Five to Watch - Sweltering Summer Movies

We’re in the middle of summer. For a lot of people the best time of year (not for my btw). I decided to focus on films where the heat got cranked up, once you might not know, are overlooked or underrated. Here are five sweltering summer movies you should watch.

Now and Then (1995)
Four girls who met in 1970 when they were around twelve, meet twenty years later and notice the differences. What connected them all that time was an unsolved murder in 1945. The film is nice to watch, because of the good performances of both the young actresses and the older versions of them. It’s the ‘girl version’ of “Stand By Me”, which is much better, but “Now and Then” is a sweet and relatable coming-of-age story.

Do the Right Thing (1989)
A colorful, individualistic magnification of of a multi-racial New York neighborhood, full of tension. In less than 24 hours, the residents are led to a boiling point, partly because of the summer heat, partly because of intolerance. The hatred is mainly directed towards the Italian owners of a pizza joint. A film full of brutality and double standards, which definitely established director Spike Lee’s reputation. It’s a beautiful piece of work. And even though it won’t be for everyone, I think you should all give it a go.

Call Me By Your Name (2017)
It’s the summer of 1983. The 24-year-old American research assistant Oliver comes to Northern Italy to assist Professor Perlman. He impresses his seventeen-year-old son Elio, who falls in love with Oliver to his own amazement. It’s a prize-winning film adaptation of André Aciman’s novel of the same name, directed by Luca Guadagnino. All praise is understandable, because “Call Me By Your Name” is a fantastic film. It’s sparkles, it’s intimate and honest. I fell in love with it right away and the summer is the perfect time to watch it.

The Way Way Back (2013)
Against his will, shy fourteen-year-old Duncan has to spend the summer at the beach house of the arrogant Trent, his mother Pam’s new boyfriend. Luckily, the grief is alleviated by a charming neighbor girl and a job at the local water park. Here he befriends owner Owen (a great role by Sam Rockwell). It’s a coming-of-age film that offers surprises in term of content and is refreshingly sincere in tone. A kindhearted film with a great cast.

My Summer of Love (2004)
A pleasant countryside drama about the growing intimacy between two British teenage girls during a sweltering summer in Yorkshire. Bored teenager Mona is a working class girl who is mothered by her brother Phil, a reborn Christian. Mona’s adoration for sophisticated Tamsin sets the relationship between sister and brother on edge. Intimacy and increasing tension of all kinds are convincingly portrayed, driven by an intelligent screenplay and strong acting.

Ranking the Franchise - The Avengers

I’ve already rewatched and ranked the “Iron Man” and “Thor” series, so now it’s time for the assembly: The Avengers. And however I did rewatch them, again, it’s not a punishment because all the movies have so much to love. If I had to rank all the MCU movies, they would probably all make it to my top 10. But just between the four of them, here is my official ranking (and like with “The Lord of the Rings”, there really isn’t a bad one).

4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
An entertaining sequel to “The Avengers”, in which heroes Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow and Hawkeye, supplemented with a bunch of sidekicks, have to save the world from evil again. This time it’s Ultron, voiced excellently by James Spader. He is a runaway supercomputer that manifests itself as a robot army. The formula hasn’t changed much, especially the relativizing humor remains fun. Maybe the more calm an personal moments feel a bit out of place and take the tempo out of it, which make it my least favorite of the bunch. But I still love this film.

3. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The creators of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which started in 2008 with “Iron Man”, promised us to end the first decade with a resounding, emotional climax. And they kept their promise. The Marvel recipe of action, drama and humor is very well-balanced. After the grim cliffhanger of “Avengers: Infinity War”, the remaining heroes do everything they can do to undo the victory of super villain Thanos. Ingenious time leaps and references to previous films give the story a ‘greatest hits’ of characters. It’s long, but for the fans an extremely satisfying farewell to an era.

2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
“Avengers: infinity War” was an epic film, with a lot of ambition. It did the almost impossible. Dozens of Marvel characters come together in an epic battle that has been going on a long time. In this film the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy compete against their greatest opponent to date: Thanos. He wants to use the Infinity Stones to wipe out half of all life in the universe. A mission in which he spares nothing and nobody and is willing to do anything. The build-up is great and I love seeing all these different heroes from all the franchises come together.

1. The Avengers (2012)
Can you even remember being excited about the fact that the Avengers assembled for the first time, when it was still just the six of them? We’ve been spoiled with all these epic assembly battles, but when it was just Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye these battle were epic on a smaller scale. And that this is still satisfying after seeing all those bombastic battles in the later films, make it an unforgettable film and modern day classic. I simply cannot fault this movie. Where the other three are all close to perfect, “The Avengers” that started this superhero team-up is perfection. From them meeting, trying to figure out how to work, struggling to work together, colliding and eventually saving New York City. Still my favorite of the four.

90s Movie Review - The Sandlot

Director: David Mickey Adams
Genre: Comedy/ Family
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 1993
Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York, Brandon Quintin Adams, Grant Gelt, Shane Obedzinski, Victor DiMattia, Karen Allen, Denis Leary, James Earl Jones, Art LaFleur, Marley Shelton

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 27: A FAMILY MOVIE

Description: In the summer of 1962, a new kid in town is taken under the wing of a young baseball prodigy and his rowdy team, resulting in many adventures.

