2009 Summer Movie Preview

2009 the number another summer, get down
Sound of the funky drummer - Public Enemy

May

“Star Trek” – Ever since his work on 1998’s “Armageddon,” J.J. Abrams has been carving his own little niche in the Sci-Fi genre and early reviews of this series reboot suggest a vivacious concoction of fanboy rapture that only he could manufacture. I recall seeing the teaser prior to the Abrams-produced “Cloverfield” and not thinking much of it, so here’s hoping that the overall presentation will be accessible to those who can’t rattle off the life story of every character to grace the Starship Enterprise.

“Angels and Demons” – I don’t think I’m alone in saying that 2006’s “The Da Vinci Code” left something to be desired. The dialogue, pacing and pseudo-chemistry between Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou just didn’t live up to expectations and director Ron Howard appeared to be sleepwalking his way to the payoff. Howard has proven on numerous occasions to be a superb filmmaker, but other than “Apollo 13,” summer blockbusters just aren’t his thing. Although I’ve been told that this prequel is the superior novel of the two, I still find myself hesitant to expect something truly remarkable.

“Terminator Salvation” – I know it’s just innocent conjecture, but rumor has it that Christian Bale’s performance as John Connor doesn’t bring much to the table in terms of palpable substance. If that’s indeed the case, my interest in this film is evaporating quicker than when I first heard that glorified noisemaker McG was going to assume directorial duties. The desire by Hollywood to continuously re-hash old favorites ran out of steam years ago and I refuse to accept that this is the best they have to offer.

“Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” – Say what you will about the first installment, but I actually enjoyed it and laughed often enough to justify the ticket price. I’m not expecting Ben Stiller to reach the same comedic heights that last year’s brilliant parody “Tropic Thunder,” but the addition of Amy Adams, Bill Hader (genius) and Jonah Hill to the cast should make it an event movie that both kids and parents can enjoy.

“Drag Me to Hell” – Judging from the trailer, director Sam Raimi appears to have livened up and returned to his B-movie roots with a macabre tale of a loan officer whose dream lifestyle is about to end on a nefarious note. His “Spider-Man” days were certainly successful, but there’s something very “Evil Dead”-esque about this film that has me counting down the days.

“Up” – Everyone has their favorite Pixar creation (“Ratatouille” would be mine) and I’m sure that within days of its release, the journey of a crotchety 78-year-old named Carl Fredricksen will find itself at the top of many Best of ’09 lists. Come to think of it, have the wizards at Pixar ever made a film that wasn’t universally lauded?

June

“Land of the Lost” – After clunkers like “Semi-Pro” and “Step Brothers,” I think it’s safe to say that the Will Ferrell comedy wagon has hit a speed bump. I may be alone in this, but other than 2006’s “Stranger Than Fiction,” I don’t think he’s given a great comedic performance since his uncredited appearance in “Wedding Crashers.” What used to be funny has now become musty and played-out, so I would like to think that a big-screen adaptation of a vintage television show is just what he needs to get him out of the funk. Oh wait, didn’t he already try that with “Bewitched?”

“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” – Apparently, John Travolta is starring opposite Denzel Washington in this Tony Scott-directed story of a hijacked NYC subway train. I’m just as surprised as you are, because I could’ve sworn that Travolta’s acting career ended following 2000’s “Battlefield Earth.” Maybe I was mistaken.

“Year One” – Jack Black and Michael Cera team up in this biblical era farce as two losers who find themselves banished from their village and forced to embark on an epic journey through the ancient world. It’s directed by Harold Ramis and produced by Judd Apatow, so expect the antics to be crude, outrageous and ultimately hit-or-miss.

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” – I think I’m one of the only people in existence who hasn’t yet sat down to watch the first “Transformers” flick, so there’s not much I can say except “Hooray for Michael Bay!” Or not.

July

“Public Enemies” – Michael Mann’s last picture was the flaccid “Miami Vice” in which Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx appeared lost in search of a better, more fully realized reason for exhausting so much energy (other than Gong Li). Somehow, I don’t think Johnny Depp and Christian Bale will have that problem, because they both appear to give performances worthy of further discussion. Mann is at his best when tackling stories of suave criminality and the legend of John Dillinger sounds like just the ticket for his return to form.

“Bruno” – Sacha Baron Cohen is out once again to make his case as the most fearless comedian working today and I think he may achieve that status hands down. As Austrian fashionista Bruno, he humiliates presidential candidate Ron Paul, has an awkward run-in with Paula Abdul and attempts to join the Alabama National Guard. Oh the possibilities.

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” – Hopefully, the delay wasn’t a sign of things to come, because this has the potential to be the biggest smash of the summer. When we last saw the boy wizard, he was grieving after the death of Sirius Black and starting to realize what he would have to become in order to stop an all-powerful being like Voldemort. I find the darkness to be the series’ invaluable attribute and can’t wait to see Radcliffe get medieval on those meddling Death Eaters.

“Funny People” – This has the potential to be either the best or worst movie of the season. Written and directed by Judd Apatow, this raunch-fest with a heart follows the career of two comedians who form a bond after one of them is diagnosed with a terminal illness. The casting of Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann is promising as usual, but the length may become an issue if the plot starts to sag à la “Knocked Up.”

August

“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” – Director Stephen Sommers brings a decent resumé (“The Mummy” and “Van Helsing”) with him to this live-action adaptation, but the eclectic collection of actors is what peaks my interest. Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Christopher Eccleston are all poised to challenge “Transformers 2” for the title of “Best Movie Made From a 1980’s Cartoon.”

“Inglourious Basterds” – I’m really hoping that Quentin Tarantino’s first film since 2007’s “Death Proof” is as fiercely composed as the marketing campaign has made it out to be.

“Final Destination: Death Trip” – It’s the fourth installment of “Final Destination.” It’s in 3-D and directed by the same guy who brought us “Snakes on a Plane.” Oh joy.

“H2” - Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” was a grimy, sadistic piece of snuff that did nothing to make we want to endure a sequel, but nothing screams summer like a psychologically unhinged maniac looking to slice and dice his way to a paycheck.