After providing an outlook for the summer movie season, it’s time to hone in on the month of May. While the month’s biggest cinema-related event will be the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival – which we’ll be covering in a few weeks – it also marks the beginning of the summer movie season. Mostly featuring sequels, we’ve also got a particularly lavish adaptation and one film that will be hard to top for the next seven months. Check out the rundown below and let us know what you are looking forward to most in the commen
Matinees: Post Tenebras Lux (5/1), Love is All You Need (5/3), What Maisie Knew (5/3), Pieta (5/17), Populaire (5/17), We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks (5/24), Fast & Furious 6 (5/24), The Hangover Part III (5/24), Now You See Me (5/31), Shadow Dancer (5/31)
10. The East (Zal Batmanglij; May 31st)
Synopsis: An operative for an elite private intelligence firm finds her priorities irrevocably changed after she is tasked with infiltrating an anarchist group known for executing covert attacks upon major corporations.
Why You Should See It: While Zal Batmanglij‘s sophomore effort is not as involving as his stunning debut, Sound of My Voice, it’s still a well-crafted thriller. Produced by Ridley Scott, The East even has studio sensibilities with its ratcheting up of tension and scope until the final moments. With a cast including Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page, Julia Ormond and Patricia Clarkson, it’s more than worth your time. Check out our Sundance review.
9. The Kings of Summer (Jordan Vogt-Roberts; May 31st)
Synopsis: Three teenage friends, in the ultimate act of independence, decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land.
Why You Should See It: Clearly influenced by Steven Spielberg‘s early works, with a touch of Wes Anderson, The Kings of Summer has an Amblin-esque approach that’s much appreciated. The film is an examination of the seemingly-eternal feeling of freedom a teenager can possess and what happens when one must face the truths of life. While it could use some tightening, it is a convincing declaration that Jordan Vogt-Roberts has a style like few other directors in this genre, and one can only hope he can bring new life to Hollywood’s conventional comedic landscape. Read our Sundance Film Festival review.
8. Iron Man 3 (Shane Black; May 3rd)
Synopsis: When Tony Stark’s world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Why You Should See It: If you were set on seeing Marvel’s latest blockbuster, there’s just about nothing I can say here that would change your mind — and according to our review, there is no reason to convince you otherwise. We’ve been waiting for Shane Black to follow up Kiss Kiss Bang Bang for a great deal of time and we’ll get it anyway we can take it, even if it means Robert Downey Jr. suiting up once again.
7. Sightseers (Ben Wheatley; May 10th)
Synopsis: Chris wants to show girlfriend Tina his world, but events soon conspire against the couple and their dream caravan holiday takes a very wrong turn.
Why You Should See It: Following his twisted Kill List, Ben Wheatley segues into comedic terrotory for his latest film — but his fans have no need to worry, as there’s still an unsettling darkness bubbling beneath the surface of this road trip. With a crescendo of violence, Sightseers is a hilarious and surprisingly emotional adventure that’s unlike anything you’ll see this year. Check out our Cannes review.
6. Star Trek Into Darkness (J.J. Abrams; May 17th)
Synopsis: After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.
Why You Should See It: Before he jumps aboard the Millennium Falcon, J.J. Abrams will be commandeering the Enterprise one more time with this highly-anticipated sequel. We’re eager to see how Benedict Cumberbatch fares as our villain, and while early buzz has been mixed, it’s nice to have Captain Kirk and his crew back.
5. The Great Gatsby (Baz Luhrmann; May 10th)
Synopsis: A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor.
Why You Should See It: When it comes to Baz Luhrmann‘s latest spectacle, it’s clear that it won’t be a strict adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s acclaimed novel, but that notion is far down on our list of potential fears. Our director seems to have injected his lavish style into every facet of this work, creating something we are greatly looking forward to taking part in. From its lead stars to the costumes to the sets to even the soundtrack, we’re awaiting an experience that summer films rarely provide.
4. Stories We Tell (Sarah Polley; May 17th)
Synopsis: A film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers.
Why You Should See It: Not unlike the film at the top of our list this month, here’s a feature that you’ll want to go in not knowing a single thing about. One may recognize Sarah Polley from her roles in Go or Splice, or as the writer/director of past features Away From Her and Take This Waltz; now with her latest work, she masterfully and intimately dives into the themes of family and memory, constantly shifting one’s perception of the truth. Read our review here.
3. Something in the Air (Olivier Assayas; May 3rd)
Synopsis: In the months after the heady weeks of May ’68, a group of young Europeans search for a way to continue the revolution believed to be just beginning.
Why You Should See It: Returning after his epic Carlos, Olivier Assayas heads back a few more decades to Europe in this coming-of-age story. With his gliding camera and heartfelt touch, the director nails not only the time period, but one’s youthful obsessions and how we often must let them go to enter the real world.
2. Frances Ha (Noah Baumbach; May 17th)
Synopsis: A story that follows a New York woman (who doesn’t really have an apartment), apprentices for a dance company (though she’s not really a dancer), and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality dwindles.
Why You Should See It: Premiering on last year’s fall festival circuit (read our TIFF review), there seemed to be nothing but effusive praise for the latest work by Noah Baumbach. While his Ben Stiller-led Greenberg left audiences divided, Frances Ha seems to be a story of love and life that anyone can connect with. Led by Greta Gerwig, this one is shaping up to be one of the year’s must-watch features.
1. Before Midnight (Richard Linklater; May 24th)
Synopsis: Go in having seen Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. That’s all you need to know.
Why You Should See It: While there is certainly a wealth of highly-anticipated films arriving this fall, they have the tough predicament of going toe-to-toe with Richard Linklater‘s masterpiece Before Midnight. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival (one can read our review here), the return of Jesse and Celine is about as perfect as one could imagine, cementing the trilogy as one of cinema’s best.
What are you watching this month?