New releases August

(God Bless America)

The winter brings films that make you want to take a holiday, or fall in love and make love, or make you feel like a hero or the silliest of dopes. The summer is no different. An overview of this month’s new releases.

The Double
RELEASE 1/8

Who? By Michael Brandt, with Richard Gere and Topher Grace
What? Following the murder of an American senator, a retired CIA agent and a young FBI agent reopen the hunt for the legendary Soviet hit-man “Cassius”.
Why? You can always make time for a tough political thriller. The writers had hits with 3:10 to Yuma and Wanted.
Why not? The American press had mixed feelings about raking up the Cold War.



The Five-Year Engagement
RELEASE 1/8

Who? We know director Nick Stoller and lead actor Jason Segel from the pleasant Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Choosing Emily Blunt shows they have good taste.
What? A young betrothed couple faces numerous obstacles while trying to get hitched.
Why? Inspiration for this charming, mature romantic comedy was found in real life.
Why not? The first reactions are all good, but almost everyone says the film is too long.



ATM
RELEASE 15/8
Who? By David Brooks, with Alice Eve and Josh Peck, an American trio trying to break through
What? After stopping at an ATM, three colleagues are forced by a stranger to play a deadly cat-and-mouse game.
Why? This horror film’s writer collaborated on the fantastic Buried.
Why not? If the first reactions are to be believed, he is all out of good ideas.



Friends with Kids
RELEASE 22/8

Who? By Jennifer Westfeldt, with Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, and Kristen Wiig
What? Two single friends in their thirties enviously watch how their friends’ relationships change after having children. They decide to raise a child together whilst continuing to look for true love.
Why? “If the leads ultimately conform to rom-com type, there’s enough messiness, heartbreak, and hurt around them to stop the movie becoming cosily bland,” we read somewhere.
Why not? “While this results in some genuine moments of truth, most scenes feel forced to fit the standard rom-com template,” we read elsewhere.



God Bless America
RELEASE 22/8

Who? By Bobcat Goldthwait, with Joel Murray and Tara Lynne Barr
What? In this black comedy, a terminally ill, disillusioned man and a sixteen-year-old young woman decide to save America from the most repugnant people.
Why? Opinion is divided. The aye camp praises the good performances, witty dialogues, and the handful of funny jokes.
Why not? The nay camp says the satire dries up even before the halfway point.