May, the month which usually has the most film releases of the year, is surprisingly low on high-octane would-be blockbusters this year. This doesn’t mean there aren’t any interesting titles, however. On the contrary, there are three family films, a new Guy Ritchie action thriller, a crime mystery about a man with a unique hearing condition, and a “Spider-Man” movie with Nicolas Cage as a detective.
Please note: All release dates subject to change.
May 1
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2′
Two decades after the original, the sequel which few asked for and fewer expected arrives with the same level of guarded skepticism that accompanied last year’s “Spinal Tap” lukewarm follow-up.
The core cast of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci are joined by new additions Kenneth Branagh and Justin Theroux as the love interests for the Streep and Blunt characters. As the original writing and directing team (Aline Brosh McKenna and David Frankel) are also reprising their duties, expect more of the same. (20th Century)
May 8
‘The Sheep Detectives’
Based on the 2005 international bestseller “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann, this new comedic mystery appears far more complex than the light-hearted trailer implies. After the mysterious death of their shepherd (Hugh Jackman), eight celebrity-voiced sheep in his flock set out to discover the identity of the culprit. This could be the rare live-action production that’s loved by multi-generational audiences. (Amazon MGM Studios)
‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’
Another family-friendly feature with talking animals (Alfred Molina voicing the octopus Marcellus) that’s based on a bestseller (by Shelby Van Pelt), this touching drama is poised to gently tug on throngs of audience heartstrings.
Sally Field stars as Tova, a widow who cleans the aquarium near Puget Sound where Marcellus resides. Lewis Pullman plays Cameron, a janitor at the aquarium who recently relocated to the area, looking for his estranged father. If this is anywhere near as good as director Olivia Newman’s “Where the Crawdads Sing,” expect tears of joy to flow. (Netflix)
May 15
‘In the Grey’
If the trailer is a true indicator, this latest action thriller from filmmaker Guy Ritchie will continue his seven-year career comeback winning streak. Looking a lot like his “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” it has one female lead (Eiza González) and two kibitzing leading men (Jake Gyllenhaal and Henry Cavill, also in “U.N.C.L.E.”) as a team of high stakes mercenaries tasked with retrieving $1 billion in dirty money from an evil (is there any other kind?) cartel boss (Carlos Bardem, brother of Javier). (Black Bear Pictures)
May 20
‘Jack Ryan: Ghost War’
The sixth feature in the “Ryanverse” franchise is also the third reboot. A continuation of the John Krasinski-starring TV series “Jack Ryan” (2018–2023), it was co-written by Krasinski and Aaron Rabin and takes place mostly in London.
Coerced out of retirement by his former CIA boss, James Greer (Wendell Pierce), Ryan is tasked with ferreting out a rogue black ops faction that may or may not be headed by Emma Marlow (Sienna Miller). Also returning from the TV show is Michael Kelly as Mike November, another former spy now working as a private security contractor. (Amazon/MGM Studios)
May 22
‘Tuner’
The first live-action feature from documentarian Daniel Roher (known for “Once Were Brothers” and “Navalny”), this mystery thriller stars Leo Woodall (“Nuremberg,” “Vladimir”) as Niki, a man with a rare hearing condition. While working as a piano tuner, Niki becomes an unintended witness to a team of home invasion thieves, who force him to crack a safe with relative ease. Recognizing Niki to be a golden goose, the criminals threaten him with death if he doesn’t continue doing their bidding. (Black Bear Pictures)
May 25
‘Spider-Noir’
The sole TV installment to date in the Sony “Spider-Man” universe, this eight-episode limited streaming series stars Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly-Spider-Man Noir, a character voiced by Cage in the animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Are you sufficiently confused yet?
Modeled after hard-boiled characters in novels by Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, Reilly is a world-weary private eye barely making it in an alternate Spider-verse version of 1930s New York City. The presentation options for the series are quite unique: you can watch it in either color or black-and-white. (Amazon Prime)
May 29
‘The Breadwinner’
Shades of “Mr. Mom” abound in this comedy starring “clean” stand-up comic Nate Bargatze (as Nate Wilcox) in his feature film debut. Co-written by Bargatze and Dan Lagana, the movie also stars Mandy Moore as Nate’s wife, Katie, who’s a recent winner on “Shark Tank.” With Katie away “bringing home the bacon,” Nate is charged with the daily parenting chores of caring for their three daughters, which he finds to be … well, something of a challenge. (TriStar)
What to Look For
In addition to the two family offerings being released on the 8th, I’m really looking forward to “Tuner.” This could be the movie that catapults Leo Woodall to the leading-man A-list.
I’ve never been much of a comic book movie fan, but the idea of Nicolas Cage playing a version of Spider-Man by way of Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe is impossible to resist.
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