We’ve obviously known for several weeks now that Edgar Wright’s “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” would be hitting theaters in August and now we have a confirmed date. The picture, called a cross between, “The Matrix,” “Freaks & Geeks” “Kill Bill” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (talk about lofty comparisons with a lot to live up to) now is set for an August 13 release according to Box-Office Mojo.
Don’t fret about August being dumping-ground season. Universal proved otherwise last year with Quentin Tarantino’s very successful, “Inglourious Basterds,” so surely they can do the same with ‘Pilgrim’ (though clearly they are two different films and Tarantino’s audience is still much, much bigger; a guy named Brad Pitt helps too). “Scott Pilgrim” will face off that weekend against Sly Stallone’s “The Expendables” and Julia Roberts’ “Eat, Pray, Love.”
Another anticipated film receiving a release date is Matt Damon’s sci-fi romance “The Adjustment Bureau,” with Emily Blunt, but if you thought the film had fall Oscar hopes, guess again. The picture is being released July 30 which is more in line with summer blockbuster type thinking. But having read the script by writer and first-time director George Nolfi, this makes sense. The screenplay did not scream Oscar, but nor does it scream massive tentpole either and it could find itself in a strange sort of no man’s land — it’s lo-fi sci-fi in many ways and is just as much a romance film as it is a thriller about secret agents trying to keep Damon and Blunt apart for clandestine reasons. Truthfully it’s a film that should probably be released in semi-limited release wethinks and it might’ve been more suited to a Fox Searchlight or a Focus Features — a mini major.
We’ve also heard a lot of rumors about the shoot. Suffice to say, what we’ve heard is that it wasn’t the best one in recent years for any of the star’s concerns. The saving grace is currently the film will have almost zero competition that weekend. Don’t be surprised if some studio notices a tentpole missing hole that weekend and tries to muscle in on the territory, then again, that is almost the end of the summer.
Other notable dates include:
– Neil Jordan’s mermaid fairytale film, “Ondine” starring Colin Farrell hits June 4. It’s on our Most Anticipated List: Though it’s actually a film we’ve already seen and pretty much loved despite some flaws.
– “Little Fockers” moves from the summer to December 22 (to face off against “The Green Hornet”).
-“I Am Love” arrives on September 18.
– “George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead” hits May 28
– Alex Gibney’s much-anticipated documentary, “Casino Jack and the United States of Money” comes out May 7.
– “The Good Heart” arrives April 30
– “Ramona and Beezus” for Fox hits theaters July 23.