Blockbuster bonanza!
For family-friendly entertainment, there’s Pixar’s long-teased sequel Finding Dory (June 17), which reunites Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres and director Andrew Stanton under the digital sea, and Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved The BFG (July 1), with Mark Rylance as a CG version of the Big Friendly Giant. Later in the summer, we’ll see a remake of Disney’s Pete’s Dragon (August 12) from indie- director David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints), and the latest from the Laika stop-motion studio, Kubo And The Two Strings (August 19), which features the voices of Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey and George Takei.
Looking for laughs? Kevin Hart’s an accountant who discovers his high-school buddy (Dwayne Johnson) is a superspy in the action-comedy Central Intelligence (June 17), while Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones are the new Ghostbusters (July 15). We’re also disturbed and curious in equal measures about Sausage Party (August 12), a highly sexualized CG comedy from the eminently respectable partnership of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
Just wanna watch stuff blow up? Hollywood has you covered: Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day: Resurgence (June 24) promises another round of city-destroying escapism, while Star Trek Beyond (July 22) brings in Justin Lin, the director of half the Fast & Furious series, for an adventure – co-written by Simon “Scotty” Pegg – that’s being pitched as more actiony than usual. After skipping The Bourne Legacy, actor Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass return to the franchise they perfected with Jason Bourne (July 29), which promises plenty of close-quarters combat.
And then there’s the summer’s only superhero picture, Suicide Squad (August 5), with Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne and others as DC villains forced by the government to fight the good fight when a bigger menace comes to town. Fun fact: the town in question is actually Toronto! Try not to think about all the surfaces Jared Leto touched while he was grossing out his co-stars “in character” as The Joker by giving them used condoms.
Free screenings, outdoors and in
With weather experts calling for an especially hot summer, catching a movie in the cooling twilight seems like a fine idea. And there are plenty of free screening series around town offering just that experience.
Through no fault of my own, I’ve somehow ended up committed to introducing two free screening series this summer. You’ll find me on certain Mondays at NOW’s monthly Free Flicks At The Royal, teeing up Jurassic Park (June 6) and as-yet-unannounced selections in July and August, and every Wednesday from June 22 to August 31 as the host of Harbourfront’s Free Flicks series.
This year, the waterfront program kicks off with a pre-Canada Day screening of The Adventures Of Bob & Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew (June 29) and also includes Don McKellar’s The Grand Seduction (July 20) and Philippe Falardeau’s The Good Lie (August 10). harbourfrontcentre.com.
If Tuesdays are better for you, the City Cinema screenings at Yonge-Dundas Square start up June 28, offering a program of crowd-pleasing comedies weekly through August 30 that includes Bridesmaids (June 28) and double feature of Christopher Guest’s For Your Consideration and Best In Show (July 12) and Mel Brooks’s Spaceballs and Blazing Saddles (July 26). ydsquare.ca.
Rather do Sundays? Check out the Christie Pits Film Festival from June 26 to August 28, with a broad program that ranges from Steven Spielberg’s Duel (July 10) to Kelly Reichardt’s frontier masterpiece Meek’s Cutoff (August 14), pairing each feature with at least one short. christiepitsff.com.
And while TIFF’s not doing an outdoor series this summer, check out the Free Screen presentation of Born In Flames (July 26). Lizzie Borden’s ragged 1983 classic about near-future radicals who take on the government is being shown in a newly restored 35mm print. tiff.net.
And don’t forget the Sail-In Cinema festival (August 18-20), when Ports Toronto sets up a double-sided screen off Sugar Beach and invites people to watch from their sloops and yachts or from the shore. The program hasn’t been announced yet, but they usually go with beloved 80s films, so it’s even odds the original Ghostbusters turns up somewhere in there. sailincinema.com.
Fests and retrospectives
Just because it’s nice out doesn’t mean you can’t immerse yourself in world cinema. The month of June is downright stuffed with it!
The Italian Contemporary Film Festival returns to the Lightbox from June 9 to 17, boasting a wide array of modern Italian cinema and closing with the North American premiere of Giuseppe Tornatore’s The Correspondence, a romantic drama starring Olga Kurylenko and Jeremy Irons. icff.ca.
Out at Don Mills and Eglinton, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre hosts the fifth annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival from June 9 to 23, featuring Japanese films of every genre and stripe, from the post-war drama Nagasaki: Memories Of My Son (June 9) to the contemporary ensemble piece Being Good (June 16). torontojff.com.
The Female Eye Film Festival settles in The Theatre Centre on Queen West from June 14 to June 19, launching its 14th edition with a screening of He Hated Pigeons, the newest feature from Toronto director Ingrid Veninger.
(Also in town: the Toronto Korean Film Festival takes over Innis Town Hall from June 17 to 24 (tkff.ca).
In addition to its requisite summer un-vaulting of European classics – packaged this year as a Hitchcock/Truffaut screening series (starting July 7) and an Eric Rohmer retrospective (starting July 21) – TIFF also offers a nifty look at Shakespeare On Film (starting June 9) that finds room for a digital 3D restoration of Kiss Me Kate (June 18) and Orson Welles’s legendary Falstaff omnibus Chimes At Midnight (June 9). TIFF’s near-comprehensive Brian De Palma series (starting June 18) is tied to the release of Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow’s new documentary De Palma, which opens June 17.
Wednesday nights from June 21 to August 24, the Open Roof Festival occupies 99 Sudbury for a seventh season of outdoor screenings and live musical performances this year’s lineup includes John Carney’s New Romantic charmer Sing Street (June 28) and Andrew Cividino’s meditative Sleeping Giant (July 13), with musical acts to be announced.
THE BEST OF THE REST
Inside Out LGBT Film Festival Celebration of queer culture and history with screenings, panels, performances, parties and more. Films include Sarah Rotella’s Almost Adults, Clea DuVall’s The Intervention, Nancy Nicol & Richard Lusimbo’s doc And Still We Rise and many others. $14, stu/srs $11, galas/special screenings $25-$32, passes $50-$145. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King W. insideout.ca/torontofestival.
To Jun 5
aluCine Latin Film+Media Arts Festival A retrospective on Latin Canadian cinema, films that focus on the environment, Shorts For Shorties kids program, panel discussions and performances. All films with English subtitles $10, stu/srs $8 (opening & closing night $15) festival pass $75. Screenings at the Royal Cinema and AGO Jackman Hall. 416-548 8914, alucinefestival.com.
Jun 1 to 5
Scarborough Worldwide Film Festival Showcasing local, Canadian and world cinema and media projects with feature and short films of various genres, live music, parties and more. U of T Scarborough Campus, 1265 Military Trail. scarboroughfilmfestival.com.
Jun 2 to 11
DOC NOW Documentary media festival showcasing film, photography and new media by graduating students from Ryerson’s MFA program. All screenings and exhibitions free & open to the public. Various venues, see website for info. docnow.ca.
Jun 2 to 22
Toronto Smartphone Festival Showcase for Smartphone filmmakers. 6:30 pm. Jun 3 & 4. $10 per day. Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex. smartphonefilm.ca.
Jun 3 to 4
Italian Contemporary Film Festival See preview above.
Toronto Japanese Film Festival See preview above.
Female Eye Film Festival Provocative and controversial shorts, documentaries and feature films as seen through the eyes of women directors. Royal Cinema and other venues, see website for details. femaleeyefilmfestival.com.
Jun 14 to 19
Toronto Korean Film Festival See preview above.
Open Roof Festival See preview above.
Stranded! In Christie Pits Outdoor film screenings at sundown. Eats and treats at 6 pm. Jun 26-Aug 28. Pwyc (suggested donation $10). Bring your own blanket. See schedule at website. Christie Pits Park, 750 Bloor W. christiepitsff.com.
Jun 26 to Aug 28
City Cinema Free outdoor screenings Tuesdays at sunset. See website for schedule. Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas E. ydsquare.ca.
Jun 28 to Aug 30
Parkdale Film + Video Showcase Films, videos and art by and about Parkdale artists and community members. Various venues, see website for info. parkdaleshowcase.ca. Aug 19 to 21
Essential Film Openings
June 10
The Conjuring 2 Paranormal investigators do some more ghostbusting.
