Summer Movie Calendar
I have been going to the theater again. Sparingly, and to shows that have been out a few weeks mostly. The most people I’ve encountered in a theater so far was 4. That is sad for the state of certain movies. But, it’s also how it’s been for awhile. Living in Chicago I would regularly see screenings that had little to no people in them. Only big time movies get crowds. Right now, nothing is, and that’s okay. It will slowly ramp up. Cruella & Quiet Place Part II will get some people out to see them. It is so nice to just be back and engaged with movies. I wanted to do a brief rundown of what is coming this summer. Hold on to your butts.
JUNE 4TH
THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT (Theaters & HBOMax)
My first thought is never put the “the” in the subtitle if your movie is also called “the” something. As a great movie once said, “Drop the “the”. It’s cleaner.” But, even that movie itself didn’t drop the “the”, so maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about. Besides that I am pumped and jacked for this 3rd installment. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are such good anchors to a series like this. James Wan returns to direct it, like he did the first and second ones, after he successfully pulled off Aquaman. It looks like a good mix of scares and a courtroom drama. I’m all the way in!
JUNE 11TH
IN THE HEIGHTS (Theaters & HBOMax)
I am in that small, but occasionally loud group of people who doesn’t find much to enjoy about Lin-Manuel Miranda. He didn’t direct, write, or is starring in this movie. He will show up, but I think it is unfair for me to think of this as his movie like it is in my head. So I will approach it from a place of fresh perspective and I am ready to enjoy a musical about a place and culture I haven’t gotten to experience much of in my life. It looks very fun, and I will be appropriating Jimmy Smits wardrobe for my white boy summer.
JUNE 18TH
THE SPARKS BROTHERS (Theaters & VOD?)
Edgar Wright’s first of two big features this year. The story of Ron and Russell Mael that created one of the most influential and overlooked bands in history. They were always just years ahead of what was coming in music. I also consider this prep for Annette coming in August. A movie they wrote that looks like it has a chance to be my favorite of the year.
JUNE 25TH
F9 (Theaters)
Vin Diesel got The Rock out of his movies and John Cena into his car. Now he is going to singlehandedly save movies with a diverse cast in what is the marvel movies that feature beer Fast & the Furious franchise. The movies are at a low point right now coming back after Fate of the Furious, frustratingly not titled F8 of the Furious, was not great. Hobbs and Shaw wasn’t much either. So this one needs to be more in that Fast 5/6/7 mold for it to feel right. But! Maybe! Just because we are all starved for a blockbuster movie this will hit the spot. I’m excited to see what they do.
FALSE POSITIVE (Hulu)
Ilana Glazer writes and stars in a dark comedic take on Rosemary’s Baby. At least that is what it seems like to me. Justin Theroux is the husband, Pierce Brosnan is the doctor, and I’m ready to see her again after the ending of Broad City.
JUNE 30TH
ZOLA (Theaters)
Taylour Paige stars as the titular stripper who is taken by Riley Keough’s character to Florida on a road trip. Based on a twitter thread from like 6 years ago then written about in the NYT. Directed by one of the best up and coming talents Janicza Bravo. I’m excited to have some A24 back in my life.
JULY 1ST
NO SUDDEN MOVE (HBOMax)
Steven Soderbergh is prolific and has brought one of the best casts imaginable to a script written by the man who did Men in Black and the Bill & Ted trilogy. A Detroit based heist movie in the 50s with Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Brendan Fraser, Jon Hamm, Julia Fox, Noah Jupe, Amy Seimetz, and Ray Liotta. I’m all the way in, baby!
JULY 2ND
THE FOREVER PURGE (Theaters)
The 5th movie in this franchise that always has good ideas and then just decides to turn it into a slasher or invasion movie. That’s okay. I won’t hold what my brain’s potential for these movies is against it any longer. I enjoyed The First Purge, timely as hell, and I’m sure this one will have some of that as well. Although the idea that no one had just kept purging after the siren is pretty strange. Feels like that would’ve happened immediately. Especially in Florida.
SUMMER OF SOUL (Theaters & Hulu)
Questlove made a documentary about the Harlem Cultural Festival that happened the same summer as Woodstock. The footage was lost until recently, and now we get the full story. I am ready to see this concert doc with some great talent talking heads, but no not David Byrne.
