BLOCKBUSTER OF THE MONTH
Wonder Woman
(Warner Brothers) Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, David Thewlis. After a memorable appearance in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Diana Prince a.k.a. Wonder Woman returns for something of an origin story. For centuries, the women of Themyscira – the Amazons – have lived hidden away from the world, sworn to protect it but remaining unaffected by it. That is, until a plane crashes and the survivor tells them of a war to end all wars. Diana knows she must fight on the side of right, but when she gets to the outside world she finds a world that may not be worth saving. Oscar nominee Patty Jenkins is in the director’s chair. June 2
INDEPENDENT PICKS
Past Life
(Goldwyn/Orion) Joy Rieger, Nelly Tagar, Doron Tavory, Evgenia Dodina. In the late 1970s, two Israeli daughters become embroiled in a mystery that has surrounded their family for decades. One, a brilliant but introverted classical musician, the other an outgoing and exuberant scandal sheet journalist, discover that the stories they heard about their family during the Second World War may involve murder. This is based on a true story. June 2 (expanding further on June 16)
Letters from Baghdad
(Vitagraph) Tilda Swinton (voice), Paul McGann (voice), Pip Torrens (voice), Eric Loscheider. This is a documentary that covers the live of Gertrude Bell whose story got a feature film from Werner Herzog earlier this year called Queen of the Desert. In this film, we hear Bell’s story in her own words taken from her correspondence and journal entries. Through it, we get to see how the rise of Colonialism helped make a mess of the Middle East that has only been made worse over the years, and also displays a strong, capable woman who was far ahead of her time. June 2
Beatriz at Dinner
(Roadside Attractions/FilmNation) Salma Hayek, John Lithgow, Chloë Sevigny, Connie Britton. A holistic healer is getting ready to leave the home of a wealthy client when she discovers her car has broken down. Her client invites her to stay for a dinner party which will be attended by other wealthy people. The healer will have her hands full however with a house full of people who have no clue about real people and the lives they lead. June 9
My Cousin Rachel
(Fox Searchlight) Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Holliday Grainger, Iain Glen. A man in Regency England plots revenge against the woman he believes murdered his guardian. When she comes to visit his home, he determines to confront her but things get complicated when he begins falling in love with her. But is she the woman who oversaw the death of his guardian, or the woman he is losing his heart to? This is based on a Daphne du Maurier novel. June 9
Moka
(Film Movement) Emmanuelle Devos, Nathalie Baye, David Clavel, Diane Rouxel. A young boy is killed by a hit and run driver. The police have no idea who was behind the wheel. The grieving mother, unwilling to accept this, conducts her own investigation and finds a couple whom she is convinced was responsible for the tragedy. But were they or is this just the act of a desperate woman born out of her grief? And furthermore, does she know what she’s getting herself into? June 14
Maudie
(Sony Classics) Sally Hawkins, Ethan Hawke, Kari Matchett, Zachary Bennett. In a small Nova Scotia town, an arthritic woman goes to work as a housekeeper for a prickly farmer. As she works for him, she hones her skills as an artist, painting round his house. Soon she becomes not only a respected member of the community – something she’s never experienced – but a well-known artist around the world. June 16
Good Fortune: The John Paul DeJoria Story
(Paladin) John Paul DeJoria, Danny Trejo, Dan Aykroyd, Eloise DeJoria. DeJoria grew up in poverty, fostered to a family in East Los Angeles. Homeless at a young age, he fell in with biker gangs and eventually made his way into sales. He helped grow the brand of Paul Mitchell and eventually made Patron the biggest selling tequila brand in the world. Now incredibly wealthy, he has turned his attention and vast fortune into giving back to the country that helped make him a rags-to-riches story. June 23
The B-side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography
(Neon) Elsa Dorfman, Bob Dylan, Alan Ginsberg. Errol Morris is considered to be one of the greatest documentary filmmakers of our time. His latest is a delightful look at a quirky portrait photographer who might just change the way you look at the way you live your life. June 30
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