AUGUST:
“Ema”
A funny thing happened last year, following the 2019 festival season premiere of Pablo Larraín’s explosive “Ema”: after most positive receptions at Venice and Toronto, the film just sort of disappeared from the U.S. release slate, although a good deal of cinephiles, such as this writer, managed to catch the film when it screened on MUBI in 2020 for one day only. Well, good news, folks – the hellacious, hallucinatory, hypnotizing “Ema” is almost upon us, and if there is any non-blockbuster movie you’re going to want to see on as big a screen as possible, it’s this one. Describing the plot almost feels beside the point – Mariana Di Girolamo and Gael Garcia Bernal play an experimental dancer and her pedantic choreographer husband, respectively, reeling from a trauma that involves their young son – but seeing the visual fireworks that Larraín sets off here, where he’s assisted in no minor capacity by Nicolas Jaar’s phenomenal, throbbing electro score, is well worth the price of admission, and then some. (August 6, Music Box Films)
“The Suicide Squad”
As the discourse surrounding the Snyder Cut continues unabated, even the apologists who stand behind David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad” have to admit: James Gunn’s admittedly much zanier-looking take on the same story looks like a boatload of twisted fun. Gunn proved, with his “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, that he is a natural fit for the irreverent comic-book sensibility, being both a popcorn visionary as well as an artist who can genuinely leave their fingerprints on a big-budget tentpole. Gunn will be directing what is arguably the starriest cast of his career to date, with John Cena’s uproariously phallocentric line readings from the trailer suggesting that the WWE superstar could very well walk away with the whole damn movie. (August 6, Warner Bros)
“Coda”
Certainly, one of the most surprising success stories to come out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival was Sian Heder’s “Coda,” a buzzed-about remake of the 2014 French dramedy “La Famille Bélier” that racked up a truly impressive number of awards in Park City, including the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize, before sparking a bidding war that saw the property being acquired by Apple TV+ for a lucrative $25 million. Emilia Jones headlines this poignant, wrenching-sounding story about a teenaged girl with a passion for singing who also happens to be the only member of her entirely deaf family with the ability to hear. This sounds like the kind of material that might be treacly or even emotionally manipulative in the wrong filmmaker’s hands (in other words, a weepie), but “Coda,” apparently, is the real deal: our own Gregory Ellwood gave the film a commendable B+ grade, writing that it, against all odds, “transcends the feel-good movie genre.” (August 13, Apple TV+)
“Don’t Breathe 2”
The original “Don’t Breathe,” directed by Fede Alvarez, is one of 2016’s more ingeniously messed-up horror exercises. It was also a film that, somehow, found new life in the tired setup of a group of strangers doing battle with an unwanted intruder, or intruders, in a single claustrophobic, closed-quarters location. Although Alvarez will not return to direct the sequel, he is still credited as a producer (along with Sam Raimi), with filmmaking duties falling to the first film’s screenwriter, Rodo Sayagues (Sayagues has screenwriting credits on several other Alvarez movies and also composed music for the director’s “Evil Dead” remake and “The Girl In The Spider’s Web”). Stephen Lang will be reprising his role as The Blind Man, who now lives in a remote cabin with an orphan girl, and must square off against even more vicious criminals. It sounds like just the right kind of bloodthirsty exploitation-movie kicks that we crave from this series! (August 13, Sony)
“Free Guy”
Depending on who you are and what kind of cinema you gravitate towards, “Free Guy” may either seem like a relentless onslaught of “Ready Player One”-style sensory overload or the audience movie you’ve been looking forward to all year. Whatever the case may be, the Shawn Levy-directed sci-fi/fantasy/action-er, about a milquetoast bank teller who discovers he is an NPC, or non-player character, in a world that is really just a giant video game, looks to be arguably the biggest platform for star Ryan Reynolds since 2016’s “Deadpool.” We all know Reynolds doesn’t act in movies these days if he doesn’t think they can be turned into franchises, which could honestly bode well for “Free Guy’s” prospects as a fun, mindless summer hit. Reynolds will be ably supported by the gifted likes of Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil’ Rel Howery, and, strangely enough, his former “Green Lantern” castmate, Taika Waititi. (August 13, 20th Century Studios)
