25 May, 2012

DJ B-Clear's Summer Movie Preview - June

When I have free time (which is sometimes very often) I watch a lot of trailers. Here's a list of June films that offer some interest in seeing or in turning around if I see the title at the cineplex. The Avengers officially started the summer movie season on May 4th so we are about to enter it's second month. So let's get started.

Snow White and the Huntsman (June 1st): I've seen this trailer several times and I have to admit that it does arouse my curiosity. Charlize Theron is very talented and seems to be perfect in the role as Ravenna, the evil queen. So far I'm a fan of Chris Hemsworth and he looks perfectly cast as the Huntsman. The visual effects they show in the trailer seem really cool as well. So there's a lot to like in this film. My problem is Kristen Stewart. She seems more famous for the hype around the Twilight series than for any talent she may or may not possess. Plus, although she's younger than Theron, she's not nearly as beautiful as her (IMHO). It's also PG-13 so it may not be catering to my demographic. This film hasn't gotten critically reviewed yet but it's got a 90% audience rating based on previews.

High School (June 1st): Here's another film that hasn't been critically reviewed yet but has a high rating (81%) based on audience reaction. Suffice to say it has a good cast with Adrien Brody and Michael Chiklis. It's about an ambitious high school kid, Matt Bush, who smokes weed for the 1st time just when the Principal (Chiklis who looks brilliant in the trailer) is instituting a school wide drug test. So the brainiac freaks out about losing his scholarship to a prestigious college when he tests positive. He turns to his stoner pal for help and the stoner's plan is to spike brownies for the school bake sale with the theory that if all the students test positive then they can't do anything. Of course once the plan goes in motion, hi-jinx ensue. Adrien Brody plays the weed grower, "Crazy Ed." This is another film for a younger crowd. I'm no longer into high school films nor am I into "stoner" films. I may skip this.

For Greater Glory (June 1st): This film stars Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Reuben Blades & Peter O'Toole in a film that takes place during the Cristero War in mid 1920's Mexico. I just looked this up in Wikipedia so I didn't know of it's existence. So it's a sweeping, epic period piece with a good cast. The director Dean Wright has worked on several impressive titles in the visual effects department but this is his first time in the director's chair. The trailer wants to instill in you a feeling of almost Braveheart type expectations. I may see this but I've got to be in the right mood for it.

Other June 1st releases include Apartment 143, a group of parapsychologists investigate strange goings on in an apartment. Battlefield America gives a look at the urban dance scene that features 2 drill Sargent types whipping a bunch of teens in shape for a big dance showdown. Piranha 3DD,yet another film that features piranha feasting on young, good looking scantily clad beach goers or something to that effect. There was a Piranha 3D from 2010 so I'm not sure why we needed another one just 2 years later and I don't even know what 3DD means. See this at your own peril. There are some other smaller titles that I don't have a lot of interest in.

Prometheus (June 8th): This film is why there's not much big films opening around it. I was told by my brother-in-law to check out the featurette about this film in December and I was hooked. It's directed by Ridley Scott and has a cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Guy Pierce and Noomi Rapace. Early rumors was that it was an Alien prequel but then those rumors died down. Alien prequel or not who cares. Scott has done some masterful work over the years. The catch line is about finding Earth's past leading to it's destruction. The trailer was superb at sucking me in so I am in for this one, maybe even a midnight showing. There a few MUST SEE films this summer and this is one of them.

Safety Not Guaranteed (June 8th): I saw this trailer and I found it very interesting. It deals with 2 reporters who investigate a classified ad about time travel. The cast, other than Kristen Bell whom I don't recall even seeing in the trailer, isn't one that jumps out at you in fact, Aubrey Plaza (Parks & Recreation and Scott Pilgrim) is the only person whom I recall seeing in other stuff. It got high marks from the audience & critics on Rottentomatoes.com. It looks like a solid small film that's worth watching. I will be checking this out.

