a dog day at the movies - 8.7.03
Summer cinema classics
August is the time of year for summer movies; not just this year's latest blockbuster, but old movies too. What makes a movie a summer movie? I'm not sure - they're campy, sweaty, nostalgic, they're about summer things, summer activities. Mostly, they're kind of fun and not too heavy. Here's my top ten list, in alphabetical order:
Body Heat - steamy 1981 release featuring a youthful Kathleen Turner (rated R, and definitely not a family friendly film).
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - this Tennessee Williams classic was tamed down for the big screen release in conservative 1958, but features fabulous performances by Liz Taylor, Paul Newman and Burl Ives (not rated, but with adult themes).
Bull Durham - the best baseball film ever brought the term 'the Show' into common parlance. Kevin Costner is actually good in this movie, along with Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon; released in 1988 (rated R, alas, as the baseball is a lot better than the romance).
In God's Hands - 1997 surfing flick features excellent big wave footage; starts out kind of lame but ends up strong. (rated PG-13, surprisingly no nudity or overt sex, a fine film for athletically inclined teens IMO)
Killer Klowns from Outer Space - every summer film list needs a wacked out alien invasion flick, and something about carnies...this one's both. This 1988 cult favorite is often maligned, don't get it unless you agree that weird is it's own reward (rated PG-13).
Meatballs - Every summer film list has to have one about camp, right? This 1979 comedy features Bill Murray at his best. It ain't Shakespeare, but it is fun. (rated PG)
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation - Jimmy Stewart at his comedic best in this 1962 release - I've seen it many times, and it still cracks me up - the bird watching hike is classic. Best watched in mid August. (unrated, but truly a family movie - sadly, it may not be available on DVD)
National Lampoon's Vacation - okay, yes, another 80's film (1983). But this one has to be on the list, right? (rated R)
The Sandlot - a 1993 release looks at boys playing sandlot baseball in 1962 when kids organized their own games and video games were SciFi. (rated PG, recently released on DVD)
Wild Strawberries - kind of heavy for summer fair, but so sweetly nostalgic and underviewed that I recommend it, especially for the over 40 set with an interest in artsy stuff (Directed by Ingmar Bergman, released 1957 in Swedish, unrated).
