2013 SUMMER MOVIE PREVIEW

The time has come to once again see what's in store for movie fans this upcoming summer season. Having scanned what's on the horizon, much of what's on this slate feels particularly underwhelming as it's filled with even more sequels, superheroes and obscenely-expensive action flicks. Nothing wrong with any of these types of films I might add but this leaves fewer alternatives than ever as Hollywood throws most of it's money at a tiny number of overly familiar movies while completely ignoring the possibility of spending a smaller amount of cash on creating something fresh and innovative that audiences could discover. Sure, it may be a potentially risky gamble but no more of a risk than investing over two hundred million dollars on one film.

This year has already gotten off to a rough start with many pricy releases turning out to be major disappointments. I have a strong feeling that not nearly enough of these films of summer are going to be strong enough to be able to adequately turn things around. Despite my grumblings, I have still managed to find a few things of interest that I'm looking forward in checking out:

"STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS"

Release date: May 17, 2103

"Star Trek" was another franchise that was successfully revived back in 2009 by director, J.J. Abrams and is finally back with a follow-up. "Star Trek Into Darkness" brings the crew of the USS Enterprise, headed by Chris Pine as Capt. Kirk, back out on a mission to track down a mysterious dark figure (Benedict Cumberbatch) who has wrecked havoc on Earth and are out to bring him to justice. Zachary Quinto (Spock), Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy), Simon Pegg ("Scotty"), John Cho (Sulu) and Zoe Saldana (Uhura)are all back on board.



"FRANCES HA"

Release date: May 17. 2013

Noah Baumbach, the director of one of my favorite films, "The Squid and The Whale" and actress, Greta Gerwig who had her first major role in his comedy, "Greenberg" have teamed up to write the screenplay for their new film together, "Frances Ha". This black & white comedy about a young modern dancer(Gerwig) living in New York who begins to feel as if she is relying too much on her best friend (Mickey Sumner, daughter of rock star, Sting) as she struggles to find her own way in life. The comparisons to Woody Allen and his "Manhattan" is inevitable (and slightly intentional) but "Frances" seems to offer it's own quirky outlook on life in the Big Apple.




"BEFORE MIDNIGHT"

Release date: May 24, 2013

Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy return in "Before Midnight", the third film in the series that explores a couple's relationship as they don't do much more than talk to each other but manage to make it endlessly fascinating. This time, the two have been married for nine years and have a couple of kids but have now reached the point where they are beginning to feel restless and searching for meaning in their lives while vacationing in the Greek isles. Director, Richard Linklater has co-written the screenplay once again with Hawke and Delpy.



"THE MAN OF STEEL"

Release date: June 14, 2013

Although the 2006 film, "Superman Returns" failed to generate much excitement, that doesn't mean that our hero from Krypton is down and out. Inspired by the successful re-boots of Batman and Spider-Man, director Zack Snyder and writer, David S. Goyer have attempted to revive the franchise once again but this time have decided to slightly alter the Superman we're all familiar with. While most of the basic origin story in "The Man of Steel" remains intact, much has been re-imagined all the way down to his red and blue costume. The relatively unknown British actor, Henry Cavill has been cast as Superman but the rest of the supporting cast has been filled with familiar faces; Kevin Costner (Johnathan Kent), Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Laurence Fishburne (Perry White), Amy Adams (Lois Lane) and Russell Crowe as the man of steel's father, Jor-El. Of course, there has to be a villain and Michael Shannon fills that role as General Zod.



"I'M SO EXCITED"

Release date: June 28, 2013

After venturing in a more serious, dramatic vein with his last few films, Pedro Almodovar has seemed to have returned to the outrageous campy fare that helped put him on the map. "I'm So Excited" is a farce set in the friendly skies involving a flight to Mexico City and what happens to everyone on board when faced with a life-changing event. Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz appear along with the director's cast of regulars.



"BYZANTIUM"

Release date: June 28, 2013

In "Byzantium", the residents of a small British coastal town become suspicious of a mother and daughter (Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan) when people are found with the blood drained from their bodies. The films by director Neil Jordan can either be very good ("Mona Lisa", "The Crying Game") or very bad ("High Spirits", "In Dreams"), so the jury is still out on this one.



