Film: Iron Man 2
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell
MPAA rating: PG-13
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/i/ironman2poster.jpg
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07 May
Iron Man 2
It seems foolish, really. Apparently, in a desperate attempt to avoid being trumped by some imaginary rival, Paramount has purposely placed its titanic tentpole film right smack dab at the start of the season. This can only mean one of two things — this quick turnaround sequel is so smashing that it intends to live on long after its opening weekend, or they have their doubts about Tony Stark’s continuing viability. With almost everyone returning and the origin stuff out of the way, expect more, more, more of what made the original such a smash. Still, it seems silly to frontload like this. It’s a guarantee that the shelf life for this series is still up for discussion.
Film: Babies
Cast: Ponijao, Bayar, Mari, Hattie
MPAA rating: PG
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/b/babiesposter.jpg
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07 May
Babies
A documentary that follows four newborns as they begin their life in different cultures. One is from Africa, another Mongolia. We also have a Japanese child, and of naturally, a little nipper from America. Using a year in the life conceit, we are supposed to gain insight and marvel at the differences between the various backgrounds. Of course, the similarities are supposed to make us smile as well. Still, 90 minutes of cooing and burbling? Endless shots of smiling faces and crying eyes? While it is often said that everyone has an affinity for the infant, is there really a call for such a 7Up lite approach? We remain skeptical.
Film: The Human Centipede
Cast: Dieter Laser, Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie
MPAA rating: R
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/news_art/t/the_human_centipede.jpg
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07 May
The Human Centipede
It’s a geek show of the highest order, a film that wallows in the horrific sickness of its shocking premise. It’s also a highly polished and quality example of foreign horror. Whatever side you eventually come down on, this tale of a twisted doctor who takes three unsuspecting victims and joins them in the most vile way will definitely turn something — either your head, or your stomach. While the debate rages ever onward, both sides convinced of their aesthetic merit, writer/director Tom Six continues to contemplate a sequel — one where 12 individuals find themselves in the same disturbing position. Now that’s a sequel worth celebrating. Or shunning.
Film: Mother and Child
Cast: Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Kerry Washington, Jimmy Smits, Samuel L. Jackson
MPAA rating: PG-13
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/m/motherandchildposter.jpg
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07 May
Mother and Child
First, we had the babies. Now, it’s time for focus on the rest of the family. In this case, writer/director Rodrigo Garcia, responsible for such indie fare as Things You Can Tell Just By Looking at Her and Nine Lives, decides to tackle the concept of motherhood and what it means to bear (and in some cases, give up) a child. With Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, and Kerry Washington in tow (along with supporting help from Samuel L. Jackson and Jimmy Smits) the cast seems capable. But as with most dramas involving the process and pains of conception, the reach beyond a certain mature demographic seems like a struggle.
14 and 21 May
Film: Robin Hood
Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Matthew Macfadyen, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac, Kevin Durand
MPAA rating: PG-13
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/r/robinhoodposter.jpg
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14 May
Robin Hood
At first, this was going to be an off-kilter story in which the famed people’s bandit was actually, somehow, the Sheriff of Nottingham as well. Director Ridley Scott was never truly sold on the idea, so when star Russell Crowe signed on, it’s was time for a massive rewrite. Now we are dealing with a prequel to a legend of sorts, the story of how Robin of Locksley became the guy who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. For the most part, this looks like Gladiator ported over to Medieval Times, and while some may see that as a positive things, it’s hard to imagine Scott and Crowe finding the same success this time around.
Film: Letters to Juliet
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Chris Egan, Vanessa Redgrave Gael García Bernal, Franco Nero
MPAA rating: PG-13
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/l/letterstojulietposter.jpg
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14 May
Letters to Juliet
Seems like we’ve been seeing ads for this film long before the first thaw. The premise — a young woman travels to Verona, secretly snatches one the city’s infamous tourist notes to its famed fictional Shakespearean Miss, and decides to reunited the lost lovers mentioned inside. Talk about your ultra-high concepts. And what, exactly, are Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero doing here? While they are a couple in real life, placing them together in the reel world seems more like a stunt, especially when you consider the otherwise superficial RomDram elements involved here. Well, at least Italy is beautiful. That’s a plus. Unfortunately, director Gary Winick’s last film was the awful Bride Wars. Seems like a wash overall.
Film: Just Wright
Cast: Queen Latifah, Common, Mehcad Brooks, Pam Grier, Paula Patton
MPAA rating: PG-13
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/j/justwrightposter.jpg
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14 May
Just Wright
Queen Latifah is a physical therapist who’s supposed to help an ailing NBA All-Star make it back into the bigs. He — rapper turned thespian Common — happily accepts her attentions… that is, until she gets more than professional. Suddenly, he sees her childhood friend Morgan and decides to pursue her instead. Of course, he doesn’t know that she’s only after the fame (and fortune) of being a basketball player’s wife. Proving that sappy RomCom silliness can overcome differences in race, culture, and talent, this take on the urban angle of humor with heart seems as saccharine and stale as any other recent installment of the genre. We hope we’re wrong. We’re probably right.
