I may bring fewer options this half of July, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth the watch! Quality over quantity, as they say.
For the third time in a row, I very strongly recommend Past Lives. Everything I wrote about this incredible film in my last Magic in the Dark articles for the second half of June and the first half of July was correct. Having seen the movie, I’m even more emphatically recommending Past Lives because I’ve never seen a film quite like this. It’s the best new film I’ve seen so far this year, hands down. At both cinemas.
There’s an intriguing drama at the ByTowne: The Lesson. Liam (Daryl McCormack), an ambitious young writer, is hired to tutor the son of his idol, J.M. Sinclair, “the most famous writer in Britain” (played by Richard E. Grant), and Sinclair’s wife (played by Julie Delpy). There are a lot of secrets and tensions in their stately home.
With a compelling tagline (“A tale too wild for Hollywood”) and loads of buzz online (100% on Rotten Tomatoes!), Once Upon a Time in Uganda is a documentary about a brick-maker in Uganda who decides to make ’80s-style action films. He has virtually no money or filmmaking experience, but he does have boundless enthusiasm. An NYC film nerd sees one of these films online, joins him in his venture, and the two become unlikely friends. Not only that, but their “Wakaliwood” movies become an enormous internet success! At the Mayfair.
It’s summer, so it’s time for classic blockbusters, starting with a couple from the director who kicked off the summer blockbuster craze—Steven Spielberg.
As The Mayfair says, “Don’t go in the water!” Yup, Jaws is back. Spielberg’s first mega-success deserves to be seen in a cinema where you can gasp and scream with the rest of the audience. Don’t miss the chance to be too terrified to swim again (even in a northern lake).
Six years after Jaws, Spielberg gave us another adventure yarn—Raiders of the Lost Ark. With the latest in the Indiana Jones adventure extravaganzas (though it’s not from Spielberg) playing in the “regular” cinemas, this is your chance to see what started the long-running series. Some reviewers have panned the latest film when compared to Raiders. What do you think? And in Raiders of the Lost Ark, you’ll get to see Harrison Ford when he really was that young! At the ByTowne.
How about some summer romance? You bet! And fantastic dancing? Absolutely! Check out Dirty Dancing at the ByTowne. Plus, it’ll be a pyjama party with themed cocktails, so get comfy in your favourite jammies and have the time of your life. No one puts baby in a corner!
Lo and behold, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is back at the Mayfair. Seen it once? Twice? Half a dozen times? Bring your friends for the ride; let’s do the Time Warp again!
Happy viewing!
NOTE: Even cinéastes take vacations. Because of my vacation, there won’t be a Magic in the Dark article recommending films in the first half of August.
Dates, times and tickets for the ByTowne are at www.bytowne.ca. The ByTowne publishes its calendar at least three weeks in advance. Dates, times and tickets for the Mayfair are at www.mayfairtheatre.ca. The Mayfair announces firm dates on Mondays, so check their website for the latest info.
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