Summer is the perfect time for film buffs, because watching a movie can be an indoor or outdoor activity, providing a chance to enjoy the cool summer evenings or to escape the heat or smoke. Grab a picnic blanket and head to a screening at your local park (or drive-in) or bask in an air-conditioned theater while catching the latest summer release. All those movies you've added to your to-watch list? Now is the time to cross them off. Read on for tips on making this summer the most cinematic season yet.
GARLAND GOODIES
The recently reopened Garland Theater has a stacked screening schedule this summer. On June 15, enjoy a triple feature of The Goonies, American Graffiti and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. As part of Pride month in June, the Garland also shows To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar on June 17. Meanwhile, One Love and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire open on June 21.Among other highlights, The Land Before Time begins a three-day run on July 17, and Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken plays July 31 through Aug. 2. There are also free showings throughout the summer for members of the theater's Movie Club. For complete listings — including info on the theater's annual free summer movies for kids (every Wed-Fri at 11 am through Sept. 20) — visit garlandtheater.org.
LET'S GET LOCAL
The longer days of summer make for a perfect opportunity to brush up on your local cinema knowledge. Watch a few of these Inland Northwest-made films back-to-back for a true movie marathon, or space them out over the summer.This non-exhaustive list starts with Benny and Joon, of course, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, and Vision Quest, which turns 40 next year. The latter Matthew Modine-led movie was filmed at several local high schools, the Bigfoot Tavern (Madonna's scene, specifically) and Spokane Falls Community College.
There's also Smoke Signals, written by Sherman Alexie and based on his short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, which was shot in Riverfront Park and on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation. At Middleton brought Vera Farmiga and Andy Garcia to Gonzaga, while Camilla Dickinson, based on the Madeleine L'Engle novel of the same name, turned Spokane into New York City.
John Carpenter's The Ward found Amber Heard fighting a vengeful figure at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, while Home of the Brave stars Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, Brian Presley and Curtis Jackson as Army National Guard soldiers struggling to ease back into civilian life in Spokane after serving in Iraq.
Mozart and the Whale, based on the memoir of the same name by Jerry and Mary Newport, brought Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell to Riverfront Park, Gonzaga University and Cat Tales Wildlife Center. In Knights of Badassdom, Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn, Summer Glau and Peter Dinklage ran around the region as live action role players trying to defeat a succubus. Lonely Hearts, starring Jared Leto, Salma Hayek, John Travolta and James Gandolfini, was primarily filmed in Florida, though the Historic Davenport Hotel makes an appearance.
Finally, there's also the more recent Dreamin' Wild, starring Casey Affleck, Zooey Deschanel and Walter Goggins, which tells the story of local musicians Donnie and Joe Emerson, whose self-produced and self-released debut album became an international sensation decades after its release.
SHOPPING AND CINEMA
Enjoy an evening of free, all-ages fun at the Artisan Night Market and Moonlit Movies at Commellini Estate. Peruse goods from local artisans during the market, which runs Wednesdays from 5:30-8:30 pm, then enjoy a movie at sunset, around 9 pm. This summer's movies are Father of the Bride (June 19), the original Jumanji (June 26), Frozen (July 10) with costumed versions of Anna and Elsa in attendance, The Goonies (July 24), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (July 31), Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (Aug. 7), UP (Aug. 14), Charade (Aug. 21) and American Graffiti (Aug. 28). More info at commellini.com/moonshine.
AT THE DRIVE-IN
Looking for simple, easy fun this summer? The Auto-Vue Drive-In Theatre can help. Head to Colville, where the theater — which has shown movies since 1953 — is located, stock up on your favorite snacks, and tune your radio dial. Voila! A family friendly night to remember. As of this writing, the only upcoming showing Auto-Vue has announced for later this summer is Inside Out 2 (June 14-16) so check the drive-in's Facebook page for updates.
MOSCOW MOVIES
Moseying to Moscow this summer? Catch a film at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre while you're in town. There are two showings of Jurassic Park on June 23, followed by the Johnny Depp-led Ed Wood on June 25. A Don Hertzfeldt double-feature of It's Such a Beautiful Day and Me screens June 27. And, as part of Kenworthy's Cinema Classics series, High Noon plays on the big screen on June 28.The Moscow Film Society employs the space for screenings of Pulp Fiction on June 26, Fargo on July 3, Bound on July 9, The Silence of the Lambs on July 17, Thelma and Louise on July 24, and Goodfellas on July 31.
The Kenworthy has plenty of family friendly film events this summer, too, via its Summer Family Matinee Series (1 pm screenings). Catch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on June 18-19, followed by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on June 20. Then, it's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs on June 25 followed by Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 on June 26. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile completes the June slate on June 27 (with more films TBA for the rest of summer). Finally, the Kenworthy's Farmers Market Cartoons, a series featuring kid-friendly animated shorts, returns every Saturday through Aug. 31 from 8 am to noon. Find the historic theater's complete schedule at kenworthy.org.
DRAGONS IN SANDPOINT
On Aug. 4, the Festival at Sandpoint (check the music section on page 39 for the full rundown on this year's fest) ends on both a musical and cinematic note with How to Train Your Dragon - In Concert. The 2010 DreamWorks Animation film follows a Viking teen named Hiccup, who lives in a town plagued by dragons. In an attempt to prove himself as a true Viking, Hiccup takes down a rare Night Fury dragon, which has been injured. Hiccup befriends the dragon, who he names Toothless, and the pair work together to save both communities while also demonstrating that humans and dragons can peacefully coexist.This special showing of How to Train Your Dragon is accompanied by a live rendition of composer John Powell's Academy Award-nominated score as performed by the Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra (featuring more than 70 Northwest musicians) and conducted by the Spokane Symphony's Morihiko Nakahara. Learn more at festivalatsandpoint.com.
PARK IT
Smoke season allowing, outdoor movies are a summer classic. This summer, Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Department will host its Outdoor Movies in the Park series at Mirabeau Point Park. Elemental is up first on July 19 followed by Ratatouille on Aug. 9. Movies begin at sunset, but arrive early for free games and activities beginning at 6:30 pm. Also, just over the state border, the Coeur d'Alene Police Department is hosting Movies in City Park on July 13 and 27 and Aug. 10 and 24, with titles to be announced.
CHECK IT OUT
Have a library card? Then you have access to thousands of films and TV series from around the world through perhaps the most underrated streaming platform, Kanopy. From drama, comedy and world cinema to horror, LGBTQ+ cinema and animation, Kanopy has something for every interest. That ranges from classics like Some Like It Hot and Seven Samurai to a robust selection of A24 features. There's even a curated collection for children called Kanopy Kids. Movies are rented via digital tickets, which don't roll over month to month, so watch as much as you can.
COMING SOON
Summer is always a season for big movie releases, and this year is no different. Coming soon to theaters near you are Inside Out 2 (June 14), Kinds of Kindness, the latest from Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos (June 21), A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28), Despicable Me 4 (July 3), the Mia Goth-led horror of MaXXXine (July 5), the theatrical prison drama Sing Sing (July 12), Deadpool and Wolverine (July 26), SIFF and Sundance favorite Dìdi (July 26), the romance of It Ends With Us (Aug. 9), M. Night Shyamalan's latest Trap (Aug. 9), Zoe Kravitz's thriller directorial debut Blink Twice (Aug. 23), Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (Sept. 6) and Transformers One (Sept. 20), among many others. ♦