Labour Day weekend is traditionally a very quiet time at the movies, and this year it looks to be no different. As the industry prepares to transition from summer blockbusters to fall prestige season, the first weekend of September is an appropriately sleepy place to dump any leftover summer films that studios don’t have high expectations for, since many people stay away from theatres anyway to enjoy the holiday weekend, the symbolic end of summer.
This year, Labour Day weekend offers a mere two new films in wide release. The first, The Transporter Refueled is the latest installment in the Jason Statham franchise about Frank Martin, the high-kicking driver-for-hire who will transport anything, no questions asked. Except, this time, Statham is nowhere to be seen, replaced by newcomer Ed Skrein. Luc Besson remains on-board as producer of the series’ fourth film, which is directed by Camille Delamarre (Brick Mansions). The plot is unknown for now, though presumably Frank delivers some sort of risky cargo and then finds himself in the middle of intense martial-arts-heavy fights — this isn’t the most narratively creative of franchises. Skrein is a good 15 years younger than Statham, so is this a prequel? A complete reboot? That part’s unclear. I have not seen any previous Transporter films, so don’t expect to read a review here on Flickophile.com; this one’s getting a pass. If you see it this weekend, come back here and let us know how it is. Early reviews seem to indicate that it’s terrible, but one never knows.
The weekend’s other new release, A Walk in the Woods, actually got a head-start by opening on Wednesday. Directed by Ken Kwapis (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, He’s Just Not That Into You), the film is adapted from the travel memoir by Bill Bryson, which documents his attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail with a friend. With such a low-key concept, any pleasures in this film will come from character moments and the performances from its cast (and maybe from beautiful scenery too). What a cast, though. Starring Robert Redford as Bill, Nick Nolte as his friend and hiking partner, and Emma Thompson as Bill’s wife, the film certainly boasts one of the most accomplished casts of the summer — and that’s not even mentioning Nick Offerman, Kristen Schaal, and Mary Steenburgen in supporting roles. A Walk in the Woods premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, so it comes with a degree of prestige. Reviews are mixed thus far, but this is definitely one I’m looking forward to.
If major releases aren’t your thing, well, this weekend doesn’t have a whole lot of specialty films to offer you either. Opening in limited release this weekend is Un gallo con muchos huevos, a 3D animated film that was a hit in its native Mexico last month. We also have Before We Go, a romantic dramedy starring Chris Evans and Alice Eve, which also happens to be Evans’s directorial debut. So look out for these if you’re lucky enough to live in a big city that gets small titles like this.
Continue to be patient, my little flickophiles. The fall movie season is almost here.
