The New Movies of July 2017, In Order of Anticipation – Film School Rejects

Release date: July 28th

Pros: Kyle Mooney is an underused player on Saturday Night Live, so it could be good news seeing him take center stage in a feature thats already received mostly positive responses out of Sundance. The supporting cast is equally appealing with the likes of Mark Hamill, Claire Danes, Greg Kinnear, and Andy Samberg all working to bring what sounds like a riff on The Truman Show to life.

Cons: Criticisms of the film have mostly been centered on its sitcom-like lack of emotional weight. Some of that may come down to Mooneys relative lack of dramatic experience compared to his sketch comedy work.

Release date: July 21st

Pros: Jada Pinkett Smith in a rare lead role is reason enough to celebrate, but we also get Regina Hall and Queen Latifah on the same ticket in a movie about ladies out for a wild time. Malcolm D. Lee also directed light but casually entertaining fare like The Best Man and Undercover Brother.

Cons: The recent Rough Night confirmed that a raucous comedy with a female-friendly cast/focus is no guarantee against disappointment. Lee also directed Soul Men and Scary Movie 5.

Release date: July 14th

Pros: Horror movies hold so much promise towards being good fun and casting Joey King, Sherilyn Fenn, and Ryan Phillippe is a good start. Director John R. Leonetti worked as cinematographer on The Conjuring and Insidiousand directed Annabelle (which many of you disliked but I found perfectly adequate).

Cons: Leonetti also directed Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and The Butterfly Effect 2, and not to sound pessimistic, but inexpensive horror movies that open wide with zero advance buzz are typically lesser affairs aimed strictly at pocketing a solid opening weekend.

Release date: July 7th

Pros: The three main talents behind 2013s Aint Them Bodies Saints reunite for a tale of grief, loss, and love. The film was highly praised at Sundance with writer/director David Lowery and stars Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck all receiving acclaim. Affleck spends the entire film beneath a sheet.

Cons: Having seen their previous collaboration Im leery about the film delivering on the emotional front.

Release date: July 21st

Pros:Its a smartly-crafted and brutal thriller set in the gorgeous wilds of Australia, and it allows time with both the killers and the victims increasing both the tension and the effect. For much of its running time, the film ratchets up the suspense and intensity with alarming grace and skill. [My review]

Cons: The third act gets more than a little frustrating.

Release date: July 21st

Pros: We dont get very many grand sci-fi adventures these days, and cast aside this looks to be one of the grandest yet. Luc Bessons strengths have always been in the areas of visuals and energy, and judging by trailers and advance word his latest looks to be those skills turned all the way up to eleven.

Cons: Jupiter Ascending was also billed as a grand sci-fi adventure, and Besson is prone to that same kind of cheesiness.

Release date: July 21st

Pros: Christopher Nolan has yet to make a bad film, and his tenth feature seems unlikely to break that trend with what looks to be an incredibly intense experience. Its also his first time back in the real world since 2002s Insomnia, and thats a good thing as it lessens the chance of Nolan bungling the storys logic.

Cons: At under two hours some folks are worried it wont be able to capture the scope of the story its trying to tell.

Release date: July 14th

Pros: The first two films in 20th Century Foxs Planet of the Apes reboot range from very good to great, and with director Matt Reeves returning for the third the promise of a consistently excellent trilogy seems high. Advance word has been tremendously positive with critics praising its mix of epic action, technological marvels, and high degree of emotional satisfaction. [Our review]

Cons: Im in the minority who prefersRises cautionary tale overDawns clash of the primates, and this latest film looks to be far more of the latter.

Release date: July 28th

Pros: Charlize Theron as an ass-kicking agent in a movie from the action-focused talents behind John Wick? Thats already enough, but add in James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella, John Goodman, and Eddie Marsan and this becomes even more of a must-see.

Cons:We have to wait almost the entire month before it opens.

Release date: July 7th

Pros: This movie is an absolute blast and easily the most purely fun Marvel movie yet. Its exciting, affecting, funny as hell, and finds its greatest beats in the interactions between characters. Tom Holland channels a perfect balance between awkward earnestness and cocky ambition, and he leaves you immediately wanting more. [My review]

Cons: Minor in the grand scheme, but the Vultures action scenes are under-cooked and theres entirely too much Tony Stark.

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The New Movies of July 2017, In Order of Anticipation - Film School Rejects

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero