We’ve made it to July. We’ve marked the halfway point of this year from hell and now it seems we blink and a month passes. It’s the point of the year where best of the year so far lists begin to roll out and, if they’re anything to go by, at the very least the quality of films hasn’t diminished too greatly despite the constant shifts and changes going on in the industry.
READ MORE: The Best Films Of 2020… So Far
It’s a small, insignificant silver lining in the grand scope of the world but, at this point in time when many of us need moments of escapism, it’s much welcomed. July offers a similar rundown to the months past with a few indies peppered with some genuine gems that, no matter the year and circumstances, likely would be counted as some of the years best by the time December arrives.
“The Outpost”
Cast: Orlando Bloom, Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, Milo Gibson
Synopsis: Badly outnumbered, U.S. soldiers band together to battle a force of Taliban fighters at a remote outpost in Afghanistan.
What You Need to Know: There’s something on paper that appears so dated about this whole premise that it takes a stretch of the imagination as to what could be added to a story that’s been told countless times before. That being said, the film aims to divert from tried tropes with a look at the bloodiest American engagement of the Afghan War in 2009, the Battle of Kamdesh. Directed by Rod Lurie and based on the novel by CNN journalist Jake Tapper, “The Outpost: An Untold Story of Valor,” the film will once again look to shine a light on hyper-masculinity in wartime settings. Orlando Bloom stars alongside Scott Eastwood and Milo Gibson.
Release Date: July 3
“The Truth”
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, Ethan Hawke
Synopsis: A stormy reunion occurs between an actress and her daughter after the actress publishes her memoirs.
What You Need to Know: Director Hirokazu Kore-eda is one of the finest filmmakers working today with an eye for everyday beauty and intimate tragedies. Despite a list of tremendous work such as “Like Father Like Son,” “After the Storm,” and “Still Walking” it was 2018’s Oscar-nominated masterwork “Shoplifters” that brought his popularity to entirely new heights. He returns with his first English language film and he’s gotten hold of some heavy hitters with Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, and Ethan Hawke leading the charge. The film premiered at the 2019 Venice Film Festival where our critic called it “…a witty, meta dramedy about fiction and fact and self-mythologizing; a portrait of a wonderfully impossible woman; an admiring tribute to the craft of acting; a vehicle for a stellar late-career performance to cap one of France’s all-time great careers; and almost exactly the very last film you would have expected the beloved Japanese director to make, especially after his Palme d’Or-winning ‘Shoplifters.’”
Release Date: July 3
“Hamilton”
Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo
Synopsis: The story of Alexander Hamilton — politician, statesman and Founding Father.
What You Need to Know: What on earth is left to know? One of the biggest pop culture phenomenons of the 21st Century, Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s alternative history musical won multiple Tony’s, launched careers into the public light such as Daveed Diggs, garnered swarms of dedicated, passionate fans and a resolute marker of time. Even to those who have tired of the production since it’s initial release and acclaim, there’s no denying the effect the musical had in how it brought to Broadway a new swarth of fans. Now, years since the release and on the tails of the saddening if unsurprising news that Broadway will remain closed for the rest of the year, the live stage filming of a 2016 production directed by Thomas Kail will be released. For those of us who never even came close to getting to see “Hamilton” live will having something to look forward to, with our critic calling it as “powerful as ever,” writing, “’Hamilton’ argues that we can make the world better, no matter that we can’t exactly make it safe and sound. It was an idea worth presenting in 2016. It’s an idea that needs presenting again in 2020.”
Release Date: July 3
“The Old Guard”
Cast: Charlize Theron, Kiki Lane, Matthias Schoenaerts, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Synopsis: A group of mercenaries, all centuries-old immortals with the ability to heal themselves, discover someone is onto their secret, and they must fight to protect their freedom.
What You Need to Know: If you’ve seen “Love & Basketball” or “Beyond the Lights,” you’re aware of the talent director Gina Prince-Bythewood possesses. Her upcoming feature is a diversion from what we’ve come to expect from the director with a film wholly rooted in science fiction and action. Released through Netflix and with a formidable cast lead by Charlize Theron and “If Beale Street Could Talk” star Kiki Layne, the film’s narrative (based on a script by Greg Rucka) plus the talent behind and in front of the screen is more than enough to convince anyone to give the film a shot.
Release Date: July 10
“Relic”
Synopsis: A woman links her mother’s increasingly volatile behavior to an evil presence at their family’s decaying country home.
Cast: Emily Mortimer, Bella Heathcote, Robyn Nevin
What You Need to Know: In her first full-length feature film, director Natalie Erika James has made quite an impression with her startling and terrifying “Relic.” The horror film first premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to strong reviews. Co-written by James and Christian White, the film turns a keen eye to women in horror with a generational storyline that’s as shocking as it is purposeful, using the genre to unpack illness and trauma. Our critic found much to praise, writing “An impressive first feature, humanist in its compassionate consideration of mental fragility and the melancholy inherent in spiritual degeneration, yet never forgetting to deliver spooky frights, “Relic” could quickly go down as one of the best horror movies of the year when 2020 is over.”
