Summer 2007: A retrospective

Update: As Amy points out in the comments section, I forgot to mention Hairspray in this write-up. So I actually saw 10 films this summer. And I would include Hairspray among the best of them. John Travolta and Nikki Blonsky deserve particular praise for their exuberant and touching performances as the Turnblad mother and daughter.

On May 8, I posted this entry listing the films I planned to see over the summer. I wound up seeing 9 of the 11 films mentioned (plus Spider-Man 3, which I saw right before making the list), eschewing Rush Hour 3 because it just looked bad and deciding Stardust could wait for video.

Five of the ten films were the third in a series. One was the fourth. One was the fifth. Not surprisingly, my favorite summer films were the others — the original screenplays. And while all of those sequels made a lot of money, most of them weren't very well-received by critics. I'd love to think Hollywood will learn a lesson and bankroll more original ideas, but alas, I'm sure we'll be looking at Shrek Comes Fourth or some such nonsense a year from now.

The big winner of the summer, and the year so far, is Ratatouille. This film clicks on every level — extraordinary visuals, a score that better win the Oscar, winning performances and an elegant screenplay. It's one of the best things Pixar has ever done, and that's saying a lot.

When I compile my favorite scenes of the year, no fewer than three from this film will make the list — Remy's ascent from the sewers to the roof of a building overlooking Paris, his first time in Gusteau's kitchen where he is nearly discovered a half-dozen times but can't bring himself to leave without perfecting the soup and Anton Ego's flashback upon tasting the title dish plus his subsequent review.

The other star of summer was Knocked Up — as consistently funny a movie as I've seen in a decade. This movie is so chock full of hilarious performances it almost seems unfair to the rest of Hollywood. The work of Ryan Seacrest, Kristen Wiig, Alan Tudyk, Ken Jeong and Craig Robinson alone could make for a decent comedy, and that leaves out the two leads and six main supporting characters, every one of whom is priceless.

Those are the two films I know will make my year-end top ten list, probably even top five depending on what fall brings.

Of the rest, I most enjoyed The Bourne Ultimatum, which sewed up that excellent franchise with another brainy, balls-to-the-wall adrenaline-feuled installment. And Superbad, younger brother of Knocked Up, capped the summer off with some big laughs and a real sweet streak.

If they gave out Oscars by season, my Summer Awards would look like this:

Best Picture: Ratatouille
Best Director: Brad Bird - Ratatouille
Best Actress: Katherine Heigl - Knocked Up
Best Actor: Matt Damon - The Bourne Ultimatum
Best Supporting Actor: Paul Rudd - Knocked Up
Best Supporting Actress: Leslie Mann - Knocked Up
Best Original Screenplay: Ratatouille
Best Adapted Screenplay: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Next up... the Fall Preview.

Superbad

Date: August 18
Location: AMC Sunset Place

This is a tough one for me to review and rank. I came out mildly disappointed based on the absolute raves I'd been reading, but at the same time I really loved many parts of the film and I laughed my ass off throughout. Michael Cera is absolute gold, and I'm planning to dive into the Arrested Development DVDs ASAP just to enjoy more of his brilliant comic timing. Jonah Hill plays the more obnoxious character, but he has moments of weakness that resonate. The subplot with McLovin and the crazed cops distracts from what is so hilarious and real between the main characters, but it works most of the time as pure comedy. Overall, I think the film suffers in comparison to Knocked Up, which was consistently funnier and didn't have some of the over-the-top elements that feel forced here. And it is not in the same realm as Dazed and Confused, a true classic that is only now gaining the reputation it deserves. I've seen Superbad compared to Dazed, as well as Fast Times at Ridgemont High and the best of John Hughes. I think that last comparison is the most apt -- Superbad reminds me of a blend of Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Sixteen Candles. And that's nothing to sneeze at. There's an underlying sweet sadness in this film (not to mention a fair bit of homoeroticism) in how it deals with the special friendships between young men, especially young men who are high school outsiders. That's where it succeeds the most, and it's that theme as well as some great belly-laughs, that push it up my list despite the dampening effect of too-high expectations.

