May has arrived and with it, a variety of films to enjoy. There are a panoply of genres this month, so grab some overpriced – but entirely necessary – popcorn and head into the theater.
Start the month off with a bang and check out The Fall Guy. Based on a 1980s television series of the same name, the film stars Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers, a past-his-prime stuntman who finds himself trying to locate the missing star of Jody Moreno’s (Emily Blunt) new movie. The trailer offers a lot of action set pieces and Gosling has charm to spare. The film is directed by David Leitch, known for John Wick and Bullet Train, who is no stranger to excellent action choreography, so hopefully it shines through when it releases on May 3.
For your spooky fix, make sure to catch
I Saw the TV Glow. A horror-thriller distributed by A24, the movie revolves around two teens who reminisce about a TV show they used to watch. The trailer shows off some bizarre imagery, seemingly blurring the lines between reality and fiction as strange events happen. The horror element might be light, as the tone feels more coming-of-age in a wholly unique fashion, but we’ll find out together (and hold hands if it’s scary) when it comes out on May 3.
For some science fiction with a long and unwieldy title, look no further than Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The fourth film in the Planet of the Apes rebooted series and set nearly 300 years after the last film, the story shows that ape civilizations have grown rapidly while humanity has regressed to a feral state. When the leader of the apes begins to enslave certain clans, a chimpanzee decides to take action. The CGI and motion capture on display is, as it was in previous films, phenomenal. Andy Serkis, who played the lead role in the other entries, will be sorely missed this time around, but hopefully this story can stand on its own when it releases on May 10.
For a biographical drama, make sure to see Back to Black. The film tells the story of the meteoritic rise and tragically early end of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, played by Marisa Abela. The film will likely hit all the highs and lows of her life, including the creation of her international hit “Rehab.” It co-stars Jack O’Connell and Eddie Marsan and is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, who also directed a (moderately) well-received biopic about John Lennon. It hits theaters on May 17.
Lastly, get your post-apocalyptic fare with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy as a young Furiosa, a character that first appeared in Mad Max: Fury Road played by Charlize Theron, the prequel looks to tell her origin story as she tangles with Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) and tries to find her way home. George Miller returns to direct and it looks to be an action packed thrill ride. It releases on May 24.
Main image: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes; photo courtesy 20th Century Studios, all rights reserved
