In some earlier posts, I talked about some of my favorite books and songs.
So what about movies?
Well, we don’t seem them all that often; I’m no film expert like James-Michael Smith.
But occasionally, I have gone to the theater and been either thoroughly entertained or genuinely moved. There’s a difference, isn’t there? Movies are a form of escapism; a couple of hours entering another world and emerging happier if not deeper. Films, on the other hand, shake you, challenge you, and usually leave you with some emotional ambiguity at the end.
Having said all that, here are a few of my favorite all-time movies. And films.
Movies
Ghostbusters. It was 1984, Julie and I had just returned from our honeymoon, and the Ghostbusters craze was sweeping the nation. The song, Sigourney Weaver, and Bill Murray all made for a ride that I still like to take from time to time. Edited versions on broadcast TV? Not so much.
Romancing The Stone. I know a guy probably shouldn’t include this one, but it sure was fun. The sequels were horrible.
Heaven Can Wait. Warren Beatty was so good in this — one of the most agreeable characters ever. I’m not so sure about its theology anymore, but what a great period piece for the late 1970s.
Films
Sophie’s Choice. Oh my gosh. When you find out what Sophie’s choice actually was, it shakes you to the core. It’s still the only movie I remember seeing in which the entire audience could not move when it was over. We all just sat there, emotionally spent, and watched the credits roll. Meryl Streep at her best.
Field Of Dreams. The first time I saw it, in 1987, I thought it was all about baseball, corn fields, and nostalgia. The second time I saw it, in 2003, I realized it was all about fathers and sons. What happened in between those two dates? I became the father of a son. So the second time, I cried and cried.
I Walk The Line. Who knew Reese Witherspoon could sing like that? Ostensibly, it was about the romance of Johnny and June Carter Cash. More poignantly, it was about the tortured relationship of Johnny and his father. More tears.
Those are some of mine. And yours?