Pitt, McAdams, Williams deliver the drama

Dramas in the summertime are a bit different than those released the rest of the year. They’re sort of the “fractured fairytales” of drama, not quite as straight-laced as their winter brethren. This group includes World War II soldiers who scalp Nazis, lovers kept apart by time travel, a light-hearted look at Woodstock, a grisly murder investigation, and a dad who wants to hide the way his son died.

“Inglourious Basterds”

Trailer   ‘Inglourious Basterds’: Aug. 21 Brad Pitt stars in this Quentin Tarantino film about a group of Jewish soldiers who scalp and kill Nazis.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Bruhl, Eli Roth, Samm Levine, B.J. Novak, Cloris Leachman, Samuel L. Jackman
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Story: Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to spread fear through the ranks of the Third Reich during World War II by scalping and killing Nazis. Meanwhile, a young Jewish woman (Laurent) witnesses the death of her parents at the hands of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Waltz). She escapes to Paris, but vows revenge — and eventually crosses paths with the Basterds who can help her achieve it.
Worth seeing? Yes. Tarantino spent more than a decade writing the film and it has definitely polarized critics. After seeing it at Cannes, the U.K. Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw wrote, “It isn't funny; it isn't exciting; it isn't a realistic war movie, yet neither is it an entertaining genre spoof or a clever counterfactual wartime yarn.” However, London Times critic James Christopher wrote, “This is a fairy tale of unusual and thoughtful daring. A return, at last, by Tarantino to his combustible and operatic best.” Waltz took home the best actor award at Cannes. If you like incredibly visceral violence — as most true Tarantino fans do — you just have to go take a look. The squeamish should stay far away.
Web site: http://www.inglouriousbasterds-movie.com/#/trailer-us
Release date: Aug. 21

“Taking Woodstock”

Video   ‘Taking Woodstock’: Aug. 28 Demetri Martin stars as a man working at his parents' hotel in the Catskills who manages to help make Woodstock happen.

Starring: Demetri Martin, Emile Hirsch, Imelda Staunton, Henry Goodman, Jonathan Groff, Mamie Gummer
Director: Ang Lee
Story: Inspired by the true story of Elliot Tiber (Martin), this film tells the story of how Tiber and his family played roles in making the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival happen in 1969. The family’s dilapidated motel unexpectedly becomes the epicenter for folks heading out to the festival.
Worth seeing? Seems like light fare, but could be nice for a summer day. Lee reportedly made the film because he needed a break from intense dramas such as “Brokeback Mountain” and “Lust/Caution.” “I was desperate to do a comedy,” he told Entertainment Weekly. The U.K. Telegraph wrote, “It's almost too sweet for its own good, tasteful rather than transcendental, imbued with a nostalgia that Lee doesn't convince us he truly feels.” The Playlist critic described the film as “harmless reefer without much kick.”
Web site: http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film
/taking_woodstock
Release date: Aug. 14

“The Time Traveler’s Wife”

Video   'The Time Traveler's Wife': Aug. 14 Eric Bana stars as a man who involuntarily travels through time and Rachel McAdams stars as the woman he loves and keeps coming back to.

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Arliss Howard, Ron Livingston
Director: Robert Schwentke
Story: Based on the book by Audrey Niffenegger, the film tells the story about a Chicago librarian (Bana) who has a genetic disorder that causes him to travel through time when he feels stress. Though he disappears a lot, he still tries to build a romance with an artist (McAdams).
Worth seeing? Maybe. Director Schwentke (“Flightplan”) told Entertainment Weekly that the book “allowed us to tell a wonderful, classic love story with a very new reason to keep the lovers apart.” However, this film was originally supposed to hit theaters in fall of 2008. McAdams told Entertainment Weekly that Bana’s hair was the reason for the delay. “We were waiting for Eric’s hair to grow to do reshoots,” she said. “Eric had gone off and played the villain in ‘Star Trek’ and had to shave his head.” Of course, her explanation doesn’t address why there was a need for reshoots to begin with.
Web site: http://www.thetimetravelerswifemovie.com/
Release date: Aug. 14

“All Good Things”
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lily Rabe
Director: Andrew Jarecki
Story: Based on the true story of real-estate heir Robert Durst, the film tells the story of a New York real-estate agent (Gosling) whose lover (Dunst) suddenly disappears. Morgan plays a down-and-out detective who stumbles on some information that could reveal what happened to the girl. Suddenly, other friends of the girl start to turn up dead.
Worth seeing? Sounds compelling, especially if you’re a true-crime buff. The case it’s based on (spoilers, of course) is pretty darn grisly. Jarecki is best known for his intense documentary “Capturing the Friedmans.” He told Variety, “It was less about wanting to do a narrative feature vs. a documentary and more about the merits of this particular project.” He also shot hundreds of hours of extra footage that may end up on the DVD.
Web site: NA
Release date: July 24

“World’s Greatest Dad”
Starring: Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Henry Simmons
Director: Bob Goldthwait
Story: When his son (Daryl Sabara) dies during a “freak masturbation accident,” a father (Williams) fakes a suicide note to hide the way his son died. When the suicide note is published in the paper, people are moved by the writing, so the father goes on to write an entire fake journal that he passes off as his son’s.
Worth seeing? Yes. If you saw “Sleeping Dogs Lie,” about a girl that confesses an embarrassing sexual secret involving her dog, you know that Goldthwait isn’t afraid of subject matter that may make viewers uncomfortable. This dramedy follows in that twisted yet funny path. Cinematical noted, “You'll have to have a strong respect for gallows humor and uncomfortable silences.” Comparing it to the film “Heathers,” a Chud.com critic wrote, “It’s possible to make a movie as loaded with cynicism and darkness as this one and have it be not only great but also funny and, in the end, sort of weirdly sweet.”
Web site: NA
Release date: Aug. 21

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