There are only parting shots left for the summer blockbuster season. Sadly, Colombiana and Zoe Saldana’s role look like the only fun that’ll be had in theaters in the next couple weeks. There might be a little hope in Paul Rudd’s new dramedy, but otherwise it’s a pretty stale selection.
Friday, August 26
Colombiana
When Zoe Saldana isn’t playing a cat in Avatar, she’s playing a young woman who was raised as a killer. The movie comes from the same mind as The Professional and it shows. Saldana might be the next big female action star. Michael Vartan co-stars with what looks like the same role he played in TV’s Alias. In other words, he’s chasing the action and looking doe-eyed.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes star in this movie about what it’s like to have spouses that are more famous than you are. Just kidding. This is a Guillermo del Toro-penned script that follows a young girl who has been sent to live with her dad and his new girlfriend. Everything goes a little wonky when the girl discovers creatures who want to take her to live with them … likely in the dark.
Our Idiot Brother
Paul Rudd is finally finding his groove. This time he’ll play the titular idiot brother. His sisters are played by Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, and Emily Mortimer. After being arrested for selling marijuana to a uniformed police officer, Ned (Rudd) is paroled and has to move back in with his mother. It’s a little light on the comedy, but that should be expected from some of the people who worked on Little Miss Sunshine.
August 31
The Debt
The movie starts in 1997, where three Mosad secret agents are oft-celebrated for the duties that they performed 30 years prior. The only problem is that there’s a secret that has been kept by the trio that may take away that credit. It’s an espionage thriller so expect lots of twists and turns as the story of present day intertwines with the past to unravel the secret that they’ve kept quiet for so long. Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, and Sam Worthington star.
September 2
Saving Grace B. Jones
This one has been making the festival circuit runs. It was made in 2009, so it’s somewhat strange that after so many years that it’s just now getting a larger theatrical release. The movie takes place in the 1950s and follows Grace B. Jones (played by Tatum O’Neal) as she leaves an insane asylum and goes to live with her family.
