July/August Movie Preview

So, here's the list of movies that potentially interesting for the next couple of months. This is the calm before the storm really, in September and October the barrage of very interesting looking movies is going to be insane.

Note: Some of these movies are actually being released on Wednesdays, but in those cases I have the date down as the Friday of that week.

July 7th:
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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

The Sequel. The question is, will this be a franchise where the sequels actually succeed? It is at 75% RT right now (higher than the first) so maybe so.

A Scanner Darkly

Richard Linklater's animated adaptation of the Phillip K. Dick novel. Mixed reviews so far, but I will see any adaptation of the author. Maybe something someday will be as good as Blade Runner.

Edmond

Written by David Mamet. Starring William H. Macy and Julia Stiles.

Plot Outline:
A fortune-tellers teasing rumination sends Edmond Burke lurching into New York City's hellish underworld.

A lot of movies written by Mamet turn out very well, but strangely no reviews are up yet. I may see it if it looks like it will be any good.

Strangers With Candy

Movie adaptation of the former comedy central show. With Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert.

I might wait for DVD on this one, as the reviews aren't looking too good so far.

July 14th:
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The OH in Ohio

Starring Parker Posey, Paul Rudd, Danny DeVito, and Mischa Barton.

Plot outline:
Priscilla Chase (Parker Posey) seems to have it all -- the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect husband (Paul Rudd) -- except for in bed, where sex has always left her a bit short of the finish line.

The thought of Parker Posey playing a frigid prude seems pretty funny actually. I'd like to see what the critical response to this is though, haven't heard anything so far.

July 21st:
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Lady in the Water

Will M. Night Shyamalan break his streak of three bad movies in a row after a good debut? Will it have a twist I'll see coming a mile away? At least this time I won't guess it from the trailer, like I did with The Village.

Clerks II: The Passion of the Clerks

Sequel to the original Kevin Smith indie cult hit. I have some serious reservations about whether this will actually be any good though. I'll be watching out for it anyway just in case.

July 28th:
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Little Miss Sunshine

Comedy/Drama with Steve Carrell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin. Go and check out the trailer on apple, this one looks like it will be pretty good. I might get to see an advance screening this week, I'll post an early review if I am lucky enough to get in.

Miami Vice

Adaptation of the TV Series. Directed by Michael Mann, starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx.

While the whole premise makes me nervous, I trust Michael Mann to make a quality film, especially in the crime genre. Heat was excellent, and if it wasn't for Tom Cruise, Collateral probably would have been as well.

Scoop

Written and directed by Woody Allen. Starring Woody Allen, Scarlett Johannson, Hugh Jackman, Ian McShane.

Woody goes back to London but this time for a comedy, staring Johannson as a reporter uncovering a murder mystery.

This one looks like it has some potential actually. I wonder if it is a remake of Manhattan Murder Mystery though.

August 4th:
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Quinceañera

Winner of the dramatic Grand Jury prize and the Sundance film festival this year.

Plot Outline: As Magdalena's 15th birthday approaches, her simple, blissful life is complicated by the discovery that she's pregnant. Kicked out of her house, she finds a new family with her great-granduncle and gay cousin.

Who knows? It may be good.

August 11th:
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World Trade Center

Oliver Stone's 9/11 movie, starring Nicholas Cage, Maria Bello, Michael Pena, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Plot Outline: Two Port Authority police officers become trapped under the rubble of the World Trade Center.

You can see the preview for this on various sites already. I can't tell if I think it looks good or not. I personally am not sure if I can buy Nicholas Cage in the role. It might have been a better idea to go with unknown actors like United 93 did.

August 18th:
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Snakes on a Plane

Will this be the so bad it's actually good movie of the year? Or will it actually be bad. You've HAD to have heard about this one by now.

Factotum

Starring Matt Dillon, Marisa Tomei, Lili Taylor. Based on a book by Charles Bukowski.

There was pretty good word about this movie coming out of Sundance, it might be interesting.

Trust the Man

Comedy/Drama/Romance starring David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Billy Crudup, Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Plot Outline: After all the drama, cheating, and trial separations, two men (Crudup, Duchovny) fight to save their respective relationships.

Who knows, the cast looks interesting. But it might end up being bad. Julianne Moore's track record lately has been absolutely horrid. I'll wait for reviews.

August 25th:
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Nothing that looks that great for this weekend.