Monthly Reel for August 2015

It looks like Tom Cruise could use a trip to Wally World, but instead he’s accepted another Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation.
It looks like Tom Cruise could use a trip to Wally World, but instead he’s accepted another Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation.

This August, take a Rogue Nation Vacation

by Michelle Keenan

The dog days of summer are here.

If tubing down the French Broad isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of entertainment at local theatres. Top on our list this month is Mr. Holmes, and the good Professor Kaufmann has the exuberant details for you. We think we made a fairly safe judgment call in reviewing Mr. Holmes over Pixels and some other mainstream, big budget (albeit perfectly entertaining) fare.

Chip also reviews Self-less, while I review the latest Marvel comic to get the big screen treatment, Ant-Man. Rounding out our reviews this month is the first film by the ‘it’ girl of comedy right now, Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck.

Of this month’s offerings, the titles we’re most looking forward to run the gamut from smart and entertaining to just plain guilty pleasure. On the smarter side of things we’ve got Woody Allen’s latest film, Irrational Man, Infinitely Polar Bear starring Mark Ruffalo, Diary of a Teenage Girl, and End of the Tour. In what I think will be smart and a whole lot of fun, Guy Ritchie is giving The Man From U.N.C.L.E. new life.

Rounding out this month’s releases are Ricki and the Flash starring Meryl Streep as a has-been wannabe rock star, and Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation. Last but not least, National Lampoon’s Vacation gets a reboot this summer as a now middle-aged Rusty Griswald takes his family on a road trip to Wally World to jump start his marriage and bond with his kids. Ed Helms and Christina Applgate star as this generation’s Clark and Ellen. It is worth noting that Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo reprise their roles as Rusty’s parents.

Locally, this month there are some great offerings as well. Western Carolina University film students will be featured at The Best of Controlled Chaos Film Festival. The Asheville Film Society is showcasing its usual wonderful array of films on Tuesday nights at the Carolina Cinemas. Where else can you see The Palm Beach Story one week and Breakfast on Pluto the next?

The Hendersonville Film Society, hosted by the good Professor Kaufmann, also offers up a wide variety, including IT! a 1927 silent film starring Clara Bow, Steven Spielberg’s Young Sherlock Holmes, and Fred Zinneman’s 1953 classic, From Here to Eternity. We’ve also included listings for the Thursday Night Horror Show (another free offering from the Asheville Film Society folks) at the Carolina Cinema. See listings for all of these throughout this month’s section.

Until next month, we hope you beat the heat and enjoy the show!