Summer Preview, Vol. 3

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 15)

Besides being a fan of the book series, I think the film adaptations of Harry Potter are turning out to be well-done. David Yates (who directed the fifth and previous installment) doesn’t shy away from the dark material that begins to emerge in the later books, which almost fully removes Harry Potter from the realm of childrens' literature (and now films).

(500) Days of Summer (July 17)

This film is about a young man, Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who falls in loved with a girl named Summer (Zooey Deschanel). Unluckily for Tom, Summer believes true love doesn’t exist. This looks to be a good quirky indie, and Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel are two of my favorite actors.

Funny People (July 31)

After a series of successful comedies, writer/director Judd Apatow brings us this more serious (but hopefully not too serious) film about George Simmons, played by Adam Sandler, a famous standup comedian who discovers he has a deadly blood disorder and only about a year left to live. In an effort to live a more fulfilling life, George becomes the friend and mentor of novice comic Ira, played by Seth Rogen. It will be interesting if Apatow can branch out a little bit, which will hopefully bolster his over-used cast (minus Sandler, of course).

Inglorious Basterds (August 21)

Once upon a time in Nazi-occupied France, a group of Jewish-American soldiers know as “The Basterds” are assigned to brutally hunt down members of the Third Reich to inspire fear in Hitler’s Germany. Meanwhile, a girl whose family was murdered by Nazis learns German officials wish to screen a propaganda film at the theatre where she works, giving her and the Basterds the perfect opportunity for revenge. After being disappointed with Quentin Tarantino’s last film, Deathproof, I’m looking forward to this film. Nazis. Tarantino. Brad Pitt. Sounds good, doesn’t it?