Netflix Highlights: The Hawk and Little House on the Prairie
Will Ferrell takes on golf in The Hawk (out 16 July), playing Lonnie Hawkins, a former champion who insists he's "still a big-shot golfer." True to Ferrell's comic persona, Lonnie is loud, silly, and gloriously arrogant, embarking on one final attempt to win the only major tournament that eluded him. His on-the-green rivalries take on an extra familial dimension, given one of his competitors is his own son Lance (Jimmy Tatro). Quality-wise, this film lands closer to Blades of Glory than Semi-Pro.
Little House on the Prairie (out 9 July) is Netflix's new adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's autobiographical books. At time of publishing, a review embargo prevents detailed commentary, but the trailer indicates a handsomely staged and very outdoorsy production with grassy fields, streams, and cheeping birds. Alice Halsey and Luke Bracey play Laura and Charles Ingalls, who build a new life with their two daughters, facing economic hardship and packs of wolves. The tone feels intentionally old-fashioned.
Ryan Coogler's Sinners and More on Netflix
Sinners (out 4 July) is Ryan Coogler's vampire movie set in 1930s Mississippi. It received a record-setting 16 Oscar nominations, defying the high/low art divide with violent mayhem and high veneration. The film follows a bait-and-switch strategy, establishing a serious crime drama around a juke joint before erupting into neck-chewing carnage. Michael B. Jordan delivers an Oscar-winning dual performance as identical twin gangsters Smoke and Stack. Coogler directs with unhurried flair, letting important moments breathe, including the now legendary I Lied to You scene.
Honourable mentions: Enola Holmes 3 (out now), Human Vapor (2 July), Spit (3 July), Footloose (3 July), Proclivitas (3 July), American Beauty (3 July), Looking for Alibrandi (15 July), 21 Jump Street (17 July), Heartstopper Forever (17 July), 1917 (24 July), 72 Hours (24 July), Ladies in Black (31 July).
Stan: The Secret Agent, The F Ward, and Christopher Nolan Collection
The Secret Agent (out now) is Kleber Mendonça Filho's political thriller set in 1970s Brazil, which received a best picture nomination at this year's Academy Awards. The film is solidly made but stymied by pacing issues and an adrift narrative. Period details and the gritty, immersive tone are strong, with good performances led by Wagner Moura as Marcelo, a professor and widowed father returning to his home town to escape his past with powerful enemies on his tail.
The F Ward (out 17 July) is a new hospital drama from the creators of Bump. It follows a group of medical interns sent to the under-funded Pines Hospital in Sydney for one final chance to complete their training. The trailer suggests challenges, heartache, and life-or-death scenarios.
Stan marks the release of The Odyssey (in cinemas mid-month) by adding a suite of Christopher Nolan films on 11 July: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Interstellar, Inception, and Dunkirk. Nolan is a rare director who consistently delivers true event movies.
Honourable mentions: Outback Murder: The Search for Peter Falconio (out now), Crossroads (out now), Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2 July), White House Down (8 July), Secret Service (2 July), Men in Black 1-4 (9 July), The Westies (12 July), Despicable Me 4 (18 July), Django Unchained (18 July), Panic Room (22 July), My Best Friend's Wedding (28 July).
SBS on Demand: The Age of Adaline and Seven Samurai
The Age of Adaline (out 17 July) stars Blake Lively as a woman who stops aging after a near-death experience involving a car crash and lightning. The film explores the downsides of eternal life, as Adaline cannot have normal relationships. Things get awkward when she encounters a former lover (Harrison Ford), who can't believe how much she looks like his old flame.
Seven Samurai (out now) is Akira Kurosawa's 1954 masterpiece, a film so influential it has been hard-coded into the DNA of modern action movies. The plot follows a group of samurai who protect a village from bandits, training farmers to defend themselves. The famous climactic battle unfolds during a torrential downpour. Other Kurosawa classics on SBS On Demand include The Hidden Fortress and Throne of Blood.
