WAUKESHA - Is there anything
better than a lazy Fourth of July weekend? Parades, fireworks,
barbecue and sleeping in - it is truly one of the greatest
holidays of the year.
And if you’re a movie buff like me, it’s also the
ideal, super-sized weekend to catch up on all those movies
that you missed at the multiplex. One of my favorite holiday
traditions is pulling up to the video store with my brother on
Wednesday night and getting a bundle of five-day rental that I’ll
proceed to watch on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The trick,
you see, is nabbing the top titles before others do.
If you’re interested in catching up on the hottest new
releases, here are my picks: four must-see new releases for
the Fourth of July.
"The Illusionist"
One of the most charming animated films you’ll ever see,
"The Illusionist" tells the story of a magician
slowly realizing that his artistry is no longer in need. As he
copes with dwindling interest and attendance, a young fan
flocks to his side. Becoming a surrogate father, he spends his
days working to care for his adopted girl. More than just a
moving character study, what also sets the film apart is its
structure: Almost a silent film playing out in pantomime and
emotion, the animation scheme is inviting, comforting and
endlessly heartwarming. Nominated for an animated film Oscar
in February, this is one of the year’s unsung gems.
"Transcendent Man"
This little-seen documentary is one of my favorite finds of
2011. It’s about Ray Kurzweil, the futurist who has made
bold predictions about the future - and the ways in which
robotics and technology will forever alter human experience.
"Transcendent Man" is one of the most imaginative
and hypnotic documentaries I’ve ever seen. It will make you
rethink everything you’ve assumed about the future of
mankind.
"The Adjustment Bureau"
No, it’s not the best adaptation of a Philip K. Dick book
(that would be "Blade Runner"), but "The
Adjustment Bureau" has some interesting thoughts about
destiny vs. free will, and one man’s bid to go against the
life he was designed to live. The "Bureau" of the
title is a gang of fedora-wearing supernatural beings who keep
the world moving "according to plan." Matt Damon is
the politician who falls in love, messing up the design. But
beyond the sci-fi ideology, what’s most notable about
"The Adjustment Bureau" is the electric, whimsical
chemistry of Damon and Emily Blunt. It’s one of the year’s
great romances.
"True Grit"
Jeff Bridges may have top billing, but the real reason to
see "True Grit" is to witness the emergence of young
Hailee Steinfeld, the girl who didn’t just wow film critics
but who also rose to prominence at the Academy Awards. The
latest film from the Coen Brothers, "True Grit" is
the cold, chiseled reimagining of the famous Western, about a
girl in mourning who contracts a U.S. marshal to scour the
Wild West for her father’s murderer.
Email: snyderreviews@hotmail.com