Review: The young Scotty Smalls moves to a new neighborhood with his mother and stepfather. Scotty always found it hard to make friends and is trying very hard. He wants to bond with his stepfather, who is a huge baseball fan, but is unable to connect with him since he knows nothing about baseball. While on a stroll through the neighborhood, Scotty stumbles upon a sandlot where a bunch of kids his age are playing baseball. He befriends one of them and soon Scotty joins the team. And the group is in for some adventures.
This is the perfect family film for a rainy afternoon. A fun coming-of-age type of film, a little like “Stand By Me”, but with less adult themes. It’s depicts the endless summer of youth, which is the biggest strength of the film. It has fun characters, who will definitely crack up the kids.
Although it’s a nineties film, it’s still a great watch, with topical themes that kids can relate to.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

TV Show Review - Better Call Saul (Season 4)

Season: 4
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2018
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorne, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Michael McKean, Giancarlo Esposito, Mark Margolis, Tony Dalton, Rainer Bock

Description: The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) in the time before he established his strip-mall law office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Review: The fourth season of the “Breaking Bad” spin-off has reach great heights. They are now so close to the aforementioned “Breaking Bad”. The structure, the direction, the music, the dialogues, the cinematography and the actors; everything seems to be right. The two series come awfully close to each other in this fourth season.
“Better Call Saul” tells the story of James “Jimmy” McGill and his difficult journey to become the lawyer we know so well from “Breaking Bad”: Saul Goodman. Season four comes so close that you can almost feel the presence of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. But it’s Bob Odenkirk who steals the show. He knows how to surprise and grab the viewer. But also the other characters/ actors. Where in the first seasons, Odenkirk depended on his supporting actors, he starts carrying the show more and more.
The dialogues are sharp and the images beautiful. And it’s a joy to watch all the great performances on this show. From Rhea Seehorne as Kim Wexler to Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehremantrout to Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo Fring. It’s a joy to watch them all. But Bob Odenkirk is king in this season.
“Better Call Saul” is a series that rises above other shows running now. In terms of quality but especially in craftmanship of the characters and the story. Jimmy’s failed path is beautifully told through the seasons, but the fourth season somehow seems sadder, more melancholy and dark. It’s the time they take to tell the story, the “Breaking Bad” atmosphere hanging over your head and the events happening. Jimmy is more human then ever, more vulnerable. That humanity and vulnerability makes Jimmy feel like one of us, not just a rogue lawyer. He knows how to grab the viewers with his imperfections and not-so-clever actions. He does hardly play by the rules, but inside there is a very good heart. And that makes for you to relate to Jimmy.
I still don’t think “Better Call Saul” is better than “Breaking Bad”, but it’s coming awfully close.

Netflix Friday - Volume 10

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.

Action: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.

Drama: Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Four African American Vietnam veterans battle forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.

Comedy: The Big Lebowski (1998)
Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.

Animation: Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Dracula (Adam Sandler), who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy (Andy Samberg) discovers the resort and falls for the count’s teenage daughter (Selena Gomez).

Romance: The Half of It (2020)
When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) agrees to write a love letter for a jock (Daniel Diemer), she doesn’t expect to become his friend or fall for his crush (Alexxis Lemire).

Horror: Red Dragon (2002)
A retired FBI agent (Edward Norton) with psychological gifts is assigned to help track down ‘The Tooth Fairy’, a mysterious serial killer. Aiding him is imprisoned forensic psychiatrist Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ Lecter (Anthony Hopkins).

Science Fiction: Back to the Future (1985)
Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent thirty years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the eccentric scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd).

Crime: Scarface (1983)
In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant (Al Pacino) takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.

Thriller: Donnie Brasco (1997)
An FBI undercover agent (Johnny Depp) infiltrates the mob an finds himself identifying more with the mafia life, at the expense of his regular one.

Documentary: Dancing with the Birds (2019)
From ruffling their majestic feathers to nailing im-peck-able courtship routines, birds in paradise flaunt their best moves in hopes of landing a mate.

Family: Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
A college professor (Richard Gere) bonds with an abandoned dog he takes into his home.

Movie Review - Little Women

Director: Greta Gerwig
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 135 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, James Norton, Louis Garrel

Description: Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters: four young women, each determined to live life on her own terms.

