It’s a weird release weekend as it seems several projects have ben on hold for a while. That said, let’s get to it because there are a lot.
New In Theaters
Bad Boys 4: Ride or Die
Director(s): Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah | Writer(s): Chris Bremner, Will Beall
Stars: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens
On the one hand, I can’t believe this is the 4th of these movies. On the other hand, given the current state of studio efforts, I can totally believe it, and I might even be able to buy into being one of the better sequel offerings, given the circumstances. I liked the first Bad Boys but have less and less about each of the sequels. I am not sure I even saw the last one. It could be entertaining action fodder and I’ll probably get around to it, but I’m not particularly interested and won’t make the effort to go to the theaters for this over the weekend.
The Watchers
Director(s): Ishana Shyamalan | Writer(s): Ishana Shyamalan. A.M. Shine
Stars: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré
This one has been getting eviscerated already in its first few days of release and considering the current state of horror movies, I can’t say I am surprised. However, this was one of the much more intriguing horror titles to come out this year and I am still interested. I’m mostly in it for Dakota and the aesthetic, but I am going to watch this at some point over the next week.
Run Lola Run (re-release)
Written & Directed by: Tom Tykwer
Stars: Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, Herbert Knaup
I have known about this film for a long time and so many people I know love it, but I have never actually seen it. Fortunately, I can make it the first time on the big screen and pretend like it’s a new movie. Just the trailer alone at this point is more compelling than many of the other options this week.
Limited Release
Trim Season
Director(s): Ariel Vida | Writer(s): David Blair, Sean E. DeMott, Cullen Poythress, Megan Sutherland, Ariel Vida
Stars: Bethlehem Million, Alexandra Essoe, Ally Ioannides
Now, this is the kind of horror movie that has my name on it! Not based on any existing IP that I know of and tackling something inherently dangerous like weed farming in the middle of nowhere for strangers. Just situationally, it’s risky and I love environmental/situational horror.
The Girl Who Wore Freedom
Director(s): Christian Taylor | Writer(s): Julie Denis, Christian Taylor
Stars: Sharon Anderlik, Andy Barnett, Ceo E. Bauer
This one has been looking for a distribution deal for the last four years and now as we move into summer, it finally sees the light of day. This trailer looks a lot more like a propaganda commercial than it looks like a trailer for a documentary. Like something you would see as part of an exhibit at a WWII history museum. It’s probably interesting, but I’ll pass.
I Used to Be Funny
Written & Directed by: Ally Pankiw
Stars: Rachel Sennott, Olga Petsa, Jason Jones
Movies and TV about stand-up comedians often struggle to actually have funny stand-up comedy in them. And I can see that this is listed as comedy/drama, but this trailer isn’t funny. That being said, I don’t think this has to be a comedy. It looks like the drama angle works and the comedy label might actually be a disservice here, despite Rachel Sennott being a genuinely funny comedic actress. We’ll just have to see.
Late Bloomers
Director(s): Lisa Steen | Writer(s): Anna Greenfield
Stars: Karen Gillan, Malgorzata Zajaczkowska, Loni Ackerman
Karen Gillan being awkward in indie movies is the sub-genre I didn’t know I needed until it started happening. I’ll watch her in anything, but this is my preference. This is listed as a straight-up comedy but also seems more like a heart-warming comedy/drama. I’m game.
Life After Fighting (+VOD)
Written & Directed by: Bren Foster
Stars: Bren Foster, Cassie Howarth, Luke Ford
I grew up with movies about combat and I thought that’s where we were headed with this one but nope. We still get the action but in the name of stopping child trafficking…okay. There’s a reason this gets a simultaneous limited theatrical and digital release.
The School of Magical Animals 2
Written & Directed by:
Director(s): | Writer(s):
Stars:
International Marketplace
Longing
Written & Directed by: Savi Gabizon
Stars: Diane Kruger, Richard Gere, Jessica Clement
We are kicking off the international releases with this Canadian film. Now, I can’t tell if the folks at IMDB just don’t know how to categorize a film these days or what, but you can’t tell me after watching the trailer that this movie is a comedy. That’s fine, it strikes me as more of a horny 90s-era thriller, complete with Richard Gere. I’m in it for Kruger but I’m in!
