Deliver Us From Evil (July 2)
In a summer that boasts films like X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Transformers: Age of Extinction, why would anyone have a reason to get excited about a small little horror movie like Deliver Us From Evil? I’ll tell you why: because Scott Derrickson knows how to scare the shit out of an audience. The director’s previous effort, Sinister, was absolutely terrifying and managed to frighten even a jaded horror fan like myself. It was a completely chilling and extremely effective experience, and one that ranks as one of my favorite in the genre.
This summer, Derrickson will be back to spook audiences once more with Deliver Us From Evil, which stars Eric Bana as a New York City cop who teams up with a renegade priest, played by Edgar Ramirez, to solve a case involving demons and paranormal forces. While the first trailer (which you can check out below) didn’t send shivers down my spine like I had hoped it would, it was successful in building intrigue and an almost unmanageable level of tension. I’m usually not big into paranormal movies or any kind of horror that’s not grounded in reality, but Derrickson has more than proven himself in the genre and I cannot wait to see what he brings us with his next effort.
– MJ
Tammy (July 2)
Frankly, who isn’t highly anticipating Tammy – the directorial debut of acclaimed comedy character actor, Ben Falcone? You haven’t heard of it? Well, let me to fill you in. I’d hate for you to embarrass yourself in future conversation – because people will definitely be talking about this film.
Tammy is written by husband and wife comedy team Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy, with Falcone at the helm for the first time. McCarthy takes the lead as the titular Tammy, who first finds herself fired from her job at a local fast food establishment then discovers her husband getting romantic with the neighbour. Hitting the road with “ailing” Grandma Pearl (Susan Sarandon), she quickly discovers that the old lady is less an elderly benefactor, and more an alcoholic jailbird.
Having screened Tammy at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Falcone strolled away with the festival’s annual ‘Director To Watch’ award – so we already know he’s done a great job on his first time out of the gate. Not only has he held the reins on a film featuring performances from both McCarthy and Sarandon – a daunting task for anybody – he has also attracted and wrangled a wider cast that includes Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Sandra Oh, Nat Faxon, Gary Cole, Mark Duplass, Kathy Bates, and – drum roll, please – Dan Aykroyd.
Not highly anticipating it yet? How about this script, those performances and that cast being produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay? Now you’re paying attention. The pedigree of this film could not be higher – just counting up the Oscar and Emmy wins and nominations from those involved would take all day. The star, McCarthy, is the master of this set-up. This is exactly where her comedy excels – as seen in Bridesmaids, Identity Thief and The Heat. Insert the incredible Sarandon as her road-trip comedy sparring partner, and this is like the most bizarre and hilarious version of Thelma And Louise ever conceived.
– Sarah Myles
Boyhood (July 11)
Richard Linklater’s newest drama is already being praised as one of the finest achievements in the history of cinema. The American independent maven returned to his hometown of Austin, Texas for a few weeks each year for the past 12 years, to shoot a couple of weeks in the life of a young boy named Mason (played by newcomer Ellar Coltrane).
Boyhood looks at Mason’s life, from the age of 6 to 18, as the boy matures into a man. Along the way, he reacts to the changing lives of his separated parents, played by Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, and his changing relationship to the world around him. Similar to Michael Apted’s Up documentary series, Boyhood is part of a rare genre of ethnographic drama. Although it is a sort of experiment, it also observes the beauty and fragility of life in ways that could be unforgettable. This accomplishment could very well be the go-to indie breakthrough of the summer.
– AD
