“The Meg” (August 10)
There’s a monster living deep in the ocean. And only Jason Statham can save us from “The Meg.” Like “Jaws” on steroids, “The Meg” arrives in theaters this summer to terrify audiences and cancel their summer plans for the beach. Directed by Jon Turteltaub of “Last Vegas” and “National Treasure” fame, we have a good feeling this movie will be a mess. But a fun mess for sure. Jason Statham plays Jonas Taylor. A man hired to rescue a team of researchers at the bottom of the ocean, trapped by the presence of a megalodon. Once this mission is accomplished all hell breaks loose (naturally). If you’re thinking about writing this film off for your summer fare, we beg you to reconsider. This is Jason Statham versus a super shark. Just think of what could happen. The trailer previews a lot of underwater tomfoolery, including a cameo by a giant squid that, you guessed it, “gets megged.” It’s escapist cinema at its dumbest and most fun. So don’t write it off just yet. The film also stars “The Office” alum, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Masi Oka, Robert Taylor, and Jessica McNamee. “The Meg” chomps its way to theaters August 10th. – JT
“Juliet, Naked” (August 17)
Nick Hornby adaptations garner mixed results. Since the late ‘90s, the acclaimed author’s pen has inspired films both lovely (“About A Boy”) and legitimately great (“High Fidelity”), as well as middling (“A Long Way Down”) and charmingly forgettable (2005’s “Fever Pitch.”) It’s hard to say where “Juliet, Naked” will land, but we’re hoping it’s more the former more than the latter. Produced by Judd Apatow, directed by Jesse Peretz and well-stacked with a dependable cast, which includes Rose Byrne, Chris O’Dowd, Ethan Hawke and “Silicon Valley” standout Jimmy O. Yang, to name only a few, this musical dramedy based on Hornby’s novel has earned comparisons to “High Fidelity,” which gets us excited. It centers around the former girlfriend of a music fanatic who finds herself developing an unexpected bond with the subject of her former lover’s obsession. Like the other Hornby adaptations, that could be the recipe for something marvelous or something not-quite-spectacular, and unfortunately, the reviews out of Sundance are seemingly split right down the middle. Our mileage might vary for this road trip, but we’re willing to give it a shot (read our review). – WA
“The Little Stranger” (August 31)
No matter how much you’ve enjoyed his films in the past, between “What Richard Did,” “Frank” and “Room,” director Lenny Abrahamson has refused to bury himself in any sort of filmmaking niche. Instead, he’s continually played with genre and tone, a trait further amplified by his latest venture “The Little Stranger.” Seemingly playing with a number of ghost story motifs and themes and featuring a stellar cast that including Domnhall Gleeson (ready to shake off that “Peter Rabbit” funk), Ruth Wilson and Charlotte Rampling, Abrahamson aims to hit us with horror and mystery this time around. – AJ
“Mandy” (TBD)
Nicolas Cage might not be consistent, but he is absolutely dedicated. The Academy Award winner will, in the right circumstances, give you everything he got, and if you channel that maniac energy effectively, you’re guaranteed one hell of a movie. By many accounts, “Mandy” is one of those films. Directed by Panos Cosmatos, the filmmaker behind the trippy “Beyond the Black Rainbow,” Cage’s latest film finds the actor playing Red Miller, a man broken and driven to anger and revenge when an unhinged religious sect destroys his life. Promotional photos find Nicolas Cage drenched in blood, and early reports say the legendary actor engages in a chainsaw fight throughout the proceedings. That’d simply be enough to wet our appetites, but reviews out of Sundance claim it’s a genuinely riveting, profound and moving mind-fuck of a movie that features one of Cage’s strongest performances in recent memory — maybe even ever. If that doesn’t get you excited, it’s hard to know what will. The thespian actor is reportedly retiring in three or four years, so it’s possible “Mandy” will serve as one of his final on-screen performances — perhaps one of his last great ones too. If that’s the case, we’re looking forward to seeing him go out with a bang. It’s also worth noting that “Mandy” features one of the final scores from the tragically late composer Johann Johannsson, who passed away shortly after this movie made its official film festival premiere. So, for quite a few reasons, “Mandy” will be both an intoxicating and bittersweet experience. We can’t wait. (read our review). – WA
