NOW, THAT ' S A SHARK
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V’ s Shark Week may be over, but Shark month is just beginning on the big screen as Jaws’ bigger, badder and much older( prehistoric in fact) brother, The Meg swims into theaters on August 10. And if monster sharks aren’ t your thing we have a bunch of other goodies to keep you entertained before summer ends. Sorry, no superheroes this month – but we’ ve got R-rated Muppets!
By Lori Vernon
Jason Statham in The Meg
The Meg Directed by John Turteltaub Rated: PG 13 • August 10
Based on Steve Alten ' s bestselling novel, Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror, a deepsea submersible is attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct. Lying disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific with its crew trapped inside time is running out. Jonas Taylor( Jason Statham), a deep-sea rescue diver, is recruited by a Chinese oceanographer( Winston Chao) to save the crew from this unstoppable threat: a pre-historic 4-ton, 75-foot shark known as the Megalodon.
The Darkest Minds Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson Rated: R • August 3
When teenagers mysteriously begin to develop powerful new abilities, they are declared a threat by the government and sent to detention camps. Ruby( Amandla Stenberg), the most amazingly powerful sixteen-year-old anyone has encountered, escapes her camp and joins a group of runaway teens seeking a safe harbor. They soon realize that the adults in power have betrayed them and running is not enough. They must band together and wage a resistance using their collective power to take back control of their future. Bradley Whitford, Mandy Moore, Wallace Langham, Gwendoline Christie and Harris Dickinson also star.
The Spy Who Dumped Me Directed by Susanna Fogel Rated: R • August 3
Audrey( Mila Kunis) and Morgan( Kate McKinnon) are best friends from L. A. who find themselves unexpectedly thrust into an international conspiracy when Audrey’ s ex-boyfriend( Justin Theroux) shows up at their apartment with a team of deadly assassins hot on his tail. Much to their surprise, the duo jumps into action, finding themselves in Europe running from assassins and a suspiciously charming British agent( Sam Heughan) as they devise a plan to save the world- and themselves.
BlacKkKlansman Directed by Spike Lee Rated: R • August 10
In the early 1970s, Ron Stallworth( John David Washington- son of Denzel) is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. The young detective soon recruits a more seasoned colleague, Flip Zimmerman( Adam Driver), into the undercover investigation of a lifetime. Together, they try to take down the extremist hate group from the inside. The film features Topher Grace and Ryan Eggold.
The Happytime Murders Directed by Brian Henson Rated: R • August 24
This Muppet movie is definitely not for the kiddos! As the tagline goes …” NO Sesame. ALL Street.” As the stars of The Happytime Gang TV show are mysteriously being murdered, two mismatched detectives must join forces to save the day. Connie Edwards( Melissa McCarthy) a type-A, sugar-addicted human, and Phil Phillips, her ex-partner, a crass, harddrinking disgraced ex-cop puppet( voice of Bill Barretta) with a connection to one of the victims – must put aside their huge differences to stop the killings and catch the culprit. Unfortunately, the evidence begins to point to Phil as the lead suspect, and he must go on the run to solve the crimes.
Juliet, Naked Directed by Jesse Peretz Rated: R • August 17
Based on the novel by Nick Hornby, Rose Byrne plays Annie, the long-suffering girlfriend of Duncan( Chris O ' Dowd)- an obsessive fan of obscure rocker Tucker Crowe( Ethan Hawke). When the acoustic demo of Tucker ' s hit record from 25 years ago surfaces, its release leads to a lifechanging encounter with the elusive rocker himself.
14 illinoisentertainer. com august 2018