#7
Stanford Prison Experiment
July 17
I hadn’t heard of The Stanford Prison Experiment until looking through the summer release schedule and it popped up on my radar. The film premiered at Sundance to high marks and was snatched up by IFC, which will be releasing it in July, most likely in limited theaters and On Demand. Just check out the official plot below followed by the cast listing and I’m sure you’ll be making time for this one.
It is the summer of 1971. Dr. Philip Zimbardo launches a study on the psychology of imprisonment. Twenty-four male undergraduates are randomly assigned to be either a guard or a prisoner. Set in a simulated jail, the project unfolds. The participants rapidly embody their roles–the guards become power-hungry and sadistic, while the prisoners, subject to degradation, strategize as underdogs. It soon becomes clear that, as Zimbardo and team monitor the escalation of action through surveillance cameras, they are not fully aware of how they, too, have become part of the experiment.
Based on the real-life research of Dr. Zimbardo (who was a consultant on the film), The Stanford Prison Experiment is a dramatic period piece that remains relevant over 40 years later. Along with an impressive cast, including Billy Crudup as Zimbardo, Kyle Patrick Alvarez (C.O.G., 2013 Sundance Film Festival) delivers an intense, visceral film about the role of power that plays to both chilling and exhilarating effect.
Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Starring: Olivia Thirlby, Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan, Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Mann, Keir Gilchrist, Billy Crudup, Michael Angarano, Moises Arias, Matt Bennett, James Wolk, Johnny Simmons, Nelsan Ellis, Nicholas Braun, James Frecheville and Logan Miller
#6
Magic Mike XXL
July 1
I think the first Magic Mike caught us all a little off guard. It wasn’t nearly the stripper movie many were expecting it to be, mixing humor, shirtless men and screaming ladies with authentic drama and a great performance from the film’s leading man, Channing Tatum. On top of that we got Matthew McConaughey‘s “Ladies of Tampa”. So what will the sequel offer? Well, it sounds like it might be a bit more comical than the first one as Mike and the boys head out on a road trip, but after the first one I’m more than willing to get my hopes up that lightning strikes twice even if Steven Soderbergh isn’t directing.
Directed by Gregory Jacobs
Starring: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Andie MacDowell, Jada Pinkett Smith, Amber Heard, Michael Strahan, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Glover, Kevin Nash and Adam Rodriguez
#5
Inside Out
June 19
Can Pixar return to being the Pixar we all know and love? The Pixar that didn’t make movies such as Brave or the lackluster Monsters University? One can only hope as director Pete Docter (Up, Monsters, Inc.) brings us the animation studio’s newest original story in Inside Out, centering on a young girl and the myriad of emotions wracking her brain — Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith).
Directed by Peter Docter
Starring: Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, Phyllis Smith, Amy Poehler, Kyle MacLachlan and Diane Lane
#4
Straight Outta Compton
August 14
As a fan of the rap group N.W.A. growing up, the music alone for Straight Outta Compton had me hooked and the story is a fascinating one as well. I’m just a little curious as to how it will all play out considering Dr. Dre and Ice Cube are producing this pic, though the fact they have Eazy-E’s widow, Tomica Woods-Wright, also aboard as a producer I’m hoping a little bit of truth regarding the group’s fall-out is explored.
Directed by F. Gary Gray
Starring: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell and Paul Giamatti
