2009 Summer Movie Preview: May

The summer begins well, with promising action, animation, comedy, drama, science-fiction, and thrills in high profile releases and several limited releases as Hollywood hopes to continue with another record-setting box office pace for the year.

NOTE: All dates subject to change. Be sure to check each film’s ratings and content at Kids in Mind.

MAY 1

Battle for Tera – An untroubled alien planet is invaded by the last remnants of human civilization as characters from both sides, voiced by Evan Rachel Wood and Luke Wilson, form a friendship and subsequently make a plea for an alternative to the fighting. Danny Glover and Mark Hamill also lend their voice talents to this computer-animated film.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt – Michael Douglas, Amber Tamblyn and Jesse Metcalfe star in this dramatic thriller, written and directed by Peter Hyams. Based on the 1956 classic film noir, a writer seeks to expose law enforcement system flaws in gathering circumstantial evidence (limited release).

Ghosts of Girlfirends Past – This romantic comedy/fantasy stars Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas, and Matthew McConaughey, who gets repeat visits from past flames as he attends his younger brother’s wedding.

Limits of Control – Akron, Ohio native Jim Jarmusch writes and directs another unique drama full of crime, thrills, and great stars including Isaach De Bankolé, Bill Murray, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, and Gael Garcia Bernal (limited release).

The Merry Gentleman – Michael Keaton directs and stars in this drama with Kelly Macdonald about two dissimilar people who develop a unique relationship in Chicago during the holidays (limited release).

X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Hugh Jackman reprises his superhero role as the plot involves his past experiences with the "Weapon X" program. Co-stars include Taylor Kitsch as Gambit, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, and Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth. Directed by Gavin Hood.

MAY 6

Life in Flight – Patrick Wilson and Amy Smart star as a couple in this lifestyle drama from new screenwriter/director Tracey Hecht (limited release).

MAY 7

Star Trek – Director/producer J.J. Abrams reboots this famous sci-fi franchise with rising stars, plot twists, and amazing special effects. Chris Pine headlines as Kirk with beautiful Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Karl Urban as "Bones" McCoy, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Simon Pegg as Scotty, and John Cho as Sulu. Eric Bana, Winona Ryder, Tyler Perry, and Bruce Greenwood also star. Also playing in IMAX theaters.

MAY 8

Julia – Tilda Swinton in a tour de force role as a volatile woman who makes some harrowing choices in this drama/thriller with co-star Saul Rubinek and rising star Kate del Castillo (limited release).

Little Ashes – This drama, set in Madrid, Spain in 1922, centers on artistic career of Salvador Dali, played by Robert Pattinson, and his friendships with Luis Buñuel, played by Mathew McNulty, and Federico García Lorca, played by Javier Beltran. Directed by Paul Morrison (limited release).

Love N’ Dancing – Amy Smart and Tom Malloy, who also wrote the screenplay, play the leads who try to dance their way to a world title in this romantic drama. Billy Zane, Caroline Rhea, Rachel Dratch, Betty White, and newcomer Nicola Royston also star (limited release).

Next Day Air – This action-comedy stars Donald Faison and Mos Def as mail deliverymen, and Mike Epps and Wood Harris as crooks. The duos become involved in a crime-filled plot involving a package.

Outrage – This documentary by Kirby Dick addresses gay rights, politics, and the media. Subjects include Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, activist Larry Kramer, Congressman Barney Frank, former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, and radio personality Michelangelo Signorile (limited release).

MAY 15

Angels & Demons – Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon who’s now involved in helping solve a murder and attacks on the Vatican. Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, and Stellan Skarsgard also star.

The Brothers Bloom – Rachel Weisz, Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Robbie Coltrane and Rinko Kikuchi star in this comedy about globetrotting con men, written and directed by Rian Johnson. (limited release on May 15, then wide on May 29)

Management – In this unique romantic comedy Steve Zahn stars as a family motel worker who pursues a very organized saleswoman played by Jennifer Aniston. Woody Harrelson also stars as Aniston’s ex-boyfriend (limited release).

Summer Hours – This family drama stars Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling, and Jeremie Renier as siblings who come to terms with their mother’s recent death. Written and directed by Olivier Assayas (limited release).

MAY 21

Terminator Salvation – Set in 2018, Christian Bale plays John Connor in the next installment of the sci-fi apocalyptic epic film series as humans try to survive in a world of machines produced by the Skynet network, which humans created. Sam Worthington also stars as Marcus Wright while the remaining cast includes Bryce Dallas Howard as Kate Connor, John’s wife, Common, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Ironside, and Linda Hamilton, who narrates. McG directs.

MAY 22

Dance Flick – This comedy spoof represents yet another Wayans family collaboration with Damien Dante directing. Dante also writes the screenplay with Keenen Ivory, Shawn, Marlon and Craig Wayans. Damon Wayans Jr. and Shoshana Bush get the lead roles as young dancers.

Easy Virtue – This romantic comedy/drama, set in the 1930s, stars Jessica Biel as Larita who is married into the British Whittaker family through her husband John, played by Ben Barnes. Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas star as the family patriarchs who aren’t quite sure about their new family addition. Stephan Elliott directs and co-writes the screenplay with Sheridan Jobbins (limited release).

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian – This fantasy-comedy sequel has Ben Stiller reprising his role with Robin Williams and Owen Wilson, plus new characters played by Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart, Hank Azaria as villainous Egyptian pharaoh Ka Mun Rah. Various stars also play other historical characters including Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon, General Custer, and Einstein. Also playing in IMAX theaters.

MAY 25

Pontypool – This horror thriller chronicles strange events in a town where a radio station reports shocking violence due to a mysterious virus being spread through the English language. Stephen McHattie, Lisa Houle, and Georgina Reilly star (limited release).

MAY 29

Departures – (a.k.a. Nokanshi) This Academy Award-winning Best Foreign Language Film takes place in Japan, as a recently unemployed cellist seeks work in a travel agency by responding to an ad titled “Departures”. Instead, he and his wife find it’s a position for a funeral home worker (limited release).

Drag Me to Hell – Director/filmmaker Sam Raimi takes a break from web slinging with this horror thriller about a woman, played by Alison Lohman, who becomes cursed. Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Jessica Lucas, and David Paymer also star.

The Maiden Heist (a.k.a. The Lonely Maiden) – This comedy follows the month’s museum theme as Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy star as guards who — you guessed it — seek to steal their favorite artworks after getting news of an impending transfer. Marcia Gay Harden also stars (limited release).

Up – This Disney/Pixar comedic collaboration follows a man named Carl Fredricksen, voiced by Ed Asner, who ties balloons to his house for a trek to South America. An 8-year-old named Russell and a faded hero named Charles Muntz, voiced by Christopher Plummer, also join the adventure. John Ratzenberger, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo and Jerome Ranft also lend their voices. Also playing in Disney Digital 3-D.

What Goes Up – Jonathan Glatzer directs and co-writes, with Robert Lawson, this comedy-drama about a reporter, played by Steve Coogan, who encounters a trio of student misfits, played by Hilary Duff, Josh Peck and Olivia Thirlby when he visits a small New Hampshire town. Molly Shannon also stars (limited release).