While it may seem as if our blockbuster season has already been going for a while (we’ve already gotten a Marvel movie, a “Transformers” film and a Pixar effort) we still have a ways to go. Luckily for us, July seems to offer some original content on top of characters and universes we’ve already met with new films from Luc Besson and Christopher Nolan on the horizon. On top of that we also have a handful of independent films and documentaries to look forward to in between the superheros and CGI-heavy outputs. So here’s what to put on your calendar for July…
“Spider-Man: Homecoming”
Synopsis: A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man, thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May, under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark. Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine, but when the Vulture emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.
What You Need To Know: The news of Spider-Man making the leap to the Marvel Cinematic Universe was initially met with tempered excitement. There was the worry of yet another iteration of the character coming too soon on the heels of Andrew Garfield’s version of the superhero but most of that anxiety melted away after Tom Holland‘s scene-stealing debut in “Captain America: Civil War.” His charismatic exuberance, awe-shucks excitement at being a part of the gang, and gymnast physicality felt true to the character, paving the way for “Spider-Man: Homecoming” to be one of the most anticipated films of the summer. With a stacked cast that includes Michael Keaton, Marissa Tomei, Donald Glover, Zendaya and Robert Downey Jr., the Jon Watts directed film has a great amount of material to work with to create something fun if albeit familiar.
Release Date: July 7th
“City Of Ghosts”
Synopsis: This documentary from Matthew Heineman goes behind enemy lines in Syria to follow the citizen journalist collective “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” as they attempt to expose the human rights violations by ISIS and fight the terrorist group’s misinformation campaigns in their home country.
What You Need To Know: Director Matthew Heineman has created a documentary that feels dangerous and significantly timely. Having last helmed the extraordinary “Cartel Land,” Heineman is a rising talent whose voice is becoming one to listen to. Having premiered this year at Sundance, our critic declared, “Heineman doesn’t sugar coat anything at all. This is the truth about what is happening in Syria, and we should be shocked, dismayed and horrified.”
Release Date: July 7th (limited)
“A Ghost Story”
Synopsis: Recently deceased, a white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to console his bereft wife, only to find that in his spectral state he has become unstuck in time, forced to watch passively as the life he knew and the woman he loves slowly slip away.
What You Need To Know: With a slight, but poignant filmography, director David Lowery has become an exciting talent over the past few years, breaking out with “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints.” In 2016 he stunned critics again with the underseen gem and remake of “Pete’s Dragon” and to follow it up he brought “A Ghost Story” to Sundance where it was met with raves. Reuniting ‘Bodies’ stars Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, our critic called it “absolutely mesmerizing, with an anything-goes quality that’s endlessly fascinating.”
Release Date: July 7th (limited)
“War For The Planet Of The Apes”
Synopsis: After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.
What You Need to Know: The third and (presumably) final installment in the rebooted trilogy, “War for the Planet of the Apes” breathes new life into the idea of bleak blockbusters. Director Matt Reeves follows up on the success of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” with a similar, ruthless energy as we watch as Caesar once again is put up against presumably unbeatable odds. The trilogy demonstrates how to do a reboot the right way by homaging the classics while also bringing new life to the proceedings including the insanity that is the technological achievements of the motion capture performances.
Release Date: July 14th
“Dunkirk”
Synopsis: Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire, Canada, and France are surrounded by the German army and are evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.
What You Need To Know: Any film by Christopher Nolan feels like event viewing. From his Dark Knight trilogy to the divisive “Interstellar,” there’s always the promise of spectacle in his films, stories told with precision, but married with strong visuals. “Dunkirk” marks a change of pace, his shortest effort since “Following,” and telling a true, wartime story. With a cast that seems to have dipped into the entire pool of British talent with the likes of Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, Harry Styles and a host of newcomers led by Fionn Whitehead, this historical drama could be the refresher the summer needed from superheroes, sequels and remakes.
Release Date: July 21st
