Top 10 Films to Look Forward to in July 2013

Out in UK cinemas this month have thieving magicians, thieving little rich kids and thieves of national secrets. Last month I promised to start writing a regular top 5 films of the upcoming month post but this month I have decided to extend it to 10. There's some good looking stuff out in July and I'm trying to avoid just reeling off all the biggest films and instead dedicate a little bit of time and space on this blog to some films that might go under some radars. Without further ado, here is the top 10 to look forward to in July:

Now You See Me

Now you see a fantastic cast led by Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco but also supported by Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Mark Ruffalo. Magicians rob banks and dish out the stolen loot to their audiences while the Feds try to catch them in the act. Sounds like a lot of fun and must be worthwhile to watch that cast but many accounts suggest it is let down by a ludicrous ending.

The Internship

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson reunite to play two technophobe dinosaurs who join the intern programme at Google. Not literal dinosaurs by the way. Its pretty funny in places but I wouldn't say it's worth rushing out to see in cinemas.

The Bling Ring

Sofia Coppola tells the true story of a gang of rich kid brats who went on a thieving spree in 2008 and 2009, robbing the homes of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Hermione stars and is apparently quite good while Paris Hilton's actual house has a cameo.

A Field in England

Simultaneously being released in cinemas, on DVD and Blu-ray and being shown on TV channel Film 4 all on the same day, it sounds like Ben Wheatley has really gone off the rails in this one. Civil War soldiers trip out on mushrooms after deserting a battle in a neighbouring field. In England. Sounds completely bonkers.

Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer

Documentary about the Russian feminist punk band that dared to protest against Putin's political status and got locked up for their troubles. 

The Deep

True story of a ship sinking off the coast of volcanic islands nears Iceland and the one survivor who faced unbelievable odds and made it home despite the rest of the crew either freezing to death or drowning.

Pacific Rim

Del Toro's monster mash with giant robots taking on giant monsters. If this was Michael Bay, people would be dismissing it but as it has the auteur of Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy behind it, you can't help but be excited.

We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks

The title says it all really. A documentary about the beginnings of Wikileaks but also a look at both sides of the story; the idealism, courage and insensitivity of the actions of activists at the centre. It's also made by Alex Gibney who made the shocking, riveting Taxi to the Dark Side.

The World's End

The dream team of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost re-team for the final part on their so-called Threee Flavours Cornetto trilogy. The cast is superb with Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan joining Pegg and Frost on screen in a story of the pub crawl to end all pub crawls.

Frances Ha

Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, the guy behind the incredible The Squid and the Whale, Frances Ha stars indie queen Greta Gerwig as a New Yorker struggling to grow up, stay true to her friends and become self-reliant.

There's also Monster's University if you fancy the Pixar prequel.

That's it for July (mainly). What on this list takes your fancy?

Top 5 Films to Look Forward to in June 2013

June Movie Reviews and Round up

In June, I watched a meagre 11 films and there are two reasons for this. 1 was Arrested Development series 4 and the other was Breaking Bad series 4 (and the first half of series 5). Those wonderful folk at Netflix gave me a second free trial this month and I used it to full advantage. The last time they gave me a free trial I watched the first three series of Breaking Bad and this time I've used it to get right up to date.

Although I haven't written much about Breaking Bad, it has pretty much become my favourite show on TV. Series 4 exceeded my wildest expectations. It was perfection and to be honest, I thought perhaps it would have been best for everyone involved to leave it with the bombshell that was dropped at the end. Where the hell could series 5 possibly go to better what had already come before?

Series 5 did then seem to lull a bit but on the plus side is also fulfilling the promise of everything the show and particularly Walt has been leading towards all this time and the first half concluded with another beautiful bombshell. I cannot wait to see how this show ends!

On the other hand Arrested Development was a bit convoluted and too clever-clever for its own good. There was still some of the old charm but nowhere near enough of Gob and Tobias for my liking. I hope if they continue, it picks up again.

The movies I watched in June are as follows. Click the links to check out my reviews:

The Master
This is the End
Come As You Are (Hasta La Vista)
Summer in February
Man of Steel
To the Wonder
Star Trek Into Darkness
Desert Runners
Monsters University
The Internship
Magic Mike

I also re-watched Les Miserables at the Open Air Cinema at Hedsor House which was a really cool experience.

