Firsts and last
There’s a lot to choose from in this, the most patriotic month of the year, so let’s get right to it.
The Summer Movies in the Park leads off July 7 with Minions: The Rise of Gru at the Orinda Community Park. Who knew these small yellow creatures would become so popular? Illumination Studios, that’s who. This installment shows how Gru (Steve Carrell) became so despicable. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Movie starts at dusk.
Second in the series of outdoor summer movies is Night at the Museum, Friday, July 14. Starring Ben Stiller and the late, great Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt, with Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney making memorable cameos. This mad-cap fantasy shows what happens after the museum closes and trust me, it’s not what you expect.
The Chiller Diller Theatre with Lord Blood-Rah presents Die, Monster, Die, starring Boris Karloff. Though the title may indicate a certain cheese-factor, it could be argued this film might have a slightly elevated literary inspiration as much of what goes on seems directly inspired by the works of well-known horror author H.P. Lovecraft. See it July 15 at 8:30 p.m.
The July 20 free-movie screening features Back to the Future. Thought by many as a near perfect trilogy, this is where the adventure starts. Bring a scorecard to track the timeline adventures of stars Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, or just enjoy the show. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, a director known for pushing the envelope when it comes to technical cinematic effects, this film has everything without feeling bombastic or forced. It starts at 6:30 p.m.
I’d like to step a little out of my usual milieu to mention other offerings at the Orinda Theatre. The third Friday of every month is Comedy Night. This month features Kabir Singh and Friends. No stranger to the spotlight, he was on America’s Got Talent. The laughs begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for the upcoming 2023-2024 live concert season go on sale in August. The schedule is to be announced.
And remember to always watch out for those wonderful images made of sound and light, for that’s where the reel magic lies.
Tom Westlake can be reached at poppinjay@earthlink.net.