"LAURENCE ANYWAYS"

Release date: June TBA

One of my favorite new filmmakers is Xavier Dolan. At only twenty-four, this French-Canadian has confidently created thoughtful and mature dramas earning him several awards for his first two films. His latest, "Laurence Anyways" tells the story of a successful author and scholar (Melvil Poupaud) who makes the difficult descion to begin living life as a female. His girlfriend (Suzanne Clément) is certainly shocked by this revelation but tries to be understanding which proves to be more difficult than she imagined. "Laurence" was featured in the Un Certain Regard section at last year's Cannes Film Festival and won Ms.Clément the Best Actress Award.



"BLUE JASMINE"

Release date: July 26, 2013

To say I was disappointed with Woody Allen's last film, "To Rome With Love" would be a gross understatement but I'm not one to hold grudges. I'm still anticipating the writer/director's latest effort, "Blue Jasmine". He has once again returned to American shores after many recent films set overseas with the story of a New York housewife (Cate Blancett) who, after a marriage crisis with her husband (Alec Baldwin), heads to San Francisco to start a new life. This drama also stars Bobby Cannavale, Sally Hawkins along with performers better known as stand-up comedians, Louis C.K. and Andrew "Dice" Clay.


"ELYSIUM"

Release date: August 9, 2013

Set in the distant future, "Elysium" tells the tale of an Earth now separated by two classes; one that lives high-above in a space station in comfort and wealth while the majority remain to suffer on an overpopulated planet in decay and despair. Matt Damon plays an ill man determined to get in to Elysium no matter what the cost but the head of security (Jodie Foster) is just as determined to stop him. Writer/director, Neill Blomkamp has returned with his latest sci-fi thriller following, "District 9" which received four Academy Award nominations including Best Picture in 2009.




"LOVELACE"

Release date: August 9, 2013

A young Linda Boreman is transformed in to Linda Lovelace and stars in the notorious 1972 porn film, "Deep Throat". Later, she becomes a major celebrity but behind the scenes, her life was a nightmare of drugs, abuse and intimidation by her husband, Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard). Amanda Seyfried plays the title role in "Lovelace" the second feature film by documentary filmmakers, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. James Franco, Chloë Sevigny, Adam Brody (as co-star, Harry Reems) and Sharon Stone also star.

42 (2013)

Written & Directed by Brian Helgeland


Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA.  April 15, 2013  5:00PM


It would seem unimaginable that a person today would be allowed to loudly scream racial epithets at someone in public without no one even raising an eyebrow. The fact is that not so long ago, that type of behavior was widely accepted and most likely, others would begin to spit out their own additional ugly insults.

In the uplifting and inspirational film, "42", which tells the controversial story of an African-American, Jackie Robinson (portrayed in a star-making turn by Chadwick Boseman) and his difficult struggle to simply play professional baseball along side Caucasian men. This moment occurs when the Philadelphia Phillies manager (bravely played by Alan Tudyk) repeatedly shouts out every derogatory name he can think of at the player. The purpose is not so much to rattle Robinson but to remind him that he's not at all welcome in white baseball.

It all began when Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), a former ballplayer and now the GM of the Brooklyn Dodgers decided it was time to have a black player on the team. First, the ideal candidate had to be found who is not only a great player but has the inner strength to withstand and not react to the verbal abuse that will most certainly be directed at him. Jackie Robinson, a promising player in the Negro league, is selected. The plan is to first have Robinson join the Montreal Royals which was part of Brooklyn's International league in 1946. Living in Pasadena, California, Robinson heads out to spring training with his new bride, Rachel (Nicole Beharie) for support. Rickey also arranges for Wendell Smith (Andre Holland), an African-American sports writer to not only cover this ground-breaking moment but help keep a watchful eye over the player.

Motivated not only by monetary gain but a lifelong desire to do the right thing,  Rickey knew that the integration of baseball would be highly complicated nor easily accepted but still he underestimated the extreme hostility and resistance to the very idea. Even before Robinson had set foot in the locker room, many of his future teammates signed a petition against him joining the Dodgers but Rickey informs them that he would be more than willing to trade any unhappy player to another team.

