Amsterdam Film Show | June 2018

A mainstream gay high school romcom, a Portland passion project and some love for Lab 111, our Amsterdam Film Show tips for June are here!

• in our reviews, David Swatling loves Love, Simon and @CathyCentral finds it hard to recommend Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot
• our highlights (low brow and high brow) from the rest of the new cinema releases hitting Amsterdam this month and some special screenings and film festivals
• links via Pinterest

 

FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS THIS MONTH

 

Sunday 10 June, 21:00

Jeune Femme + EN subs @ Cine Expat series

A French character study of a spirited 30-something women in Paris, finding her way. Mark Kermode of The Guardian and the BBC gave this 5 stars. Catch drinks before the film, with host, Helena P.  Part of the ongoing CINE EXPAT series @ CINECENTER with two screenings per month of recent foreign language films with English subtitles.

(Also screening at Lab 111 with EN subs in June)

 

throughout June

Four films by Gus van Sant @ Lab 111

A series, including Good WIll Hunting / Milk / My Own Private Idaho / Elephant

 

FILM REVIEWS 

 

Love, Simon | Director: Greg Berlanti | Stars: Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner

from 14 June in Amsterdam cinemas

“Simon Spier keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends, and all of his classmates: he’s gay. When that secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone and come to terms with his identity.”

David’s thoughts on Love, Simon:

 

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot | Director: Gus Van Sant | Writers: John Callahan (based on the book by) | Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara

from 14 June in Amsterdam cinemas

“On the rocky path to sobriety after a life-changing accident, John Callahan discovers the healing power of art, willing his injured hands into drawing hilarious, often controversial cartoons, which bring him a new lease on life.”

 

@CathyCentral says .. 5/10

• there’s a choppy narrative, for no good reason 
• in the grand scheme of things, I didn’t find it a remarkable story
• seems to be a comedy-drama from the trailer, but the funny bits are few and far between
• the picture is pretty poor to look at, the director tried to give it a documentary feel but these days most documentaries look way better than this
• more like a labour of love, pet project from a group of people who loved Callahan’s work and, in some respects, Portland Oregon.
• strong acting from Phoenix pulls it through.

Screening @ Lab111 +

 

NEW CINEMA RELEASES, OUR PICKS 

“Here’s the Amsterdam Film Show’s highlights from the film releases in the Netherlands, this month.”

FROM 7 JUNE

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | The dinosaurs are back again, and so is Chris Pratt. 

The Bookshop | Period Brit drama, think Chocolat but with banned books. Looks a bit dull but it does star Bill Nighy.

FROM 14 JUNE

Hereditary | Dir-Scr: Ari Aster | Stars: Toni Collette |“When the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry.”  Horror fans should be well satisfied with this, but the trailer is already f*cking scary enough for us. 

FROM 21 JUNE

Beast | Dir-Scr: Michael Pearce | Stars: Jessie Buckley | “A troubled woman living in an isolated community finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider suspected of a series of brutal murders.” IMDB | Indie choice.

Ocean’s 8 | Director: Gary Ross | Stars: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway | “Debbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City’s yearly Met Gala.”| Ahead of it’s release date, on Wednesday 13 June | Pathe chain’s Ladies Night will feature this film, across the country,inc  here in Amsterdam at Pathe de Munt, Tuschinski and Arena. @CathyCentral is “quite up for this.”

FROM 28 JUNE

On Chesil Beach | Director: Dominic Cooke | Writers: Ian McEwan (screenplay) | Stars: Saoirse Ronan | “Based on Ian McEwan’s novel. In 1962 England, a young couple find their idyllic romance colliding with issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night.” | One for the high brow crowd.