Almost Famous (2000) [R]

Never has Billy Crudup been more sexy or Kate Hudson more luminous. This semi-autobiographical movie, written and directed by Cameron Crowe, is the story of a 15-year-old boy's adventure when he is given an assignment by Rolling Stone Magazine. Not knowing that he is so young, William is able to talk them into letting him write about a minor band, Stillwater, and goes on tour with them.

Stillwater has its groupies, a band of four girls who call themselves "Band-Aides." They have great names: Estrella Starr (Bijou Phillips), Polexia Aphrodisia (Anna Paquin), Sapphire (Fairuza Balk), and Penny Lane (a glowing Kate Hudson). William falls in love with Penny Lane, who in turn is in love with Russell (Billy Crudup), the guitarist and leader of the band.

This is a coming-of-age story. William encounters grown-up issues and has to learn to deal with betrayal, jealousy, sex, drugs, and the games people play with each others' hearts.

This is probably Kate Hudson's best performance. It is certainly her break-out role. After seeing this, you will agree it is a shame that she has relegated herself to the superficial and silly world of rom-coms.

Billy Crudup is gorgeous, sexy, and funny in this movie. You'll never forget him standing on the roof and screaming, "I am a golden god." After this movie, it seems that he made an effort to not be viewed as romantic leading man material by playing roles that not only play down his attractiveness, but often make him very unappealing. It's a shame, because I always appreciate eye candy, especially when it is coupled with an excellent performance.

The soundtrack is fantastic and won a Grammy in 2001. There is also a director's cut available, with previously deleted scenes.

There is real charm in this movie. It is fun to watch and surprises you with its depth and feeling. All the performances are excellent, even the smaller roles. If this was the time period when you were coming-of-age yourself, you will delight in the memories. If you are younger, you will enjoy the snapshot of that era in music.

DIRECTOR: Cameron Crowe.  CAST: Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Patrick Fugit, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Noah Taylor, Zooey Deschanel, Bijou Phillips, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Peter Frampton, Jimmy Fallon.

AWARDS: Won 1 Oscar. Another 43 wins and 76 nominations.

Victor/Victoria (1982) [PG]

One of my favorite movies! Julie Andrews is Victoria. She just can't seem to make an impact as a soprano, so with the help of her friend Toddy (the great Robert Preston), comes up with the strategy of her pretending to be a female impersonator. That's right, Victoria is a woman pretending to be a man who is pretending to be a woman. Toddy pretends to be her gay boyfriend, strengthening the ruse.

Complications arise when King Marchand (extra yummy James Garner) arrives on the scene. He is a gangster who, to his great consternation and confusion, finds himself attracted to Victoria, which means Victor! His girlfriend, Norma (a hilarious screechy-voiced Leslie Ann Warren) is far from pleased.

The movie successful recaptures the spirit and pace of the old "screwball comedies." It keeps moving along and topping itself. And while it is so funny, it also makes some barbed comments about gender and sexuality.

This past week saw the death of Blake Edwards, the director of this movie. His great movies: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Days of Wine and Roses, the Pink Panther movies, and of course, Victor/Victoria. Although he also created many clunkers, his best was great.

One piece of trivia: Julie Andrews and Blake Edwards were married for 31 years.

I so enjoy this movie that I usually re-watch it every few years. I laugh each time and enjoy every minute.

DIRECTOR: Blake Edwards.  CAST:  Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren, Alex Karras, John Rhys-Davies, Graham Stark, Peter Arne.

AWARDS: One Oscar.  Another 10 wins and 12 nominations.



 

Rosemary's Baby (1968) [R]

If The Godfather is the classic American gangster movie, then Rosemary's Baby is the classic American thriller. A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, (Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes) may be getting involved with a Satanist cult, she unknowingly, he for material gain.

