Lights, cameras and lots of Movie action as June 2021 kicks off the summer film season in style
June 2021 officially starts the summer film season and to some extent a return to normality as the cinemas will be open and showing all the latest releases. The likes of Netflix, Disney and Prime will no longer be able to enjoy the space they’ve had over the last year to showcase some of the biggest releases on their respective platforms. That isn’t to say it will be an easy ride for the Cinema chains. It takes roughly three months for new behaviour to set in. After a year of just streaming, will people leave their homes and come back out to the big screens in similar numbers to pre pandemic, just what will the new normal be?
Just under a year ago, the first major lockdown in the UK was lifted and I practically sprinted to the multiplex to see something, anything at all, much like a film junkie looking for a fix. The film was Russell Crows ‘Unhinged’ and while I wasn’t that impressed (review) the experience was still second to none. It’s a year later and while I’m still eager to get back in, I’m not quite as desperate as before. The year has taken its toll on many cinema fans but I’m still hopeful for the future.
June has some great films to enjoy at home and also tempt us back to the cinema screens. Fast and Furious 9 is the big hitter this month in terms of blockbuster mass appeal. It’s the ninth in this billion-dollar franchise (excluding the spin off). If you were to ask Vin Diesel what the franchise was about, he’d say ‘family’. I would add crazy car stunts to that list. I’ve gone from someone who had little interest in this type of spectacle to being heavily invested in the characters fates. Maybe heavily invested is a bit strong!
I now feel like I can enjoy the series for what it is. Fast and Furious 9 is one of those type of movies where you can get a group of friends or family together and enjoy the good-looking people, over the top action and flashy car stunts.
No complicated plots, no ambition to be taken too seriously, just have a bit of mindless fun and escapism. Director Justin Lin returns to the series having previously directed parts three to six of the series and is eager to top his previous efforts. Vin Diesel returns alongside the other regular series mainstays. Charlize Theron villain returns, and WWE wrestler John Cena makes his debut in the series as Dom’s brother. They’ve thrown a lot at this film to really up the stakes. We’ll find out whether they have been successful on June 24th.
I’ve never been a fan of music theatre so traditionally a film like ‘In the Heights‘ wouldn’t have interested me at all. But haven’t been convinced to watch Hamilton and subsequently being totally taken in by its charm, I was a lot more receptive to In the Heights. Receptive was turned to excitement when I learnt of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s heavy involvement with this theatre to film adaptation. Throw in Director Jon M Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and you have a real recipe for somethings special.
The film looks at some serious issues affecting underprivileged minorities in certain areas with a special focus on Latino communities. But it’s also an uplifting film, showing the power of the human spirit to overcome and keep striving to achieve. It’s all done to a fabulous soundtrack and dance numbers with a beautiful sun-soaked backdrop. This just might be the best way to bring on that summer feeling when In the Heights releases on June 18th
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard sees the traditional buddy movie expanded to become a treacherous killer trio. Ryan Reynolds returns as Michael Bryce, the only triple A rated Bodyguard. Following his encounters in the first movie with the hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L Jackson), he has decided to take a break from Bodyguarding, infact he’s seeking therapy. But when Darius gets in trouble, his wife Sonia (Salma Hayek) seeks out their old Bodyguard to help rescue him. And so the mayhem begins.
The first film was a firm favourite of mine. Both Samuel and Ryan do this genre incredibly well. Salma was very underused in the first film but the scenes we saw with her showed a lot of potential, so it was a great idea to have her as a lead character this time round. Add to the mix new characters played by Antonio Banderas and Morgan Freeman and you have an incredible cast in a fun playground, ready to cause havoc. I really can’t wait for The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard to drop on June 23rd.
If none of those interest you, June 2021 still has lots more movie options:
Bob Odenkirk plays a quiet guy with a certain set of skills forced out of retirement in the violent action thriller Nobody – 9th June Trailer here
Anthony Hopkins’ Oscar winning performance in The Father Trailer hits screens on June 11th
Supernova sees Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci play a couple who discover one has a terminal illness on June 25th review
Another Oscar winner Another Round from Director Thomas Vinterberg gets its UK release on June 25th
The Conjuring: The Devil made me do it gets its UK release this month as well as the animated feature LUCA on Disney Plus,
The emotional father/daughter movie Fatherhood starring Kevin Hart comes to Netflix.
There are two films coming in June from the legendary A24 Studio which are definitely worth a mention but don’t have confirmed UK release dates. You can still enjoy their trailers here: False Positive & Zola
See you next month
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