Review: Louisa May Alcott’s novel “Little Women” has stimulated filmmaker’s fantasies for over a hundred years. The story, which revolves around four sister who tried to develop their artistic talent during the American Civil War, has been adapted for film several times. But never as good as now. After the highly praised “Lady Bird”, director Great Gerwig once again delivers a feminist tour de force, bubbling with life. “Little Women” is an anything but stiff and old-fashioned costume drama. See for example the smooth dialogue Gerwig has written for her female protagonists. The ladies don’t wait their turn before they are allowed to speak, but tumble verbally constantly. This gives the film a lot of dynamic.
Louisa May Alcott’s novel is divided into two separate periods, in which the youth and adulthood of the sisters Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg March are the focus. Gerwig remains faithful to the content of this story, but fortunately does not opt for the same, predictable structure of the book. She cuts up the two timelines and mixes them up, creating a story structure that is actually much more exciting. Because only gradually does it become clear how the past exactly influenced the present.
Although the story takes place in the nineteenth century, “Little Women” often feels surprisingly contemporary. This is mainly because the traditional division of roles between men and women is changing. Whereas the women with their fiery ambitions are the driving force behind this story, the men are merely on the sidelines as spectators or desperate love interests. And yet it is inevitable that even the sisters come up against certain limits set by sexism as they travel their ambitious life path.
Jo in particular is sick and tired of doing what is expected by society. She has no interest whatsoever in marrying a rich man, but above all she wants to be independent and publish her own novel. Even if this means ending up lonely and poor. Sister Amy, on the other hand, is much more willing to give up her dreams in exchange for security and prosperity. It is there kinds od contradictions from which the subtle drama in “Little Women” derives its power. Gradually, the bond between the sisters dissolves in the flow of time, after which each one chooses her own path and different destinies become visible.
Finally, it should be mentioned that Greta Gerwig has brought together a star cast for “Little Women”. Afterwards the performances by Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh, both nominated for an Oscar, will remain in the memory. But the real star is Greta Gerwig herself, who, with her skillfully crafted costume drama, once again resounds a strong feminist sound in Hollywood. Sadly the Academy didn’t acknowledged her great direction for an award.
I can’t fault “Little Women”, it’s a movie I could watch over and over again.

Rating: 5 / 5

TV Show Review - Better Call Saul (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2017
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorne, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Michael McKeen, Giancarlo Esposito, Mark Margolis

Description: The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) in the time before he established his strip-mall law office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Review: I don’t know if everyone thought it was a good idea to create a prequel to one of the best series ever made: “Breaking Bad”. Yet Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould dared to create a series about one of the supporting roles Saul Goodman, here still Jimmy McGill. The somewhat shady lawyer entered the “Breaking Bad” universe in season 2 and with his role he added a lot of comedic elements to the series.
“Better Call Saul” was also originally intended as a light-hearted comedy, Gilligan and Gould soon decided that it had to be a drama series, combined with the comedy we know Saul Goodman for. Because “Better Call Saul” is set a few years before “Breaking Bad”, the makers were able to allow some other iconic character from that show to resume their roles. And we get an exciting ‘new’ one in the third season.
In the third season, Jimmy McGill has developed a lot from season one. But he is still not Saul Goodman as we know him so well from “Breaking Bad”. He is still trying to be a successful lawyer by trial and error. At the start of the season, Jimmy still shares a law firm in Albuquerque with Kim Wexler, who is also his girlfriend. In addition, tension between him and his brother Chuck is increasing, especially when it turns out that Chuck has incriminating evidence about Jimmy that could seriously ruin him.
Parallel to these storylines, we follow the story of Mike. At the end of the second season, Mike wanted to deal once and for all with the Mexican cartel boss Hector Salamanca who threatened him and his granddaughter. At the moment of truth however, he was stopped by a stranger. And it is the return of the iconic, brilliant fast-food magnate Gustavo Fring. Many fans, including myself, looked forward to his possible return. And finally, in the third season, one of the best villains in television history actually returns. The way Fring is introduced is brilliant and, despite virtually nothing happening in it, the scene in which he first appeared is a nail-biter.
The main focus of this season is the feud between the McGill brothers, which seems to be working towards a climax. I won’t spoil it for you, but the fifth episode is so incredibly good that you can let go of any doubts you’ve had about “Better Call Saul”. It’s the best episode of the season. Great acting by Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn and especially Michael McKean. McKean as Chuck turned out to be more of a villainous character in season 2, but is even given more layers in the third season. He is at the top of his game here.
The same goes for Odenkirk, who has given Jimmy so much depth in all three season. And Rhea Seehorn is also formidable, her character Kim Wexler functions as the moral compass of the series. Jonathan Banks and Giancarlo Esposito (Mike and Fring) only have smaller roles, but shine every moment they get.
As we already know from previous seasons and “Breaking Bad”, the camera work is beautiful. It’s so beautifully portrayed. And this combined with strong direction and a good screenplay, makes “Better Call Saul” in its third season again one of the best TV shows of the moment. It’s still not better than “Breaking Bad”, but often manages to come very close.
Some people mind the slow pace of the show, but I see it as the show’s strength. They take their time with the story, so that all the loose ends will be tied together in the end. And all the character’s choice and developments make sense.
The only downside of the show is that I believe Mike and Fring should have been given more screentime.
“Better Call Saul” is a series that can stand on its own, although you sometimes still make comparisons to “Breaking Bad”. I don’t think that will ever be different. But with a rock solid third season, it is as consistent as “Breaking Bad”. Again the season ends with a cliffhanger, so I can’t wait to be dragged into the sunny and dark world of Albuquerque.