When was the last time you had two alternate realities to explore?! May22 delivers multiple universes and the return of a flight classic
Hi film fans! I’m Dani from We Talk Film, it’s time for most wanted movies May edition! Yay
Alright, that was a bit of false enthusiasm because to be honest it’s a really dry month. With two goliath films bookending it, it feels like distributors just didn’t want to put out anything in competition to them. But let’s dive in.
Out on the 5th of May is Marvel’s next colossal release – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Now this second Doctor Strange movie carries on plotlines started in both Spiderman: No Way Home and Wandavison. After attempting to help Peter Parker by changing reality, Steven Strange’s spell goes awry and opens uncontrollable portals to the multiverse. Strange turns to Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch for help in closing them.
Now as we saw with Spiderman no way home; using a multiverse storyline gives Marvel some really exciting opportunities to play around with different versions of characters – we see an evil version of Dr Strange in the trailer and rumours are rife about which characters could be appearing from beyond the grave and even from different franchises.
Multiverse of Madness see’s Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, and Chiwetel Ejiofor reprise their roles from the first Doctor Strange film and they are joined by newcomer Xochitl Gomez playing Strange’s apprentice, America Chavez. Now she’s one to watch out for, as Ms America as she’s known in the comics is one of the Young Avengers, who are all being slowly and subtly introduced into the MCU. Their own film is surely on the way.
Multiverse is directed by Sam Raimi, his first film in 9 years. And whilst he’s known for directing the original Spiderman movies, he’s also famously a horror icon who made the Evil Dead series. Both Sam and the cast have hinted that there’s some genuine scary moments coming in this movie, marking a real tonal shift in the Marvel universe. Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be out in cinemas on the 5th of May22.
Next up and out on the 13th of May is one of the surprise smash hits of the year – Everything Everywhere All at Once. Now this indie flick didn’t look like it was going to get a global release but after delighting audiences and critics in the US in March it’s finally coming to the UK.
It features Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan, who you may remember as a child star in the ’80s where he featured in The Goonies and Indiana Jones, but this is his first return to acting after working as a stunt choreographer for the last 20 years.
Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn, an aging Chinese immigrant struggling to keep her family’s laundry business afloat when without warning she is swept into a genre bending multiversal adventure. Evelyn encounters dozens of different versions of herself and the different lives she could have led in parallel universes.
A dizzying blend of action, comedy, sci fi and fantasy, Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of those films that is best seen without any expectations and is sure to take audiences on one hell of a journey. It’s in cinemas on the 13th of May.
Closing out the month of May is a long-delayed blockbuster release: Top Gun Maverick, out on the 27th May22. It’s the sequel no one really asked for, yet we can’t really help being hyped about. Tom Cruise is back as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, who after 30 years as a successful fighter pilot is recalled to the famous top gun academy to teach a new generation of hot shot young pilots – one of these new pilots is Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw – played by Miles Teller – and the son of Mavericks old best friend Goose. As we see in the trailer, the pair have serious beef.
This new Top Gun film promises just as much of a spectacle as the original, as in typical crazy Tom Cruise fashion all of the aerial action shots were done with real aircraft and absolutely no CGI stunts, meaning the cast all had to undergo serious G-Force training to pull them off. And fear not, there’s another oiled-up beach sports scene too. Top Gun Maverick is out in cinemas everywhere on May 27th.
And finally, here’s the best of the rest for May22:
Out on the 13th is another big budget horror remake from Blumhouse, who previously brought us Paranormal Activity, The Purge and the latest Halloween film. This is Stephen King’s Firestarter, a horror thriller about a young girl with the power to start fires with her mind. With a mysterious government agency after her, will she use those powers for good or evil?
Also out on the 13th of May22 is Father Stu. Based on a true story, Marky Mark Wahlberg stars as a washed-up amateur boxer who gives up his hard drinking, rough and tumble life to become a catholic priest, but must endure a health crisis along the way. It promises a weepy, feel-good storyline though it may be a little cheesy.
And finally, out on the 20th of May22 is the latest from revered British direction Terence Davies, this is biopic Benediction. It follows the life of famed World War one poet Sigfried Sassoon who after being decorated for bravery during the war became a vocal critic of the government on his return home, whilst conducting romantic affairs with several notable high society men. It stars one of my favourite up and coming actors of the last few years – Jack Lowden.
Well, that’s it film fans, I think we’ve covered pretty much every genre this month so hopefully there’s a film here that takes your fancy. Let us know what you think in the comments or on our socials. I’ve been Dani, this is We Talk Film. Come join us.
