August Releases
Here are the movies being released in August, as the summer movie season winds down.
1.
2 Guns
(2013)
A DEA agent and an undercover Naval Intelligence officer who have been tasked with investigating one another find they have been set up by the mob -- the very organization the two men believe they have been stealing money from.
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
“ Release date: August 2, 2013
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The Buzz: This project was originally conceived as an action/comedy set to reteam Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn after Wedding Crashers, but now it's being handled by Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur, who reunites with Mark Wahlberg in the wake of Contraband's breakout success. And we think the laughs have been jettisoned as well, in favor of a straight-up action/thriller. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: This project was originally conceived as an action/comedy set to reteam Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn after Wedding Crashers, but now it's being handled by Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur, who reunites with Mark Wahlberg in the wake of Contraband's breakout success. And we think the laughs have been jettisoned as well, in favor of a straight-up action/thriller. ” - IMDb Editors
2.
The Spectacular Now
(2013)
A hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl."
Director: James Ponsoldt
“ Release date: August 2, 2013
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The Buzz: The Spectacular Now features a handful of talent on the verge of a major breakthrough: director James Ponsoldt is coming off the acclaimed but little-seen addiction drama Smashed, while stars Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller are gearing up to star in next year's Divergent (Woodley is also playing Mary Jane Watson in The Amazing Spider-Man 2). Reactions from the Sundance Film Festival were quite strong, though they also suggest the movie deals with some tough teen subject material, which could make this a tough sell in late summer. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: The Spectacular Now features a handful of talent on the verge of a major breakthrough: director James Ponsoldt is coming off the acclaimed but little-seen addiction drama Smashed, while stars Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller are gearing up to star in next year's Divergent (Woodley is also playing Mary Jane Watson in The Amazing Spider-Man 2). Reactions from the Sundance Film Festival were quite strong, though they also suggest the movie deals with some tough teen subject material, which could make this a tough sell in late summer. ” - IMDb Editors
3.
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
(2013)
In order to restore their dying safe haven, the son of Poseidon and his friends embark on a quest to the Sea of Monsters to find the mythical Golden Fleece and to stop an ancient evil from rising.
Director: Thor Freudenthal
“ Release date: August 7, 2013
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The Buzz: Part two of this trilogy based on the novels by Rick Riordan finds director Thor Freudenthal, who got Fox's other kid-franchise, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, off the ground, subbing in for Chris Columbus. All of the main young demigods are back, with a scaled-back (and therefore less expensive) adult supporting cast featuring Anthony Head as Chiron, replacing Pierce Brosnan. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: Part two of this trilogy based on the novels by Rick Riordan finds director Thor Freudenthal, who got Fox's other kid-franchise, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, off the ground, subbing in for Chris Columbus. All of the main young demigods are back, with a scaled-back (and therefore less expensive) adult supporting cast featuring Anthony Head as Chiron, replacing Pierce Brosnan. ” - IMDb Editors
4.
Elysium
(2013)
Set in the year 2154, where the very wealthy live on a man-made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth, a man takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds.
Director: Neill Blomkamp
“ Release date: August 9, 2013
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The Buzz: With its A-list cast, rumored alien-planet setting, and layers of secrecy, Neill Blomkamp's follow-up to District 9 is this year's Prometheus. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: With its A-list cast, rumored alien-planet setting, and layers of secrecy, Neill Blomkamp's follow-up to District 9 is this year's Prometheus. ” - IMDb Editors
5.
We're the Millers
(2013)
A veteran pot dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the U.S. from Mexico. (110 mins.)
