Some movies are perfect for watching on a random day of the year. Other movies are best when a patriotic holiday like the Fourth of July rolls around. This list of movies just happens to be both.
Hailey Stewart | Argonaut
“American Graffiti”
Released in 1973, this film is an old but good. And, what’s a better film about life in America than a film with “America” in the title?
Centered around small-town teenagers the summer before they head off to college, “American Graffiti” follows the group before they head off to college.
The evening before they all part ways, a group of friends cruises around their southern California town for something, anything to do. It’s a classic tale of teenagers untangling their seemingly messy lives.
However, once the sun comes up after a full day of driving around in their very 1960s car, they all find exactly what they are looking for before parting ways.
“The Sandlot”
There are so many reasons to watch this classic all year long. However, it’s an especially perfect film for the Fourth of July.
Keeping with the theme of small-town American friendships, “The Sandlot” follows a group of baseball-loving friends in the summer of 1962.
A kid just trying to make friends stumbles upon a group of ballplayers. But, just as he thinks he has an in with his father’s baseball signed by Babe Ruth, he knocks it over the fence and into the paws of a dog the group calls “the Beast.”
In an effort to retrieve the ball, the friends come up with scheme after scheme and get into bits of trouble along the way.
Baseball, friends and a loveable dog makes for the best kind of American movie.
“The Patriot”
You can’t celebrate the Fourth of July without taking in a dose of history. “The Patriot,” starring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger, is perfect for a three-hour movie lesson.
Based on the American Revolution and Militia Man’s fight for his family, this film brings about just the right amount of historical fiction.
Benjamin Martin, played by Mel Gibson, wants nothing to do with the impending war setting in on the American South. But, when his family and son, Heath Ledger, are put in danger, he becomes a fighter — a patriot.
“Grease”
When sweet and innocent Sandy meets cool guy Danny, the two hit it off over summer break before parting ways for the school year. But, when they realize they’ll spend their senior year at the same school, they must figure out how to be themselves amongst new friends.
Starring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta in their prime musical days, there are just too many tracks to stay silent the whole film.
Set in the heart of the 1950s, against the backdrop of teen romance and an all-American high school, Grease hits the spot for an all-American movie.
“Forrest Gump”
You could take a semester-long 20th Century U.S. history course, or you could watch “Forrest Gump,” and quite possibly learn just as much.
A small town Alabama character finds his life unfolding as some of the greatest moments in U.S. history take place.
Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, is a simple man who wanders through life at just the right moment, becoming part of historical happenings like the Kennedy assassination, the Watergate scandal, the Vietnam War and the rise of the Black Panther Party.
However, all these pieces of history are simply just pieces for Forrest. Instead, he is rather pre-occupied throughout the movie with helping others and finding his way back to his childhood friend and love, Jenny.
As perfectly quotable as it is American, “Forrest Gump” is a must-watch this holiday.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected]