By Tom Moore and Valerie Kalfrin
Ah, June. The start of a fresh-feeling summer. School gets out. Everyone’s got vacation plans or, at least, is thinking about how they capitalize on the nice weather. For us at In Their Own League, we’re thinking about all of that…and the big summer movie season that’s finally arrived. Huge blockbusters like “Inside Out 2” and “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” are (hopefully) going to draw audiences for big box office returns and remind everyone why theaters are the best ways to watch movies. But, it’s worth noting that June isn’t solely about the blockbusters as there are plenty of potentially great films that are currently flying under the radar.
Indie powerhouse A24 is set to release a couple of notable feature directorial debuts from women that are already critically acclaimed and feature stories that dig right at the heart. A new Shyamalan rises to deliver a tense mystery that’s currently making our heads spin. Plus, there are plenty of films from past festivals that are finally hitting theaters – meaning that we’ve already got reviews for you to read! We also wanted to note that our festival coverage is set to continue with some upcoming reviews from Tribeca Film Festival!! So, let’s look at June’s offerings to see what you need to add to your watch list.
“Late Bloomers”: Lisa Steen’s directorial debut brings viewers into a coming of age dramedy that depicts the budding friendship between a recovering musician (Karen Gillian) and the Polish woman (Margaret Sophie Stein) she is hired to care for. This heartwarming story about friendship and aging starts its limited theater release on June 7th! Check out the trailer here!
“Banel and Adama”: This film showcases an emotional love story between Adama (Mamadou Diallo) and Banel (Khady Mane) – two young adults in a remote Senegal village whose romance is tested by persisting social and cultural obstacles.
Reviewed by our very own Sarah Manvel last year as part of our Cannes coverage, you can read her thoughts about this touching love story and director Ramata-Youlaye Sy’s debut film!
“Banel and Adama” starts its limited theater run on June 7th! Check out the trailer here!
“The Watchers”: The first feature film from Ishana Shyamalan, the daughter of legendary director M. Night Shyamalan, is set to hit theaters this June. The film, “The Watchers,” follows four captives as they attempt to understand and escape the mysterious creatures who watch them through the night. This tense and unsettling mystery comes to theaters nationwide on June 7th. Check out the trailer here!
“Cora Bora”: The latest from director Hannah Pearl Utt, “Cora Bora,” delivers a tender comedy following the titular Cora (Megan Stalter) as her return home results in some much-needed self-discovery. “Cora Bora” starts its limited theater release on June 14th! Check out the trailer here!
“Tuesday”: A24 and BBC Films combine on writer/director Daina Oniunas-Pusic’s latest film, “Tuesday,” which follows the emotional journey between a mother (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and her ill daughter (Lola Petticrew) as they deal with Death’s arrival – in the form of a size-changing macaw. “Tuesday” starts its limited theater release on June 14th! Check out the trailer here!
“Ghostlight”: Those wanting to continue supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (post-May) need to see Dolly De Leon (“Triangle of Sadness”) in her next film, “Ghostlight.” The film follows a laborer (Keith Kupferer) who has aspirations for the stage but finds his own life bleeding into his experience. Co-directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, “Ghostlight” starts its limited theater release starting June 14th before going wide on June 21st. Check out the trailer here!
“Just the Two of Us”: Writer/director Valerie Donzelli’s new film, “Just the Two of Us,” sees acclaimed French/Beligan actress Virginie Efira play dual roles – one of them as a woman trying to survive a relationship that turns toxic after her husband suddenly shows obsessive behavior. “Just the Two of Us” starts its limited theater release on June 14th! Check out the trailer here!
“Janet Planet”: Award-winning playwright Annie Baker (“The Flick”) goes behind the camera for her feature directorial debut, “Janet Planet.” The film is a comedic coming of age tale following an awkward young girl’s (Zoe Ziegler) relationship with her mother (Julianne Nicholson) over the course of a summer.