The always entertaining David Jackson came back to I Love That Film to write a couple of excellent pieces: Fight Club and the Doors of Perception and Second-Hand Stories, Second-Hand Opinions

Other highlights of the month were getting the Starburst Magazine Cover Story: The Wolverine Preview. I actually wrote two pieces for this issue of Starburst so that was really cool to see them in print.

My first year at Filmoria passed and I wrote a piece to celebrate. I also got my first clip joint article published on The Guardian website on the Best Battle Speeches in the Movies.

Here at I Love That Film, the huge milestone of 200,000 page views was reached (finally after over two years)!

I also had some more articles for Yahoo Movies published and a very kind Message from the Side By Side Producer about my review of the documentary at Filmoria.

None of the films I watched this month could compete with the majesty of Breaking Bad but I liked This is the End and Star Trek into Darkness quite a lot. However if I could recommend only one, it would be the documentary Desert Runners. Please check out my review to find out why.

I also didn't really get into The Master I'm afraid. What were your best and worst of the month?

The Internship Review: Computer Crashers

It's hard to believe that The Internship is written by Vince Vaughn and Jared Stern, neither of whom work for, or have ever been employed by Google, the company that features so prominently in the film. The Internship is two hours of product placement of the most brazen kind, padded out with a story of two guys getting an internship at the mega corporation. It is completely lacking in scepticism about the company, cynically and unabashedly sharing the joys of working for Google and the power of the search engine giant to change lives.

What is even more incredible about The Internship is that Google isn't listed anywhere on the list of production companies. It apparently paid no money to feature in the movie and the idea originated with Vince Vaughn, not the Google marketing department. However being so pivotal to the plot, Google would no doubt have ensured their representation was nothing but favourable and that is where the big problems in The Internship stem from.

The final surprise of The Internship is that shock horror, I actually quite enjoyed it. Telling the story of Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson) and reuniting the stars for the first time since the wonderful Wedding Crashers, The Internship follows the two salesmen as they lose their jobs and decide to give internships at Google a go. Never mind the preposterous idea that Google would give these technophobe dinosaurs the time of day, once the pair get out of the unemployment doldrums, the rest of the film takes place at Google headquarters as they join with other interns and take part in a competition to win a coveted job at the company.

The product placement is crass, monotonous and occasionally makes you cringe. They mention Search, Translate, Android, Google+ and the entire story is plotted around working at Google (and the benefits and quirky fun of it all) and the development of their (wonderful) products, even their quest for (beneficial) advertising revenue and their (helpful) help lines. While it feels integral to this story and it makes for a sweet and good natured look at working at the technological giant, it also feels like toothless propagandha and anyone with their doubts about Google and their intentions will have to grit their teeth to stop themselves from shouting at the screen.

On the other hand Vaughn and Wilson are as likeable as ever, with Vaughn in particular playing a much more sensitive and less abrasive character than usual. The comedic talents of Rose Byrne are almost completely wasted but the supporting cast of interns all get to shine in their own ways, even if the central bonding experience of the film takes place in a sleazy strip joint and the aftermath of a drunken night of debauchery.

While many comedies feel stretched at two hours, The Internship packs plenty in and won't make you keep checking your watch (or phone if that's how you tell the time, as this film suggests). There is a decent Will Ferrell cameo near the start and the end credits (even after all the rampant product placement that came before) manage to be engaging and inventive enough to sit through, even after the two hour run time.

I expected to hate The Internship despite my love of Wedding Crashers. While it does not hold a candle to that slice of comedy gold, Vaughn and Wilson pull it through with their easy charm and a fun supporting cast of Googly intern oddballs. It's just a shame that the makers had to be so in thrall to Google as there should have been a much sharper scathing satire of corporate culture lurking somewhere within and far more worth searching for.

Here is the trailer:

Recent reviews at I Love That Film:

Monsters University Review

Man of Steel Review

This is the End Review 

Fast and Furious 6 Review

21 & Over Review

Iron Man 3 Review

Olympus Has Fallen Review

Spring Breakers Review

Star Trek Into Darkness Review