(Photo by Dim Hou on Unsplash)
The middle of the year is a busy one for moviegoers.
Whether you’re darkening the doors of your favourite cinema complex or flicking on your preferred streaming platform, there’s a lot of cinematic content to get to and a lot of deliciously immersive storytelling options in which to lose yourself.
These five films, which range from blockbuster big to indie intimate, all speak to the power of movie storytelling and how it can help us lose ourselves away from reality while maybe finding ourselves all over agin.
Who knows what’ll happen? The odds are though, with these films at least, that’ll it be good and worth your time and popcorn purchases …
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
The film will explore the continuing journey of Paul Atreides, now united with the Fremen on Arrakis. A boy becomes the Messiah of nomads on a desert planet that has giant worms that protect a commodity called Spice. Spice changes people into travelers, mystics and madmen. What price will he pay to become the new ruler of their universe? Dune: Part Two, or Dune 2, is once again directed by acclaimed Quebecois filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, director of movies Maelstrom, Polytechnique, Incendies, Prisoners, Enemy, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the first Dune movie previously. The screenplay is written by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve. Adapted from Frank Herbert’s iconic novel of the same name first published in 1965. Produced by Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, Patrick McCormick, Mary Parent, and Denis Villeneuve. (courtesy First Showing)
Dune: Part Two opens 2 November in Australia and 3 November in USA.
(courtesy First Showing)
SNAPSHOT
Dave Fishwick (Kinnear) sells vans in Burnley, Lancashire. Once the world’s most productive & profitable mill town, Burnley is now one of the most deprived and neglected towns in the UK. Dave, however, through a combination of hustle and hard work, has done well for himself – so well that in the wake of the last financial crisis he started lending money at reduced rates to his customers and local businesses. When some of those businesses start making money they ask Dave to reinvest it for them. This gives Dave an idea. Why not set up a tiny local bank that uses local money to fund local enterprise? He will call it: The Bank of Dave. The elite, London based financial authorities however, haven’t granted a new bank license for over 150 years and they’re not keen to grant one to a van salesmen from Burnley. Dave must enlist the help of a London lawyer, junior doctor Alexandra and some local rock legends to help fight the good cause.Bank of Dave is directed by acclaimed British filmmaker Chris Foggin, director of the films Kids in Love, Fisherman’s Friends, and This Is Christmas previously, plus TV work recently including on Cold Feet and Traces. The screenplay is written by Piers Ashworth. Produced by Piers Tempest’s & Jo Bamford’s Tempo Productions along with Future Artists Entertainment. (courtesy First Showing)
Bank of Dave opened in the UK in January this year and opens in Australia on 26 August.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
It’s said that it takes a village to raise a child but 12-year-old Georgie (Lola Campbell) has other ideas. Living alone since her beloved mum died, Georgie fills the flat they shared with her own special magic. But when her absent father Jason (Harris Dickinson) turns up out of the blue, she’s forced to confront reality. A dreamy, witty and unmissable tale of family and fresh starts, Scrapper is a film that believes life’s not so much about chasing rainbows but snatching fistfuls in both hands. Scrapper is both written and directed by British filmmaker Charlotte Regan, making her feature directorial debut after many other short films and some TV projects previously. It’s produced by Theo Barrowclough. (courtesy First Showing)
Scrapper premiered in Australia at the Sydney Film Festival in June and opens in cinemas 14 September.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Helen (Ellie Kemper) has always lived her life as far from the edge as possible. Finding herself newly divorced and a little lost, Helen needs a reset and signs up for the “Adventure of a Lifetime!” The adventure is a backcountry survival course hiking the Appalachian Trail with a group of oddball strangers. From the beginning, Helen’s plan to be the best hiker is tested and she finds more than just herself in the wilderness. Based on the wildly popular novel, Happiness For Beginners reminds us that sometimes you have to get lost before you’re found. Happiness For Beginners is both written and directed by Irish filmmaker Vicky Wight, director of the films The Volunteer and The Lost Husband previously. Adapted from the novel by Katherine Center. It’s produced by Geoff Linville, Berry Meyerowitz, Vicky Wight. (courtesy First Showing)
Happiness for Beginners premieres on Netflix on 27 July.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
(courtesy First Showing)
SNAPSHOT
Resentful at the world, 15-year-old Aristotle Mendoza wants to blend in and be left alone, but the summer he meets free spirit Dante Quintana at the local swimming pool, everything changes. Dante is everything Ari isn’t, and his wanderlust for life and artistic spirit shake something loose in Ari; finally, he has a friend. A near magical being, Dante disrupts Aristotle’s world, introducing him to music, poetry, lessons about the sky. Dante gives Aristotle permission to live in an ever expansive universe, making it harder and harder for him to maintain the façade of isolation that protected him all along. Their summer of adventure comes to an abrupt halt when the boys are torn apart. Armed with a new perspective, Aristotle uses Dante’s absence to understand who he wants to be in the world. Ari must decide if he is going to live in the world of infinite possibilities that Dante represents. At first fear holds Aristotle hostage and he retreats into his lonely existence. But Ari soon realizes he can’t unsee the world through Dante’s eyes. If only he would let go of the secrets he didn’t even know he was keeping and embrace the wonders of the universe.Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is both written and directed by trans filmmaker Aitch Alberto, making her second feature after directing Hara Kiri previously, plus a few other shorts. It’s adapted from the novel of the same name by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. It’s produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Valerie Stadler, Dylan Sellers, Chris Parker, Ben Odell, and Eugenio Derbez. (courtesy First Showing)
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe opens in U.S. on 8 September; no Australian dates as yet.