Forgive me, dear readers, for my tardiness of this month’s column. You probably know what they say about excuses, but I’m fine blaming this on the long holiday weekend getting in the way of work. Now that the grills have been shut off and the cooler is beer-free, we can get into what’s worth seeking out this July. Whether you need to escape into other worlds for the sheer joy of it or just need a few hours of air conditioning, I’ve got you covered for what’s coming out in theaters.

Continue reading 12 Films To See In July at The Playlist.

There’s almost no limit to the imagination of director Michel Gondry (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “The Science of Sleep”), and as the incessantly precious whimsy of 2013’s intolerable “Mood Indigo” made clear, that’s not always a good thing. It’s refreshing then, that for his latest film, “Microbe & Gasoline,” the director tones down his usual quirky, ‘look-at-me’ visual spectacle, for a low-key tale.

Continue reading Michel Gondry’s ‘Microbe & Gasoline’ Is Refreshingly Low-Key [Review] at The Playlist.

While Michel Gondry is rightly celebrated for his distinctive visual style and handmade approach, even when working on blockbuster movies, his strength has always been the intimacy with which he treats his characters. It’s hard to imagine the potency of “Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind” resonating as deeply with someone else at the helm, and the director presents another tale with a warm core in his upcoming “Microbe & Gasoline.”

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Starring Ange Dargent, Théophile Baquet, along with Audrey Tautou in a small role, the movie follows Microbe, a shy, aspiring artist, who has trouble making friends at school until he meets Gasoline, a likeminded outcast.

Continue reading Exclusive Clip: Michel Gondry’s ‘Microbe & Gasoline’ Get Bullied at The Playlist.