Summer film season kicks off at theaters this weekend
The summer film season officially kicks off on this first weekend of May with the arrival of the superhero epic “Spider-Man 3.” Also landing will be a biographical tale (“The Flying Scotsman”), a relationship picture (“Lucky You”), an unsettling import (“Offside”) and a bloody drama (“The Wind That Shakes the Barley”).
The new films (with all dates subject to change) opening at a theater near you include:
– “The Flying Scotsman,” with British actor Jonny Lee Miller (“Mindhunters”) in a fact-based story, rated PG-13, about Graeme Obree, a champion cyclist who suffered from mental-health problems and constructed his bicycle from the parts of old washing machines.
– “Lucky You,” with Eric Bana (“Munich”) and Drew Barrymore (“50 First Dates”) in a PG-13 relationship picture about a slick poker player trying to win a Las Vegas tournament as his love life is falling apart.
Curtis Hanson (“In Her Shoes”) directed.
– “Offside,” with Jafar Panahi directing a PG-rated drama about some Iranian girls who dress as boys and attempt to enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium – a place where only males are allowed – to watch a soccer match.
Some are recognized and then face charges for their act of defiance.
– “Spider-Man 3,” with the title character (Tobey Maguire) facing three supervillains, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church of “Sideways”), New Goblin (James Franco of “Annapolis”) and Venom (Topher Grace of TV’s “That ’70s Show”), and battling his dark side. Kirsten Dunst returns as Mary Jane Watson, and Bryce Dallas Howard (“The Village”) joins the cast as Gwen Stacy in this physically imposing, emotionally intriguing $258 million superhero epic.
Sam Raimi directs for the third time and once again offers a multi-layered work, rated PG-13, with flashy action supported by important themes about guilt, vanity, compassion, sacrifice, vengeance, corruption, redemption and – most importantly – forgiveness.
– “The Wind That Shakes the Barley,” with Cillian Murphy (“Red Eye”) in an unrated import about the volunteer guerilla armies who challenge the brutal English militia that was ordered to crush Ireland’s war of independence in the 1920s. British filmmaker Ken Loach (“My Name Is Joe”) directed.
At the buck$ office
For the third week in a row, the teen favorite “Disturbia” landed in the No. 1 spot at the box office.
It was followed by “The Invisible,” a supernatural chiller with Justin Chatwin, and “Next,” a fantasy thriller with Nicolas Cage. Each title grossed more than $7 million.
Wrestling favorite Steve Austin was stone cold at the box office. “The Condemned,” a hard-edged action picture with Austin, opened with just $4 million.
According to the Associated Press, the top-10 movies last weekend were:
1. “Disturbia” ($9.1 million)
2. “The Invisible” ($7.6 million)
3. “Next” ($7.2 million)
4. “Fracture” ($7.1 million)
5. “Blades of Glory” ($5.2 million)
6. “Meet the Robinsons” ($4.84 million)
7. “Hot Fuzz” ($4.8 million)
8. “Vacancy” ($4.2 million)
9. “The Condemned” ($4 million)
10. “Are We Done Yet?” ($3.4 million)
Gaul on the Web
My film reviews, features and columns can be read on our Web site at lougaul.phillyburbs.com.