Film: Shrek Forever After
Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Walt Dohrn, Julie Andrews, Justin Timberlake
MPAA rating: PG
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/s/shrek4poster.jpg
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21 May
Shrek Forever After
Enough with Mike Myers, his strained Scottish brogue, and the whole continuing fairytale fallacy of Far Far Away — and this long past due franchise. Promising that this is the final installment in the CG series, we get Rumpelstiltskin offering our stinky hero a change to reclaim some of his ogre mojo. When the deal backfires, we get a bizarro-world take on the material in which Puss N’ Boots is a fat pampered pussycat and Fiona never met her big green love machine. With Pixar scoring hit after hit with its clever, creative cartoon magic, something like Shrek feels as dated as those dinosaurs from the Ice Age films. Unless they can bring something new aside from set-up to the table, this will definitely be a certain swamp-dweller’s swansong.
Film: MacGruber
Cast: Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe, Val Kilmer, Maya Rudolph
MPAA rating: R
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/m/macgruberposter.jpg
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21 May
MacGruber
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, there were two cinematic givens — successful Saturday Night Live sketches would eventually be made into movies… and for the most part, these adaptations sucked. Wisely, the long-running comedy showcase put the kibosh on developing every potential property, holding back for concepts that really deserved dressing up. This is a perfect example of a potential hit or a possible misfire. The satiric take on a certain Richard Dean Anderson icon looks like a hoot, especially with a seemingly well-fed Val Kilmer as his potential nemesis. Certainly, the hard “R” rating suggests more raunchiness than wit, but who knows? Instead of being all scatology, this could be very smart.
28 May
Film: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina
MPAA rating: PG-13
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/p/princeofpersiaposter.jpg
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28 May
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Some folks never learn. Quick, name the last successful video game to movie adaptation. We’ll wait. You see? Producer Jerry Bruckheimer should have known better than to back this multimillion dollar fiasco in the making, especially when you consider the action film subgenre’s relatively poor rate of accomplishment. Oh, and casting Jake “I’m Not Really a Steely Man of Action” Gyllenhaal as your hero? Did someone just hear an umpire shriek “strike two?” The only potential saving grace? Director Mike Newell. While better known for his comedies (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and his dramas (Donnie Brasco), he did make Harry Potter’s Goblet of Fire soar. If he can redeem this sword and sandal silliness, there may be hope for a happy ending.
Film: Sex and the City 2
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, John Corbett
MPAA rating: PG-13
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/s/sexandthecity2poster.jpg
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28 May
Sex and the City 2
Groan. The first installment of this former HBO series turned cinematic soap opera was more ipecac than epic. This time around, they’ve trimmed the running time, amped up the cameo star power (Penelope Cruz and…Miley Cyrus???) while promising to be less self-indulgent and more story oriented. Frankly, they could retrofit the entire thing with nuclear warheads and an alien invasion and it would still be four wretched matrons complaining about carnality. How exciting. While the built-in market for this misery remains, the continuing kvetching of Carrie Bradshaw and her hen house brood is quickly growing dull. With the recent economic collapse and lukewarm recovery, such upwardly mobile self-indulgence seems almost criminal.
Film: Micmacs
Cast: Dany Boon, Dominique Pinon, François Berléand, Albert Dupontel
MPAA rating: PG-13
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/news_art/m/micmacs.jpg
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28 May
Micmacs
After splashing onto the international scene with his wonderful Delicatessen (with former collaborator Marc Caro), French visionary Jean-Pierre Jeunet has gone on to craft one inventive and original film — yes, even Alien Resurrection – after another. With the fantastic City of Lost Children, 2001’s beloved flight of fancy Amelie, and 2004’s slightly more serious A Very Long Engagement, he was seen as a solid cinematic voice worth listening to. But it’s been over five years since his last film. So this latest offering, a self-described “satire on the world arms trade” really needs to deliver to renew the faithful’s belief in his abilities. All indications are that, as usual, his keen imagination and artistic flair serve him well once again.
Film: Survival of the Dead
Cast: Alan van Sprang, Kenneth Welsh, Kathleen Munroe, Athena Karkanis
MPAA rating: R
Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/s/survivalofthedeadposter.jpg
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28 May
Survival of the Dead
The verdict is already in on this latest installment of George Romero’s continuing zombie stomp, and the results are not good. Few in the fright faithful believe this is one of the macabre master’s best, while others have panned it outright. The narrative picks up somewhere in the middle of the far superior Diary of the Dead, and then de-evolves into a hackneyed Hatfield and McCoy allegory with corpses cluttering up the sidelines. Yes, this is one of those sequels where the reason to revisit the franchise — the gore-spattered living dead — are more or less ancillary to everything that’s going on. Perhaps if he has spent more time on the fiends and less on the feud, we’d have a worthwhile bit of Summer scariness.