Dark Horse (June 8th): I saw this trailer recently and didn't think too much of it until they mentioned that Todd Solondz is the director. Jordan Gebler plays Abe, a 40 something dude who lives at home (Mia Farrow & Chris Walken are his parents) and works for his family's company. He meets Selma Blair at a wedding and she gives him the time of day so he decides to romantically pursue her. Solondz directed  dark, disturbing real life dramas Welcome to the Dollhouse and Happiness in the late 90's and has been off my radar for a long time. Before I found out Solondz was the director I thought this was something that Adam Sandler passed but I may check this out based on Solondz's past body of work.

Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding (June 8th): Is a film that I wouldn't look twice at but when you look at the cast and the director, well then I sort of changed my mind. It stars Katherine Keener (Being John Malkovich & 40 Year Old Virgin) as a high strung NYC lawyer who takes her kids to visit their hippie grandmother played by Jane Fonda. It also stars Elizabeth Olsen whom I think is very talented and worth seeing in just about anything. The capper for me was that it's directed by Bruce Beresford who has directed some excellent films over the past 30 plus years (Breaker Morant being my personal favorite). I don't how wide a release this film will get but it could be a hidden gem of the summer. Since it's an IFC Film it stands a good chance of not being some smarmy piece of family shlock.

Other June 8th releases include Lola Versus with Greta Gerwig (Damsels in Distress & Greenberg) as a woman on the verge of 30 who gets dumped by her fiancee just a few weeks prior to the wedding then sets out to find herself. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is the latest installment where our pals (voiced by Ben Stiller, Chris Rock & David Schwimmer) get in with a European circus in order to make their way back to NYC. Strictly for kids.

Rock of Ages (June 15th): If not mistaken this is the film version of a Broadway play. It has a star studded cast that includes Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti & Tom Cruise. There's a possibility that Cruise will steal the show as Stacie Jaxx, lead singer of a fictional LA band. I don;t know much about this but it will have a good soundtrack I'm sure but I will probably stay away from it. It wouldn't surprise me of this did well at the box office. Film versions of Broadway plays seem to be hot & cold so we shall see as it will be up against stiff competition.

Your Sister's Sister (June 15th): Stars Emily Blunt (5 Year Engagement & Adjustment Bureau) as Iris, who helps her friend Jack (played by Mark Duplass), who's in a rut or a slump, by sending him to her father's cabin for reflection. As it turns out Iris' sister Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt) is there after walking out on a 7 year relationship. Jack & Hannah hit off, thanks to Tequila, and end up sleeping with each other. The next day, Iris shows up setting off a series of uncomfortable events. Especially when Iris confides in Hannah that she secretly loves Jack (they're best friends). The film is written & directed by , , who's helmed a few independent films in her time. This looks interesting but I have to believe that I've seen this before somewhere. Twelve critics reviewed it and they all loved it, earning a 100% on Rottentomatoes.com. Plus it's so tough to dislike Emily Blunt.

Other films that have a June 15th release date are The Woman in the Fifth which stars Ethan Hawke as an American writer who moves to Paris to be with his daughter and write a novel. Kristin Scott Thomas also stars as what looks to be Hawke's love interest. Then there's That's My Boy which stars Adam Sandler & Andy Samberg. Sandler plays the neglectful father of Samberg who was a product of an "inappropriate student-teacher relationship." I saw this trailer and I wanted to throw up. That's all I need to say. It's shameful because Sandler has talent (Punch Drunk Love) but continues to churn out this garbage where he plays the same character that hasn't changed since the 90's. Extraterrestre (Extraterrestrial) and Americano are foreign films that might be worth seeing but probably won't be in any wide release so unless you live near an art house cinema you may not even know that these films are out there.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (June 22nd): Is a film that on the outset may look ridiculous but after I saw the trailer, it looked kind of cool. It's directed by who gave us Night Watch & Day Watch and is skilled in action films. Why not make an icon of America a vampire hunter? A good cast that includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln (the real Mrs. Lincoln was never as attractive as Winstead), Benjamin Walker as "Honest Abe" and Rufus Sewell who must be a villain. This looks kind of cool and could be a nice piece of escapism.

