'They look like beatniks, should I unpack my bongos?'
Celebrate summer with this curated film list featuring some of my personal faves
Summer and the movies are intrinsically linked. Some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters arrive during the hot season. So it's no surprise that there are plenty of widely beloved films set during these months.
Jaws. The Parent Trap. The Sandlot. Call Me By Your Name. Sleepaway Camp. A League of Their Own. Do the Right Thing. I'm sure there are more you can name, too.
With that in mind, I wanted to spotlight a few of my favorite warm weather flicks.
Bonjour Tristesse
A spoiled teenager enjoying a carefree summer on the French Riviera with her rich, playboy father has her fun interrupted when her late mother’s friend arrives on the scene. Not liking how the other woman has gained her father's interest and diverted his attention away from her, the teen fears losing the life to which she has become accustomed. As a result, she takes fate into her own hands. Jean Seberg, David Niven, and Deborah Kerr sizzle in this spiky romantic drama from Otto Preminger.
Camp
Writer-director Todd Graff brings the backstage drama of the theater to a camp for young performers, where everyone is looking to be center stage. From the cute new guy with the guitar to the best friends crushing hard on him, from two girls longing to step into their own to a jaded, uninspired veteran songwriter looking for a muse. The result is an endearing, snarky, music-fueled romp that showcases Anna Kendrick in her film debut.
In the Heights
Lin-Manuel Miranda's buoyant stage musical about one summer in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan gets an electrifying screen adaptation courtesy of director John M. Chu and playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes, who also wrote the book for the stage production. The film features a fantastic ensemble led by Anthony Ramos and Melissa Barrera, while the songs pop, fizz, and snap. Prepare for your heart to feel as though you've been enjoying an afternoon in the sun.
Moonrise Kingdom
Wes Anderson's charming tale of first love between two outcasts who will do whatever it takes to be together — starting with running away from home. Cue the adults in their lives, including those played by Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, and Bruce Willis, forming a search party to find them. Leave it to Anderson to create a world so exact and filled with eccentric yet oh so relatable characters. Absolutely delightful, it’s one of the writer-director’s best.
Psycho Beach Party
So you know that quote in the headline? It's from this movie! Playwright Charles Busch adapted his stage production into this hilarious, inclusive, wicked satire of '60s beach movies and sexual politics. A killer is on the loose just in time for the local teens to get into some summer shenanigans. Chicklet (the always phenomenal Lauren Ambrose) is your typical teenager with dreams of hanging out with the cool surfer crew. One teeny tiny problem: Her split personality might wipe out her chance to get in with the in-crowd.
Stranger by the Lake
While frequenting a lake that's a tucked away gay cruising spot, Franck spies Michel and is instantly drawn to him. The attraction is mutual, but it's clear to Franck before long that Michel is as dangerous as he is gorgeous. People are disappearing and the police are asking questions. This sexy and taut thriller from writer-director Alain Guiraudie allows the suspense to roll in like an impending summer storm.
Swimming Pool
Set in the South of France, a British mystery writer (the phenomenal Charlotte Rampling) stays at her publisher's house while working on her latest book; she also seeks inspiration and a reprieve from the daily grind. When the publisher's daughter pops up unexpectedly, the interactions between the women have unexpected consequences in this stylish, sensual thriller by Francois Ozon.