Koneline Hot Docs hit about BC tribe’s relationship to miners returns
Maggie’s Plan Greta Gerwig’s plans go awry in Rebecca Miller’s dramedy.
Suicide Squad is the season’s big superhero flick.
Now You See Me 2 Daniel Radcliffe, Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg star in the heist sequel.
Warcraft An action fantasy film inspired by the online role-playing game.
June 17
Central Intelligence Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson star in a buddy actioner.
Raiders! The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made Friends reunite to complete their lo-fi recreation of Raiders Of The Last Ark.
De Palma Filmmaker Brian De Palma discusses his career.
Finding Dory Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks star in this sequel to animated classic Finding Nemo.
Genius Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth are in a biopic about legendary editor Max Perkins.
No Stranger Than Love Alison Brie and Justin Chatwin star in a rom-com.
June 24
Independence Day: Resurgence Roland Emmerich directs a blockbuster about an alien invasion.
Tickled Hot Docs Fest hit explores the world of tickling.
The Daughter Reworking of Ibsen’s The Wild Duck stars Geoffrey Rush and Miranda Otto.
The Neon Demon A thriller by Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Bronson) features Elle Fanning and Christina Hendricks.
Free State Of Jones Matthew McConaughey, Keri Russell and Gugu Mbatha-Raw star in Civil War drama.
Septembers Of Shiraz A Jewish family tries to survive during the Iranian revolution.
The Shallows Blake Lively tries to -escape a great white shark attack (opens June 29).
July 1
The BFG Steven Spielberg directs this adaptation of the Roald Dahl kids’ classic.
Swiss Army Man Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Paul Dano star in this adventure drama.
The Legend Of Tarzan An ab-tastic Alexander Skarsgård goes ape over Margot Robbie’s Jane.
The Purge: Election Year The violent action horror franchise gets another chapter.
July 8
Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates Two obnoxious brothers (Zac Efron, Adam DeVine) meet their match in Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza.
The Secret Life Of Pets Animated comedy has the fur flying in a Manhattan apartment.
July 15
Ghostbusters Classic caper comedy gets remade with women in the lead, pleasing everyone.
Closet Monster Queer teen wants to escape his hometown in big-buzz Canuck TIFF hit.
Equals Nicholas Hoult and Kristen Stewart star in futuristic romantic drama.
July 22
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie TV’s Edina and Patsy hit the big screen.
Captain Fantastic Indie drama features a family who move from the wilderness to society.
Café Society Woody Allen’s latest is set in New York and Hollywood in the 1930s.
Star Trek Beyond Justin Lin directs the latest in the sci-fi reboot.
Ice Age: Collision Course More frosty family fun.
Our Little Sister Three siblings meet their teenage half-sister in film by Japanese master Hirokazu Koreeda.
July 29
Jason Bourne Matt Damon returns as everyone’s favourite amnesiac agent.
Bad Moms Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell play overworked moms seeking freedom.
August 5
Suicide Squad All-star T.O.-filmed actioner looks at the lives of imprisoned supervillains.
The Founder Michael Keaton plays McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc.
Angry Indian Goddesses Indian women take part in a bachelorette party.
Nine Lives Kevin Spacey’s businessman finds himself inside the body of the family cat.
August 12
Florence Foster Jenkins La Streep plays a notoriously bad opera singer.
Hell Or High Water Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster and Chris Pine star in a crime drama.
Pete’s Dragon An orphan and his dragon friend have adventures.
Sausage Party Animated comedy about a sausage’s identity crisis.
August 19
Kubo And The Two Strings Animated adventure pic about a boy’s coming of age.
The Infiltrator Brian Cranston stars in a biographical crime drama about a U.S. customs official and drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Ben-Hur Biblical sword and sandal epic gets a remake.
The Space Between Us A boy raised on Mars returns to Earth to find his dad.
August 26
Mechanic: Resurrection Jason Statham and Jessica Alba star in this crime actioner.
Southside With You Biopic recreates the young Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson’s date in Chicago.
Want movie showtimes? They’re here. And don’t miss the rest of the Hot Summer Guide!
