Happily married Mary (Ryan) finds her world shaken when she discovers that her husband is cheating on her with shopgirl Crystal (Mendes) -- and she was pretty much the last to know. Crying, divorce, recriminations, and revenge follow. Based on the star-studded 1939 classic starring Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell and updated to the present day.
Buzz:
Like the original, no men were harmed -- er, employed! -- in front of the camera for this film. Hard core fans will want to know how the movie has been updated: Mary is now a clothing designer, frenemy Sylvia (Annette Bening -- perfect casting!) is a magazine editor, and Crystal is... still a perfume salesgirl. Writer-director Diane English (of "Murphy Brown" fame) has been working on this script for over ten years, and Ryan's availability finally got it made, albeit on an indie-shoestring budget (which is why you saw Ryan at the recent Independent Spirit Awards). The original, after almost 70 years, is still juicy as ever, and we'd call this superfluous if it weren't for English's much-ballyhooed script, which many thought would never get made. And now that Sex and the City made the movies and fun place for the Carrie Bradshaws and Stanford Blatches of the world, look for that crowd to swoon over the first trailer, which funny in a great sitcom way. PS - We know what you're dying to ask: How does Ryan look, given the unfortunate photos that have surfaced in the tabloids of late? Take a look for yourself -- you'll be pleasantly surprised.
A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to benefit from the discovery.
Buzz:
The Coens want to make you laugh again, less than a year after bringing Anton Chigurh to life and saddling away with 4 Oscars for their efforts. While I don't think BAR will reach the same level of pop culture-saturation as NCfOM, I guess there's something to be said for a movie in which most everyone in the theater will understand the ending? Sigh ... More on this one after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival at the end of August ...
Faced with a series of secrets and scandals that are threatening to tear their respective families apart, old friends Charlotte Cartwright (Bates) and Alice Pratt (Woodard) embark on a cross-country road trip in hopes of finding a way to end the drama and rebuild their familial connections.
Buzz:
Wait, there's no Madea aboard this trip? Hmm, well, Tyler Perry better hope for a Why Did I Get Married?-sized hit, and not another Daddy's Little Girls experience with his sixth theatrical release, which has yet to generate much buzz on the summer-movie circuit. (I think it's the quiet before the storm over at Lionsgate, however, as the studio ramps up to release 11 films between August and December -- a schedule that include guaranteed hits such as Saw IV and Transporter 3, awards-bait in the form of W. and Religulous, and clunkers such as My Best Friend's Girl and Punisher: War Zone.) My suggestion for marketing Preys: Promote it like a Bucket List for women, and make sure press outlets act dumbfounded if another Perry film debuts at #1. (P.S. The playwright plays a construction worker this time around, which really makes us giggle.)Update: Now that the first trailer has been unleashed, it's safe to say that Perry's flair for the melodramatic is sporting all sorts of new colors and styles -- but maybe this would have made a better mini-series?
An Arab-American teenager is sent to live with her strict father and struggles to find love and acceptance in a her new surroundings.
Buzz:
The creative mind behind American Beauty and Six Feet Underwasn't likely to avoid controversy for his feature directorial debut with a title like that. So, it's no surprise that controversy, like a creepy, nosy neighbor, quickly came-a-knocking. First up was Fox News, who dubbed it the "feel-awful film of the year". No need to dignify their claim here, but the novel is touted for exploring themes of racism, misogyny and pedophilia. Not exactly perky, feel-good, date-movie topics. And, what to make of the report that people supposedly walked out during advance screenings? Hmmm, sometimes that only makes us want to see a movie more.
Two veteran New York City detectives (De Niro and Pacino) work to identify the possible connection between a recent murder and a case they believe they solved years ago; is there a serial killer on the loose, and did they perhaps put the wrong person behind bars?
Buzz:
I've watched the trailer a few times, and I have to say that I wish RK's premise excited me as much as the long-awaited pairing of these two acting legends. That said, I have to keep in mind that the script was written by Russell Gewirtz, the pen behind Spike Lee's excellent Inside Man, so I imagine there are more twists in store than the one I already know. (And it's a good one, even if you have seen it before.)
