The end of summer always has a bittersweet melancholy to it. August fades into September, and you desperately try to squeeze in one last vacation before the depressing reality of post-Labor Day hits, and suddenly you find yourself sifting through your inbox and idly flipping through your calendar for the next holiday. So if you’re looking to avoid the late August blues, here’s a selection of sunny films to take you back to that early summer feeling.
Stealing Beauty (1996, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci)
Vibe: One of the most common aspersions cast upon visually compelling films is the classic complaint: “all style, no substance.” And that would certainly be a fair criticism of Stealing Beauty. But when the style is made up of the alluring, orange-hued flourishes of Bertolucci’s camera and a sun-dappled Tuscan countryside, who needs substance? That’s not to say the film is not without the occasional dramatic moments, but its plot is firmly set to the aimless and languid pace of summer vacation. Liv Tyler is a revelation as the lead, and it’s not hard to tell why this was her breakout performance.
Watch: Rent or buy
Shampoo (1975, directed by Hal Ashby)
Vibe: Hal Ashby, who was born on this day in 1929, was one of the unique voices of New Hollywood and directed a wide array of cherished ‘70s classics like Harold and Maud, Being There, and The Last Detail (which I’ve written about here). Shampoo was a rare showcase for three legends at the top of their game, screenwriter Robert Towne, star Warren Beatty, and Ashby as director. It’s one of the most incisive satires of Los Angeles and has a stellar supporting cast (Goldie Hawn, Julie Christie, and a young Carrie Fisher) around Beatty, who is brilliant and hilarious from start to finish.
Watch: Rent or buy
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