It's time. The Garde Arts Center is starting its run of films this summer, kicking off Friday with the Bond classic "Thunderball."

While that film was released in 1965, the series is more about recent releases. The first such example on the schedule: the fascinating "Love & Mercy." The drama dissects the life of Beach Boys' Brian Wilson in two time frames, with Paul Dano giving an Oscar-nom-worthy performance as the young Brian and John Cusack portraying the post-breakdown, under-Eugene-Landy's-control Brian. The Garde screens that drama on Saturday and Sunday.

The series then zips from genre to genre, from comedy to drama, from "Inside Out" to "Mad Max: Fury Road," from the 30th anniversary of "Back to the Future" to the 40th anniversary of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

Documentaries are represented, too, including Aug. 13's "Cartel Land," about vigilante groups battling Mexican drug cartels.

— Kristina Dorsey

SIDEBAR SCHEDULE

Garde Summer Cinema schedule

Times are 7:30 p.m., except where noted, and the Garde is at 325 State St. in New London. Single tickets are $9. Garde Summer Cinema Film Pass are $55. Call (860) 444-7373 or visit gardearts.org.

July 31: "Thunderball"

Aug. 1, 5 p.m. on Aug. 2: "Love & Mercy"

Aug. 6: "Far from the Madding Crowd"

Aug. 7: "It Follows"

Aug. 8, 5 p.m. on Aug. 9: "Inside Out"

Aug. 13: "Cartel Land"

Aug. 14: "The Overnight"

Aug. 15: "Ex Machina"

5 p.m. on Aug. 16: "The Breakfast Club"

Aug. 20: "While We're Young"

Aug. 21: "Amy"

Aug. 22: "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"

5 p.m. on Aug. 23: "Rebel Without a Cause"

Aug. 27: "The Wolfpack"

Aug. 28, 3 p.m. on 29: "Mad Max: Fury Road"

Aug. 29: "Spy"

5 p.m. on Aug. 30: "Back to the Future"

Sept. 3: "Merchants of Doubt"

Sept. 4: "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"

Sept. 11, 3 p.m. on Sept. 12: "I'll See You in My Dreams"