Coming Attractions: May 2013
Coming Attractions is a monthly piece in which I let you know what I think will be the best movies releasing in the coming month. So if you plan on going to the movies any time this month, hopefully I’ll give you an idea as to what your best bet will be each week. So without further ado, here are the coming attractions for April 2013:
Filled with a few blockbusters and some really good smaller releases, May is definitely the start of the summer movie season. Sorry I didn’t have this column up last week, but I assumed it everyone was just going to see Iron Man 3. Anyway, here’s what I think looks good this month. As usual. Check the honorable mentions because there’s lots of good stuff this month, I can hardly pick one movie per week.
Friday, May 3
Iron Man 3
Directed by: Shane Black
Written by: Drew Pearce, Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr.; Gwyneth Paltrow; Don Cheadle; Ben Kingsley; Guy Pearce; Rebecca Hall
Duh. Of course this is the movie to see this first weekend in May. It’s one of the biggest releases of the year. Iron Man 3 introduces us to Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starts to show us a different side of Tony Stark now that he’s coping with the events that took place in The Avengers. Expect what you’ve seen before (action and plenty of snarky comments from Downey, Jr’s Tony Stark) but more Iron Man suits than you can count. This is definitely the movie to check out this week, but I’d stay away from the 3D for this one.
Friday, May 10
The Great Gatsby
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Written by: Craig Pearce, Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Leonardy DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Elizabeth Debicki, Isla Fisher
The classic book that we all had to read in high school brought to the silver screen yet again in a stylish new adaptation from Baz Luhrmann (and in 3D for some inexplicable reason). With an extremely talented cast, flashy sets and costumes, and a soundtrack supervised by Jay Z, this movie definitely has the potential to be different and great.
Thursday, May 16
Star Trek Into Darkness
Directed by: J. J. Abrams
Written by: Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Alice Eve
No other studios are even bothering to release any other big-name movies this weekend. Everyone expects Star Trek Into Darkness to be one of the biggest movies of the year. And after the huge success of the first film, why shouldn’t they? I’m not particularly excited about this one because I didn’t care for the first movie (*ducks to avoid hailstorm of objects thrown in anger*) but I have a feeling I’m definitely in the minority there. Even so, if I go to the movies that weekend it will be to see Star Trek.
Friday, May 24
Fast and Furious 6
Directed by: Justin Lin
Written by: Chris Morgan
Starring: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson
I still haven’t seen Fast Five but apparently it not only set this series back on the upswing, but in set a new high for the series altogether. A lot of people are looking to this sixth installment to continue that. This movie certainly won’t be a very deep film but it sure looks fun. I’m definitely planning on having a F&F marathon the week leading up to this release and capping it off with a trip to the theatre to see this newest installment.
Friday, May 31
The East
Directed by: Zal Batmanglij
Written by: Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij
Starring: Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page, Patricia Clarkson, Toby Kebbell, Shiloh Fernandez
A follow-up to last year’s (amazing) Sound of My Voice, The East puts Zal Batmanglij back behind the camera and Brit Marling back in front of it, with the two of them penning the screenplay together. Another movie centering around a cult-ish band of people living outside of normal society, The East is less ambiguous and more straightforward than the creative pair’s last effort, giving us a more traditional, but still exciting, political thriller about a group of people fighting against the corporate and political injustice in today’s world.
Honorable Mentions
The Iceman (May 3 - LIMITED RELEASE)
Directed by: Ariel Vromen
Written by: Ariel Vromen, Morgan Land
Starring: Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, James Franco, David Schwimmer
The true story of a loving family man who also happens to be a ruthless assassin who will kill anyone for the right price. Anyone who’s seen Michael Shannon in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire or the 2011 film Take Shelter knows that he can go from seemingly wholesome everyman to terrifying psychopath at the drop of a hat, so this role should be perfect for him. Shannon’s other big role this year is playing General Zod in Man of Steel and I’m about 10 times more excited to see him in this, if that gives you any indication of how good I think this movie will be. It’s limited release so check to see when it’s in your area.
The Hangover III (May 23)
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Written by: Craig Mazin
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, Heather Graham, John Goodman
The final chapter of an “epic” trilogy; based on the cast it looks like it will draw heavily from the previous two films for comedic material. Will it be hilarious like the original or disappointing like the first sequel? Either way, it’s bound to be one of the bigger movies this month.
After Earth (May 24)
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Written by: Gary Whitta, M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith
I’m one of the few people that holds out hope that M. Night Shyamalan can still make a great movie. And while After Earth doesn’t look like it will be a great movie (solely because of the way Will Smith talks in the trailer) it looks like it still has the potential to be really good. With a more straightforward premise than any of Shyamalan’s recent movies (a story about a boy and his overbearing father trying to survive after crash landing on a post-apocalyptic Earth) he may actually succeed in pulling off a movie that doesn’t suck. At least I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Now You See Me (May 24)
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Written by: Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Mélanie Laurent, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine
This movie is essentially Ocean’s Eleven with magicians/illusionists as the cocky thieves. The premise has a lot of potential and the fact that it has one of the most impressive ensemble casts I’ve ever seen makes me really excited to see this. Definitely worth checking out.
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