FILLING IN THE GAPS
I associate summer with action and comedy. Like horror, there is plenty of treasure to be mined in both camps. As per usual I will be mixing it up with some classics and ones I haven't seen before.
THE CRITERION CHANNEL
It's a season where the thrillers come with seductive glances and beads of sweat on the forehead. So the hits will follow suit. Thankfully, Crtierion Channel has given us an Erotic Thrillers program that includes Poison Ivy, The Last Seduction, Jade, Color of Night, Crimes of Passion, Body Double and more. All your erotic desires will be satiated.
PEEP SHOW
Succession and Barry aired their final episodes on May 28th, thus creating a void. With Succession, Jesse Armstrong has become one of my favorite writers in any medium. So having missed the boat on his comedy Peep Show, I aim to rectify it.
THE BEAR SEASON 2
No other show has me more excited this summer than the return of The Bear. I've written extensively about it here before. Carmy and the gang plan to heat up the burners for another season.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
As I did with 1972, there will be a celebration of the films of 1973 all year long. The festivities culminating in one big post at the end of the year where I rank my favorites. Play along if you want. Just remember, if there's ever an anniversary of a movie to celebrate, it's the 50th. By 2073, we'll be underwater so better to go all out while we still can.
Speaking of anniversaries, films from '93, '83 will also be highlighted.
A SUMMER OF READING
There's too many books on my to read list, but here are a handful that are near the top:
City of Night by John Rechy
An unflinching account of a male hustler and his search for self knowledge. James Baldwin said of Rechy "His tone rings absolutely true, is absolutely his own; and he has the kind of discipline which allows him a rare and beautiful reckless."
Everybody: A Book About Freedom by Olivia Laing
Through a series of essays, Laing charts a course through bodily freedom by using psychologist Wilhelm Reich to explore gay rights and sexual liberation, feminism and the civil right movement.
City of Nets by Otto Friedrich
A history of classic 1940s Hollywood starting in 1939 and ending in 1950.
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen
Suburban youth group drama in Chicago in the 1970s. There is nothing cool about the premise on paper. Having reading Franzen's Freedom a few years ago, I found his ability to get inside the heads of characters through exploring human dynamics and how communities function- specifically the family unit- to be powerful and fascinating.
Summer of Night by Dan Simmons
There are three essential 'coming of age' books in the horror lit canon: It by Stephen King, Boy's Life by Robert McCammon and this. I've read and adored the first two so I'm excited to see how this one lives up to them.
