August has arrived and the money-printing blockbuster, Suicide Squad, is breaking box office records. My review is coming shortly for the latest DC Comics film, but (spoiler alert!) it's a pretty lofty letdown. Therefore, you may want to turn to some of the new films arriving to DVD and Blu-Ray this month (July's suggestions). So without making you wait any longer, here are my picks for August's newest movie options.
The Nice Guys - 3 stars out of 4 - (Read my full review here)
Despite being known for his most recent superhero effort, Iron Man 3, writer/director Shane Black has delivered on of 2016's finest films so far with his crime comedy, The Nice Guys. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe star as a private investigator and an "enforcer" who team up together to piece together the suicide of a porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and its possible connections with another missing woman. The Nice Guys succeeds with a heavy dose of laugh-out-loud humor that eases the audience through the film's nearly two hour running time. There's no shortage of entertainment value here and I wouldn't be surprised to see a sequel developed in the near future. (August 23rd)
Keanu - 3 stars out of 4 - (Read my full review here)
As a fan of the sketch comedy show, Key & Peele, I was eager to watch the duo's major motion debut, Keanu. And needless to say, I was extremely pleased with the result. After being recently dumped by his girlfriend, Rell Williams (Jordan Peele) finds solace in an adorable kitten who wanders to his doorstep. But when the feline named Keanu goes missing, Rell and his best friend, Clarence (Keegan-Michael Key) must pose as drug dealing gangsters on the mean city streets in order to bring Keanu home. The film's riotous laughs are in full force as the action comedy unfolds. Some of its subplots are hit or miss and its finale is a bit of a disappointment, yet Keanu is a stellar comedic effort that's certainly worth a watch. (August 2nd)
The Jungle Book - 2 and a half stars out of 4 - (Read my rapid review here)
Prior to seeing Jon Favreau's live action feature, I never had a formal introduction to the iconic children's tale, The Jungle Book. And for a first taste of the popular story, I was pleasantly surprised with the film. Mowgli (Neel Sethi) is a man-cub raised by wolves deep in the jungle. But after the villainous tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba) threatens Mowgli's life and banishes him from the jungle, the boy embarks on a journey of self discovery as he migrates back to human civilization. Favreau's winning adaptation of the timeless Disney classic offers an engaging story and fantastic visual effects. I can only imagine that lovers of the animated version and newcomers like myself will all enjoy this well-made children's tale that's already garnered a sequel which is in early stages of development. (August 30th)
Honorable Mention: Indie films are all over August's newly available selections. The adapted fan-favorite romance film, Me Before You (8/30), and the odd futuristic film, The Lobster (8/2) headline the list. Other indie options include the comedy Weiner-Dog (8/23), Rebecca Miller's Maggie's Plan (8/23), and the well-received true story of Indian mathematician Ramanujan with The Man Who Knew Infinity (8/23). Also available are the children's flick Angry Birds (8/16) and the wild futuristic adapted feature, High-Rise (8/2).
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