Well the summer is coming to a close, this post is a few days late, but whatever, there are a bunch of movie that I need to see to sate my cinematic exploits. After a raucous July with The Dark Knight Rises and whatever else decided to release that month, I have to say TDKR was the only bright spot in the month. Spiderman and The Watch were big let downs and I was able to catch a few of the documentaries, which will have reviews soon. But the August month is more or less a dumping ground for big dumb, fun movie and I am looking forward to catching a few of them this month. Also I am seeing Klown this weekend so I am stoked for that. Well, here’s what looks good and what doesn’t look good.
Good film seeing folks!
The Good
Total Recall (August 3rd)
You know, I am ok with this “remake” as in it is a remake of the Philip K. Dick story, rather than the Arnold vehicle. I am I do like the shiny new veneer that they placed on this movie as the visuals look good and it might be more or less entertaining. The cast looks good, both looks and acting chops, and they even kept the three boobed hooker from the original film in this one. So thumbs up for that I guess. Anyways, a mindless science fiction action film that will not do the story justice and be focused on delivering spectacle more than than story. Sounds good to me.
Celeste and Jesse Forever (August 3rd)
I saw this trailer a few weeks back and absolutely feel in love with this. It also doesn’t help that Rashida Jones is in this movie and I have a huge crush on this woman, but damn this looks good. A smart, witty and touching romantic comedy that doesn’t fall into the standard Hollywood trappings that we get with these sort of movies. I love the indie touches to this trailer and early buzz has this as a standout this summer. It’s a limited release movie so I will be waiting patiently for a smart, romance movie that has charm and wit to go along with a touching story.
Craigslist Joe (August 3rd)
I am a sucker for documentary films and Craigslist Joe is a social project that I want to see. A fun human experiment that looks to see if a man can survive for 31 days living off the the digital town square of Craigslist. I must admit, the trailer seems a little too good to be real, but then again documentaries have been blurring the line between fiction and non-fiction. Still it seems like an interesting movie to explore.
The Bourne Legacy (August 10th)
Doing this shit, Renner style! I love the Bourne series, except all that shaky cam shit, but not having Matt Damon or even the Director Paul Greengrass has me a little on edge about the movie, but the trailers have been excellent and I do love me some Jeremy Renner. If only he did the movie with that sweet flat-top mullet he had back in high school.
The Campaign (August 10th)
So it’s Will Ferrel doing a Bush impersonation with Zach Galifianakis doing some other politician impression (shrug)…alright. I like to laugh and personally I think this will be absurd and funny, a potent combination. Ferrel looks like he will be the standout more than anything, since I still think that a little of Galifianakis goes a long way.
Red Hook Summer (August 10th)
It’s Spike Lee going back to his Brooklyn Anthology, which means I am interested. It is also a suedo, sequel to Do the Right Thing, which is one of my favorite Lee films around. I have been a bit torn with Lee and his films, some are great and then others are far too preachy and detracts from his films. I love the cultural touch points that he has in his films, capturing and framing the inner city life in a such a vibrant way and the trailer for Red Hook Summer looks wonderful to me.
The Expendables 2 (August 17th)
Needs more guns, explosions, fire, bullets, knives, explosions and The Stath.
Cosmopolis (August 17th)
Fuck I love David Cronenberg. Cosmopolis looks like a head trip and a half and has all the little touches of Cronenberg that I love to ponder over. Sleek, sexy, and downright trippy, I am actually excited to see Robert Pattinson in something other than sparkly vampire movies. I am hoping that Cronenberg just brings out something in Pattinson that we haven’t seen before (emotions being one) and Cosmopolis looks like it will be a sleeper hit.
Robot & Frank (August 24th)
I love the oddball premise of a man and robot becoming best friends and thieves. It’s so good to see Frank Langella in a role that isn’t secondary as he is wonderful to watch on screen. I must admit this brought out some smiles from me as the the whole robot/human angle is touching and funny. Robot and Frank will be a must see for me, even though it is limited release.
Samsara (August 24th)
Filmed over five years and in twenty-five countries, Ron Fricke continue to astound me with his non-narrative documentaries that are some of the most beautiful images put to film. If you have never seen Baraka or Chronos, you are missing out on a visual exploration of life on Earth. Samsara looks absolutely amazing in every sense of the word.
Lawless (August 31st)
I wasn’t keen on the fact that Shia LeBeouf is in this movie since I don’t like anything he is in, but having Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman and Jessica Chastain (swoon) in this with director John Hillcoat (The Road, The Proposition) has me excited for the closing week of August. Powerful, visceral and nothing short of brilliant is all I expect from John Hillcoat.
and The Meh
I realize I do a losers section, but there isn’t anything egregious that people should avoid based on early reviews and trailers, so these are the movies that I am more or less “meh” about. See at your own risk.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (August 3rd)
I have never seen a single one of these Diary movies but apparently they are popular and a franchise hit. For me, not my cup of tea.
360 (August 3rd)
A stellar cast can’t even get me excited about this movie. I mean the trailer looks like it is trying to be a Alejandro González Iñárritu sort of film but with more infidelity and sex. So far reviews have not been kind and it seem more stylistic in nature with its web of story lines and actors. I don’t see myself rushing out to see this, even with an ok trailer.
The Babymakers (August 3rd)
Ehhhhhh, I am on the fence with the Broken Lizard group. Their past films have been hit and miss, except for Supertroopers. I would wait till this comes out on DVD to devote some time to it.
2 Days in New York (August 10th)
I didn’t like 2 Days in Paris when it came out in 2007 and even with Chris Rock in this film playing a nice, subdued role, this is renter for me.
ParaNorman (August 17th)
This doesn’t have a re-animated dog in the film, so Paranorman loses out immediately.
Sparkle (August 17th)
Is this a sequel to Glitter? If it is, I am not interested. If it isn’t, I am still not interested in the “Fame” like story line or whatever.
The Odd Life of Timothy Green (August 17th)
This seems a bit too wholesome and whimsical to on the big screen. It seems like it would be suited for a Hallmark family channel movie of the month or even a mini-series.
Premium Rush (August 24th)
Was that bike parkour? Pass.
Hit and Run (August 24th)
I think I am more interested in seeing Bradley Cooper with dreadlocks rather than watching a Dax Shepard vehicle.
There are also a bunch of horror movies that look about as generic and similar as the next like The Possession, The Apparition, The Awakening and The “Whatever”. None seem like a standout or interesting to say the least.