By David Weiner
11:00 AM PDT, August 5, 2011
The dog days of summer are upon us, but there are still a few new notable summer movies in theaters this weekend. Which are worth spending your hard-earned dollars on? Here's a quick breakdown...
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'Magic Trip' (limited)
Magnolia Pictures
Who's in it: Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, The Grateful Dead
Director: Alison Ellwood, Alex Gibney ('Freakonomics,' 'Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer')
The Plot: A famous author and his counterculture co-horts set off on an infamous road trip in their Magic Bus in the '60s.
Reason to See it: The inspiration for author Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, this documentary features never-before-seen footage story of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest author Ken Kesey's legendary, LSD-fueled bus journey in 1964, itself inspired by Jack Kerouac's On the Road. A perfect history lesson for the 4:20 crowd.
To Help you Decide: 'Magic Trip' trailer
Director: Alison Ellwood, Alex Gibney ('Freakonomics,' 'Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer')
The Plot: A famous author and his counterculture co-horts set off on an infamous road trip in their Magic Bus in the '60s.
Reason to See it: The inspiration for author Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, this documentary features never-before-seen footage story of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest author Ken Kesey's legendary, LSD-fueled bus journey in 1964, itself inspired by Jack Kerouac's On the Road. A perfect history lesson for the 4:20 crowd.
To Help you Decide: 'Magic Trip' trailer
'Bellflower' (limited)
Oscilloscope
Who's in it: Evan Glodell, Tyler Dawson, Jessie Wiseman
Director: Evan Glodell
The Plot: Two friends spend their time preparing for a 'Mad Max'-style apocalypse, only to be sidetracked by love and betrayal.
Reason to See it: A cool indie exercise about delusion, latent aggression and flights of fantasy using hand-made cameras designed specifically for the film, 'Bellflower' reminds you how creative and emotionally connected you can get with a low budget.
To Help you Decide: 'Bellflower' trailer
Director: Evan Glodell
The Plot: Two friends spend their time preparing for a 'Mad Max'-style apocalypse, only to be sidetracked by love and betrayal.
Reason to See it: A cool indie exercise about delusion, latent aggression and flights of fantasy using hand-made cameras designed specifically for the film, 'Bellflower' reminds you how creative and emotionally connected you can get with a low budget.
To Help you Decide: 'Bellflower' trailer
'The Whistleblower' (limited release)
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Who's in it: Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn, Monica Bellucci
Director: Larysa Kondracki
The Plot: An American cop working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia encounters serious scandal and corruption at the highest levels.
Reason to See it: 'The Constant Gardner' Oscar winner Rachel Weisz gets serious again with an intense performance as a woman taking on sex trafficking in this film inspired by actual events.
To Help you Decide: 'The Whistleblower' trailer
Director: Larysa Kondracki
The Plot: An American cop working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia encounters serious scandal and corruption at the highest levels.
Reason to See it: 'The Constant Gardner' Oscar winner Rachel Weisz gets serious again with an intense performance as a woman taking on sex trafficking in this film inspired by actual events.
To Help you Decide: 'The Whistleblower' trailer
'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' (nationwide)
20th Century Fox
Who's in it: James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow
Director: Rupert Wyatt ('The Escapist')
The Plot: A chimpanzee develops remarkable intelligence from an experimental Alzheimer's drug, ultimately leading an ape revolt against his human captors.
Reason to See it: A surprisingly slick, smart and entertaining reboot of the 'Planet of the Apes' franchise, the detailed CGI serves the story well and looks better on the big screen. But the real reason to check it out is 'King Kong' and 'Lord of the Rings' Gollum star Andy Serkis' stellar motion-capture performance as the lead ape, Caesar.
To Help you Decide: 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' trailer
Director: Rupert Wyatt ('The Escapist')
The Plot: A chimpanzee develops remarkable intelligence from an experimental Alzheimer's drug, ultimately leading an ape revolt against his human captors.
Reason to See it: A surprisingly slick, smart and entertaining reboot of the 'Planet of the Apes' franchise, the detailed CGI serves the story well and looks better on the big screen. But the real reason to check it out is 'King Kong' and 'Lord of the Rings' Gollum star Andy Serkis' stellar motion-capture performance as the lead ape, Caesar.
To Help you Decide: 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' trailer
'The Change-Up' (nationwide)
Universal
Who's in it: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde
Director: David Dobkin ('Wedding Crashers,' 'Fred Claus,' 'Clay Pigeons')
The Plot: Two friends switch bodies after wishing they had the other's "perfect" life.
Reason to See it: The chemistry between Reynolds and Bateman, who have been off-screen friends for years and just get funnier with age. The pair's pitch to see the movie employs a pretty creative marketing ploy: Ryan says, "Will you just tell them the truth here? Body-switching's a pretty f@#&ing stupid idea; that the movie's funny -- if they go they'll laugh their @#$# off." Warning: This flick is packed with some serious potty humor.
To Help you Decide: 'The Change-Up' trailer
Director: David Dobkin ('Wedding Crashers,' 'Fred Claus,' 'Clay Pigeons')
The Plot: Two friends switch bodies after wishing they had the other's "perfect" life.
Reason to See it: The chemistry between Reynolds and Bateman, who have been off-screen friends for years and just get funnier with age. The pair's pitch to see the movie employs a pretty creative marketing ploy: Ryan says, "Will you just tell them the truth here? Body-switching's a pretty f@#&ing stupid idea; that the movie's funny -- if they go they'll laugh their @#$# off." Warning: This flick is packed with some serious potty humor.
To Help you Decide: 'The Change-Up' trailer