The New Wave: 6/25/10

I still can't tell you why it's called Knight and Day. Idiotic titles aside, it's good to see Tom Cruise having fun again in a starring role. Something of a comeback for Cameron Diaz as well, who the last time I saw her she was walking around looking like a q-tip in the ultra somber My Sister's Keeper. This one came out on Wednesday, and judging by it's early totals($3.8M on day one) you probably haven't seen it yet. Go check it out. It's better than you think. You can read my review here.

Those familiar with the Duplass Brothers' film, The Puffy Chair, know that their style doesn't exactly lend itself to the mainstream. It's called "mumblecore" for a reason. The style is talky, somewhat ad-libbed, and characters tend to get a little close mouthed when emotions are at their heaviest. So mixing in John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill in sounds like an instant contradiction. But it's not. Reilly stars as a lonely guy who finds real love again with a single mom(played by the gorgeous Marisa Tomei), only to have it threatened by her posessive son(Hill). A battle of wills ensues, and the results might just surprise you. You can check out my review here.

It was around this time last year that Adam Sandler got smoked in theaterss in Judd Apatow's Funny People, a misleading title if there ever was one. Now he's back again, and this time he's brought along a few of his friends for a comedy that once again has the comedian dealing with issues of family and growing older. Sounds like a laugh riot, doesn't it? My review of Grown Ups can be found here.

Luca Guadagnino's I Am Love is a feast for the senses. From the gorgeous landscapes of Sanremo, Italy to the luscious tastes and smells of the gourmet food. The real treat here is Tilda Swinton, who had to learn both Italian and Russian for her role as a wife rediscovering youth and vitality in a much younger man. I review this film a couple of months ago, which you can check out right here.

This one looks like a poor man's Guy Ritchie flick. Writer Mark Rowe is probably best known for the fractious Irish comedy,Intermission, which was pretty good if you could figure out what everyone was saying. Cilian Murphy stars as a guy who owes a monster debt to the toughest gangster in town(Brendan Gleeson), but makes matters worse when he accidentally kills one of his thugs.

Can you believe it's been six years since Taylor Hackford directed Jamie Foxx into stardom in Ray? Crazy. It's also crazy that this is the first time Hackford has ever cast his wife, Helen Mirren, in a starring role. Judd Apatow could use a little of his restraint. Love Ranch is VERY loosely based on Sally and Joe Conforte, who opened up the first legal brothel in this country's history. I consider them American heroes. Love Ranch doesn't hit theaters until next Wednesday, 6/30, so expect the review that morning.