Release Date: July 10
“Palm Springs“
Cast: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons
Synopsis: Stuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again.
What You Need to Know: From “Hot Rod” to “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping,” The Lonely Island team has had success in creating pieces of work that possess surprising amounts of longevity. With “Palm Springs” they look to marry both the critical accolades of their work along with commercial success, a feat they’ve already managed as they were the film that broke the highest record for the highest sale out of the Sundance Film Festival. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti shine in the film that allows both to play with the mania that comes from day to day monotony and redundancy (a theme that certainly plays differently now) but it’s the script by Andy Siara that truly changes the way the “Groundhog Day” style narrative is done. Our critic who saw it at the festival sang its praises, calling it a “…fabulous adventure in love and growth.”
Release Date: July 10
“Archive”
Cast: Theo James, Toby Jones, Stacy Martin, Rhona Mitra
Synopsis: 2038: George Almore is working on a true human-equivalent AI. His latest prototype is almost ready. This sensitive phase is also the riskiest. Especially as he has a goal that must be hidden at all costs: being reunited with his dead wife.
What You Need to Know: July is apparently a big month for science fiction. Written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Gavin Rothery, Theo James (“Divergent,” “Zoe”) and Stacy Martin (“Nymphomaniac,” “Vox Lux”) star as the torn apart lovers. With Art Department credits for the 2009 film “Moon,” the director’s history in VFX work will hopefully lend itself to the film. It’s not exactly new territory but science fiction often thrives on taking old ideas or themes and remodeling them to reflect the present. Here’s hoping Rothery’s work does just that.
Release Date: July 10
“Greyhound”
Cast: Tom Hanks, Elisabeth Shue,
Synopsis: Early in World War II, an inexperienced U.S. Navy captain must lead an Allied convoy being stalked by Nazi U-boat wolfpacks.
What You Need to Know: Adapted from the novel “The Good Shepherd” by author C. S. Forester, “Greyhound” welcomes Tom Hanks back onto our screens with a gripping tale of valor. Directed by Aaron Schneider in his first film since 2009’s “Get Low,” the film was originally set to be released for Father’s Day weekend. Regardless, it made up for it with a reportedly hefty price tag to stream on Apple TV+, the first notable pick up for the streaming service amidst the theatrical release shuffle as COVID continues on.
Release Date: July 10
“The Rental”
Cast: Alison Brie, Dan Stevens, Jeremy Allen White
Synopsis: Two couples on an oceanside getaway grow suspicious that the host of their seemingly perfect rental house may be spying on them. Before long, what should have been a celebratory weekend trip turns into something far more sinister.
What You Need to Know: While it’s not surprising that Dave Franco would eventually find himself directing, a horror film isn’t the first type of project that might come to mind. That being said, for his first feature film, he’s acquired quite the cast with names such as Alison Brie and Dan Stevens (on the heels of a scene-stealing performance in “Eurovision”) accompanied by “Shameless” star Jeremy Allen White who has deserved a greater quantity of work for years now. Written by Franco and Joe Swanberg (“Queen of Earth,” “Drinking Buddies”), the film already has an indie vibe to it and that style of intimate filmmaking along with a home invasion style premise promises for something unsettling and sinister.
Release Date: July 24
“Radioactive”
Cast: Rosamund Pike, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sam Riley
Synopsis: The incredible, true story of Marie Curie and her ground-breaking scientific achievements. In Paris, 1893, Marie meets fellow scientist Pierre Curie. The pair go on to marry, raise two daughters, and change the face of science forever by jointly winning the Nobel Prize for the discovery of radium in 1903. Marie Curie was the first female scientist to win the esteemed prize.
What You Need to Know: Despite her incredible work in “Gone Girl” it seems like Rosamund Pike continually is either miscast or chooses films that don’t befit her talent. The microseries “State of the Union” has been some of the best utilization of her since but, hopefully, with her latest film “Radioactive” she’ll get another chance to shine. Directed by Marjane Satrapi (“Persepolis,” “The Voices”) and written by Jack Thorne (“This is England ‘86”) the two team up to put a cinematic twist on a history-making story. Our critic who saw it at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival felt it failed to live up to the source material, writing, “Even with Pike’s heroics on display, Satrapi’s ‘Radioactive’ never amounts to a grand discovery. It’s just a footnote in biopic history.”
Release Date: July 24
“Unhinged”
Cast: Russell Crowe, Caren Pistorious, Jimmi Simpson
Synopsis: A case of road rage turns into full-blown terror when an unstable driver follows a woman and her son.
What You Need to Know: Russell Crowe has had an interesting career trajectory of late, taking on television series such as “The Loudest Voice” and roles in independent films with two examples in 2020 alone with “The True History of the Kelly Gang” and now “Unhinged.” Directed by Derrick Borte (“American Dreamer,” “London Town”) “Unhinged” offers Crowe another chance to demonstrate just how menacing he can be in a given role. Written by “Disturbia” and “The Last House on the Left” scribe Carl Ellsworth and co-starring Caren Pistorious and Jimmi Simpson, “Unhinged” might not be your next feel-good watch but it might be worth it for the leading performance alone.
Release Date: July 31