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
“ Release date: August 9, 2013
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The Buzz: Remember Rawson Marshall Thurber - the guy who made a blockbuster out of a comedy about dodgeball? Well, he's finally back in the major-movie spotlight with a long-gestating pot-themed comedy that has seen directors and stars come and go like it was TV pilot season. Exactly what kind of shape the script is in at this point is unknown - many hands have touched it -- but I'm hoping the cast, which includes SNL's Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Ed Helms, and Nick Offerman, was encouraged to improvise. And, hey, if this movie manages to underwhelm, couldn't you get pretty much all of these people to star in the same TV show? ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: Remember Rawson Marshall Thurber - the guy who made a blockbuster out of a comedy about dodgeball? Well, he's finally back in the major-movie spotlight with a long-gestating pot-themed comedy that has seen directors and stars come and go like it was TV pilot season. Exactly what kind of shape the script is in at this point is unknown - many hands have touched it -- but I'm hoping the cast, which includes SNL's Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Ed Helms, and Nick Offerman, was encouraged to improvise. And, hey, if this movie manages to underwhelm, couldn't you get pretty much all of these people to star in the same TV show? ” - IMDb Editors
6.
Prince Avalanche
(2013)
Two highway road workers spend the summer of 1988 away from their city lives. The isolated landscape becomes a place of misadventure as the men find themselves at odds with each other and the women they left behind. (94 mins.)
Director: David Gordon Green
“ Release date: August 9, 2013
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The Buzz: As David Gordon Green's longtime fans have aged, and the director began to specialize in a curious strain of Hollywood comedy, some of us began to wonder if he'd ever find a project that merged the narrative prowess that made George Washington such a wonder and the dark fantasy showcased in Pineapple Express. Turns out Prince Avalanche and its improvising, Mario Bros. overalls-wearing co-leading men is the project for which we have been pining. But the thing is: We are a rather small, if loyal, audience. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: As David Gordon Green's longtime fans have aged, and the director began to specialize in a curious strain of Hollywood comedy, some of us began to wonder if he'd ever find a project that merged the narrative prowess that made George Washington such a wonder and the dark fantasy showcased in Pineapple Express. Turns out Prince Avalanche and its improvising, Mario Bros. overalls-wearing co-leading men is the project for which we have been pining. But the thing is: We are a rather small, if loyal, audience. ” - IMDb Editors
7.
Planes
(2013)
Dusty is a cropdusting plane who dreams of competing in a famous aerial race. The problem? He is hopelessly afraid of heights. With the support of his mentor Skipper and a host of new friends, Dusty sets off to make his dreams come true.
Director: Klay Hall
“ Release date: August 9, 2013
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The Buzz: This expansion of the Cars 2 universe serves as a reminder to adults that Disney owns Pixar; meanwhile, kids are psyched and Jon Cryer can earn a paycheck separate from his awful TV show - so what else matters, ultimately? ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: This expansion of the Cars 2 universe serves as a reminder to adults that Disney owns Pixar; meanwhile, kids are psyched and Jon Cryer can earn a paycheck separate from his awful TV show - so what else matters, ultimately? ” - IMDb Editors
8.
Kick-Ass 2
(2013)
The costumed high-school hero Kick-Ass joins with a group of normal citizens who have been inspired to fight crime in costume. Meanwhile, the Red Mist plots an act of revenge that will affect everyone Kick-Ass knows. (113 mins.)
Director: Jeff Wadlow
“ Release date: August 16, 2013
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The Buzz: I admired Kick-Ass for uncouth dopiness and eagerness to entertain. Do we need the sequel? Original distributor Lionsgate didn't seem to think so, making room for Universal to step in with an expanded cast and cheaper writer/director in Jeff Wadlow (Cry_Wolf/Never Back Down). ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: I admired Kick-Ass for uncouth dopiness and eagerness to entertain. Do we need the sequel? Original distributor Lionsgate didn't seem to think so, making room for Universal to step in with an expanded cast and cheaper writer/director in Jeff Wadlow (Cry_Wolf/Never Back Down). ” - IMDb Editors
9.
Ain't Them Bodies Saints
(2013)
The tale of an outlaw who escapes from prison and sets out across the Texas hills to reunite with his wife and the daughter he has never met. (105 mins.)
Director: David Lowery
“ Release date: August 16, 2013
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The Buzz: Terrence Malick has a posse. And a lot of its members are making films of their own, including David Lowery, who has earned strong praise and direct comparisons to his apparent idol for his art-heavy, narrative-lite drama. Lowery also edited Shane Carruth's Upstream Color, further stoking this film's target audience, the die-hard art-house patron. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: Terrence Malick has a posse. And a lot of its members are making films of their own, including David Lowery, who has earned strong praise and direct comparisons to his apparent idol for his art-heavy, narrative-lite drama. Lowery also edited Shane Carruth's Upstream Color, further stoking this film's target audience, the die-hard art-house patron. ” - IMDb Editors
10.
