This past summer will be remembered as one of the most tumultuous in recent memory for the movie industry. Amid the frustrating rise and fall of MoviePass, the summer saw the usual onslaught of blockbusters that accrued $4.4 billion in box office earnings, a dramatic increase from $3.8 billion from a year ago. While some releases basked in deserved praise and popularity, such as “Mission: Impossible-Fallout” and “Crazy Rich Asians,” most deterred between less than adequate and downright awful: “The Meg,” “Mile 22,” “Skyscraper,” “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” and “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” among others. Nevertheless, a few gems remained relatively hidden from the public eye but mandate all the attention, so I present to you four criminally underexposed summer films that must be seen before you head into the fall.
“Christopher Robin”
Why would a Disney film ever be considered underrated, you may ask. Well, it received lukewarm responses from critics and has not performed well as Disney had hoped for at the box office. Needless to say, “Christopher Robin” provides one of the most honest and best additions to their live-action canon. Beyond the heartwarming nostalgia of witnessing the rag-tag team of Hundred Acre Wood on the big screen, the film’s message about finding the grandeur in the mundanity of life and living it in the moment strikes a deeply emotional chord, thus cementing the timeless nature of Winnie the Pooh.
“Sorry To Bother You”
While Amazon has made retail efficient and immediate for consumers, the Jeff Bezos-led conglomerate has built its brand on the back of slave labor and low wages. Considering the company’s rapid growth, it seemed inevitable someone would release a commentary on the company’s mindless and exploitive business model, which brings us to Boots Riley’s societal satire “Sorry to Bother You.” Rising star Lakeith Stanfield plays Cassius Green, a financially struggling telemarketer who moves his way up the ranks of the company toward professional success. While this may sound like a feel-good story, ”Sorry To Bother You” unfolds like an extended, modern day episode of “The Twilight Zone” as Cassius’ rise through the ranks unearths corporate oppression and the inhumane means toward an “efficient” workforce. Brimming with dark comedy and shocking moments, Riley has constructed one of the most relevant societal critiques through film in recent memory.
“Hereditary”
“The Exorcist,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Shining” and “The Omen” are not only pinnacles of the horror genre, but are some of the greatest films ever conceived, period. Whether the result be tears, a lump in the throat, shivers or complete numbness—the aforementioned titles manage to elicit the rawest of emotions from its audiences. If a piece of cinema is able to completely devastate a viewer long after it has been viewed, it possesses the mark of excellence. All this to say, Ari Aster’s directorial debut “Hereditary” will stand the test of time as a modern-day horror masterpiece. Starring Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Alex Wolff and Gabriel Byrne, Aster’s freshman endeavor empales a screwdriver into the spine of viewers with moody, slowburn storytelling and images that will seer a twisted impression. While elements of demonic possession bleed heavily over Aster’s script, family tragedy resides as the true horror here. As a seemingly normal family history unravels, sinister secrets reveal themselves and eventually culminate in a hellish display of mania, providing an experience that will leave heads rattled and souls shook.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
While Hereditary brought devastation through fear and terror, a little documentary delivered it through a modest sweater-sneaker combo and a profoundly loving heart. Morgan Neville’s moving documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” follows the uniquely tender philosophy and life of Fred Rogers, known to most as Mister Rogers. With compassion and dedication at the forefront, ”Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” instills a sense of humanity in all who witness this beautiful tribute to a man who extended himself beyond the norm for others in order to make the world a better place. Considering the deluge of negativity that continues to grab news headlines and front newspaper stands, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is a brilliantly resonant reprieve the world needs.
