“Europa Report” is a science fiction thriller about six astronauts who agree to go on a privately funded mission to one of the freezing cold moons of Jupiter. “Cold moons of Jupiter” would’ve been a great Jimi Hendrix song title, but let’s not digress. The space travelers’ mission is to look for signs of life. Of course there’s a technical disaster like in every other spaceship flick. Communications with Earth get cut off and leave these poor saps in dire circumstances. Let’s see them wriggle out of that. The premise is nothing new but there’s plenty of cool outer space stuff in this suspenseful flick filmed in mock documentary style. It stars Sharlto Copley, Karolina Wydra,Michael Nyqvist, Daniel Wu, Anamaria Marinca and Christian Camargo and is directed bySebastián Cordero with a screenplay by Philip Gelatt. Sci-fi, suspense, thriller, mocumentary. “Europa Report” opens in New York City on August 2, 2013. Rated PG-13. Trailer
“2 Guns” stars Denzel Washington as Bobby Trench, a DEA agent and Navy Intelligence Officer investigating Marcus Stigman (Mark Wahlberg), a Special Forces officer who was hired to investigate Trench. Neither knows the other is an undercover federal agent. When things go awry and they discover that the mob has set them both up, they join forces. It’s based on a graphic novel so don’t expect anything too deep, except maybe large holes left in the ground after explosions. This is yet another “48 Hours”-ish, wise-cracking buddy flick with car chases and guns. The impressive cast includes Paula Patton, Bill Paxton, James Marsden andEdward James Olmos. The film is directed by Baltasar Kormákur with a screenplay co-written by Blake Masters and Steven Grant. “2 Guns” opens in New York City on August 2, 2013. Action, crime drama. Rated R. Trailer
“Lovelace” debuted at the 29th annual Sundance Film Festival and stars Amanda Seyfried as porn star Linda Lovelace (nee Linda Susan Boreman) in this intense, moving and entertaining biopic. Peter Sarsgaardplays her Svengali husband Chuck Traynor. The film’s directors are Rob Epstein andJeffrey Friedman, with a screenplay written by Andy Bellin. The all-star cast includes Adam Brody, James Franco, Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale, Chris Noth, Eric Roberts, Chloë Sevigny, Wes Bentley and an unrecognizableSharon Stone who plays Linda’s cold and controlling mother. “Lovelace” opens in New York City on August 9, 2013. Biography, drama. Rated R. Trailer
“Elysium” is an action science fiction thriller starring Jodie Foster as the antagonist, Secretary Rhodes, and Matt Damon as the reluctant hero, Max Da Costa. The year is 2154 and only the uber-rich can afford to live on the hi-tech, cushy, manmade space station named Elysium. Everyone else is stuck suffering on a ravaged planet Earth where the forsaken inhabitants live in a world of desperate poverty, crime and despair. Da Costa needs medical care that is only available on Elysium but the elite don’t like to share. Da Costa sets out on his mission of survival and bravely aims to end the chaos by bringing equality to these polar opposite worlds. “Elysium” opens in New York City on August 9, 2013. Action, sci-fi, drama. Not yet rated. Trailer
“Paranoia” stars Harrison Ford as Jock Goddard, a corporate bigwig fighting to stay at the top of his game in a high-stakes business battle for power and prestige. Ford, who decided to make the character his own, chose to shave his head as close to the skin as possible. Most businessmen don’t sport that hairstyle but, everyone, including director Robert Luketic, went right along with it because, hey, he’s Harrison Ford. Amber Heard plays Emma Jennings. “The Hunger Games” heartthrob Liam Hemsworth plays the naïve and soon-to-be-disillusioned upstart, Adam Cassidy.Gary Oldman nails it as scheming corporate bigshot Nicholas Wyatt. Ooh, Oldman does creepy so well. “Paranoia” opens in New York City on August 16, 2013. Drama, suspense, thriller. Rated R. Trailer
