Friday, April 6, 2012

At the Movies – April 2012 – Part 3: This Month’s Best Films

Must See of the Month:

The Five-Year Engagement (Nicholas Stoller) – Romantic Comedy – Apr 27
Summary: Tom Solomon and Violet Barnes are engaged to be married. But when Violet gets a great job opportunity, they put off their wedding for a year, which turns into two then three then four and so on. It is about the changing dynamic in their relationship. Filmmakers: Writer-director-producer Nicholas Stoller and actor-writer-producer Jason Segel (the team behind Forgetting Sarah Marshall and The Muppets) are back, working again with producer Judd Apatow (who produced Forgetting Sarah Marshall and cast Segel in his TV shows Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared and Stoller directed episodes of Undeclared). Segel and Stoller have a good group with them including composer Michael Andrews (Jeff, Who Lives at Home), excellent cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe (Fright Night) and production designer Julie Berghoff (The Kids Are All Right). Cast: This has a fantastic cast with stars Segel and Emily Blunt and supporting players Alison Brie (from two of TV’s best five shows), Rhys Ifans, Chris Pratt, Kevin Hart, Chris Parnell, Mindy Kaling, Mimi Kennedy, Jim Paddock, David Paymer, and Jacki Weaver. Expectations: This is one of my most anticipated films of 2012, as I loved Forgetting Sarah Marshall (it is probably my favorite American romantic comedy of the last decade, and I say American because of Amelie). Segel and Stoller are two for two as a team, and Stoller’s Get Him to the Greek was funny too (which Segel produced and wrote songs for). Plus, the cast is made up of brilliant comedians too (I am a huge fan of Segel, Blunt and Brie). I almost have too high an expectation for this. I love romantic comedies, but we rarely get a good one these days – The Five-Year Engagement will be a great one (okay, I will stop my gushing now). Trailer: Here. Review.

Worth Checking Out:

The Cabin in the Woods (Drew Goddard) – Horror – Apr 13
Summary: Five friends go up to a remote cabin in the woods for vacation, what could go wrong? Filmmakers: Writer Drew Goddard (known for writing episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Alias, and Lost, the film Cloverfield and my favorite story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 comics Wolves at the Gate) makes his directorial debut. The script is by Goddard and Joss Whedon, with Whedon also producing. Goddard is working with a brilliant crew featuring composer David Julyan (The Prestige), cinematographer Peter Deming (Drag Me to Hell) and production designer Martin Whist (Super 8). Cast: It stars a few Whedon alums Fran Kranz, Amy Acker, Tom Lenk, and Chris Hemsworth (who plays Thor in the upcoming Whedon directed The Avengers). Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison, Jesse Williams, Brian White, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins also star. Expectations: First off, AVOID ALL SPOILERS. This is a horror thriller that features big twists and reveals and you do not want to go in being spoiled (you just don’t). All you really need to know is: Whedon and Goddard are both wonderful writers, so the story is going to be interesting. Whedon also has a knack for casting, so the acting is going to be good (even without many big names – plus Amy Acker, while really only known for her TV work with Whedon, is fantastic). And, the principal crew is great, so the film will be well-made. So I say again, AVOID ALL SPOILERS (and really all everything; I have provided the trailer, but don’t watch it; trust me, it is better to go in knowing nothing). Trailer: Here. Review.

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