They find a great apartment in the Bradford, which is modeled after one of the grand old apartment houses along Central Park West in New York. (The exteriors are the famous Dakota, which wouldn't allow filming inside the building.) After they become friendly with their neighbors (an award-winning performance from Ruth Gordon), Guy's stagnant acting career suddenly takes off. They decide it is time to get pregnant and now the creepiness begins.

Roman Polanski is a great director. His credits include Repulsion, The Pianist, Chinatown and the best MacBeth I have ever seen. It is interesting to note that while Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown are considered true modern American classics, Polanski is not American!

In Rosemary's Baby, he creates a tension and creepiness throughout the movie. We are not sure, just as Rosemary is not sure, whether Guy has conspired with the devil or not, that is, until the end of the movie, when we all know for sure what is the truth.

That Roman Polanski is the director of this movie brings up the question of whether an artist can be separated from his work. Does the work stand alone, or is it tainted by the artist's behavior in life? While Polanski's criminal behavior should not be ignored, can it be allowed to interfere with the appreciation of his art? I believe that while 100 years from now his behavior may be a footnote to his work, his work will stand the test of time. Rosemary's Baby will remain on the list of the best 100 movies ever made.

A horror movie without gore or blood, an American classic, a mystery, a morality play, and a masterpiece of atmosphere and foreboding, Rosemary's Baby is must viewing.

DIRECTOR: Roman Polanski.  CAST: Mia Farrow, John Cassevetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Elisha Cook, Jr., Patsy Kelly, Charles Grodin.

AWARDS: Won 1 Oscar and 1 Golden Globe. Another 10 wins and 9 nominations.

Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) [R]

William Hurt and Raul Julia play two prisoners in a South American prison. Hurt is Luis Molina, a homosexual jailed for seducing an underage boy. Julia is Valentin Arregui, a political prisoner. They are opposites in almost every way you can think of. At first glance, one might think that this will be a typical movie about learning to get along and creating friendship but this movie is much more than that!

To pass the time, Molina tells Arregui stories from old movies. They all feature a beautiful woman played by Sonia Braga. Arregui at first doesn't want to hear these stories, but after a while he encourages Molina to spin his tales. We all find that we like having stories told to us.

There are twists to the movie. The powers that be are obviously using Molina to get secrets out of Arregui, and a friendship does begin to develop between the two men. But so much more is going on here.

This movie did well for the two leads who are brilliant in their roles: William Hurt rightly won an Academy Award for his performance; this was the breakout movie for Julia. Sonia Braga who is absolutely gorgeous in this movie also saw an improvement in her career.

I didn't think I would like this movie. I mean, come on. Prisoners in South America, politics, and William Hurt as a gay man! But this movie truly moved me. It gets better as it goes along, becoming an excellent movie way before the last scene.

DIRECTOR: Hector Babenco.  CAST: William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, Jose lewgoy, Nuno Leal Maia, Denise Dumont.

AWARDS: Won Oscar. Another 10 wins and 8 nominations.

Nurse Betty (2000) [R]

This movie is a little odd. Not a comedy for the kiddies, because the frame around the movie includes blood, drugs, and hitmen. I have the thought that there is no blood in any comedy other than black comedy, but this movie is a good argument against my theory, as it is a romp.

Renee Zellweger is Betty, who after witnessing the murder of her husband, becomes delusional and heads for Los Angeles to find her former finance, Dr. David Ravell,  who is a character on a soap opera who is played George McCord, who is played by Greg Kinnear. Betty is followed to LA by the two hitmen (Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock, who, of course, do their amusing bickering thing) looking for the drugs her husband hid in the trunk of her car. 

Renee is perfect in the role as a naive innocent who, unaware of her husband's illegal double life, is just as believing that Dr. Ravell is a real person who has a history with her.

The movie has all sorts of twists and surprises and ties up perfectly at the end. Neil LaBute, a director with a reputation for movies that are usually pretty bitter, has a light touch here, although he does make sure that violent reality keeps intruding, which somehow works!

