By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
What does an Asian road trip, a guy driving his motorcycle off of a cliff, the creation of the nuclear bomb, and more pink than the eyes can stomach all have in common? They’re all movies to be released in July of course. After an underwhelming June, this month could be the most impactful of the summer. In fact, the best film of the year could very well be among the releases.
July 4th – July 7th
Independence Day kicks off patriotically with a true story about a former government agent who makes it his personal mission to rescue hundreds of children from sex traffickers. “Sound of Freedom,” starring Jim Caviezel (“The Passion of the Christ”), shines light on a disturbingly dark topic and will undoubtedly be an emotionally riveting film. Unfortunately, there has been very little marketing for the movie, so box office numbers will surely suffer, but put this one high on your list to see over the holiday.
As a change of pace, “Joy Ride” is a comedy of four Asian-American girlfriends who travel through Asia looking for one of their birth mothers. This is the directorial debut of Adele Lim, who previously wrote the screenplay for the Golden Globe nominated film, “Crazy Rich Asians.” Having Stephanie Hsu headlining her cast will only help increase her chances of success with Stephanie’s breakout performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” last year. Still, approach this one with a weary eye and wait for a consensus before spending money on a ticket.
Don’t worry horror fans, there’s something for you too. “Insidious: The Red Door” is the fifth installment of this franchise but marks the first return to the Lambert family 10 years since “Insidious: Chapter 2.” Patrick Wilson reprises his starring role, and he also makes his directorial debut. The “Insidious” films have never been able to surpass mediocrity, so don’t expect too much from this ill-advised sequel.
July 12th
Tom Cruise makes his highly anticipated return as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.” This is the seventh film of the franchise that began 27 years ago in 1996, and at 61 years old, Cruise doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Christopher McQuarrie, Oscar winning writer of “The Usual Suspects,” co-writes and directs this sequel, which he’s done the prior two sequels. So, expect the quality and excitement to be in high supply, making it a must see for action fans and fans of the franchise. The second part is slated for release next year, so assume this one to end with a cliffhanger.
July 21st
Finally, the early favorite for Best Picture explodes into theaters on this day. “Oppenheimer” is the biographical drama of the American scientist largely responsible for the creation of the atomic bomb. Helmed by arguably the best director of this generation, Christopher Nolan, and featuring an incredibly talented cast, “Oppenheimer” has very high expectations but don’t be surprised if it exceeds them. In fact, if there’s only one movie you go to see in the theater this month, make it this one.
On the other end of the spectrum comes “Barbie.” It would be easy to dismiss a movie about the iconic plastic doll, but when it stars talents like Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, while being written and directed by three-time Oscar nominee Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird” and “Little Women”), one must pause before casting judgment too early. The marketing has been off the charts for “Barbie,” curiously appealing to audiences who both love the doll and hate the doll. It could be worth taking a chance on it.
July 28th
The month closes with another Disney remake. Based on the famous Disneyland and Disney World ride, “The Haunted Mansion” returns to the big screen 20 years after the Eddie Murphy adaptation. While it will still be a family-oriented production, prepare for a very different take on this story. The cast is comprised of two Oscar winners in Jared Leto and Jamie Lee Curtis along with four Oscar nominees in Danny DeVito, Winona Ryder, LaKeith Stanfield, and Owen Wilson. Could this finally be a Disney reboot that actually surpasses the original? It’s very possible.
