A Great Summer at the Movies

Friday, August 21, 2009

I don't like Summer a bit. I hate the insects, loathe the heat, despise how the neighbors are out cooking themselves and their dinners. And I can't stand Summer Movies.

It's the biggest season for the cinema and all the blockbusters are rolled out in the hot months. And I usually find that I cannot even bear to take a chance on any of them. Lame action, superhero tedium, endless animated family fare, boring eye candy. I much prefer the Fall and early Winter. I don't care for all the Oscar Bait that comes then, but it's preferable to the Summer fare. Last year I couldn't hardly bring myself to see anything and I was grateful when Fall arrived.

This Summer, 2009, has been different. There has been plenty of movies that I at least have been interested in seeing. And for the most part I have had a great time seeing them.

I go to the movies to enjoy myself. It seems that many so-called critics go to them looking for a fight. Just ready to tear into what they see and then gleefully rip it apart for their readers. I'm not saying I like everything, but I can be reasonably easy to please. I don't expect or even want every film to be Bergman or Scorsese. I just want to have a good time.

The season began for me with Sam Raimi's return to horror, Drag Me To Hell. I adored this movie and felt that it managed to be traditional and modern at the same time. A good, old fashioned shock show. Many fans didn't like it and I can't comprehend that.

The Hangover was almost too raunchy and over-the-top for me, but I found myself laughing my ass off during it. This was an enormous success for director Todd (Hated: GG Allin & The Murder Junkies) and it's still making bucks in theaters.

I Love You, Beth Cooper was based on an award-winning novel and it didn't quite get the subversive tone that its source had. But it was sweet and funny and I had a blast watching it.

Moon was a genuine rarity in science fiction films: It's intelligent, original and is based upon ideas. Sam Rockwell is excellent as a man on a lunar base who develops a bizarre identity crisis.

Woody Allen's Whatever Works is far from his best movie, but it's a lot better than some. It breaks no new ground for my favorite director, but it's outrageous and hilarious and makes some pointed observations on life and relationships. And Larry David was splendid as the Woody Allen surrogate.

The Collector wasn't really my cup of tea, but I'll admit that the film does what it set out to do. Disturb and horrify the viewer. This is a modern grindhouse/drive-in exploitation movie.

Orphan was controversial for various reasons, but most fans were won over the by the strong performances and the overall quality of the production. I thought it was terrific.

I had the highest expectations for Judd Apatow's Funny People and it surpassed all of them. A thoroughly entertaining and intelligent comedy-drama from one of the brightest filmmakers of the day. Too bad a lot of people didn't get it.

A Perfect Getaway isn't perfect, but it's stunningly shot and the performances are first rate. A superior thriller that came out of the blue for me.

(500) Days of Summer is on the shortlist of best romantic comedies in history. Sharp, acutely accurate, screamingly funny at times and gut-wrenching at others. A tour-de-force.

O'Horten was made a couple of years ago in Norway, but it was released in The States recently so I'll list it. This is such a refreshingly low key comedy. If only more American filmmakers could approach their films with this kind of subtlty.

At this writing I haven't seen District 9 yet, but I plan to. Hopefully before the week is out. I also haven't seen The Hurt Locker. See what I mean? Too many to choose from.

The season isn't over yet and there is still more to come. Tomorrow I'm seeing Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and I can't wait. I've enjoyed nearly everything this wild talent has given us to date.

I fully expect to be disappointed with rob Zombie's Halloween 2, but you can bet that I'll be in my seat at the theater for it.

I'm not a fan of the Final Destiantion series, but the new 3D process is amazing and I'll be in line for it too.

Paper Heart is the kind of movie that people call 'quirky'. I hate that term, but it probably applies to this one. It's coming to a nearby theater in a couple of weeks and I'll be ready for it.

I skipped all of the high profile releases, all of which look like cinematic messes to me: Star Trek, Terminator: Salvation, Angels and Demons, Transformers, Night in the Museum 2, Land of the Lost, Bruno, Year One, GI Joe, Harry Potter and the other Rom Coms and animated pap. I'm probably missing out on some decent stuff, but I can live with that. I've had a great time at the movies this Summer.



 

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