*Banel & Adama – Editor’s Pick*
Written & Directed by: Ramata-Toulaye Sy
Stars: Khandy Mane, Mamadou Diallo, Binta Racine Sy
The aesthetics of this film look incredible! I’m not exactly sure what the catalyst is here, but the music conveys a certain dramatic tone that boosts the visuals in a very compelling way. That’s how you make a trailer! I’m in. It will be tougher to find and probably not the first thing I see this weekend, as a result, but something about the trailer is intoxicating and I’m giving it my Editor’s Pick.
Cottontail
Written & Directed by: Patrick Dickinson
Stars: Ciarán Hinds, Thomas Coombes, Aoife Hinds
Cross-cultural complications make for interesting hurdles in the wake of someone’s death. I like seeing the UK/Japan co-production and that just makes me more intrigued. Probably going to be a tough find, but I’ll catch it if I can.
Rode College
Director(s): Happy Rode | Writer(s): Happy Rode, Jatin Verma
Stars: Bhuvan Azad, Samreet Bajwa, Mahabir Bhullar
No clue what this is about because the trailer isn’t subtitled, but this is a movie and it’s getting released.
Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything
Director(s): Emily Atef | Writer(s): Emily Atef, Daniela Krien
Stars: Marlene Burow, Felix Kramer, Cedric Eich
This looks pretty intense for a romance, but I think that’s a good thing in this case.
Streaming & Digital
Love Kills (VOD/Digital June 4th)
Written & Directed by: Duke
Stars: Lucy Diamante, Konstantinos Angel, Maximilian Seed
Not to be confused with the low-budget drama/thriller of the same name from last year, this isn’t about a very unhinged young woman with borderline personality disorder. Maybe it is, but it’s not the text of the film. This is much more of a sad romance. Under the right circumstances, I could see this being my cup of tea.
Re: Uniting (VOD/Digital June 4th)
Written & Directed by: Laura Adkin
Stars: Jesse L. Martin, Roger Cross, Michelle Harrison
This is a very adult film, and by that I mean for the 35-50 demographic. Fortunately, I fall into that. This could be really funny and heartfelt, but it’s going to go on the heap of things I don’t have time to get to directly this week.
Boomtown (VOD/Digital June 4th)
Director(s): Sabyn Mayfield | Writer(s): Sabyn Mayfield, David Newbert
Stars: Rachel Brosnahan, Boyd Holbrook, Dwight Yoakam
This movie has been on the shelf since 2017 which likely isn’t a good sign. I like a lot of the cast that’s involved and this idea of having to make your way by being apart from your family is something I have seen personally in my own family, so it’s more accessible. Whether or not I rent this is a different question.
On the Ridge (VOD/Digital June 6th)
Written & Directed by: Denis Paul Circo, Ishma Yusaf Valenti
Stars: Robert Brave Heart, Ross Cantu, Denis Paul Circo
This is a cool opportunity to look into a native culture and I have been listening to some podcasts and seen some shows lately that focus on the dismissal and ignorance of indigenous peoples, so the time is now.
Under Paris (Netflix June 5th)
Director(s): Xavier Gens | Writer(s): Yannick Dahan, Maud Heywang, Xavier Gens, Yaël Langmann, Eduardo Duprey, Olivier Torres, Sebastien Auscher
Stars: Bérénice Bejo, Nassim Lyes, Léa Léviant
I have heard mixed things about this from friends who took the plunge, but they have all concluded that they had a good time. It’s a shark bait movie, I am contractually obligated to watch it.
Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura (Netflix June 6th)
Director(s): Toshiki Hirano | Writer(s): Daromeon, Atsua Ishino, Keisuke Itagaki, Yabako Sandrovich
Stars (voices): Nobunaga Shimazaki, Tatsuhisha Suzuki, Yutaka Aoyama
I’m not sure what you can gather from those 20 seconds, but there’s going to be a fight and it’s going to be on Netflix.
Am I Ok? (Max June 6th)
Director(s): Stephanie Allynne, Tig Notaro | Writer(s): Lauren Pomerantz
Stars: Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler
It seems like a lot of the movies coming out this week were done at least a year ago. With the disastrous reception of Madame Web, this is a good opportunity for Dakota Johnson to show that she goes beyond that. Tig Notaro is a good comedy writer, so I think there’s potential here.
Queer Planet (Peacock June 6th)
Stars: Bradley Trevor Greive, Sue Perkins, Andrew Rannells
This is a “TV Special” so not sure it really belongs in the movie section, but it’s a documentary so let’s go with it. I do love a good nature doc and this one looks like fun.
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