Hancock
directed by Peter Berg
The minds behind Hancock are working hard to convince us that it’s just another mindless summer blockbuster filled with over-the-top action and Will Smith’s signature comedic touch (it even has its own mobile game). Despite their efforts (like overhauling the film twice to get its family-friendly PG-13 rating), there’s still a chance that the dark humor of Vincent Ngo’s original script (initially picked up by Tony Scott in 1996 and passed through a long line of hands before landing with Berg) still remains, we’ll just have to wait and see.
The Wackness
directed by Jonathan Levine
Since its Sundance screening, The Wackness has been generating buzz with critics everywhere. Now the only question is: Will it live up to its promise? With a cast featuring young up-and-comers Josh Peck and Olivia Thirlby plus the incomparable Ben Kingsley and a throwback soundtrack to go along with its offbeat storyline (teenage pot dealer trades drugs for therapy), it has the right formula for grabbing a dedicated young audience. But its purchase by Sony Pictures Classics has some worried that it won’t get the marketing it needs to become the next Juno.