Rico's Thoughts - My Favorite Movies of the Summer
Summer is always a time for being out and about. Soaking up the sun, taking trips but, more importantly, when it gets too hot, finding a place with air conditioning. This is where movie theaters come into the picture. Summer is a great time because movie studios are constantly putting out entertainment for people to consume. It’s usually in the form of blockbusters and this summer was no exception. I will say that this summer felt a little disappointing. A lot of the different movies that we got were either reboots, remakes or live-action adaptations of previous movies we’ve already seen. That does not mean that the summer was a waste. Here are my top 10 movies of the summer.
The time-frame that I will be using is from April 26 through Labor Day, since the movie season was forced upon us this year by a little movie called Avengers: Endgame.
10. Ready or Not
This movie snuck in at the last moment, a horror-comedy about a bride who now has to play a game to be initiated into a family, which takes a sinister turn. This movie is funny, it is glory, it is frightening, and I enjoyed every moment of it. Samara Weaving is captivating. She knows how to play the part of a damsel in distress and also become a hero. The entire premise is pretty crazy to begin with. Having a rich family, that owns a gaming company, play a game that forces our main character to survive a night, is a fantastic idea. It's a huge surprise and a great way to cap off this summer season.
9. Luce
I heard plenty about this movie coming out of the Sundance Film Festival. I couldn’t stop hearing about the glowing reviews so I was tempted to go and watch this movie. I’m glad I did because it is a great thriller. It’s not a common thriller, as in there’s some huge mystery to solve or there’s someone who needs to be caught. This is more of a psychological thriller between characters. Kelvin Harrison Jr. is brilliant in his performance as Luce, an adopted son of two liberal parents, played by Naomi Watts and Tim Roth. I definitely want to shout out Octavia Spencer, who plays Luce's high school teacher. She gives an amazing performance as a teacher who may have an ulterior motive with Luce.
8. Late Night
Another movie that came out of the movie festival circuit earlier in the year was Late Night, starring Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling, who happened to write the screenplay for the movie. It tells the story of a female late-night TV host who is at a crossroads in her career and is possibly being forced out of her position. It is funny, endearing, and shows why Emma Thompson is one of the best actresses we have. She shows why she could do just about anything. It is a shame that this movie was not viewed by many people. Hopefully, it finds a life in streaming.
7. Midsommar
What can I say about Ari Aster's follow-up to Hereditary, except to say that it was disturbing, chilling, and a thought-provoking experiment. The movie is not like any other horror movie that I’ve seen recently. The fact that most of the movie takes place in bright daylight is enough of a difference itself. There is a lot to chew on in terms of the context and themes that are going on in this movie but the biggest takeaway is Florence Pugh. I will watch whatever she is in. I can’t wait to see what she does in the future but I'll be there every step of the way.
6. Avengers: Endgame
If you have listened to our episode about Avengers: Endgame, you’ll know that we had nothing but great things to say about the movie. It’s hard to say that the movie was bad in any way when it does so much right. The movie works more as a culmination of a saga than it does as a movie by itself. Then again, if you are watching Avengers: Endgame, most likely you have been there for the ride since the beginning. That is why it’s such a surprise that they were able to stick the landing. There are so many moments from this movie that I’ll never forget. It is the best way you can wrap up a chapter of such large proportions.
5. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
One of my biggest movie blindspots, in terms of movies that I had not seen until this year, was John Wick and the ongoing John Wick series. I corrected that wrong this year by watching the first two movies. These movies are amazing action and just so fun to watch. When I watched the third installment and was gobsmacked by how amazing the action is. There’s nothing much to it except for the fact that this is an action franchise through and through. You come for the fights between Keanu Reeves and the assassins that are sent to kill him. You stay for the dogs that are fighting alongside Halle Berry‘s character. I can’t believe I waited this long to watch John Wick, and now I cannot wait to see what else is in store.
4. Blinded by the Light
Excerpt from a previously written review
What makes Blinded By The Light such a delightful and uplifting film is the performances by Viveik Kalra and the themes that are drawn from the music of the famous New Jersey songwriter. Kalra shows a range of emotions, from frustration to being energetic when called to be. There are many moments where Javed is smiling and it is contagious. You can’t help but smile at the discovery that he makes, not just with the music, but also with life’s firsts; writing opportunities, new friends and first love. It doesn’t hurt that the music is from one of the greatest American songwriters we have, while also being an underrated romantic lyricist.
Read the full review by Rico Albarracin
3. Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood
I’ll go ahead and just say this right now. I am not that big of a Quentin Tarantino fan. I say this because I went through most of his filmography in this past year. I truly thought that Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood is a fantastic piece of filmmaking. Leonardo DiCaprio gives an amazing performance as a washed-up actor hoping to revive his movie career. Brad Pitt also gives a fantastic performance as the stuntman to Leo’s character. There are some problematic moments but overall I can’t recommend this movie enough. And I definitely enjoyed it more than most of Tarantino filmography, outside of Kill Bill and Inglorious Basterds.
2. The Farewell
If I could be frank, I am not very big on seeing international films. It’s not that I don’t like them, it’s just that I don’t put a priority on them. That’s my fault. That is a very myopic view of watching movies. I’m glad that I broke away from my standard viewing habits and watched this movie. The Farewell is about a Chinese family who has to decide whether or not to tell their grandmother that she’s dying from cancer. The movie seems like it would be sad, and in moments I can be, but this is a delightful and funny film. Awkafina is a revelation, after starring in Crazy, Rich Asians and Ocean's 8, and this movie lets her be the center of the story. Most of the movie is in Chinese and I loved being immersed in the culture. Experiencing something that I don’t typically experience is something that I was able to appreciate with this movie. And the acting throughout is very well done. I love the direction by Lulu Wang and I can’t wait to see what she has next.
1. Booksmart
This has been my favorite movie this year. It just so happens to have opened during the summer. This is, in a lot of ways, similar to the movie Superbad. That’s funny in many ways, not just because it happens to star Jonah Hill's sister, Beanie Feldstein, but also that it carries a lot of the same themes of growing up quickly, or trying to experience things that others have already experienced. About how your friendship can either grow stronger or grow apart depending on what is happening to you personally. This movie is hilarious. There are many stand out moments or lines delivered by Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever. But the true standout in this movie is Gigi, played by Billie Lourd. She is erratic, surprising, and just really damn funny. I’ve seen this movie a couple of times and I can’t wait to see it again. Olivia Wilde put together an amazing comedy, which happened to be her directorial debut. If this is her first movie, it will be great seeing what else Wilde does.