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Is everyone well-rested and appropriately psyched for the movies of May and June?
Okay…good. Now let’s pick things back up again with a little preview of what’s to come in July and August.
For me, July brings more than just some really cool summer movies. The doctor tells me that I’ll be welcoming a little bundle of joy on or around July 10th—my very own little daughter, whom I will one day teach to appreciate things like Disney movies, ‘80s comedies, summer blockbusters, and the sheer cheesiness that is Nicolas Cage. Clearly, though, my biological clock was a little off when it came to timing the little one’s birth. Let’s just say that I’ll be trying some labor-inducing techniques a little earlier in the month, so I can be out of the hospital in plenty of time for the Dark Knight screening.
Of course, there are plenty of other summer movies to try to plan the birth of your first-born around—starting with the big holiday weekend releases. So let’s dive right in, shall we?
JULY 3-6:
First up this month: Sony’s reboot of The Amazing Spider-Man, starring self-proclaimed Spider-Man fanboy Andrew Garfield as the web-slinging crime-fighter. In this first film in the new version of the franchise, Peter Parker begins digging into his own past.
Also this week, Oliver Stone directs the crime thriller Savages, a film that appears to involve hippies, drug dealers, and a Mexican drug cartel. And Morgan Freeman stars as a washed-up, wheelchair-bound author who finds new inspiration in Rob Reiner’s The Magic of Belle Isle.
Meanwhile, for the musically minded, there’s Katy Perry: Part of Me (in 3D, of course). Or, for a little dose of real life that’s stranger than fiction, there’s Lauren Greenfield’s documentary, The Queen of Versailles, about a family that decided to build a 90,000-square-foot home inspired by Versailles right before the economic downturn hit.
Kristin’s Pick of the Week: It’s one wild and wacky holiday weekend—but I’ll admit that I’m intrigued by the new Amazing Spider-Man, so I’ll give it my hopeful pick.
JULY 13:
This week, the Ice Age gang returns for their fourth film, Ice Age: Continental Drift, which follows the beloved prehistoric characters as they take to the seas after their continent drifts away.
This next movie, however, isn’t for the kids. Ted stars Mark Wahlberg as a guy who still lives with his childhood best friend: his teddy bear, who was once wished into being and has long since overstayed his welcome. He may look cute and cuddly, but don’t expect family-friendly comedy from director Seth MacFarlane.
Meanwhile, in limited release this week, Diane Kruger plays Marie Antoinette in Farewell, My Queen, Sigourney Weaver and Robert De Niro explore paranormal activity in Red Lights, and Freida Pinto stars in Trishna, director Michael Winterbottom’s adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
Kristin’s Pick of the Week: I lost interest in the Ice Age movies long ago, so I’ll give the irreverent comedy of Ted my pick instead.
JULY 20:
Now we’ve come to the event that my little one and I have been discussing for the last six months or so: the long-awaited, highly-buzzed return of director Christopher Nolan’s Batman in the trilogy finale, The Dark Knight Rises. With Tom Hardy’s Bane wreaking havoc on Gotham, Batman returns to save the city that’s turned its back on him.
Kristin’s Pick of the Week: There’s a reason why no one dares to face off against Batman at the box office: because there’s just no point. Nolan is the kind of director who can wow movie lovers of all shapes, sizes, and styles—from fanboys to serious cinephiles. And, since I’m a little bit of both, I can’t wait to see The Dark Knight Rises (whenever the baby allows me to, that is).
JULY 27:
If you need some comic relief after the sheer intensity of The Dark Knight Rises, you might want to check out Neighborhood Watch. Ben Stiller heads a team of suburbanites (including Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill) who form a neighborhood watch group, only to find themselves battling invaders from outer space. Personally, I’m just thankful that Kevin James is nowhere to be found.
Also this week, you can expect a whole lot of great choreography and very little story from the latest in the Step Up franchise, Step Up Revolution.
And, in limited release, the team behind 2006’s runaway hit, Little Miss Sunshine returns for Ruby Sparks, and Matthew McConaughey plays a crazy Texas hitman in Killer Joe.
Kristin’s Pick of the Week: Though I’m keeping my fingers crossed for some lovable buddy comedy from Neighborhood Watch, I have to admit that I’m eager to check out the outrageous NC-17 action of Killer Joe—so I’ll give it my pick.
