HOT SUMMER NIGHTS (2018)

Written & Directed By: Elijah Bynum 
Cinematography: Javier Julia 
Editor: Dan Zimmerman, Tom Costantino & Jeff Castelluccio 


Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Maika Monroe, Alex Roe, Maia Mitchell, Emory Cohen, Thomas Jane, William Fichtner 


A boy comes of age during a summer he spends in Cape Cod.

When first seeing the trailer for this film I was excited. As it seems like a throwback period piece. That is a kind of teenage noir in neon. That’s not exactly what you get with this film. Which even with it’s recognizable cast the date here is Timothee Chalamet. This is his first film after being Oscar nominated for best actor in CALL ME BY YOUR NAME.

This film has a bunch of ambition. As it tries to be so many things at different times. Even though it all comes off as familiar. At first it is a coming of age story with some clever instincts that seem meant to impress and shock but soon become part of the DNA of the film.

Though at times this comes off as dizzying as it seems preoccupied with trying to impress the audience with impressive dizzying visuals. At the stake of characterization as soon as anytime the film needs to slow down and focus on characters or situations the camera's energy never breaking it’s gaze and bringing us out of the scenes.

The film moves quite swiftly as it keeps trying to be true to it's many sides of character or subplots. So much so the films tone changes like puberty. Where as every few minutes it seems to have a new development.

Timothee Chalamet does what he can as when the film opens he looks like a tall 13 year old and awkward but as his character gains confidence soon he seems more cool and hip it is through wardrobe and partially physically. Though by the end your alliances with the protagonists of the film shift. As at the beginning you are more in his corner and worrying about him and by the end. You realize his character isn’t quite as likeable as you once believed And the more dangerous character from the beginning is the more vulnerable and sympathetic character.

Maika Monroe’s character who here seems like she will be more the femme fatale is given more dimensions later in the film, but does get a glorious sequence devoted to her looks and a kind of mystique her character has that transfixes all the boys in the neighborhood. Who all have some kind of fantasy or theory about her. As none are brave enough to speak to her, but she can seduce them with just one look. In this sequence though heavily influenced by THE VIRGIN SUICIDES might take you back to that mysterious crush from your youth that you never got over or wonder whatever happened to.

Though once the love story goes deeper for each character it goes from being more of a plot device it seems oddly intrusive and kind of abrupt to the type of film we seem to be getting or expecting. Which again throws the audience off as far as tone as we wonder what type of film are we getting exactly.

Which is another part of this film. It wears it’s influences on it’s sleeves. As one scene after another will remind you of where it came from. There is even a sequence that while it doesn’t have the same outcome but reminds you of the drug deal sequence from BOOGIE NIGHTS. Another film which this film might remind you of as far as ambition. Except obviously down way better by that film.

The film tries to navigate towards a ending but never reaches a satisfying point. As the last third plays out more like a thriller. Which feels like it is trying to pull a fast one for some but if paying attention seems natural and headed for it. Especially when some try to accuse it of having a untrustworthy narrator.

The film has an awesome soundtrack that seems to try and use it as it’s kind of hidden message as to the meaning and motivations of each scene. As well as trying to match the notes with beautiful images that does them justice. As it tries to use the music as inspiration. 

GRADE: C-