Monthly Movie Preview – May 2010 It's summer. Hang on, don't go outside to verify the weather. Just trust me. It's summer. I should know, I'm a film critic. Sure, if you're in Chicago you'll have another couple of days with highs in the 40s. And if you live in Portland, there will be some cloudy days ahead of us, before the secretly perfect summer. If you head to the theater though, its summer blockbuster season thanks to Robert Downey Jr.'s fancy metal suit, Russell Crowe's bow and arrow, Sarah Jessica Parker's 58 dresses, Jake Gyllenhaal's abs and Mike Myers' ogre. Let's get started, or as I now like to say thanks to the underwhelming remake of Clash of the Titans ... release the kraken!
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May 7
Movie of the Week
Iron Man 2
The Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson The Plot: The man in the metal suit is back, and everyone now knows that billionaire Tony Stark is the superhero Iron Man. Tony doesn't want to give up his technology and now a new set on enemies are out to get him. The Buzz: Is there any actor we love more getting into a superhero suit than Downey Jr.? OK, maybe Christian Bale's Batman, but that's not happening in 2010. The swagger that Downey Jr. brings to the role of Tony Stark is actually more enjoyable than watching this superhero kick butt, but only barely. Rourke takes the path of Halle Berry and follows up The Wrestler with a superhero flick. This is going to be better than Catwoman, we'll see if it has a chance to be puuurrrfect. Oh, and if I just convinced you that Rourke won an Oscar for The Wrestler, don't forget, he lost to Sean Penn.
The Others:
Babies - documentary by Thomas Balmes Casino Jack and the United States of Money - documentary by Alex Gibney Happiness Runs - Andie MacDowell, Mark L. Young Mother and Child - Naomi Watts, Annette Bening
May 14
Movie of the Week
Robin Hood
The Stars: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett The Plot: Robin Hood travels to the town of Nottingham, and gathers a gang of mercenaries to raid the upper class and fight back against the injustices of an evil sheriff. The Buzz Nobody asks for another Robin Hood flick, right? That's what I thought. Initially the script was sold as a retelling of the Hood story with a sympathetic look at the sheriff. Then Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe became interested. There's nothing wrong with that. Especially when those two have the track record of Gladiator in their past. Adding an angry Blanchett as Marion and legendary Max von Sydow ... yeah, I'm on board.
The Others:
Best Worst Movie - documentary by Michael Paul Stephenson Just Wright - Queen Latifah, Common Letters to Juliet - Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Egan, Gael Garcia Bernal Looking for Eric - Eric Cantona, Steve Evets Princess Kaiulani - Q'orianka Kilcher, Barry Pepper
May 21
Movie of the Week
MacGruber
The Stars: Wille Forte, Ryan Phillippe, Val Kilmer, Kristen Wiig The Plot: Based on the "Saturday Night Live" sketch. An ex-special ops man named MacGruber is called back into action to take down Dieter Von Cunth, who has a nuclear weapon and wants to use it on Washington, D.C. The Buzz: You figured I was going to pick Shrek didn't you? I know, the first one was great, the second one was hilarious, but the third? Yeah, that's right, it was a stinker. So why should the fourth be any better? I don't know. But I have already seen MacGruber thanks to SXSW. I laughed. A lot. Yes, I was surprised, but it's a sure thing. I have my Shrek doubts.
The Others:
Holly Rollers - Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha Kites - Hrithink Roshan, Barbara Mori Shrek Forever After - Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz Solitary Man - Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito
Date
Movie of the Week
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
The Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley The Plot: A prince joins a mysterious princess in Persia to try and prevent an evil force from gaining a dagger that allows the one who controls it to rule the world. The Buzz: This is the best chance for video game geeks to finally have a movie based on a video game they can be proud of. There's definitely never been a video game movie given this much money. I've played the video game, and it's good stuff. Let's hope the movie lives up to the hype and hope. Sex and the City 2 ... if you would have just promised to go back to your television roots, I could have considered you in this stop.
The Others:
Sex and the City 2 (opens May 27) - Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis Agora - Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella Micmacs - Dany Boon, Andre Dussollier Picasso & Braque Go to the Movies - documentary by Arne Gilmcher Survival of the Dead - Alan Van Sprang, Kathleen Munroe