Our very own Tom Moore reviewed “Janet Planet” as part of our NYFF61 coverage and you can read his thoughts about the film! The film will be released in a limited theater run by A24 on June 21st! Check out the trailer here!
“Green Border”: This film takes viewers on a harrowing and immersive experience alongside refugees who are caught in the Belarus-European Union border crisis that occurred back in 2021. Directed by Agnieszka Holland, those interested in this tragic yet touching tale should be on the lookout for “Green Border” when it has a limited theater release on June 21st! Check out the trailer here!
“Fancy Dance”: Lily Gladstone continues to be a powerful on-screen force with the upcoming film “Fancy Dance” – which sees her play a women determined to find her missing sister so that her niece (Isabel DeRoy-Olson) doesn’t fall into the custory of her father.
Reviewed by our very own Morgan Roberts as part of our Sundance 2023 coverage, her review highlights “Fancy Dance” as another great showing of Gladstone’s talents. Directed by Erica Tremblay, “Fancy Dance” starts its limited theater run on June 21st! Check out the trailer here!
“Last Summer”: Those looking for some steamy thrills should definitely have director Catherine Breillat’s upcoming film, “Last Summer,” on their radar. It follows Anne (Lea Drucker) – a woman whose family and professional success falls in jeopardy due to a sudden affair she starts with her stepson Theo (Samuel Kircher). “Last Summer” starts its limited theater release on June 28th! Check out the trailer here!
ITOL All-Stars (June Edition)!!
This section of The Lineup highlights performances from women in movies releasing during each month that moviegoers should be on the lookout for!
June features plenty of women to watch on the big screen – especially some strong ensemble casts. First, we want to highlight some of the talented women featured in Ishana Shyamalan’s upcoming film “The Watchers.” With a cast like Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, and Olwen Fouere, there’s more than enough talent to elevate the tension, fear, and sense of mystery that this film presents. Together, they’ll lead audiences through this tense and, surely, twisty narrative that Shyamalan presents and keep us asking who and what these shadowy watchers are.
Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith were truly the heart of the first “Inside Out” movie and now they return to take us on a new adventure through Riley’s emotions. This time around though, they’re joined by other talented women for “Inside Out 2” – including Maya Hawke, Ayo Edibiri, June Squibb, and Liza Lapira. With so many new emotions being added to the mix, “Inside Out 2” brings the the talent to deliver fresh heartfelt moments and voices that display the multi-generational talent within the industry.
Although Jeff Nichols’ upcoming film, The Bikeriders, centers on a mostly male biker club, Jodie Comer has constantly been labeled as a standout. As Kathy – the love interest for Austin Butler’s Benny – Comer delivers a performance that stands apart and acts as an emotional focal point for the film. Our very own Calum Cooper even said that Comer “once again steals the show” in his review for the film from last year’s London Film Festival.
With the “A Quiet Place” franchise heading back to the day its brand of deadly aliens came to Earth, it features a beloved star in the leading role to experience some newfound survival-horror. Horror fans already know that Lupita Nyong’o can be a captivating force for any genre flick and now she’s set to try and survive this “A Quiet Place” prequel. Who knows, maybe the film and Nyong’o’s performance will connect so much with fans that it could start a whole new chapter for the franchise.
#UnderrepresentedFilmmakers!!
This section touches on some films coming from BIPOC filmmakers that we think should be on your radar for the coming month!
“Summer Solstice”: Just in time for Pride Month, writer/director Noah Schamus delivers a feature directorial debut that touches on emotional growth and maturity as it follows the complicated life of a trans man named Leo (Bobbi Salvor Menuez). “Summer Solstice” will have a limited theater release on June 14th! Check out the trailer here!
STREAMING ALERT!!: Ava Duvernary’s “Origin” comes to Hulu on June 10th! Check out the trailer for this emotional epic that delves into race, identity, personal strife!
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