My favorite summer movie thus far?
THE WAY, WAY BACK which rolled into just three KC theaters in mid-July then added additional screens each subsequent week.
Fox Searchlight Pictures has successfully platformed this great little coming of age charmer from the very beginning. Had they dumped it immediately into wide national release it would’ve surely died a quiet death. It needed great word of mouth feedback—and it got it!
Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Jenney, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amanda Peet and Liam James all made this a memorable evening at the movies.
So is it all over now?
No way!
Sure we’re hitting the celluloid dogs days of August. Especially when it comes to output from the major studios. But surprisingly there are at least four independent and/or small distributor titles right around the corner that I can’t wait to see. Friends who’ve already previewed them are raving about them.
So again—not yet having seen them—here are four Kansas City August releases to keep a lookout for.
August 16: Ashton Kutcher as Apple wunderkind Steve Jobs in JOBS from Open Road Films.
I’m told this is a fascinating bio pic of the Apple-ite that will give you a much different insight into the Mensch he really was.
JOBS also features Josh Gad as Steve Wozniak, Dermot Mulroney, Matthew Modine, Lesley Ann Warren and James Woods.
Also on August 16: The (based on) true story of THE BUTLER who served eight U.S. presidents in the White House.
Forest Whitaker takes the lead here with Oprah Winfrey as his wife. Others in the all star cast include Robin Williams as Dwight D. Eisenhower, James Marsden as JFK, John Cusack as Nixon and Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan, and Jane Fonda among others in the Weinstein release.
August 23: Sony Classics Pictures brings us Woody Allen’s latest offering called BLUE JASMINE which some have already compared to ANNIE HALL. And if early box office is any indication, it’s outperforming Woody’s MIDNIGHT IN PARIS in its initial openings.
Cate Blanchette already getting plenty of Oscar buzz here while Andrew Dice Clay making a press-friendly screen comeback. Others in the cast include Alec Baldwin and Louis C.K.—while Woody himself is staying strictly behind the camera.
Also on August 23: Another terrific coming of age story—so I am told.
This one entitled THE SPECTACULAR NOW from A24 Films. And while it doesn’t feature a major name cast early reviews make this another must see, so-called small film to search out this August..
Please keep in mind that several of the above listed films will open here in semi-exclusive or small multiple runs. Some will go wider if initial box office performance warrants it.
Also there’s always a chance for projected opening dates to change the last minute.
What is wrong with you Jack? No explosions, robots or gunfire in any of them?
So is the Butler the much anticipated sequel to The Help?
Excellent!
Mulroney, Modine, James Woods and Lesley Ann Warren…wtf?!, I realize that much of JOBS is supposed to take place in the 80s, but does the cast have to reflect that?
“The Way, Way Back” is the best movie of the year so far. It’s really one of those movies that had the stars perfectly aligned: great ensemble, memorable characters, idyllic setting, and a subtle nod to yesteryear.