Movies

In case you thought it couldn't get any faster or more furious than Fast Five, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and co. are ready to prove you wrong in Fast & Furious 6. The original stars — including a resurrected Michelle Rodriguez — return for the sixth film in the speedy series, directed by Justin Lin. Things have changed for the crew since we last saw them: Brian (Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) are now parents, while retired "Uncle Dom" (Diesel) is moping around, but they're soon enough cast back into the world of extreme racing. This time they're legal, working on the same side as the government with federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). The story may be different, but the energy and edge-of-your-seat action is familiar in the best way possible.

The movie opens with a montage of the previous films, so even if you're not a seasoned viewer, you'll still get a little tutorial on the characters. Fans should be pleased to see all the crew members (Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Sung Kang) assemble after spending time in different tropical paradises — after Fast Five's heist, they're not exactly welcome in the United States. When Hobbs comes knocking, he makes them an offer they can't refuse: help him track down criminal mastermind Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), head of a dangerous racing crew not unlike their own. In exchange, not only will he clear their names, but also, he'll lead them to Dom's former girlfriend, the presumed-dead-but-now-very-much-alive Letty (Rodriguez). There are several solid plot twists to keep you interested, but the real star of the movie is the action. Find out why after the jump.

Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara star in Ain't Them Bodies Saints, which has been getting good buzz since it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year. Fresh after playing again at the Cannes Film Festival, a trailer has been released for the powerful-looking film. Affleck plays a man who takes the fall for a crime spree, protecting his pregnant wife (Mara), who may be at fault. When he breaks out of prison years later, he finds reuniting with her is not as simple as he thought it would be.

The trailer for the movie is beautifully done, and even though it looks like a pretty emotional investment, I think it might be worth it. Affleck is usually reliable for turning in a good performance, and this is just the kind of dramatic nail-biter he excels in. The movie opens Aug. 16, and you can watch the trailer after the jump.

When The Hangover was released in 2009, nobody was expecting much from the comedy starring three under-the-radar actors — which is exactly why the surprisingly hilarious and original film took the world by storm and killed it at the box office. Fast-forward four years, and we're upon the release of The Hangover Part III, which suffers from the opposite effect. The film is highly anticipated by fans hoping to re-create the magic of the original (and forget Part II), but aside from a few sporadic laughs, the film is another disappointing installment in a franchise that should have quit while it was ahead.

I have to give some credit to director Todd Phillips, who at least tried to go in a new direction with Part III. The "what happened last night?" formula showcased in the first two films is left behind this time, favoring a straight plotline centered on Alan (Zach Galifianakis) hitting rock bottom and the Wolfpack setting off on a road trip to get him to rehab. You don't need me to tell you that the plan goes terribly awry when Doug (Justin Bartha) is taken hostage and the guys are tasked with tracking down the elusive Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong). What you may not expect is that the story is so uneven that I actually found myself missing all the blacked-out-drunken drama. Without that element, it feels like one of the characters is missing from the movie.

To see what else I thought of The Hangover Part III, just read more

The promise of Michael Douglas and Matt Damon playing lovers — not a burning fascination with Liberace's life — will probably entice most people to watch HBO's Behind the Candelabra. But if you do tune in, then you'll find yourself intrigued by the flamboyant performer's story. After a few minutes of seeing Douglas in a pompadour wig and stage makeup, you'll forget it's him playing Liberace. And Damon's evolution from innocent farm boy to drugged-up Liberace lover and stage prop is subtly stunning. If you plan to watch when it airs Sunday at 9 p.m., then here's what to expect from Steven Soderbergh's look behind Liberace's famous candelabra. Just keep reading.