DIRECTOR: Neil LaBute.   CAST: Morgan Freeman, Renee Zellweger, Chris Rock, Greg Kinnear, aaron Eckhart, Tia Texada, Crispin Glover, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Allison Janney, Kathleen Wilhoite, Sheila Kelley.

AWARDS: Won Golden Globe. Another 4 wins and 12 nominations.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968 and 1999) [R]

The rare case where both the original and the remake are enjoyable viewing. Basically the story of an insurance investigator tracking down and trying to catch a bored playboy millionaire thief. The story is OK, but these movies have STYLE!

The 1968 version stars Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. Of course, Steve is supercool! The movie has multiple images going on at once, a fairly new and jazzy technique in 1968. It all adds to the fun. Don't miss the chess game. Who knew chess could be so sexy?!

The 1999 version has Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo as the leads. Whereas Faye drips sex appeal, Rene is lovely, but no sex bomb. Instead, this version has a great high-tech museum robbery. The end is a blast, also, different and in some ways better, than the original.

In both movies, the question is will the insurance investigator betray Thomas?

These are light, sexy movies for adults. If you've never seen Steve McQueen in action, this is a good movie to find out what all the fuss was. He even does his own stunts (polo)! Pierce is, of course, gorgeous. After all, he is one of the James Bonds. Great fashions, technology and a fun story. Either or both would make for a great date night.

1968: DIRECTOR: Norman Jewison. CAST: Steven McQueen, Faye Dunaway, Paul Burke, Jack Weston, Biff McGuire, Yaphet Koto.

AWARDS: Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

1999: DIRECTOR: John McTiernan. CAST: Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo, Denis Leary, Ben Gazzara, Frankie Faison, Fritz Weaver, Charles Keating, Mark Margolis.

AWARDS: 3 wins & 2 nominations.

Memento (2001) [PG-13]

I really enjoyed this movie. It was hard to follow, out of time line with half of it going backwards, some of it in black and white and the rest in color, the oddest affliction to a lead character, and just plain exciting.

The story is about Leonard (Guy Pearce) has no ability to create new memories. He was injured trying to save his wife as she was being raped and murdered in their home. He was left without the ability to create new memories. His mission is to hunt down and kill the murderer.

It's pretty interesting watching him cope with having no memory. He takes lots of Polaroids and writes notes to himself on them, things like "don't trust him" and "home." He writes notes to himself on post-its, but most disturbing is his tattooing any clues he uncovers about his prey directly onto his body.

The movie has two storylines moving in two directions. The color part moves backwards in overlapping scenes, while the black and white, which are mainly conversations on the phone which tell a story, move forward.

For some people, Memento is a mishmash. For me, the movie is fascinating and troubling. Our hero (?) is definitely headed in some direction and we are going along for the ride, trying to make sense out of it. I found the end, which is the beginning, to be a real shocker! Ultimately, the theme of the movie is "Never Underestimate the Power of Denial," which has sort of become my motto.

This is the movie which first brought Christopher Nolan to Hollywood's attention. He is, of course, the director of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and Inception. Memento is fresh, daring and original. Since its release, other directors have used shifting time lines, but the thrill Nolan creates in this movie has not been duplicated.



DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan.  CAST: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone, Jr., Stephen Tobolowsky, Jorja Fox, Callum Keith Rennie.

AWARDS:  Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 42 wins and 33 nominations.

Ushpizin (2004) [PG]

This is a lovely movie from Israel. A down-to-earth and folksy film about a childless Orthodox Jewish couple with financial problems celebrating the Sukkoth holiday. As the husband tries to find a etrog (a "fruit of the beautiful tree" (see the movie poster)) that is perfect, and material to build a sukkoth (sort of a hut) that they need for the holiday, the couple is presented with house guests. Ushpizin is Hebrew for "holy guests."

A fairy tale of answered prayers (how wonderfully they pray!) mixed with, and brought about by a series of misadventures, misunderstandings, reconciliations and even small miracles. A heart-warming movie with titles, which offers a rare view of the Orthodox Jewish community.

