Picture summer 2009 as a campsite covered with “tent poles”the term used for movies marketed to the watch-and-repeat crowd of young men who flock to action flicks and comedies.
Every weekend for the foreseeable future (OK, until Labor Day), moviegoers will be treated to major releases programmed and counterprogrammed to keep audiences in conditioned air.
“Wolverine” kicked it off this weekend. Friday J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” is poised to rejuvenate a beloved if doddering franchise. The list goes on and includes plenty of deju vu experiences (“Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” May 22; TV-series knockoff “Land of the Lost,” June 5). Independent sorts might want to book a room at the local art houses, which are offering an impressive array of films. And in a departure from summers past, there are more female-focused romantic comedies (“The Proposal,” June 19; “The Ugly Truth,” July 24) and weepies (“My Sister’s Keeper,” June 26; “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” Aug. 14).
“The good times should continue to roll,” said president, Brandon Gray, asked if the record-breaking pace of early ’09 could carry over into summer. “Movies remain one of the most affordable forms of entertainment. That makes them nearly recession-proof.” Lisa Kennedy
A sneak preview of what Hollywood has in store
We won’t go so far as to call this abridged survey of summer fare kernels of wisdom. Hardly. But here’s a look at a few trends of note. Lisa Kennedy
THE BOX OFFICE CONTENDERS
“Star Trek”: J.J. Abrams directs this tale that uncovers the back story of James Tiberius Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew of the starship Enterprise. As vengeful Romulan Nero, Eric Bana wreaks havoc with space-time considerations.
The promise: To boldly go back to the original characters with a kicking new cast, including Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana.
What could go wrong: Well, we’ve seen it. Absolutely everything went right. It’s as if Abrams found a lost episode of the 1960s series and invited us over to enjoy it in his swank home theater. (May 8)
“Terminator Salvation”: Judgment Day has come and gone, and John Connor (played by the ever-serious Christian Bale) is still standing and battling Skynet. Only in 2018, his “us versus them” worldview is shaken by cyborg Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington).
The promise: Ever since replicant Rachel declared her humanity in “Blade Runner,” the notion of a machine with human rights has been an achingly rich one.
What could go wrong: A YouTube video of Bale’s on-location tantrum went viral faster than the H1N1 flu (more than half a million hits and counting). And being a jerk offscreen has often had negative repercussions in the multiplex. (May 21)
“Up”: In this animated yarn, crotchety septuagenarian balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) and Russell, an 8-year-old stowaway, go on the adventure of two lifetimes after Carl’s balloon- tethered house heads well … you guessed it.
The promise: This tale provides a clever gloss on one of the great relationships of all time: grandparent and grandkid, elder and young’un.
What could go wrong: Not much. It’s Pixar, seemingly immune to flopping. (May 29)
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”: The robotic enemies of the title — in the form of good Autobots and evil Decepticons — go at it again. Young lovers Sam (Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela (Megan Fox) as well as the rest of the world are caught in the cataclysmic middle of their battle.
The promise: More of the F/X that made the first outing a mouth-agape ride.
What could go wrong: Success leads to excess. Will the human dimensions of story be dwarfed even more by the visual pyrotechnics? (June 24)
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”: Harry and Dumbledore edge nearer to learning the back story of He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Darkness is overtaking the magic and Muggle worlds. Hormones rage at Hogwarts while evil rages all around.
The promise: Few franchises have balanced fables of good and ill so enchantingly, so thoughtfully.
What could go wrong: Can the wise calibration between love and hate continues? (July 1, in IMAX)
ROCKY MOUNTAIN TIE-INS
“The Cove”: Boulder director Louie Psihoyos’ Sundance-triumphant doc about the clandestine killing of dolphins in Taiji, Japan, is a thriller, a caper and a call to action. That’s quite an achievement for a first feature.
The promise: As harrowing as some of the images are, there’s a spirit of possibility coursing through the work, thanks to central figure Richard O’Barry. The one-time trainer turned activist introduced the world to dolphins with Flipper. He’s been making amends ever since.
What could go wrong: Because it heads into theaters in popcorn season, one could ask, “Who’s going to catch this release?” (July 31)
“The Brothers Bloom”: Rian Johnson’s proud dad still calls Denver his home. So it was quite the night when the writer- director, who lived here as a youngster, and his intimate entourage attended the opening night of the Starz Denver Film Festival.
The promise: Fleet and wry, “Bloom” has a winning cast in Rachel Weisz as a wealthy eccentric and Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo as the bros who might fall for her, fleece her or both.
What could go wrong: The zesty con- artist comedy has moved around the release schedule more than shells in a sidewalk con. Now it finds itself squaring off against the big guys. (May 29)
“Easy Virtue”: Boulder-raised Jessica Biel plays pretty American to Kristen Scott Thomas’ disapproving Englishwoman in Stephan Elliott’s adaptation of the Noel Coward play about a presumed interloper, her new hubby (Ben Barnes) and his mum (Thomas).
The promise: Director and co-writer Elliott has said he was never a fan of the period piece, which means he might deliver one that is arch and revitalized.
What could go wrong: Stuffiness, even skewered by Coward, might prove the opposite of fresh. (June 12)
“Imagine That”: This Eddie Murphy comedy about a workaholic dad who begins getting closer to his young daughter when her imaginary friends give her stock tips got much ink while shooting in Denver.
The promise: Name-that-location glimpses of our fair city, naturally. And call us crazy, but we take comfort in the fact writers Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson penned the goofball pleasures of the “Bill & Ted” romps.
What could go wrong: Murphy is nearly as fallible a presence these days (except as the voice of Donkey in “Shrek”) as his character is an unreliable father. (June 12)
THE DIRECTORS & MUSES
“Angels & Demons”: Three years after “The Da Vinci Code,” Ron Howard and Tom Hanks return to Dan Brown’s historically rich territory in this thriller about a secret organization’s dark designs on the Vatican.
The promise: Based on a less-revered best seller, “Angels & Demons” leaves Howard room to enjoy himself. If he’s having fun, audiences will.
What could go wrong: Well, it won’t be Robert Langdon’s hair. The mullet’s gone in this not-quite sequel (the book was published earlier than “The Da Vinci Code”). (May 15)
“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3”: Tony Scott and his fave Denzel Washington reteam for this revisit of the ’70s action drama about the hijacking of a subway train and the threatened execution of its passengers.
The promise: Good, old-fashioned antagonism in the persons of Washington’s subway dispatcher and John Travolta’s arrogant criminal.
What could go wrong: Just try counting the seconds between cuts in recent Scott films. The director seems to grow ever more impatient with character development. (June 12)
“Public Enemies”: Director Michael Mann and Johnny Depp admit being drawn to John Dillinger’s outlaw charms depicted here. Christian Bale plays nemesis Melvin Purvis, a crime crusader of a different decade and the nascent FBI.
The promise: A director gifted at exploiting the admiring, adversarial relationship of men.
What could go wrong: Trailers bring to mind an “Untouchables” redux. (July 1)
“Brüno”: Larry Charles and Sacha Baron Cohen — the guys to blame or thank for “Borat” — send gay Austrian fashion reporter Brüno on another American road trip.
The promise: More skewering of sacred cows (goats and precious woodland animals) than at a kabob house.
What could go wrong: Wrong is relative. For our ducats, “Borat” was tiresomely crass and its “politically incorrect” genius overrated. How hard is it, really, to make the ignorant look stupid? (July 10)
“Julie & Julia”: With powerhouse Meryl Streep in the role of the towering Julia Child, Nora Ephron mixes and matches two books: Child’s recent autobiography and Julie Powell’s memoir of tackling the 524 recipes in Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”
The promise: At a play a few years back, Ephron told Streep she was at work on a Julia Child movie. To which, Streep imitated the great chef. According to this anecdote (told to Entertainment Weekly), Streep had her at “bon appetit.” We’re likely to succumb just as well.
What could go wrong: Since Streep and Amy Adams don’t occupy the same space or time, will we miss Child and ’50s Paris when we’re in present-day New York with Powell? (Aug. 7)
“Funny People”: Judd Apatow — the real one, not all the pretenders — directs his go-to guy Seth Rogen and Adam Sandler in this dramedy about cancer and comedy.
The promise: Call us crazy people, but we like Sandler when he gets serious. Here he plays a successful stand-up comic facing a terminal diagnosis.
