Summer at the movies

Summer kicks off early at the box office – and stays strong with hot releases through the end of August. Stay up to date with Stars and Stripes on all the movies heating up screens, including the latest news and reviews. And find out what we’re excited to see with our round up of movies.

SPOTLIGHT

Hollywood box office suffers least-attended summer movie season in 25 years

As Hollywood wraps up the all-important summer box office season this Labor Day weekend, a sobering reality has gripped the industry.

Sean William Scott in "Goon: Last of the Enforcers." <br>No Trace Camping/TNS

Jay Baruchel moves behind the camera with blood-on-the-ice hockey comedy

Jay Baruchel moves behind the camera with blood-on-the-ice hockey comedy ’Goon: Last of the Enforcers’

'Dunkirk,' 'Girls Trip' are bright spots in a bummer summer

Analysis of this summer’s box office can properly be dubbed a postmortem, so gruesome were the overall numbers.

Q&A

With 'Patti Cake$,' Cathy Moriarty is still aiming for authenticity

Cathy Moriarty owes her acting career to a bathing beauty contest. A photo posted at a Bronx nightclub where she had won the competition -- all in pursuit of a pair of black heels with an ankle strap -- caught the eye of Joe Pesci, who in 1978 was working on a movie about a boxer named Jake LaMotta. That photo led to months of auditions for the role of the fighter’s wife, Vickie.
Q&A

Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson buddy up for 'The Hitman’s Bodyguard'

Ryan Reynolds hasn’t been getting a lot of sleep lately. In fact, he was so tired over lunch recently that he declined to eat the vegetables served with his salmon because it would require too much effort.
Aubrey Plaza takes charge by losing control in 'Ingrid Goes West'

When director Matt Spicer was casting the title role of his dark tale of obsession and identity “Ingrid Goes West,” he wasn’t sure if Aubrey Plaza would be the right fit.
The next step: Teammates lift Baltimore and themselves in documentary 'Step'

When most people think of Baltimore, the blue light district comes to mind -- the area of the city doused in cobalt from police lights atop light poles in areas said to have high crime rates. This is what "The Wire" introduced millions to.
Movies

11 great Matthew McConaughey roles

What with “The Dark Tower” opening and Matthew McConaughey starring in it (and dressed exactly like he just stepped out of one of his Lincoln ads), we’re taking a look at eleven McConaperfomances and putting them into a definitive (yes, definitive) McConaranking.
Kathryn Bigelow sheds fresh light on the tragedy of 'Detroit'

Tucked behind a sleepy tree-lined road, David Senak's home gives the impression of suburban peace. A welcome flag hangs from the window. The garden is well-tended. On a recent afternoon, young neighbors were having a lacrosse catch.
Cold War goes glam: The thriller ‘Atomic Blonde’ heats up with a bold 1980s look

Rather than the gray skies, beige overcoats and grim tension of many thrillers set during the Cold War, the new film “Atomic Blonde” exists in a boldly sensual world of neon-streaked lighting, high-glamour outfits, moody synth-pop and intense action. All of which is used to spotlight the hard-charging performance by star (and producer) Charlize Theron, who does much of her own on-screen fighting.
'Landline' team crafts a rom-com with characters who are flawed and relatable, not necessarily likable

Remember back to a time, if you can, before widespread cellphones, before texting and email were preferred modes of communication. The new film "Landline" is set specifically in 1995 and brings back a world of pay phones, pockets full of change to pay for pay phones and the fact it once seemed much more likely to just not connect with someone.