June in Film

Before Sunrise (Source: IMDb)

June was slightly anticlimactic in terms of new releases at the cinema. Nonetheless, it marked the start of summer which meant trying to find the best summer films that make me feel like I'm somewhere hot. I'm still on the lookout for some so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know in the get in touch section at the bottom of the page!

7th June- Hit Man (Richard Linklater, 2023)

I first saw this at the London Film Festival in 2023, which was such a lucky experience watching it with such a large audience. This film is what I expect from a romcom; just the right amount of romance and comedy without creating awkward silences. Linklater and star Glen Powell's screenplay takes you by surprise, with many plot twists that an ordinary film of this genre doesn't usually contain. I can't help comparing it to Powell's recent Anyone But You, but it was less erratic.

9th June- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Wes Ball, 2024)

The Planet of the Apes franchise has seldom disappointed me. I wouldn't call this new feature a disappointment, but compared to the last three I didn't find the story anywhere near as gripping. The VFX is of course incredibly impressive, in fact beyond comprehension, but there were many plot holes that left you wondering what on earth the characters were trying to achieve. Nonetheless, I still found some elements quite emotional, particularly those related to the deific Caesar.

11th June- Before Sunrise (Richard Linklater, 1995)

Every summer I try and re-watch the Before trilogy and every year I find something new I love about it. I feel like I grew up with this film in my later years of adolescence, learning from Jesse and Celine the truth of romance, beauty, or indeed life. I love this movie because of how honest it is, and how seen I feel by Linklater's writing. It isn't exciting or raunchy, but just relatable, which is my favourite type of cinema. The best brief encounter film out there.

15th June- Inside Out 2 (Kelsey Mann, 2024)

This long-awaited sequel is such a great way to introduce topics like puberty to young kids, without it feeling so daunting. Much like Turning Red (Domee Shi, 2022) which ingenuously conveyed what a period is to younger audiences through a Pixar film, Inside Out 2 has done the same with emotions such as anxiety, embarrassment, envy, and ennui and it was very empathetic. I hope to see more of this.

17th June- Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell, 2020)

I hadn't watched this since 2021 and a second watch was absolutely necessary. The aesthetic is so sardonically saccharine, much like the dark yet quirky 2019 release Greener Grass (Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe), the topics are still so poignant yet morally so disconcerting. Brilliant.

18th June- The Killing of a Sacred Deer (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2017)

What I've learnt to love about Lanthimos' films are the topics he introduces that is never talked about. Not even in cinema. They are disturbing and uncomfortable, almost belonging to the horror genre if they weren't so weird and wonderful. The Killing of a Sacred Deer examines many topics like this, it's hard to write about it without spoiling anything. One thing that stood out for me was how the family's serious and robotic qualities whilst living the American Dream slowly creep away as worse things happen to them. They are no longer soulless as their secrets are revealed.

24th June- Logan Lucky (Steven Soderbergh, 2017)

A great heist movie that you can’t really dislike. The romance element didn't quite work in my opinion, and the plot at some points verged on being convoluted, but generally Logan Lucky was funny and nostalgic, combined with an excellent cast, Riley Keough was especially stellar, continuing to romance her audiences with her killer, Americana performances.

.