What can go wrong: Are we the only ones growing weary of Rogen? (July 31)
CINEMA TITANS IN A POPCORN WORLD
“Whatever Works”:Woody Allen kisses American soil in his first film set stateside in four years. Larry David is Boris, a cranky former physics professor. Rachel Evan Wood is Melody, the young Southern runaway to New York City who falls for Boris and marries him. That’s just for starters.
The promise: The arrival of Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr. as Melody’s none-too-pleased parents introduces just the sort of zing Allen loves playing with.
What could go wrong: Allen’s time shooting abroad rejuvenated his work. Will it carry over to his old stomping grounds? (July 10)
“Taking Woodstock”:Oscar winner Ang Lee goes lighter with the story of Elliot Tiber (Comedy Central’s Demetri Martin), the young man who offered his folks’ Catskills motel to a bunch of hippies to hold a modest festival called Woodstock.
The promise: America through the lens of Lee is always something to behold and reconsider. Think “The Ice Storm” and “Brokeback Mountain.” Lee works well with actors. And he has slew of interesting ones in Eugene Levy, Imelda Staunton, Emile Hirsch and Liev Schreiber.
What could go wrong: The overlong lovefest with the ’60s already feels played out. (Aug. 14)
“Inglourious Basterds”:Brad Pitt is leader of unit of Jewish soldiers tasked with killing Nazis during WWII. In a screenplay excerpt in Vanity Fair, a French farmer is cannily questioned by a Nazi about the whereabouts of his Jewish neighbors. It is utterly unnerving, as it should be. It is also a deft invitation to blood-lust vengeance.
The promise: Tarantino knows his way around the perverse power of the movies better than any other filmmaker. If anyone can mix Sam Peckinpah-style bloodletting with the horrors of WWII, he can.
What could go wrong: A revenge fantasy about the Holocaust using the language of exploitation flicks treads dangerous, hallowed turf. (Aug. 21)
More where that came from: a summer cheat sheet*
May 8: “Star Trek,” “Lymelife” “Goodbye Solo,” “Next Day Air,” “Fados”
May 15: “Angels & Demons,” “Rudo y Cursi,” “Lemon Tree,” “The Limits of Control,” “Management,” “A Wink and a Smile: The Art of Burlesque”
May 21: “Terminator Salvation”May 22: “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” “Dance Flick,” “The Girlfriend Experience,” “The Brothers Bloom,” “O’Horten,” “Rumba”
May 29: “Up,” “Tyson,” “Drag Me to Hell,” “Three Monkeys”
June 5: “My Life in Ruins” “Land of the Lost” “Every Little Step” “Enlighten Up!” “Adoration,” “The Hangover,” “Summer Hours”
June 12: “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” “Away We Go,” “Imagine That,” “Easy Virtue,” “Departures”
June 19: “The Proposal” “Fireflies in the Garden,” “Year One,” “Little Ashes,” “Anvil! The Story of Anvil,” “Unmistaken Child,” “Food, Inc.”
June 26: “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “My Sister’s Keeper,” “Cheri,” “Sita Sings the Blues,” “Revanche,” “The Stoning of Soraya M”
July 1: “Public Enemies,” “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs”
July 3: “Il Divo,” “Moon”
July 10: “Bruno,” “Whatever Works,” “I Love You Beth Cooper”
July 15: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
July 17: “500 Days of Summer” “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane,” “Surveillance,” “The Girl From Monaco”
July 21: “Funny People,” “They Came From Upstairs”
July 24: “The Ugly Truth,” “G-Force,” “The Hurt Locker,” “$9.99,” “Orphan”
July 29: “Adam”
July 31: “The Cove”
Aug. 7: “Julie & Julia,” “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” “Shorts,” “Soul Power”
Aug. 14: “Taking Woodstock,” “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” “Ponyo,” “Spread,” “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard,” “District 9,” “A Perfect Getaway,” “Final Destination: Death Trip 3D”
Aug. 21: “Inglourious Basterds,” “Post Grad”
Aug. 28: “The Boat That Rocked,” “Mardi Gras,” “H2 (Halloween 2)”
Sept 4: “Shanghai,” “Extract”
*Bright light and magnifier required; dates subject to change.
