Thestudios have been busy, it seems, preparing for this first June
weekend. The bevy of comedies, thrillers, adaptations, docs, and psycho
killer little girl stories landing at the multiplexes and art houses are
like a big neon sign that reads, “SUMMERTIME!” And really, what says
summer better than a movie about interning? (We’re talking to you,
college students.) Maybe one about a 12-hour period of sanctioned
lawlessness? (That’s for all those who remember when summer was actually
a vacation.) Whatever hearkens the season best, there is so much on the
release slate today, you may need a to-do list to make it through the
titles. And we’d love to know which films will make your top slots, so
clue us in using the comments section below!
“The Internship.” Directed by Shawn Levy. Starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.
Our review: ” ‘The Internship’ isn’t particularly good, going down every
predictable road imaginable…and as a movie (or piece of cinema), it’s
rather pitiful, but despite all this, it’s far, far better than it has
any right to be.” Metacritic: 41 Rotten Tomatoes: 33% The Playlist: C
“The Purge.” Directed by James DeMonaco. Starring Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Adelaide Kane, Max Burkholder, Edwin Hodge, and Rhys Wakefield.
Our review: “One of the things that makes ‘The Purge,’ a new
high-concept horror movie about a utopian society with a very dark
secret, so refreshing, is that it actually takes the time to engage in
some truly provocative and subversive ideas, and what’s more — these
thematic interests never come at the expense of the thrills. ‘The Purge’
manages to be smart, scary, and subversive. In the current horror
landscape, this is much rarer than a demonic possession or capturing a
ghost on videotape.” MC: 43 RT: 44% PL: B+
“Much Ado About Nothing.” Directed by Joss Whedon. Starring Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg, Franz Kline, Jillian Morgese, Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, and Sean Maher. Our review: “Its
off-the-cuff nature makes for a film that is not flawless — the music
is a bit daft, and some of the acting a little too ‘large’ for the
intimate setting — but is, from beginning to end, delightful. One gets
the sense that this is less of an ‘Avengers‘ stop-gap for its director,
and more a bold little battery-charger. Whatever Whedon’s intent, for
audiences, it is one of 2012’s most unexpected treats.” MC: 76 RT: 81% PL: A-
off-the-cuff nature makes for a film that is not flawless — the music
is a bit daft, and some of the acting a little too ‘large’ for the
intimate setting — but is, from beginning to end, delightful. One gets
the sense that this is less of an ‘Avengers‘ stop-gap for its director,
and more a bold little battery-charger. Whatever Whedon’s intent, for
audiences, it is one of 2012’s most unexpected treats.” MC: 76 RT: 81% PL: A-
“Wish You Were Here.” Directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith. Starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Price, Teresa Palmer, and Antony Starr.
Our review: “Smith’s Australian import inspires a deluge of
possibilities and provocative thoughts in its audiences’ heads, but
languid pacing undermines the too-simple and ultimately too-conventional
revelations that wrap up its simmering mysteries. Nevertheless, strong
performances from the four leads sustains its unhurried approach far
longer than the payoff deserves.” MC: 60 RT: 73% PL: C
“Violet & Daisy.” Directed by Geoffrey Fletcher. Starring Alexis Bledel, Saoirse Ronan, James Gandolfini, Danny Trejo, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Our
review: ” ‘Violet & Daisy’ is, in many ways, about girls and death
and pop culture and friendship, and you may find the distracted
profusion of dramatic elements doesn’t match the articulate expression
of Vanja Cernjul‘s camerawork, Joe Klotz‘s editing and Patrizia von Brandenstein‘s set design. MC: 43 RT: 18% PL: C-
“Syrup.” Directed by Aram Rappaport. Starring Amber Heard, Shiloh Fernandez, Kellan Lutz, and Brittany Snow. All (very pretty) surface, no substance. Kind of like the titular soft drink sweetener. MC: no score yet RT: no score yet
“Rapture-Palooza.” Directed by Paul Middleditch. Starring Anna Kendrick, John Francis Daley, Craig Robinson, and Tom Lennon.
A deliciously wicked and blasphemous premise comes out half-baked —
neither the story nor the actors ever push the funny far enough. MC: 47
RT: 30%
A deliciously wicked and blasphemous premise comes out half-baked —
neither the story nor the actors ever push the funny far enough. MC: 47
RT: 30%
“Dirty Wars.” Directed by Richard Rowley.
Informative, thorough, engaging, and featuring a highly passionate
protagonist with a significant issue to explore — this one is
definitely worth your time. MC: 76 RT: 93%
“Tiger Eyes.” Directed by Lawrence Blume. Starring Willa Holland, Amy Jo Johnson, Tatanka Means, and Cynthia Stevenson. The story is familiar, and not just because it’s a well-loved Judy Blume
book. However, much of the source material’s perceptiveness and
relatability comes through, and a solid performance from Holland does
much to anchor the film. MC: 56 RT: 71%
“You Ain’t See Nothin’ Yet!” Directed by Alain Resnais. Starring Michel Piccoli, Mathieu Almaric, Lambert Wilson, Anne Consigny, Sabine Azema, and Pierre Arditi.
Our review: “Resnais a humanist, and ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet!’
is a testament to his positive outlook on not only the possibility of
cinema, but the possibilities of life. You simply need to believe in the
possibilities to enjoy.” MC: 68 RT: 82% PL: A-
Our review: “Resnais a humanist, and ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet!’
is a testament to his positive outlook on not only the possibility of
cinema, but the possibilities of life. You simply need to believe in the
possibilities to enjoy.” MC: 68 RT: 82% PL: A-
“Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie.” Directed by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger.
Our review admits that the film is liberal in its “embellishment,
allowing personal stories about Downey to fuel animated re-enactments
that trivialize rather than penetrate.” MC: 69 RT: 80% PL: C
“As Cool As I Am.” Directed by Max Mayer. Starring Claire Danes, Sarah Bolger, and James Marsden. A tired story with underwhelming visual heft and limited performances that reads closer to a TV movie than a feature film. MC: 28 RT: 0%
“The Rambler.” Directed by Calvin Lee Reeder. Starring Dermot Mulroney, Lindsay Pulsipher, and Natasha Lyonne.
A thin storyline and poorly rendered visual effects create a tedious,
if blood-spattered, movie-going experience. MC: 32 RT: 50%
Our review admits that the film is liberal in its “embellishment,
allowing personal stories about Downey to fuel animated re-enactments
that trivialize rather than penetrate.” MC: 69 RT: 80% PL: C
“As Cool As I Am.” Directed by Max Mayer. Starring Claire Danes, Sarah Bolger, and James Marsden. A tired story with underwhelming visual heft and limited performances that reads closer to a TV movie than a feature film. MC: 28 RT: 0%
“The Rambler.” Directed by Calvin Lee Reeder. Starring Dermot Mulroney, Lindsay Pulsipher, and Natasha Lyonne.
A thin storyline and poorly rendered visual effects create a tedious,
if blood-spattered, movie-going experience. MC: 32 RT: 50%
“Hey Bartender.” Directed by Douglas Tirola.
A fun, vaguely interesting trip through high-end mixology that is
mostly about the reliving of a great night out in New York. MC: 45 RT: 56%
“One Mile Above.” Directed by Jiayi Du. Starring Bryan Chang, Li Xiaochuan, Li Tao, and Michael Chang.
The based-on-a-true-story coverage of a man’s cycle journey to the
highest point in Tibet is visually arresting, if not emotionally so. MC:
no score yet RT: no score yet