After the slow movie months of January and February, March and April saw the blossoming of many big films just as Spring began. After the mad rush that was April in the film industry, both the major studios and the lesser-known independent ones will be readying themselves for a big movie Summer ahead.
Just as Spring signals growth and prosperity in our seasonal calendar, it also symbolizes a new dawn for the film industry as the fruits of filmmakers’ labor begin the process of germination. Just as the Summer movies start pouring in, let’s take a look at some of the standouts that are currently screening in theaters as May comes to an end.
Updated May 26th, 2023: Originally written by Patrick Hayes, this list has been updated by Sean Shuman with ten new exciting films that are currently playing in theaters.
The Little Mermaid
Disney's live-action remakes are certainly polarizing, and to say that a remake of The Little Mermaid was met with open arms would be a little disingenuous. However, now that the initial announcement has come and gone, attitudes towards the live-action Little Mermaid are starting to trend in a more positive direction. Arguably the most substantive live-action remake so far by cramming almost an entire additional hour into its runtime, The Little Mermaid depicts one of Disney's most famous princesses in a way we've not yet seen before.
For the few that may not know what The Little Mermaid is all about, here's a quick synopsis. We follow Ariel, mermaid princess and daughter of King Triton, as she dreams about one day visiting the world beyond the ocean against the wishes of her father. But, when Ariel is given the opportunity of a lifetime, she ultimately finds herself caught between two worlds as she tries to find true love.
Fast X
When a franchise goes on long enough, some weird things start happening. They can become self-aware or otherwise self-indulgent in their own excess. Or, in the case of Fast X, you get Jason Momoa involved with a production budget higher than that of Avengers: Infinity War. No, really — look it up.
As the Fast & Furious series starts to wind down, we follow Dom as he's caught in a warring conflict with newcomer Dante Reyes. After the death of Hernan Reyes in Fast Five, along with the theft of his entire fortune, Dante plays the role of our villain as he seeks revenge against Dom and his family. Is it high art? No, not really. Is it perfect popcorn fodder? Absolutely. While the franchise is allegedly entering its final story arc, this thrilling entry is sure to satisfy the most die-hard Fast & Furious fans while giving some eye-candy entertainment for newcomers.
The Machine
Love him or hate him, Bert Kreischer is mainly known for two things: being shirtless, and a particularly noteworthy story of his featuring the Russian mob, copious amounts of booze, and a train robbery. In The Machine, an action film from Legendary, we'll get to see Bert Kreischer, along with Mark Hamill, relive the consequences of his infamous story in the modern day.
What exactly happened? According to Kreischer, after taking a low-attendance Russian language class in college, semesters were planned to take place in the eponymous country itself. After inadvertently getting tangled in the Russian mob, Kreischer somehow built a positive rapport with them, earning the title of "The Machine" through his partying. This film will see how their ensuing robbery of a train will lead to the formation of something far more dangerous and how a few drinks here, and there may not be enough to stop it.
You Hurt My Feelings
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a name synonymous with quality. Even ignoring Seinfeld and Veep, her performances in films like Enough Said showcase her ability to deliver compelling characters both on and off the silver screen. She teams up once again with director Nicole Holofcener in You Hurt My Feelings, a movie about self-confidence, co-dependency, and uncomfortable struggles. Louis-Dreyfus plays a struggling novelist that finds her current marriage upended after a terrible revelation is made. What sets off this powder keg, you may ask? An honest review of her latest book by her husband.
It's a simple premise, but similar to how Holofcener handled Enough Said; there's a lot that can be tackled with a modest setup. Louis-Dreyfus and Holfcener already killed it in Enough Said, along with the late James Gandolfini, meaning you can expect something of similar quality in You Hurt My Feelings.
Kandahar
Gerard Butler leading an action movie? What a novel idea. Jokes aside, Kandahar is yet another Butler-led action flick that sees a CIA agent stuck in the middle of hostile territory in Afghanistan. With only an Afghan translator at his side, their only hope of rescue lies in the city of Kandahar, with elite soldiers and cunning spies standing in their way.
