The last weekend of June has a diverse slate of new releases, and unlike previous weeks, most of them are not sequels or remakes. Let’s see what’s in store for us this time around.
Yesterday
Directed by: Danny Boyle
With: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Kate McKinnon, Sophia Di Martino, Ellise Chappell, and Ed Sheeran
What is it about: A struggling musician realizes he’s the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles after waking up in an alternate timeline where they never existed.
Heads Up: From Director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later, 127 Hours), and with a screenplay by Richard Curtis (4 Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love, Actually). The reviews are positive overall, but not amazing. That said, the trailer promises a film that is ever so charming and whimsical, so I’m totally in.
Annabelle Comes Home
Directed by: Gary Dauberman
With: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, and Mckenna Grace
What is it about: While babysitting the daughter of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a teenager and her friend unknowingly awaken an evil spirit trapped in a doll.
Heads Up: The Conjuring Universe has arguably done for the horror genera what the MCU did for superhero films (on a smaller scale). Annabelle Comes Home is the 7th film in said universe, and the 3rd entry in the Annabelle Series, and It’s intended to work as a sequel to Annabelle Creation and a prequel to the first Conjuring film. I do like Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as the Warrens, and the previous Annabelle film was pretty good. If you like the series, then this should be an easy decision for you, but if you don’t wanna be entangled in a web of sequels and prequels, then don’t bother.
Anna
Directed by: Luc Besson
With: Sasha Luss, Luke Evans, Cillian Murphy, and Helen Mirren
What is it about: Beneath Anna Poliatova’s striking beauty lies a secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill to become one of the world’s most feared government assassins.
Heads Up: Luc Besson wants to repeat this formula that he has been doing his entire career with films like La Femme Nikita, The Fifth Element, and Lucy, mainly presenting a female protagonist and making her mysterious, super-powered and lethal. This formula worked fine for him before, but this film was panned by critics and did not do well commercially either. I’d say catch up with it in home viewing if you must.
Article 15
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
With: Ayushmann Khurrana, Sayani Gupta, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Kumud Mishra
What is it about? Set against the backdrop of Badaun gangrape and murder case (2014), Anubhav Sinha’s Article 15 is a thrilling investigative drama based on true events.
Heads Up: Ayushmann Khurrana is a rising star in Bollywood. In 2018 he had not one but two bonafide hits Badhaai Ho, and Andhadhun. Here he is playing a do-gooder policeman fighting an unjust social system. Such roles usually go to Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgan, and I would say Khurrana is a perfect choice to keep up the mantle. I’m kinda intrigued mainly because of its star, so hopefully this will be good, but beware what you are in for Sinha is known for his heavy-handed, shove-it-in-your-face style of direction.
