Best new films to see this June
BY Eva Mackevic
1st Jan 2015 Film & TV
June brings us incredible stories behind needy con-men, powerful leaders in crisis and iconic pop divas. Here’s our guide to the top films showing at the cinema this month.
Wonder Woman
Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright and others star in this big-budget film about one of DC’s most iconic characters, Wonder Woman.
In the early 20th century, American pilot Steve Trevor crashes on the island of Themyscira and tells the Amazon princess Diana about the atrocities of the First World War. She subsequently leaves her home for London to bring an early end to the war and become Wonder Woman.
Out on June 1
My Cousin Rachel
Roger Michell, of Notting Hill fame, is the director behind this sensual mystery drama starring Sam Claflin, Holliday Grainger and Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz.
Based on the novel of the same title by Daphne du Maurier—and sensitively adapted for the screen by Michell—it tells the story of Philip, a young Englishman who plots revenge against his elusive cousin Rachel, believing that she murdered his beloved guardian. Yet when they finally meet, she’s everything he didn’t expect.
Out on June 9
Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer
This quirky, quietly hilarious and tasteful comedy tells the story of Norman—a persistent New York wheeler-dealer who befriends a rising Israeli politician by a chance encounter. When he becomes prime minister a few years later, Norman’s life is affected in equally fortunate and disastrous ways. Richard Gere delivers an evocative performance as the unnervingly determined, pitiable Norman.
Paired with a strong supporting cast, a Jewish folktale-inspired narrative and an impeccable klezmer music score, it makes for an elegant viewing experience, blending the feelings of sadness, amusement and anxiety.
Out on June 9
Churchill
A star cast of Brian Cox, Miranda Richardson and John Slattery appears in this powerful biopic on the “Greatest Briton of all time”.
Focusing on the 24 hours before D-Day, the film depicts the Prime Minister’s attempts to stop the Allied forces from invading Normandy, in fear of repeating the mass slaughter of 1915—when tens of thousands of young men were cut down on the beaches of Gallipoli.
Out on June 16
Whitney: Can I Be Me
According to her entourage, “Can I be me?” was one of pop diva Whitney Houston’s most-used phrases. This documentary on the iconic singer’s life eerily demonstrates how the phrase set the tone for her tragic demise. Controlled by her parents, producers and husband, Whitney was never allowed to be her own person—a strain that culminated in her untimely death at age 48.
The film portrays a clear progression of events that led to her downfall and the milestones won’t come as a surprise: money, fame and drugs. It’s a gripping documentary, rich in previously unseen live footage and powerhouse performances by Whitney—a reminder of her overwhelming talent and record-breaking success.
Out on June 16
Hampstead
Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson form an unlikely couple in this smart, charming comedy set in London’s Hampstead Heath. Disheartened by an unhappy marriage, fake friends and lack of purpose in life, widow Emily hits a serious low.
Yet when she meets Donald—a grumpy but lovable nonconformist living in a shack—not only does she gain an eccentric friend, but an inspiring new perspective on life.
Out on June 23
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