Here Are All the Movies Opening 4th of July Weekend; What Will You See?
Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, July 3. [Synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.]
Wide
Faith of Our Fathers
Director: Carey Scott
Cast: Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Downes, David A.R. White, Rebecca St. James, with Si Robertson, and Candace Cameron Bure
Synopsis: “With the Vietnam War raging in 1969, two young fathers report for duty. A man of great faith and a doubtful cynic. A quarter-century later, their sons, Wayne and John Paul (David A.R. White and Kevin Downes), meet as strangers. Guided by handwritten letters from their fathers from the battlefield, they embark on an unforgettable journey to The Wall-the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Along the way, they discover the devastation of war cannot break the love of a father for his son.”
Magic Mike XXL
Director: Gregory Jacobs
Cast: Channing Tatum, Brandon Cyrus, Elizabeth Banks, Amber Heard, Matt Bomer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Joe Manganiello, Donald Glover, Andie MacDowell, Kevin Nash, Michael Strahan
Synopsis: “Picking up the story three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, ‘Magic Mike XXL‘ finds the remaining Kings of Tampa likewise ready to throw in the towel. But they want to do it their way: burning down the house in one last blow-out performance in Myrtle Beach, and with legendary headliner Magic Mike sharing the spotlight with them. On the road to their final show, with whistle stops in Jacksonville and Savannah to renew old acquaintances and make new friends, Mike and the guys learn some new moves and shake off the past in surprising ways.”
Criticwire Grade Average: C+ (7 reviews)
Terminator Genisys
Director: Alan Taylor
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney, J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi, Lee Byung-hun, Sandrine Holt, Michael Gladis, Matt Smith, Aaron V. Williamson
Synopsis: “The year is 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles offensive, John’s fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by SkyNet that will attack him from both fronts; past and future, and will ultimately change warfare forever.”
Criticwire Grade Average: C+ (8 reviews)
Limited
Amy
Director: Asif Kapadia
Synopsis: “A once-in-a-generation talent, Amy Winehouse instantly captured the world’s attention. A pure jazz artist in the most authentic sense – she wrote and sung from the heart using her musical gifts to analyse her own problems. The combination of her raw honesty and supreme talent resulted in some of the most unique and adored songs of modern era. Tragically, relentless media attention coupled with Amy’s troubled relationships, her global success and precarious lifestyle saw her life fall apart. As a society, we celebrated her huge successes but were quick to judge her failings when it suited us. The talent that was initially her salvation eventually became the trigger for her disintegration.” [Cannes Film Festival]
Criticwire Grade Average: A- (11 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles (expands nationwide on July 10th)
Cartel Land
Director: Matthew Heineman
Synopsis: “When your government cannot provide basic safety from murderous organized criminals, is it acceptable to take the law into your own hands to protect your family, your land, and your country? That is the question at the heart of Cartel Land, a powerfully visceral journey of two modern-day vigilante movements. In the Mexican state of Michoacán, Dr. Jose Mireles, a small-town physician known as ‘El Doctor,’ shepherds a citizen uprising against the Knights Templar, the violent drug cartel that has wreaked havoc on the region for years. Meanwhile, in Arizona’s Altar Valley—a narrow, 52-mile-long desert corridor known as Cocaine Alley—Tim ‘Nailer’ Foley, an American veteran, heads a small paramilitary group called Arizona Border Recon, whose goal is to halt Mexico’s drug wars from seeping across our border.” [Sundance Film Festival]
Criticwire Grade Average: B+ (11 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York and Madison, WI (expands across North America through the end of August)
Closer to God
Director: Billy Senese
Cast: Jeremy Childs, Shelean Newman, Shannon Hoppe, David Alford, Isaac Disney, Jake Speck, Emily Landham, Josh Graham, Josh Childs, Piper Hoppe, Anna Garges, Olivia Lyle, John Schuck
Synopsis: “Dr. Victor Reed is a brilliant geneticist who has just achieved a huge scientific breakthrough by successfully cloning the first human being, an adorable baby girl named Elizabeth. This immediately becomes a media spectacle and ignites a firestorm of debate concerning the moral and religious implications of such a discovery. Soon, Dr. Reed and his family lose all sense of privacy and safety as they are swarmed by protesters and the media. Their biggest threat, however, could be Victor’s own secret.”
