This summer, for me, has been all about family, saving money, and-most importantly-catching up on the lists of movies and books I don't get to give attention to during the school year. Every time I hear about a movie I want to see, I put it on my list. I've let this list compile for years to the point where it's more about adding to the list instead of actually watching what is already on the list. It's a problem, I know. So, I've been attempting to watch most of these movies, and I've been patting myself on the back for putting these movies on my list. These movies have been emotional, unnerving, hilarious, thought-provoking, and so much more. I'm writing this article so that anyone who reads it can add these movies to their own list because I recommend each and every one of them. So, from worst to best, here are my movies of the summer. Oh, and I've included my personal favorite quotes from each.
19. "Eyes Wide Shut"
"You sound very sure of yourself."
"I'm not, I'm sure of you."
I respect Kubrick and realize his artistic genius, but that doesn't mean his movies don't make me extremely uncomfortable. I, again, was not expecting what a lot of this movie had to offer, but this time I was a little disappointed...and afraid. I still suggest this movie for viewing because it's Kubrick, you just gotta.
18. "Frances Ha"
"Don't treat me like a three-hour brunch friend!"
I respect Greta Gerwig, and I think she has an amazing career and voice, but like Lady Bird, I wasn't a huge fan of this film. Besides the great performance by Greta, the story, like Lady Bird, just didn't do it for me. I enjoyed this movie, and I still suggest it for viewing, but not my favorite.
17. "Garden State"
"I know it hurts. That's life. If nothing else, It's life. It's real, and sometimes it f***n' hurts, but it's sort of all we have."
Wow, I must really like unconventional love stories. This film is funny, but in the way where you don't really know when to laugh or say "I'm sorry." It feels extremely real and relatable, with just the right amount of quirky. Definitely a good choice over any other rom-com you may have on your list.
16. "Room"
"You're gonna love it."
"What?"
"The world."
Another emotional movie! This movie had me captivated from start to finish. I cried. I laughed. I got really scared. I cried again. It's a beautiful story, and it's worth all of the anger it'll leave you with.
15. "Once"
"What's the Czech for "Do you love him"?"
Just do it for the soundtrack alone. This movie musical gets you so invested in the characters, and then completely upsets you in the end, but it's fine. I'm fine. But I still recommend.
14. The Florida Project
"I can always tell when adults are about to cry."
Can we just give the little kids in this movie every award ever? And a hug? This movie is painful, but it's also contrasted with so much light. This film offers a pretty real look into those suffering in poverty, and it does so with a wonderful cast, story, and all the feels.
13. "The Godfather" (Part I, II, but not III)
"Leave the body. Take the cannoli."
They're classics for a reason, right? Right. You just have to watch these in your life. They are worth the numerous hours it takes to get through them. But just save yourself some time and skip the third...
12. "Gangs of New York"
"WHOOPSY DAISY!"
LITERALLY, JUST WATCH THE FIRST FIGHT SCENE, AND YOU'LL ALREADY BE SO IMPRESSED AND IN LOVE WITH THIS MOVIE. Along with absolutely incredible performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day Lewis (and an incredibly bad performance by Cameron Diaz), this movie has great music, a great story, great cinematography, and just keeps you captivated from start to finish.
11. "Manhattan"
"Your self-esteem is like a notch below Kafka's."
Disclaimer: you really have to separate art from artist for this movie. The writing, the shots, the acting, the music, everything about this movie made me fall in love with Manhattan all over again.
10. "Incendies"
"But I say your story begins with a promise, to break the chain of anger."
This French film will leave you unsettled, crying, and outraged, but do yourself a favor and watch it. This incredibly heart-wrenching story leaves you guessing and twisting and turning for answers. Highly, highly recommend.
9. "Brooklyn"
"And then you'll catch yourself thinking about something or someone who has no connection with the past. Someone who's only yours. And you'll realize... that this is where your life is."
I have never smiled more watching a movie about someone else's life or cried more. This movie pulls at every heart string you have and explores what it's like to leave a life behind and start a new one. Plus, it's got Saoirse, who is always promising.
8. "Drive"
"I have to go somewhere, and I don't think I can come back."
I came into this movie expecting a much different film than what I actually saw, but I was nowhere near disappointed. This film features beautiful shots, a beautiful Ryan Gosling, an always talented Carrey Mulligan, and only the best movie soundtrack to date. And I'll go down saying these few words: DRIVE SHOULD'VE WON AN OSCAR.
7. "The Big Sick"
"Love isn't easy. That's why they call it love."
"I don't really get that either."
"I know. I thought I could just start saying something, and something smart would come out."
Another unconventional, but absolutely astounding take on a rom-con, The Big Sick will make you laugh, crazy, and laugh some more. Based on the real-life romance of the writer and starring actor, you'll fall in love with this movie, just like I did.
6. "Rushmore"
"I like your nurses uniform."
"These are O.R. scrubs."
"O, R they?"
I mean, it's Wes Anderson, so you just gotta. One of Anderson's first feature films, with a fresh new face taking the leading role, and the classic Bill Murray, create one of the first examples of Anderson's unique, impeccable, and extremely detailed films. It's lighthearted, but it also makes you think. And you can always count on Wes for an entertaining, quirky film from start to finish.
5. "There Will Be Blood"
"I. DRINK. YOUR. MILKSHAKE!"
Name a better pairing than Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Thomas Anderson. I'll wait.
4. "Moonlight"
"You blue, that's what I'm gon' call you. 'Blue'."
I watched this movie way later than I should have, I know, but I'm so extremely glad I finally did. The story, the acting, the MUSIC, are all incredibly perfect. Prepare yourself for major feels, though and to keep thinking about this impactful three-part story.
3. "Birdman" (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
"Get that smile off your face, you're freaking me out."
Just do yourself a massive favor and watch this movie. You will never regret it.
2. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
"Meet me in Montauk."
If you love conventional rom-coms, you'll either hate this movie or love it's fresh outlook on what it means to love, forget, and move on. This movie will now hold a special place in my heart, and will remind me that it's more important to remember than to try and forget.
1. "American History X"
"Hate is baggage. Life's to short to be pissed off all the time."
This movie is so unnerving that I still find myself thinking about it two months after it's viewing. It's a story of hate and racism but also of redemption and the pain that comes from brainwashing ideas, especially harmful ones, into people's lives. Although this film takes a lot out of you, it's so completely worth the watch.
