Jennica Martin
Staff Writer
May is usually not the most exciting month to see films, with most blockbuster films waiting until the holidays and the summer to premiere. But there are a few potential hidden gems that will be shown this month. Here is a list of films, ranging from small independent dramas to big blockbuster action films, that will come out this month.
“Tully” – May 4
“Tully” is a drama starring Charlize Theron as an exhausted, overworked mother who develops a strong, unique friendship with her new nanny Tully, played by Mackenzie Davis. The film is directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody, who have worked together on other indie comedies like “Juno” and “Young Adult,” so we can expect “Tully” to share the same kind of down-to-earth outlook and subtle humor featured in Reitman’s previous films.
“Bad Samaritan” – May 4
“Bad Samaritan” is a thriller about a pair of burglars who find a captive woman in one of the houses they try to rob. The film stars former “Doctor Who” star David Tennant as the main antagonist and Irish actor Robert Sheehan as one of the burglars, who seem to have an interesting, challenging dynamic in this film. The film looks more like a campy thriller than a clever one, but it has the potential of being a “so bad that it’s good” kind of film.
“Terminal” – May 11
“Terminal” is an eccentric thriller about a number of unique characters, including a pair of assassins, a waitress with a double life, a terminally ill teacher, and a mysterious janitor, whose lives intersect due to their connection to a criminal mastermind. This film stars many famous actors, including Margot Robbie as the waitress, Simon Pegg as the teacher, and Mike Meyers as the janitor, so we can expect these characters to be distinct and memorable. This looks like a weird film, but it’s original.
“On Chesil Beach” – May 18
“On Chesil Beach” is a British drama about a young couple in the 1960s who struggle with personal problems and societal pressures that threaten their relationship. The film stars Oscar-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan as Florence Ponting and actor Billy Howle as Edward Mayhew, who both also star in “The Seagull” (also out this month), so they should have strong chemistry and a compelling dynamic in this film. The film, and the book it’s based on, is written by Ian McEwan, the author of “Atonement.” Based on that, we can expect this film to have similar heartbreaking and dramatic moments.
“How to Talk to Girls at Parties” – May 18
“How to Talk to Girls at Parties” is a sci-fi comedy about an alien named Zan, played by Elle Fanning, who befriends punk teenager named Enn during the height of the punk rock era in 1970s London. The film also stars Nicole Kidman as Queen Boadicea, one of the punk rock leaders in the neighborhood, who seems like a wild and fun character. The film looks like a clash between sci-fi and punk, which is a fun take on the sci-fi genre. It also looks a bit cheesy, but that might be outweighed by how fun and entertaining this film could be.
“Deadpool 2” – May 18
After surprising everyone with its unique, crude take on the superhero genre, Deadpool is coming back in the sequel “Deadpool 2.” In this film, the comical mercenary Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds, takes on a new formidable adversary from the future, Cable, played by Josh Brolin. Deadpool is also joined by other iconic comic book characters like Domino, played by Zazie Beetz. Those who enjoyed the witty characters, crass humor, and heavy violence in the first film will probably enjoy this film as well.
“Solo: A Star Wars Story” – May 25
The biggest upcoming film this month is “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which is a prequel about the iconic Star Wars character Han Solo. This film follows Han Solo as he becomes a smuggler and meets other iconic characters like Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian. Han Solo is played by Alden Ehrenreich, who seems to have approached the character in his own distinct, compelling way, rather than acting as a carbon copy of Harrison Ford. The film also features many other famous actors like Donald Glover as Lando Calrission, Emilia Clarke as the new character Qi’Ra, and Woody Harrelson as another new character, Tobias Beckett. After the director change-up from Phil Lord and Chris Miller to Ron Howard, it’s possible that this film will be an inconsistent mess. However, this film still looks like it will be fun and nostalgic, especially for those who love Han Solo and the Star Wars universe.