Fatal Attraction

This thriller from the late 80s is definitely THE creepy stalker film. Glenn Close plays a woman on the prowl, luring Michael Douglas away from his fairly happy home for a "fatal" affair. It does not take long for Douglas to realize his mistake, but he just cannot seem to escape Close. Things get lethal pretty quickly. It is the kind of suspenseful scary movie that even people like me (who hate horror films) can enjoy. Everyone should at least see this one once.

Cape Fear

I always love Gregory Peck, and this film is one of the few scary movies I actually enjoy watching. Peck plays a lawyer with the unfortunate task of putting criminals behind bars. When one prisoner gets out of jail, he makes it his sick and twisted mission to stalk and torture Peck's whole family. They do all they can to escape, but this mastermind can find them almost anywhere. I have heard the 1991 remake is even scarier, but I will always have a special place in my heart for the original.

Stand By Me

After quite a long while, I am once again ready to devote energy to movie-reviewing. I want to apologize to the blogosphere for neglecting a great film like Stand By Me. I honestly cannot believe I had not already reviewed this one. It is one of my all-time favorite movies! This is a coming of age story about four boys on a somber adventure. It sounds like a kids' movie, but it actually rated R in America. One scene to watch out for is the famous train chase. This is an 80s classic with a little something for everyone.

Gran Torino

I realize this is actually a new release, but I believe it will one day be remembered as a classic. I just saw this film on a long plane home from Europe. It was absolutely incredible! I really did not know much about it beforehand, but I think it is proof of why Clint Eastwood is an amazing actor/director/artist. What a touching, gripping achievement in film.

Sabrina

While some have found it mildly disturbing that Audrey Hepburn is constantly paired with much older men, I think there is something refreshing about Sabrina. First of all, I am a sucker for William Holden. He has a charm that is all his own, and I have never seen another actor like him. I am not as big a fan of Humphrey Bogart as the rest of the world seems to be, but he does always do a spectacular job in his roles. This film is about a young girl who has always been madly in love with the popular son of a rich family for whom her father works. The older, more serious and calculating brother perceives Sabrina (Hepburn) as a problem, and formulates a plan to keep her from his younger, more impressionable brother. But things do not go as planned...

Brigadoon

After a quick weekend away to Scotland, I fondly remembered I had yet to mention Brigadoon in this blog. This movie is fairly ridiculous, but there are some really great dancing scenes. Gene Kelly always delivers in fine fashion. I would recommend this film to anyone that likes kilts and magic!

The Big Chill

The first time I saw this movie was in Vail, Colorado. I was 15 years old and on spring break with a friend and her family. In the condo where we were staying, this was one of two random videotapes haphazardly stacked on top of the old VCR. We decided to give it a try, and we were completely blown away! This is kind of like a Breakfast Club for adults. It's about old friends coming together in light of a death. It has a great soundtrack and some unforgettable scenes and characters.

The Shop Around the Corner

Some may not know that the modern day Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks film You've Got Mail is based on this Jimmy Stewart classic. The Shop Around the Corner is by no means Stewart's best film, but it is very sweet. If one is looking for a cute, predictable pick-me-up, this definitely does the trick.

L'Auberge Espagnole

This is probably my favorite of the meager number of French films I have seen in the US. It was popular when it first came out, and I wanted to give it fair recognition as it is a fantastic movie. This is the story of students all varying nationalities coming together and living in an apartment in Barcelona. They all speak different languages, but somehow they manage to cultivate strong friendships and loving bonds. This is a touching, hilarious film.

A Goofy Movie

This is probably my favorite animated Disney classic. I spent years looking for a copy of the soundtrack. Of course the new millennium brought easy access to any and every song in existence, so now my dream has long since come true. This movie has humor, family quirks, young love, everything we look for in a Disney film. I still maintain that the last song, "I2I" by the fictional singer, Powerline, is one of my favorites of all-time.

The Shining

I am not a fan of scary movies, but this film is an absolute classic. Barely anything happens at all and yet you are captivated for hours. It has one of the most intense scores of all time. I remember being so tense after it ended that we all had to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's as a family just to snap out of it. I have only seen this movie once, and it was years and years ago, but I can still remember the effect it had on me and my sisters.

Batman Begins/The Dark Knight

I am one of those very rare individuals who prefers Batman Begins over The Dark Knight. Sure I went at midnight like half the country the day the latter was released in America, and sure I had been nearly salivating in anticipation, but I still stand true to the original. Christian Bale's portrayal of Bruce Wayne's transformation really struck me in a way no other "super-hero" flick ever has. There is something so special about this particular series of films. The somber, lingering mist is a change from any other Batman we have every seen. I will be shocked to learn someone has not seen these films yet. They are fantastic and will definitely stand the test of time.

Face/Off

I am sure by normal standards this film can hardly be considered a classic, but I absolutely love it! I actually just saw it for the first time over the weekend. I remember everyone talking about it back in elementary and middle school, but I never ended up seeing it. I even watched it dubbed in French and it was still fantastic. Typically American, completely implausible plot, awesome stunts, and twists and turns around every corner. I do not want to give away too much of the plot, but I urge everyone to go out and rent this one immediately. Nicholas Cage and John Travolta do a fabulous job!

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

I realize I have no business talking about this film on this blog, but I totally love it! Joss Whedon's contribution during the writer's strike was this 43 minutes film about a supervillain's quest to get into the Evil League of Evil. Neil Patrick Harris plays Dr. Horrible, a villain with a soft spot for a pretty woman at the laundromat. I do not want to give anything anyway, so suffice it to say it is a musical and NPH's involvement is enough of a reason to see it.

