Wow, every day for the rest of the year is now getting shorter and shorter. Winter depression is already setting in. No way better to mark that sad, sad occurrence than the release of a new Transformers movie. Early box office forecasts for it are huge. I blame Generation X.
This BSR! Weekend Movie Previews is for the weekend of June 27, 2014. Per usual, before we get started, a quick disclaimer. All of the film information presented here, including the plot summary, has been pulled from the Opening This Week page of IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/nowplaying/). I have not seen any of these movies at the time of this writing.
Join us this week as we preview “Transformers: Age of Extinction”, “Begin Again”, “Snowpiercer”, and more.
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
PG-13 Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Stanley Tucci
Summary: An automobile mechanic and his daughter make a discovery that brings down the Autobots and Decepticons – and a paranoid government official – on them.
Thoughts: I seriously don’t think I am going to see this anytime in the next week. I liked the first one well enough, but each new installment since then has grown increasingly tone deaf and structurally coarse. Not to mention just the overall aesthetic. Don’t get me wrong – I think Michael Bay is probably the most technically gifted filmmaker we have working currently, but his story sense and character sensibility is for s**t. Having said that, this Russian language trailer makes it seem 10 times more interesting than the English trailers that we have been repeatedly bludgeoned over the head with the last couple of months.
Begin Again (2013) – [Limited]
R 104 min – Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance
Director: John Carney
Stars: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld
Summary: A chance encounter between a disgraced music-business executive and a young singer-songwriter new to Manhattan turns into a promising collaboration between the two talents.
Thoughts: I was about to totally pass by this movie until it said it was by the director of “Once”, which is probably one of the best small films made in the last 10 years, easily. Now I kinda am interested in seeing this. If I can get past Keira Knightly’s unmovable forehead and the presence of Adam Levine. Everyone else in the cast looks great, especially the Incredible Hulk.
Snowpiercer (2013) – [Limited]
R 126 min – Action | Drama | Sci-Fi
Director: Joon-ho Bong
Stars: Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris
Summary: In a future where a failed global-warming experiment kills off all life on the planet except for a lucky few that boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, where a class system evolves.
Thoughts: Ok, before I start on this one, quick confession. I have seen this already (and it is really, really good), but I am going to write the rest of this as if I haven’t (it is seriously good, don’t miss it). What? Hahahah! A movie about a giant train with the last remnants of civilization surviving on it? Does it Star Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves? (Actually , Chris Evans and he is really great in it.) I am going to wait for it to show up endlessly on TNT to watch it. (I didn’t, and you shouldn’t either. See it now.) Rocket Trains. How lame. (Not at all.)
They Came Together (2014) – [Limited]
R 83 min – Comedy
Director: David Wain
Stars: Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Cobie Smulders
Summary: When Joel and Molly meet, it’s hate at first sight: his big Corporate Candy Company threatens to shut down her quirky indie shop. Plus, Joel is hung up on his sexy ex. But amazingly, they fall in love, until they break up about two thirds of the way through, and Molly starts dating her accountant. But then right at the end…well you’ll just have to see. (Hint: Joel makes a big speech and they get back together.)
Thoughts: I want to give David Wain all of the movie money. Just give him the money and let him make whatever he wants. “Wet Hot American Summer 2”? Here you go, Mr Wain. “The Next 10”? Yep, can’t wait. “Ant Man”? Absolutley, we should’ve thought of you to begin with. “Wainy Days – the Sci-Fi Musical Spectacular”? Genius, go for it. Just everything. The world would be a much better place.
Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger (2014) – [Limited]
R 120 min – Documentary | Biography | Crime
Director: Joe Berlinger
Stars: Stephen Rakes, James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, Tommy Donahue, David Boeri
Summary: Number 2 on America’s Most Wanted list after Osama Bin Laden, James ‘Whitey’ Bulger terrorized the city of Boston for years without ever being charged with so much as a misdemeanor. Bulger was a monster, murdering over a dozen known victims, but did the FBI and local law enforcement give his reign of terror over South Boston a free pass?
Thoughts: Joe Berlinger is just flat out solid as a filmmaker and documentarian. This film looks intense and aggravating at the same time, but in a good way.
The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz (2014) – [Limited]
105 min – Documentary | Biography | Crime | News
Director: Brian Knappenberger
Stars: Aaron Swartz, Tim Berners-Lee, Cory Doctorow, Peter Eckersley
Summary: The story of programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz, who took his own life at the age of 26.
Thoughts: I kinda followed along with interest the reports and blogs and stuff when Aaron passed away. All very sad. I think though, and I will probably ruffle some feathers, that as sad as the loss of Aaron was for a lot of people, the story is really less about him and his lost promise, though that this is certainly tragic, it is more about the broad prosecutorial zeal that our government has undertaken over the last several decades. I understand the importance of creating a martyr in a cause, but I hope that the big issues don’t get lost in the struggle.
Yves Saint Laurent (2014) – [Limited]
R 106 min – Biography | Drama
Director: Jalil Lespert
Stars: Pierre Niney, Guillaume Gallienne, Charlotte Le Bon, Laura Smet
Summary: A look at the life of French designer Yves Saint Laurent from the beginning of his career in 1958 when he met his lover and business partner, Pierre Berge.
Thoughts: I am not very familiar with the fashion world, but do know that Yves Saint Laurent is someone of distinction there. The movie itself looks well appointed, and everyone very fashionable.
Now, it’s your turn – if you have seen any of these movies, let us know your thoughts in the comments.