Here’s a brief look at 5 films that just missed my top ten movies of the upcoming summer:
A Scanner Darkly (July 7)- Richard Linklater has achieved the rare skill of being able to do a indie art film one year and a Hollywood pic the next. Few directors can do this successfully and except for the critically bashed Newton Boys, Linkater’s done great. After the surprisingly good Bad News Bears, he’s back on the art scene with an animated film in the same style as Waking Life. I enjoyed the look in Waking Life and while the combination of scenes lent itself to that style the end result was slightly disappointing. Here Linklater has a great starting point in Philip K Dick’s novel so the results look promising.
Idlewild (August 25)- This Outkast vehicle has been on the slow burn for two years but with a release date on the board happy days are here again. What little we know about the plot certainly sets the stage for a Harlem Nights type of let down, yet with new music from Big Boi and André’ 3000 from start to finish can it be all bad?
The Science of Sleep (August 4)- Michael Gondry’s follow up to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Chapelle’s Block Party doesn’t count) promises to be another visual stunner. Too bad there is no Charlie Kauffman script to back it up.
Lady in the Water (July 21)- I wouldn’t count myself as an M. Night Shyamalan fan. I think the guy could use a good editor to focus his films and make them tighter. That being said, the guy has a ton of talent. All of his films have had great moments here and there. This time he’s making a “fairy tale” that he was inspired to write thanks to his daughters. It sounds like a Splash remake but I’ll still be curious to see the results.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (July 7)- I liked the first film a ton and director Gore Verinski does shine as a filmmaker from time to time. The whole cast is back which means more Johnny Depp mugging scenes from Orlando Bloom. Best case scenario: A fun popcorn movie that brings more of the same from the original. Worst case scenario: An uninspired redux of the first film where everyone is just showing up for their paycheck
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