Brave (June 22nd): Is Pixar's latest animated release. Mostly for kids but Pixar has an uncanny ability to make solid films that appeal to all members of a family. I may not see in this in the theater but if I stumble across it on HBO or whatever I will sit and watch it (and probably cry my eyes out at the end). It's about a Scottish princess who longs for a more adventurous life than the one her family has planned for her. The voice cast includes Kelly McDonald (who is very talented & should be a huge star but she doesn't seem to be into fame), Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly and Craig Fergurson. Make no mistake, storywise, Pixar has been using the same formula since Toy Story but it has worked. Pixar is the gold standard of Hollywood animation.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (June 22nd): Sure its a long title but it stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley as star crossed lovers whose lives improve when the meet but the problem is that the Earth faces an impending doom. I saw the trailer and it looked interesting. Carell is VERY talented and can slip into just about any type of dramatic/comedic role and Knightley is extremely versatile as well. First time director also wrote the film and has some indie cred in her past screenplays. In a summer of blockbusters, this could be a nice change of pace.

To Rome With Love (June 22nd): Is Woody Allen's latest work that has an all-star ensemble cast. Rome is the background in this one where several different relationships unfold. Allen has always been adept at bringing realistic relationships to life on the screen. I was 50/50 on Midnight in Paris (maybe it was Owen Wilson & Rachael McAdams as the too cute couple) but there were some very good parts to it. The trailer is filled with solid one liners but as a whole film, who knows. I will probably take a chance on this film depending on where I am when it comes out because it may only be in a limited release. It is Woody Allen and he may not be able to replicate his greatness of the 70's but he's more than capable of making a solid film.

Ted (June 29th): Is Seth MacFarlane's directorial debut where he voices a teddy bear that has come to life and has stuck by his owner, Mark Wahlberg, throughout childhood into adulthood. It's rated R so there will be a lot of bathroom and inappropriate humor (the best kind)! After I saw the trailer my 1st thought was "why?" I am a huge fan of Family Guy (which has been slowly faltering over the last few seasons) but there's a distinct possibility that the best jokes are in the trailer and is just MacFarlane doing Family Guy-esque voices to make the jokes? Or could it be a hilarious romp? I will wait and see on this one. If it has a good opening weekend and has some good buzz then I will check it out. If the buzz is bad or if it has a terrible opening weekend then I will pass. But if given a life or death choice, I'd choose Ted over That's My Boy without hesitation.

Magic Mike (June 29th): Stars Channing Tatum and Matthew McConnaughey as male strippers (what surprise McConnaughey in a role where he's shirtless most of the time) in a somewhat based on true story film. McConnaughey plays mentor to Tatum who seems to struggle with his life as a male stripper, following his dream as a furniture maker while trying to find love. It's funny that these two got paired because Tatum is probably a young McConnaughey (lots of shirtless roles) looking to make his way into better roles. The thing is McConnaughey managed to pick up some indie cred (Dazed and Confused) whereas Channing has mostly been beefcake (Step Up 2 the Streets) but that's not to say there's talent in there somewhere. There will be worse films to see but I can't imagine that this film will be any good. I could be wrong though.

People Like Us (June 29th): Directed by , who has an interesting resume of screenwriting credits, this drama has a likeable cast (Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Pfeiffer & Jon Favreau) where Pine's father dies and he's forced to set his family's affairs in order. During this process he finds out he's got a long lost sister. This new knowledge makes him take stock in his life. This is another plot line that seems familiar (Rain Man comes to mind) but Kurtzman is directing the next Star Trek feature so it might be worth watching to see what he can do. It almost has too good a cast to be terrible but who knows.

Madea's Witness Protection (June 29th): I think the title says it all as Tyler Perry brings back the character that made him a household name. It also stars comic legends Eugene Levy and Doris Roberts so there's going to a lot of laughs. If you like some of the other Madea works than this one may be up your alley. I get worried because Perry is at the forefront of African-American filmmakers and there seems to be a danger of Madea going the way of the Ernest franchise. Perry has too much talent to let that happen but Hollywood has a tendency to toss African-American directors aside when they no longer bankable (John Singleton comes to mind as his 1st 3 features between 91-95 were excellent then his resume gets slim over the next 17 years. That's not to say he lost his talent but he's not making the same type films he once was which is unfortunate but this is a topic for another time).

That wraps up the June's releases. There's also a Neil Young concert documentary and some other foreign films. July will bring us Chris Nolan's final installment of the Dark Knight franchise. Thanks for your time.

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