Cinema Is Back, Baby! Here’s What to Watch in June

Miranda Parkinson

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With awards season done and dusted for the year, and cinemas starting to re-open across the UK, the film industry is beginning to get back on its feet.

As someone who once lived next door to an Odeon –  and treated it as both a second home and a source of endless Tango Ice Blasts (blue raspberry flavour, obviously) – this is the best news since Boris Johnson officially sanctioned hugging.

While we’re going to have to wait a little while longer for blockbusters like No Time to Die and Dune, there’s still lots to get excited about, including a whole host of freshly minted, Oscar-winning movies. Here’s some new releases to tempt you back into the cinema – and possibly back into your overdraft if you decide to buy popcorn.

Nomadland

If bagging Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress at this year’s Oscars doesn’t get your attention, then what will? Based on an amalgamation of true stories, it follows widower Fern (Frances McDormand), a van-dwelling nomad who travels around the United States in search of her next job.

It’s a poignant character study and McDormand’s performance, coupled with the fact that director Chloé Zhao used a mixture of non-actors and real nomads, gives the film a touchingly natural feel. Then again, if fast-paced blockbusters are more your thing, maybe just wait until October – Zhao’s next feature is Eternals, the third film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a sure-fire box office hit.

Sound of Metal

Yet another Oscar winner (for Best Sound – excellent – and Best Film Editing), Sound of Metal stars Riz Ahmed (Venom, Rogue One) as a drummer who starts to lose his hearing. As expected, this tips punk-rock musician Ruben’s life upside down.

With a rich soundscape that immerses you in Ruben’s head – and extends the film space far beyond the limits of the screen – this is a film that demands to be seen in the cinema.

Raya and the Last Dragon

Disney’s latest offering, Raya and the Last Dragon, follows a young warrior called Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) who lives in a fractured world suffering from a devastating plague (is anyone else getting Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind vibes?). With the help of Sisu, the last dragon, Raya sets off on a quest to save her home. There’s warring kingdoms, sweeping visuals, an ancient evil threatening to return and, according to the New York Times, a new animated dad to have a crush on.

Judas and The Black Messiah

Judas and The Black Messiah depicts the story of Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), head of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and his betrayal by FBI informant William O’Neal (the brilliant Lakeith Stanfield – who starred with Kaluuya in the equally brilliant Get Out). Set in late-1960s Chicago, this is a thriller that everyone should see, not least to witness the electrifying performance that won Daniel Kaluuya an Oscar.

Cruella

There’s a new Cruella de Vil on the block – and this time she’s punk? It’s 1970s London and we meet orphan Estella (aka Cruella, aka Emma Stone in a very bold wig) as she begins her journey to become a fashion designer…and the Dalmatian-hating villain we all know.

It’s a film packed with heists, bold fashion, and Emma Thompson as an excellent Miranda Priestly-esque thorn in Emma Stone’s side, playing cutthroat designer The Baroness. What more could you want?

Minari

Everyone’s favourite production company are back with another Oscar winner! Set in the 1980s, A24’s Minari follows a Korean-American family who move to rural Arkansas in pursuit of the famed American Dream. It’s a touching story about family, belonging, and the meaning of home, set against a backdrop of stunning cinematography. It also happens to feature my personal favourite fixture of the 2020/21 awards circuit – the nine-year-old fashion icon and all-round legend that is Alan S. Kim.

Happy watching!

Miranda Parkinson

Featured image courtesy of Myke Simon via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes made to this image.