Top August Movies Not To Miss

by Helen Earnshaw | 1 August 2014

Hard to believe, but summer 2014 is almost over and we have just another four weeks to go of great summer films.

August is going to be another great month of film, and we take a look at the movies that you cannot miss.

- God's Pocket - released 8th August

God's Pocket is a movie that has already whipped up a storm on the festival circuit, and now it is heading for release.

God's Pocket is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Pete Dexter, and sees John Slattery in the director's chair.

Slattery is best known for his acting work, but God's Pocket will mark his feature film directorial debut.

Slattery has brought together a terrific cast, as Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Christina Hendricks, John Turturro, and Caleb Landry Jones are all on board: this is one of the final films from Hoffman.

When Mickey’s (Hoffman) crazy stepson Leon is killed in a construction 'accident,' nobody in the working class neighbourhood of God’s Pocket is sorry he’s gone.

Mickey tries to bury the bad news with the body, but when the boy’s mother demands the truth, Mickey finds himself stuck in a life-and-death struggle between a body he can’t bury, a wife he can’t please and a debt he can’t pay.

God' Pocket was met with acclaim when it was screened at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of 2014, and is set to be a drama not to miss this August.

- The Expendables 3 - released 14th August

The Expendables 3 is a movie that I have been looking forward to all summer, as this is a franchise that really is a lot of fun.

Sylvester Stallone is back as Barney Ross, while Jason Statham, Let Li, and Arnold Schwarzenegger are all also returning.

However, there are some great new names to watch out for, as Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Kelsey Grammer, and Wesley Snipes are all also on board.

It is all change in the director's chair as Patrick Hughes takes over the helm from Simon West.

Barney and his team, known as "The Expendables,” come into conflict with ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks, the Expendables' co-founder, who is determined to destroy the team.

The Expendables 3 promises to be bigger and more outrageous than ever before and it is one of the most impressive cast lists of the summer and of the franchise so far.

- The Congress - released 15th August

Waltz With Bashir is one of the best animation movies that I have ever seen, and director Ari Folman is back with new film The Congress.

This is a film that I have been looking forward to for so long, as it will be unlike anything else that we are treated to this summer.

The Congress is a mix of animation and live action, and sees Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm, Paul Giamatti, and Danny Huston all star.

Based on the novel by Stanislaw Lem, The Congress follows an aging, out-of-work actress accepts one last job, though the consequences of her decision affect her in ways she didn't consider.

The Congress will be the fourth feature film of Folman's directing career, and the first since the stunning Waltz with Bashir back in 2008, and I can't wait to see what he delivers this time around.

- The Rover - released 15th August

Another movie that I have been really looking forward to is The Rover, as David Michôd returns to the director's chair.

Michôd was behind the terrific Animal Kingdom back in 2011, and this is his first film since making his feature debut.

The Rover sees Michôd reunite with Guy Pearce for a second time, while Robert Pattinson, and Scoot McNairy are also on board.

With society in decline, the rule of law has disintegrated and life is cheap. Hardened loner Eric (Pearce) travels the desolate towns and roads of the scorched and dangerous Australian outback.

When a brutal gang of thieves steals his car and only remaining possession, they leave behind the wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake.

Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric gives chase. Determined beyond reason, unrelenting in the pursuit of his prey, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that matters to him.

Animal Kingdom was a gritty watch, and it looks like The Rover is going to follow in its footsteps. It also looks set to take Pattinson's career in a very different direction.

- What If - released 20th August

Kill Your Darlings was the last time that we saw Daniel Radcliffe on the big screen, but this August he is back with What If.

What If will mark the first time that the actor has tackled the rom/com as he teams up with director Michael Dowse for the first time.

What If is based on the play by T.J. Dawe, and sees Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, Rafe Spall, and Mackenzie Davis join Radcliffe on the cast list.

What If follows Wallace and Chantry, who meet by chance at a party and feel the chemistry, but Wallace is recovering from a failed relationship and Chantry has a long-term boyfriend.

Acting with the best of intentions and a touch of denial, Wallace and Chantry take on the challenge of being just friends... but is just being friends that easy?

We haven't been treated to too many rom/coms this summer, but What If promises to be a breath of fresh air. Can't wait to see Radcliffe really tackle this genre for the first time.

- Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For - released 20th August

Sin City fans - of which I am one - have waited nine years for this sequel, and the wait is almost over.

Yes there are only a couple of week to go now before Sin City 2 hits the big screen, as Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller reunite to bring another of Miller's graphic novels to life.

Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, and Mickey Rourke will reprise their roles of Nancy Callahan, John Hartigan, Gail, and Marv.

However, there are plenty of new faces to watch out for, as Eva Green, Juno Temple, Joseph Gordon Levitt, and Josh Brolin are all on board.

Weaving together two of Miller’s classic stories with new tales, the town's most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more reviled inhabitants.

The trailers, clips, and images from this look fantastic, and I have my fingers tightly crossed that it will be worth the wait.