The characters are charming, even the crooks, and you can easily identify with their plights. The couple are married in real life. Shuli Rand, who plays the husband, wrote the screenplay with the approval of his Rabbi. This is the first movie made by members of the Israeli ultra-Orthodox community in collaboration with secular filmmakers.

Whether you are religious or not, you will be touched by this movie.

DIRECTOR: Giddi Dar.  CAST: Shuli Rand, Michal Bat-Sheva, Shaul Mizrahi, Ilan Ganani, Avraham Abutboul, Yopathan Danino, Daniel Dyan.

AWARDS: 1 win & 2 nominations.

You Kill Me (2007) [R]

Funny black comedy about a hit man in Alcoholics Anonymous. Ben Kingsley has a blast playing Frank, a hit man for a Polish mob in Buffalo. Frank's problem is that his drinking is starting to interfere with his job. He is sent to San Francisco to dry out and he actually begins a new life: job in a mortuary, AA meetings, friends, and even a romance with Laurel (Tea Leoni, who doesn't make enough movies). Eventually the "new" Frank will have to return home to clear up some unfinished business.

If you have ever been to an AA meeting, you will really get a hoot at Frank's work ethic and his earnest approach to the program and the honesty with which he reveals himself at the meetings.

Black comedy is about things that usually are not considered funny. This movie fits that bill. While not a great movie, it is enjoyable. Any movie that makes me laugh out loud goes on my list!

DIRECTOR: John Dahl.  CAST: Ben Kingsley, Tea Leoni, Luke Wilson, Philip Baker Hall, Dennis Farina, Bill Pullman, Marcus Thomas.

AWARDS:  1 win & 2 nominations.

Quest For Fire (1981) [R]

This is a funny caveman movie. Not a farce, but mostly light-hearted and funny. Our three heroes are sent on a quest to find fire. Seems the tribe's fire has gone out and no one knows how to start a one from scratch!

The lead (Everett McGill) is, I guess, "handsome" by caveman standards. You might recognize Ron Perlman as one of the cavemen. The trio, of course, encounter dangers and adventures. They learn about laughter and humor. There is even romance. And, of course, they eventually learn to make fire.

The background to this movie is interesting. It is adapted from a book written in 1911, and made with the intention of being as scientifically factual as possible. It seems that for the most part, they did a good job. Desmond Morris, author of and zoologist, developed the body language and gestures used by the different tribes. Anthony Burgess, linguist and author of A Clockwork Orange, created the language the Neanderthals speak. The language spoken by Ivaka, (Rae Dawn Chong), is mostly Cree/Inuit of northern Canada, which apparently has caused some amusement among those who speak it,  since the words have little to do with the plot. This movie is not in English and does not have titles. Instead we hear the beginnings of language. Don't worry, you'll figure out everything.

At times touching, at times laugh out loud funny, this is an enjoyable movie experience. Unfortunately, it is not for the kiddies. Among the things our handsome hero learns is the missionary position.

DIRECTOR: Jean-Jacques Annaud.  CAST:  Everett McGill, Rae Dawn Chong, Ron Perlman, Nameer El Kadi.

AWARDS: Won one Oscar. Another 10 wins & 7 nominations.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1990) [X or R]

This is a terrifying movie. It is loosely based on real-life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. It is low-budget ($110,00), but it's low production values actually add to the movie's impact. It is easy to believe this movie, especially because the FBI estimates that there are at least 100 serial killers in the US today, many of them mobile, just like our Henry.

This movie is not just a series of killing scenes. In fact, the film does not show any actual killing, just the results, to the accompaniment of screams on the sound track. Instead, we get to know Henry. We find out about his past. We see him develop a friendship with Otis, his old cellmate, and Otis's sister, Becky. We even get some idea of why he kills.

What is so terrifying is not only that he gets away with the killing, but also how very calm and matter of fact he is while he commits the murders. The most horrifying scene is a home invasion, in which it is very easy to imagine yourself as the victim.

