3 films to hear the shout of summer
Yana McGuire | Staff Writer
Thinking back to my favorite summer memories, there are four words that come to mind: family, community, music and softball. In my world, warm-season activities heavily involve these things. The following three movies represent them all and will certainly trigger good memories for you too.
“Crooklyn”
Year: 1994 Length: 1h 55m Rated: PG-13
Director: Spike Lee Stars: Alfre Woodard and Delroy Lindo
Where to watch: Amazon Prime plus fee
This semi-autobiographical classic was written by Spike Lee and his siblings. The plot takes place in Brooklyn during the summer of 1973 as nine-year-old Troy (Zelda Harris) navigates family life. As soon as the movie starts, you are creatively shown an accurate depiction of what fun in the sun looked like in those days. Lee’s unique cinematic style, mixed with the use of comedy to tell the dramatic truths of the times, makes this summer pick a must-see.
“In the Heights”
Year: 2021 Length: 2h 23m Rated: PG-13
Director: Jon M. Chu Stars: Anthony Ramos and Corey Hawkins
Where to watch: Amazon Prime plus fee
In this feel-good movie, based off of the Tony-award-winning Broadway musical “In the Heights,” we find New York bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) working hard in order to save up enough money to rebuild his father’s business in his homeland. Through some summer-vibing music and remarkable visuals, Usnavi and his tight-knit community express their dreams of a better life and the challenges that come with it.
“The Sandlot”
Year: 1993 Length: 1h 41m Rated: PG
Director: David Mickey Evans Stars: Tom Guiry and Mike Vitar
Where to watch: Disney+
Young baseball prodigy, Benjamin (Mike Vitar), takes a liking to the new kid in the neighborhood, Scott (Tom Guiry), and introduces him to his sandlot team. From there, the crew embarks on numerous adventures that are both heartwarming and hilarious. The way this movie takes the viewer back to when being a kid during the summer was simple and fun is just one of the reasons why it is one of the best on this list.
