Any week with a new Mission Impossible trailer is a good one, and that’s exactly what we’ve got in this edition of the pre-movie roundup. It’s a beautiful era in action cinema when this looks like a more gritty, realistic version of the stunts and effects brought to us by Furious 7. We’ve also got a pair of Sundance 2015’s hottest commodities, an unexpected zombie tragedy, a boxer cutting a path to salvation using nothing but his fists and the love in his heart, and a quirky little British mystery series. Sure looks like they could use the unparalleled skills of Ethan Hunt to root out the psychological terrorist hiding amongst the Casual Vacancy community of Pagford, though the fact that no buildings seem to exceed three stories could be a problem. If Ethan’s not almost killing himself, is he even truly living?
The One Everyone Is Talking About: Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation (Above)
First we thought we were going to have to wait all the way until Christmas to open up our Mission Impossible presents, but, God bless America, the release date has been bumped all the way up to July! Tom Cruise has been wearing his Ethan Hunt shoes for 19 years now, and considering Cruise has unlocked the secrets of agelessness, we would happily watch him for 19 more. Ethan Hunt is Cruise’s Iron Man. The IMF is his S.H.I.E.L.D. One day he will surely have to turn over the keys to the most Impossible of franchises, but for now, it all belongs to him, and with the ability to add and subtract supporting characters (hello again, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, and welcome aboard, Alec Baldwin) it keeps the relationships familiar but fresh at the same time. No matter how you feel about him, Tom Cruise is a rare, bona fide movie star, and we are thrilled he’s chosen to accept this mission once again.
Pause at: 0:20, 0:43, 1:31, 1:54, 2:00, 2:08, and 2:20 for the impossible!
Song: The Fugees, “Ready or Not” (sorry, this awesome remix is unavailable) and Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., “Mission: Impossible Theme”
Essential Quote: “The IMF is uniquely trained and highly motivated, specialists without equal immune to any countermeasures. But it is an agency of chaos. The time has come to dissolve the IMF.”—Not likely, government official Alec Baldwin!
The One You Wish Everyone Would Talk About: Dope
Dope isn’t exactly a summer tentpole kind of picture, but it will definitely be the feel-good event of the hot and sticky months. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa and produced by a team including Forest Whitaker, Sean Combs, and Pharrell Williams (who was also in charge of the outstanding soundtrack), Dope landed the biggest overall deal at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, running up a $7 million asking price with millions of dollars in extras thrown in. The movie’s lead, Shameik Moore, will surely be a breakout star, and Kiersey Clemons was one of our Sundance heroes. Honestly, it’s just an all-around outstanding experience, and a delightful break from the traditionally emo approach to coming-of-age yarns. If you want to have fun at the movies this summer by watching a trio of dorky, hip-hop obsessed teens survive high school, then go support Dope. You’ll be glad you did.
Pause at: 0:52 for an excellent realization of our hero.
Song: Naughty By Nature, “O.P.P.” Digital Underground, “Humpty Dance”
Essential Quote: “Dope, right?”—Malcolm (Moore)
The Zombie One: Maggie
This movie looks like it’s going to pull off a neat trick. It’s a zombie movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger that doesn’t look like what you’d expect from either of those genres (which, let’s be honest, Arnold Schwarzenegger is basically a genre at this point). An undead epidemic is threatening humanity—isn’t there always?—and Schwarzenegger plays a small-town farmer and family man determined to protect and care for his daughter, Maggie (played by Abigail Breslin), despite the fact that she’s been stricken with the world-ending virus. In other words, Maggie is turning into zombie, but Schwarzenegger’s character, Wade, made a vow to his dearly departed wife that he would protect their family, no matter what the cost. It looks a lot more quiet and intimate than most movies featuring the Governator, and we’re happy to see a zombie-fatigue work-around that gives us both our undead fix and deeply developed emotional relationships. The script for Maggie was also part of the 2011 Black List, so that’s one more reason to move past cautiously optimistic into legitimately excited territory.
Pause at: 0:54, 1:01, 1:29, 1:59 and 2:03 for signs of infection.
Essential Quote: “I need you to follow the rules here. Quarantine is eight weeks in. She’s probably going to show signs of aggression and hunger. When that happens say your goodbyes and get her straight to quarantine.”—doctor
The Sundance Darling: Slow West
Slow West was a surprise delight at Sundance this year. Neither of our reporters on the ground got a chance to see it (apologies for the lack of first-hand insight), but the praise seemed nearly universal. Really, though, when you’ve got Michael Fassbender and about-to-get-huge Ben Mendelsohn on board, what’s not to love? Kodi Smit-McPhee plays a young man from Scotland journeying through the savage American West in search of his true love, Rose (played by Caren Pisorious). He’s rescued from peril by Silas (Fassbender), who subsequently becomes his guide and protector. It looks wonderfully witty and wry for an Old West drama, and the good people at Slashfilm declared, “This film is to the western as Hanna was to the espionage thriller.” If that is even close to true this movie is going to be amazing.
Pause at: 1:05 for The Hound! Ben Mendelsohn is looking pretty much perfect at 1:14. Roguish cowboy looks very good on Michael Fassbender at 1:37.
Song: Hanni El Khatib, “Come Alive”
Essential Quote: “Deep in the West, kick over any rock and desperado will crawl out and knife you right in the heart.”
The Entourage One: Entourage
Cameos cameos Ari cars boats Drama cameos Turtle cameos ANNNNNND SCENE!
Pause at: Any moment for Entourage nostalgia and/or a celebrity playing themselves.
Song: James Brown, “Get Up Offa That Thing” and Yogi feat. Pusha T, “Burial”
Essential Quote: “Whatever I do next, I also want to direct.”—Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), still the arrogant asshole he always was.
The Redemption Tale: Southpaw
Jake Gyllenhaal’s veer into full-tilt crazy continues with Southpaw. This boxing melodrama is directed by Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer, Shooter) so it’s that kind of drama. Gyllenhaal plays Billy Hope, a championship boxer whose temper contributes heavily to his entire life falling apart, including losing his wife to an errant gunshot and his little girl to Family Services. Much like The Fighter, The Wrestler, and Warrior, it follows a gritty man in a gritty profession on a journey of redemption. Also, like those movies, it looks pretty good, but come on! We hardly ever get to see Rachel McAdams and now you’re just going to kill her off?! With luck, we’ll get to see her in a lot of flashbacks/grief-induced hallucinations.
Pause at: 0:15, 1:04, 1:40, 1:59, and 2:00 for Maximum Gyllenhaal.
Song: Untitled new song from Eminem
Essential Quote: “It’ll be a year before your suspension is up, which means no income.”—Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as the sage pragmatic lawyer (maybe?)
The Small Screen Standout: The Casual Vacancy
Now this looks exciting! The first post-Potter novel from J.K. Rowling is coming to HBO as a three-part miniseries. The story centers on the charming English village of Pagford, which, like all small towns, harbors a lot more internal strife than its idyllic façade would suggest. But when councilman Barry Fairbrother suddenly dies, the doors fly open on this twisted little town, and suddenly a whole lot of grievances are bursting from the darkness into the daylight for all to see. And amidst it all, who will fill the casual vacancy left on the council after Barry’s death? Intrigue! Witty British banter! Michael Gambon! Oh, and if you’re a fan of the book, you should know that the miniseries supposedly changes the ending, which could go either way in terms of making you happy or furious. But doesn’t it look like a good time?
Pause at: 0:17. Dumbledore forever. The ghost of Barry Fairbrother is watching you at 0:40.
Essential Quote: “Shit. That really spiraled.”—Kay Bawden (Michele Austin)
No comments:
Post a Comment