Summer can be a depressing time for moviegoers. The “biggest” films, often having been anticipated for years, regularly end up ranging from terrible disappointments to mediocre events, with few actually delivering. Here we are, in the heat of the blockbuster season and that has certainly been the case. This month sees a fair share of popcorn pleasers, but it is another month where the true highlights lie in mostly limited releases. Check it out below.
See:
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (David Yates; July 15th)
Synopsis: The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts to find and destroy the final horcruxes. But when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the battle we’ve all known has been coming — Harry vs. Voldemort — looms large on the horizon. And who will triumph?
Why You Should See It: After a decade of adventure, the Harry Potter series is coming to end. I’ve been too burned on David Yates’ films to put this higher on the list, but fans seem to adore his bleak tone. I just hope this finale delivers on the action it promises and wraps it up perfectly for those that have lived and breathed this series for the last ten years.
9. Winnie the Pooh (Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall; July 15th)
Synopsis: While out looking for some honey, Winnie the Pooh is pulled into a quest to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary culprit.
Why You Should See It: It maybe riding off pure nostalgia, but there’s nothing wrong with a perfectly innocent time with some of my favorite characters from childhood. Running just under 70 minutes, this should just give you enough breezy fun.
8. Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest (Michael Rapaport; July 8th)
Synopsis: A documentary on legendary hip-hop troupe A Tribe Called Quest, from their formation in the mid-1980s, through their 1990s heyday, to their troubled reunion and unclear future.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: If you are a fan of ATCQ, this is a must-see. If you are unfamiliar with the group it paints a vivid portrait of each persona and song that made them so influential. Weaving the history and music of one of the greatest musical entities to ever grace your ears, Beats, Rhymes and Life is the ultimate tribute for any fan of the Tribe. Check out our Sundance review here.
7. The Guard (John Michael McDonagh; July 29th)
Synopsis: An unorthodox Irish cop (Brendan Gleeson) is paired with a straight-laced FBI agent (Don Cheadle) to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring.
Why You Should See It: Writer and director John Michael McDonagh (brother of In Bruges helmer Martin McDonagh) takes on the Irish police force in this comedy, which has earned comparisons to Hot Fuzz. I see this as only the highest of compliments, and reviews for it have been fairly promising. This is one that looks like it could be a lot of fun, something that isn’t always synonymous with the term “limited release.”
6. Cowboys & Aliens (Jon Favreau; July 29th)
Synopsis: In Silver City, Arizona, Apache Indians and Western settlers must lay their differences aside when an alien spaceship crash lands in their city.
Why You Should See It: To see if the proposition will click with audiences is yet to be determined, but Iron Man helmer Jon Favreau has smashed a western and sci-fi film together and it looks to be about as much fun as one could have at a summer blockbuster. Add in Harrison Ford, who seems to be putting forth some effort (a rare thing for the actor as of late), and I’ll be in theaters day one for this.
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (Joe Johnston; July 22nd)
Synopsis: After being deemed unfit for military service during WWII, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, the Sentinel of Liberty — a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals. His first mission: to combat the Nazi propaganda effort headed by Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving), also known as the Red Skull.
Why You Should See It: As we mention Ford above, the art director for Raiders of the Lost Ark seems to be harkening back to that style for his superhero blockbuster Captain America. The buzz is strong for Joe Johnston‘s throwback actioner and we do need our comicbook hero this summer, as so many have failed us.
4. Horrible Bosses (Seth Gordon; July 8th)
Synopsis: Three friends (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis) make a pact to rid the world of their respective bosses.
Why You Should See It: While Bridesmaids had more heart, Horrible Bosses has more laughs per minute than any comedy this year. Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, and Jamie Foxx all have some of the best comedic roles of their careers. And if that doesn’t get you in the theater, it is by the director of the fantastic documentary King of Kong.
3. Life In a Day (Kevin Macdonald and Ridley Scott; July 24th)
Synopsis: A documentary shot by filmmakers all over the world that serves as a time capsule to show future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010.
