With no major studio blockbuster on deck for the first time in five weeks, all the smaller films are scurrying to take advantage. By my count, there are 28 new releases this week and two additional films that expand to wide release. So, let’s jump right in.
New In Theaters
No Hard Feelings
Director(s): Gene Stupnitsky | Writer(s): John Phillips, Gene Stupinsky
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti
I understand that this one is leaning very heavily on the bankability of Jennifer Lawrence, but let’s be honest. This one looks a bit stupnitsky. I could have easily seen her doing this movie maybe 10 years ago, but she is about to turn 33, and playing the beautiful, desperate type that has to date a 19-year-old for money seems like a massive step down and more than a bit weird. I don’t begrudge her taking a role and paycheck for something like this but the advertising for this one has been pretty relentless and, even though this was a different trailer than the one I had seen many times up until this point, it’s still not moving the needle.
*God is a Bullet – Editor’s Pick*
Director(s): Nick Cassavetes | Writer(s): Boston Teran, Nick Cassavetes
Stars: Maika Monroe, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jamie Foxx
This has some serious Girl With the Dragon Tattoo energy and I’m here for it. Boston Teran’s book was actually published before that series, so it’s odd to see that the film adaptation is coming at this point and not then. Anyhow, I love the cast and I’m curious to see Cassavetes do something as intense as this. If I see one thing in theaters this weekend, it’ll be this so I’m giving it my Editor’s Pick.
Expanded Release
Asteroid City
Director(s): Wes Anderson | Writer(s): Roman Coppola, Wes Anderson
Stars: Jason Schwartzman, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johannson, & more
I usually try not to retrace my steps with movies I covered during their limited release, but Wes Anderson is one of the best filmmakers working today and there has been a weird pushback lately. Maybe you don’t like his style, and that’s fine, but he is still a 7-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker, and when a director of his caliber makes a new film there should be some energy around it. Now, I saw this one a few days ago and I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to but it is by no means bad. It’s warmer and a little more robust in terms of its depiction of romantic relationships than some of his other work, and that’s a good thing. I still recommend it.
Past Lives
Written & Directed by: Celine Song
Stars: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro
This is one that went into limited lease three weeks ago and is just now getting its expanded release. The way Celine Song wields the intimacy between her characters has continued to stay with me in the days since I watched this film. It is sweet, but more importantly, it’s genuine and empathetic in showing the subtle complexities of attempting to reconcile feelings over time. It’s one of the best films, if not the best, of 2023 so far and should be treated as such.
Limited Release
Mad Heidi (June 21st)
Director(s): Johannes Hartmann, Sandro Klopfstein
Writer(s): Gregory D. Widmer, Johannes łartmann, Sandro Klopfstein
Stars: Alice Lucy, Max Rüdlinger, Casper Van Dien
Holy shitballs, this looks like some crazy madness! I don’t even know what to say after seeing what I think was a severed dong dipped in fondue. Obviously, this isn’t meant to be taken seriously but that’s what is most appealing about it. Even the guy doing the trailer voice-over is having a good time.
Written & Directed by: Alex Holmes
Stars: Perico Delgado, Laurent Fignon, Cyrille Guimard
Wow, talk about goosebumps! I know the name, but I never knew the depths of Greg LeMond’s story. Watch out because this might be one of those documentaries that we are hearing about at the end of the year.
Revoir Paris
Director(s): Alice Winocour
Writer(s): Jean-Stéphane Bron, Marcia Romano, Alice Winocour
Stars: Virginie Efira, Benoît Magimel, Grégoire Colin
The human mind’s ability to compartmentalize trauma as a defense mechanism is powerful and I love that this film isn’t only telling a story about that but about why we would want to uncover painful memories that our own body is trying to protect us from. It’s not just about survival, it’s about moving forward and being able to do that on our own terms. Reclaiming our pain. I am very interested to see this.