The movie originally received an X rating from the MPAA and no amount of cutting or re-editing would get them to change the rating.  It was then released in the US with no rating. I have seen both an X and an R rating attached to this movie. Leonard Maltin lists it as X, Netflix gives it an R. You decide!

Michael Rooker is very good as Henry. He is absolutely believable as a cold-blooded killer. Most of the actors in the movies were amateurs and friends of the director, doing him a favor.

Don't watch this movie by yourself! Get a friend to watch it with you and then follow up with a silly comedy. You'll still have nightmares.

DIRECTOR: John McNaughton.  CAST: Michael Rooker, Tracy Arnold, Tom Towles.

AWARDS: 9 wins & 7 nominations.

In Her Shoes (2005) [PG-13]

So often, a movie based on a book just doesn't measure up to the original material. That is not the case here. In the hands of the excellent director, Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys, 8 Mile), what could have just been a low grade "chick flick", is instead an insightful journey of two sisters finding themselves and reconnecting with each other.

Perfectly cast, Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette play Maggie and Rose, sisters with little in common but their past and their shoe size.  Maggie is wild, sexy, and always in some kind of trouble. Toni is straight-laced, struggling with her self-image (although she owns a ton of amazing shoes), and often the one who bails out Maggie when she fouls up. When Maggie finally goes too far, Rose disowns her. With nowhere else to go, Maggie travels to Florida to investigate their past, and ends up at a senior retirement community where she encounters Shirley MacLaine, who is ideal in the part.

Many of the seniors in the movie are amateurs, who, like the rest of the cast, deliver exceptional performances. This movie will pull you in and involve you. You will find yourself unable to take sides with either sister, instead rooting for both of them.

I promise that after the movie ends, you will find yourself at the library or the bookstore, looking for the book. While you're there, check out Good In Bed, also by Jennifer Weiner. In fact, after reading  and seeing In Her Shoes, I read every book she wrote!

Whether you have a sister or not, you will enjoy this movie!

DIRECTOR: Curtis Hanson. CAST: Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, Shirley MacLaine, Mark Feuerstein, Ken Howard, Candice Azzara, Brooke Smith, Francine Beers, Norman Lloyd, Jerry Adler.

AWARDS: Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 nominations.

Little Big Man (1970) [PG]

A great romp of a movie. Dustin Hoffman is Jack Crabb, an 121-year-old man who recounts the story of his life, which is the story of how the West was settled. His adventures include life as a pioneer, an adopted Indian, a storekeeper, a gunman, and a friend of Wild Bill Hickok and many others, both real and fictional. Full of comedy, tragedy, history, and coincidences straight from Charles Dickens, this movie will charm you.

Usually a movie of this scope is called an "epic," but this film is so human that even though it covers a century, you won't feel the reserve that often accompanies the "epic." You'll laugh hard and soak your tissues! And forever more, you will call your children Contrary Indians!

Dustin Hoffman, as always, really shines, as he ages from a teen to the ancient man he ends up as. The many other actors you'll recognize are also wonderful. Keep an eye out for Chief Dan George as Old Lodge Skins (who was nominated for an Oscar), Richard Mulligan as General Custer (with a different take than had been portrayed up until then), and Faye Dunaway as Mrs. Pendrake. Probably the only bad thing in this movie is the awful makeup they put on Dustin to make him look 121-years old, which was considered a masterpiece of makeup artistry at the time.(See photo at right.)

DIRECTOR: Arthur Penn.  CAST: Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, Martin Balsam, Richard Mulligan, Chief Dan George, Jeff Corey, Alan Oppenheimer, Aimee Eccles, William Hickey.

AWARDS: Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations.

Dangerous Liaisons (1988) [R]

This story has been made into a movie at least five times, but to me, this is the best version. The cast is wonderful, led by the amazing Glenn Close. The story takes place in 18th Century France where rich and bored aristocrats play games with other's lives. The Marquise de Merteuil(Glenn Close) would like to see one of her ex-lovers, Gercourt, humiliated. She enlists the assistance of Valmont (John Malkovich), to seduce Gercourt's fiance. At the same time, Valmont is interested in seducing Madame de Tourvel (Michelle Pfeiffer), a married woman known for her virtue. The Marquise and Valmont make a bet about Valmont's success, the prize being a night with the Marquise. And so the games begin.