Why You Should See It: After receiving 5,000 hours of content, executive producer Ridley Scott and co-director Kevin Macdonald worked with their team of twenty editors to create something truly remarkable for this YouTube crowd-sourced documentary. I loved the stirring celebration of life when I saw it at Sundance this year. You can check out my full review here.
2. Crazy, Stupid, Love. (Glenn Ficarra and John Requa; July 29th)
Synopsis: A married guy (Steve Carell) tries to balance handling a crisis with his wife (Julianne Moore), attending couples therapy, and maintaining his relationship with his kids.
Why You Should See It: On the surface this might look like a generic romantic comedy, but the buzz is insanely high for what is described as “Richard Curtis and Jim Brooks smooshed together with Cameron Crowe.” The cast is fantastic, the trailer is promising and screenwriter Dan Fogelman (paid $2.5 million for this script) is on a streak as he has projects with Tom Cruise, Al Pacino, Seth Rogen, and more coming up.
1. Attack The Block (Joe Cornish; July 29th)
Synopsis: Moses (John Boyega) and the rest of his teen gang look to protect Wyndham Tower — their housing estate — from an alien invasion.
Why You Should See It: It’s a shame the summer’s best blockbuster will likely get the least attention. Premiering at SXSW, Joe Cornish‘s sci-fi horror/comedy/thriller/actioner delivers everything you want from each of those genres. It’s simply a must-see.
Matinee:
Another Earth (Mike Cahill; July 22nd)
Synopsis: On the night of the discovery of a duplicate planet in the solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident.
Why You Should See a Matinee: This Sundance indie sci-fi romance gathered mostly positive remarks from the fest. The trailer makes it seem like there is a lot more sci-fi in it than I’ve actually heard, but I’m a sucker for these low budget efforts wrapped in that genre. The film also stars breakout leading lady Brit Marling (who also had the hit Sound of My Voice there), William Mapother, Jordan Baker, Robin Lord Taylor, and Flint Beverage.
Friends with Benefits (Will Gluck; July 22nd)
Synopsis: While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) soon discover however that adding the act of sex to their friendship does lead to complications.
Why You Should See a Matinee: Although it will get a lot of comparisons to Mila Kunis’ Black Swan co-star Natalie Portman‘s No Strings Attached, Easy A director Will Gluck has created a much snappier, hilarious, and smarter look at the situation.
Point Blank (Fred Cavayé; July 29th)
Synopsis: Samuel Pierret (Gilles Lellouche) is a nurse who saves the wrong guy — a thief (Roschdy Zem) whose henchmen take Samuel’s pregnant wife (Elena Anaya) hostage to force him to spring their boss from the hospital. A race through the subways and streets of Paris ensues, and the body count rises. Can Samuel evade the cops and the criminal underground and deliver his beloved to safety?
Why You Should See a Matinee: We saw this French thriller at Tribeca and loved it. Exciting and well-crafted it more or less does right what so many recent American action films have been doing wrong. Directed by Fred Cavayé, who helmed Pour elle, which was remade into Paul Haggis‘ The Next Three Days starring Russell Crowe, check it out in limited release this month.
The Devil’s Double (Lee Tamahori; July 29th)
Synopsis: Forced to become the body double of Uday Hussein, Latif Ahmed (Dominic Cooper) bears witness to daily life under Saddam Hussein’s reign, from lavish extravagances to sadistic acts of brutality.
Why You Should See a Matinee: This one was off my radar until I saw the insane poster and absurd preview recently. Our review from Sundance indicates that it’s a film worthy of such marketing, and that makes me happy. While a subject like Uday Hussein could (and should) be given a serious look, this is taking a much more cartoonish route. And you know what? When it looks as entertaining as it does, I don’t mind.
Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks; July 1st)
Synopsis: Unclear of his next steps after losing his job at a big-box retailer, Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) enrolls at his local college, where he finds a niche among the school’s community of outcasts, and a connection with a teacher (Julia Roberts) who has lost her passion for life.
Why You Should See a Matinee: The reviews are middling, but I’m still somewhat looking forward to checking out Tom Hanks‘ next directing/co-writing/producing/starring effort. I know I’m part of the problem, but after all the great work he has put out, it is only deserved.
The Perfect Host (Nick Tomnay; July 1st)
Synopsis: Injured and on the run after what was supposed to be a foolproof bank robbery, John (Clayne Crawford) cons his way into the home of Warwick Wilson (David Hyde Pierce) as he prepares for a dinner party. Over the course of the evening, the true nature of both men is revealed, but who has the darker intentions?
Why You Should See a Matinee: After premiering at Sundance Film Festival in 2010, we haven’t heard much about Nick Tomnay‘s directorial debut. The “slippery psychological thriller” stars a very creepy-looking David Hyde Pierce (Frasier, Wet Hot American Summer) and Clayne Crawford (24, A Walk To Remember). The film will finally be getting a theatrical and VOD release this summer, so check it out if that wacky trailer interests you.
Project Nim (James Marsh; July 8th)
Synopsis: A documentary on a 1970s experiment that aimed to show that a chimpanzee, if raised and nurtured like a human child, could learn to communicate with language.
Why You Should See a Matinee: From James Marsh, the documentarian who crafted the Oscar-winning doc Man on Wire, comes another real-life tale of human hubris and the damage it wrought. This animal doc was a festival favorite at Sundance this year, and it’s easy to see why. Marsh masterfully unfolds the tragic tale of this lovable chimp, by introducing the colorful characters who served as his family for intervals and allowing each to have their say. What unfolds is a story that is deeply moving but never smaltzy, and an intriguing commentary on human nature. Check out our Sundance review here.
Tabloid (Errol Morris; July 15th)
Synopsis: A documentary on a former Miss Wyoming who is charged with abducting and imprisoning a young Mormon Missionary.
Why You Should See a Matinee: 2011 has been a great year for docs, but few compare to the wackiness and sheer entertainment value found in master documentary filmmaker Errol Morris‘ latest project. I saw Tabloid at TIFF last year and it is a nonstop, evolving exercise in craziness. Definitely seek this out.
Sarah’s Key (Gilles Paquet-Brenner; July 22nd)
Synopsis: In modern-day Paris, a journalist (Kristen Scott Thomas) finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in 1942.
Why You Should See a Matinee: After premiering to good reviews at Toronto International Film Festival last year, this historical fiction tale is hitting limited theaters this month. Kristen Scott Thomas is a fantastic actress and I can’t wait to see her carry this journey.
The Future (Miranda July; July 29th)
Synopsis: When a couple decides to adopt a stray cat their perspective on life changes radically, literally altering the course of time and space and testing their faith in each other and themselves.
Why You Should See a Matinee: Toeing the line between pretension and pleasure for all of its 91 minutes, Miranda July’s The Future ultimately emerges as a testament to original voice yelled out to the heavens, on a shoestring budget. The film grants narration from a cat as its opener before literally stopping time for a solid chunk of the third act. This kind of boldness must be met with concrete vision and purpose; July has both and rarely takes her eye off the ball. Check out our Sundance review here.
Terri (Azazel Jacobs; July 1st)
Synopsis: A comedy centered on the relationship between oversized teen misfit Terri (Jacob Wysocki) and his well-meaning vice principal (John C. Reilly) who takes an interest in him.
Why You Should See a Matinee: After seeing the film at Sundance, this coming-of-age story has a few great scenes, but I was underwhelmed with the dry tone. It was light on satisfying comedy and drama, when I expected at least one to show through. Talking with a few others, the reaction seemed to be divisive and I encourage you to check it out for yourself in limited release.
What are you looking forward to this month? What will you avoid?