A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2018 - Episode VIII

With a few notable exceptions, this hasn’t been the most exciting Summers for movies, so maybe it’s a good thing that we’re in the final month of the season…with faint whispers and rumblings of Oscar Season on the horizon. In the meantime, here are the notable releases for the month of August.

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN – This Disney production of live action and animation has an adult Christopher Robin, the little boy from the Winnie the Pooh stories, all grown-up and without his sense of imagination…when he is visited by his old friends. Ewan McGregor plays Christopher, and he is joined by Hayley Atwell (AGENT CARTER). Directed by Marc Forster (FINDING NEVERLAND).

MEG – A group of scientists attempt to stop a 75-foot giant shark from terrorizing a beach. Jason Statham stars. Directed by John Turteltaub (NATIONAL TREASURE).

THE DARKEST MINDS – In this new and original take on the superhero genre, a group of teens go on the run from the government after obtaining superpowers. It stars Amanda Stenberg, Mandy Moore, and Gwendoline Christie (THE FORCE AWAKENS).

THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME – Two best friends, played by actress Mila Kunis and Saturday Night Live sketch-artist Kate McKinnon, are chased through Europe after one of their exes turns out to be a CIA agent.

BLACKKKLANSMAN – Director Spike Lee (MALCOM X, INSIDE MAN), returns with this true story about an African-American detective who infiltrates and exposes the Ku Klux Klan. It stars John David Washington, Adam Driver, and Topher Grace.

SLENDER MAN – This supernatural horror film brings the creepy urban legend of the slender man to life.

ALPHA – Kodi Smit-McPhee (THE ROAD, LET ME IN), plays a young hunter who befriends an injured wolf during the ice age. Directed by Albert Hughes (FROM HELL, THE BOOK OF ELI).

MILE 22 – Director Peter Berg and actor Mark Wahlberg team up for their third film in a year (PATRIOTS DAY, DEEPWATER HORIZON). This time a CIA task force escorts an asset while being hunted by terrorists. It co-stars John Malkovich and Ronda Rousey.

THE HAPPY TIME MURDERS – Brian Henson (son of Jim), directs this puppet-action black comedy where puppets exist as living things. Here, a puppet private investigator and his old partner, played by Melissa McCarthy (the girl who falls down all the time), investigate a puppet serial murderer. It co-stars Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale, and Elizabeth Banks.

PAPILLON – In this remake of the 1973 film, Charlie Hunnam (TV’S SONS OF ANARCHY), plays a safecracker who is unjustly imprisoned. He is joined by Rami Malek and Tommy Flanagan.

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the first month of Oscar Season.