The Host

Date: Monday, August 13
Location: Clifton Living Room

I'm not sure what exactly to make of this movie. It's very well-made, with shots and situations worthy of Jaws, to which it's been compared. It also has a lot of screwball humor and political satire that works only about half the time. And the ending, while "brave" in the way it upends the expectations of movies like this, left me very cold. But I'm glad I saw it, and I suspect director Joon-ho Bong will be a talent to watch for some time.

Underdog

Date: August 8
Location: Muvico Boynton Beach

I told Sophia we'd see a movie because we're both home during the day the next couple weeks. She chose this one (I was pulling for a Ratatouille repeat). The 12% Tomato ranking was not encouraging, but it was just fine. Jason Lee was charming as the eponymous canine and Peter Dinklage was great as the mad scientist. I wish he'd get more work, and in height-agnostic roles like this one. The best news... Sophia and I plan to see Ratatouille next week.

The Bourne Ultimatum

Date: August 3
Location: Boynton Muvico Premiere

Salty watched the kids and we paid $2 extra per ticket to watch Jason Bourne in the "Premiere" theater, meaning we got free popcorn, a 21-and-over crowd and assigned seats. I can't stress enough the beauty of the assigned seats, exactly where we wanted them in a brand-new, huge theater. We walked in 10 minutes before the movie with no worries. This is the way to go. And the movie was awesome. I'm so glad we watched the first two Bourne films this week in preparation for the third, because there are a lot of tie-ins here that would have been harder to catch. In particular, there's a chronological overlap that's just brilliantly conceived and executed. I hope this is the last film in the series -- in its own way, this is as finely realized a trilogy as the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars films, and miles better than the Matrix and Pirates series. A minor quibble... the handheld cam is occasionally too much, as it is in Greengrass' other films. But overall his direction is a huge asset, lending an immediacy and intense realism that sets these films apart from other action hero fare.

Hairspray

Date: July 28
Location: AMC Sunset Place

Amy's plug for Talk to Me went unheeded not because we don't value her opinion but because it wasn't playing anywhere near South Miami. Hairspray was a great time, with excellent songs and a teriffic cast. Travolta was particularly effective as Edna Turnblatt. Like most musicals, it probably won't stick with me long after the first viewing, but I sure did enjoy myself in the theater. And I have to admit a salacious interest in Amanda Bynes' character.

Breach

Date: July 24
Location: Clifton Living Room

Another great-looking film for the big-screen TV -- I loved the use of D.C. locations. There's no way this film (or Zodiac, for that matter) should have been released in the first few months of the year. Had it come out in November, Chris Cooper would be a shoo-in for a Best Actor nomination and the film's writing and direction would be in the running as well. It's exceptionally smart, exciting and poignant and all the more interesting for being based on such recent history.

Live Free or Die Hard

Date: July 15
Location: AMC Sunset Place

We used the free Harry Potter passes to see the latest John McClane adventure. It was as fun and as absurd as the rest of the Die Hard sequels. Willis' advancing age gave this installment a charming quality, especially as they played up the old vs. new fighting styles and his technological cluelessness. The early gunfights and car chases were the most effective; McClane leaping onto the wing of a jet fighter... less so. I really enjoyed Justin Long as the sidekick. Most of all, it made me want to rewatch the classic first film.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Date: June 11
Location: AMC Aventura

For the second year in a row, we joined Madison Gallup and her parents for dinner at Johnny Rockets followed by the new Potter film across the hall at AMC. A lovely tradition I hope to repeat for the next two films. I do hope the A/C works next time — we were forced to watch Phoenix in rain forest conditions. We did get free passes out of the deal after more complaining than should have been necessary. The film was quite good, though as such a fan of the books, I always find myself trying to fill in what was left out and wondering how they'll dramatize certain plot points. I'll never be able to experience these films as films first; they'll always be dramatizations of a familiar text (and somehow, this is even more the case with the Potter films than with other literary adaptations).

Black Snake Moan

Date: June 10
Location: Clifton Family Room

This is the first movie I've watched on the new TV (not counting Barbie's Princess and the Pauper) and damn, did it look good. I have a feeling we'll be going through our NetFlix films a lot quicker now. This was a great film, funky and sexy but also very sweet. Great acting from Samuel Jackson and Christina Ricci, not to mention Justin Timberlake. Writer/director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) is a wonderful new voice, creating this deep-south grown-up fairy-tale genre with plenty of style and heart.