Recently, Berea citizens were able to get their first taste of spring weather. It’s only fair that the media you consume matches the warmth that you feel outside!
Here are ten movies to watch as we finally start to thrust towards the true feeling of spring:
“10 Things I Hate About You” (dir. by Gil Junger, 1999): Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) is a high school senior that has sworn off dating. Another student, Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), wants to date Kat’s sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), but finds out she can’t date until her stubborn older sister does. He pays charming, but rebellious Patrick (Heath Ledger) to go out with her. Set in the spring semester of their senior year, this ‘Taming of the Shrew’ adaptation is sure to make you ready to embrace the fun that spring has to offer!
“Hop” (dir. by Tim Hill, 2011): When Spring rolls around, so does Easter! If you are someone that celebrates, you must make ‘Hop’ a traditional Easter rewatch! James Marsden plays Fred, a man who is house sitting when he finds out a rabbit named E.B., who is really the Easter Bunny, broke into the house when escaping from Easter Island. Fred soon realizes E.B. is about to wreak havoc in his life while a duck is starting a coup over on Easter Island. Though it is not a flawless movie, it’s a classic that provides timeless entertainment for the whole family.
“The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (dir. by Jacques Demy, 1964): Genevieve is a 16-year-old girl in France who is in love with an older man named Guy. When Guy is drafted off to fight the war in Algeria, Geneveive finds out that she’s pregnant and must come to terms with life without him. Despite what sounds like a potentially depressing film, the strong color, opera style musical, and express mis en scene makes for a perfect watch to get you in the mood for the vibrance of spring! If you are a fan of international cinema, this one is for you!
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (dir. by John Hughes, 1986): Ferris Bueller is known for his bad attendance. As his last semester is almost over, he creates the largest plan to skip of all. He recruits his friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) to spend the day with him. The three embark on wild shenanigans and must keep it a secret from each of their parents, Ferris’s sister, and their principal who is determined to catch him skipping. Not only does it get people excited for the end of the semester, but it encourages its audience to get out and have fun with the nice weather!
“Frances Ha” (dir. by Noah Baumbach, 2012): ‘Frances Ha’ is a beautiful exploration of existentialism and womanhood with a lively warmth and vibrancy that replicates the feeling of the first warm day of the season. Starring Greta Gerwig as Frances, she perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to not know who you are or what you want to do.
“Moneyball” (dir. by Bennett Miller, 2011): As baseball season is coming back into full swing, it’s only natural to feature one of the best baseball movies ever made. The film stars Brad Pitt as a team manager who is working with a tight budget and is forced to reinvent his team to make them the best they can be. The movie also features Jonah Hill, Chris Pratt, and the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
“Tangled” (dir. Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, 2010): Nothing gives you a warm feeling like nostalgia! ‘Tangled’ is the perfect one to do so! A musical reinterpretation of the story of Rapunzel, the movie is fun, romantic, and filled with adventure. Additionally, we all can relate to Rapunzel’s first days out of the tower as we finally leave our winter coats behind and reenter the world of spring! This is the perfect Disney film to remind you of the beauty of spring!
“Lady Bird” (dir. by Greta Gerwig, 2017): As Lady Bird is planning to head to college, she is grappling with the stressors of high school like boys, gaining independence from her parents, and financial issues with schooling. The film examines growing up in sunny Sacramento and balancing maintaining family ties and doing what’s best for yourself. The film stars frequent duo Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet as well as Beanie Feldstein, Laurie Metcalf, and Lucas Hedges.
“The Sound of Music” (dir. by Robert Wise, 1965): One of the classics of the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, ‘The Sound of Music’ is riddled with beautiful scenery and romance. A former nun becomes a governess in the rich home of the Von Trapp family. Considered unconventional with her approach with the kids, she ends up changing the home for the better as the family eventually grapples with the incoming effects of WWII.
“My Fair Lady” (dir. by George Cukor, 1964): A phonetics professor recruits a young, lower-class girl to see if he can turn her into someone from high society. Filled with whimsical sets, color, and music, it’s sure to brighten a sunny spring day when watched!