“Respect”
Aretha Franklin was an unforgettable, larger-than-life American icon, and while it’s possible that no paint-by-numbers musical biopic could hope to capture even an iota of the musical brilliance that made her so special, we’re holding out hope that a) “Respect” won’t be just another paint-by-numbers biopic, and b) that Jennifer Hudson might just be the woman to help reverse Hollywood’s biopic curse! After the dismal dumpster fire that was 2019’s Tom Hooper-directed “Cats” (and man, that movie did the singer/actress dirty in any number of ways), the talented, likable Hudson could definitely use a win. “Respect” will be helmed by stage and film director Liesl Tommy and feature Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Marc Maron, and Audra McDonald in pivotal roles as real-life musical figures ranging from Ted White, Franklin’s former manager and husband, to producer Jerry Wexler. (August 13, Universal)
“Sweet Girl”
Waiting for an “Aquaman” sequel by the window, sadly? That’s not arriving any time soon, but Netflix does have Jason Momoa getting physical this summer if that’s your thing. Co-starring Isabela Merced, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Adria Arjona, Raza Jaffrey, Justin Bartha, Lex Scott Davis, Michael Raymond-James, Dominic Fumusa, Nelson Franklin, and Reggie Lee, “Sweet Girl” stars Momoa as a devastated husband who vows to bring justice to the people responsible for his wife’s death while protecting the only family he has left, his daughter. Brian Andrew Mendoza directs, and it sounds very melodramatic in a way that could be fun. (August 20, Netflix)
“The Beatles: Get Back”
Peter Jackson’s radical WWI documentary “They Shall Not Grow Old” seemed to mark a point of creative transition for the director, away from the colossal “Lord of the Rings” epics for which the New Zealand auteur is so well known, and towards something smaller and more inquisitive in nature, and ultimately, much more personal. Behold: “The Beatles: Get Back,” which utilizes the same approach from “They Shall Not Grow Old” and applies it to the footage captured during the time of the Fab Fours’ “Let It Be” recording sessions and the famous rooftop concert session that accompanied it. Jackson’s film also seems to exist, to some degree, as an act of historical course-correction, drawing upon Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s 1970 doc, also called “Let It Be,” to dispel notions that the recording sessions depicted were somehow tarnished by resentments and old grudges. For rock n’ roll history nerds, this is nothing less than mandatory viewing. (August 27, Disney)
“Candyman”
A lot is riding on Nia DaCosta’s upcoming remake of the adored cult horror item “Candyman,” and not just because the new film has been the victim of multiple COVID-related setbacks. No, the original “Candyman” is its own kind of brilliant precursor to “Get Out”: a trailblazing work of social critique disguised as a bloodcurdling descent into pure terror. In other words: a tough act to live up to. One of the strengths of the original “Candyman” is how straight it’s played, and while DaCosta’s remake looks to have its tongue more firmly planted in cheek, that might not be the worst approach to updating a nearly thirty-year-old B-movie masterpiece. In any case, the cast is nothing to sneeze at, with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, and Colman Domingo taking substantial roles and the great, iconic Tony Todd reprising his malevolent titular part from the first film. (August 27, Universal)
“Reminiscence”
“Westworld”-heads, rejoice: Lisa Joy, co-creator of that popular sci-fi drama series, is making her official theatrical directing debut with “Reminiscence,” set to bow August 27, simultaneously via Warner Brothers and HBO Max (this marks a shift from the film’s previously-planned release date of September 3, which means it won’t be competing with the likes of “Jackass 4” and the “Resident Evil” reboot). Joy’s film stars Hugh Jackman as a “private investigator of the mind” living in a futuristic Miami and helping his clients unlock old memories. When he’s introduced to a new client (Rebecca Ferguson), Jackman’s protagonist is then thrown into a fraught, conspiracy-laden shadow world. Apart from Alex Garland, there aren’t many contemporary filmmakers successfully pulling off dark, smart, grown-up sci-fi, but if “Reminiscence” delivers, we may very well have to add Lisa Joy to that ongoing conversation. (August 27, Warner Bros)
