Tuesday , March 19 2024
The summer movie season kicks off with familiar sequels, romance, another video game adaptation and babies, babies everywhere.

2010 Summer Movie Preview: May

The summer movie season begins with romance, high profile sequels, a video game adaptation, Tony Stark, and another Saturday Night Live skit comedy. Several promising limited releases with big stars, past and present, hope to get your attention as well.

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

MAY 5

The Infidel: This comedy stars Mahmud Nasir as Omid Djalili, a Muslim man who discovers a surprising revelation about his past when he encounters a cab driver named Lenny, played by Richard Schiff  (NY with LA release in June).

Road, Movie: Dev Benegal writes and directs this comedy/drama, set in India. A man named Vishnu hits the road to deliver an antique Chevy truck to a museum and show old movies on the way while picking up three companions (NY with LA release in June).

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll: The biopic focuses on punk music frontman Ian Dury, played by Andy Serkis, who leads the Blockheads (NY with LA release in June). Naomie Harris, Ray Winstone, Olivia Williams, Mackenzie Cook, and Toby Jones also star.

The Trotsky: This thriller, directed and written by Jacob Tierney, focuses on a high school student, played by Jay Baruchel, who believes he is the reincarnation of the Soviet political figure Leon Trotsky. Emily Hampshire, Domini Blythe, and Jessica Pare also star (NY with LA release in June).

MAY 7

Babies: This documentary follows four babies from birth to the toddler stages in Namibia, Mongolia, Japan, and San Francisco (limited release).


Badmaash Company: Four Mumbai friends begin an import business in this drama/romance infused with an upbeat musical soundtrack. Written and directed by actor Parmeet Sethi (limited).

Casino Jack and the United States of Money: In his new documentary feature, director Alex Gibney addresses the former lobbyist Jack Abramoff who is currently in jail for political corruption and fraud relating to American Indian tribes and their casino profits (NY, LA).

Happiness Runs: Adam Sherman writes and directs this drama where young people contend with their isolated and questionable upbringing as they forge their own lives. Mark Young, Hanna Hall, Andie MacDowell, and Rutger Hauer star (NY with LA release in May 14).


Iron Man 2: Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., deals with his new superhero status as a new antagonist Ivan Vanko (a.k.a. Whiplash), played by Mickey Rourke, gets financial help from Justin Hammer, played by Sam Rockwell. Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Leslie Bibb, and Samuel L. Jackson reprise their roles while Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard as Tony’s best friend Rhodey. Also showing in IMAX theaters.

The Lightkeepers: Daniels Adams (The Golden Boys) writes and directs another film set in Cape Cod during the 1910s where an elderly lighthouse keeper (Richard Dreyfuss) and young man (Tom Wisdom) lose any hope for female companionship just as two special women arrive. This romance also stars Blythe Danner, Mamie Gummer, and Bruce Dern (LA).

Mother and Child: Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Jimmy Smits, Kerry Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson star in this adoption drama that tracks three women’s lives. Written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia (NY, LA).

Multiple Sarcasms: Timothy Hutton headlines this soul-searching drama about a writer who adapts a play on his life. Dana Delany, India Ennenga, Stockard Channing, Mira Sorvino, and Mario Van Pebbles (limited).

The Oath: Laura Poitras directs this documentary, the second in a planned trilogy about post-9/11 America, about two men (Salim Hamdan and Abu Jandal) who served for Osama bin Laden (NY).

Ocean of Pearls: Sarab S. Neelam directs and writes this hospital drama centering on a young Sihk doctor, played by Amrit Singh, working in an organ transplant center in Detroit, Michigan while addressing his religious traditions (limited).


OSS 117: Lost In Rio: This secret agent adventure/spoof series continues as French intelligence agent Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, played by Jean Dujardin, travels to Brazil in 1967 and teams up with Dolorès Koulechov, played by Louise Monod, to find a Nazi official. Directed and co-written by Michel Hazanavicius (NY, LA).

Trash Humpers: Harmony Korine directs and writes this documentary style drama/horror film about an odd group of elderly men and their suburban street life in Tennessee (NY with LA release in May 14).

