Contrary to its lack of dramatic prestige and blitzkrieg of CGI,
the summer movie season is not that different from any big-time film festival.
Seeing every title on their respective schedules is both impossible and not
recommended, for sake of not dying from a lack of sleep or overdosing on corn
syrup. And both are a test of the human body’s physical appetite for
cinema, regardless as to the size of one’s will.
In the spirit of many movie gatherings going on at this time of
year, RogerEbert.com is proud to
pretend that the oppressively large upcoming season is actually a four-month
film festival. It’s the flashiest way to see new narrative, documentary, and
animated features out there, not to mention with the most accessible screenings
(your local multiplex). Although, it will lack in post-screening Q&As, and
the thrill of bumping into James Franco at a nearby Mexican restaurant. You’re on
your own to make those happen.
In our seasonal preview below, we’ve organized all of the summer’s
major theatrical releases into categories familiar to a fest program’s
grouping, (“Main Competition,” “Filmic Females”) while
adding a few special ones of our own (“Blockbuster vs. Nature,”
“Older Visions, New Stakes,” etc.). As each title arrives, RogerEbert.com
will have review coverage of all these films throughout the season. And of
course, while spending your summer time at the movies, make sure to support
your local, actual independent festival as well.
MAIN
COMPETITION
With almost everything in this preview remaining unseen as of
publishing, here are six hot-shot films that have the most overall promise,
though some will be banking a few hundred million more than others.
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” (May 1): Marvel Studios’ various superhero ingredients re-assemble for an even bigger ice
cream sundae, this time finding their latest adversary in the mega-powerful
Ultron. As much as this tent pole might inaugurate an exorbitant season with a
superhero preference, the narrative allegiance of writer/director Joss Whedon
goes a long way, as seen in his giddy soiree “The
Avengers.” Robert Downey Jr., Chris
Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James
Spader, Samuel. L. Jackson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul
Bettany, and Cobie Smulders star.
“Tomorrowland” (May 22): Director Brad Bird creates an intellectual family
sci-fi adventure with this original screenplay that’s co-written
with “LOST” scribe Damon Lindelof.
George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Judy Greer, Hugh Laurie, Keegan-Michael Key
and Kathryn Hahn star in this very intriguing movie that already has its title
theme park.
“Aloha” (May 29): Bradley Cooper plays a military contractor who
rekindles a past love, and also starts a new one, in this amicable Hawaii-set
romantic comedy from maestro of the heartstrings Cameron Crowe. Emma Stone,
Rachael McAdams, John Krasinski, Bill Murray, Danny McBride, and Jay Baruchel
also star.
“Spy”
(June 5): After making a hit female buddy cop movie with “The
Heat,” writer/director/hero
Paul Feig takes on the unlikely action hero narrative with his returning
comedic superstar Melissa McCarthy, working opposite Rose Byrne, Jude Law, and
Jason Statham.
“Inside Out”
(June 19): After aptly playing with our emotions in the 2009 film “Up,”co-director Pete Docter presents the complicated feelings of a
girl in this highly curious follow-up. This original script features the vocal
talents of Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan,
Phyllis Smith, and Richard Kind. And if the buzz from presentation of the film
at CinemaCon is to be believed, Docter has assembled another
effective winner.
“Southpaw”
(July 24): A boxing movie could be an adrenaline boost that a pummeling
blockbuster lineup needs, especially one that boasts a bulked-up performance
from Jake Gyllenhaal, an original screenplay co-written by Kirk Sutter (of “Sons
of Anarchy”), and the direction of Antoine Fuqua, previously of “The
Equalizer” and “Training
Day.”
OUT
OF COMPETITION
Even the prestigious Cannes Film Festival hosts a few titles for
little reason other than having them there. Just ask “Pirates
of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which
played “Out of Competition” in
2011, or “Grace of Monaco,” which
premiered at the fest last year with the same designation, and is now headed
straight to the Lifetime channel on May 25. Contrast to those in our “Main
Competition,” here are a few titles
that fail to instill a promise of quality, or justification of existence.
“Entourage”
(June 3): Hoping to duplicate the financial success of those oh-so-terrible “Sex
and the City” movies, another HBO
brand lunges for the big screen. Finally, more bro-time with these Hollywood
chums, but with the dull promise of a cameo bonanza. Starring Adrian Grenier,
Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Connolly, Jeremy Piven, and many famous faces.
“Ted 2” (June 26): Last year, Seth MacFarlane’s
western vanity project “A Million Ways to Die in the West” tumble-weeded through the nation’s
multiplexes. Now, he’s trying to woo back viewers with a sequel to his arrested
development hit, but the groan-worthy trailers show that the first film’s
charm might have been a one-time deal. Mark Wahlberg, MacFarlane, Amanda
Seyfried, Morgan Freeman, and Liam Neeson star.
“Max” (July 26): The studio that gave us “American
Sniper” goes back for your
patriotic box office support, this time with a cute, cuddly, and 100% American
German Shepherd as its focal point. Director Boaz Yakin’s “Max” smells like a throwback to squeaky-clean animal narratives
(before they could talk) and maybe even some good ol’ propaganda. Starring Robbie Amell, Lauren Graham, Thomas Haden
Church, Jay Hernandez, and Josh Wiggins.
“Hitman: Agent 47”
(August 28): The box office whipping boy of this summer will be “Hitman:
Agent 47,” an unwelcome reboot of a
2007 video game movie starring Timothy Olyphant that very few saw. The film’s
previews might boast an elaborate helicopter crash (you take what you can get),
but its release date of August 28 will undoubtedly suffer from the very real
condition of summer movie fatigue. Starring Rupert Friend, Zachary Quinto, Ciarán
Hinds, and Thomas Kretschmann.
CLASSIC CINEMA
Film festivals aren’t strictly about
discovery. This summer is, by no shock, particularly heavy on the retrospective
inclinations celebrated by other fests, as it looks back upon many previous
icons of movies, music, and television to create new perspectives in 2015.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” (May 15): Director
George Miller resurrects cult character Max Rockatansky for a new embodiment in
this apocalyptic actioner starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, the fourth
from the franchise.
“Love & Mercy”
(June 5): On the other sensory side of a movie-viewing experience there are two
entries here that will honor the vibrations and vigor of classic music (and
both feature Paul Giamatti). The first is “Love & Mercy,” in which the modern cinema will meet the life story of definitive pop genius Brian Wilson. The
film has played well at a few previous festivals, and features Paul Dano and
John Cusack playing Wilson at different points in his life.
“Terminator: Genisys” (July 1): Arnold Schwarzenegger is locked and loaded in full
nostalgic form for this fifth entry in the technophobic franchise, directed by
Alan Taylor of some “Game of Thrones” episodes,
and the dreadfully boring “Thor: The Dark World.” Alongside Schwarzenegger are Emilia Clarke, Matt Smith, Jai
Courtney, and J.K. Simmons.
“Mr. Holmes” (July 17): This summer surprisingly only features one Sherlock
Holmes tale, that of “Mr. Holmes.” It stars
Ian McKellen in a twilight-era version of the beloved sleuth, from a story
based on a novel by Mitch Cullin (“A Slight Trick of the Mind”), as
directed by Bill Condon.
“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” (July 31): A couple of
other heroes will get the big screen treatment, with two 1960s series getting
the upgrade from their TV roots. The first is when Tom Cruise will be tasked
with a very difficult thing for a fifth
“Mission: Impossible” movie. As per the
previews, this one features Cruise dangling from a plane. Also starring Jeremy
Renner, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, and Simon
McBurney.
“The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” (August 14): Director Guy Ritchie will
try to duplicate his “Sherlock Holmes” magic
with an adaptation of the “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” series, another spy adaptation with inevitably problematic
punctuation. Starring Alicia Viklander, Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Hugh
Grant, Jared Harris, and Elizabeth Debicki.
“Straight Outta Compton” (August 14): In a California
musical certainly different from that of the other classic music tale “Love
& Mercy,” the long-gestating
N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton“ finally hits theatres.
Band member Ice Cube has promised that it includes both “gang
banging” and “Reaganomics” (per his speech at last week’s
CinemaCon). Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Aldis Hodge, Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins,
Paul Giamatti, and Keith Stanfield.
FILMIC FEMALES
Like the Chicago International Film Festival’s “Reel Women” categorization (among other fests), this summer offers entries
of various sizes that boast female writers and/or directors, with a few of them
carryovers from the likes of Sundance, Toronto, etc.
“Welcome to Me” (May
1): In this promising comedy, Kristen Wiig plays a woman who gets her own talk
show (and abandons her meds) when she wins the Mega-Millions lottery. Shira
Piven directs from a script by Eliot Laurence, in a film that includes
appearances from Thomas Mann, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Linda Cardellini, James
Marsden, Loretta Devine, and Tim Robbins.
“Hot
Pursuit” (May
8): Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara make for an unlikely duo in this
action-comedy from Anne Fletcher (“27 Dresses,” “The Guilt
Trip”) about a cop (Witherspoon) protecting the widow of a drug boss
(Vergara). Expectations are tempered, but the buddy genre is always welcome especially
if this one is at all inspired by the goodwill of “Spy” director Paul
Feig’s “The Heat.”
“Infinitely Polar Bear” (June 19): Writer/director Maya Forbes makes her debut with
this dysfunctional family tale starring Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saladana. This one
was loved at Sundance back in 2014, and is finally coming back to the surface.
“Trainwreck” (July 17): Comedian Amy Schumer leads one of this summer’s few
comedic tentpoles, and wrote the script for this promising next film from director
Judd Apatow. Erik Childress got on board with the film after seeing it at SXSW this year stating that it’s Apatow’s
best since “Knocked Up.” Starring
Schumer, Bill Hader, John Cena, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn, Marisa Tomei, and Jon
Glaser.
“Ricki and the Flash” (August 7): The band
assembled here is irresistible – “Rachel Getting Married” (among many
others) director Jonathan Demme directs from an original screenplay by
“Young Adult” writer Diablo Cody, in a movie starring Meryl Streep,
in which she plays an aging rocker. Even better, according to a Rolling Stone interview with Demme, Streep’s
guitar playing will be for real, as the golden actress invested six months into
learning the instrument.
“The
Diary of a Teenage Girl” (August 7): Kristen Wiig, Alexander Skarsgård
and Bel Powley star in this Sundance success, which marks the debut of
writer/director Marielle Heller. The film is based on the novel by Phoebe
Gloeckner, and tells of a teen artist who has an affair with her mother’s
boyfriend. Sam Fragoso saw the film at Sundance, and expressed that it “adroitly
tackles a teenager’s sexual odyssey with candor and beauty.”
BLOCKBUSTER VS. NATURE
Just like how the Berlin, Miami and Milwaukee international film
festivals can’t get enough of their special categories, this summer’s
programming involves the specific recognition of the unexpected events in our
environment that bring us together.
“San Andreas” (May
29): Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson meets his match
against Mother Nature when the aftermath of an earthquake makes it hard for him
to find his estranged daughter. Alexandra Daddario, Carla Gugino, Ioan Gruffudd
and Paul Giamatti co-star in this 3D disaster movie.
“Paper Towns” (July 24): Two hip whippersnappers (played by Nat Wolff and
Cara Delevigne) journey through a self-proclaimed landscape of various moist
fibers dried into flexible sheets in order to find themselves. Here’s hoping that this is an adaptation of a better John Green novel
than last year’s “The Fault in Our Stars,” or at
the very least, that this story doesn’t end where “San
Andreas” begins.
“Pixels” (July 24): America’s tiresome teenager Adam
Sandler rides again, this time in a Chris Columbus-directed adaptation of a
two-minute short originally by Patrick Jean about aliens attacking the world as
video game characters. Kevin James co-stars as the President of the United
States of America, and numerous video game brands are set to wreak nostalgic
havoc on our planet.
NEW
VISIONS
Along with the indie circuit, promising new filmmakers can also
be discovered at the multiplex. Here’s where previous smaller
successes allot certain talents the keys to tentpole franchises and/or major
casts, as a studio’s budget goes into the hands of creative forces simultaneously
getting first-hand experience with the craft.
“Pitch Perfect 2” (May
15): After directing a few short films and starring in many others, Elizabeth
Banks makes her feature debut behind the camera with this sequel to the 2012
musical hit. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson star in this follow-up about their
acapella group entering an international competition.
“Insidious: Chapter 3”
(June 5): Horror screenwriter Leigh Whannell moves behind the camera to
direct this prequel to the “Insidious” franchise, taking over the series duties from his frequent
collaborator, “Furious 7” director James Wan.
“The Gift” (July 31): Actor Joel Edgerton has been carved out a robust
acting filmography in the past few years (“Animal Kingdom,” “Warrior”), but has also been developing an authorship for thriller
screenplays like “The Square” and last year’s “The
Rover.” Now, Edgerton co-stars,
writes, and directs his first big feature, a horror vehicle starring Rebecca
Hall and Jason Bateman about a strange guest.
“Vacation” (July 31): Two fledgling comedy screenwriters, John Francis
Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein (“Horrible Bosses,” “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”), try
to kick-start the long-dormant
“Vacation” franchise, with Ed Helms and Christina Applegate as
the next generation of dorky Griswolds.
