The sleeper hit is always a nice discovery. Usually it’s a movie that’s a surprise hit in some kind of way, one that exceeds expectations and then finds new life via strong word-of-mouth.
Leading candidates include The Campaign (Aug.10) with Game Change director Jay Roach lightening up after his Sarah Palin movie to bring us a congressional race between incumbent Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) and challenger Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis). The trailers so far are in the form of political ads and they hold a lot of promise.
Rob Reiner scored a huge sleeper hit with The Bucket List five years ago and his re-teaming effort with Morgan Freeman as a writer and a miserable drunk in The Magic of Belle Isle (Jul.6) appears bound for the same kind of success. It hits theaters in July but will be available on-demand a few weeks before that.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (Jun.22) stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in this winning-looking dramedy about an impending asteroid’s collision with Earth, leaving its citizens only 3 weeks to live. It’s not the easiest time of year for light comedies to do well, but if there’s one that can, it’s this one. Steve Carell’s on a role.
Timur Bekmambetov did well for himself with his 2008 hit Wanted, exceeding expectations at the box office with a mighty $134 million take. This time he helms the Tim Burton produced Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (Jun.22). This will either be so bad that it’s good, or so bad that it’s reprehensible.
Sparkle (Aug.17) features Whitney Houston‘s final performance in this flick about a set of young women who make it big as a trio. Starring Jordin Sparks. If it’s anything like Dreamgirls, it’ll be a sleeper; if it’s more like Glitter, it’ll be a stinker.
High School (Jun.1) looks to become this year’s Super Bad, starring Adrien Brody.
Ted (now opening Jun.29 from July 13th due to GI:Joe 2 opening date moved to 2013) stars Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis with Seth MacFarlane directing and providing the voice of Marky Mark’s teddy bear, which came to life long ago upon a wish he made when he was a boy.
Red Lights (Jul.13) boasts an impressive cast with Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver and Robert De Niro, in this story about secret officials who investigate paranormal activities. Credible trailer inspires attention.
Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine) teams up again with the creators of ‘Sunshine’, this time in the dramedy Ruby Sparks (Jul.20) as a writer whose character comes to life and falls in love with him.
- MovieJay
It’s a very poorly kept secret that I think most the big network’s programming is crap. The BBC makes the best shows and in the States, smaller networks such us USA Network, F/X, and HBO make the best programming in my eyes.
All this to say that I was very excited to see First Promo for FX’s Boxing Drama Series LIGHTS OUT over on Collider
This show looks great. Nice casting and pace. F/X has put out some really nice shows lately so there is no reason to believe this won’t be great as well.
The Synopsis of the story is:
Lights Out, from Executive Producer/Showrunner Warren Leight (In Treatment), stars Holt McCallany (CSI: Miami) as an aging former heavyweight boxing champion who struggles to find his identity and support his wife and three daughters after retiring from the ring. Financial problems leave him at a perilous crossroads – battling the urge to return to boxing or reluctantly accepting a job as a brutal and intimidating debt collector. Catherine McCormack (Braveheart) co-stars as “Theresa Leary,” Lights’ wife who is finishing her medical residency; Pablo Schreiber (Law & Order) as “Johnny Leary,” Lights’ brother and business manager whom Lights put through college; and Stacy Keach (Fat City) as “Pops,” Lights’ father and former trainer who runs the boxing gym owned by Lights. Clark Johnson (The Shield, The Wire) and Norberto Barba (In Treatment, CSI: NY) directed the pilot episode. Series Creator Justin Zackham (The Bucket List), Phillip Noyce (Salt) and Ross Fineman are also Executive Producers. Lights Out is produced by Fox Television Studios and FX Productions.
Definitely peaked my interest.
Check out the preview trailer below to decide for yourself.
