Women's eNews (https://womensenews.org/author/jennifer-merin/)
WeNews film critic
In addition to covering film for Women's eNews, Jennifer Merin writes the Cinema Citizen blog and is editor in chief for AWFJ.org, the website of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, a nonprofit organization of leading female film journalists in the U.S., U.K. and Canada. She is organization's president. She is also a member of the prestigious Broadcast Film Critics Association.
On the other end of the date movie spectrum, “Complete Unknown,” which also just opened, is a very watch-worthy psychological thriller that takes you to the dark side of a relationship as it evolves during the course of an evening.
Portman’s directorial debut is a must-see. Also opening today, check out the drama “Ixcanul,” Guatemala’s first-ever submission for the foreign language Oscar.
And the list of strong documentaries opening this week includes Molly Bernstein’s “An Art That Nature Makes: The Work of Rosamond Purcell.” Go see it; you’ll never look at a garage sale the same way again.
Harley Quinn, play by Margot Robbie, is the main reason to see this anticipated blockbuster. A better bet opening this week is “Five Nights in Maine,” a somber drama about grief and mourning.
Don’t compare this financial thriller to “Wall Street” or “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Invest, instead, in the finely defined female characters and the wonderful performances.
On the serious end of the spectrum, meanwhile, other openings this week include “Hooligan Sparrow,” a stunning, must-see documentary about the harsh reprisal against one Chinese woman’s provocative brand of activism.
After all the pre-release flap over these proton-gun packing women in their beige jumpsuits, this reboot is bound to be a box office hit. But rewritten male-to-female characters in no way satisfy the clamor for more women’s stories on screen.
The film opens the door for us to follow sisterly relationships. Another must-see opening today is “Captain Fantastic,” an exploration of family values, but skip the overly sentimental “Fathers and Daughters.”
The truth-based film looks at the aftermath of Polish nuns who were raped during WWII. Another amazing French film opening July 1 is “Microbe & Gasoline,” a delightful charmer that provides rare insight into the way kids’ minds work.
Other must-see films opening June 24 include the femme-centric action thriller “The Shallows” and “Septembers of Shiraz,” a drama about a Jewish family in Iran who must abandon their home.