MAY 8

TiMER: Jac Schaeffer writes and directs this dating service comedy/drama about a special wrist device that displays the moment a person will meet their lifelong love. Emma Caulfield, JoBeth Williams, Michelle Borth, and John Patrick Amedori star (NY – expands May 14).

MAY 12

Metropia: Set in 2024, this animated science fiction feature uses advanced layering techniques to create a unique world full of underground railways and a key conspiracy. Vincent Gallo, Juliette Lewis, Stellan Skarsgard, Alexander Skarsgard, and Udo Keir star (NY with LA release in June).

MAY 14

Just Wright: Queen Latifah, Paula Patton, and Common star in this romantic comedy about two women pursuing a pro basketball player. Phylicia Rashad, Pam Grier, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, and Rashard Lewis also star.


Letters to Juliet: Gary Winick directs this romance starring Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Egan, Gael García Bernal, and Vanessa Redgrave. Seyfried headlines as a young woman named Sophie who encounters a special letter-writing group on her vacation in Verona, Italy.

Looking for Eric : This comedy/drama stars Steve Evets as a troubled postal worker who finds inspiration and guidance from famous soccer player Eric Cantona (NY).

Princess Ka'iulani: Marc Forby writes and directs this Hawaiian biopic about the historic monarchy with Q'orianka Kilcher in the starring role. Barry Pepper, Will Patton, and Shaun Evans also star (limited).

Racing Dreams: This documentary, executive produced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, focuses on three youngsters' dreams of becoming NASCAR racers. Directed by Marshall Curry (limited).

Robin Hood: Director Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe reteam for the 13th century adventure about Richard Coeur de Lion who fights against the Norman invaders to become legend. Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, and Max von Sydow co-star.

MAY 21

180 South: Conquerors of the Useless: In this documentary, Jeff Johnson takes an expedition to Patagonia, located on the Southern tip of South America, following the path of adventurers and successful businessmen Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins. Directed by Chris Malloy (limited).

Holy Rollers: Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Bartha headline this drug “mule” comedy/drama inspired by actual events (limited).

John Rabe: This biopic drama recounts how Rabe, a German businessman, saved several thousand people from death during the Nanking Massacre in China. Florian Gallenberger writes and directs Ulrich Tukur in the title role while Daniel Bruehl, Steve Buscemi, Anne Consigny, and Lu Huang co-star (limited).

MacGruber: This action comedy expands the Saturday Night Live TV spoof with Will Forte starring and co-writing. Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Powers Boothe co-star.

Perrier’s Bounty: This crime thriller stars Jim Broadbent, Cillian Murphy, and Brendan Gleeson as a gangster named Perrier. A unique blend of comedy also mixes in while Gabriel Byrne provides the voice of the Grim Reaper.

Shrek Forever After: DreamWorks closes the book on this computer animated fairy tale series with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas as Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and Puss in Boots while adding Rumpelstiltskin. Also showing in IMAX and 3D theaters.

Solitary Man: Michael Douglas gets a showcase role in this drama about a man’s increasingly chaotic professional and family life. Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Jenna Fischer, Jeese Eisenberg, and Mary-Louise Parker also star (limited).

MAY 27

Sex and the City 2: Sara Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon hit the town again and even embark on a worldwide trip. Penelope Cruz co-stars as Lydia and Liza Minnelli and Miley Cyrus make real-life cameos.

MAY 28

Agora: Set during 391 in Alexandria, Egypt, Rachel Weisz stars as Hypatia in this epic adventure/drama directed by Alejandro Amenabar. Romance ensues as Hypatia’s slaves Davus, played by Max Minghella, and Orestes, played by Oscar Isaac, compete for her affection (limited).


George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead: Romero follows Diary of the Dead with the sixth installment in the horror film series where hope of a possible cure for the grotesque plague changes the dynamic between surviving humans and the zombies (limited).

Micmacs: Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet creates another visual wonderland as Danny Boon plays Bazil, an outcast man out for vengeance who finds a uniquely creative group of street salvagers and inventors. (NY, LA).

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time: Mike Newell directs this action fantasy, adapted from the Prince of Persia video games, with stars Jake Gyllenhall, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, and Alfred Molina.

The Wild Hunt: Alexandre Franchi writes and directs this action drama where young Medieval re-enactors take their roles to a new stage of realism (limited).

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