Nine Movies You May Have Missed in August
And if they are worth the watch or should be skipped
Back in April, I first wrote about the two most notorious months of the year to movie fans, February and August. In that post, I went into detail explaining why studios often choose these months to release their sub-par films. While 99% of what was written rings true, there was one important dynamic that was omitted from that post, the difference between February and August.
While both months see sub-par films released, there is an important difference between the two - in February the movies are normally straight up bad (see this tweet) while the movies in August are normally not atrocious, but also not really great either. In fact, most of the movies released in August are the equivalent of lukewarm water - if you are really thirsty it will do the trick, but it isn’t going to be the best water you have ever had. Throughout August I found myself very often leaving a movie going, “That was cute” or “Ehhh it was okay”, but very rarely saying, “That was excellent”. Don’t get me wrong, good movies can still be released in August or February, they just won’t be plentiful.
Up to this point I haven’t done a great job convincing you to read about the movies you missed in August, so let me start. August wasn’t too bad this year! While there was certainly a fair amount of utter garbage released (most of which I just avoided entirely), there was also some decent stuff released as well! I have always wanted Wild About Film to serve as a resource for the casual movie fans that may only watch a few movies a month. Audiences need to know what is worth their time and what isn’t! Here is to hoping, the August roundup is no different:
About My Father
What the Film is About - “When Sebastian tells his old-school Italian immigrant father Salvo that he is going to propose to his all-American girlfriend, Salvo insists on crashing a weekend with her tony parents.”
My Thoughts - This is one of the more enjoyable terrible movies of 2023 (if that makes any sense). Also, oddly similar to the second act of Wedding Crashers, without the magic of the first act. Look, even those who love movies don’t always want to watch an indie arthouse film or something that challenges how you see the world. Sometimes you just want a film that will make you laugh and warm your heart. If you are ever looking for the later, I would suggest About My Father. It is the perfect, “I want to turn my brain off for 90 minutes” type of film. Has its fair share of cliché and cheese, but also has a few funny moments.
Rating - 2.5/5
Watch or Skip? - Skip, unless you are in the right mood
The Beanie Bubble
What the Film is About - “The unbelievable tale of one of America's most fascinating phenomena -- Beanie Babies. Flashing back to the '90s and early 2000s, an in-depth look at how the era-defining zeitgeist came to be.”
My Thoughts - If I had a dollar for every 2023 movie I have watched about a product/company, I would be able to buy a Beanie Baby at this point. Like many of the other “corporate biopics” that have come out this year the film is somewhat interesting and tolerable to watch, but the artistry behind it all is so uninspired. This one in particular fell flat in many areas as the wild swings didn’t work near as well as the filmmakers intended.
Rating - 2.5/5
Watch or Skip? - Skip
BS High
What the Film is About - “The Bishop Sycamore Centurions find themselves playing a nationally televised football game on ESPN in 2021. However, questions after the game reveal that Bishop Sycamore isn't a real school at all.”
My Thoughts - Sometimes documentaries write themselves. Like many, I followed the story pretty closely when it all went down in 2021, but had no idea the depths that were to how twisted the whole thing was. Roy Johnson (the founder of coach of Bishop Sycamore) sits down to be interviewed for the doc & almost immediately you see just how crazy this guy is. Normally for a doc about a psychopath you get their friends & family talking all about them, but very rarely do you get to see just how crazy someone is put on display. BS High is more than that though, it is a portrait of the players & lives ruined by Roy’s shenanigans. Highly recommend.
Rating - 4/5
Watch or Skip? - Must watch
Somewhere in Queens
What the Film is About - “Leo and Angela Russo live a blue-collar life, surrounded by the big personalities of their overbearing Italian-American family. When their son's chance at a life-changing basketball scholarship is jeopardized, Leo risks everything to help him, but may tear the family apart trying to make it happen.”
My Thoughts - Originally had a limited release earlier in 2023, but since it is a newer addition to VOD, wanted to include it here. A solid directorial debut from Ray Romano. He doesn’t do anything flashy with the camera or with the film itself, but also doesn’t do anything disastrous. It is an easy going film that hits every emotional note and is both sweet and tender throughout. While the story itself isn’t the most original thing this year, it is far from cliché. A crowd pleaser for the next family movie night.