“Beckett”
Produced by Luca Guadagnino, the “Call Me By Your Name” director helps give an Italian compatriot a serious leg up. Helmed by filmmaker Ferdinando Cito Filomarino, this Netflix thriller has quite the cast and stars John David Washington, Alicia Vikander, Boyd Holbrook, and Vicky Krieps (“Phantom Thread”). The premise? A vacationing couple falls trap to a violent conspiracy with tragic consequences. The power of Guadagnino summons great collaborators all around as the score is written by the legendary Ryuichi Sakamoto and the cinematography is by Thai shooter Sayombhu Mukdeeprom who did an absolutely outstanding job on art films like “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives,” “Call Me by Your Name” and “Suspiria.” (August, TBD, Netflix)
September (Wait, what? Hear us out…)
“Shang Chi: The Legend Of The Ten Rings”
Yes, technically, Marvel’s “Shang Chi” film is a September 3 release, but that’s over the Labor Day weekend, the end of summer, and it’ll hang over a tiny bit. Plus, you’ll likely get reviews the week (and special audience preview screenings) in August so that audiences will be clamoring for Marvel’s first Asian-led cast and kung-fu action spectacular. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (“Short Term 12”), the film stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi alongside Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu, and Ronny Chieng. In the film, Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past, an evil despotic crime father, after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization. Note the pronunciation of the character’s name is “Shong shee.” (September 3, Marvel/Disney)
The Rest Of August: “Finch” (originally titled “Bios“) certainly sounds like it could be an intriguing, adult-oriented dramatic outlier in a summer movie landscape littered with bubblegum blockbusters; the film features Tom Hanks, father of Chet, as an aging inventor whose primary form of company is a robot played by everyone’s favorite twitchy oddball character actor, Caleb Landry Jones. That said, on the other end of the viewing spectrum, if you are looking to take your kids to a movie, we may also suggest “Blazing Samurai,” an animated comedy-adventure loosely inspired by Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles,” which features Michael Cera, George Takei, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michelle Yeoh, among others, in the voice cast.
As far as additional family fare, well, there’s always the feature adaptation of the kiddie T.V. favorite “Paw Patrol,” set to hit theaters on August 20th. For devotees of the“Kissing Booth” movies, the third one hits Netflix on August 11, and the “She’s All That” remake, reimagined as “He’s All That,” arrives August 27. A more recent, surprising announcement was that of a surprise pandemic horror movie, “Demonic,” directed by divisive “District 9” auteur Neill Blomkamp, that will see a day-and-date theatrical/streaming release via IFC Midnight on August 20.
Tsai Ming-liang’s artful, atmospheric “Days” has enjoyed quite a run on the international festival circuit and will finally see a release through Grasshopper Film come August 6. “Swan Song” sounds like it could be one of the craziest sleepers of the summer: it’s a cult film in the making starring Udo Kier as a retired hairdresser who embarks on a wild journey across his hometown to style a dead woman’s hair before her funeral procession. A star-studded cast that includes Lake Bell, Zoe Kazan, Michael Cera, and Peter Stormare will all be lending their voice talents to “Cryptozoo,” directed by animator Dash Shaw, which will follow “crypto-zookeepers” through a vivid, psychedelic dreamscape that could very well promise a more idiosyncratic alternative to some of the summer season’s more family-friendly animated outings.
Elsewhere, “The Macaluso Sisters” sounds like it could be an offbeat indie item with a potentially shocking plot twist that could draw in a cross over audience, while “The Meaning Of Hitler” will provide a tough, necessary investigative glimpse at the far-right side of our country’s ugly fascination with Adolf Hitler and his legacy of genocidal white extremism.