AUGUST 3:
August is traditionally a time for releasing less-than-stellar action movies, lame stoner comedies, and a book club adaptation or two (though that didn’t seem to hurt The Help last year). Only time will tell how this year’s August releases fare.
The month opens with a pair of thrillers—with Jeremy Renner taking over for Matt Damon in Tony Gilroy’s The Bourne Legacy and Colin Farrell taking over for Arnold Schwarzenegger in Len Wiseman’s remake of Total Recall.
Also this week, another follow-up, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, the third film in the popular kids’ franchise, follows geeky Greg as he takes a summer job at a posh country club.
And, finally, in limited release this week, director Fernando Meirelles explores relationships with some help from Rachel Weisz, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins, and others in 360.
Kristin’s Pick of the Week: The Bourne movies are always good for some brainless action, so I’ll give The Bourne Legacy my pick, hoping that Gilroy avoids Paul Greengrass’s old shaky-cam style of filmmaking.
AUGUST 10:
And now for something lighter… This week, Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis face off as rival politicians in director Jay Roach’s latest comedy, The Campaign.
Or, for more mature comic sensibilities, there’s Hope Springs, a grown-up romantic comedy starring Oscar winner Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as a middle-aged couple who sign up for a weekend of intense marital counseling in an attempt to save their marriage.
Comedy and romance continue into this week’s limited releases, with Julie Delpy’s 2 Days in New York (a follow-up to 2 Days in Paris). Or, for some chills to chase away the summer heat, there’s The Awakening, starring Rebecca Hall as a woman on a mission to prove that a British boarding school isn’t really haunted.
Kristin’s Pick of the Week: While I’m cautiously optimistic about the political comedy of The Campaign, I’ve got to give my pick to Meryl and Tommy in Hope Springs.
AUGUST 17:
If you loved the all-star action of 2010’s The Expendables, you’ll want to mark your calendar for the release of the sequel, The Expendables 2, with Stallone and the boys battling a new enemy, played by (drum roll, please) Jean-Claude Van Damme. Like its predecessor, it’s sure to be a manly-man’s dream.
Meanwhile, on the exact opposite end of the spectrum, there’s Sparkle, a remake of the 1976 musical, starring Jordin Sparks as an up-and-coming young singer. The late Whitney Houston, who served as the film’s executive producer, plays her mother.
For the kids (or just the kids at heart), there’s ParaNorman, an animated adventure about a kid whose ability to talk to the dead helps him battle the zombies that invade his town. And, in another family-friendly pick, Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton wish for a baby and get a few surprises in the bargain in The Odd Life of Timothy Green.
Kristin’s Pick of the Week: I suppose this week’s pick really depends on your own personal tastes. But, since I’m a sucker for geeky kids and twisted animated adventures, I’ll choose ParaNorman.
AUGUST 24:
When it comes to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s latest, the name says it all. Premium Rush stars Gordon-Levitt as a New York City bike messenger on the run from a corrupt cop (played by Michael Shannon). Sounds to me like quite a rush.
Also this week, Dax Shepard plays a former getaway driver on the run in Hit and Run, and Ashley Greene goes from vampires to ghosts in the horror flick The Apparition.
And, in limited release, Gael García Bernal goes on a hiking trip in the travel-thriller The Loneliest Planet.
Kristin’s Pick of the Week: Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of my favorite actors—so I’ve got to pick Premium Rush. Though it seems like it might be a little light on plot, it’s sure to be heavy on suspense.
AUGUST 31:
Can you believe that we’ve already come to the last weekend of the summer? This year, Labor Day weekend brings another batch of thrills—including 7500, about an international flight that goes horribly wrong, and The Possession, about a regrettable yard sale purchase (perhaps I should get my mom to watch this one).
Or, for something a little more dramatic, there’s director John Hillcoat’s Lawless, based on a true story about a bunch of bootlegging brothers (played by Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, and Jason Clarke).
Kristin’s Pick of the Week: I’ll skip the scares this week and go with Lawless. Though I wasn’t a big fan of Hillcoat’s drab and dreary The Road, I’m hoping for the best from Nick Cave’s screenplay.
And, with that, we’ve come to the end of yet another marathon of summer movies. Now that we’ve made it through four whole months of all that this year’s Summer Blockbuster Season has to offer, you can check your calendar and start making plans for the things that don’t involve sitting in the dark with strangers.
Until it’s time to take a look at the award contenders of fall, enjoy the action and adventure of summer—and don’t forget to share your popcorn and Milk Duds.
