Ten Summer Movies That Actually Sound Interesting

Tired of all the Iron Man/Shrek hype? Not interested in Eclipse?

Fear not.

One of the great things about summer is that there are always a handful of interesting early Oscar contenders and quirky indie films hiding amongst all the popcorn blockbusters.

Here are ten films you've probably heard little or nothing about, but seem like they'd provide a nice antidote to all the box officer breakers.

For the Family:

Are you worried that after Shrek you're not going to have anything to see with your kids?

Think again.

One of the best characters for kids is coming to life this summer in "Ramona and Beezus." Even the tweens will enjoy that Selena Gomez is playing Beezus.

For the Mainstreamers:

I'm surprised the next movie I'm going to mention hasn't gotten more attention. Chris Nolan's follow-up to "The Dark Knight" is "Inception" with Leonardo DiCaprio. It looks like Nolan's "Memento" meets noir. It might just end up being the thinking man's blockbuster.

For the Rom-Com'ers:

I know what you're thinking--another Jennifer Aniston movie? But wait, there's a twist. Rather than another pair-up with some stuffy A-list heartthrob, "The Switch" features Aniston with my Arrested Development-heartthrob Jason Bateman. It's also from the guys who brought you "Blades of Glory," so odds are, it won't look all that much like "The Bounty Hunter."

For the Mature Teens:

Vanessa Hudgens? Mary-Kate Olsen? An adaptation of Beauty and the Beast? Sounds like a disaster, right? But the trailer for "Beastly" looks...actually sort of good, in a "Great Expectations" sort of way. Plus, there's Neil Patrick Harris. (And let's be honest, Mary-Kate Olsen as the Witch is kind of genius.)

For the Documentary/Alternative Celebrity Diehards:

Saddled in the same month as "The A-Team" and "Toy Story 3" is...Joan Rivers. Following the comic and personality over the course of a year, "Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work" has everything from her performing to "The Celebrity Apprentice." Sorry, Mr. T, but I'd go with Joan in a bar room brawl.

For the Vampire Lovers That Are Also Theater Geeks:

"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead"--a vampire comedy inpsired by Hamlet. Need I say more?

For the Indie Crowd:

What do "Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky" have in common? Well, a love affair for one thing. Call it the alternative to Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in "Knight and Day."

For the Coming-of-Age Crowd:

"Lottery Ticket" follows a young guy (played by Bow Wow, wait, stay with me) over the Fourh of July weekend as he tries to keep his winning lottery ticket a secret. It might just end up being that August sleeper hit that comes along every year.

For the Children of Lesbians:

Okay, I was kidding with the introduction. This should be called--

For Lovers of Great Acting:

Julianne Moore and Annette Bening play a lesbian couple whose two children track down their sperm donor father played by Mark Ruffalo. Even though the plot sounds a little iffy, I'd watch Moore and Bening do anything. It's never too early to start up Oscar season.

For Grumpy Old Men:

Robert Duvall plays an isolated man in a small town who throws himself a funeral in "Get Low." Added bonus? Bill Murray plays the owner of the local funeral parlor. I can only imagine that hilarity ensues.

So there's your alternative summer line-up.

Oh wait, I promised ten, didn't I?

No worries. I know you need at least one frivolous movie to see.

My pick?

Piranha 3-D.

Now that sounds like a hit.