May
Shrek the Third (directed by Chris Miller) Two weeks ago Spider-Man 3 ushered in this sequel-saturated summer. Some may be stinkers but others we just can’t resist. The first Shrek made my teeth ache, but the second one had more mature gags and the incomparable presence of Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots, who returns here.
Waitress (directed by Adrienne Shelly) The final movie by Hal Hartley-favourite-turned- director Shelly, who was murdered in New York in November 2006. This one comes Sundance-approved, a quirky and dark comedy about a southern woman, pregnant and unhappy, who meets a new man through her work in a diner. It’s been compared favourably to Amelie, which is saying something.
Pirates of The Caribbean: At World’s End (directed by Gore Verbinski) For two reasons only: Chow Yun Fat and Keith Richards.
June
Ocean’s 13 (directed by Steven Soderbergh) A Soderbergh movie is always worth getting in line for, whether it’s his odd, arty experiments—The Good German, Bubble—or one of these, his crowd-pleasing caper flicks. Subtracting Julia Roberts from the cast will please some, adding Al Pacino will please others, but Ellen Barkin? That’s just weird.
A Mighty Heart (directed by Michael Winterbottom) Telling the story of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan, through the eyes of his wife Mariane (Angelina Jolie) seems like an excuse for pro-US jingoism of the first order, but having shit-disturbing British director Michael Winterbottom (Road to Guantanamo) on board changes everything.
Knocked Up (directed by Judd Apatow) The 40 Year Old Virgin made the director a star of sorts, and now he tries for that rare thing: Hollywood comedic auteur. If the movie’s as funny as the trailer, I give him even odds.
Sicko (directed by Michael Moore) It’s about the American health care system, or lack thereof. No doubt it’ll be entertaining, especially as Moore’s currently being investigated for having taken September 11 volunteers to Cuba for medical treatment.
July
La Vie En Rose (directed by Oliver Dahan) Ah, feel the cool, refreshing breeze generated by a French-language biopic of legendary singer Edith Piaf.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (directed by David Yates) The cast is aging faster than they can put the movies out, but the good news is the movies have been pretty damn fun.
Talk to Me (directed by Kasi Lemmons) This actor/director gave us the amazing Eve’s Bayou some years ago, and here she helms a biopic of a controversial radio DJ in 1960s Washington, DC, with stars Don Cheadle, the massively talented Chiwetel Ejiofor (Kinky Boots) and Martin Sheen.
The Simpsons Movie (directed by David Silverman) It’s weird to think that the movie coming now is actually a play on audience nostalgia, since the greatest show in TV history has pretty much jumped the shark. Maybe the movie version can make us remember the best the series had, and may yet have, to offer.
August
The Bourne Ultimatum (directed by Paul Greengrass) The sequel with the most promise this summer, the third installment of the crackingly good Matt Damon espionage series.
Goya’s Ghost (directed by Milos Forman) The plot synopsis isn’t a far cry from The Girl With The Pearl Earring, as a painter falls in love with his muse, but this one has the director of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus in charge, which is promising. Natalie Portman stars.
Stardust (directed by Matthew Vaughn) The latest in a long tine of interchangeable fantasy films…or is it? This one is adapted from a Neil Gaiman graphic novel, which puts it miles ahead of most of the others. Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer and Sienna Miller co-star.
This article appears in May 17-23, 2007.