Honourable mentions: Run Lola Run (out now), Donnie Darko (out now), Couples Therapy season 5 (out now), Bran Nue Dae (3 July), Sweet Country (3 July), Charlie's Country (3 July), Satellite Boy (3 July), Walkabout (3 July), Blue Water Empire (5 July), The Wicker Man (5 July), Party Down seasons 1-3 (10 July), The Expanse seasons 1-3 (11 July), Cold Haven (16 July), Hell or High Water (23 July), Six Four (29 July), Say Nothing (30 July).
ABC iview: Believe Me
Believe Me (out 19 July) is a four-part drama from creator/writer Jeff Pope about women drugged and sexually attacked by serial sex offender John Worboys (Daniel Mays), known as the "black-cab rapist." According to Lucy Mangan's review, the production is far from exploitative; the women and their suffering "are real and vivid" thanks to "a punchy, intelligent script."
Honourable mentions: Saint-Pierre (3 July), Cooper and Fry (4 July), The Lady Grace Mysteries (10 July), When the River Rose (14 July), Ninjago: Dragons Rising (17 July), Treasure & Dirt (19 July), New Zealand Spy (22 July).
Prime Video: The Sheep Detectives and Elle
The Sheep Detectives (out now) is a murder mystery where a flock of sheep sleuth after the death of their shepherd George (Hugh Jackman), who read them murder mystery novels before becoming a victim. The sheep bridge the interspecies language divide to help a dunderheaded local cop (Nicholas Braun) solve the case. This is very cozy crime with a fluffy family vibe and a hint of mischievousness.
Elle (out now) is a 90s-set prequel series to Legally Blonde, starring Lexi Minetree as a teenage Elle Woods moving from Los Angeles to Seattle. The series has already been renewed for a second season. Elle wonders, "What if I really am the vapid LA girl they all think I am?" Her drive and tenacity prove naysayers wrong, with jokes about blonde stereotypes.
Honourable mentions: The Ghost in the Shell (8 July), Murder 101 (13 July), Ride or Die (15 July), Batman: Caped Crusader season 2 (31 July), The Devil's Mouth (TBC).
Binge: Arco
Arco (out 6 July) is a French animated sci-fi inspired by Studio Ghibli, with rainbow colours and scenes of people soaring through clouds. Set in 2932, 10-year-old Arco is left out of a family trip to visit dinosaurs; people use special capes to time travel. Arco time travels illegally but lands in 2075 instead of the prehistoric era, bonding with a lonely girl named Iris. The film conjures both dystopian and utopian future worlds, anchored by a sweet relationship that leaves viewers feeling emotionally full.
Honourable mentions: Cape Fear (out now), Cat Ballou (out now), Bewitched seasons 1-8 (out now), Jimpa (out now), Four Mothers (6 July), The Five-Star Weekend (9 July), The History of Sound (11 July), Moss & Freud (31 July).
Disney+: The Devil Wears Prada 2
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (out 29 July) surprises by acknowledging the changed media landscape over two decades. Andy (Anne Hathaway) returns to Runway as features editor, much to Miranda Priestly's (Meryl Streep) chagrin. The film maintains Priestly as an intimidating presence, though she no longer commands the power she once did. The sequel offers a compelling "before and after" portrait of the publishing industry.
Honourable mentions: Spider-Man: Homecoming (out now), Spider-Man: Far from Home (out now), Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (out now), The Amazing Spider-Man 1-2 (out now), Dirty Dancing (out now), The Hunger Games 1-4 (2 July), Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2 July), Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston (23 July), Furious (27 July).
Apple TV: Lucky
Lucky (out 15 July) stars Anya Taylor-Joy in her first TV lead role since The Queen's Gambit. She plays Lucky Armstrong, a former con artist forced on the run from FBI agents and dangerous criminals after a heist goes wrong. The trailer promises plenty of running, sirens, and heavy breathing. The execution will determine if this stands out among similar action-thrillers.
Honourable mentions: Silo season 3 (3 July), Trying season 5 (8 July), The Dink (24 July).
