Escapisms

I love the weekends. And before you think that being unemployed makes for a 7-day weekend, let me assure you that I do a fairly good job of keeping up with what day it is. Anyway, I love the weekends for many reasons, but this past weekend I found myself loving the opportunity to review some movies. I saw nothing new, as I am poor and theater pricing is exorbitant. However my mom has acquired what I think is an extensive melange of movies for my viewing pleasure, so who needs to shell out $8 when I can eat popcorn and candy from the comforts of a cushy sofa? I recently decided that it's a good idea for me to re-watch some movies for the following reasons: 1. Are my favorites still my favorites? You know, I happen to be a person capable of change and after watching Clueless, I realized that, while that flick is funny and nostalgic, I'm just not that into it anymore. It's so, I dunno, like, dated maybe, right? For the most part, my favorites are still my favorites.

The following is a list of movies that I can watch over and over again and never skip past parts and be totally engrossed from beginning to end. I rely on these films to help me forget that the job hunt is grueling and depressing and hard; I count on these films to prove to me that we can believe in the messages we see on film - far more than we can believe in "reality TV."

In no particular order:

• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
• Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
• The Color Purple
• O Brother Where Art Thou?
• Labyrinth
• The Godfather parts I and II
• Pride & Prejudice (the BBC version)
• Sense & Sensibility
• Elizabeth
• Bridget Jones's Diary
• The Sound of Music
• Unforgiven
• Ocean's 11
• Shakespeare In Love
• As Good As It Gets

*and others I know are cherished, but I can never remember everything when I put myself on the spot like this

2. Am I now old enough to "get" whatever it was that this movie was supposed to be all about? You know there are movies that Hollywood deems as "must-see," "one of the best films of the year," "critically acclaimed," yada yada. I have watched a lot of these movies (American Beauty for instance) only to finish them wondering what all the hoopla was about. I mean, it was good, but my pants were still intact.

It seems to me that lately movies are more, what's the word?, postmodern, perhaps? I think of movies like Amelie, Moulin Rouge, Adaptation, Chicago, Memento - movies where the art of storytelling has been tampered with yielding delightful and surprising results. These are movies that are outside of what we mass folk usually go for, and yet they have provided me with something compelling to watch. They've allowed me to escape and I applaud their efforts. What 10 years ago would've been an artsy indie movie is now more mainstream and totally cool, so there's the chance that we all watch movies that don't fit our preferred genres. Case in point, O Brother Where Art Thou? If my boyfriend George hadn't been in that movie, it's doubtful I would've watched it. I was too intrigued by his facial expressions to resist, and I admit that I was also curious as to how some dirty chain gangers were paralleling Homer's Odyssey. Conversely, I thought the same thing about Tom Hanks's movie, The Ladykillers. The trailer sucked me in and I shelled out 8 quality dollars to see that movie, and I won't deny that I was sorely disappointed. It is hard for me to recall a time when I've slouched down in my seat and fallen asleep, but that one did it to me. Yes, the Ladykillers and the Scarlet Letter hold a special place in my condemnation files...

3. Remember that movie I went to see that I thought was so great and good? Is it still great and good or was that more of an in-the-moment flick? Denzel's Man On Fire comes to mind. It was really good. I even have the DVD, but it's not on my all-time list, so it'll probably be one that just hangs out in the stacks waiting for one of these weekends when I pay them a visit, like orphans are always portrayed as waiting and pining to be picked in some movies. Clueless falls into this class, as does The Craft - I totally thought those girls were the coolest. I also think now of how blown away I was by Indecent Proposal. I laugh now remembering how cool I thought it would be if Robert Redford had offered little ol' me one million dollars. He'd have to pay me to leave, chile! The Bourne Identity was very good, too. I was really surprised that I could get that into an action movie, but it solidified my preference for Matt Damon. He's got skills.

