MOVIE SCENE JUN/JUL 2021
By Jason Palmer
We are almost back to normal and it’s a great time to finally get out and enjoy some awesome films in your local cinema. This issue and next, I’ll be looking at some of the big screen’s best new titles hitting theatres along with a rundown of three amazing outdoor film gatherings that deserve your time and attention. Let’s take a look at the contenders.
ROOFTOP FILM CLUB (in the film of the month slot)
Credit: Paramount (Clueless)
The popular outdoor specialists Rooftop Film Club have really played their part in keeping morale up during the pandemic. Offering a safe and fun way to watch some great movies on the big screen via their Rooftop Drive-In Film Club, the season comes to a close soon so it’s a great opportunity to see some classics. This run has seen them return to the iconic surrounds of Alexandra Palace for more Drive-In fun, but they have also added Brent Cross which delivers an unforgettable night out. Set high up on the roof of their open-air car park, the massive screen does justice to any movie you see there. But even though the Drive-In is closing for now, their normal Rooftop Film Club slate returns to Peckham and Stratford too now that restrictions have been lifted. Don’t miss your chance to see some stone-cold classics on the roof with great cityscapes as your backdrop and make up for a lost summer of entertainment.
THE DRIVE IN
Credit: Warner Bros (Mortal Kombat)
Taking up an impressive lot of open space in Edmonton, The Drive In continues to deliver a fun and safe way to enjoy outdoor films. Their stage has seen lots of events already, from films and theatre, to live comedy performances and even karaoke. Fully contact-free and with food & drink options available, The Drive In has an impressive slate of new and old movies to interest the whole family. Looking to see the latest releases? Well, check out the bone-crunching Mortal Kombat on the big screen, or perhaps one of their numerous family offerings including Tom & Jerry: The Movie, The LEGO Movie, Coco or Toy Story 4. Don’t have a car? That isn’t a problem – you can have your own allocated parking space with a portable radio to catch the audio and some deck chairs to lounge in comfort.
BACKYARD FILM CLUB
Credit: 20th Century Fox/Disney (500 Days of Summer)
After acquiring the Capitol Studios building in Wandsworth, the team at Backyard Cinema created a truly special venue to experience some big picture moments in custom-built surrounds that also caters for street-food aficionados and those who like a drink or three. Then the pandemic hit, and all that good work was hidden behind closed doors. Well, now they are back with a bang and with two new film threads – L.A. Nights and Miami Beach. With sandy shores and comfy seating, they have designed a great escape in the capital, showing some classics like La La Land, (500) Days of Summer and 10 Things I Hate About You along with newer fare like Mortal Kombat and Godzilla Vs Kong. Whichever thread you go on, you are in for an unforgettable night.
FREAKY
Credit: Universal
Every once in a while, a great cult gem of a comedy-horror comes along and Freaky certainly fits that bill. When a deranged serial killer The Butcher (the always on top-form Vince Vaughn) gets body-swapped with an all-American high school girl named Millie (the excellent Kathryn Newton), you get a hilarious roller-coaster ride that’s a genuine breath of fresh air. With only 24 hours left before the swap is made permanent, Millie (in the body of Vince Vaughn) must convince her friends to help her trap The Butcher, who is really taking to his new look. Throw in the police who are hot on their trail and you have a gem of a film that delivers a lot of fun.
THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
Credit: Warner Bros
The Conjuring Universe of movies are a very welcome shot in the arm for mainstream horror, giving the genre renewed box office success. From 2013’s The Conjuring through to this latest offering, we have now had 8 films in a shared universe that have delivered some wonderfully effective horror moments over the years. In recent times, the films have felt watered down, especially with new talent behind the lenses and new writers trying to build upon the legacy. The plot ‘based on real events’ (a tag that is really starting to lose its lustre now), finds Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) once again tackle a paranormal case that poses a remarkably interesting premise. Can you legally use the excuse that ‘the devil made me do it’? This latest instalment unfortunately suffers from cliché and familiarity, but the two leads are as exceptional as ever to keep you interested.
ANOTHER ROUND
Credit: StudioCanal
The outstanding Thomas Vinterberg makes a very welcome return to cinemas in this utter delight of a film, which picked up an Oscar this year. He directs Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang and Lars Ranthe as four lifelong school-friends who have all got a career in teaching. Martin (Mikkelsen) is feeling drained and directionless in life. He has lost the desire to try and make a difference in his students lives, he is coasting through a marriage and can’t muster up any energy to live his life. One of the group brings up a scientific study that they read about over dinner – one that claims that staying a specific level of drunk throughout the day led to a happier, more productive lifestyle. They all make a pact to try it – for science purposes of course! What follows is a hilarious and heartfelt comedy drama that hooks you in and leaves you as euphoric as a great drunken night out with your mates. Another Round is co-written by Tobias Lindholm. When Vinterberg and Lindholm are on this kind of form, awards are never far away. A fine vintage of a movie.
SUPERNOVA
Credit: StudioCanal
Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth star in Harry Macqueen’s engrossing drama. After twenty years together, Sam (Firth) and Tusker’s (Tucci) blissful life has been shattered following Tusker’s diagnosis with early onset dementia. Determined to spend as much time together as possible, the pair decide to travel across England in their old campervan, visiting friends and family, and returning to some locations from their past that hold a special connection to them. But as Sam and Tusker’s trip progresses, they are both forced to confront the grave reality of their situation, as Tusker’s condition worsens. There will not be a dry eye in the house after watching this delicately observed and devastatingly effective drama with two superb leading turns.
