We get it – popcorn is comfort food.
So don’t fret if you’re looking forward to spending time – quality or otherwise – with a tub of ‘corn and old friends like Shrek and Fiona, Harry and Hermione, Peter
Parker, John McClane and Jack Sparrow. But if you take in a movie, perchance to dream of new characters or different story lines, here are some summer offerings that have no other movies
to blame but themselves. Yes, that’s a good thing. And yes, you can still order popcorn.
“Lucky You”: Hollywood’s understated artisan director Curtis Hanson (“In Her Shoes,” “L.A. Confidential”) was born in Reno, Nev., but sets his latest in Las Vegas. Huck (Eric Bana) is a cardsharp sweet on Drew Barrymore’s nightclub singer. Robert Duvall, playing Huck’s father, shows up in time to make it hard for his estranged son to keep a poker face – during the 2003 World Poker Championship. Friday
“Georgia Rule”: Loved Jane Fonda. Loved Felicity Huffman. Can’t sort out our feelings for Lindsay Lohan, though her performances in last year’s “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Bobby” hint at renewed fondness. The three generations of actors with different styles – and such different fan bases – play three generations under one Idaho roof in this comedy from Garry Marshall. May 11
“Away From Her”: This adaptation of an Alice Munro short story about a couple facing the slow fade to black of Alzheimer’s marks Canadian actor Sarah Polley’s directorial debut. And what a fine foray, one that proves Polley (“The Sweet Hereafter”) to be deft at creating space for other performers to wow. Julie Christie’s beautiful turn is matched with impressive ache by Gordon Pinsent. Olympia Dukakis brings the snap she’s known for, but also an earthy grace. May 11
“Knocked Up”: Universal has high hopes for this comedic lowdown on the dangers of unprotected sex. Ben and Alison’s one-night stand turns into nine months of getting used to the idea of a lifelong commitment. On paper a cautionary tale may not sound like summer’s sleeper hit. So why the prenatal excitement? Because it’s writer-director Judd Apatow’s follow-up to “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” June 1
“Once”: This winning, naturalistic musical – in which a Czech immigrant (Markéta Irglová) befriends an Irish busker (Glen Hansard of the band the Flames) on the streets of Dublin – was one of best things about this year’s Sundance Film Festival. With its idiosyncratic love story, John Carney’s romance had many feeling like they’d made a true discovery. Now it’s your turn for some stirring revelations. June 1
“Ratatouille”: Remy the rat has his sights set much higher than the New York City KFC teeming with his brethren. His goal is a a five-star Parisian restaurant. The folks behind “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo” and “Monsters, Inc.” have their sights set higher than the sequels other studios bank on. Brad Bird (“The Incredibles”) directs. June 29
“Mr. Brooks”: With Kevin Costner, William Hurt and Demi Moore, this dark drama has the kind of cast that beckons before usually going bust. But Costner’s been on a roll: “Open Range,” “The Upside of Anger,” even “The Guardian.” Now he’s an upstanding citizen and and a killer, egged on with skill by Hurt’s manipulator. Moore is the detective enmeshed with the titular Earl Brooks. June 1
“A Mighty Heart”: Michael Winterbottom has made two fine but quite different films addressing post-9/11 realities: “In This World,” and “The Road to Guantanamo.” Now he takes on Mariane Pearl’s memoir about the life and death of husband Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman), the Wall Street Journal reporter killed in January 2002. Star Angelina Jolie has yet to return to the heights of her early performances. Here’s her chance at onscreen redemption. June 22
“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”: Adam Sandler and Kevin James star in this comedy about two single New York firefighters who tie the knot to get domestic partnership benefits. But it’s the names of writers Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (“Sideways”) that suggest this comedy can be better and smarter than an oh-so-obvious stunt about male sexual anxiety. July 20
“Evening”: Susan Minot’s best-selling novel wasn’t your typical beach read. So why should the tale of a dying woman sharing with her grown daughters the story of the love of her life be typical multiplex fare? With the toniest cast of the summer – Vanessa Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Toni Collette and Patrick Wilson – it promises to be anything but. June 29
“Resurrecting the Champ”: John Elway stars. OK, we’re kidding. But our smiling Hall o’ Famer makes an appearance in director Rod Lurie’s movie about a Denver newspaper reporter (Josh Hartnett) who lands a tale too good to be true. Samuel L. Jackson lands a stunning hook of a performance as Champ, the homeless man with the knockout history. Aug. 13
“Talk to Me”: “I’ll tell it to the hot, I’ll tell it to the cold, I’ll tell it to the young, I’ll tell it to the old, I don’t want no laughin’, I don’t want no cryin’, and most of all, no signifyin’.” That’s how Washington, D.C., radio personality Ralph “Petey” Green used to end his show in the late ’60s and ’70s. Don Cheadle dons the ‘fro and the attitude to bring the ex-con turned social justice activist to the screen. Chiwetel Ejiofor brings heft to the mix as his producer, Dewey Hughes. Kasi Lemmons, who had one of the great debuts with “Eve’s Bayou,” directs. July 13
“Stardust”: This fairy tale follows a smitten English lad (Charlie Cox) as he crosses a cosmic threshold to bring his beloved proof of his affection. The fallen star he chases turns out to be a young woman (Claire Danes) who’s sought out by pirates, witches and more. Michelle Pfeiffer, Peter O’Toole, Robert De Niro, Rupert Everett round out this fantasy’s fantasy cast. June 29
“Arctic Tale”: If the animated “Surf’s Up” (June 8) offers further evidence of the unstoppable march of penguins, this nature documentary is the true heir to those emperors of Antarctica. Seela and Nanu star as the walrus and polar bear we follow from birth to parenthood. With a soundtrack featuring Ben Harper, Aimee Mann and the Shins, it may not inspire happy feet. But then, the foundation on which Nanu and Seela live is melting. Aug. 13
Film critic Lisa Kennedy can be reached at 303-954-1567 or lkennedy@denverpost.com.
