My movie watching in August was downgraded to practically non-existent. Books took center stage (I’m currently trying to catch up with Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series – on Borderline at the moment, and I have Deborah Harkness’ debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, waiting in the wings).
Netflix provided The Invisible (yawn), The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai in the 8th Dimension (a 1984 camp-fest with a lot of familiar faces – it was fun), and the wrong Changeling (I could have sworn I selected the right one! Sigh). I have In the Valley of Elah (starring Tommy Lee Jones) waiting in my DVD player.
I also rented Arthur (the remake with Russell Brand and Helen Mirren – not that good, tho Mirren was terrific as always) and Paul(raunchy, fun, but ultimately not that great).
I did see Captain America, and it’s worth the trip to the theater, tho it might already be gone from most cineplexes.
Other August films I thought I might see – I’ll add The Help, One Day, Fright Night, Conan the Barbarian and Griff the Invisible to my to-rent list. The others, I’m ignoring.
Now on to September!
The Debt opens this weekend, and stars Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Sam Worthington and Jessica Chastain. Rated R, the film takes place during two different time periods, following a Mossad secret mission during the 1960s, and how that event affects the participants today. I’m hoping to see The Debt this weekend – I’ll let you know.
Also opening over the Labor Day weekend: Apollo 18, rated R, shot in the style of The Blair Witch Project, the tagline says it all “There’s a reason we’ve never gone back to the moon”; and A Good Old-Fashioned Orgy, rated R, follows the misadventures of a group of friends, now in their 30s, attempting to capture the care-free feelings from high school.
For the weekend of September 9, we have Contagion opening. Rated PG-13, the movie stars a host of familiar faces, including Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, John Hawkes and Jude Law. Too scary for me – I’ll pass. Also opening is Warrior (more my speed), rated PG-13 and starring Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte and Joel Edgerton, which pits two brothers against each other in the extreme fight scene.
One of the films I’m looking forward to this month opens September 16: Drive, rated R, stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Ron Perlman and Bryan Cranston. Gosling is a stuntman moonlighting as a driver for those with criminal intentions. Looks intense. Also opening this weekend are I Don’t Know How She Does It, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear and not yet rated; and Straw Dogs, starring James Marsden and Kate Bosworth in this remake of the 1971 film.
September 23 brings another movie I’m anticipating: Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Robin Wright. The baseball movie (tho it’s about more than just the sport) is based on a true story and is not yet rated. The weekend also finds opening Abduction, rated PG-13 and starring Taylor Lautner as a young man who discovers he was abducted as a baby; Machine Gun Preacher, rated R, starring Gerard Butler as a former biker who finds God and then goes to the Sudan to fight for children being forced to become soldiers (it’s based on a true story); Killer Elite, rated R, which stars Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro; and Dolphin Tale, rated PG, starring Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr. and a dolphin without a tail.
For the last weekend of month, we can find in the theater: 50/50, rated R and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen in a film penned by Rogen’s friend Will Reiser (JGL’s character is based on Reiser and Rogen plays a version of himself); Dream House, rated PG-13, a horror flick starring Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz (the romance began here); What’s Your Number, rated R, starring Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, Chris Evans, Ryan Phillippe and Joel McHale in a comedy about finding true love; Margaret, rated R, starring Anna Paquin, Matt Damon and Mark Ruffalo, is an indie originally shot in 2005 and just now being released; Take Shelter, rated R, with Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain about a man who thinks he may be going insane; and Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, rated R, which stars Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk as two mountain vacationers pitted against a group of college kids (while I love Tudyk, I’m going to skip this one).
For October, keep an eye on Real Steel (sci-fi with Hugh Jackman and robots!), The Ides of March (political thriller with Ryan Gosling – busy guy), Footloose (a remake – I have no idea why), The Three Musketeers (another tale of the sword – looks good), The Rum Diary (Johnny Depp’s latest), Anonymous (period piece about who really penned Shakespeare’s plays) and Safe (Jason Statham – do I need to say more?). And for November, watch for Tower Heist (even with Ben Stiller this looks good); Happy Feet 2 (happy!); Hugo (the trailers look great): Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (remake alert); The Descendants (lastest from George Clooney); and The Artist (look back at 1927 Hollywood).
What do you recommend? See ya at the movies!