The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
directed by Rob Cohen
Brendan Fraser is back! No, not in 3D this time, but as brave explorer Rick O’Connell in the third Mummy movie. Neither the original director (Stephen Sommers) nor the original Mrs. O’Connell (played by the talented Rachel Weisz) have returned with Mr. Fraser in this new installment. Instead, The Fast and the Furious director Rob Cohen takes the director’s chair and Maria Bello plays Fraser’s wife and daring partner through the catacombs of ancient China to defeat a Mummy’s dooming curse. With a budget of $175 million, the latest Mummy flick is set to impress with its use of special effects, even though critics have never been impressed with the series, which has done smashingly well at the box office. Who knows what will come with a new director and leading lady.
Swing Vote
directed by Joshua Michael Stern
What if the presidential election came down to one man’s vote? More specifically, Kevin Costner’s vote? In this new politically charged comedy spoof on the 2000 election, this very question is posed. Costner takes the role of Bud, an apathetic American who, by some fluke, ends up being the sole decider of the next White House resident. Kelsey Grammer stars as the current president, while Stanley Tucci and Dennis Hopper play the candidates fighting for Bud’s attention. So if you just can’t wait for November to roll around, check out this one to hold you off until Election Day.
The Midnight Meat Train
directed by Ryuhei Kitamura
Horror fans beware: A new sort of killer is in town. This one goes after victims riding the subway, and is being hunted down by an average photographer. Set in New York City yet filmed in Los Angeles, the movie is based on Clive Barker’s short story of the same name. Barker, who is known for such works as the Candyman trilogy and Hellraiser movies, brings Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb and Brooke Shields along for the ride in this latest adaptation. Now the reason for the title? One can only speculate the worst for the poor victims riding the train.
Frozen River
directed by Courtney Hunt
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Drama at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Frozen River marks writer-director Courtney Hunt’s first feature film. The drama, which is set just days before Christmas, follows two single mothers assisting illegal immigrants across the ice-covered St. Lawrence River to move from Canada to New York. The movie seems like a good pick if you’re looking to take a break from the oppressive summer heat and out-of-this-world, big-budget fare.
In Search of a Midnight Kiss
directed by Alex Holdridge
In Search of a Midnight Kiss is yet another movie based on the online dating phenomena—but this one is of a different color. Shot in black and white and released by IFC First Take, the movie follows cynical Angelenos on a New Year’s Eve search for love. An apathetic man, played by Scoot McNairy, reluctantly places an ad on craigslist with the subject “Misanthrope seeks misanthrope,” as he searches for a woman to kiss when the clock reaches midnight.
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