Rating - 3.5/5
Watch or Skip? - Watch
Jules
What the Film is About - “A man's quiet life gets upended when a UFO crashes in his backyard in rural Pennsylvania. As he befriends the mysterious extraterrestrial, things start to get complicated when two neighbors discover it and the government quickly closes in.”
My Thoughts - Is it a bit on the nose and maybe too easy going? No doubt. However, there is a warmth and sincerity that is hard to move past. You can put this one on and no one will hate it, but there is a strong chance that no one will love it either. After seeing it in theaters, my initial reaction was, “That was cute”, and haven’t thought about it since. Impactful, but ultimately forgettable.
Rating - 3/5
Watch or Skip? - Skip
Destination NBA: A G League Odyssey
What the Film is About - “The NBA G League competes to earn the ultimate reward of an NBA roster spot.”
My Thoughts - Good documentaries are hard to pull off. The G League is the perfect subject matter, but not like this. As an avid NBA fan, I am probably the target demo for a documentary like this and it still felt like 5 hours long. There were far too many stories being told and a lack of cohesion between the story lines. The filmmakers should have honed in on two or three storylines to build deeper connection and shave 40 minutes off.
Rating - 2/5
Watch or Skip? - Skip
Bottoms
What the Film is About - “Unpopular best friends PJ and Josie start a high school fight club to meet girls and lose their virginity. They soon find themselves in over their heads when the most popular students start beating each other up in the name of self-defense.”
My Thoughts - Bottoms is outrageous in the best way possible. From the hilarious set pieces to the wild swings for jokes, Emma Seligman separates herself as one of the best Gen Z filmmakers out there. In fact, the film is so out there in premise and performances that some people may be turned off by it, but anyone who enjoys the raunchy high-school comedies from the early 2000s and 2010s will feel right at home. You can tell that everyone on set had a blast making it because each cast member is committed to not just playing a part, but truly becoming their character. The film features a hilarious performance by Marshawn Lynch (yes, you read that correctly) and Rachel Sennott continues to make the case she is one of the best actors under 30.
Rating - 3.5/5
Watch or Skip? - Watch
Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
What the Film is About - “An unsettled writer with a fantastic mustache, Roger Sharpe finds solace and confidence in the one thing he's mastered: pinball. When he learns the game is illegal in 1970s New York City, Roger embarks on a crusade to save the game he loves the most.
My Thoughts - No real tension or meaningful stakes, but the film still makes it worth your while. Some real creativity in the script and how they turned something that should have no business being a film into a delightful 90 minutes. Just can’t say enough about how Mike Faist is uncompromising in every role. Can’t wait to watch his career continue to develop. Not an official August release, but wanted to include it since it came to HULU in August.
Rating - 3/5
Watch or Skip? - Skip, unless the premise fascinates you (like it did me)
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food
What the Film is About - “Through revealing interviews with experts and victims' families, this documentary examines the problem of deadly foodborne illnesses in the United States.”
My Thoughts - Maybe I am just too young to remember most of the really bad foodborne illness outbreaks across the USA, but I found this documentary extremely informative and enlightening. Sometimes just because someone is a subject matter expert, doesn’t mean that they should be interviewed for a documentary, but the interviews pulled from for this film were extraordinary communicators and great story tellers. Like most documentaries, there is obviously an “angle” that the filmmakers have going into this that shines through at times, but there are still some great takeaways from the film. Was really surprised how much I loved this.
Rating - 3/5
Watch or Skip? - Watch
And just like that, we made it through August! The remaining four months of the year promise to be quite extraordinary as the fall film festivals have kicked off with quite some buzz! Six of my most anticipated films of the year are yet to be released, so lots to look forward to! I have some fun stuff planned for the remainder of September and the year, so stay tuned!
As a reminder, last month I unveiled my referral program with lots of great perks for those who participate!
Until next time!
Aaron