Funny Face

This Audrey Hepburn/Fred Astaire musical is not as well known as some of their other (separate) projects but is still worth seeing. Hepburn plays a young retail worker in a bookstore. Astaire is a photographer that sees something special in her. She soon becomes the new face of fashion despite the fact that her look is "funny." Half of the film takes place in beautiful Paris. There is one particularly famous scene where Hepburn dances in a seedy bar to prove a point.

Desk Set

Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy made quite a few films together, and this one is by no means the most famous. I, however, enjoyed it more than some of the pair's better known projects. Tracy is a kind of no-nonsense actor, and I think he really balances out Hepburn's energetic wit well. The two work off of each other beautifully, and the nature of their humor is really refreshing. Gig Young is also a great source of comic relief in this picture. The premise centers on an office where machines are replacing obsolete desk workers. Hepburn fights to save her and her friends' jobs while Tracy attempts to bring their business into the future. Naturally, confusion and hilarity ensues. It is a light, pleasant comedy that I would love to see again.

Star Wars (Original Trilogy)

While my personal favorite is Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope, the entire (original) Star Wars series is completely amazing and totally classic. I am a huge fan of trilogies: Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones (before they ruined it by making a fourth), X-Men...Anything that can be construed as epic and contains a certain level of mysticism has my approval. From the score to the characters to the action and the story, the Star Wars series is one of the best ever made. I remember watching the films as a kid and falling in love with all three. There is something so exciting, yet unsettling about this story. Everyone should at least give New Hope a chance for sure.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

When my 9th grade government teacher announced we would be watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in class, there was such joy in his eyes that I was instantly intrigued. This Frank Capra classic presents Jimmy Stewart in his signature role. A unique twist of the David and Goliath archetype, Capra's tale of Jefferson Smith (Stewart) and the power of one voice is timeless. It is one that every American absolutely must see.

My Cousin Vinny

This is a fairly unexpected classic. Ralph Macchio plays a kid wrongfully accused of murder. Unable to afford a decent attorney, he turns to his loyal cousin, Vinny (Joe Pesci) for help. Vinny has just recently passed the bar, and is happy to help out a family member in need. But he has several big bumps to overcome along the way to the truth. Marisa Tomei's role as Mona Lisa Vito is particularly memorable. She even won an Oscar for it!

Footloose

I often say this, but I cannot believe I have not yet posted a summary of this film. Footloose is absolutely my favorite 80s dance movie. This is the story of Ren (Kevin Bacon), a new kid in small town America. He soon learns that the book-burning, God-fearing Christians populating his new home have made dancing illegal. ("Jump back!") He also starts up a little chemistry with the preacher's kid, Ariel, the town bad-girl. Best of all is the soundtrack. It was one of the first cassette tapes I ever had as a kid. People should definitely do themselves a favor and "cut footloose."

Rain Man

While I think many of the "must-see" movies are often quite skippable, this film does not fall under that category. Even if one has heard a lot about it, it is still a surprising, moving and heartfelt picture. Tom Cruise has just learned he has an older brother (played by Dustin Hoffman). And now, as it turns out, the long-lost sibling is his responsibility. Things start off pretty rocky for the pair, but they soon learn to tolerate one another. Eventually tolerance grows to love. I think this film is one of Hoffman's best!

Kramer vs. Kramer

I had to double check to make sure I really had not yet written about this movie. In my opinion, it is the very best that the 70s have to offer. I am in love with this film. I remember not really knowing what to expect the first time that I saw it. Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman play an unhappy couple, and when Streep decides to leave him and their son, things get a little messy. This film is full of heart and emotional turmoil and is a beautiful portrayal of the bond between father and son. Everyone should see this one, it is definitely a tearjerker.

Soylent Green

I am sure I have already mentioned my general aversion to 70s films, but this one is actually worth seeing once. I would recommend just renting it without reading the synopsis. It is one of those films that would be much better as a surprise. A classic Charlton Heston role, this movie features a futuristic and overpopulated world where food is scarce and people will do anything to get it. In many ways, this version of society steps backward, rather than forward. I find this to be the most interesting and distinguishing characteristic of the film. In this world, humanity actually becomes more primitive as desperation rises.

To Catch a Thief

My Grandma absolutely loves this movie. Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are completely gorgeous and with them playing opposite one another, film audiences never stood a chance. Grant plays a former thief accused of relapsing, so to speak. He must discover the real culprit to prove his innocence. The scenery is amazing, overall a great Alfred Hitchcock film.

Terms of Endearment

This movie means a lot to me, mostly because my parents like it so much. It is about the very special bond between mothers and daughters. When I saw this, it was possibly the most I have ever cried during a movie. I do not have a daughter of my own yet, but when I do I know this film will mean even more to me than it does now.

An American in Paris

This Gene Kelly classic is very close to my heart. While I find the storyline a little ridiculous, I love the setting. I live in France, and after spending this weekend in Paris, it made me crave this film. Kelly's athletic dance style is very different from Fred Astaire's classic tapping, but I truly appreciate both actors and their films. Kelly plays a starving American painter living in Paris. A wealthy patroness discovers him, but it appears her interests go beyond his art. Kelly falls in love with a French girl who is already taken. Beautiful scenery, very extravagant dance numbers, everything one comes to expect from a Kelly production.