Summer movie preview 2009

By August we'll be more than ready for "Taking Woodstock" and "The Boat That Rocked"

Sure, summer is a great time for explosions, outrageous comedy and big stars. But after three solid months of hugely hyped—and often hugely disappointing—blockbusters and blockbuster wannabes, it's always refreshing to see the first signs of the more prestigious, artful fall movie season that follows. These two portraits of '60s counterculture look like they'll fit that bill. "Woodstock," the latest from "Brokeback Mountain" director Ang Lee, tells the story of a closeted gay man (Demetri Martin) who plays a key role in starting the legendary concert festival; while "Boat" [pictured] is about the antics at an illegal radio station in the North Sea and stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose frequently Oscar-nominated performances are always worth catching.

Release date: "Woodstock": August 14 (limited); "Boat": August 28