Six Of Our Favorite Independence Day Movies (In Case You Need Them).

by Karen and Erica

Hopefully the Fourth of July will be gorgeous wherever you are, and you will spend it outdoors, smacking a small white ball here and there in lush surroundings, and developing a fabulous tan. As evening draws nigh, burgers (old or new style) and corn on the cob will get grilled on a primal fire by your favorite man, and you will salute your country with sequential gin and tonics in your hand. You will stay outside until the moon is high, and then crash into your bed and sleep the sleep of the righteous.

But if Mother Nature fails you, you may wish to watch one or several movies that have something to do with the Fourth of July, or patriotism, or at least summer. Here’s our list:

• The list has to start with independence Day. The 1996 movie. What a cast, what a drama. You can’t beat it. You’ve seen it before? Makes it even better.

• The same is true of Jaws. You’ve definitely seen that before—maybe a few times since 1975. Why should you want to scare yourself silly on the Fourth of July? We’ll ask a therapist and get you an answer.

• Then there’s Top Gun, when Tom Cruise was still acting his age. Young navy pilots in spiffy uniforms learning to defend all of us in really fast aircraft. Doesn’t get better than that.

• If you want to be reminded what America is all about, watch Lincoln. Daniel Day-Lewis is truly remarkable. His Lincoln is funny and tragic and high-minded and brave. Lincoln pulls this divided country together with empathy and brains.

• Or you could watch Glory. An all black regiment fights for the north in the Civil War. The men of the regiment are heroes, heroically played by Denzel Washington, Morgan Lewis and others.

• We can’t leave you thinking that we think women have no role in a Fourth of July movie, but it sure is hard to find war movies with women in starring—or any—roles. So we turn to baseball and A League Of Their Own. Summery, funny, and baseball.

Enjoy. And don’t forget why we celebrate our freedom on this quintessential American holiday.