What to Watch This Independence Day 2021

For Bright Musical Celebration of Life: In The Heights (Theaters and HBO Max)
Nothing says America like an immigrant story, and In The Heights is a celebration of life, love, family, community, and hard work with a bright, colorful style and catchy and impactful music.  For more information, check out the review!

For a Powerful Sports Drama: Miracle (Disney+)
One of my favorite sports dramas of all time has a great message of hard work, teamwork, and patriotism.  And it has some of the best sports drama you will see on film.

For the Classic Independence Day Film: Independence Day (HBO Max)
Will Smith's classic film is the quintessential Independence Day movie, that will have you cheering at the cheesy 90s plot and the all star cast.

For A Powerful Musical Documentary: Summer of Soul (Theaters and Hulu)

Showcase some great American artists and a wonderful celebration of black culture and music.  Summer of Soul revives a powerful and empowering cultural moment with great music, beautiful footage, and insightful commentary.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Beautiful Immigrant Experience: Minari (Digital Rental)
Minari is a slow but exquisite film, one that tells the immigrant story with beautiful cinematography, sharp dialog, and a slow burning, bittersweet story of hard work, dedication, and loss.   For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend: I Carry You With Me, Long Story Short, Tomorrow War, Audible, Summer of Soul, Zola, Paper Tigers, Holy Game

For A Beautiful Immigrant Drama: I Carry You With Me (Theaters)
I Carry You With Me is a slow moving but beautiful portrait of hard work, dedication, and love that shows the pain of discrimination and the power of dreams.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Powerful Musical Documentary: Summer of Soul (Theaters and Hulu)

Summer of Soul revives a powerful and empowering cultural moment with great music, beautiful footage, and insightful commentary.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Coming of Age Sports Documentary: Audible (Netflix)

Audible's smart use of sound and storytelling highlight some wonderful young men and women and the greater deaf community through a football lens.    For more information, check out the review! 

For A Hilarious and Emotional Rom Com: Long Story Short (Theaters and Digital)

Long Story Short is a wonderful film, telling a heartfelt, compact, and emotional story with plenty of tears and laughs fueled by Spall's brilliant performance.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Time-Traveling Summer Action Flick: The Tomorrow War (Amazon)

The Tomorrow War has the cast, explosive effects, and exciting story that tugs at your heartstrings; it is an entertaining future summer action movie that you can enjoy today!  For more information, check out the review!

For A Unique Spiritual Soccer Tournament: The Holy Game (Digital)
The Holy Game is an interesting look at a devout tournament that highlights the unique players and rules of this game and serves to demystify and humanize the priesthood through soccer.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Bizarre, Hilarious Odyssey: Zola (Theaters)

Zola is something that has to be experienced to truly understand, and the combination of bizarre characters, amazing style, and some intense performances make this film something to like and retweet.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Unique Martial Arts Film: The Paper Tigers (Redbox)

One of my favorite films of the year is now available to rent at Redbox! The Paper Tigers will knock you out with its wonderful comedic style, over the top and over the hill characters, and the amazing camaraderie and heart of the main trio.  For more information, check out the review!

Summer of Soul Review: A Beautiful Musical Festival Is Finally Revived

Release date: July 2, 2021
Running time: 112 minutes
Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson 

In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park).  The footage was never seen and largely forgotten–until now. SUMMER OF SOUL shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Ray Baretto, Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach and more. Summer of Soul premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.

Summer of Soul is a documentary, but it is more of an experience.  The film takes this amazing archival footage of influential and talented black artists, and weaves them together to recreate this amazing music festival. The film has beautiful footage and--as you would expect from a documentary about a music festival--some great music.  It is put together with a care and reverence that is palatable on screen. And this recreation is interspersed with some insightful, reflective commentary from those that attended the show.  You hear from some of the artists and some of the attendees just how much this music and this festival meant to them and to the overall black movement in America.  And the film also showcases what was so special about Harlem at this time, and why it was needed to put this on.

The movie really is a testament to this special festival and of black culture in America.  And it was interesting to relive some of these historical lessons from a positive, empowering point of view.  The film doesn't hide from the racism and injustices of the time, but it does try to focus on a more positive message; one of black empowerment and of celebration.  However, as much as I enjoyed the film, it really did feel like a recreation of the music festival.  It could have used a little more build up and maybe a little more retrospective of what happened after the festival.  But that being said, the film is already a decent length and the focus is put on the festival and the cultural significance it had.  

Summer of Soul revives a powerful and empowering cultural moment with great music, beautiful footage, and insightful commentary.

Watch it.

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Summer of Soul is in theaters and on Hulu on July 2, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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Screening: See Summer of Soul Early And Free

Beat the summer heat and check out a documentary about the never before televised Harlem Culture Festival, a series that was filmed over six weeks in the summer of 1969.  The film is coming to theaters and Hulu on July 2, 2021 but you can see it early and free!  Details and entry form are below.

Synopsis:

In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park).  The footage was never seen and largely forgotten–until now. SUMMER OF SOUL shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Ray Baretto, Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach and more. Summer of Soul premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.

Summer of Soul:

Tuesday, June 29^th

AMC Potomac Mills 

7:00pm 

 Screening Link!

As always, screenings are first-come, first-served so please arrive early to ensure you get a seat.