FRIDAY PREVIEW: MAY 20th

Here we go, yeah, here we go again. Last weekend has an interesting turnout, check out the money hogs from the weekend of the 13th;

1st Place: Thor ($34.5 Million)
2nd Place: Bridesmaids ($24.4 Million)
3rd Place: Fast Five ($19.5 Million)
4th Place: Priest ($14.5 Million)
5th Place: Rio ($8 Million)

Thor has been in first place for two weeks now, and Fast Five is still taking a solid chunk from the rest of Hollywood, despite the fact that it's been out for a few weeks already. Are any potential competitors being released this week? Hit the jump to check it out...


Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Directed by: Rob Marshall
Written by: Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie, Jay Wolpert
Length: 2 hrs 17 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush
Trailer


Synopsis:

Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it too. (IMDb)

The third Pirates movie that shouldn't have been made? Perhaps. Lacking both Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush and Oscar nominee Johnny Depp have to helm the Caribbean on their own (with some new help, including Ian McShane and Penelope Cruz). Although I'm a huge Captain Jack Sparrow fan, I feel like Disney is really beating a dead horse, with a possible fifth Pirates movie already in the works. With On Stranger Tides being the first of the series not directed by Gore Verbinski, I'm afraid the Pirates of the Caribbean series might be dead in the water.




Midnight in Paris

Directed by: Woody Allen

Written by: Woody Allen

Length: 1 hr 40 mins

Rated: PG-13

Cast: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Marion Cotillard, Adrien Brody, Michael Sheen
Trailer

Synopsis:

A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better. (IMDb)

The trailer doesn't help reveal much about the already vague synopsis, but this could be a good thing. Written and Directed by the icon, Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris has some of the better romantic comedy A-listers such as Owen Wilson (Wedding Crashers) and Rachel McAdams (also, Wedding Crashers). A mysteriously vague plot mixed with some above-par actors (in my opinion) and Woody Allen's solid track record means Midnight in Paris is sure to entertain just about anybody on a solid dinner and a movie date.


Louder Than a Bomb

Directed by: Greg Jacobs, Jon Siskel
Length: 1 hr 39 mins.
Rated: Unrated
Cast: Kevin Coval, Adam Gottlieb, Elizabeth Graf
Trailer

Synopsis:

By turns hopeful and heartbreaking, Louder Than a Bomb follows the fortunes of four Chicago-area high school poetry teams as they prepare for and compete in the world's largest youth slam.

Boom. The (only) documentary of the week. This movie seriously interests me, although it may be years until I get the privilege of watching it; it's less-than limited release isn't going to send it to your city unless you've got either a film festival going on, or live in Chicago. Read the synopsis, check out the trailer, and make the decision if this is something for you. For the record, it's something for me.


Conclusion:
Midnight in Paris is the only film this week that I'd make a half-assed effort to see (you won't catch me dead driving to Chicago). A charming cast and experienced director only spells a win for me. Pirates was good eight years ago, but I think Disney has taken the series way too far, even with making a third. The fourth is sure to be no better. Louder Than a Bomb looks pretty interesting to me, but once again, good luck finding it in even your local artsy-film theater.

Watch responsibly.