As we catch up on our list The 20 best movies of the first half of the yearJuly is also a time to focus on what’s coming in the second half: While there may be a few fewer worthwhile films in July, there are some promising national releases, some of the best documentaries of the year, and TIFF and Sundance favorites finally hitting theaters.
13. Eno (Gary Hustwit; July 12th)
One of the most interesting experimental films to premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival was Gary Hustwit’s Enoemploys generative technology to create an entirely new film every time it is screened. The experiment is getting a major test with new versions being released every day at Film Forum. John Fink His review“So what we’re left with is a series of random threads, some of which are very nicely put together by Hastiwitt and editors Marley McDonald and Maya Tippett as anecdotal sketches of his time working with U2, Bowie, Roxy Music and freelance clients. The film also unpacks his current work and previous interests, wondering why certain notes and rhythms are more emotionally compelling than others, as he approaches new compositions using generative techniques that randomly alter pitch, tempo and rhythm.”
12. Twister (Lee Isaac Chung, July 19th)
The director and lead actor duo––MinariLee Isaac Chung and Glen Powell star in the film, with the latter proving he still has his A-list charisma.Twister$ This film creates a sense of curiosity that most of this summer’s other sequels lack. Maybe it’s just that there aren’t enough superhero capes or cartoon minions, but 30 years later this “sequel” looks like it’s going to be the hit of the month. Let’s hope Jan de Bont’s flair for spectacle isn’t overlooked.
11. Only the river flows (Wei Shujun; July 26th)
This stylish neo-noir film by director Wei Suk-jun premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Only the river flows The film, which has become one of China’s highest-grossing indie films, will also be released in the United States and Canada starting next month. Directed by Zhu Yilong, the film will be released in the U.S. by KimStim and will open at the Metrograph in New York on July 26, followed by a week in Los Angeles and then in select cities.
Ten. major (Ti West, July 5th)
Ti West’s final horror trilogy major It hits theaters this week. Alistair Ryder His review“If Ti West’s knives aren’t sharpened, major–his X The exploitation series is sure to be an instant hit with discerning horror fans once they’ve experienced it, and on the surface, this is West returning to the same gory territory as his fantastic 2009 breakout film. Devil’s HouseBut this slasher mystery, set in 1985, has a much bigger cast, and like that film, it’s set against the backdrop of the Reagan-era Satanic Panic, making it a fitting story that begins with the adult entertainment industry, another great scourge for social conservatives in a decade long since forgotten. Devil’s House and majorThough West and the director have little in common beyond their shared cultural background, it’s hard not to see the film as a self-aware triumph for the director: Not only has West returned to a milieu that will remind longtime fans of where it all began, but he’s also consciously carving out his own place in the genre’s storied history by telling a Hollywood rags-to-riches story.”
9. Didi (younger brother) (Shawn Wang, July 26)
Sundance wouldn’t be the same without at least a few coming-of-age stories. Didi (younger brother) The film proves that, when viewed from a new perspective, it’s still possible to wring emotion from tried-and-true formulas. A depiction of the everyday life of a Taiwanese-American boy growing up in Fremont, California, who seems to be plagued with issues like friendship and potential love every waking moment, the film is most impressive for how perfectly it captures the milieu of 2008. From exchanging AIM messages to obsessing over MySpace’s top eight to looking up YouTube tutorials on how to kiss, it’s remarkable how these nostalgic touches are delivered with more affection than coyness.
8. kill (Nikhil Bhatt; July 4th)
Jared Mobarak wrote about highlights of the action at last year’s TIFF: His review,”By comparison Raid It may seem superficial, but on The Train the carnage unfolds from left to right, not up and down apartment blocks, but the film by Gareth Evans was a deliberate inspiration: according to Midnight Madness programmers, producer Guneet Monga had asked him to make the film. kill An Indian man uses that very analogy to join the festival Raid That’s exactly what she was trying to make, and writer-director Bhatt delivers on that. He’s simply not going to make another comparison: Wolf Hunting ProjectJust this once Hero I hold that title.”
7. national anthem (Luke Guilford, July 12)
After exploring Andrew Haig’s American frontier, Rely on PeteCharlie Plummer returns to the stage in Luke Gilford’s directorial debut national anthemThe film, which premiered at SXSW last year, tells the story of a construction worker who joins a community of queer rodeo performers in search of his own version of the American dream. His review“national anthem is an offshoot of Guilford’s 2020 photo series showcasing the beauty of American queer rodeo by foregrounding softly lit, often hidden subjects against the backdrop of New Mexico’s vast landscapes. In a time of political polarization, and in a space typically reserved for a more traditional, patriarchal idea of the cowboy, Guilford’s portraits paint a subversive and tender portrayal of bull riders and lasso twirlers taking over an environment that has always felt exclusive. As a remedy, their events are family-friendly and maintain the same rigor and skill of standard rodeo, while promoting a sense of belonging and openness that gives someone like Dylan the opportunity to embrace all of his personality.