If you enjoy intrigues, passion, double crosses and all other kinds of games that people play, you will enjoy this movie. The only misfit is the casting of John Malkovich, whose vocal qualities seem odd compared with the rest of the actors. Glenn Close, though, makes it all worthwhile. The woman has one of the most expressive faces I have ever seen.

Other versions of this story include: Cruel Intentions (1999), Valmont (1989) and Untold Scandal (2003).

DIRECTOR: Stephen Frears. CAST: Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Swoosie Kurtz, Keanu Reeves, Mildred Natwick, Uma Thurman, Peter Capaldi.

AWARDS: Won 3 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 14 nominations.

Away From Her (2007) [PG-13]

Sad movie about a woman (Julie Christie, amazing and still gorgeous) with early signs of Alzheimer's. As her condition worsens, she and her husband make arrangements for her at an extended-care facility. Tough on both of them, it is particularly hard for him, especially as the facility does not allow visitors for the first 30 days to help the patient make a better adjustment. It becomes even worse when once he is allowed to visit her, she not only seems to have forgotten who he is, but has transferred all her affections to another patient.

This movie is so good. The actors, especially Ms. Christie, are excellent. Even more remarkable is that this is the first directing feature by Sarah Polley, who at the time was under 30 years old. She also wrote the script, an adaptation of a short story, "The Bear Came Over the Mountain," by Alice Munro. Ms. Polley is an actor who has appeared in the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead, the TV mini-series "John Adams" and other movies such as Go, My Life Without Me and The Sweet Hereafter. It is a real tribute to her talent that someone so young could direct such a sensitive movie about older people with such a highly regarded cast. She is a director to keep an eye out for.

DIRECTOR: Sarah Polley. CAST: Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent, Olympia Dukakis, Wendy Crewson, Michael Murphy, Kristen Thomas, Alberta Watson.

AWARDS: Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 39 wins & 16 nominations.

Happy, Texas (1999) [PG-13]

This is a funny movie. Two prison escapees from a Texas chain gang, Harry Sawyer (Jeremy Northam) and Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. ((Steve Zahn) steal a van and assume the identities of the owners: gay partners who are hired by small Texas towns to help their girls qualify for a beauty pageant.

When the van breaks down in Happy, Texas, they have no choice but to go ahead and do the job the town hired the others to do. The first surprise is that the girls are just that: little girls. Of course, everyone in the town thinks the two are gay which adds to their problems as they both find women they are attracted to. The sheriff of the town (William H. Macy in an excellent performance) also has a secret.

It is pretty funny watching these two help the girls prepare for the Little Miss Fresh Squeezed Preteen Talent Competition when they know nothing about such things. Wait til you see Steve Zahn wearing high heels and his choreography of a swan dance!

Although shot in only 29 days with a tiny budget, it doesn't look or feel low budget. This is a little, feel-good movie, with a fairy tale happy ending.

DIRECTOR: Mark Illsley. CAST: Jeremy Northam, Steve Zahn, William H. Macy, Ally Walker, Illeana Douglas, M.C. Gainey, Ron Perlman, Paul Dooley, Mo Gaffney.

AWARDS: 6 wins and 6 nominations

Hard Candy (2006) [R]

Here's a movie guaranteed to make everyone, especially the male viewer, very uncomfortable. Before her breakout role in "Juno", Ellen Page starred as Hayley Stark in this essentially two-character movie. A 14-year-old girl (even though Ellen was almost 20, she certainly does look 14 in this movie) turns the tables on the 32-year-old photographer, Kevin, (Patrick Wilson) she has been flirting with online.

