WHAT WERE THE BEST AND THE WORST FILMS OF THE LAST MONTH?
Welcome to a new THS exclusive, where I cover each New Release film that I saw the month prior. All of these movies were either released In Theaters, on a Streaming Platform, or on PVOD in June 2022. The beginning of Summer was extremely busy for me, so I didn’t get around to seeing as many new films as I usually do (I missed Lightyear and a few major Netflix originals) But, I was still able to catch 11 fresh titles! And I must say, despite a few duds, June ended up being a quality month for cinema, so I can’t wait to share with you The Best & The Worst!
NEW RELEASE #11. My Fake Boyfriend
Streaming on: Amazon Prime
Directed by: Rose Troche
Starring: Keiynan Lonsdale, Dylan Sprouse, Marcus Rosner, Samer Salem and Sarah Hyland
Plot: A young man in a tricky situation, follows the advice of his unconventional best friend and uses social media to create a fake boyfriend to keep his awful ex-lover out of his life. But everything backfires when he meets the real love of his life, and breaking up with his fake boyfriend proves harder than he ever could have imagined.
My Thoughts: My Fake Boyfriend is a hot mess. It’s neither very funny or romantic and it turns into a completely different kind of film in its last thirty minutes… so, none of it really worked for me, content-wise, at least. But, Keiynan Lonsdale (Brahms from Love, Simon) is an absolute treat to watch, he’s genuine, sweet and easily the best thing about this film.
NEW RELEASE #10. Men
In Theaters (A24)
Written and Directed by: Alex Garland
Starring: Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear
Plot: A young woman goes on a solo vacation to the English countryside following the death of her husband.
My Thoughts: My issue with Men lies in the fact that you can tell Garland has so many fascinating viewpoints and ideas that he wants to share, but they get so muddled, that he doesn’t end up saying anything at all.
NEW RELEASE #9. Jurassic World: Dominion
In Theaters (Universal Pictures)
Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bruce Dallas Howard, Sam Niell, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and a whole slew of a supporting cast
Plot: Dominion takes place four years after the destruction of Isla Nublar, dinosaurs now live–and hunt–alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures in a new Era.
My Thoughts: Despite a select few set pieces that had me on the edge of my seat… Dominion’s entire cast feels completely lost and it feels as if Colin Trevorrow had no idea where this story was going to end up. even while filming. Because, this is one of the most haphazard and lazily plotted blockbuster movies I have ever seen.
NEW RELEASE #8. Jerry & Marge Go Large
Streaming on Paramount+
Directed by: David Frankel
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Annette Bening, Rainn WIlson, Anna Camp and Larry Wilmore
Plot: The movie is based on the true story about couple Jerry and Marge Selbee, who discovered how to fix the lottery and used their winnings to revive their small town.
My Thoughts: Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening are having the time of their lives here (especially Bening) and the movie is just so damn sweet, I couldn’t stop smiling. But, you will forget about it, the moment the credits roll.
NEW RELEASE #7. Spiderhead
Streaming on Netflix
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Jurnee Smollett and Miles Teller
Plot: Spiderhead is set in the near future, when convicts are offered the chance to volunteer as medical subjects in hopes of shortening their sentences. When one prisoner finds himself the test patient for a new pharmaceutical capable of generating feelings of love, he begins questioning the reality of his emotions and sets out to discover the truth.
My Thoughts: Spiderhead is a fascinating little sci-fi mind-bender… But, one whose premise is a lot more intriguing than what we actually get up on the screen. Chris Hemsworth is definitely reason enough alone to check this one out. As he is relishing in playing this outrageous and unhinged villain (it’s always so refreshing to see him play against type).
NEW RELEASE #6. Elvis
In Theaters (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Dacre Montgomery and Tom Hanks
Plot: The movie follows Elvis Presley, from his childhood to becoming a rock and movie star in the 1950s while maintaining a complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
My Thoughts: I always felt like I was on the outside, looking in to Elvis’ life… rather than getting to know the larger-than-life musician on an intimate level, as I was hoping for. But, Austin Butler is a revelation here and deserves every ounce of praise he has been getting for his performance. And Luhrmann’s explosive, kinetic direction captures the spirit of Elvis and his music.
NEW RELEASE #5. Fire Island
Streaming on Hulu
Directed by: Andrew Ahn
Starring: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, Matt Rogers, Tomas Matos and Margaret Cho
Plot: This LGBTQ+ comedy follows a pair of best friends who set out to have a legendary week-long summer vacation with the help of cheap rosé and a group of eclectic buddies, on the iconic Fire Island.
My Thoughts: This film is a bit overstuffed and it never tried to achieve anything revolutionary on a storytelling-level… although no one was really expecting it to. Fire Island is full of compelling characters that will make you laugh until your belly aches. And I really felt that this was a film lovingly-crafted to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, but really anyone down to party it up and get a little weird, will enjoy the shenanigans on display here. This was definitely the best new Pride-related entertainment that June had to offer.
NEW RELEASE #4. The Black Phone
In Theaters (Blumhouse & Universal Pictures)
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Mason Thames, Madeline McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Ethan Hawke
Plot: The horror film follows a 13-year old boy, who is abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement, and begins receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer’s previous victims.
My Thoughts: I really adored this movie and could see myself revisiting this one time and time again. It has all of the ingredients of a fun, popcorn horror flick with a serious amount of bite. And Scott Derrickson proves he’s one of the best directors working in this genre.
NEW RELEASE #3. Watcher
Streaming on PVOD (IFC Midnight)
Directed by: Chloe Okuno
Starring: Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman and Burn Gorman
Plot: The psychological thriller follows a young American woman who moves with her husband to Bucharest, and begins to suspect that a stranger who watches her from the apartment building across the street may be a local serial killer decapitating women.
My Thoughts: Watcher is a seductively scary and absorbing psychological thriller, that sneaks up on you slowly and gets under your skin. It is beautifully shot and captures the fear and paranoia of being in a foreign country where you know no one and don’t speak the language. Maika Monroe is absolutely magnetic in the lead role.
NEW RELEASE #2. Cha Cha Real Smooth
Streaming on Apple TV+
Written and Directed by: Cooper Raif
Starring: Cooper Raif, Dakota Johnson, Raul Castillo, Brad Garrett and Leslie Mann
Plot: The dramedy is about a young man who works as a Bar Mitzvah party host, who strikes up a friendship with a mother and her autistic daughter.
My Thoughts: What I love about Cha Cha Real Smooth so much… is its delicate balance of brutally honest, real-life drama and sweet, wholesome sincerity. I had a huge smile on my face from ear to ear throughout the entire movie, unless I was ugly laughing or crying.
NEW RELEASE #1. Good Luck To You, Leo Grande
Streaming on Hulu
Directed by: Sophie Hyde
Starring: Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack
Plot: The film follows Nancy Stokes, a 55-year-old widow, who is yearning for some adventure, human connection, and some good sex. So, she calls upon the titular Leo Grande, a charming sex worker, and together they find a surprising human connection.
My Thoughts: Good Luck to You, Leo Grande took me completely by surprise and stole my heart. The sex-positivity and message of feeling comfortable in your own skin really struck a chord with me. Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack are so incredible, brave, and raw here, I honestly couldn’t see any other performers in their roles. I fell in love with these two characters and never wanted Leo Grande to end. This is one of the finest films of the year… please don’t miss out.
Hope you enjoyed my ranking of all of the New Release Movies I saw in June 2022. Please let us know what your ranking would be! For more Movie News, make sure to Stay Tuned to That Hashtag Show!
