Cannonball with Wesley Morris The Summer Movies That Made Us
6 snips
Aug 28, 2025 
Sam Anderson, a writer for the New York Times Magazine and a longtime friend of Wesley Morris, joins for a nostalgic dive into the summer movie landscape of 1990. They reminisce about iconic films like 'Total Recall,' 'Ghost,' and 'Die Hard,' exploring how these classics shaped their youth. The discussion weaves through themes of identity, the cultural impact of memorable scenes, and the ethical dilemmas presented in action films. Their reflections reveal both a deep love for the genre and a bittersweet acknowledgment of today's cinematic landscape.
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Sneaking Into Summer Matinees
- Wesley Morris describes sneaking into multiple matinees as a teenager to stretch his movie budget and see many summer films.
- He recalls getting Premiere Magazine and planning summer screenings with his mother's support and occasional theater-hopping tricks.
Choosing Total Recall Instantly
- Wesley lists the top summer 1990 releases and Sam picks his immediate favorite, Total Recall.
- Sam says Total Recall was an instant, no-brainer pick that resonated with him deeply.
Memory Blurs Identity And Reality
- Total Recall collapses the boundary between implanted memory and identity, forcing Quaid and viewers to question reality.
- The film uses that confusion to drive action and moral uncertainty throughout the story.
