The Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals are behind us. Though here in New York we were still wearing coats after Easter, I am hoping this is now also a thing of the past and that May arrives with spring weather, fully loaded with flowers, and the start of the summer movie season. This May brings us an eclectic mix of films with a few award caliber entries (The Immigrant, Belle and Ida), the beginning of the summer blockbuster season (The Amazing Spiderman 2, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Godzilla), and a few comedies to smooth out the edges (Walk of Shame and Neighbors).
So, whether you choose to check out that indie you heard so much about or the latest big studio release, don’t forget to click on the movie title below to view the trailer. We want to make sure you know what you are getting into before you head to the theater.
– Myrna E. Duarte
May 9
Chef
When Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman), he is left to figure out what’s next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara), his friend (John Leguizamo) and his son (Emjay Anthony) to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen — and zest for life and love. Chef is written and directed by Jon Favreau (Elf, Iron Man).
Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return (3D)
Directed by Will Finn and Dan St. Pierre and written by Adam Balsam and Barry Glasser, Legends of Oz: Dorthy’s Return features the voice talents of “Glee” star Lea Michele as Dorothy, Patrick Stewart, Martin Short, Oliver Platt, Dan Akyroyd, Kelsey Grammer, Hugh Dancy, James Belushi, and more. The film has been hyped for a couple years now but I just feel it looks like sale bin material.
Moms’ Night Out
All Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and fun – a long-needed moms’ night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation, and food not served in a bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for a few hours … what could go wrong? You might find yourself watching this movie?
Neighbors
The release of Neighbors, the latest comedy from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and The Muppets director Nicholas Stoller looks like the perfect summer comedy as Seth Rogen goes head-to-head with Zac Efron and a whole fraternity of douchebags including Dave Franco and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. In the film a young couple (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) suffering from arrested development are forced to live next to a rowdy and obnoxious fraternity house after the birth of their newborn baby. Zac Efron, Dave Franco and Christopher Mintz-Plasse all play the rowdy and obnoxious frat boys.
The Double (Limited)
The latest sci-fi mind bending feature The Double is based on Fydor Dostoyevsky The Double: A Petersburg Poem, stars Jesse Eisenberg – twice! Eisenberg plays both James and Simon, the latter of which goes crazy when his exact copy/doppelganger suddenly shows up. The cast includes Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine, Noah Taylor and appearances by Craig Roberts & Yasmin Paige of Ayoade’s Submarine. The Double is directed by Richard Ayoade who co-wrote the script with Avi Korine (brother of Spring Breakers director Harmony Korine).
Fed Up (Limited)
This is the movie the food industry doesn’t want you to see. Stephanie Soechtig’s new documentary Fed Up blows the lid off everything we thought we knew about food and weight loss, revealing a 30-year campaign by the food industry, aided by the U.S. government, to mislead and confuse the American public, resulting in one of the largest health epidemics in history. From Katie Couric, Laurie David ( An Inconvenient Truth) and director Stephanie Soechtig, Fed Up will change the way you eat forever.
Palo Alto (Limited)
Gia Coppola, granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola, writes/directs Palo Alto, based on a collection of short stories by James Franco, who also stars in the film. Welcome to the bizarro John Hughes world; this is a suburban-teen comedy gone all wrong. The kids know everything about sex, substances and suicide, but can’t begin to figure out how or what they feel. Emma Roberts leads an unforgettable cast that includes Franco, 17-year-old Jack Kilmer (his father Val plays a supporting role) and Colleen Camp.
Stage Fright (Limited)
Four words – Meat Loaf Horror Musical.
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