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Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Philadelphia, Portland and San Francisco
In Stereo
Director: Mel Rodriguez III
Cast: Beau Garrett, Micah Hauptman, Aimee Mullins, Mario Cantone, Maggie Geha, Melissa Bolona
Synopsis: “David and Brenda are perfect for each other and everyone knows it… except David and Brenda. After they break-up, their lives spiral out of control. David self-destructs as an artist while dating an immature woman who sleeps with his best friend. Brenda endures a failing acting career, an eviction notice, and a boyfriend who just doesn’t do it for her. And then chance brings Brenda and David back together on the streets of New York … at the worst possible time.”
Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans and San Francisco
Jackie & Ryan
Director: Ami Canaan Mann
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Ben Barnes, Clea DuVall, Sheryl Lee, Ryan Bingham
Synopsis: “A modern day train hopper fighting to be a successful musician and a single mom battling to maintain custody of her daughter defy their circumstances by coming together in a relationship that may change each others lives forever.”
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Theatrical Release: Various (including New York and Los Angeles, Detroit, Houston and Phoenix)
Jimmy’s Hall
Director: Ken Loach
Cast: Barry Ward, Simone Kirby, Jim Norton, Aisling Franciosi, Francis Magee, Andrew Scott, Brian F. O’Byrne, Karl Geary
Synopsis: “In 1921 Jimmy Gralton’s sin was to build a dance hall on a rural crossroads in an Ireland on the brink of Civil War. The Pearse-Connolly Hall was a place where young people could come to learn, to argue, to dream… but above all to dance and have fun. As the hall grew in popularity its socialist and free-spirited reputation brought it to the attention of the church and politicians who forced Jimmy to flee and the hall to close. A decade later, at the height of the Depression, Jimmy returns to Co. Leitrim from the US to look after his mother and vows to live the quiet life. The hall stands abandoned and empty, and despite the pleas of the local youngsters, remains shut. However as Jimmy reintegrates into the community and sees the poverty, and growing cultural oppression, the leader and activist within him is stirred. He makes the decision to reopen the hall in the face of what they may bring…” [LA Film Festival]
Criticwire Grade Average: B (8 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles (expands across the country through the middle of September)
Mala Mala
Director: Dan Sickles & Antonio Santini
Synopsis: “Antonio Santini and Dan Sickles’ vibrant and visually striking immersion in the transgender community of Puerto Rico celebrates the breadth of experiences among trans-identifying women: from campaigning for government-recognized human rights, to working in the sex industry, to performing as part of the drag troupe “The Doll House.” Unapologetic and unconventional, Mala Mala explores the ways internal and external identity pave the path of self discovery through the unique yet universal stories of its fascinating cast of characters.” [Tribeca Film Festival]
Criticwire Grade Average: A- (5 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York
A Poem is a Naked Person
Director: Les Blank
Synopsis: “Les Blank made A Poem Is A Naked Person during 1972-74, while living at the Russell/Shelter records recording studio compound on Grand Lake Of The Cherokees in NE Oklahoma. It is feature-length, with appearances by Willie Nelson, George Jones and some amazing characters in Oklahoma, where much of it was shot. At least two major critics have declared it the best film ever made on Rock and Roll.” [SXSW Film Festival]
Criticwire Grade Average: B+ (5 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York and Salt Lake City
Stray Dog
Director: Debra Granik
Synopsis: “Winter’s Bone director Debra Granik’s searching, stereotype-shattering documentary focuses on Ron ‘Stray Dog‘ Hall. At first glance, this burly, bearded biker looks like one badass dude. Then, through Granik’s incisive, sympathetic eye, we begin to see his big, battle-scarred heart. The movie follows Stray Dog as he caravans on his Harley from his rural Missouri home to Washington, D.C. with his fellow vets to pay tribute to his fallen brothers at the Vietnam Memorial. Back home, he takes in his Mexican wife and her two sons, who are struggling, like him, to find a place in a country that has become foreign.” [LA Film Festival]
Criticwire Grade Average: A- (12 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York
Stung
Director: Benni Diez
Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Lance Henriksen, Matt O’Leary, Jessica Cook, David Masterson, Cecilia Pillado, Kathleen Renish
Synopsis: “For catering staffers Paul and Julia, Mrs. Perch’s fancy garden party at her remote country villa is nothing out of the ordinary. A mishap with toxic plant fertilizer leads to the most unwelcome of dinner guests: giant killer wasps.”
Theatrical Release: New York, Los Angeles and Indianapolis (opens in five additional cities later in July)
Missed last week? Here are all the releases from the weekend of June 26.
