A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2017-Episode V

For most mortals, the beginning of summer is marked by Memorial Day weekend. But in the galaxy of cinema, the start to the Summer Movie Season tends to begin in the first week of May. Winter is dead, Spring is mercifully on the way out, and this is where the fun begins. Here are the notable releases for the month of May.

It all gets Groot with…

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 – Marvel’s series of connected films continues with a sequel to their smash 2014 hit of galactic misfits fighting to save the galaxy. Director James Gunn returns to direct, as does his stellar cast of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, and Kurt Russell.

CHUCK – In this autobiographical story, Liev Schreiber plays the real-life inspiration for the movie ROCKY. It co-stars Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss, Michael Rapaport, and Ron Perlman.

THE DINNER – Richard Gere continues his new career as an arthouse film-actor in this adaptation of the novel of the same name in which couples at a restaurant bring their family issues to the table. Stars Steve Coogan, Laura Linney, Rebecca Hall, and Chloe Sevigny.

KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD – Director Guy Ritchie, who directed two consecutive intolerable SHERLOCK HOLMES movies, dips back into making period pieces with this fresh and hip take on King Arthur. Charlie Hunnam (TV’s SONS OF ANARCHY), stars as the would-be King, and he is joined by Djimon Hounsou (GLADIATOR),       Jude Law, Eric Bana, and Astrid Berges-Frisbey.

THE WALL – This has nothing to do with the Matt Damon film, the Pink Floyd album, or the thing in Mexico that will never get built. What it is about is a pair of American soldiers facing off against a sniper in Iraq. Stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson (KICK-ASS), and former pro-wrestler John Cena. Directed by Doug Liman (THE BOURNE INDENTITY, EDGE OF TOMORROW).

ALIEN COVENANT – Sir Ridley Scott, who brought us the classic sci-fi film ALIEN in 1979, and the shit-sandwich prequel PROMETHEUS (2012), gives those nasty aliens one more shot. This year’s doomed crew of space explorers includes Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, and James Franco.

WAKEFIELD – Bryan Cranston (TV’S BREAKING BAD), plays a New York City lawyer who hides out in his attic and only comes out when his family is gone. Co-stars Jennifer Garner.

BAYWATCH – The cheesy TV show from the 1990’s gets a cheesy shot at the movies. Stars Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES – The fifth entry in Disney’s massive series of blockbusters sets sail for another billion. Johnny Depp reprises his role as Captain Jack Sparrow, and he is joined by Oscar-winner Javier Bardem (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN), and Geoffrey Rush.

WAR MACHINE – This has nothing to do with the Marvel Comics character or the song by KISS. What it is about is a military drama in which a U.S. Army general sent to Afghanistan to bring the war to an end. Brad Pitt stars as the general, and he is joined by Ben Kingsley, Topher Grace, Anthony Michael Hall, Scoot McNairy, Alan Ruck, Meg Tilly, and Tilda Swinton.

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the month of June.