JULY 9TH
BLACK WIDOW (Theaters)
We know what this is and what it will be, but it still has Scarlett Johansson, Rachel Weisz, and Florence Pugh all as family and that is enough for me to see anything.
JULY 16TH
ESCAPE ROOM 2: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
This may seem odd to be here, but if you think that then I know you didn’t see the first one in theaters. One of the most purely fun movies experiences I had. Taylor Russell is a star, she proved she is Oscar worthy in Waves, and eventually will be nominated. But, until then she gets this silly franchise to lead. I’m going to enjoy this one.
SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY
As a sportsman, I never cared too much for the first movie? I hope a new generation of kids will enjoy this. I don’t even know if I’ll see it. But, it is cool we have a player so successful and great he can star in it.
JULY 23RD
OLD
M. Night Shyamalan is back with his first tropical setting. I love his movies even when I don’t actually like them. The fact he tries to make entertainment with twists and earnest themes is ambitious and I’m glad he’s made enough that studios let him keep making these original ideas. I’m ready to #GETOLD
JULY 30TH
JUNGLE CRUISE
The Rock, Emily Blunt, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti is all I need to know. I expect this to be fun and hopefully a little weird. Mr. Johnson’s little hat and Plemons wild accent is worth the price of admission.
THE GREEN KNIGHT
Director David Lowery has carved out a weird place in hollywood for himself. Starting in the very indie world of Malicky dramas with Ain’t Them Bodies Saints & A Ghost Story and then moving towards working in the studio system with Pete’s Dragon and getting the big money to trust him. Now he tries to hit that middle area. Making a big epic movie with indie feeling. I don’t know how it will work but I’m going to see it ASAP.
STILLWATER
Matt Damon’s goatee stars in a movie directed by the man who directed Spotlight AND The Cobbler. So this is feeling like it is going for Spotlight but could reach Cobbler levels. I will see it.
AUGUST 6TH
THE SUICIDE SQUAD
James Gunn is essentially trying to make people forget the David Ayer Suicide Squad happened, which is for the best, and Marvel the shit out of this DC movie. Margot Robbie is back and that tells me it’ll be okay. I don’t have any interest but based on the trailer I saw I expect people will love this.
EMA
Indie arthouse dance movie that was supposed to come out about 2 years ago finally getting released. It looks stunning and I’m ready to be one of the couple thousand people in the world to see it.
AUGUST 13TH
DON’T BREATHE 2
A sequel no one asked for but everyone is happy about! Maybe not everyone, but those that saw this and know how well done it was are all curious like me. It seems like it should be bad, but then is good. What a concept!
FREE GUY
Ryan Reynolds seems like he can’t lose right now and I assume it will continue with this one. But, I don’t care. I do like him though. Just a little tired of these sarcastic in-over-his-head action movies.
AUGUST 20TH
THE NIGHT HOUSE
Rebecca Hall stars in a movie about a widow learning her husband was building another house the exact same as theirs before he died. There’s some dark secrets emerging, and I saw the trailer and was thoroughly convinced I’ll at least be super locked in until one twist too far or something comes. But I’m ready for a weird horror film.
REMINISCENCE
I know nothing about this but saw it on the calendar and that it has Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton, and other familar faces. It is from one of the creators of Westworld, and is about TECHNOLOGY and RELIVING your life. Reminds me of Transcendence a few years ago.
THE PROTEGE
Potentially forgettable action movie with Maggie Q as a trained killer by Samuel L. Jackson and then she has to get revenge. Michael Keaton is in it. I normally wouldn’t even look twice at this thing, but those people being involved and then it is directed by Martin Campbell who did Casino Royale and other solid movies. So I’ll keep an eye out in case it actually is good.
DEMONIC
Neill Blomkamp has gone from the new guy in town to give any science fiction type franchise to for him to take over, all the way down to making small horror sci-fi movies that just happen. Not sure what he did, besides make a couple shitty movies. Anyway, he made a horror movie about mothers and daughters trauma with demons. I will watch it.
AUGUST 27TH
CANDYMAN
Nia DaCosta’s remake or continuation of the 90s horror film is finally getting released! I’m excited to see it and I hope I can with a packed theater and feel okay about it by then. I’m going to be watching the original soon to prep for it. I’ve never seen it! Ready to learn and hopefully have a movie to add to my favorites.