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Star Trek, Wolverine dominate spring's wild film line-up
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Economic meltdown? Please. The box office is celebrating it’s most
financially lucrative first quarter in years. And, by the looks of things,
spring’s offerings will keep everything in the black. Take a peek at the
five films destined to turn heads this season.
The Soloist
Backstory: Robert Downey Jr. plays soul-troubled newspaper columnist Steve
Lopez, a guy caught up in a never-ending swirl of emotional ellipses. Things
shift when Robert meets a street musician, Nathaniel (Jamie Foxx). Over
time, Robert becomes more captivated by Nathaniel’s history, which unfolds,
in bits, like a tragic opera—Nathaniel was a music protégé before things
turned horribly dark. Based on a true story.
Buzz: Big. And after rising out of his own self-induced career coma, Downey
can do no wrong these days. (Iron Man anyone?) But some already sniff an
Oscar nom for co-star Jamie Foxx. Probably the best pairing of actors this
season. Opens: April 24
Tyson
Backstory: James Toback writes and directs this doc that combines original
interviews and photos of heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson, his career,
those scandals (Robin Givens) and oh, so much more.
Buzz: Good. Watch for how many times Toback captures Tyson in an emotional
grip-hold, forcing the man to tell the truth about his life—or not. Expect a
gripping tale with rare footage of a fallen icon. Opens: Limited release April 24
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Backstory: There’s been talk of an X-Men prequel for some time and who
better to begin an “Origins” franchise than Hugh Jackman.) The tale
chronicles how the character Wolverine came to be and the never-can-go-back
moments that fuel his troubled psyche in a land of emerging mutants. Good
news? Besides the steel-clawed W, there are a few other “X-Men” to
appreciate here. Liev Schreiber plays Sabretooth and Ryan Reynolds is
Deadpool. Most fun? Hard to say yet but watch for The Blob (Kevin Durand) to
be of interest—the character has the ability to become so dense he can
withstand bullets and many other projectiles and explosives.
Buzz: Mondo. (Don’t fret—Jackman won’t break out into song here.) Look for
another Origins films—Magneto—to hit theaters in 2011. Opens: May 1
Star Trek
Backstory: Think of it as another prequel. Here, Capt. James T. Kirk is
played by Chris Pine. Heroes alum Zachary Quinto morphs into Spock—thick
eyebrows and all. The tale follows Kirk and other USS Enterprise crew
members in their early years.
Buzz: Mixed to intense. Die-hard Trek fans may have to leave their
often-too-sweet devotion for the Trek of yore at the door and embrace a more
realistic, darker version of space, the final frontier, and Hollywood’s
ongoing mission to search for new ways to reinvent fallen film franchises.
Fortunately, director J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, Fringe) seems to be
operating at warp speed these days. Opens: May 8
Terminator: Salvation
Backstory: No, TV’s The Sarah Connor Chronicles wasn’t enough. We’ll have to
wander through another Terminator soiree, this one set in the future where
John Connor (Christian Bale) keeps wiping perspiration off his brow as he
and his followers do everything they can to stop those machines.
Buzz: Nice. It didn’t hurt publicity one bit when a media blitz ripped Bale
a new one after audio was released chronicling the actor’s overheated tirade
directed at a Terminator crew member. Opens: May 22
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