THREE JULY MOVIES TO SEEK OUT

Review by: Sean Kayden

The month of June served as a great time at the movies. Personally, I think there were three standouts. Not one of them compared to the devastatingly disappointing dud known as “Prometheus.” The first film is the surprisingly engaging “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.” Despite the less than stellar box office performance and gimmicky title, the movie is an absolute blast. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s an entirely satisfying summer movie experience. The second film is the unique and utterly charming indie sleeper, “Safety Not Guaranteed.” Funny, emotionally conscious, and spectacularly refreshing, “Safety Not Guaranteed” is the breakthrough film of the summer. Lastly, there’s the recently released “Ted.” The Mark Wahlberg/teddy bear endeavor was a better-than-expected outing that supplied some huge laughs and remained uproariously funny for most of its duration. While not a flawless experience, most notably some problems in the development of side stories, “Ted” will still satisfy the majority of moviegoers seeking much needed amusement. So as we put June in our rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward to July. Listed here are three movies I’ve been excited for quite some time. All three just happen to come out during the same month. From what Hollywood has to offer, July is evidently appearing to be the strongest month for the summer movie season.

SAVAGES – July 6^th, 2012 – Renowned director Oliver Stone returns with a bang this summer with his new film, Savages. Based on the best selling novel by Don Winslow, “Savages” is the tale of two Southern California buddies who run a lucrative homegrown business of developing the most premium type of marijuana known. When the Mexican drug cartel wants to team up with them, the guys decline and as expected, the cartel doesn’t take too kindly to rejection. Infuriated by their brash decision, the head of the cartel goes one step further by kidnapping their girlfriend (a girl that is linked romantically to the both of them) and things get, well, savage. Based on the trailers alone, the movie looks ultra violent and incredibly fast paced. It may very well be the adult themed movie we need midst a cluster of superhero characters. “Savages” stars Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Blake Lively, Salma Hayek, Benicio del Toro, and John Travolta. 

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES – July 20^th, 2012 – Is an introduction really needed? The most anticipated summer film has also been declared the third and final chapter in the Christopher Nolan Batman saga. Taking place eight years after the events in “The Dark Knight,” Batman takes responsibility for Harvey Dent’s crimes, which leads him to be sought after by the Gotham City Police Department. Furthermore, a mysterious character immerges known by the name of Selina Kyle and Gotham City soon becomes under attack by a new, menacing villainous known as Bane. Sure to be not only a massive hit at the box office, but could easily be the best installment in the trilogy. July 20^th cannot come soon enough to conclude this epic series. “The Dark Knight Rises” stars Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Marion Cotillard, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. 

KILLER JOE – July 27^th, 2012 - While taking place in a small, rural town, a twenty-two year-old drug dealer desperate to come up with six thousand dollars or else he’s dead, hires a man known as Killer Joe to murder his mother so he can cash in on her life insurance policy. Things get completely awry when the young man can’t pay the detective (who moonlights as a hitman) up front, even though that’s Killer Joe’s policy. Until the man can come up with the payment for services, Joe bends his own rules under the condition that he takes man’s younger sister as sexual collateral. This under-the-radar film has an NC-17 rating. It should also be noted that the movie is being touted as utterly sick and twisted. Not to mention, Matthew McConaughey allegedly provides the movie with a dark, creepy, and out of his own element type of performance. With an ominous plot, a terrific supporting cast, and a killer (no pun intended) performance that could be talked about for years, Killer Joe seems the unlikeliest of summer films, which just makes it ever more alluring. “Killer Joe” stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church, and Gina Gershon.

Published by Mountain Views News on July 7th, 2012

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