In the summer of 1969, a sensitive, X-rated studio movie called “Midnight Cowboy” proved a box office surprise, upending norms when it won best picture at the Oscars. Flash forward to this year, and the screwball Stripperella comedy “Anora” unexpectedly repeated that coup, demonstrating once again that the industry is capable of looking beyond stereotypes where sex workers are concerned.
Now comes “Summer of 69,” a risqué coming-of-age movie that manages to be both retrograde and refreshing in its portrayal of an awkward Catholic school student (Sam Morelos) who hires an inspirational pole dancer (Chloe Fineman) to help boost her confidence in the “bedroom department.” It’s a throwback to
→ Continue reading at Variety
