We’re halfway through the year. We made it this far, everyone! The weather is getting better, and the summer blockbuster season is well on its way. While I’m not too largely into these kinds of films, there is still one big film I’m interested in seeing (which will be displayed first). Nonetheless, the home releases this month are phenomenal, including a sensational Criterion trinket definitely worth picking up! We’re six months into 2016 and we have six months left! Here are the films I feel may have longevity until the end of the year (or possibly more).
New Theatrical Releases:
Finding Dory
Release Date: June 17th
Directors: Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL-E), Angus MacLane (Burn-E)
Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Idris Elba, Bill Hader, Kate McKinnon, Dominic West
IMDb Summary: The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way.
Why I Am So Excited: At first a Finding Nemo sequel seemed like an iffy idea. Having Stanton back behind the project (with help from MacLance) seems promising, though, and who knows where you can go in the big deep blue. This could be another slam dunk in the Pixar sequel lineup. If not, it most likely won’t be a Cars 2, at least. Either way, it’ll feel good to be reminded to just keep swimming in theaters again.
Watch the Trailer Here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKJA-VLpiCo
Free State of Jones
Release Date: June 24th
Director: Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit, The Hunger Games)
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Keri Russell, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, Brendan Gleeson
IMDb Summary: As civil war divides the nation, a poor farmer from Mississippi leads a group of rebels against the Confederate army.
Why I Am So Excited: Ross as a director has potential. What he needs the most is a great lead, and with McConaughey’s recent cinematic resurgence, this project can possibly deliver greatly. Could this be a summer blockbuster with heftiness and poignancy? Here’s hoping that is the case, because if not, then that’s just not alright alright alright.
Watch the Trailer Here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EMkxEKKSQI
The Neon Demon
Release Date: June 24th
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Bronson, Pusher)
Starring: Elle Fanning, Christina Hendricks, Jena Malone, Bella Heathcote, Keanu Reeves
IMDb Summary: When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will ake any means necessary to get what she has.
Why I Am So Excited: THIS sounds like a twisted bloody movie! Winding Refn has split audiences before, but this latest stunt just seems way too intriguing. People at Cannes either walked out and booed the film or basically crowned it a modern masterpiece. The promotional pictures, the reviews and the overall teasing of this film has had me anxious to see it for months (even with the mixed reception). See you on the other side of the highlighter fires of hell!
Watch the Red Band (NSFW) Trailer Here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdbFznqc8S0
New On Blu-Ray:
Zootopia
Release Date: June 7th
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Directors: Bryon Howard (Bolt, Tangled), Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph)
Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate
IMDb Summary: In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.
Why This is Worth Getting: If you haven’t seen this animated joyride yet, get on it! It’s a goofy family film with a large amount of mature depth to hoist this buddy cop film into neo noir territory. It’s reference game is strong, the animation is stunning and there is an emotional heartbeat that will leave you spellbound amidst the jolly good fun. Another home run from the animated studios over at Disney!
Watch the Trailer Here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWM0ct-OLsM
Anomalisa
Release Date: June 7th
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
Director: Charlie Kaufman (Synecdoche, New York), Duke Johnson (film directorial debut)
Starring: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan
IMDb Summary: A man crippled by the mundanity of his life experiences something out of the ordinary.
Why This is Worth Getting: As if I haven’t gone on and on about this film enough. Simply put: This was my top film of 2015. It’s a thought provoking animated tale of desperate measures, isolation and anxiety. It’s a miserable film but definitely one that will fling you outside the box. I’ve already said heaps about this masterpiece. It’s your turn to watch it.
Watch the Trailer Here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQkHA3fHk_0
45 Years
Release Date: June 14th
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Director: Andrew Haigh (Weekend, Greek Pete)
Starring: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay
IMDb Summary: A married couple preparing to celebrate their wedding anniversary receives shattering news that promises to forever change the course of their lives.
Why This is Worth Getting: This is cinematic minimalism done right. You have a short cast and a short running time, and yet 45 Years speaks volumes. This poetic tragedy contains stunning performances by Rampling and Courtenay, where the world is their stage and they fall hard on their knees in front of you. 45 Years is a quiet film, yet it will stay with you for months afterwards.
Watch the Trailer Here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg5cpiX18TA
Embrace of the Serpent
Release Date: June 21st
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
Director: Ciro Guerra (The Wild Journeys)
Starring: Jan Bijvoet, Nilbio Torres, Antonio Bolivar
IMDb Summary: The story of the relationship between Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and last survivor of his people, and two scientists who work together over the course of 40 years to search the Amazon for a sacred healing plant.
Why This is Worth Getting: Wow. This is a textbook example of world cinema being an eye opener for what movies can achieve. This was a very late contender to the Academy Awards, but I’ll be damned if you don’t agree that it was a worthy nominee. I don’t want to say too much about this, because the less you know, the more your brain will explore by the time the film wraps up. Guerra is young and extremely talented! I cannot wait to see more from him.
Watch the Trailer Here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOa9pjl37Lo
Criterion Release of the Month:
Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Release Date: June 28th
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
Director: Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey, Barry Lyndon, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, and other masterpieces)
Starring: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Peter Sellers, Slim Pickens, Peter Sellers, Sterling Hayden, James Earl Jones
IMDb Summary: An insane general triggers a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically try to stop.
Why This is Worth Getting: First off, this is the all time greatest political satire in movie history. If getting one of the funniest movies ever isn’t good enough, try these: Interviews with Sellers and C. Scott themselves back from 63′, excerpts from an interview with Kubrick from 66′, and interviews with Kubrick professionals that study the man inside and out. Outside of just hearing people talk (what is this? The War Room?), there are four mini documentaries about the film included, too. All of this and then some. This is the kind of tribute this gem deserves! I just wish it came with nine packs of chewing gum, one issue of prophylactics and one hundred dollars in rubles, too.
Watch the Trailer Here!
