August 2012 Movie Guide

Celeste and Jesse Forever – August 3, 2012

Starring: Andy Samberg, Rashida Jones, Emma Roberts, Elijah Wood

Why You Should See It: Because it seems to have a nice indie flair and sensibility about it.

Why You Should Avoid It: Because it’s being marketed as a RomCom, but upon closer inspection, I get the feeling that it will play more like a Debbie-Downer-drama.

And the Magic 8 Ball Says:  Girlfriend rules are applicable here.

Total Recall – August 3, 2012

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, Jessica Biel, Bill Nighy

Why You Should See It: Kate Beckinsale.

Why You Should Avoid It: Colin Farrell

And the Magic 8 Ball Says:  Probably – but with low expectations.

The Bourne Legacy – August 10, 2012

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz, Joan Allen

Why You Should See It: Because Jeremy Renner is on a roll and the supporting cast is strong.

Why You Should Avoid It: No Jason Bourne (Matt Damon).

And the Magic 8 Ball Says:  Definite Yes.

The Campaign – August 10, 2012

Starring: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott

Why You Should See It: Because Ferrell and Galifiannakis are two of the funniest actors in the business.

Why You Should Avoid It: Because this movie reeks of one where the comedic vision steers into an area that is so awkward and quirky that it fails to be mainstream funny.

And the Magic 8 Ball Says:  Rental. 

The Odd life of Timothy Green – August 15, 2012

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Ron Livingston, Rosemarie DeWitt, Common

Why You Should See It: Because the only other new release that weekend is The Expendables 2.

Why You Should Avoid It: Because the kid in the story is born from a tree.

And the Magic 8 Ball Says:  No. Can. Do.

The Expendables 2 – August 17, 2012

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris

Why You Should See It: Because never has there been a greater collection of steroids and botox assembled together in one movie.

Why You Should Avoid It: Because never has there been a greater collection of steroids and botox assembled together in one movie.
And the Magic 8 Ball Says:  Maybe a rental, but no one will ever know, because I’ll never admit it.

Premium Rush – August 24, 2012

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jamie Chung, Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez

Why You Should See It: Because Gordon-Levitt is coming off a great performance in The Dark Knight Rises and to get a preview of what kind of villain Michael Shannon makes in advance of The Man of Steel

Why You Should Avoid It: Because this feels like it’s loosely based on the Kevin Bacon movie Quicksilver and the last remake of a Kevin Bacon movie (Footloose) was not good.

And the Magic 8 Ball Says:  Leaning towards yes.

Lawless – August 31, 2012

Starring: Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce, Shia LeBeouf, Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain

Why You Should See It: Because Tom Hardy is a beast with an established track record of very good work.  Ditto to Jessica Chastain.

Why You Should Avoid It: Because Shia LeBouf hasn’t made an entertaining movie sans Optimus Prime in a very long time.

And the Magic 8 Ball Says:  Good cast, mundane premise - a definite maybe.