While Cannes Film Festival is the big cinematic focus this month, we also have the start of the summer blockbuster after Fast Five gave a humongous jump start last week. There are a decent number of blockbusters to look forward to, but the real highlights don’t involve any previous properties. Check out the list below and let us know what you want to see.
See:
10. Everything Must Go (Dan Rush; May 13th)
Synopsis: When an alcoholic relapses, causing him to lose his wife and his job, he holds a yard sale on his front lawn in an attempt to start over. A new neighbor might be the key to his return to form.
Why You Should See It: Will Ferrell heads back into dramatic territory with this praised script, from a Raymond Carver short story, adapted and directed by Dan Rush. I saw it during its TIFF premiere last fall and the noteworthy performances matched with the smart script elevate the standard direction. Check out our recent Tribeca review here.
9. Last Night (Massy Tadjedin; May 6th)
Synopsis: When married couple Joanna and Michael spend a night apart, they each face temptation that could decide the fate of their relationship: Michael is out of town with a seductive co-worker, while Joanna encounters her ex, who has resurfaced in New York City.
Why You Should See It: Another film I saw last fall at TIFF is finally getting its theatrical debut. One can see it on VOD now, but this look at fidelity proves Sam Worthington isn’t just a blockbuster acting robot. Aided by Keira Knightley, Eva Mendes, and Guillaume Canet, this is a refreshing reminder romance films can take things seriously and still resonate. Check out my quick TIFF recap here.
8. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Rob Marshall, May 20th)
Synopsis: After crossing paths with a woman from his past, Captain Jack Sparrow is swept aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard, on an unexpected mission to find the elusive fountain of youth.
Why You Should See It: This fourthquel seems equally unattractive and oddly appealing. On one hand, it looks to be the most unnecessary of the summer blockbusters. On the other, one has to give credit to the producers for acknowledging the failures of the last two films and stripping this one down to the bare bones, featuring a standalone Jack Sparrow adventure. I’ll see it for the brilliant casting of a heroine and a baddie, Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane, respectively.
7. Tuesday, After Christmas (Radu Muntean; May 27th)
Synopsis: Paul Hanganu loves two women. Adriana his wife and the mother of their daughter, the woman with whom he’s shared the thrills of the past ten years, and Raluca the woman who has made him redefine himself. He has to leave one of them before Christmas.
Why You Should See It: This recommendation comes solely from our viewing at NYFF last fall where we described the film as “another staple of the blossoming Romanian New Wave….along the same line as The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, avoiding the politics of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and instead finding the comedy in an incredibly dramatic situation.”
6. Thor (Kenneth Branagh; May 6th)
Synopsis: The warrior Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) for his arrogance and sent to Earth to live among humans. Falling in love with scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) teaches Thor much-needed lessons, and his new-found strength comes into play as a villain from his homeland sends dark forces toward Earth.
Why You Should See It: Can Marvel Studios finally get back in the right groove? Since Spider-Man 2 in 2004, they haven’t seemed to muster up a truly entertaining blockbuster. Some say Iron Man was the savior, but I tend to disagree. With their latest, they’ve definitely taken a chance, bringing in Kenneth Branagh as director. After Fast Five kicked things off right, early reviews from around the globe declare Marvel’s latest another step in the right direction this summer blockbuster season.
5. The Hangover Part II (Todd Phillips; May 26th)
Synopsis: Right after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug jet to Thailand for Stu’s wedding. Stu’s plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry.
Why You Should See It: We’ve seen these sorts of sequels to mega-hit comedies fail all too often. Todd Phillips seems too smart to turn out a Caddyshack II-level disaster, but everything from the trailer indicates the formula isn’t getting changed up whatsoever. For the many that loved the first film (including me), I’ll gladly go on another adventure with these characters.
4. Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen; May 20th)
Synopsis: A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.
Why You Should See It: After a pair of duds Woody Allen is back with this ensemble feature, premiering at Cannes Film Festival this month. He’s also gathered some fine actors including Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Owen Wilson, and Adrien Brody for this romantic comedy.