6. Hollywood Gate (Ibrahim Nashat; July 19th)
One of our favourite films, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last fall, finally hits theatres this month. Rory O’Connor said: His review of Venice“Anyone who witnessed the mayhem at Kabul airport two years ago will likely not be too surprised to hear that US forces have left one or two helicopters behind in Afghanistan. Even more surprising may be the news, quietly delivered at the start of this deeply disturbing documentary, that the remaining stockpile of weapons and equipment is estimated to be worth around $7 billion. Hollywood GateIn “Secrets of Apollo 11,” which premieres out of competition at the Venice Film Festival this week, Egyptian journalist and filmmaker Ibrahim Nashat risks his life to achieve the impossible: go inside the ranks of Taliban fighters who control an abandoned U.S. military base and observe their attempts to make use of what the military left behind. “The Americans left us an enormous fortune,” one general says. Nashat’s film offers a disturbing insight into what they plan to do with it all.
Five. Long legs (Oz Perkins, July 12)
In an age of marketing where most movie studios release full-length trailers on YouTube or in theaters in the hopes that audiences will be impressed and buy a ticket (often after the best parts have already been shown), it’s refreshing to see a distributor go a different route, and Oz Perkins’ upcoming horror mystery is a perfect example of this. Long legsNEON has been cautiously hinting at the film since earlier this year, pre-selecting only a few journalists to review the film early on, which raises some Marvel-esque fears that the movie might not actually have anything good to offer, but hopefully those fears won’t come to fruition.
Four. La Practica (Martin Reitmann; July 23rd)
Though it’s sadly digital-only when it’s released this month, I’m excited to see director Martin Reitmann’s first film in a decade in theaters in just a few weeks, months after seeing it at the New York Film Festival. Nick Newman NYFF Review“You’d be forgiven for not knowing the deal. Martin Reitmann’s debut novel (Lapad),The previous(Two shots fired), and nearly all of his work is accessible only through dark web torrent networks that I won’t name here for fear of losing my membership, but in recent years a small cult has emerged, even by small standards, that is enough for this master of affairs, images and interactions. It is interestingnot the dreaded “art-house humor.” If anything explains why the inimitable comedy director has been so out of step with the means of exposure, it’s to consider how a financing, screening, and distribution environment that’s so unfriendly to everyone might affect the distinctively Argentine. Nearly a decade’s absence has not diminished his craft. La Practica The film continues Reitman’s reign as Argentina’s laugh-festoon master, turning his characteristically patient and absurdist lens on the life of a recently divorced yoga practitioner.”
3. Sing, sing (Greg Kweder, July 12)
““We’re here to be human again” is the slogan of an arts rehabilitation program at Sing Sing prison just north of New York City, and the theme of Greg Kweder’s restorative new film, starring Colman Domingo and Paul Raci. Sing, singThe cast of knows the program intimately, either as alumni or current students, and the verisimilitude of the casting is apparent in every frame and every line, as if Kweder were walking these hallways, entering these rooms, and being an observer of the intimate conversations he and Clint Bentley co-wrote in the script. Continue reading my full review.
2. Marianne (Michael Rozek; July 16th)
Fifty years, over 150 films, and an incredible number of directors later, Isabelle Huppert suggests she’s done it all. Which is why I’m surprised she hasn’t yet starred in a one-woman show. So I’m looking forward to Michael Rozek’s Mariannea new feature in which the icon performs a metatextual, Brechtian-esque monologue for 90 minutes. It has not yet been distributed in the U.S. Marianne Available on Eventive from July 16th to July 23rdHere is an hour-long interview with Rozek about the film, its history, and Huppert’s genius. – Nick N.
1. Made in England: A Film by Powell and Pressburger (David Hinton, July 12)
There’s an argument to be made that the image that best represents pure cinematic greatness is The Archers’ logo. The opening title reel belongs to Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s production company, and it’s guaranteed that whatever film follows will transport you to a world of ecstatic imagination. This British filmmaking duo painted epic stories onto vibrant cinematic canvases painted in their own unique style, and throughout their careers they were often on the fringes of their country’s popular cinema. They became so acclaimed in the decades since their creative peak, but now that they’ve passed away, David Hinton’s fascinating new documentary is a testament to their work. Made in England: A Film by Powell & Pressburger Martin Scorsese provides the perfect voice to talk about his contributions to the medium. Continue reading my full review.
View more movies
- Mother, sofa (July 5th)
- The Essence of Love (July 5th)
- Dandelion (July 12th)
- Fly Me to the Moon (July 12th)
- Sissi and I (July 12th)
- touch (July 12th)
- Skywalker Love Story (July 12th)
- Widow Clicquot (July 19th)
- Intersection (July 19th)
- The Great Absence (July 19th)
- Weirdness (July 19th)
- Scala!!! (July 19th)
- Starved Acres (July 26)
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