Name one film that involves someone with Asperger's syndrome. And it can't be Rain Man. Cat got your tongue? Well, after this summer season, the task might get a little easier: from animation (Mary and Max) to a rom-com (Adam), movies — and even some novels — are giving men with Asperger's the leading role. With the new interest in this autism spectrum disorder, The Takeaway is left wondering: how do such films affect the community they portray? We've asked David Corcoran and David Edelstein to help us start this conversation. Corcoran is health editor at The New York Times, where he worked on the piece about Asperger's in today's Science Times, Asperger's Syndrome, On Screen and in Life. Edelstein is chief film critic for New York Magazine.
Here's the trailer for "Max and Mary":
A nerdy-boy-meets-beautiful-girl flick, "500 Days of Summer" invites you into a love story set in Los Angeles. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Daschanel play the lead roles in this first feature film for director Marc Webb. The Takeaway is joined by David Edelstein, chief film critic for New York Magazine, to talk about this summer not-quite-romance.
When Harry Potter first hit the literary scene, the book sales were astronomical and fans would line up the night before, eager for each installment of the fantastical tale. The next movie in the Harry Potter series is set for nationwide release on July 15th and is getting excellent reviews. But as Harry and his fans get older, will the movie be a hit? David Edelstein, chief film critic for New York Magazine and Preethi Vaidyanathan, a 21-year old Harry Potter fan, join The Takeaway to discuss the perhaps not quite enduring legacy of Harry Potter.
Here's the trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which is sure to get you excited: