Here at The Movie Hour, as we frequently mention, we're learning as we go, and it has been interesting--perhaps fortuitous--as your hosts to have started this adventure at the beginning of the year. The first few months of the year are historically 'weak' in film, but in 2009 it's been nonstop comedy. Will it be nonstop comedy next year? Who knows? But The Movie Hour has become, because of timing, almost a study of what a calender in film releases amounts to.
Ethan mentioned he is dying for a good Oscary drama to sink his choppers into, but will that be far off considering the rat-a-tat releases of superheroes and battling robots? Watchmen was 'summery', but the popcorn season officially starts (moviewise) May 1--that's just over two weeks (or three episodes from now). Coming soon: The Movie Hour's first summer.
Click HERE for a great guide to summer from www.moviecitynews.com.
May 1st
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Dir. Gavin Hood) - marketing is very weak and we still have the horrible flavor of X3 in our mouths.
The Limits of Control (Dir. Jim Jarmusch)
May 8th
Star Trek (Dir. J.J. Abrams) - Getting a little more excited for it as the marketing rolls out. I'm sure we'll discuss.
Also Opening: Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna team up once again for Alfonso Cuaron’s Rudo y Cursi - Joe's a huge fan of Y tu Mama so this is on his radar; Mos Def and Donald Faison star in the dark comedy about drugs, Next Day Air.
May 15th
Angels and Demons (Dir. Ron Howard) - Da Vinci was a disappointment. Redemption?
The Brothers Bloom (Dir. Rian Johnson) - Was on Joe's upcoming summer list on an earlier episode.
Also Opening: Jennifer Aniston goes The Good Girl route opposite Steve Zahn in Management. Whatever.
May 22nd
Terminator Salvation (Dir. McG) - Like Star Trek, the ongoing marketing gets us more excited. Was on E's summer list.
The Girlfriend Experience (Dir. Steven Soderbergh) - Soderbergh is always one to watch.
Also Opening: Ben Stiller takes a large paycheck in Night at the Museum 2 - Joe's 8 yr. old is excited; Marlon and Shawn Wayans try to top White Chicks with Dance Flick.
May 29th
Up (Dir. Pete Docter) - Joe....not even worth discussing
Drag Me to Hell (Dir. Sam Raimi) - This one snuck in after our upcoming summer show. Joe is definitely interested (Evil Dead revisit?)
Also Opening: The Academy-Award winner for best foreign flick Departures.
June 5th
Land of the Lost (Dir. Brad Silberling) - Was on E's list. Joe's kid will drag him to it.
Away We Go (Dir. Sam Mendes) - Anyone else think this trailer looks terrible?
Also Opening: Old School director Todd Phillips gets Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis to star in a comedy that has tested so well it already has a greenlit sequel with The Hangover; Nia Vardalos returns from the witness protection program to star opposite Richard Dreyfuss in Donald Petrie’s My Life in Ruins.
June 12th
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (Dir. Tony Scott)
June 19th
Whatever Works (Dir. Woody Allen) - On both our lists. Woody + Larry David = Has to be good. No?
Also Opening: Harold Ramis directs an outrageous Jack Black and an awkward Michael Cera in Year One - man this looks bad; Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds star in an instantly forgettable romantic comedy The Proposal - man this looks worse.
June 26th
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Dir. Michael Bay) - Joe has a Transformers story if you can get it out of him.
Also Opening: Michelle Pfeiffer stars in Stephen Frears’ latest flick Cheri; Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin co-star in Nick Cassavetes’ latest film My Sister’s Keeper; Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker with Jeremy Renner screams into theaters.
Coming Next Week: Summer 2009 Preview, Part Two
Well, I guess it will be a blockbuster summer. Sometimes it can be hit and miss, but they are definitely pandering for the Dark Knight crowd. Look at the trend in special effects. Very interesting. I don't know if they will make the money they are hoping for. Hmm.
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