3. The Beaver (Jodie Foster; May 6th)
Synopsis: A troubled executive (Mel Gibson) adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communicating with his family and colleagues.
Why You Should See It: The most controversial film of May, and possibly the summer, features the return of Mel Gibson. Directed by Jodie Foster from a #1 Black List, the strong reviews from its SXSW premiere indicate this could be one of the stronger dramas this year. Check out our SXSW review here.
2. Bridesmaids (Paul Feig; May 13th)
Synopsis: Picked as her best friend’s maid of honor, lovelorn and broke Annie (Kristen Wiig) looks to bluff her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals with an oddball group of bridesmaids.
Why You Should See It: Although it’s been sold simply as The Hangover for women, this Judd Apatow-produced, Paul Feig-directed is much smarter and more heartfelt than it may suggest. Anchored by Kristen Wiig in her first lead performance, there is much to love here. It may run a little long, but that is expected from an Apatow production. See it, because even if it doesn’t achieve the goal, this comedy deserves to be the breakout hit of the summer. Check out our SXSW review here.
1. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick; May 27th)
Synopsis: The life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Brad Pitt). Jack (played as an adult by Sean Penn) finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.
Why You Should See It: Terrence Malick’s long-awaited epic is finally hitting theaters and it is firmly at the top of my most-anticipated films of the year. Under another director this sprawling tale of life and the universe itself might crumble under its own ambitions, but with the guidance of one of our greatest visual storytellers, I predict a staggering achievement.
Priest (Scott Stewart; May 13th)
Synopsis: A priest disobeys church law to track down the vampires who kidnapped his niece.
Why You Should See a Matinee: Director Scott Stewart certainly isn’t changing around his style (or lead actor) after last year’s Legion. I have to applaud the larger scope and seemingly better action, but it’s hard to get truly excited for this one due to what looks to be a standard story and repetitive visuals. Please surprise me, Paul Bettany.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (Jennifer Yuh; May 26th)
Synopsis: Po and the Furious Five venture to China to battle a villain and uncover the secrets of Po’s mysterious origins.
Why You Should See a Matinee: Some hold Kung Fu Panda up on a pedestal, but I’m not one of those people, and therefore can not fully recommend this Dreamworks animation. The first one was a bit of fun and, although under different direction, this one will probably deliver the same. Who cares what I say though? It will make a gajillion dollars like it was designed to do. At least Jack Black is finding success with something.
Cameraman: The Work and Life of Jack Cardiff (Craig McCall; May 13th)
Synopsis: Jack Cardiff’s career spanned an incredible nine of moving picture’s first ten decades and his work behind the camera altered the look of films forever through his use of Technicolor photography. Craig McCall’s passionate film about the legendary cinematographer reveals a unique figure in British and international cinema.
Why You Should See a Matinee: This iconic cinematographer behind such classics as The Red Shoes , The African Queen and Black Narcissus has received much-deserved documentary treatment. Becoming the first director of photography in the history of the Academy Awards to win an Honorary Oscar in 2001, this is one story you don’t want to miss.
Hesher (Spencer Susser; May 13th)
Synopsis: Hesher is a loner. He hates the world and everyone in it. He has long greasy hair and homemade tattoos. He is malnourished and smokes a lot of cigarettes. He likes fire and blowing things up. He lives in his van, until he meets TJ.
Why You Should See a Matinee: It has gotten divisive reviews since its 2010 Sundance premiere, but the strong cast of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, and Rainn Wilson pique my interest. Add in a script from Animal Kingdom’s David Michod, and I’ll definitely check this out. Read our SXSW review here.
How to Live Forever (Mark Wexler; May 13th)
Synopsis: Baby boomer Mark Wexler travels the world searching for the secrets of long life.
Why You Should See a Matinee: The prospect that seems to cross the mind of every human at least once seems to be that of living forever. With a documentary on just that, director Mark Wexler goes on a global adventure, trying to discover the possibilities and meaning of such a question.
What do you want to see this month?