There's More to Life Than Barbenheimer
July 2023 #1
Summer. The best time of year to beat the heat and cool off in the movie theater—or, in this digital-obsessed era, the comfort of your air conditioner at home—has arrived.
To many (annoying) people, it’s Barbenheimer month. You would not believe the number of conversations I’ve had in the past few days where people ask which movie I’m seeing first on the double feature. I will see them on different days, though I find it funny that I got invited to both movies’ press screenings on the same day.
Also, I cannot wait for Barbie. If you’ve met me, you know this Barbie is a Greta bitch more than a Nolan boi. That combo defines my “they/he” identity, even though Myan—Rendy Reviews editor/best friend extraordinaire—is more hyped about the bomb movie than I am. That said, guys, there’s more to life than Barbieheimer! So many other great films are coming out this month that should be on your radar.
But before we get into that, here’s a list of my coverage during June 2023:
Freelance:
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16 Review - Paste Magazine
Director Georgia Oakley on her Lesbian Period Drama Blue Jean (fuck Margaret Thatcher) - Xtra Mag
Black Animation and Me: Where We Came From and Where We're Going - RogerEbert.com
'Lonely Castle in the Mirror' Review - RogerEbert.com
'No Hard Feelings'- RogerEbert.com
'Skull Island' Review - Den of Geek
Nimona Interview - Rolling Stone
Rendy Reviews
'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse'
'The Boogeyman'
'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts'
'Past Lives
'The Flash'
'The Blackening'
'Elemental'
'Nimona'
'Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken'
JOY RIDE - NOW PLAYING
Raunchy R-rated ensemble comedies are a rarity these days in the theatrical market. Ten years ago, they were everywhere, with films like This is the End and We're The Millers becoming box office hits. This past week, the Seth Rogen-produced comedy Joy Ride was released, and yeah, it's a breath of fresh air. Who doesn't want to see a comedy about four Asian Womxn going to China and causing mayhem and debauchery?! It's Stephanie Hsu's first role post her Everything Everywhere All at Once run. She alone deserves to be a factor in why you should see it, and boy, is she so damn hilarious in this. Give her another Oscar nomination for her devilishly hysterical performance as Kat. But Joy Ride is a great talent showcase for Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, and Sabrina Wu (the homie). OH yeah, Sabrina is a friend of mine, so as biased as I sound, they rule! You'll see how talented they are when they steal the show in every scene with their chaotic energy. If Nolan isn't your speed, chase Barbie with this. Also, there's a Greta Gerwig namedrop here, so having them as your dramaturgical double feature makes more sense.
THEATER CAMP - NOW PLAYING
Theater people are some of the most dramatic people on earth, right behind politicians. Spending quality time with one for over 10 minutes is more painful than being a fish out of water. My sister Nia went to a drama high school. Spending time with her is hell! But Nick Lieberman and Molly Gordon made their feature debut with a 90-minute movie that made me want to spend more time with them, Nia included. Akin to Popstar and What We Do in the Shadows, Theater Camp is a ridiculous but witty mockumentary riff on theater camp counselors, played by Gordon, Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, Nathan Lee Graham, and Ayo Edebiri, trying to keep the lights on while the founder (Amy Sedaris) is in a coma and her screwup hype beast influencer-wannabe son Troy (Jimmy Tatro) tries to keep finances afloat. It's unapologetically silly and riffs on the personalities of theater people but captures the essence of the community it stirs between the adults and the students they teach. Crazy how this is the first feature venture for Molly Gordon, Noah Galvin, Ben Platt, and Nick Lieberman, and they provide a hilarious screenplay that made me nostalgic for when I worked at a summer theater camp during my adolescence—Brooklyn Youth Chorus 2015 video editor. Theater Camp is a sweet, silly, and sincere love letter to the theater camp community that had me laughing till I sobbed. It won my heart and did the impossible: make me respect theater people.
TALK TO ME - July 28
Ah yes, the quintessential summer horror flick from A24 that will most likely become a box office smash. While Aster was too busy working on his mommy issues with Beau is Afraid, it's up to Australian-based YouTubers RackaRacka to run with the A24 torch via their debut feature Talk to Me. The film's about a teen girl (Sophie Wilde) who lost her mom and hangs out with her best friend (Alexandra Jensen) and her family. When a bunch of cool kids from her school debut a supernatural embalmed hand that has the power to let a deceased person take over your soul, they all get hooked like it's a drug and make a game out of it. But, of course, shit goes south real fast.