Paranoia
(2013)
An entry-level employee at a powerful corporation finds himself occupying a corner office, but at a dangerous price: he must spy on his boss's old mentor to secure for him a multi-billion dollar advantage.
Director: Robert Luketic
“ Release date: August 16, 2013
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The Buzz: No slick Wall Street hair in this contemporary thriller that burbles with wicked corporate espionage, just a nice buzz cut for Harrison Ford and a Romney-ish 'do for Gary Oldman. And it's back to straight-shooting genre work for 21 director Robert Luketic after the ill-conceived Killers (which derailed Katherine Heigl's career). ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: No slick Wall Street hair in this contemporary thriller that burbles with wicked corporate espionage, just a nice buzz cut for Harrison Ford and a Romney-ish 'do for Gary Oldman. And it's back to straight-shooting genre work for 21 director Robert Luketic after the ill-conceived Killers (which derailed Katherine Heigl's career). ” - IMDb Editors
11.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
(2013)
When her mom is attacked and taken from their home in New York City by a demon, a seemingly ordinary teenage girl, Clary Fray, finds out truths about her past and bloodline on her quest to get her back, that changes her entire life.
Director: Harald Zwart
“ Release date: August 23, 2013
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The Buzz: Cassandra Clare's six-novel Mortal Instruments series seems to possess enough dark magic, secret family histories, and love-triangle dynamics to please fans of both Harry Potter and Twilight, and casting Lily Collins as Clary Fray seems like a wise move in the post-Bella Swan era. Sony is looking to build a franchise, and it's ultimately not surprising to see Harald Zwart, who helped turn The Karate Kid into an over-performing worldwide hit, in the director's chair. If the initial formula works, look for this story to get even cooler as it progresses. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: Cassandra Clare's six-novel Mortal Instruments series seems to possess enough dark magic, secret family histories, and love-triangle dynamics to please fans of both Harry Potter and Twilight, and casting Lily Collins as Clary Fray seems like a wise move in the post-Bella Swan era. Sony is looking to build a franchise, and it's ultimately not surprising to see Harald Zwart, who helped turn The Karate Kid into an over-performing worldwide hit, in the director's chair. If the initial formula works, look for this story to get even cooler as it progresses. ” - IMDb Editors
12.
The World's End
(2013)
Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival.
Director: Edgar Wright
“ Release date: August 23, 2013
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The Buzz: The cherry atop Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's "Blood and Ice Cream" trilogy has us all guessing if the threat will be some sort of natural disaster or an alien invasion -- or something else entirely? Personally, I'm hoping for at least one overt From Dusk Till Dawn homage. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: The cherry atop Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's "Blood and Ice Cream" trilogy has us all guessing if the threat will be some sort of natural disaster or an alien invasion -- or something else entirely? Personally, I'm hoping for at least one overt From Dusk Till Dawn homage. ” - IMDb Editors
13.
You're Next
(2013)
When the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back. (95 mins.)
Director: Adam Wingard
“ Release date: August 23, 2013
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The Buzz: Adam Wingard belongs to the current wave of indie horror filmmakers who dominate the film festival circuit while distributors are figuring out the best way to get the most people to see movies such as V/H/S. You're Next, which Wingard made with his writing/producing partner Simon Barrett before the craze went industry-wide, reunites the principal cast from their serial-killer shocker A Horrible Way to Die. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: Adam Wingard belongs to the current wave of indie horror filmmakers who dominate the film festival circuit while distributors are figuring out the best way to get the most people to see movies such as V/H/S. You're Next, which Wingard made with his writing/producing partner Simon Barrett before the craze went industry-wide, reunites the principal cast from their serial-killer shocker A Horrible Way to Die. ” - IMDb Editors
14.
The Grandmaster
(2013)
The story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee. (123 mins.)
Director: Kar Wai Wong
“ Release date: August 23, 2013
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The Buzz: Kung-fu aficionados have been waiting for Wong Kar Wai's new work for over ten years (he "announced" the project back in 2002); you have to travel back to 1994 for his last action piece, Ashes of Time. Fitting, then, that he's putting his unique narrative spin on the genre's chief legend -- that of Ip Man, the Wing Chun master who mentored Bruce Lee -- and reuniting Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen. A probable worldwide smash, the film could turn out to be WKW's best performer in the U.S. -- especially if Harvey Weinstein puts his full weight behind it. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: Kung-fu aficionados have been waiting for Wong Kar Wai's new work for over ten years (he "announced" the project back in 2002); you have to travel back to 1994 for his last action piece, Ashes of Time. Fitting, then, that he's putting his unique narrative spin on the genre's chief legend -- that of Ip Man, the Wing Chun master who mentored Bruce Lee -- and reuniting Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen. A probable worldwide smash, the film could turn out to be WKW's best performer in the U.S. -- especially if Harvey Weinstein puts his full weight behind it. ” - IMDb Editors
15.
This Is Us
(2013 Documentary)
Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis' meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London's famed O2 Arena.
Director: Morgan Spurlock
“ Release date: August 30, 2013
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The Buzz: Justin Bieber's pop-star days are probably numbered now that the attention once solely reserved for him has been refocused on this British boy band that was assembled in 2010 by Simon Cowell as he was prepping a new season of "X Factor". But Biebs will always have the superlative documentary in my mind because I know some sarcastic dudes who were reduced to tears by Never Say Never. Meanwhile, people who exist in indie-film circles, are agog due to the fact that Morgan Spurlock is directing. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: Justin Bieber's pop-star days are probably numbered now that the attention once solely reserved for him has been refocused on this British boy band that was assembled in 2010 by Simon Cowell as he was prepping a new season of "X Factor". But Biebs will always have the superlative documentary in my mind because I know some sarcastic dudes who were reduced to tears by Never Say Never. Meanwhile, people who exist in indie-film circles, are agog due to the fact that Morgan Spurlock is directing. ” - IMDb Editors
16.
Getaway
(2013)
Brent Magna must get behind the wheel and follow the orders of a mysterious man to save his kidnapped wife.
Director: Courtney Solomon, Yaron Levy
“ Release date: August 30, 2013
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The Buzz: This premise makes me wonder if Warner Bros. is trying to find the balance between a Jason Statham movie and Ryan Gosling's arty and beloved Drive. Indie-horror maverick Courtney Solomon, who runs After Dark Films, is at the helm. And look at young Selena Gomez go; you have to admire her as she follows a path to lead her out of tweendom and into a hopefully prolonged career. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: This premise makes me wonder if Warner Bros. is trying to find the balance between a Jason Statham movie and Ryan Gosling's arty and beloved Drive. Indie-horror maverick Courtney Solomon, who runs After Dark Films, is at the helm. And look at young Selena Gomez go; you have to admire her as she follows a path to lead her out of tweendom and into a hopefully prolonged career. ” - IMDb Editors
17.
Closed Circuit
(2013)
Martin and Claudia are lawyers -- and ex-lovers -- who find themselves put at risk after they join the defense team for an international terrorist's trial.
Director: John Crowley
“ Release date: August 30, 2013
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The Buzz: Pretty much anyone who has been aware of this project's existence has cited the presence of Eastern Promises screenwriter Steve Knight as the main reason to see the film. We're excited for his return to the thriller genre as well as the imaginable chemistry between Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall, two fine actors with unfortunately inconsistent filmographies. And if you have yet to see director John Crowley's Boy A, I suggest seeking it out. ” - IMDb Editors
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The Buzz: Pretty much anyone who has been aware of this project's existence has cited the presence of Eastern Promises screenwriter Steve Knight as the main reason to see the film. We're excited for his return to the thriller genre as well as the imaginable chemistry between Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall, two fine actors with unfortunately inconsistent filmographies. And if you have yet to see director John Crowley's Boy A, I suggest seeking it out. ” - IMDb Editors
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