Desperate Souls, Dark City And the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
Written & Directed by: Nancy Buirski
Stars: Bob Balaban, Ian Buruma, Michael Childers
Midnight Cowboy was nominated for seven Oscars, winning Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay all while having an X rating. If there was ever a movie to challenge the established industry standards, this was it and this documentary examines the cultural relevance of the film in that moment. I have to see this.
Love Gets a Room
Director(s): Rodrigo Cortés | Writer(s): Jerzy Jurandot, Davie Safier, Rodrigo Cortés
Stars: Clara Rugaard, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Mark Ryder
Actors in a Polish Ghetto during World War II perform in the most dire of circumstances. I had recently seen clips from an interview with Ethan Hawke about art becoming sustenance in the most desperate times and that sentiment is echoed here.
Wonderwell
Director(s): Vlad Marsavin | Writer(s): William Brookfield
Stars: Carrie Fisher, Rita Ora, Kiera Milward
Kids’ fantasy films are not usually my fare of choice these days but there seem to be some darker tones that I appreciate. Plus, it’s Carrie Fisher’s final role so I am more than likely going to check it out.
Sheroes
Written & Directed by: Jordan Gertner
Stars: Isabelle Fuhrman, Sasha Luss, Wallis Day
okay, this looks like fun! A bunch of friends go to Thailand for vacation and find some drugs and start partying. Well, the drug dealers want their product back and kidnap one of the ladies. It’s fight or flight time and the ladies decide to go full Taken mode.
Heightened
Written & Directed by: Sara Friedman
Stars: Sara Friedman, Davie Register, Sarah Clarke
I tend to gravitate toward passion projects and Sara Friedman is all in on this one playing a young woman who has a mental breakdown and returns home to Maine where she strikes up a friendship with a park ranger who has some neurotic issues of his own. I will likely have to watch to see this one when it hits VOD, but I am into it.
Kings of L.A.
Written & Directed by: Van Elder
Stars: Paula Jai Parker, Michael Paré, Alimi Ballard
The Angelino in me wants to see this one. I am a little surprised that this one isn’t headed straight to VOD as well, but I think it’s playing down the street from me.
Here. Is. Better.
Directed by: Jack Youngelson
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is very real and it comes in all shapes and sizes. It is interesting to see that this documentary lands on the same release weekend as Revoir Paris but it’s good to see that the conversation is more open nowadays.
Clean
Director(s): Lachlan Mcleod
Stars: Sandra Pankhurst
If you have seen Sunshine Cleaning, this is the real business behind the dramatization. It is interesting to see who does this kind of work and why they do it, but also what this kind of cleaning provides for the people on the other side of the business. I imagine this will be hard to find too, but worth it.
I’ll Show You Mine
Director(s): Megan Griffiths
Writer(s): Tiffany Louquet, Elizabeth Searle, David Shields
Stars: Casey Thomas Brown, Poorna Jagannathan
I love that this trailer is very simple and straightforward. It’s two people who sit down and have a deep and revealing conversation. Intimacy in a way that may be at times very uncomfortable. I like the idea and the structure so I’ll probably check this one out if I can.
Streaming & Digital
The Perfect Find (Netflix)
Director(s): Numa Perrier | Writer(s): Leigh Davenport, Tia Williams
Stars: D.B. Woodside, Gabrielle Union, Gina Torres
Netflix is releasing a slew of films this week, starting with this. I would like this premise more as a straight comedy but it’s played for the romantic angle much more. At least that’s what is shown in the trailer. The tagline is “Find Love. Find Success. Find Yourself.” That’s commendable but also pretty cliche so I’ll find something else to watch.
Black Lotus (VOD/Digital)
Director(s): Todor Chapkanov | Writer(s): Tad Daggerhart
Stars: Rico Verhoeven, Frank Grillo, Marie Dompnier
Not to be confused with White Lotus, a former special forces agent goes on a revenge tour in order to rescue a friend’s daughter. This is definitely some straight-to-video type stuff here but it looks like it could be fun if it plays its notes well. Frank Grillo is in a lot of stuff like this so I know he’ll be good.
