Enjoy my top 5 most anticipated August 2019 releases, to make it simple with the ever growing amount of complicated release dates I am only going to be referring to the release dates for movies as they come out near me to the best of my ability, for example a foreign film that came out in New York/Los Angeles last December might be opening near me just now so I will count that as a ____ release for the purpose of this series. Though do know that as we get into awards season theaters near me might not be updating their releases quick enough so there might be a couple films that I list as a ___ release that ends up coming out the following month. Also if you want to check out the trailer of a film just click on its poster to be sent to the trailer! Without further ado lets get into my top 5 most anticipated releases for August 2019!
(Them That Follow and The Angry Birds Movie 2 were not eligible for this list due to me already seeing them before making this list)
(Them That Follow and The Angry Birds Movie 2 were not eligible for this list due to me already seeing them before making this list)
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#5-The KitchenEvery August there is that smaller movie that seems like it is just a step below being awards season quality but does seem like a step above most of the summer releases. The Kitchen fills that role this year and ever since the trailer dropped this film has been on my radar. Where the story looks pretty generic following a group of woman who take over for their husbands in the crime world it is the acting I am most interested in. Melissa McCarthy proved herself as a serious actor last year with Can You Ever Forgive Me? so to see not just her but also the likes of Tiffany Haddish and Elisabeth Moss take on these roles which are pretty different from what we normally see them in excites me.
The Kitchen releases wide August 9th |
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#4-The Peanut Butter FalconComing out of SXSW earlier this year with a good amount of buzz The Peanut Butter Falcon got my attention and looks like a great time. Following a man who helps a kid with Down Syndrome get to a wrestling school while running from a woman trying to get him to come back to a nursing home which he escaped from this is a feel good movie that clearly has a message of love and family. Where again just like with The Kitchen the actual plot itself doesn't look like anything incredible I am a fan of all the actors in this and if it is able to hit the right emotional chord (which early buzz and trailers suggest it will) I think this will be really enjoyable and maybe even connect enough to get some push for either acting or screenplay awards (though it will get neither)
The Peanut Butter Falcon will start a rolling release August 9th |
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#3-Blinded by the LightDespite not being the biggest fan of Bruce Springsteen I cannot help but be excited for Blinded by the Light. Following a British boy growing up with very traditional Pakistani parents who don't support his musical and artistic hobbies and consider them a waste of time he finds passion in the works of Springsteen and is inspired to set out and try to make the most of his dreams. Where at heart this seems and is being advertised as a feel good story there is some more interesting depth here with the struggle between following his dreams but also trying to maintain a relationship with his family. I am not expecting this to be an all out classic but I think it could be an unexpected hit of the month.
Blinded by the Light releases wide on August 16th |
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#2-Where'd You Go, BernadetteBased on a bestselling book that I have never read my hype for Where'd You Go, Bernadette really lands on the people making this film. Richard Linklater is a really great director, though he is mostly known for films like Boyhood and the Before trilogy even his smaller films have delivered big time with films like Everybody Wants Some!! and Last Flag Flying just to name some recent examples. He has one of the strongest track records for filmmakers that I can find and has proven himself to be great at exploring and showcasing real human emotion. Following a woman who decides to pick up and disappear not even letting her family know that she is leaving this is a plot that has plenty to explore about happiness and the meaning of life which I trust Linklater to properly explore. I am also a pretty big fan of Cate Blanchett so I feel like she will deliver. Where I don't think this has a ton of awards potential (Linklater often misses) I think it will be a highlight of the month for sure.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette releases wide August 16th |
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#1-LuceMy favorite film of last year Blindspotting came out in August, where it got a decent amount of buzz coming out of it's Sundance it didn't end up on my main radar and only got my attention and love after I saw it really with no expectations. Luce has followed a pretty similar path up to it's release and I am taking it seriously. It got a good amount of praise coming out of Sundance and even more so than Blindspotting this seems like my type of film. I love interesting psychological thrillers and telling the story of a young man who was rescued and adopted from a war-torn country when he was young who has been considered a perfect student by all starts showing some concerning ideas especially towards his views on violence. The trailer doesn't give much past that but with what looks like amazing performances (specifically from Octavia Spencer and Kelvin Harrison Jr.). This movie looks thrilling and interesting and honestly looks like it could easily be the right movie to connect with me and become one of my favorites of the year.
Luce starts a rolling release on August 2nd |