Now a member of the famed ball team and given the number "42", Robinson was fully aware of what he was getting in to but failed to take in to account the personal toil it would take, leaving him feeling isolated and highly frustrated. But he manages to find the inner strength to endure as he realizes the hardships he faces are a means to an end.

"42" is set in the early stages before the civil rights movement when change was in the air as some began to seriously question the injustices placed upon minorities, regardless of whether society at large was ready or willing to adapt. The film doesn't shy away from the ugliness that comes from that fear and the desperation to hang on to convention . This point is driven home in a scene where a father and son are together to enjoy a baseball game. Shortly after Robinson enters the field, the father begins shouting the N-word as the young boy is shocked and slightly dismayed. However, as soon as the crowd begins to roar louder with additional disturbing taunts directed at the player, the child feels obligated to join the mob.

This isn't the first time Robinson's story has been told on film as the 1950, "The Jackie Robinson Story" has the ballplayer actually playing himself. That film was more of a rush-job to capitalize on the controversy but with "42", writer/director Brian Helgeland has crafted a film with a broader emotional scope and rich visual design. Mr. Helgeland has been best known for many years as a respected writer in Hollywood, responsible for such films as "Mystic River", "Man on Fire" and "L.A. Confidential" (which won him an Oscar in 1997), but this is only the third time he has directed (although technically his fourth as he kept the credit on his first, the 1999 Mel Gibson thriller, "Payback" but the studio did not release his cut of the film). Following the forgettable "A Knight's Tale" and "The Order", "42" is clearly his most impressive, filled with heartfelt performances, majestic camera-work by Don Burgess and, not surprisingly, a thoughtful, well-written screenplay although it doesn't venture far enough out of the traditional "based-on-a-true-story" format.

This may be the first high-profile role for Chadwick Boseman but clearly just the beginning of a long film career ahead. Much like what Daniel Day-Lewis had to do with his performance in "Lincoln", the actor had to dig deep to bring out the humanity of a heroic figure whose character has been shaped by folklore. While not completely successful, Boseman manages to make a compelling impression and displays a promising future. It has been a while since Harrison Ford has had a part where he hasn't coasted on his movie-star charisma but here he seems to relish the opportunity to play a character while delivering a richly nuanced performance

"42" suffers the same fate as many of the bio-pics that receives the blessing of the estate; you no longer have an accurate portrait of a flesh & blood individual but the glorified idea of who that person was. No matter. The film remains a powerful and moving tribute to one brave man who stood up to the difficult challenge of being the first, so that many would be given the opportunity to follow behind him.

 

2013 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward appear on the poster for this year's Cannes Film Festival. This photo of the beautiful couple was shot during the filming of 1963's " A New Kind of Love" and was selected to honor the late actor (who won the Best Actor award at the festival in 1958) and the well-respected actress (winning the Best Actress prize in 1972) and their amazing performances throughout their long career in Hollywood.

Baz Lurhmann's big and bold version of "The Great Gatsby" (which stars Leonardo diCaprio and Carey Mulligan) kicks open the international festival on May 15th with the event concluding on May 26th with the closing night film, "Zulu". This English-language crime-drama is headed by Forrest Whitaker, Orlando Bloom and directed by French filmmaker, Jérôme Salle.

Steven Spielberg will head this year's jury and actress, Audrey Tautou will host the opening and closing ceremonies. In between will be films competing for grand prizes including works by Roman Polanski ("Venus in Fur"), The Coen Brothers ("Inside Llewyn Davis"), François Ozon ("Jeune and Jolie"), Alexander Payne ("Nebraska"), Nicolas Winding Refn ("Only God Forgives") and Steven Soderbergh ("Behind The Candelabra" which is airing in the U.S. as a television movie).







Films selected for Un Certain Regard will feature the latest by Sofia Coppola ("The Bling Ring"), Claire Denis ("Les Salauds"),  James Franco ("As I Lay Dying") and the Grand Jury prize winner at this year's Sundance Film Festival, "Fruitvale Station", directed by Ryan Coogler.

TYLER PERRY'S TEMPTATION: CONFESSIONS OF A MARRIAGE COUNSELOR (2013)

Written & Directed by Tyler Perry


Where & When: MJR Theaters, Westland, MI  April 3, 2013  9:35 PM


I don't know why I keep allowing myself to be lured in to seeing yet another Tyler Perry movie but there I was, groaning through every torturous minute of his latest drama, "Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor". Perhaps it's in the hope that I may finally be able to scream from the rooftops that Mr. Perry has finally crafted a superior film but alas, that still has not come to pass. The writer/director has once again failed to impress as the film suffers from the usual infuriatingly, unimaginative dialogue, underdeveloped characters, unrestrained emotions, and overly simplistic plot conventions. Yet, Mr. Perry feels no strong need to alter a single moment as the audience for his brand of spiritually uplifting cinema turn out religiously to savor every new comedy or drama making him one of the most financially successful independent filmmakers of all-time. I absolutely understand the desire to support the rare African-American film maker out there but it feels like he's been virtually making the same film, using the same exact formula since his cinematic writing debut of "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" back in 2005. Mr. Perry, I feel certain, has the potential to stretch as an artist as well as challenge himself (and his audience) with a deeper and richer experience.

In "Temptation", Judith (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and Brice (Lance Gross) have been in love since they were children and knew their future would always be together. As soon as they are able, the young couple are married and while Judith's devout mother (Ella Joyce) doesn't approve, she's well aware that she can't stand in the way of such passionate devotion.

Moving to Atlanta, Brice fulfills his dream of working as a pharmacist but Judith isn't nearly as fortunate. Although she wants to be a marriage counselor, she has to settle by working for a highly successful match-matching business run by the colorfully flamboyant, Janice (played by Vanessa Williams, speaking in a ridiculous, unrecognizable accent). Judith makes no attempt to disguise the contempt she has for her new position, much to the annoyance of her co-worker, Ava (Kim Kardashian) who is supposed to show Judith the ropes.

Harley (Robbie Jones), a handsome and very wealthy businessman is not only interested in investing in the company but also in the lovely, Judith. They wind up working closely together with Harley coming on hot and heavy, trying to seduce the happily married woman. You would think Judith would be able to easily resist the mogul's charming but aggressive advances however, she becomes seriously tempted by the sexy millionaire. Soon, Judith finds herself torn as she loves her simple but devoted husband but is very attracted to the high-rolling lifestyle that Harley has to offer.

Many of the director's films began life as a theatrical work and "Temptation" is no exception. But there was no attempt to broaden the stage play as it heads down a highly predictable path where you know what's going to happen long before it ever hits the characters. Mr. Perry has no concept of what "subtly" means and seems to have based his ideas of drama from soap operas where melodramatic story-telling, overwrought acting and over-the-top plot twists are the norm.

Ms Smollett-Bell, who you might recall as a child performer that was very impressive in her first leading role in the Southern drama, "Eve's Bayou", has grown-up quite nicely and still quite an impressive talent. She is clearly the best thing here as the actress helps make all this silliness appear engaging despite being called on to behave wildly out of character at times. That is a problem that occurs throughout as people respond or conduct themselves in ways that come without warning or explanation, serving only to push the underwritten plot forward.

With "Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor", Tyler Perry continues to add to his string of heavy-handed but highly popular films. The director may produce much needed films that looks in to the lives of African-Americans who tend to be largely ignored by Hollywood yet seems to believe that his faithful audience doesn't deserve much better than mediocrity.

ROGER EBERT (1942 - 2013)

Roger Ebert, the highly influential film critic for the Chicago Sun Times and the man, along with the late critic, Gene Siskel , who introduced the terms, "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" to television audiences on the film review program, "At The Movies" has passed away today after a long battle with cancer.

I may not have always agreed with Mr. Ebert on some of his reviews but what always came through, regardless of what he thought about a film, was his true love and deep passion of the cinematic experience. He certainly contributed to helping make film criticism a respected form of journalism and even won the Pulitzer Prize for his work. But it was his television show that made him a famous and recognizable personality that even earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Roger Ebert helped me understand cinema better and completely changed the way I watch a film. For this, I will be eternally grateful. His great talent will truly be missed.

THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE (2013)

Written by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein


Directed by Don Scardino


Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA  March 18, 2013 6:00PM


Who doesn't love a magician? With their ability to captivate audiences as they seemingly defy gravity, amaze with spectacular optical illusions and razzle-dazzle their shows in flashy costumes, magicians appear perfect to build an entertaining film around. "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone", a surprisingly limp comedy which stars Steve Carrell as the title character, an old-school Las Vegas illusionist who has fallen out of favor as an edgy, street magician (played with gusto by Jim Carrey) uses dangerous stunts to draw in crowds.This should have been a lot of fun considering the top comedic talent attached but the film fails to conjure up many laughs.

As a little boy, Burt was unpopular and bullied but one day, he receives as a birthday present that changes his life. The gift is a Rance Holloway magic kit and after watching the master magician's instructions (played by Alan Arkin) on a VHS tape, Burt develops a skill for performing tricks. Unfortunately, this doesn't help make him more popular but he does make a new friend, Anton Marvelton, a fellow outsider and together they work on creating their own illusions.

Years later, the two have become a successful magic act; The Incredible Burt (Carrell) and The Marvelous Anton (Steve Buscemi) performing on the Vegas strip in a casino run by Doug Munny (James Gandolfini). While Anton has remained down to Earth, Burt has become an egotistical, self-centered monster. After another stage assistant quits in disgust due to Burt's boorish behavior, he simply pulls Jane (Olivia Wilde), a production assistant, to fill the costume.

As the duo suffers from career boredom, petty squabbling and a dwindling audience, they discover that Steve Gray (Carrey) is the changing face of illusionists as he uses shocking, gross-out theatrics to entertain. Despite Anton's attempt to come up with a trick to help make their show seem hip, Burt remains delusional and uncooperative which causes them to split-up. Unable to make his solo act work and fired from the casino, Burt winds up performing tricks at a local nursing home where he discovers his childhood idol, Rance Holloway resides. The master magician only seems to be there to remind Burt why he loved sawing a lovely lady in half in the first place.

The director, Don Scardino (as well as the writers of the script) comes from situation comedies which explains part of the problem with "Burt Wonderstone" as the plot feels disjointed with many scenes rushed as if they were making room for commercials. It doesn't help that most of the stale jokes would even be rejected for a sitcom. However, Mr. Scardino has directed many episodes of one of my favorite television programs, "30 Rock" a highly manic and clever comedy with the humor flying at such a fast clip that it's hard to catch your breath. So it's hard to understand what happened to this film as it lacks coherence and the energy drags.

Buried under an unflattering bouffant of bottle-blond hair and sequined pantsuits, Mr. Carrell attempts to reshape his well-known screen persona of a tightly-wound, nice-guy to play a pompous, womanizing wind-bag but it's not a really a comfortable fit. The actor seems restricted as he's unsure how to make The Incredible Burt believable (or funny) as he goes quickly from obnoxious jerk to a somewhat more enlightened individual. The supporting performers are unable to shine as they're not given much to do beyond reacting to the dueling magicians, so it should be no surprise that Jim Carrey is the highlight in this comedy. Although his appearance is brief, he manages to deliver the few laughs available as his Steve Gray, (a Cris Angel/ David Blaine mash-up) is willing to do anything to his body, no matter how extreme or insane, to accomplish the ultimate illusion.

A broad comedy like, "Anchorman" (which helped propel Steve Carrell in to the spotlight) took us in to the world of warring news anchors and delivered some unexpected comic gold and "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" where the battle between the glitzy, over-the-top showmanship of magicians of the past against the edgy, rock-n-roll style of today's performers seems full of promise and should have been able provide some truly funny moments. Unfortunately, this film is formulaic and not fully realized. By the time we finally reach the wan conclusion, Poof! "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" has completely disappeared from memory.

