July's Most Anticipated Films
by Brian Eggert
The below list of theatrical releases includes this site’s Most Anticipated Films for of July 2011. The choices—based on the quality of actors, director, story, and trailers—are pure guesswork and have no bearing on the inevitable review. For a complete list of upcoming releases and their respective movie trailers, visit the Calendar.
July 1:
Larry Crowne
Still clinging to his association with screenwriter Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Tom Hanks directs himself in Larry Crowne, a light Fourth of July weekend comedy with some mild socially relevant undertones. Hanks plays a longtime retailer who, when laid off, enrolls in a community college to find his future career path. There, he makes a connection with his instructor, played by Julia Roberts, who has lost her passion for teaching. With a trailer that looks quietly amusing, the star power of Hanks and Roberts may draw audiences away from typical summer blockbusters. Although, most viewers have had their fill of Roberts’ massive ego, so it remains to be seen if she can pull off a role that doesn’t involve an obscene amount of self-love. Hanks looks as charming as ever. Click here for the trailer.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon [June 29]
Ready for Michael Bay to explode your eyes and blow out your ear drums with Transformers: The Dark of the Moon? He already spoiled a potentially fun franchise with the nonsensical action-blur that was Rise of the Fallen, an offensive exercise in excess that made oodles of dough regardless. So why not reduce the series to overkill-plus-one. Supposedly his third go-round attempts to bring dark undertones to the story, not that story integrity matters much to Bay when there are cities to destroy with oversized robots. Steven Spielberg returns as executive producer, his presence on Transformers having reined-in Bay’s antics, and his lack of presence on the sequel probably being the reason that film was so unrestrained. Shia LaBeouf’s new supermodel girlfriend (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) replaces Megan Fox, who was reportedly canned by Bay based on Spielberg taking offense to the actress’ comments that Bay rules his set like Hitler. Harsh words. He’s more like Ed Wood with too much money to spend. Click here for the trailer.
July 8:
Horrible Bosses
Everyone’s had a horrible boss—one of those inhuman, belittling, elitist types you wouldn’t mind seeing take a nasty spill down a tall flight of stairs. Now, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters director Seth Gordon has made a movie about three wage slaves who’ve had enough, and so they resolve to wipe out their respective employers. Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis play the sympathetic employees, while Kevin Spacey (curiously less extreme than his role in Swimming with Sharks), Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Aniston play their bosses. Jamie Foxx plays the employees’ “murder consultant”, teaching them the ins and outs of executing a successful murder. Given the hard-R rating and universal appeal of the material (management staff excluded), this should make a diverting summer comedy. Click here for the trailer.
The Ward
Ten years after his last film, the underrated Ghosts of Mars, Master of Horror John Carpenter (The Thing) returns to the big screen with The Ward, a low-budget indie release barely making its way into theaters. For this devoted fan of Carpenter’s work, the prospect of a new film after so long helps dismiss merciless early reviews. Amber Heard plays the new patient to North Bend Psychiatric Hospital, a place haunted by ghosts, which the other patients deny seeing. Expect the hospital to have some dark secrets, probably involving a mad doctor who tortures his patients, but that’s just a guess. The setup feels all-too-familiar, yet perhaps Carpenter’s style will improve the material. Then again, Carpenter fully admits to being burnt out on filmmaking, and confessed he’d rather be playing videogames and watching basketball. So, chances are this project may have been a paycheck (as opposed to passion) project to support his habits. Click here for the trailer.
July 15:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
After ten years and eight films, the end is finally here. How will Warner Bros. survive without Harry Potter films earning them hundreds of millions in sustaining worldwide receipts every year? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will be the last $900 million-plus feature to come out of the studio for some time, save for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, whicharrives in 2012. That is, unless rumblings that J.K. Rowling plans to write more books are true. Even star Daniel Radcliffe has said he’d rather move on from the franchise, although it remains to be seen if the young actors will continue to do anything worthwhile in their post-Potter careers. David Yates returns as director, and though he’s done fine work on the last two entries, he hardly has the style to end this franchise, which peaked in 2004 with Prisoner of Azkaban, on the epic note needed. Nevertheless, here’s Yates’ inevitable mildly satisfying conclusion to one of the biggest franchises in movie history, without a doubt an “event movie” in the truest sense. Click here for the trailer.
