What springs to your mind when someone utters those two spiteful words 'Summer Movie'. Superhero's? Endless Cliche's? Tedious
special effects extravaganza's? Money driven pieces of crap? Ok,
maybe I'm being a little cynical, though I would say that the Summer
Movie season has become a haven for lazy directors, with the majority
of Hollywood moviemakers making little effort in the knowledge
they'll make a fortune, however poor the film is. Having said that,
there are still some diamonds in the rough to be found every year,
and though the Christopher Nolan's of this world are sparse, films
like 'Dawn of The Planet the Apes' prove that intelligent
blockbusters still exist. And while there are bound to be fraudulent
pieces of cinema like 'San Andreas' and 'Hitman: Agent 47' to go with
inevitably underwhelming reboots of Terminator and Jurassic Park,
2015 also promises some gems to be found amidst all the garbage.
As well as the influx of superheroes, there are a good
variety of other sorts of movies ranging from Thomas Hardy
adaptations to numerous festival re-runs. So while I could fill this
top 5 with documentaries and indie films just to piss off Henry, I
figured it would be more fun and challenging to pick a few films that
generally would not draw me to a cinema.
Honorable Mentions:
My problem with Marvel at the moment is that there's an
annoying similarity to the movies they continue to churn out (with
the exception of Guardians of the Galaxy). That's not to say they're
all awful, in fact most of the recent hits have been well made and
enjoyable, but I can't shake this feeling that I'm not seeing
anything new and there just appears to be a lack of uniqueness in the
franchise.
That's
part of the reason I'm intrigued about Ant-Man.
The
preparation has been shaky, to put it mildly, with Edgar Wright
leaving the project half way through. But watching the trailer it
definitely seems more distinctive than previous Marvel movies, with a
more obscure superhero and a plot that appears less traditional than
say, Captain America or Thor. Of course, it could be terrible, but
for now it's definitely aroused my interest.
As
I stated, there aren't many Christopher Nolan's in this business, but
Brad Bird's as close as you're gonna get. That's why his new sci-fi
mystery, Tomorrowland,
has
got so many excited. The marvellous director of 'The Incredibles' and
'Ratatouille' now has a new project with much to be enthusiastic
about. Not only does Tomorrowland boast a strong cast (George Clooney
and Hugh Laurie), but more enticingly it has Damien Lindelof (Lost)
in control of the story. After the controversial series one of The
Leftovers some might be worried that Lindelof will tease us for the
duration of the film before leaving the audience with a horribly
unconclusive ending, but Lindelof is still a master of mystery in my
book and I can't wait to see what he's got lined up here.
5. Self/Less
Tarsam
Singh's an interesting director. His last two films were destroyed by
the critics, but his 2006 piece 'The Fall' was described by some as
one of the best films of the 21st
Century. The concept for his latest work, 'Self/Less' is certainly
intriguing. In the face of his coming death, a wealthy aristocrat
(Ben Kingsley) undergoes an extremely radical procedure to transfer
his entire consciousness into the body of a healthy young man (Ryan
Reynolds). But problems arise when he starts to discover the mystery
of the previous body's origin and also faces the threat of losing
control of the body to the resurfacing consciousness of the previous
owner. So yes, it sounds pretty wacky, but it's my fascination with
this strange plot that has drawn me in, that and the wonderful cast
that accompanies it. This sci-fi thriller looks like it could be
magnificent and now I'm just curious to see how it all plays out in
the hands of Singh.
4. The Tribe
Because
nothing screams Summer Movie season more than a miserable examination
of a Ukranian boarding school for the deaf, with the entirety of the
film in sign language and no accompanying subtitles. Right? Right??
Fine, maybe I was lying when I said this list would be entirely made
up of the big guns, but in truth I've been waiting to see this film
since the London Film Festival in October. At that point it was so
high in demand that it sold out before 'Whiplash'. Yes, that
'Whiplash'. 'The Tribe' is effectively a silent movie relying on non
verbal acting, with the film being set in a deaf boarding school
where we are introduced to the institutional system of crime and
prostitution that has engulfed the place. It's swept up a ton of
awards in the festival circuit and promises to be a unique and
audacious piece of work.
3.
Mad Max: Fury Road
I've already expressed concern with a couple of remakes
that will be appear in cinemas this summer, and in general I find
that these endless reboots nauseating, but Mad Max: Fury Road should
be different. The reason for my, and everyone's, optimism is the
return of George Miller, who wrote and directed the previous
installments, which should ensure this isn't a disgraceful ripoff.
Judging from the trailer, Miller looks to have successfully recreated
the nutty post-apocalyptic world thanks to three decades of
technological advancement and a splendid cast, including Tom Hardy
and an unrecognizable Charlize Theron. Sometimes I'm wary of a
picture that's so fixated on producing an action spectacle, but the
visuals for Fury Road look more breathtaking and transcendent than
anything we've seen recently, that it's hard not to be giddy with
excitement for it's spectacular release.
2. The Look of Silence
Joshua Oppenheimer's 'The Act of Killing' was a
groundbreaking piece of filmmaking. While the film was loosely
advertised as a documentary about the Indonesian genocide of the 60s,
what made the film so captivating was how Oppenheimer invited Anwar
Congo (one of the chief executioners of the genocide) to recreate the
killings for the camera. The result was a remarkable and terrifying
picture which examined the nature of these killers and the impact of
these atrocities. If ever a film was essential viewing, it would be
'The Act of Killing'. 'The Look of Silence, a follow up of sorts,
turns the focus to the victims and survivors of the genocide,
specifically focusing on a family whose son was killed during the
purge. Just like it's predecessor, 'The Look of Silence' has swept
awards during the festival season and is set to be another must-see
documentary.
- Inside Out
This is a rather personal pick for me. I grew up
watching Toy Story and Monsters Inc. and Pixar has really continued
to have a profound effect on me ever since. It's not just the
nostalgia evoked by watching the films you loved when you were young,
it's that Pixar's movies are made with such emotional intelligence
that they connect not only with kids, but grown men too. Toy Story 3
was probably the last time I wept actual tears in a cinema and UP was
pretty close. The disappointment, however, is that since Toy Story 3,
Pixar's produced a couple of duds (the 'Cars' franchise!). But hope
is eternal that 'Inside Out' will be a return to it's golden age and
the signs are good. The plot is undoubtedly one of Pixar's most
intriguing yet, with the narrative revolving around the emotions
inside a young girl's head. The emotions (Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust
and Sadness) are thrillingly brought to life in the film as they
advise the girl from the 'Headquarters' (her mind). Pixar made it's
name from kid's films that were touching and warm, but also immensely
creative. Inside Out would seemed to have carried on that legacy.
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