Agreeing to meet him, Hayley goes back with him to his house. Kevin thinks its for fun and games, but this sexual predator is going get much more than he bargained for. And it turns out that Hayley has a bigger reason for her actions than just teaching him a lesson.

This movie is not easy-viewing. Depending on your age and/or gender you will either cheer her on or pray for her to stop. This movie is not gory: what Kevin goes through is more psychological than physical. In many ways, Hayley is a hero for our times.

DIRECTOR: David Slade. CAST: Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh, Jennifer Holmes.

AWARDS: 5 wins and 6 nominations

Being John Malkovich (1999) [R]

This is a pretty crazy movie, and while not completely great, it is worth a watch. John Cusack (I'll go anywhere he wants to take me!) takes a job on the 7 1/2 floor of an office building. One day he discovers a door behind his filing cabinets. He opens it, goes down a long tunnel, and finds himself inside John Malkovich's mind! After 15 minutes, he ends up dumped on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike. He decides to use this for his own ends, even granting others admission (for money, of course) as a sort of vacation destination, albeit for only 15 minutes.  What else can he do with this opportunity? Will John Malkovich find out? Pretty wild, huh? Of course! This is written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze.

An almost unrecognizable Cameron Diaz plays his wife, (yes, that's her in the photo above!) and Catherine Keener, his mercenary girlfriend. John Malkovich plays himself.

If you are looking for something really out of the ordinary, this is it!

DIRECTOR: Spike Jonze. CAST: John Cusack, John Malkovich, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, Orson Bean, Mary Kay Place, Charlie Sheen.

AWARDS: Nominated for 3 Oscars. 45 other wins and 48 other nominations.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) [PG]

Ellen Burstyn is one of my favorite actresses. She always delivers. In this movie, she is Alice, a widow left with nothing but a young son. She packs up her car and they head for California, where she hopes to become a singer. On the way they run out of money and end up in Tucson AZ. She takes a job as a waitress, and with this new family of friends and a new love, played by Kris Kristofferson, she and her son learn to live and love again.

Yes, this is the movie that created the TV sitcom "Alice"! They took the setting and the characters from the diner, but certainly changed the tone and temper of the piece in the TV show. You will marvel at what they kept and what they left out and what a difference it makes between the film and the TV show. Vic Tayback, who plays Mel in both, is the sole carryover from the movie.

This movie is a great emotional journey, guaranteed to make you laugh AND cry. Ms. Burstyn won an Oscar for her performance. And it may surprise you to find out that Martin Scorsese is the director.


DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese  CAST: Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Bill Green Bush, Alfred Lutter, Diane Ladd, Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Vic Tayback, Valerie Curtin


AWARDS: Won 1 Oscar and 2 nominations; 4 other wins; 17 other nominations.

Some Like It Hot (1959) [unrated (my rating: PG-13)]

There are some movies that watching with someone seeing it for the first time is a real joy. Watching The Wizard of Oz with my then 4-year-old son, Gone With The Wind with my college boyfriend, and Some Like It Hot with anyone! In recent years, I've had the fun of watching this movie with three different people who were seeing it for the first time. Another friend called me right after seeing it because she was laughing so hard, she wanted to share the experience with me.

Jack Lemmon  and Tony Curtis play two musicians who witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, and of course, are spotted. Running away from their pursuers, they join an all-girls band on their way by train to Miami. Yes! Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in DRAG! As you can see, they both make pretty ugly women.

One of the girls in the band is the very gorgeous Sugar Kane, played by Marilyn Monroe at her best, who is a little naughty and likes her booze. Both fall head over heels for her, competing with each other to win her heart. So it's in and out of drag we go.

This movie is full of fun and laughter from the very first second to the last. The last line is a screamer! It will be hard for you to ever say it again without remembering Some Like It Hot and laughing out loud.

DIRECTOR: Billy Wilder. ACTORS: Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, Joe E. Brown, George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Nehemiah Persoff, Joan Shawlee, Mike Mazurki.

