<p>Anyone looking forward to any particular movies this summer? The one I’m most looking forward to is Evening. It has a fantastic cast, most of whom I’ve seen onstage and it’s always fun to see great theatre actors on film - Toni Collette, Natasha Richardson, Hugh Dancy, Patrick Wilson, Vanessa Redgrave, Claire Danes, Meryl Streep, and Glenn Close. One of Meryl Streep’s daughters is also in it and I’ve seen her in a couple of plays in NYC and she’s a very talented actor. Interestingly, she’s playing a younger version of her mom’s character in Evening. It’s a drama about the romantic past of the main character (Redgrave) and how her life has unfolded as a result. The story is told to her daughters (Collette and Richardson) as she’s dying, through flashbacks.</p>
<p>Another which looks good is The Savages. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman are siblings who are dealing with an aging father. Again a great cast of theatre-based actors - Debra Monk, Peter Friedman, Philip Bosco, in addition to the two leads.</p>
<p>One recommendation I can make of one I’ve already seen. This is one that may not initially attract your attention but I can attest to the interesting story, fantastic acting, and thought-provoking (on many levels) topic. Away From Her stars Julie Christie, Olympia Dukakis, and Gordon Pinsent. It’s a Canadian film which was directed by a family friend (her first and it’s receiving critical raves!) who after initial screenings was invited to screen it at both Sundance and Cannes. We’re all very proud! Those of you may remember Sarah Polley from her Road to Avonlea days. She is also a very successful actor. This movie is a love story about a couple dealing with Alzheimer’s, aging, and how relationships evolve. It’s beautifully filmed, in my neck of the woods.</p>
<p>I tend to go for the highbrow, foreign, subtitled, literate type movie with a lot of symbolism. That’s why I recommend “Knocked Up”. Seriously, I loved this movie. I am a big Jud Apatow fan, not only from “40 Year Old Virgin”, but also from his two great (but alas failed) TV series “Freaks & Geeks” and “Undeclared” (best show about college life…ever). They are both available on DVD box sets if you missed (or never heard of) them. Even if you did catch them on TV, the DVD boxes have unaired episodes that make them worth purchasing.</p>
<p>I’m up for anything but “Hostel 2” or any like variation of “gorno” pic. Is it generational? Does gore-porn and torture on film have any following among college students?</p>
<p>wholeheartedly agree with “waitress” - planning on seeing “knocked up” on tuesday. ocean’s thirteen was a fun film – far better than oceans twelve and all of this summer’s trilogies. </p>
<p>another great summer movie, the valet which is a funny little french film. definitely recommend!</p>
<p>I also would like to see “Gracie.” Elizabeth Shue is a contemporary of mine and I also played soccer growing up (but not on a boys team and not as well as her apparently!). I read that she has taken up tennis and her goal is to become professionally ranked within a year. That, and she’s the mom of three kids (one of which is not even a year old yet!) My hat is off to that gal!</p>
<p>Saw “Shrek 3” with the kids yesterday. It was cute, but not nearly as good as the others. I would have preferred to see “Knocked Up” instead (without kids).</p>
<p>Loved Knocked Up. Judd Apatow is one of my daughter’s heroes (for Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared – she is the world’s greatest fan of failed TV series about teens). If your kids are over, say, 12, and if you can stand some raunchy language and realism about sex and drug use among 20-somethings, it’s a perfectly good movie to see with your kids. Very much like a Kevin Smith movie, or the Simpsons (or, for that matter, 40 Year-Old Virgin): lots of naughty, juvenile humor, but a core that the Catholic League (and any other defender of morals) could love. Of course, lots of films have an ostensibly “good” moral message, which is nothing but a cover for the smut. This script’s morality runs a lot deeper – it’s clear almost from the outset that all the major characters are good people with flaws, trying to live a good life.</p>
<p>I LOVED knocked up! I didn’t expect much, but I loved it. I may even go see it for a second time. The characters were so interesting and likeable. The Asian stoner girl was a riot. I loved the lead guy, too. I don’t think I’d want to see it sitting with my kids, even my 22 year old. But I think they’d love it, too. H and I saw Ocean’s 13 this weekend. It was fine. Not thrilling, but watchable. How’s that for a rave? lol…I am also looking forward to Harry Potter.</p>
<p>Thanks for the recommendation of Gracie! I’ve always enjoyed Elisabeth Shue. She was in a movie with a family friend years ago which quickly became a favorite of my 4 Ds, Adventures in Babysitting. I also enjoyed her in Cocktail and Heart & Souls. She’s had a good career in film, combined with a busy family life and completing her education at Harvard. It’s also nice to see that Andrew is in Gracie, too. :)</p>
<p>I’m going to strike a different note here and say I usually spend the summers catching up on the previous year’s movies that are now out on DVD! </p>
<p>And we are also renting great older movies that my kids haven’t seen b/c they weren’t born, probably, when they first came out. :)</p>
<p>alwaysamom, I just saw “Evening”. I thought it was fabulous! I would not recommend taking a male with you for this one. My DH would have hated it. I also recommend not being tired when you go, b/c it is a long movie, and is a bit slow moving. It is one of the best movies that I have seen in a long time.</p>
She is also a very successful actor. This movie is a love story about a couple dealing with Alzheimer’s, aging, and how relationships evolve. It’s beautifully filmed, in my neck of the woods.</p>