A Smattering of Summer

The Bulletin, 2009

That perennial time has come again when returning students scuffle around campus in hurried steps, cinder blocks move to and fro and the year begins again. For three months, we have wandered aimlessly, you and I, untethered in the world of entertainment. It’s good to be back. As a welcome back of sorts, let’s take a look down memory lane. This summer brought us great movies, revolutionary music and TV that means something.

Movies like Adventureland and 500 Days of Summer touched our hearts, taught us how to re-live our own awkward adolescences and better understand the ups and downs of love, lust and growing up. Blitzen Trapper released a groundbreaking EP and Mad Men returned with more surprises.

Adventureland: OK, so this movie was technically released in April, but since I saw it in a second-run pub theater this summer, I am counting it as a summer movie. In Greg Mottola’s coming-of-age tale, the loveable, awkward, sonnet-loving James Brennan (deftly portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg) finds himself employed at the apex of nihilist nothingness—the Adventureland theme park, and finds himself falling for the gorgeous, yet troubled Em. Yes, this movie does feature the abominable Kristin Stewart of Twilight fame. However, don’t let that stop you from enjoying this simultaneously inspiring, hilarious, and heartbreaking film. Typically, the word “transformative” is reserved for big toothed, Tony Robbins-style self-help hacks, but this film is exactly that—it has changed the way the rite of passage film tackles the rough terrain of first love. Adventureland is for anyone who has ever fallen in love, anyone who hasn’t, and anyone in between.

500 Days of Summer: Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt wow in this austere, beautiful film about unrequited love. As Tom (Gordon-Levitt) remembers his 500 days with Summer (Deschanel), he swings from emotional highs and lows. 500 Days of Summer moves quickly between moments of elation and desperation and features a mind-blowing soundtrack. This movie is movingly honest and, when paired with Adventureland, skillfully captures the myriad of emotions embroiled in romantic endeavor.

Black River Killer EP: Portland indie fave Blitzen Trapper has been slowly gaining popularity in and out of the Northwest. Their new EP single Black River Killer is a haunting narrative that is marks a clear departure from their other work. Released in late August, Black River Killer tells a first person story of a serial killer traveling across the United States. This band oscillates between Grateful Dead-like tonality and storytelling ability unheard since old Dylan work. The EP features six other previously unreleased songs but Black River Killer is a must-hear, you won’t be disappointed.

Mad Men: The 60s sensation is back! Mad Men follows the lives of those at the Sterling Cooper advertising agency, in and out of the office. Its narrative complexity, expert costume design, dynamic characterization and historical bend all contribute to this show garnering worthy reputation as one of the most enthralling shows on TV. In addition to all its unique attributes, the show boasts two things no other show has—Christina Hendricks and Jon Hamm. The casting is superb across the board but these two actors, Hendricks as Joan and Hamm as Don Draper are enough to make tuning in worthwhile. Tune in Monday nights at 9pm on AMC.

Summer may be over, but you can still savor the times of late sunsets, tanlines and driving with the windows down with these music, movie and TV picks. Welcome back!