Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
June continues the summer box office juggernaut with taut dramas, comedies, and one giant sequel.
NOTE: All dates subject to change. Be sure to check each film’s ratings and content at Kids-in-Mind.
June 3
Unmistaken Child – Nati Baratz writer and directs this documentary about Tenzin Zope’s search for the reincarnation of his master…as a little boy.
June 5
24 City (a.k.a. Er shi si cheng ji) – Joan Chen stars with Jianbin Chen and Liping Lu in this factory drama (New York).
Away We Go – Director Sam Mendes leads this pregnant couple comedy with veteran comedians John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph embarking on cross-country social visits. Jeff Daniels, Catherine O’Hara and Maggie Gyllenhall (New York, Los Angeles).
Downloading Nancy – Maria Bello and Jason Patric star in this drama-thriller about an indecent cyberspace proposal. Rufus Sewell and Amy Brenneman also star (limited release).
The Hangover – This Las Vegas comedy features three groomsmen (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis) taking the groom out for one last party where nothing goes according to plan. Look for co-stars Mike Epps, Heather Graham, Jeffrey Tambor, and Mike Tyson in a small role as himself
Land of the Lost – Will Ferrell stars in this update of the 1970s sci-fi television series as Park Ranger Rick Marshall who goes back to the time of dinosaurs with his assistant and a survivalist.
My Life in Ruins – Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Richard Dreyfuss star in this comedy set in Greece.
Seraphine – This biography film of French painter Séraphine de Senlis stars Yolando Moreau and is directed by Martin Provost (limited release).
Tennessee – Brothers played by Adam Rothenberg and Ethan Peck travel to find their father in this drama which also stars singer Mariah Carey (limited release).
Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love – Music documentary about the life journey of this famous singer from Senegal. Directed and written by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (New York).
June 11
Tetro – Francis Ford Coppola writes and directs Vincent Gallo and Alden Ehreneich in this South American drama where two brothers reconnect.
June 12
Call of the Wild 3D – Christopher Lloyd, Wes Studi and Ariel Gade star in this family adventure film set in Montana and based on the original Jack London source material (limited release).
Food Inc. – This Robert Kenner documentary hopes for more eye-opening revelations and real life accounts of the U.S. food industry (limited release).
Imagine That – Eddie Murphy’s new family comedy has him as a stock broker who gets surprising tips from his daughter while growing closer to her.
Moon – Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey, who provides the robot Gerty’s voice, star in this mystery mixed with science fiction about a mining mission to the moon (New York, Los Angeles).
Sex Positive – Documentary about 1980s activist Richard Berkowitz and his quest for safe sex and optimal community health (limited release).
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) – John Travolta and Denzel Washington go bad guy versus good guy in this remake of the 1974 ransom thriller.
June 16
Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg – Documentary of television’s first situation comedy The Goldbergs and groundbreaking female comedienne Gertrude Berg (limited release).
June 19
$9.99 – This stop motion animation comedy centers on an urban community living in Sydney, Australia featuring characters voiced by Aussie actors like Geoffrey Rush and Anthony LaPaglia. Directed and written by Tatia Rosenthal who adapts Etgar Keret’s short stories (limited release).
Dead Snow – Set in Norway, this thriller features vacationing medical students up to their necks in… Nazi zombies (limited release).
The Proposal – Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds star as two work colleagues (boss-assistant) who consider marriage to avoid her deportation. Betty White, Oscar Nunez, and Mary Steenburgen also star in this comedy.
Whatever Works – Writer/director Woody Allen combines forces with comedian Larry David in this romantic comedy co-starring Patricia Clarkson, Evan Rachel Wood, and Ed Begley Jr. (New York and Los Angeles).
Year One – Jack Black and Michael Cena take modern comedy back to the beginning of time with veteran comedy director/actor Harold Ramis. Produced by Judd Aptow.
June 24
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Robots and action mayhem continue as the Hasbro toys hit the big screen again with returning stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox helmed by action director extraordinaire Michael Bay.
June 26
Cheri – Michelle Pfieffer stars in director Stephen Frears’ drama, set in the 1920s, about a risky romance with actor Rupert Friend. Kathy Bates also stars (limited release).
The Hurt Locker – A volatile bomb expert, played by Jeremy Renner, working for the U.S. military in Iraq to save lives and his own sanity. Kathryn Bigelow directs (New York, Los Angeles).
Life is Hot in Cracktown – Buddy Giovinazzo writes and directs this film adaptation of his book about inner-city drug-related crimes and drama. Brandon Routh, Shannyn Sossamon, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Kerry Washington star (limited release).
My Sister’s Keeper – This touching drama about a family and their young daughter’s struggle with cancer stars Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Mark Ruffalo, and Sofia Vassilieva (TV’s Medium). Nick Cassavetes directs and co-writes with Jeremy Leven as they adapt author Jodi Picoult’s novel.
The Stoning of Soraya M. – Mozhan Marno stars as the title character with James Caviezel and Shohreh Aghdashloo in this tough drama based on a true story (limited release).
Surveillance – Jennifer Lynch directs this serial killer murder thriller about a small town murder spree (limited). Julia Ormand, Bill Pullman, French Stewart and Michael Ironside star.
