“Sicario 2: Day of the Soldado” (June 29)
We would have never guessed that a sequel to Denis Villeneuve‘s visceral 2014 drug-cartel film “Sicario” would be happening, but writer Taylor Sheridan seems to think there’s still plenty of ground to cover. Fresh off the indie successes of “Hell or High Water,” and last year’s “Wind River,” Sheridan is back for a sequel that promises to be rougher and tougher than the original. Villeneuve is replaced here by director Stefano Sollima as Benicio Del Toro, returning as undercover operative Alejandro Gillick, and Josh Brolin, CIA agent Matt Graver, team up to stop Mexican Drug cartels from smuggling Jihadi terrorists into the U.S. border. The cast also includes Matthew Modine, Catherine Keener, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Jeffrey Donovan. Blunt and director Denis Villeneuve opted not to return. – JR
“Ant-Man and the Wasp” (July 6)
Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War” premieres this week, but that doesn’t mean they’re slowing down for the rest of the year. Coming out in just a few months is the landmark twentieth Marvel film “Ant-Man and the Wasp.” The “Ant-Man” sequel picks up after the events of “Captain America: Civil War” and brings Evangeline Lilly’s The Wasp to the forefront. In fact, this is the first Marvel movie to have a female character named in the title. Director Peyton Reed and the writers are just as excited I am about the franchise “now being able to show [her] fully formed and what she is as a superhero… what are the injustices that matter to her that she wants to right.” They also even decided to swap the gender of the villainous Ghost to be female because “The Ghost character could be male, female, anything.” Might this be the start of the Avengers’ feminist wave? To echo The Wasp’s final line in “Ant-Man” it would be about damn time.– EB
“Sorry to Bother You” (July 6)
If the beautifully bonkers synopsis for Boots Riley’s upcoming feature film debut where a black telemarketer, Cassius, discovers a magical key to professional success (that of donning a “white” voice to help in sales – in this case, David Cross’) didn’t already grab hold of your attention, maybe the cast that includes rising stars such as Tessa Thompson, Lakeith Stanfield, Armie Hammer and Steven Yeun will. Decidedly weird and determined in its surrealistic, fantastical approach, almost every review out of Sundance (where it premiered earlier this year), promised that it was a film best going in cold, lest we spoil ourselves on some of the stranger elements. The entire cast is worth the price of the ticket alone (particularly Thompson, Stanfield, and Yeun) and while the summer season also has some interesting picks buried in the blockbuster rubble, few sound as genuinely committed to their weirdness than this one. – AJ
“Eighth Grade” (July 13)
Best known for his hyper-aware and hyperactive comedy specials (and, his old Youtube videos if you were in high school in the mid-to-late 2000s) Bo Burnham wasn’t the most obvious choice to tell the story of a middle school-aged girl. And yet, for those of whom who have seen the film at Sundance (or even those of us who have only seen the trailer), there’s something undeniably and uncomfortably universal about his approach to middle school blues in “Eighth Grade.” Warm-hearted, honest and bound to make audiences both squirm in their seats from awkwardness as well as laugh out loud with affectionate understanding, “Eighth Grade” is on the path to becoming an all-timer in the coming of age genre. – AJ
“Skyscraper” (July 13)
Any film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson must be seen as a blockbuster movie event. After all, there’s a reason why this former WWE wrestler is the highest paid actor in Hollywood. His latest is entitled “Skyscraper” and looks to be a mix of “Die Hard” meets “The Towering Inferno.” Johnson stars as Will Ford a former FBI Hostage Rescue leader who is now in charge of assessing security for skyscrapers. The action starts in China, where the tallest, safest building in the world turns into the most horrifyingly dangerous as a blazing fire sweeps its every floor. Holder is framed for having done it and goes on the run from authorities. Rawson Marshall Thurber (“We’re The Millers“) directs. – JR
“Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot” (July 13)
As a filmmaker, Gus Van Sant is hit-and-miss — to say the least. For all his highs, there are several lows. For every acclaimed triumph or indie darling, there’s another project that’s bizarre, confusing or, worse, just plain dull. You never know what you’re going to get from the director behind great films like “Good Will Hunting” and “Elephant” and huge misfires and giant oddities like “The Sea of Trees” and “Gerry.” Nevertheless, his latest film, “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot” has piqued our interest — perhaps more so than anything the divisive director has done in a while. An adaptation of John Callahan’s memoir of the same name, Van Sant’s latest biopic has one of his best ensembles in years, with fine talents like Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Jack Black, Jonah Hill, Carrie Brownstein and more, and it centers around the fascinating true story of an alcoholic who, after a crippling car accident, turned to drawing hilarious and typically controversial cartoons, which showcased his acute life view and gave the subject a reason to pursue living at all. Reviews out of Sundance were mixed to not kind, which suggests ‘Don’t Worry’ is another miss for Gus Van Sant’s assorted resume, but we’re still hoping for the best (read our review). – WA
“Blindspotting” (Select Cities July 20)
Inspired by the gentrification of Oakland, California, “Blindspotting” is a collaboration between former Broadway “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs and rapper, poet Rafael Casal. The film is teeming with topical issues and presented in such a unique way that you can’t look away. Highlighting issues of gun violence, the justice system, and police brutality. When you watch the trailer, you can feel the heat of summer. Premiering at Sundance Film Festival, the film received positive reviews. There’s no doubt that this will be a different kind of film experience. Diggs, in his mastery of the rap game, mixes in a showmanship within certain scenes, particularly one taking place in a courtroom. It’s an intense feature from Carlos López Estrada. A mix of vibrant neon and heated rap lines, “Blindspotting” is a visceral experience for audiences to bear witness. There is personal reflection with the eclectic characters, struggling to understand who they are, while the contemporary Oakland they live in is threatened by more and more gentrification. For their first time as screenwriters, Diggs and Casal turn out a unique experience bearing the sweat and heat of summer and a premise much colder and serious. – JT