STOKER (2013)

Written by Wentworth Miller


Directed by Park Chan-wook


Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. March 1. 2013  9:20PM



Park Chan-wook is the acclaimed and highly influential South Korean filmmaker who is best known for three of his most popular, "Old Boy", "Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" that has been referred to as the Vengeance Trilogy. These films, commanding a mesmerizing visual style and shocking violence, are in various stages of being remade for an English-speaking audience but the director himself has delivered his first feature in a language other than his own native tongue.

Revenge plays an important component in "Stoker", a well-plotted but fairly standard mystery thriller that is elevated due to the highly, inventive camera work, off-kilter framing, non-linear editing and unconventional story-telling. This film is busy, as your eyes (and mind) are worked overtime by all of the strange and twisted imagery but unlike his previous works, all of the camera trickery feels more like a distraction as none of it is enough to properly draw you into this story. "Stoker" lacks any true suspense, emotion or passion as if something was lost in the translation.

India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska), a young girl of wealth and privilege, was always a teenager with a sullen, haunted demeanor but after the recent loss of her beloved father, Richard (Dermot Mulroney) who perished under mysterious circumstances, she has become even more withdrawn. Her mother, Evelyn (played with usual brilliance by Nicole Kidman) is beside herself due to her estranged husband's death and the difficult relationship with her daughter which has deteriorated further. So now, she is rarely seen without a glass of wine in her hand to help drown her sorrows.

A stranger arrives at their doorstep in the form of Charlie (Matthew Goode), the younger brother of Richard. Although he had never been previously mentioned and was unable to ever make contact due to his extensive travels abroad however, Charlie is now ready to become a part of the family during their time of need. The lonely Evelyn welcomes him, inviting the handsome, long-lost relative to stay as long as he would like but India is far more cautious as she keeps her distance. Determined to win her affections, Charlie relentlessly pursues his niece, using his icy charm to connect with her in a way no one else has been able. In turn, he draws India out of her shell, awakening her carnal desires and a dark ferocity that leads to some jeopardous trouble for some high-school bullies who tormented her because of her quirky nature.

At times, "Stoker" brings to mind the work of David Lynch with it's offbeat rhythms, a perverse, sexual tension and the vivid dreamlike images. Although this film is far more lucid than anything that director has ever crafted but what Mr. Lynch is able to communicate successfully, like in "Blue Velvet", is a sense of warmth and sentiment with his distinctive eccentric vision which is lacking in "Stoker". Hitchcock seems to have been an influence to the script written by actor, Wentworth Miller (under the alias, "Ted Foulke"), who you might recall from the television show, "Prison Break" and was voted one of the ten best unproduced screenplays back in 2010. This story enters in to a darker, more erotic area that Hitch could barely even hint at back in his day but doesn't feel particularly innovative as it uses the classic horror formula while adding very little to be stimulating.

I found it slightly amusing that the main characters in this U.S. based story are played by non-Americans as Mr. Goode is British while the ladies (including an appearance by recent Oscar nominee, Jacki Weaver who pops up briefly as a very concerned aunt) are all Aussies but despite that minor quibble, these actors do not fail to be completely convincing in their roles. Ms Wasikowska has been building quite an impressive resume with some memorable recent turns in such films as "Jane Eyre", "The Kids Are Alright" and the title character in Tim Burton's vibrant version of "Alice In Wonderland". Here, the young actress brings a quiet, creepy intensity to her part as the troubled teenager while conveying a feverish passion buried inside, unsure of how to properly express. It seems like she is following in Ms Kidman's footsteps, who has had a long, successful career of playing her share of edgy, whacked-out characters. While many of her films might not have always worked commercially, the actress has always managed to stand out with a fiercely committed performance as she has done here. Although he comes across as quite dashing but there is something not quite right about Uncle Charlie and Mr. Goode perfectly reveals a sense of danger that is barely contained behind his faint smile and glassy-eyed stare.

While more muted than what is usually expected by this filmmaker, "Stoker" still delivers a moody atmosphere with plenty of lurid chills, thanks to some lively performances but would have benefited greatly by digging further past the surface to capture more of an actual human element to these stylishly, gruesome proceedings.