I can nearly recite Nicole Kidman's entire AMC Theatres trailer. It lives rent-free in my head. I know it feels cheesy to start off a blog with a brag, but it's more of an observation that I've spent a lot of time at AMC Theatres since the A-Lister's now-infamous ad for the former meme stock took the world by storm. As a proud AMC A-List member, I'd like to think I've made the most of my investment, as I've averaged going to my local AMC about once a week since I got the pass, pandemic notwithstanding. That average can be difficult to keep up with, but lucky for me, there were a ton of great releases that kept me going back to the overpriced popcorn, the suspiciously sticky floors, Noovie hosted by Maria Menounos, and above all else, Nicole Kidman. This summer got away from me in terms of adding to this blog outside of concerts I was covering, so let's catch up as best as we can before the fall brings us even more movies to dig into.
Top Gun: Maverick If you told me that a movie released in the summer of 2022 would end up becoming a Top 5 highest-grossing movie of all-time, my bet, like anyone else's would have been on either of the MCU's releases this summer. Shame on me for underestimating the cult (both figurative and literal) that Tom Cruise has amassed these days. I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of the first Top Gun, and I'm not as bullish on Maverick as the rest of the world seems to be, but I'm also floored by the craft and commitment Cruise and the rest of his cast and crew showed on the creation of this movie. Part cheesy tribute to its cheesy predecessor and part extravagant flex in modern filmmaking, there is something for any fan of movies to enjoy here, and the story behind it is sure to inspire as well. This was one of the few movies that was ready before the pandemic started, and it waited the longest of any to release, but it appears to have paid off massive dividends. Marvel be damned, Tom Cruise may have reclaimed his throne as the king of the blockbuster, for now.
The Black Phone One look at this trailer, and I knew we were going to be in for a great performance from Ethan Hawke. His performance in The Black Phone delivered, with a story that was captivating to boot. It likely won't get much awards attention, but to have more Ethan Hawke is a blessing we shouldn't take for granted (no matter what you thought about Moon Knight).
NOPE We've had an abundance of new directors coming into the film world and making an instant impact, but none have made the cultural impact while also upholding an unreachably high standard of quality like Jordan Peele has. Like Get Out and Us before it, NOPE is an intricately-woven story that will keep the viewer guessing throughout its runtime, and dissecting long after you've left your seat, too. The performances here from Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun all provide huge entertainment throughout, as Peele unravels the different ways our society treats an unknown spectacle, before things go terribly awry (as they so often do in Peele's movies). In addition to all of the layers we're used to, NOPE feels like an achievement because it also works as a big summer movie, one that you felt like you had to see on the biggest screen possible.
Vengeance BJ Novak's directorial debut is an earnest, heartfelt, and ridiculous story of a man who's invited to the funeral of a former dating app fling because the girl's family believed he was her girlfriend. Novak, playing the main character, clearly has something to say about the current division we're experiencing in this country, and does a good job of showing how interacting with those who think and act differently than we do can teach us more than we think. Ashton Kutcher, of all people, also puts together a couple of poignant scenes, and we even get a heat-check appearance from John Mayer in the film's opening. If Novak is going to continue to make interesting casting choices while providing an interesting perspective to take in, he's going to get comfortable in the director's chair in no time.
Bullet Train I wanted to love Bullet Train, and I almost did. It was the closest of calls, but once the third act turned into a cartoon that all of its all-of-a-sudden-superpowered characters couldn't possibly die by the end of, things had completely gone off the rails. See what I mean? The movie wasn't even good enough for me to avoid making that awful pun. Still, there's a lot of really fun and talented actors in this (Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Brian Tyree Henry's interactions were constant highlight material), and they all benefitted from director David Lietch letting them all crank their performances up to 11. Still, things go a little too batshit crazy by the end for my liking. If there is a sequel (and there should be), a cleaner third act with actual stakes could make this a must-see franchise.
Emily the Criminal If Aubrey Plaza dropped off your radar after Parks and Recreation ended, it's time you recalibrate your radar. Plaza's projects ever since have gotten more and more interesting, and those choices have resulted in the reward of Emily the Criminal, a movie that allows her to show off her enormous talents. Playing a desperate, down-on-her-luck heroine, Plaza commands the screen, and a surprise appearance and dynamite performance from Sons of Anarchy alum Theo Rossi gives her a great lead to play off of, too. What I loved about Emily was that each step of her descent into the darkness that eventually consumes her was shown and explained perfectly, and asks the question: does the world around you change who you are, or bring it out of you? I've been asking myself that since I got out of this movie, and I'm still not sure of the answer. That's good filmmaking.
Bodies Bodies Bodies While this was billed as a suspenseful horror thriller, and it certainly was, it's also one of the funniest movies I've seen this year. Centered around a group of friends no one would ever want to be a part of, Bodies Bodies Bodies shows the hilariously dark place our current cultural climate can bring us to, and how ugly things can get when we get down that low. Pete Davidson's been in the news a lot more than he probably should over the last few years, but he's great in this movie, and was a perfect addition to the cast. The movie makes great use of lighting to make things look sleek throughout, and I can't overstate how uncomfortably funny a lot of the scenes are. This is a great movie to throw on when you're looking for a quick, fun watch.
Breaking Starring in the true story of a veteran wronged by the exact system that was put in place to help those in his position, John Boyega embodies Brian Brown-Easley with grace and honor, and turns in one of the best performances of his already prolific career. We also get our last looks at Michael K. Williams in a movie, who takes over the action as soon as his character steps in front of the camera. Make no mistake, though: this is John Boyega's show, and everyone else is just trying to keep up with the movie's brightest star. He shines brightly enough to elevate everyone around him, and I can't imagine a Best Actor race at the Oscars without Boyega in it. He's that good.
Barbarian All due respect to the movies I've mentioned above, but Barbarian is the movie that inspired me to post this. Similar to Emily the Criminal or NOPE, I have not stopped thinking about Barbarian in the days since I've seen it. There is so much to digest and discuss, and so many "WTF" moments throughout, but I'm restraining myself from going into any further detail. If you don't know what this movie is, don't even bother watching the trailer. Just go see it, especially if you're a horror movie fan. There may not be another moviegoing experience like this one all year.
Before we wrap this up, let me just say that I did see Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder, but you're not coming here to know whether you should see those two movies from the number 1 franchise in the game right now. If you're onboard, you've likely already seen them, and my opinion isn't going to sway yours. I enjoyed both, despite a few flaws in both. I'm looking forward to the fall movie slate, especially since Don't Worry, Darling seems to have left emotional scars on everyone who was involved in making it. See you back here, same blog-place, to talk about it all soon!
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