Thursday Movie Picks: Summer Break: Wandering through the Shelves hosts a weekly movie challenge in which you choose 3-5 movies based on that Thursday’s theme and explain why you chose those movies. Today’s theme is Summer Break movies, so here are my choices!
say anything… (1989)
Say Anything… is one of my favorite films and to me, the quintessential teen romance. After high school graduation, slacker Lloyd Dobbler decides to put it all out there and ask out his dream girl, the studious valedictorian, Diane Court. Diane and Lloyd fall in love over the summer while Diane’s move to England for an important fellowship looms. It’s a funny, romantic film by Cameron Crowe and has one of the most perfect grand gestures in film history.
now and then (1995)
I adore coming-of-age films, and Now and Then is one of my favorites. Taking place in the summer of 1970, four friends overcome personal struggles through the strength of sisterhood and friendship. With an amazing cast, Now and Then is one of those movies that I find to be sorely underrated. It’s definitely worth a watch and in my eyes, is a classic.
stand by me (1986)
Like Now and Then, Stand By Me is a coming-of-age film featuring four boys, all with their own troubles, on a journey to find the body of a boy who was supposedly hit and killed by a train. Along the way they bond, fight, and find the beauty in childhood. It’s one of my favorite movies, as well as my favorite novellas (by Stephen King) and it never fails to make me cry. For anyone who spent their childhood summers finding adventure with their friends, this movie hits hard.
Birgit
July 22, 2021Don’t hate me but…I have not seen any of these. The first one is iconic with the teen movies from Molly Ringworm to The Brat Pack. I still have a ghetto blaster(yes politically incorrect, I know) that works well and I still use it. I have heard of the 2nd one but never paid it much mind but now I want to check it out. Stand By Me is one film I do need to see.
Sara
July 22, 2021Definitely give Say Anything a try! It’s not your typical brat pack fare, I promise. It remains my favorite Cameron Crowe movie as well. I think you would definitely enjoy Stand By Me. It’s such a moving film!
Joel
July 22, 2021Nice theme within the theme!
Say Anything is a lovely film made back before John Cusack lost his charisma and morphed into a scumbag. The sense of anguish it captures of frustrated love adds a great deal to the film and that grand gesture has taken on a life of its own outside the movie.
I liked but didn’t love Now and Then but it has many fine performances in it and a good sense of time and place.
Stand by Me is such a finely tuned film in every way with assured but unobtrusive direction, wonderful cinematography, a highly relatable story and in particular four tremendous performances at its core that I don’t think it will ever date.
I almost had a similar theme with mine since two relate to a form of coming of age but my last has nothing to do with that rite of passage, so close but no cigar.
Last Summer (1969)-Spending the summer unsupervised on Fire Island Sandy (Barbara Hershey), wealthy, spoiled and bored meets fellow teens Dan (Bruce Davison) and Peter (Richard Thomas) on the beach where the three quickly form a tight circle. One day they become acquainted with the awkward and naive Rhoda (Catherine Burns-Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actress). At first friendly the trio close ranks and Rhoda becomes a figure of sport, teased and humiliated by the group. Distressing and disturbing story of maliciousness, sexual domination and cruelty with a pitch-black ending.
The Flamingo Kid (1984)-Just out of high school Brooklyn teenager Jeffrey Willis (Matt Dillon) unhappy with his modest home, chances into a summer job at the posh Flamingo Club during summer break. Enticed by the heady atmosphere he is taken under the wing of smooth-talking club member Phil Brody (Richard Crenna) who extolls the pursue of the easy buck over the hard work of college much to Jeffrey’s father Arthur (Héctor Elizondo) chagrin. There are some late-summer hard lessons ahead for Jeff though.
The River Wild (1994)-Troubled married couple Gail and Tom Hartman (Meryl Streep & David Strathairn) are taking their son, Roarke (Joseph Mazzello), on a birthday rafting trip down Idaho’s Salmon River during their summer vacation. Misfortune and danger come their way when they are taken hostage by fugitives Wade (Kevin Bacon) and Terry (John C. Reilly) who force Gail, a former raft guide, to help them attempt escape down the treacherous rapids.
Sara
July 23, 2021The River Wild is a fun flick! I remember watching it when I was a teenager with my parents. Kevin Bacon was a great villain. Last Summer sounds intense!! I have never heard of it, but I may need to.
Ruth
July 22, 2021It’s been ages since I saw Say Anything and Stand By Me, great picks! I must say I LOVE the effects you did to the movie stills in your posts!
Sara
July 23, 2021Thank you, Ruth! I haven’t seen Stand by Me in a while but I think I may be due for a re-watch soon. Especially before summer ends.
Dell on Movies
July 23, 2021Stand By Me is amazing, and one of my very favorite movies. Haven’t seen your other picks.
Sara
July 29, 2021I think it’s the best King adaptation as well.
Sonia
July 24, 2021I think I saw Say Anything but I’m not so sure about it as I often confuse teen movies from the 80s. I have seen Stand By Me several times though (at school) and I remember enjoying it.
Sara
July 29, 2021Say Anything is definitely one of the better teen movies of the 80s!
Allie
July 24, 2021Ahh, Stand By Me <3 I wish I had seen it as a child but it's such a cracking movie and holds up well after all these years.
Sara
July 29, 2021It’s still one of my favorites. The nostalgia of it now is very strong. It makes me miss all the friends I had as a kid.
Wandering Through the Shelves
July 29, 2021I’ve seen them all but I had forgotten that Say Anything took place during the summer.