OLDER VISIONS, NEWER
STAKES
Upping the ante on the pressure that’s
experienced on a first-time director’s set, the summer movie
season provides the viewer’s thrill of watching a
somewhat seasoned filmmaker take on an endeavor that’s
larger than anything they’ve done before, while a studio gambles on their promise to
deliver. With directors making their biggest projects yet here, these films can
be do-or-die moments within a ruthlessly competitive business.
“Jurassic World” (June 12): The biggest daredevil
leap from indie to big-time this season belongs to Colin Trevorrow, who made
the 2012 time travel indie “Safety Not Guaranteed” and now has the responsibility of reviving the “Jurassic
Park” franchise. Star power
from Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Omar Sy and Jake Johnson won’t
hurt, but as rare as dinosaurs may be, audiences will have plenty of CG action
to choose from—here’s
hoping Trevorrow (who also co-wrote) has created an irresistible visit to a
franchise not built upon since 2001.
“Ant-Man”
(July 17): This project has become half-superhero movie, half-director fiasco,
with initial visionary director Edgar Wright leaving mid-production, only to be
replaced by Peyton Reed, of such not-so-action-packed movies like “Bring
It On” and “Yes Man.” Reed’s an unlikely choice to put it
mildly, and his creation of action scenes, or sense of humor, will provide the
main spectacle aside from this B-level superhero character. Paul
Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Bobby Cannavale and Judy Greer star.
“Masterminds” (August 7): It’s a delight to see
“Napoleon Dynamite” director Jared Hess (“a
garage sale Wes Anderson,” as my girlfriend
affectionately defines him) back to work in 2015. He has been absent since 2009’s
wrongly disregarded “Gentleman Broncos,” but
at this past Sundance his feature starring Sam Rockwell, “Don
Verdean,” was picked up before it
even premiered. Now he’s got a true crime comedy with Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson and Kristen Wiig, as
co-written by Jody Hill (“Observe and Report”) and Danny McBride; all
promising ingredients for sturdy comedy. Hopefully this unexpected return to
Hollywood provides Hess with a much-needed career restart.
“Fantastic Four” (August 7): Director Josh Trank already has his next few gigs
lined up, such a mysterious “Star Wars” movie and a sequel to “Fantastic
Four,” so the powers that employ in Tinseltown must like what they’ve
seen from this project already.
Still, for those who have only seen Trank’s “Chronicle” and
are now watching him take on a serious reboot, it’ll be
intriguing to see his additions to the franchise, and mainly how he’ll package
the brand of a foursome that has never really made a huge box office impression. The
new line-up includes Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell,
and Toby Kebbell.
ANIMATED SELECTIONS
This season’s array of animated
features is made up of various revered creative companies, who also help make
this category one of the most international sections of the season.
“When Marnie Was There” (May 22): This tale
about an unlikely friendship from “The Secret World of
Arrietty” director Hiromasa
Yonebayashi has an underlying significance—it’s rumored to be the last
film from Japanese animation powerhouse Studio Ghibli. The US version will
feature the voice talents of Kathy Bates, Ava Acres, Ellen Burstyn, Geena
Davis, and Mila Brener.
“Minions” (July 10): The famous gibberish sidekicks from the “Despicable
Me” franchise, as
created by American production company Illumination Entertainment, hope to
strike box office gold with this prequel. Sandra Bullock voices a villainous character
with the last name of “Overkill” alongside
Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, and Katy Mixon.
“Shaun the Sheep Movie” (August 7): Not to miss out on the possibilities of spin-offs,
British company Aardman Animations returns with their own, this time for a
character from the “Wallace and Gromit” universe.
This feels like the proper time to appreciate its poster tagline in the UK – “Catch
them if ewe can!”
“Underdogs” (August 14): Americans
will finally get to see this Argentinian animated film about – of all sports –
foosball, from “The Secret in Their Eyes” director
Juan Jose Campanella. This curious project broke Argentina box office records
in its native release, and is the most expensive Latin American feature of all
time. The US dub will feature the voice talents of Ariana Grande, Nicholas
Hoult, Bobby Moynihan, John Leguizamo, Taran Killam, Matthew Morrison, and
Chazz Palminteri.
MIDNIGHT MOVIES FOR ANY
TIME OF THE DAY
Whether packing on the sexiness or being full of Satan knows
what, this season also offers features whose genre aspirations would be welcome
in a regular fest’s “Midnight”categorization. Added
bonus – not having to stay up late to check them out.
“Poltergeist” (May 22): The latest classic
horror film to get the reboot treatment is Tobe Hooper’s 1982 film. This time, the tale of a family facing evil forces
is working from a screenplay adapted by “Rabbit Hole” scribe David Lindsay-Abaire, under the direction of “Monster House” helmer
Gil Kenan. Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie Dewitt star.
“Magic
Mike XXL”
(July 1): Steven Soderbergh’s
right-hand first assistant director Gregory Jacobs takes over directing
Channing Tatum’s sexy male stripper
showcase, after wowing audiences in 2012. Expect less drama and even more flesh
from a cast that includes Tatum, Elizabeth Banks, Matt Bomer, Andie MacDowell,
Joe Manganiello, Jada Pinkett Smith, Donald Glover, Gabriel Iglesias, and Amber
Heard.
“The
Gallows”
(July 10): In this feature from rising writer/directors Travis Cluff and Chris
Lofing, a group of students decide to resurrect a school play that led to ruthless
disaster 20 years ago, but that turns out to be the best idea. Featuring the
on-screen talents of Cassidy Gifford, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos, Reese Mishler,
and Alexis Schneider.
“The
Vatican Tapes”
(July 24): “Crank” co-director Mark Neveldine
ventures to the horror genre in a robust log line that could sell quite a few
comic books at the very least: “A priest and two Vatican
exorcists must do battle with an ancient satanic force to save the soul of a
young woman.” Starring Djimon Hounsou,
Kathleen Robertson, Dougray Scott, Olivia Dudley, and Michael Peña.
“Sinister
2”
(August 21): The breakout director of Irish horror film “Citadel” Ciaran
Foy now finds himself working with this home movie horror series, from a script
by C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson. Starring Shannyn Sossamon and James
Ransone.
ACTUAL
FESTIVAL FILMS
Of course, this summer is also going to offer plenty of
opportunities to catch up on the titles that have played film fests of genuine
credibility, and whose heavy buzz makes it worth a verifying view. With many to
include, the following are just a few to keep on your moviegoing radar:
“Results” (May
29): One of the best films I saw at Sundance this past year, writer/director
Andrew Bujalski’s fitness comedy is primed to shake up the current definition of
the romantic comedy, while proving Cobie Smulders as a golden film lead.
“Me
and Earl and the Dying Girl”
(June 12): Based on the book by Jesse Andrews, this year’s surprise Sundance darling/future indie classic opens
in limited theaters to enchant viewers with its quirky cinephilia and life
lessons. Starring Thomas Mann, Olivia Cooke, Connie Britton, Bobb’e J.
Thompson, and Nick Offerman.
“Dope” (June 19): Rick Famuyiwa had a similar Sundance breakout hit
with his self-proclaimed “coming of age comedy/drama for the post hip hop
age.” Brian Tallerico dug the
film at the festival stating that it “doesn’t
feel like anything else.” Sounds like an excellent
antidote to some CGI summer hangovers. This one features the talents of Zoë Kravitz,
Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, A$AP Rocky, and Forest Whitaker.
“Big Game” (June 26): Here’s one of your more uncommon action options this season: A Finnish teenager (Onni Tommila) camping in the woods helps the President of the United States evade kidnappers after Air Force One is shot down. Did we mention that the POTUS is played by Samuel L. Jackson? This highly curious adventure from Toronto last year also stars Victor Garber, Felicity Huffman, Ray Stevenson, Mehmet Kurtulus and Ted Levine.
“The Look of Silence” (July 17): Director Joshua Oppenheimer follows up his
Oscar-nominated Indonesian genocide doc “The Act of Killing” with
“The Look of Silence,” which
follows a family that escaped mass killings confronting the men who murdered
one of their siblings.
“Irrational Man”
(July 24): This year’s Woody Allen movie has an emblematically indifferent
title, and stars Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone (you can probably guess the
plot). It will premiere at the upcoming
Cannes Film Festival before its stateside release on July 24.
“The End of the Tour” (July 31): Director James Ponsoldt’s
latest film involves Jason Segel playing author David Foster Wallace, acting
opposite Jesse Eisenberg as a Rolling Stone reporter. The Sundance 2015
favorite recently wooed Ebertfest as well, and will be playing the Chicago
Critics Film Festival next week.
The 2015 summer season’s nationwide film
festival runs from May 1 – August 28.
