We’re about to enter silly season. August is almost here, and with it comes the dumping ground for would-be blockbusters, cheapie horror flicks, or comedies that studios don’t expect to make a lot of money. There’s a chance that this weekend could be the last gasp of the summer. Take in the potentially fun movies while you can this weekend.
Jason Bourne
Director: Paul Greengrass
Writers: Paul Greengrass, Christopher Rouse
Starring: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Julia Stiles
Nine years after the last Bourne movie that actually featured the character of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) came out, the shaky cam spy/super soldier is back and causing mayhem for the most shadowy elements of the United States government, this time personified by the leathery mug of Tommy Lee Jones and the not-so-leathery mug of newly minted Oscar winner Alicia Vikander. Damon takes his shirt off and knocks out a guy twice his size with a single punch and Edward Snowden’s name is invoked, so you know there’s some heavy privacy-related stuff going on.
And that’s where my contextualizing ability for Jason Bourne ends. Despite 15-plus years of reassurances that the Bourne movies are right up my alley, I have yet to see more than about five minutes of what I think was the first one -- I vaguely remember there being a ship and a heavy rainstorm involved. People like these films. You are probably one of those people who like them. That’s usually a reason to see a movie, right?
Bad Moms
Directors: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Writers: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate
Moms don’t get their due. They’re stellar human beings who do, well, everything for their families. That’s the premise of Bad Moms, when a group of overworked matriarchs led by Mila Kunis revolt and stop caring so much. They take trips to the movies in the afternoon, throw PTA meetings that are close to college house parties, and more such dereliction of parental duty.
It seems like the funniness is there -- Kathryn Hahn makes everything better -- but why is the all-male team of Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (the writers of The Hangover and writer-directors of 21 & Over) doing this? Give, you know, any ladies with comedic chops the gig -- one possibility would be Sleeping With Other People’s Leslye Headland, who seems perfect for the material. It’s not that difficult to get someone with a more specific point of view for a movie like this.
Nerve
Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Writer: Jessica Sharzer
Starring: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Emily Meade, Miles Heizer
Emma Roberts and Dave Franco meet playing a game that is a combination of Pokemon Go and the game from David Fincher’s The Game. They get their wallets and identities stolen and become pawns of the always watching hordes who dictate their every move. This is a killer premise. The fact that the Catfish directors, Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, are behind it also makes it interesting, although their self-conscious “we totally understand the technology the youths are playing with these days” schtick can wear thin in a hurry. But the trailer (never the greatest barometer of whether a movie will be good) makes the movie look like utter trash. Cautious optimism is the name of the game here.
Post a Comment