Carrero.  It also stars Lil Rey Howery as their driver, Yvette Nicole Brown as their supervisor, and Rob Riggle as a doctor at one of the hospitals they service.