Now begins the summer onslaught of slick, big-budget, high-octane entertainment. Can't say I enjoyed last year's crop of offerings, all five of my 2013 picks were huge disappointments. And looking at the more than 100 titles headed our way the next four months, I can't say there's a lot to get excited about. But I was able to assemble five films that at the very least look intriguing. You'll find them below, in order of release.
God's Pocket: Mad Men's John Slattery directs the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman in this working-class tale of family and murder. Throw in Christina Hendricks, Richard Jenkins and John Turturro and this one could be a nice little sleeper hit for the art-house crowd this season. Doesn't hurt it's based on a Pete Dexter novel either. (May 9)
Godzilla: It's been 16 years since Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin so effectively sank everyone's favorite fire-breathing-reptile franchise. I mean the green guy beat Mothra. Who would have thought Matthew Broderick of all people would be his eventual downfall. This new reboot looks exceptionally well-crafted, well-acted (Bryan Cranston headlines) and infinitely more fun than the last go-around. (May 16)
Boyhood: Richard Linklater's new film was shot over the course of 12 years and follows the life of a seven-year-old boy as he matures over those dozen years into a 19-year-old adult. Yes, watching the same actor naturally age before our eyes is the main draw here, but with Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette along to help drive Linklater's unusual tale, this one could prove to be something truly special. (July 11)
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes : 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a surprisingly effective reboot to the storied simian franchise. This one takes place 10 years after the ape revolt and finds Caesar and his primate followers building a new civilization, only to have it threatened by a Gary Oldman-led band of human survivors. Andy Serkis returns as Caesar and that's more than enough to get me back in the theater. (July 11)
Guardians of the Galaxy : This Marvel Comics property dates back to 1969 and features an Avengers-type cadre of interstellar rapscallions who come together to battle a bevy of otherworldly baddies. On paper it may look like the same old thing from Marvel, but the trailer was a hoot and any chance to see Bradley Cooper playing a pistol-packing raccoon is well worth the price of admission in my book. (August 1)
