Summer continues to be packed with big releases and it just wouldn’t feel right without some high-profile superhero blockbusters in the mix. So here’s what’s on top of the deck for this weekend:
The Suicide Squad (Theaters + HBO Max)
Written & Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, & Viola Davis
This movie definitely carries some ghosts heading into its opening weekend. James Gunn was brought in to essentially reboot a franchise that never really got started. David Ayer’s 2016 version was much-maligned but now there’s talk of releasing the “Ayer Cut” after DC fans pushed for and eventually got the Synder Cut of Justice League. Gunn’s film returns several characters (and actors) from Ayer’s project, so it seems sort of like a sequel even though the general plot setup appears to be exactly the same. I guess we’ll see if Gunn has the magic touch to resurrect the property or if it’s destined for the shelf. At least this one is R-rated so we can get a better sense of how things go with the handcuffs off.
Annette (Theaters)
Directed by: Leos Carax, Written by: Ron & Russell Mael
Starring: Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver
If you’ve seen The Sparks Brothers documentary, you’ll know that a film like this was a long time coming. Ron & Russell Mael always wanted to make boundary-pushing French cinema and they finally get to, teaming up with Leos Carax. Ron & Russell came up with the story of a comedian and opera singer wife who have a uniquely gifted daughter. The trailer looks delightfully bizarre and, with Adam Drive and Marion Cottilard leading the way, I can’t wait to see what these guys cooked up.
Vivo (Netflix)
Directed by: Kirk Demicco & Brandon Jeffords, Screenplay by: Kirk DeMicco & Quiara Alegría Hudes
Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zoe Saldana, & Ynairaly Simo
Netflix teamed with Sony Pictures Animations and Lin-Manuel Miranda to bring together this story of music, love, and a talking monkey. It’s the first musical from the Sony studio but working with hugely established brands like Miranda and Netflix will certainly go a long way in securing viewership. It looks incredibly colorful, very cute, and I’m sure the original music will be on point.
John and the Hole (Theaters + VOD)
Directed by: Pascual Sisto, Written by: Nicolás Giacobone
Starring: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Ehle, Charlie Shotwell, and Taissa Farmiga
In looking at the trailer, this one has hints of We Need to Talk About Kevin and My Friend Dahmer. Those films were coming-of-age stories for psychopaths and Pascual Sisto’s film appears to be cut from a similar cloth. It’s hard to say where exactly Nicolás Giacobone’s story will go but this appears to be an ultra-creepy psychological thriller. Nabbing Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Ehle could really help elevate this project and I’m very curious to check it out.
Swan Song (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Todd Stephens
Starring: Udo Kier, Jennifer Coolidge, & Linda Evans
The name Udo Kier may not ring any immediate bells for you but I can all but guarantee you’ve seen him before, probably as an eccentric German villain. I probably first saw him in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective in 1993 but he’s been acting professionally since the late 60s. Kier has found great late-career success and has continued working on several projects per year over the last two decades. At 77-years-of-age, he’s got 270 acting credits to his name and I’m so immensely glad that he’s being recognized for the incredible talent that he is. In this role, he plays a famous but retired hairdresser who is lured out of his retirement community for one last job that turns into an adventure. Writer/Director Todd Stephens might just be equally eccentric and this film could be the perfect marriage of their combined talents. At a glance, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this film in the awards season conversations and I can’t wait to see it.
What Else Is New:
Whirlybird (Theaters)
Directed by: Matt Yoka, Written by: Andrea James
Yet another in the long line of intriguing documentary features this year, Whirlybird focuses on a couple that revolutionized helicopter news reporting and covers a ton of Los Angeles history from the 80s and 90s in the process. This is the kind of business that we saw in Nightcrawler and I’m very interested to see how this kind of reporting exploded during that period in time. As a native Angelino, there’s a little added incentive but the city had some prominent news stories during that time so this documentary will still be accessible to everyone.
Never Gonna Snow Again (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Malgorzata Szumowska & Michal Englert
Starring: Alec Utgoff, Maja Ostaszewska, & Agata Kulesza
This Polish film looks like a uniquely bizarre exploration of suburban isolationism. When an immigrant masseur moves to town, his unique abilities make him a sort of guru to the members of a wealthy gated community. Things aren’t exactly what they seem as the people of the community all need a sort of spiritual cleansing despite their shiny, successful exteriors. Poland has been on the move in the international cinema scene and it is films such as this that have helped make that happen.
As usual, if you like what I’m doing, please like, subscribe, and share. Be well, and have fun at the movies!