The Film Board Gathers! This month, we christen Jurassic World, the latest from Colin Trevorrow. Did Chris Pratt maintain his status as up-and-coming action hero of the decade? Did Bryce Dallas Howard embody 1980’s sexism in the movies? Was Vincent D’Onofrio SO much better in Daredevil?
Film Board Assemble! This month the thugs gather to take on Joss Whedon’s next entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” How does the comic adaptation stand up to the original books? Does Joss manage to pull off an even more character-dense film and keep it making some sort of sense? Why does Ultron smile and blink?
Child 44 was supposed to be Oscar bait. Instead, its star-heavy cast is dragging it through opening weekend with a 27% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a deflated box office take. But why?
This is not the movie you think it is. At least, that’s the take of our round table of thugs on the Film Board this week as we spoil “Kingsman: The Secret Service.” Thankfully, even as we were collectively surprised, we were equally blown away by Matthew Vaughn’s contribution to the spy game.
Chris Hemsworth gives his all in Michael Mann’s study of hacking new this week: “Blackhat.” If most computer films have historically failed the computer stuff, the consensus thus far is that Blackhat has delivered where others have so desperately lacked. But how does it hold up beyond the tech?
Peter Jackson is back with another turn at the wheel of Middle Earth. This time, Bilbo and buddies are off to slay the dragon, fight ye olde Gold Flu, and get all gussied up to ready themselves for the Lord of the Rings, which already happened.
Katnis and crew are back in part one of their journey against the Capitol. Things are grim, as evidenced by the jumpsuits and rubble, and the crying that happens whenever our heroes see jumpsuits and/or rubble in the frame.
The film board gathers to fully spoil Brad Pitt’s and David Ayers’ latest World War II Tank-a-palooza, “Fury.” First spoiler: it’s a war film, more intimate than epic, but it comes with all the violence that such a film typically entails.
This, good people, is a summer tentpole we can get excited about. Director James Gunn has delivered a funny and frolicking space opera in “Guardians of the Galaxy” with a terrific cast, immersive effects, and a script that is, as we’re apt to say, way smarter than it needed to be.
Waitwaitwait… what?? A summer tentpole that causes us to ask big questions and congratulate smart filmmaking decisions? WHAT? Such is our review of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, people, and we’re as shocked as you are.