Is it similar to Guy Ritchie's The Covenant? A little bit, sure. But underneath something you may have seen before, there's a genuine action thriller that never seems to ease up on the tension. Gerard Butler's character isn't Superman, and both our protagonists take a bit of punishment on their journey. However, any action film that can keep the stakes high is appreciated, and Kandahar does so in a way that incorporates aspects of Afghan culture that you may not see otherwise.
The Starling Girl
The Starling Girl is the directorial debut of Laurel Parmet. This religious drama follows a teenage girl that struggles to find her place in a staunchly fundamentalist Christian community. As she struggles with her burgeoning sexuality and her devotion to her faith, a worldly youth pastor forms a relationship with her that could throw the entire community into disarray. Starring Eliza Scanlen, who previously appeared in films like Old and Babyteeth, she leads a story as old as time in a promising start for Parmet's future films.
Highlighting some of the more taboo aspects of these communities, The Starling Girl has elicited some mixed reactions due to some of its content. But there's a case to be made for how some films can "challenge" an audience and how that challenge can broaden our understanding of the world around us. If you're looking for a powerful piece of drama, The Starling Girl is a good pick.
About My Father
There are a lot of downers in theaters right now. Maybe you're looking for something a bit lighter? If that's the case, Laura Terruso's About My Father may be the right movie for you. Starring both Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert De Niro, this comedy sees a man bringing his immigrant father to a family get-together after some encouragement from his fiancee. However, he may have bitten off more than he can chew, as his fiancee's family are comprised of ultra-wealthy weirdos.
Those who've seen it seem to agree: if you enjoy Maniscalco's stand-up routines, you'll enjoy About My Father. On top of everything else, you get to see an older Robert De Niro embrace hairstyling as a career. That in itself is inherently funny. At a runtime of only 90 minutes, this brisk comedy is a welcome break from the bleakness that can be found elsewhere.
The Wrath of Becky
Remember Becky? That one home-invasion thriller that saw Kevin James play a violent Neo-Nazi? It got a sequel, appropriately titled The Wrath of Becky. Set a few years after the events of the first film, Lulu Wilson reprises her role as our title character. When a new group of criminals breaks into a home she shares with an elderly woman, it's safe to assume she'll slink back into her role as a violent protector.
Invasion thrillers will always hold a place in the genre for being legitimately terrifying, and The Wrath of Becky looks to be no different. Thankfully, in a maturation from the first film, this sequel leans more towards dark comedy while giving Wilson a chance to show her more emotional side in an aged-up Becky.
Sanctuary
Whenever a dominatrix is heavily involved in a film's story, you can typically expect a movie that's not very conventional—case in point, Sanctuary, which has recently seen a full-on theatrical release. When a potential heir to a wealthy hotel empire finds himself cutting ties with a dominatrix, the two end up in a confined hotel room, locked in a battle of wits and words as he attempts to end things.
Starring Christopher Abbot and Margaret Qualley, this psychological drama takes its unique setup and runs with it wholesale, delivering an interesting story with two fully fleshed-out characters. With an interesting buildup and an ending open to interpretation, Sanctuary is a movie worth seeing if you're looking for something a little different.
Moon Garden
A visually-stunning horror film directed by Ryan Stevens Harris, Moon Garden is equal parts immeasurably beautiful and deeply unsettling. When a young girl enters a comatose state, she finds herself in the middle of an industrial dream world, and with nothing else but her mother's voice to guide her, she must somehow find a way to escape this horrible nightmare. While some have noted some weaknesses in the film's plot, the other positives of the film arguably outweigh these slight negatives.
Similar to Shudder's Mad God, this horror adventure takes just about every chance it can to show off its imaginative setting. Painting a world that encapsulates the ups and downs of a child's imagination, Moon Garden is absolutely worth a viewing if you have the chance to see it.
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