AWARDS: Oscar + 10 others + 8 nominations

Primer (2004) [PG-13]

This low budget movie will amaze you. Shane Carruth, who directed, starred, scripted, produced, edited, scored, and helped shoot this movie, did it all with $7,000!

Four young men have started a business in a garage making error-checking devices. Two of them accidentally create a time travel machine and decide not the share this discovery with the other two partners. They figure out how to send themselves backward and forward in time, but run into trouble when they stop trusting each other. They face a few other problems: running into themselves when they are in a different time line, figuring out who is the real them, and the problem of natural degradation if they are a copy of a copy of a copy. They also have to find their answer to the question "If you always want what you can't have, what do you want when you can have anything?"


Yes, there is so much coming and going that it can get confusing. But I was so fascinated by this film that I actually went online to find maps and charts of their coming and going. It is intricate!

If you enjoy puzzles and figuring things out, this is the movie for you!

DIRECTOR: Shane Carruth. ACTORS: Shane Carruth, David Sullivan, Casey Gooden, Anand Upadhyaya, Carrie Crawford.

AWARDS: WINNER: Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, Drama and Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. 7 other nominations.

Big Fish (2003) [PG-13]

Billy Crudup is Will Bloom, a young man who has a troubled relationship with his father, Edward. It doesn't help matters that his father has always insisted on telling amazing stories about his past, including how Will was born. Will has always thought of his father as a liar. Now Edward is dying and Will has to come to terms with his father, and with his stories.

The movie is directed by Tim Burton, but instead of Burton's usual bizarre and off beat approach, he has filled this movie with wonder and amazement. As the stories unfold, we see that Edward's view of life is not full of lies, but rather his very unique way of interpreting life.

This is a lovely film about the magic of imagination.

DIRECTOR: Tim Burton. CAST: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, Robert Guillaume, Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVito, Missi Pyle, Marion Cotillard.

AWARDS: Nominated for Oscar + 33 Nominations

Singin' in The Rain (1952) [unrated (my rating: G]

My favorite musical! This great movie is all about what happened when Hollywood made the change from silent movies to talkies. The songs are fine, the actors are at the top of their game, and the story is funny, with some romance thrown in. Nominated for many awards, it won a Golden Globe for Donald O'Connor for Best Movie Actor, and Writer's Guild of America for Best American Musical.

The cast includes Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, and Jean Hagen who is a real standout--almost every time she opens her mouth she makes you laugh. (She was nominated for an Oscar for this role.)

The songs include the title song with water-soaked dancing from Gene Kelly, Make 'Em Laugh from Donald O'Connor, Good Morning and many others. One of the great things about our televisions having closed captions options is to turn the captions on and sing along to your heart's content.

Because it is about a time in history, this movie does not feel dated, other than it being an old-fashioned musical. Great joy for the whole family!

DIRECTORS: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen. CAST: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Jean Hagen, Cyd Charisse, Millard Mitchell, Douglas Fowley, Madge Blake, Rita Moreno.

AWARDS: Nominated for 3 Oscars + 3 wins + 7 nominations

The King of Masks (1997-Chinese) [unrated (my rating: G)]

This is a wonderful film from China. Yes, a foreign film with subtitles! I know, many of you can't stand those subtitles. But if you refuse to watch foreign films, you are going to miss out on some truly great movies. This movie is a great place to try out a foreign film and see if you can enjoy it even if you have to read the subtitles.

Wang Bianlian is a street performer who almost magically uses paper masks in telling his stories. He is getting on in years and realizes that he doesn't have anyone to pass on his craft and secrets to. So, he buys a young boy to become his apprentice. It looks like it is working out well until it turns out that the boy is really a girl.

The relationship between the two of them, coupled with the amazing performances with the masks makes this delightful viewing. There is a lot more to the story than I am revealing here, because they are called spoilers for a reason.

Great viewing for the whole family, I guarantee you will be spellbound and will end up including this movie in your top 25.

AWARDS: WON 19 International film awards