I Am T-Rex (VOD/Digital)
Director(s): Ming Shang, Lin Si
Stars (voices): Lang Lin, Yi Nuo, Long Bai
So this is like a pretty blatant The Lion King ripoff except with dinosaurs. I guess it could be cute, but it’s not in the cards for me.
Surrounded (VOD/Digital June 20th)
Director(s): Anthony Mandler | Writer(s): Andrew Pagana, Justin Thomas
Stars: Letitia Wright, Jamie Bell, Jeffrey Donovan
I like Westerns and this one has a very interesting premise and a good cast. Of all the straight-to-VOD movies that came out, this is one that I am glad I don’t have to work hard to find.
Coyote (VOD/Digital June 20th)
Written & Directed by: Dustin Curtis Murphy
Stars: Therica Wilson-Reed, Borislava Stratieva, Ailish Symons
Part social satire, part dystopian sci-fi, this is the type of film I expect to release straight to digital. It is weird to see a native Angelino who is living in the UK make this kind of film that takes aim at the refugee situation. It may or may not work.
South Beach Shark Club (VOD/Digital)
Director(s): Robert Requejo Ramos
Writer(s): Pedro Gomez, Robert Requejo Ramos
I did not expect to be so compelled by this trailer but it looks pretty punk rock. I hope there is a lot more to the Shark Club part of the story, but and interesting time capsule nonetheless.
The Country Club (VOD/Digital)
Director(s): Fiona Robert | Writer(s): Sophia Robert, Fiona Robert
Stars: Elaine Hendrix, James Urbaniak, Mateo Ferro
When I think about the fun spirit of indie films, this is the kind of movie that comes to mind. I don’t really know any of the players, but I liked what I saw in the trailer.
Make Me Believe (Netflix)
Director(s): Evren Karabiyik Günaydin, Murat Saraçoglu
Writer(s): Selen Bagci
Stars: Ayça Aysin Turan, Ekin Koç, Zerrin Sümer
Netflix loves this kind of stuff because they can grab distribution rights and get the kind of picturesque locations we see here without footing the bill. It’s not my type of movie, but there will be an audience.
Through My Window: Across the Sea (Netflix)
Director(s): Marçal Forés | Writer(s): Ariana Godoy, Eduard Sola
Stars: Clara Galle, Julio Peña, Hugo Arbues
Here’s another one from the same Netflix international playbook, but with more of a focus on sexiness. If this is your thing, it’s a good weekend to Netflix and chill.
iNumber Number: Jozi Gold (Netflix)
Written & Directed by: Donovan Marsh
Stars: Deon Lotz, Noxolo Dlamini, Fana Mokoena
I have gotta go back and watch the first iNumber Number from 2017 because this sequel looks like a lot of fun. When I think of the kinds of international movies I want to see from Netflix, this is what comes to mind.
King of Clones (Netflix)
Director(s): Aditya Thayi
Stars: Woo Suk Hwang
Sadly, I couldn’t find a trailer for this but the documentary focuses on Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk who was a pioneer in stem cell research. He reportedly cloned human embryonic stem cells but went on to disgrace as his practices were unethical and the validity of his experiments was brought into question. I will definitely check this one out.
World’s Best (Disney+)
Director(s): Roshan Sethi
Writer(s): Utkarsh Ambudkar, Jamie King, Timothy Visentin
Stars: Utkarsh Ambudkar, Noah Lamanna, Kathryn Greenwood
I really like Utkarsh Ambudkar as a comedian so even though this is a kid’s story, this one is much more on my wavelength.
Rise (Disney+)
Director(s): Akin Omotoso | Writer(s): Arash Amel
Stars: Dayo Okeniyi, Yetide Badaki, Uche Agada
I could have sworn this movie had come out a while back, but the story of the Atentokounmpo brothers lands on Disney+ this weekend. It is an inspiring story but also comes with the melodramatic hallmarks of a Disney film.
Thanks for reading! I still believe word of mouth is the best way to help, so if you enjoy what I’m doing, please tell somebody. And if you have a comment, I’d love to hear it! Liking, subscribing, and sharing go a long way too. As usual, be well, be safe, and have fun no matter how you get your movies!