Many people I know love Talk To Me, declaring it as one of the scariest movies of the summer. Honey, I saw this at 10 PM with Myan at SXSW; I was hardly scared. And I'm like Courage-level cowardly, for those who don't know me. Usually, Myan and I differ on our horror tastes—she's harsher than I am—and, this time, we were right in tune. Talk to Me is one of those horror flicks with such a great premise and solid scares, but it’s the hundredth horror film in recent memory to feature the lead going through the "grieving" arc. Compared to another summer horror flick, The Boogeyman, the grief and supernatural elements aren't as harmonious as they should be, at least from a writing standpoint. That said, the film offers a stellar feature debut for actress Sophie Wilde who delivers an equally unsettling and mighty leading performance that hooked me throughout. When her character gets possessed, she takes a terrifying charge.
SUSIE SEARCHES - JULY 28
Susie Searches is one of the films I saw during last year's TIFF and did not have the heart to cover. It has a great cast in Kiersey Clemons, Alex Wolff, a hilarious Ken Marino as—get this—a food service manager, and darling pals Jared Gilman and Rachel Sennott. The film has a fantastic concept of an awkward girl desperate to become a true crime podcaster saving a kidnapped classmate. But it quickly peaks in the opening twenty minutes. When it delivers a mind-boggling twist in its opening act, the movie just meanders around the "little white lie" narrative archetype. It doesn't offer enough wit or engaging storytelling to compel you through it. Man, I feel bad for saying this because during TIFF, my friend Kevin Lee and I met Alex Wolff, got a pic with him, and he was like, "Are you guys going to write a Susie Searches review?" and I said, "Yeah." I lied. I'm sorry, Alex, I had to live my truth; I didn't like the movie much. What works in its favor is Kiersey Clemons, who commits to this lispy-voiced, brace-faced, socially-awkward persona, so naturally, you forget it's her sometimes. She shows an excellent range and proves again she can carry a film independently, but that screenplay asks her for an arm and a leg.
Harley Quinn Season 4 - July 27
I'm watching my screeners and can't say anything about it because I am under embargo!
Twisted Metal Season 1 - July 27
Refer back to Harley Quinn.
MIRACLE WORKERS: END TIMES
How fittingly titled because it's the last TBS live-action original comedy. I reviewed this for Paste but liked it for the three episodes they gave me. Geraldine Viswanathan, Steve Buscemi, Karan Soni, and Jon Bass aren't even a troupe, yet they're better than most improv teams I've seen. Even though the show is complete—it was initially supposed to release in January, but the WBD merger delayed it—and they could've sent everything at once, it's still hella funny and ludicrous.
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS: SEASON 5
Reviewed this for RogerEbert.com: Arguably less story-driven than in the previous season, "WWDITS'" returns to its primary roots with episodic raunchy, supernatural kookiness. Less activity doesn't stifle creativity, for it still has hilarious episodes that expand on worldbuilding and put the Staten Island vamps into wacky scenarios. It's still got that bite!
And now, for my NYC readers, here’s a list of what classic films are playing in July:
Metrograph
The Secret of Nimh –– July 14-17, 19
Call Me By Your Name –– July 14,17,19
Mulholland Drive –– July 21-23
Grease 35mm –– July 29-30
Ratatouille –– July 29-30
Ghost in the Shell (OVA) –– July 28-30, August 4-5
Batman Forever –– July 29-30
Nitehawk (Prospect)
Muppets take Manhattan –– July 15-16
Twister 35mm –– July 17
The Truman Show 35mm –– July 22-23
ET 35mm –– July 29-30
Nitehawk (Williamsburg)
Pleasantville 35mm –– July 15-16
Blockers Q&A with Kay Cannon –– July 26
Network 35mm –– July 29
Museum of Moving Images
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure –– July 15-16, 21
Purple Rain –– July 15
Do the Right Thing –– July 16, 23
The Royal Tenenbaums –– July 15
Village East by Angelika
My Neighbor Totoro –– July 19-20
Les Misérables –– July 24
When Marnie Was There –– July 26
2001: A Space Odyssey 70mm–– July 14-19
Alamo Drafthouse (BK)
Theater Camp w Q&A –– July 14-15
How to Train Your Dragon 2 –– July 17
Easy A Brunch –– July 29
Small Soldiers –– July 17
Alamo Drafthouse (LM)
Frances Ha –– July 15
Small Soldiers –– July 16, 19
How to Train Your Dragon 2 –– July 17
Superbad –– July 31
That covers everything. Let me know what you think. If I missed any movies or TV shows, send me recs. Let me know what you're watching.
