SUMMER MOVIE PREVIEW!

It’s here!  As of midnight last night, the summer movie season is officially in session.  This might seem crazy (since it is, in fact, not yet actually summer yet) but for some reason Hollywood decided long ago that their summer calendar should encompass the entirety of May, which has become a kickoff month for popcorn extravaganzas.  For some people, this means the beginning of four months inflamed with mindless blockbusters, but I don’t feel that way.  Summer is, truth be told, my favorite movie season of the year.

            Why?  I’ll tell you.  It’s not that the best movies come out in May, June, July, and August—in fact, those months play host to some of the worst.  And yet the anticipation is at its most thrilling during that time.  Those months are packed with franchise films and for me, one of the most giddily exciting experiences in the world is looking forward to a reunion with my favorite characters, whether they be merry Marvel mutants or the bridge crew of a certain Federation starship.  By that count, I’m as psyched about 2013 as I’ve been about any summer, and it is because of these films….

THE BLING RING While there are many directors I love, I have no hesitation in naming Sofia Coppola as my favorite.  As the auteur behind “Lost in Translation” and “Somewhere,” she’s grown into a rarity—a filmmaker who can craft beautifully poetic images while maintaining a slow rhythm that deepens their realism.  So how will she apply that style to a crime movie?  I’m curious, because “The Bling Ring” is about a group of teenagers stealing from celebrities…and getting caught.  If the trailer is any indication, the film promises deliciously nasty social commentary and a hilariously exaggerated performance by Emma Watson.  Release date: June 14.

BLUE JASMINE For the past eight years, Woody Allen has been on a self-deprecating hot streak.  Yet his last film, “To Rome With Love,” displayed a new level of maturity—it was a witty yet rueful ensemble comedy that dealt with fame, aging, and love in a truthful and nimbly entertaining fashion.  With any luck, “Blue Jasmine” will extend that success, with a plot that travels between New York and San Francisco and a starring role for Alec Baldwin, who also starred in “To Rome.”  Release date: July 26.

ONLY GOD FORGIVES It could be sickening.  A tale of a deadly boxing match in Bangkok, “Only God Forgives” is the work of Nicolas Winding Refn, a director who loves to indulge in poetically graphic violence.  Yet Mr. Refn (whose last film was the amazing “Drive”) is also a screen poet, a man who revels in powerful emotions (whether they be love or revenge) and gorgeous shots of luminous, shadowy skyscrapers.  The chance that “Only God Forgives” will offer such beauty once more (along with the opportunity to see Mr. Refn reunited with his “Drive” star, Ryan Gosling, an actor emotes more with his pupils than many can communicate with a single word) is a good enough reason to see it, as far as I’m concerned.  Release date: July 19. 

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS “Tiberius?  Are you kidding me?  No way, that’s the worst.  Let’s name him after your dad—let’s call him Jim.”  Four years ago, those words were spoken in one of the saddest and most beautiful scenes in cinematic history—the opening of “Star Trek.”  And while the film was focused on the fledgling career of would be space explorer-warrior Jim Kirk (Chris Pine), its inaugural story of how Kirk’s father died in battle was what truly revealed the movie’s powerfully emotional core.  Now, “Trek” director J.J. Abrams has returned with a sequel that reunites the same cast and crew, from Mr. Pine to cinematographer Dan Mindel (which means you can expect even more richly colored and kinetically composed shots).  And with the increased stakes (provided by Benedict Cumberbatch’s exceedingly fashionable antagonist) it may be that this time around, the emotions will run higher still.  Release date: May 17.

THE WOLVERINE Ever since he first punched his way through “X-Men,” Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) has been a compelling character, a warrior whose ruthlessness is undercut by his compassion.  With this film, those qualities will be tested in a new landscape—Japan, in the near future, where Wolverine wrestles with his immortality and finds himself caught in a web of treachery and intrigue.  With the talented James Mangold directing, expect nifty, well-choreographed action, great drama, and a stellar performance from Mr. Jackman (Mr. Mangold directed one of the actor’s greatest performances, in the terrific romantic comedy “Kate and Leopold”).  And if that doesn’t entice you, maybe this will—the film (release date: July 26) should get you in the mood for Wolverine’s next appearance in a movie called…never mind.  I think I’ll wait to write about that one until next year’s summer movie preview. J