4. Do you have your go-to nostalgia flick picks? I certainly do. I think we all pretty much watched the same movies growing up and some of these that I'm about to list would probably fall onto your own lists. I list them here as movies to see soon, and I imagine that maybe some of you will be dusting your own copies off, or paying your neighborhood video store a pleasant visit. These are the movies that every Friday after a long week at school, I could not wait to see. It never mattered that I'd seen them the Friday before. They were my friends, my sleepover invites, and will always hold a very dear place in my kiddie heart that longs for the excitement that escaping into a movie could provide.

• Ernest Goes to Camp: I love me some Ernest and he's at his best here! I especially love all scenes featuring that disgusting camp food on display - hilarious! 
• Karate Kid (all 3): Bonzai!!!! For the record, No. 2 is my personal favorite. 
• The Neverending Story: Obviously, Jonathan Brandis (RIP) was the best Bastian, even though my heart belonged to Atreyu. My only problem was that I really hated the way that princess was always whispering all breathy like. And why did this story ever end?! I mean, really, there are like 14 lands before time, but the NEVERENDING story has what, two "sequels"? Bizarre and WRONG! 
• the Goonies: never say die, man. Ever. Didn't we all know at least one chunk? Personally I was always afraid of that throw mama from the train lady. 
• Big: This is my favorite Tom Hanks movie, and I will always love him because of this movie. I think that this taught kids everywhere the importance of learning Heart & Soul on keyboards everywhere, just in case we ever found ourselves walking aimlessly onto floor panels that doubled as piano keys. 
• Labyrinth: I don't know how many of you have not seen this movie, but it features the magnificent and seductive David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly and a whole gaggle of muppets. You remind me of the babe... I LOVE this movie. I did not know at the time that David Bowie was seductive, I just thought he was really cool and looked surprisingly good in Tina Turner's wig. Who ever knew a man could be so beguiling in tights and eyeshadow? Still, what a dandy of an adventure! I always loved puzzles and mazes when I was little (remember those Highlight magazines?!), so Sarah's quest to get to her baby brother was a journey I was happy to follow. 
• ET: I just thought it'd be cool to have an extra-terrestial pen pal. I was all about me some pen pals as a child. 
• Cinderella: So this is love? What a dreamy song. Everytime I look at that prince I get all mushy and think: Isn't he just dreamy?! Every childhood needs at least one defining Disney masterpiece. This is mine. It is one of the view girly relics from my childhood =) 
• The Secret Garden: the one with Colin Firth at the end - not that latest one! That little Mary Lennox was the best one ever! And I can hear that flute music playing now, with the wind rustling in from the Moors as she finds the key to open the door to her own secret garden...

 5. Ah, I don't know about you, but I love me some romance! I don't know what it is, but I am a total sucker for romantic comedies. They are the best. Here are a few of the ones that, again, I can watch anytime and fall in love all over again. (Note: Hugh Grant appears several times. I have a thing for Hughie, as half the world seems to have, too!)

• Two Weeks Notice 
• Pretty Woman 
• Notting Hill 
• Bridget Jones's Diary 
• Love Actually 
• Deliver Us From Eva 
• Sixteen Candles 
• My Best Friend's Wedding 
• Miss Congeniality 
• The Best Man 
• Emma

6. The classics. I am not a movie buff or a film student, but I am a movie lover. I am slowly working my way to seeing the movies that are always on the top of the lists. Yet here are some of the ones that I have seen that I think are awesome, totally relevant and undoubtedly STILL better than 60% of the movies coming out today (if not significantly moreso!).

• The Lion In Winter 
• Casablanca 
• To Catch A Thief 
• A Philadelphia Story 
• Rear Window 
• The King and I 
• My Fair Lady 
• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 
• ROOTS - This should be required viewing for EVERYBODY!

The best thing about these movies is that, I don't know how this happens, but I can watch them and somehow suspend any recollection of the endings or the climactic scenes or other key moments that change outcomes. All of my hopes and fears for the characters are re-born and re-realized each and everytime I watch these movies. That is what I believe makes a stellar movie.

What do you think? What are some of your favorite must-sees?