A WWII-set story as seen through the eyes of Bruno (Butterfield), whose Nazi-Officer father (Thewlis) has just been made the commandant of a concentration camp outside Berlin. Bruno's eventual friendship with Shmuel, a boy his age who is detained at the camp, will usher in a troublesome reality for Bruno, and lead to a fateful attempt to alter Shmuel's situation.
Buzz:
Typically cheery British director Mark Herman (Little Voice) looks back to the dark days of WWII in his adaptation of John Boyne's acclaimed, super-depressing novel. Prepare to be horrified by David Thewlis and Rupert Friend in what could be the saddest film released this year. Awards bait? Certainly. What are its chances? We'll have to see what sort of push Miramax gives it -- they've also got Mike Leigh's buzzing Happy-Go-Lucky on their plate this season ...
A documentary that addresses how dwindling resources, pollution, privatization and other factors are affecting the world water supply.
Buzz:
Irena Salina's documentary has finished up the film-festival circuit (it won a Best Doc award at Vail and was shortlisted for Sundance'S Grand Jury Prize), where it received what industry types call "kind notices" for showing us things we already know (that bottled water you're drinking at your desk probably came from a dirty tap) and things we can only imagine (corporations are buying up the global water supply, drought is just one of many foreboding environmental factors, and eventhe Ganges is being siphoned). More than one reviewer has suggested the film could use more rhythm, but that hasn't prevented a raft of foreign sales as well as a likely future home on DVD and (perhaps) in classrooms and lecture halls.
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The Princess Bride (DVD) Review
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, The Princess Bride should've been awarded the designation of best comedy of the year. Having built a large cult following since its 1987 release, The Princess Bride continues to entertain whole new generations of fans. Its enduring tale and timeless humor are certain to cement its place among the hallowed halls of the movie classic elites. The Princess Bride is one of the few movies that every person absolutely should see - if you miss it, then you'll miss out on an entire world of fun?
When a kindly old grandfather (Peter Falk) reads a story to his grandson (Fred Savage), his grandson is in for the story of a lifetime? The Princess Bride follows the story of the beautiful maiden, Buttercup (Robin Wright), who falls in love with a poor stable boy named Westley (Cary Elwes). But the two are torn apart when Westley is captured by a band of pirates, and Buttercup is kidnapped by the evil Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) who intends to make her his wife.
But when the Dread Pirate Roberts (who just might be Westley) arrives on the scene, he's intent on rescuing Buttercup from the clutches of the evil prince. To do so, he must overcome a series of obstacles, and he must take on the skills and strength of a master swordsman, Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), and a massive giant, Fezzik (Andre the Giant). When the two men find out that the Dread Pirate Roberts is more than a match for their combined skills, they join him in his noble effort to rescue the princess bride, Buttercup. But Prince Humperdinck and his evil henchman (including a six-fingered man who may have killed Inigo Montoya's father) stand in their way?
The Princess Bride plays host to a number of hilarious scenes, but among the best is a sword fight which takes place between Westley and Inigo Montoya atop a large cliff. The two men trash talk to each other in rested voices while a well-choreographed fencing match takes place. It simply needs to be seen in order to enjoy the level of hilarity. In addition, the late Andre the Giant shows off his abilities as a likeable and loveable big guy with a big heart. All the various characters and their conflicts are drawn together with an original score featuring organ music that highlights the climax of each struggle. It fits nicely with the overall fantasy theme and makes The Princess Bride a better film from every perspective?
Non-stop fun and laughter from beginning to end, The Princess Bride is one of the most memorable movies you'll ever see. It's easy to become involved in the plight of the lead characters, and the exotic Middle-Age fairy tale locale makes for an always interesting setting. The Princess Bride is the perfect family movie for parents to enjoy along with their children. It's one of those rare films that's more than able to walk the thin line between adult and child humor. Because of its brilliant screenplay and unrivaled comic value, The Princess Bride is a definite must-see film?
Britt Gillette is author of <a href="http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com">The DVD Report</a>, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of <a href="http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/princess-bride-dvd.html">The Princess Bride (DVD)</a>. Read more at:http://www.ArticlePros.com/arts_and_entertainment/movie_reviews/article-20254.html.
