This summer was jam-packed with watching great films and television shows. What makes them great? Authentic acting, thrilling action scenes, poetic cinematography, and beautiful settings and costumes. But what I love most is spot-on character development (and good dialogue goes hand-in-hand with that). Here are some shows that nailed it and a few others who missed the mark but were still fun to watch.

Deadpool and Wolverine

Deadpool and Wolverine – starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman (for the trailer, click here). Really, what’s not to like about this movie? The dialogue is smart, the humor irreverent, the action scenes are crazy (and a little gory). And Jackman’s six-pack, holy cow!

But what really hits home for me are the characters’ flaws and how they overcome them by the end of the movie. Deadpool wants to be an Avenger, but doesn’t understand the meaning of self-sacrifice. Wolverine wallows in regrets.

Add a couple of crafty and evil villains, some epic re-introductions of various superheros, and an adorably ugly dog and this movie is pretty perfect. I watched it on the big screen—twice.

Inside Out 2

Inside Out 2 (trailer) – includes the voices of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser.

The main character, thirteen-year-old Riley, is hitting puberty. Add Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui to her other emotions and her sense of self is thrown off kilter. Riley strives to understand and control her new emotions and avoid making bad mistakes. The emotions struggle to take control with Joy and Anxiety in the forefront.

The animation is creative, the adult jokes keep you laughing, and the poignancy of Riley’s struggle (really all our struggles) makes this a must-see film. My family and I watched it at the Skyway Drive-In Theatre in Door County. Such fun!

The Bear (2022-2024+)

If you haven’t had a chance to see Hulu’s The Bear (trailer), set aside your other must-watch television shows and watch this one. Carmen Berzatto (the Bear) is an award-winning chef who returns to Chicago to take over his deceased brother’s restaurant.

Not only is this show an homage to what chefs and their staffs go through to create the perfect meal, it’s a love-letter to Chicago. The cinematography is gorgeous, particularly Season 3’s opener.

Fair-warning, the show is incredibly intense, particularly Season 2 when Jamie Lee Curtis shows up as the mentally unstable mother, Donna.

Dark Matter (2024+)

Based upon the book by Blake Crouch (see my review of the book here, watch the trailer here), Dark Matter, an Apple TV series, closely follows the novel. There are added story lines, but these enhance the story, rather than detract from it.

Jason Dessen, a quantum mechanics physicist teaching at a local college, is kidnapped. When he wakes, he finds himself in an alternate universe. How will he ever get back to the family he loves?

Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen does an incredible job, changing characters with simply a look. The supporting cast is equally good and the sci-fi, while a bit of a stretch, is very creative.

The Fall Guy and Twisters

Both The Fall Guy (trailer) and Twisters (trailer) had incredible action scenes—which is the whole point, right? Watching the beginning of The Fall Guy, I thought, yeah, this is pretty cool, but I’ve seen all this before, and then holy cow, it takes off. Twisters also starts with a bang.

Both movies lack some character development, and Twisters has a lot of plausibility issues, but they sure are entertaining.

Now on to fall—horror movie season, yahoo! What movies/television shows did you see this summer? Any favorites?

Where you can find me this fall

September 28, 2024, 2:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m. – 7th Annual Columbus Art & Author Fair in Columbus, Wisconsin. My friend, Author Abigail Morrison, and I will share a table to sell books and talk with readers about our stories.

Abby’s young adult fantasy, The Yochni’s Eye is an award-winner and a great read. I’ll have copies of the soon-to-be-released tenth anniversary of Carpe Diem, Illinois, its sequel, God on Mayhem Street, and the first two books in The Devil Particle Series: The Devil Particle and The Vessel. Hope to see you there!

October 26, 2024,1:30 p.m.– 4:30 p.m. – Rockford Public Library Cafe presents Bookshelf Live-A Local Author Book Fair. Rockford Public Library Nordlof Center, 118 North Main Street, Rockford, Illinois, Second Floor. I’ll be there selling books and shmoozing with other authors and local readers. See you there!