What movies to see in July?

Hits of June

Collective

On the screens of the cinemas of Riga you can still watch a comedy drama in six parts about the Latvian Song and Dance Festival. Each episode is filmed by a separate director, the storylines do not intersect with each other, so you can watch them in any sequence independently of one another.

The genres are different — from horror to comedy, from real stories to fantasy. This could translate as a reference to the idea of the festival, which involves various ethnographic and creative groups. Recall that the holiday takes place every five years, and this year this national festival was held for the 27th time. “Collective” tells about unusual incidents and events that have taken place during the event.Where to watch: Forum Cinemas or on the website of the series

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-verse

The second animated film about superhero Miles Morales, who, along with his numerous alter-egos from other universes, once again saves the world.

In a series of Marvel films, this animation, perhaps, deserves special attention and praise from critics and viewers. The release was set back multiple times but the movie eventually came out on the big screens and met the expectations of the producers. In just a couple of weeks, it made 5 times more money than was invested in production.

The box office and audience success can be explained by the incredible graphics and original styling. The viewer, tired of the 3D era, can see the cartoon similarly as it was in the first parts of this movie, an explosion of animation, a mixture of 2D and 3D, which looks bright, fresh and unusual. The creators of the film, of course, could not refuse the trademark of Marvel — an abundance of references so geeks and comic book lovers were satisfied with what was happening on the screen. The plot is quite ordinary but that’s not why the viewer watches a blockbuster, it’s to be in a world for a while where good always defeats evil.

Where to watch: Forum Cinemas

Elemental

Family movie “Elemental”, the closing picture of Cannes Film Festival this year, has been successfully shown in cinemas for several weeks. Watching this cartoon is entertaining at all ages: the eternal problem of fathers and children is discussed, an attempt at self-determination, understanding oneself and desires, and, of course, the romantic story of two — in the literal sense of the word — opposites.

Visually striking cartoon tells story about the four elements — elementals. All of them get along in the fabulous city of ElementCity, the detail, colorfulness and animation of which delight the viewer. The film is perfectly complemented by the music of Thomas Newman, who has long been writing for Pixar. In Elementary, the composer made a beautiful musical story about oriental culture, and the song “Steal the Show” became a hit of the summer.

And although many criticize the film for the platitude of the theme (which is true: the story of the four elements is not new) and at times also floating plot, this picture is a great opportunity to have a heartfelt time with the whole family.

Where to watch: Forum Cinemas

Premieres in July

Charlie Chaplin’s Retrospective

In July, Splendid Palace will host an open-air retrospective of Charlie Chaplin’s iconic silent film classics. Residents and tourists of Riga will have the opportunity to see movies “Baby” (1921), “Circus” (1928), “City Lights” (1931), which Chaplin completely produced and shot while also performing in the main roles.

Good-natured and witty, filled with bitter humor, the films of the great classic even 100 years later look just as easy and cause a smile at the sight of the silliness and clumsiness of the main character. And the heart also freezes in moments of social injustice towards a little man, a vagrant character.

Where to watch: Splendid Palace

Asteroid City

Symmetry, bright colors, detail, absurdity of dialogues, a huge stellar cast — you can recognize Wes Anderson’s film even without mentioning the name of the director. Over the years of his cinematic career, he has created a unique and original style that swells like a marble sculpture from movie to movie. Some are already annoyed by it while others get ecstatic from the level of skill. One thing is clear — Wes does not leave anyone indifferent.

The plot unfolds in a town located around the crater, which was formed due to the fall of an asteroid thousands of years ago. Every year, astronomers come to this place — and one day they meet an alien creature.

Films about insanity, internal and external, about orderly chaos — this is what Anderson is so great at creating. Judging by the reviews, critics and spectators at the Cannes Festival, this time the director did not lower his bar.

Where to watch: Splendid Palace, Forum Cinemas

Barbie

One of the most anticipated films not only this summer, but also this year is the romantic comedy “Barbie” by Greta Gerwig with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the lead roles.

The film is about a beautiful doll, which suddenly ceased to correspond to the generally accepted canons of beauty of Barbyland and was banished to the real world. The film also features alternate versions of the doll played by Issa Rey and Hari Nef.

The film will hit screens on July 21, the same day as Nolan’s other big premiere, Oppenheimer, about the “father of the atomic bomb.” In the network, users are already creating memes about the confrontation and competition of two such different pictures. Although the directors themselves believe that such a competition will not harm the box office and attendance. In today’s world where diversity and body positivity dictate new rules of the game, Barbie, whose ideal image has been a role model for millions of girls around the world for decades, seems particularly relevant.

Where to watch: information will soon appear on the websites of cinemas

Oppenheimer

The above-mentioned film of the amazing Christopher Nolan is already anticipated by fans, because each picture of the director is a real event for modern cinema.

The biopic tells the story of the life of American nuclear physicist Robert Oppenheimer, who developed weapons of mass destruction, which shook the whole world in the middle of the last century. The viewer will see a star cast on the screen: the main character played by Cillian Murphy and his wife, played by Emily Blunt. Other bright stars include Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., and Florence Pugh.

The film is based on the book “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer” by Kai Byrd and Martin Sherwin — the publication received the Pulitzer Prize. Recreating Oppenheimer’s life history in art has a special role, Nolan’s film is not the first film work devoted to physics. And the problems of the scientist’s responsibility and collective security are more relevant in the modern world now than ever before.

Where to watch: Splendid Palace, Forum Cinemas

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Aged, but tireless adventurer Indiana Jones, played by the charismatic Harrison Ford, again goes in search of adventure.

The scenario is familiar: the search for an artifact, the rescue of a girl, the fight against the villain (this time it was played by the Danish Mads Mikkelsen). But the difficulties faced by the main character are new and much more dangerous.

The Dial of Destiny was the last part of the franchise that Spielberg launched back in 1981, but in the end he remained only in the producer’s chair while James Mangold, known for the films Ford vs. Ferrari and Logan, took the director’s place. What’s admirable is the fact that Ford (and he is 79 years old) performs all of his own tricks! Therefore, Jones definitely deserves applause in the final part of this long story about the adventures of a professor with a whip and a hat.

Where to watch: Forum Cinemas, Splendid Palace

Mission Impossible. Dead Reckoning. Part 1

The seventh spy thriller starring Tom Cruise finally hits the screens in July after multiple postponements. As promised by the producers, this film will be the penultimate in the famous franchise, which even after 27 years remains a favorite of the audience. The protagonist Ethan Hunt once again faces dangers, overcomes obstacles and defeats terrorists from the group “Apostles” who’re plotting a nuclear catastrophe. From time to time, Cruz surprises with his physical abilities and continues to risk his life. The actor is also not young anymore — Cruz turns 61 in July. In this film, his partners on the set were actresses Rebecca Ferguson and Pom Klementieff. Whether Cruz will be able to save the world this time or the filmmakers left it for the last part — soon we’ll find out in the cinema.

Where to watch: Forum Cinemas

No Hard Feelings

A romantic comedy with Jennifer Lawrence is a cute and funny movie that you can watch in good company. The last films of the actress (“Causeway”, “Don’t look up”) revealed her abilities as a dramatic actress, and in the film “No Hard Feelings” you can see her light, cheerful and smiling.

In the center of the plot is Maddie, who is forced out of personal gain to meet with a modest son of rich parents. But according to all the laws of the genre, the modest Percy is not as hopeless and boring as the main character thought. This film stands out among the series of blockbusters and superheroes that fills cinemas in summer. And if you want something more calm, realistic and quiet — then “No Hard Feelings” is the ideal option.

Where to watch: Forum Cinemas