Melissa M. Dunn 
July on Amazon Prime sees the streamer add a massive amount of older movies, many of which don’t get the usual spotlight promotion on major studio rates. It’s always worth paying close attention to titles that rarely appear on any kind of streaming service – once they’re gone, they usually don’t come back for a while.
Plus, Amazon is releasing a handful of new items worth bookmarking, including a trans coming-of-age tale, a father-daughter road movie, and a series based on a comic book series. limited popular. July will no doubt be a busy month for streaming for anyone who decides to tune in.
ten Gucci’s House is Worth a Watch, Despite Critical Opinion – 7/2
Gucci House hits Amazon Prime on July 2. The film is one of two directed by Ridley Scott (Extraterrestrial, Gladiator) in 2021. Although Gucci has not been as well received as the hairstyles of The last duel — after all, who really wants to see rich people being rich people in a movie — it’s still worth watching for its unusual qualities.
Director Scott is no stranger to long, meditative epics, but Gucci seems to be having fun with the drier subject matter, uncovering family secrets and sour elite relationships. The film stars Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto (in full Jared Leto mode) and Al Pacino.
9 Cotton Comes To Harlem is a classic crime film from a powerful novelist – 7/1
Before becoming a director, Ossie Davis made his screen debut alongside Sidney Poitier in Joseph L. Mankiewicz. No Exit (1950). At the time of his death in 2005, Davis had a career that few actors of his longevity can claim to have. In 1970, he took his first steps in directing, with Cotton comes to Harlem.
The film is based on the novel of the same name by detective novelist Chester Himes, an all-time classic following two Harmlem detectives: “Gravedigger” Jones and “Coffin Ed” Johnson. The story is a vehicle for relevant social issues, all wrapped up in a slick and exciting wrapper.
8 Eye Of The Needle has a bizarre premise, but deserves some recognition – 7/1
There are films whose existence was otherwise forgotten, due to obscurity either from a failed initial release, poor reviews, or simply because everyone was busy during the week of its release. needle eye, directed by Richard Marquand, is one of these films. As to which one, no one can guess.
However, it deserves at least a passing background viewing, for its pedigree and slightly off-putting premise: Donald Sutherland stars as a German spy during World War II, whose possession of top-secret information may influence the course of the war. After attempts to pick him up at the meeting point are thwarted, he finds himself stranded on a Scottish island. There he meets Lucy (Kate Nelligan).
seven Internal Affairs is a corrupt cop movie for the ages – 7/1
Internal affairs (directed by Mike Figgis) is one of the baddest and most angry cop movies of all time. It has no relevant social message, just a really bad guy, Dennis Peck – played by the usually not-so-bad Richard Gere – who does anything and everything to avoid jail time. Gere plays an LAPD officer who runs a side game of various illegal activities.
When an internal investigation begins, led by Raymond Avilla (Andy García), the heat rises. The rest of the film goes as well as expected. Peck continues to betray his own comrades in crime and enters into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the investigators. It’s a thrill.
6 The Talented Mr. Ripley is a must-watch book adaptation – 7/1
Based on the first novel in the “Ripliad” series by Patricia Highsmith, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a more than competent adaptation of the tricky source material. The story revolves around Tom Ripley, a chameleon charmer, whose ability to infiltrate the hearts and minds of those he meets puts him in a precarious position.
When Ripley takes a job locating Dickie Greenleaf, he’s drawn into the world of wealthy slackers whose days are spent in Italy on yachts. As the lure of the lifestyle begins to take hold, Ripley finds herself on a dangerous path.
5 Dead Ringers is Cronenberg’s most horrifying film – 7/1
The most horrifying movie David Cronenberg has ever made isn’t about a man turning into a fly, a sadomasochistic TV show, or psychic warfare. Instead, it’s about twin gynecologists whose codependent bond leads to some incredibly disturbing storylines. The movie is called Dead ringtones.
The twins in question, both played to perfection by Jeremy Irons, have it all: a booming business, an invention under their belt and the allure of unbridled confidence. However, things start to go wrong when the twins encounter a woman with a “trifurcated cervix”, an abnormal biological event that brings out the worst in both men.
4 Raging Bull is a classic tale of unbridled toxic masculinity – 7/1
Never be reproduced, angry bull (directed by Martin Scorsese) is lightning in a bottle. It’s the celluloid equivalent of having a rotten childhood friend you can’t shake. Robert De Niro plays Jake LaMotta, the real-life middleweight boxer, whose brutality extends beyond the ring.
The film undeniably has a small scale feel, only showy when it needs to be. The rest of the film’s burden rests on the strength of its performers, all of whom offer career highs. We follow LaMotta as a child knocked out in 1941 and jump to 1964, when an aging LaMotta looks back on a life of violence.
3 Paper Girls Updates Popular Comic Series – 7/29
Adapted from the comic by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, paper girls should do its best to fill the void for Stranger Things fans between seasons.
The story begins in 1988, when four friends suddenly find themselves thrown back in time. Brought to 2019, they are embroiled in a high-stakes time travel war and will join the fight to save the past, the future, and just about everything in between. The adventure begins on July 29, with a first series of 8 episodes.
2 Don’t Make Me Go will tug at heartstrings – 7/15
The premise of Don’t make me go is simple: when a single father receives a terrible diagnosis, he takes his daughter on a road trip to find her mother. Along the way, the father is expected to pass on many important life lessons – and perhaps learn a few new ones.
The film stars John Cho, fresh from the cancellation cowboy bebop reboot for Netflix. Also of note, the screenplay was on the infamous Black List (a list of unproduced screenplays) in 2012.
1 Anything Is Possible is a story rarely told on screen – 7/22
Everything is possible marks Billy Porter’s first feature film. The multi-award-winning performer helms this coming-of-age tale about a young trans girl who, amidst the trials and tribulations of adolescence, pursues a relationship with a boy who struggles to find the courage to ask her out.
The film will be the first major starring role for Eva Reign, who previously starred in the comedy series Sideways smile. Audiences will have to wait until July 22, but can expect a romantic and sometimes heartbreaking tale of identity, love, and youth.