Winnie the Pooh
Returning to A.A. Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood for the umpteenth time, Walt Disney Animation also makes their return to hand-drawn animation with the cleanly titled Winnie the Pooh. Void of a ridiculous celebrity voice cast or optional 3-D presentation, this integrity picture already has a nostalgic feeling, as though Disney has determined to tap our inner child, while also reaching a whole new young audience with a classic Pooh adventure. Based on five Milne stories, the film centers on Pooh and Co. attempting to save Christopher Robin from a make-believe wrongdoer. In all likelihood, Christopher will just be off sleeping in the bushes somewhere, but that kind of sweet innocence has always been a part of Pooh’s charm, though, hasn’t it? Click here for the trailer.
July 22:
Captain America: The First Avenger
Marvel’s more appealing and arguably more straightforward superhero title of summer 2011, Captain America: The First Avenger could either be an ingenious blend of comic book mythos mixed with WWII symbolism, or an utter disaster of style. Chris Evans would not have been my first choice to play Captain America, but he sure looks the part. And what about the Nazi villain Red Skull? I don’t think he could have looked better. Director Joe Johnston’s track record (The Rocketeer, The Wolfman) doesn’t inspire confidence, but the superb looking trailer does, even if the 1940s period setting risks the youth market. Setting a Captain America movie with such an idealistic hero in the 1940s was a smart decision, as the character would just seem out of place in our time. Unfamiliar crowds should be drawn to the adventurous tone advertised, and the promise that this film sets up the long-awaited crossover The Avengers (expect cameos and hints galore), due next summer, doesn’t hurt either. Click here for the trailer.
July 29:
Attack the Block
Instant cult classic. In the vein of Shaun of the Dead (but without the spoof element), this British genre movie incorporates humor and genuine thrills for an isolated alien invasion scenario far superior to last year’s Skyline and this year’s Battle: Los Angeles. There’s really no comparison, despite the shoestring budget. Everywhere those films failed, this one goes beyond for an experience far more complete and entertaining. First-time writer-director Joe Cornish blends Boyz in the Hood with Alien for a film that may not reach the wide audience it deserves in theaters, but will certainly find the Edgar Wright-brand crowds and later grow on home video. And though it was pieced together from bits of other movies, Attack the Block glosses over its inspirations with its sheer ingenuity and confidence. Need more convincing? Read the review.
Cowboys & Aliens
Alex Kurtzman, who co-wrote Star Trek with Roberto Orci, described their script for Cowboys & Aliens like this: “Imagine you're watching Unforgiven, and the aliens from Alien land.” Given that description, and the talent involved, this is easily one of my personal most anticipated releases of 2011. Iron Man director Jon Favreau assembles an incredible cast of strong leading men and just as talented (if not more so) character actors in this unique genre pairing: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Keith Carradine, and Clancy Brown all star in this Steven Spielberg-produced adventure. Craig plays an amnesiac drifter who moseys into Silver City, Arizona, only to find himself chased by a ruthless man bent on vengeance (Ford), with whom he must join forces to stop a sudden alien invasion. Looks like a blast. Click here for the trailer.
One Film You Shouldn't See
July 29:
The Smurfs
Entering shameless territory previously explored by Alvin and the Chipmunks, this CGI-meets-live-action adaptation of The Smurfs begs the question: When will it end? When will Hollywood stop making bad movies based on 1980s franchises? From The A-Team to Transformers, it’s a neverending pattern. When they run out of recognizable titles, will they finally break down and adapt some of the lesser-celebrated cartoons like Jem or Silverhawks? Then again, all of these adaptations end up being profitable, no matter the quality. Based on the trailer here, expect plenty of fart jokes and innuendos which replace dirty words with “smurf”. For example, I would rather get smurfed right up my smurf by a big smurfin’ smurf than endure this smurfing pile of smurf. Click here for the trailer.