Looking Forward to in June 2019

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Big Little Lies: Season 2 (HBO)

HBO’s dreamy show about the lives of deceitful Monterey moms returns for a seven-episode second season on June 9th. Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon. Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoë Kravitz - who’ve acquired the ominous nickname “the Monterey 5,” - have a collective secret that hangs over them as the season begins. There’s also a starry new arrival to Monterey in Celeste’s mother-in-law (played by Meryl Streep), who threatens to upend their idyllic lives. Fish Tank and American Honey director Andrea Arnold takes over directorial duties from Jean-Marc Vallée (who helmed all seven season one episodes), which adds even more powerful female voices to the assemblage that makes this show. -Zach Shevich

Black Mirror: Season 5 (Netflix)

The mind-bending, future-looking, anxiety-provoking television show Black Mirror returns for a 3-episode 5th season on Netflix June 5th, featuring what will surely be more tales of our impending doom at the hands of technology. Created by British humorist Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror has claimed a place as the modern day heir to The Twilight Zone (despite a reboot of Twilight Zone currently airing on CBS All-Access) for its vivid depictions of a not-so-distant future in which technological developments lead to unintended consequences. The latest string of episodes includes Anthony Mackie, Nicole Beharie, Pom Klementieff, Topher Grace and Miley Cyrus among its cast. In what is yet another meta element to the show, Miley Cyrus will play a popstar named Ashley O. on her episode “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too”. -ZS

The Dead Don’t Die

While its Cannes premiere did not produce the high praise many were expecting, Jim Jarmusch’s The Dead Don’t Die should still be on your radar. A horror / dark comedy about a small town overrun by zombies seems like a great departure from a lot of your standard summer blockbusters. The cast of this movie alone is to die for with the likes of Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Chloe Sevigny, and Selena Gomez making top billing with many more notable celebrities and actors making small appearances. If you are not familiar with director Jim Jarmusch, just know he loves to play in this ballpark of combining genres. He’s made films about vampires, ghosts, and zombies, but none so far have been one-dimensional horror films. Expect the same from The Dead Don’t Die when it invades theaters on June 14th. -Fernando Andrade

The Last Black Man in San Francisco

One of the best films to come out of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival will be released on June 7th. The Last Black Man in San Francisco tells the story of Jimmie Fails (who’s played by “the real” Jimmie Fails), a native of the golden city, as he tries to reclaim the Victorian home his grandfather built many years ago. On this quest, he is joined by his best friend Montgomery (Jonathan Majors) and together they experience a changing city that seems set to leave natives like them behind. Director Joe Talbot has been working on this film with Jimmie for years, even starting a Kickstarter to get funding before being picked up by A24 who helped them finish this beautiful piece of art. It’s told in the vein of a play, combined with stunning cinematography that would make Barry Jenkins proud, and an awe-inspiring score that won’t leave you till long after you’ve left the theater. A love letter to a city and a sign of the changing times we are living in, you do not want to miss The Last Black Man in San Francisco. -FA

Late Night

An indie comedy about comedy, Late Night is directed by Nisha Ganatra and written by Mindy Kaling (The Office, A Wrinkle in Time). Following a veteran late-night talk show host, played by the legendary Emma Thompson, when she hires her first female staff writer, an inexperienced young writer played by Kaling. The movie dives into the behind-the-scenes world of your favorite real-life talk show hosts, like a Fallon or Corden, to show how writers prepare monologues and jokes before each show. This movie takes that environment and glues it to a timely message about inclusion, as well as how it’s good to change things up and get rid of tired formulas. This is a broad comedy aimed at everyone. Premiering at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, where it was picked up by Amazon Studios, Late Night offers great laughs and a great performance by Thompson, one which could land her some awards recognition. -FA

Men in Black: International

A more action-oriented summer release, Men in Black: International is a soft reboot of the original trilogy of films. Filling in for the Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones roles this time around are Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth, fresh off working together in Thor: Ragnarok as well as Avengers: End Game. As a child, Tessa Thompson’s character witnessed MIB agents on a mission, but they never wiped her memory, so as an adult she seeks out the organization and becomes a part of it. She is teamed up with Hemsworth’s Agent H and must take on the evil alien forces that plague the Earth. F. Gary Gray has directing duties and he is someone who has experience with both more dramatic movies (Straight Outta Compton) and blockbusters (The Fate of the Furious). Also in the cast are Emma Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Kumil Nanjiani, and Liam Nesson. This is definitely a more popcorn kind of movie and with charismatic actors leading the charge, MIB: International should be a fun ride to get on when it’s released on June 14th. -FA

Toy Story 4

The fourth installment in one of the most beloved movie franchises in history, Toy Story 4 is set to continue Pixar’s run of great animated releases. This is director Josh Cooley’s feature film debut, although he has been a part of the Pixar family for some time now. He was behind the short Riley’s First Date, based on Inside Out, for which he also helped write the screenplay. We get the return of our favorite toys who come to life: Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and the rest of the gang. This time around a new face is added when Bonnie, their new owner, makes Forky. But after Forky goes missing, the toys hatch a plan to rescue him while running into some long-lost friends. A multitude of new characters besides Forky will be introduced such as Key and Peele’s carnival stuffed animals Ducky and Bunny, as well as Keanu Reeves as Canadian stuntman Duke Caboom. If we have faith in Pixar and what they have continued to do with the Toy Story franchise, we should expect another hit. -FA