ARTICLES FICTION MOVIES LINKS CONTACT		Movies The Look: Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice CURRENT FAVES Intermission Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind The Return 2003 FAVES City of God 28 Days Later Lord of the Rings ROTK Lost In Translation Elephant The Station Agent Pieces of April OLD FAVORITES A Christmas Story This is a must-see for the holidays and perfect for an unabashed Christmas junkie. A Room with a View I read the short novel by E.M. Forster once a year and it has much more depth, but the movie is a wonderfully romantic escape. Apocalypse Now This Vietnam-era adaption of Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a classic. Rough and tumble and heart wrenchingly beautiful, it will get you in the gut. Betsey's Wedding Cute tale of love and family starring Alan Alda, Ally Sheedy, and Molly Ringwald. The romance between Ally Sheedy as a cop and her perfect opposite, a goofy but charming mafia errand boy, is delightful. The Buccaneers New Money American Heiresses travel to England to find aristocratic husbands. Casablanca Classic love story starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. Clueless One of my favorite pick-me-up movies, Clueless stars Alicia Silverstone as a Beverly Hills teen with a closet full of haute couture and perfect comedic timing. Cruel Intentions Ryan Phillipe, Sarah Michelle Geller, and Reese Witherspoon star in this clever, melodramatic adaption of Le Liaisons Dangereuse set in the tony world of Manhattan private schools. Donnie Darko Brilliant and chilling. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the lead character, a cross between Jesus, Hamlet, and James Dean. Elizabeth Gorgeous costume drama/love story starring the lovely and startlingly versatile Cate Blanchett as QEI. Emma Much better than Gwyneth Paltrow's Emma, this version features a glorious Kate Beckinsale before her L.A. makeover and her starring roles in Pearl Harbor and Serendipity. Also check out Kate in Cold Comfort Farm. Flashdance What a feeling! Along with Purple Rain and Fame, this movie makes me feel like dancin' in my legwarmers. Four Weddings and a Funeral Charming Hugh Grant and beautiful Andie MacDowell help make this delightful little movie a big success. Hugh sputters and winks adorably throughout. For a movie that shows his other side, check out Bridget Jones' Diary. The Goodbye Girl In this romantic comedy by Neil Simon, a divorcee and her daughter are forced to share an apartment with Richard Dreyfuss. Grease Summer Lovin' had me a blast. Summer lovin' happened so fast. If you don't already know and love this movie, don't bother. It's hoaky, yet if you saw it first at age nine, you'll still love it today. It's a Wonderful Life This is a must-see every holiday season. After circumstances conspire against him, Jimmy Stewart (one of my favorite actors) thinks that his life doesn't matter. The angel Clarence shows him how wrong he is. Joy Luck Club Beautifully told stories of China at the turn of the century are juxtaposed with modern struggles to find love and self-worth. Mothers and daughters begin to understand one another and face the mistakes and pain of the past. Set in San Francisco's Chinatown. The Last Time I Saw Paris Set in post WWII Paris, this dramatic film features a stunning Elizabeth Taylor as the true love of Van Johnson, who plays a struggling writer. Magnolia Strange and oh-so-satisfying. Stars include Tom Cruise (who plays against type), Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and John C. Reilly. Raw emotion. Haunting soundtrack. Mansfield Park If you like your Jane Austen movies by the book, you probably won't enjoy Mansfield Park. The director takes some license but I found it to be a compelling and satisfying adaption. The Money Pit Hysterical. Tom Hanks, the early years. Moonstruck Cher, in one of her many fabulous roles, and Nicholas Cage are crazy in love in this fantastically quirky and delightful romance. National Lampoon's European Vacation The Griswald's take Europe! Office Space If you've ever had a job you've hated. If you've ever watched the clock from the friendly confines of a cubicle. If you've ever yearned to escape the hum drum of an office park, run don't walk to rent this hilarious, briliant movie starring Ron Livingston and Jennifer Aniston. Philadelphia Story Classic comedy/love story starring triple-threat Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, and Cary Grant. One of the all time greatest films. Pride and Prejudice Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth) and Elizabeth Bennet struggle over class prejudice and personal pride. Colin Firth famously exits a pond in a wet shirt and gives Jennifer Ehle (as Elizabeth) "the look." The Quiet Man As a child I watched many a John Wayne flick with my father. The Quiet Man was different--set in Ireland and featuring Maureen O'Hara as Wayne's stubborn and beautiful wife, it was far and away my favorite. Rear Window My favorite Hitchcock features a bored Jimmy Stewart, a stunning Grace Kelly, and an edge-of-your seat whodunit. Red Dawn The U.S. is invaded by the Nicaraguans and eventually the Soviet Union. A group of midwestern teens band together to fight back. The film's stars include Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Jennifer "Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner" Gray, and Charlie Sheen. Say Anything Geeky yet adorable John Cusack falls in love with stand-offish beauty Ione Skye. With clever dialogue and a unique serenade, our hero will stop at nothing to woo the woman he loves. Sense and Sensibility Ang Lee makes magic yet again. Starring Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, and my secret crush, Greg Wise. Shakespeare In Love So this film is about a fictional Shakespeare and it stars Joseph Fiennes. And there are all sorts of references to Shakespeare's contemporaries and his plays. It's very witty and the men wear tights. Need I say more? The Shining Brilliant adaption of Stephen King's even scarier novel. Jack Nicholson has terrified me ever since. Sixteen Candles Molly Ringwald turns sixteen. Her parents forget her birthday, her grandmother feels her up, and the boy of her dreams might not even know she exists. Steel Magnolias Kleenex strongly advised for this movie. The ensemble cast includes Sally Field, Julia Roberts, and Daryl Hannah. Untamed Heart This one's for the ladies. Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei star in this anything but ordinary romantic drama. Waiting for Guffman When the townspeople of Blaine, Mo., decide to put on a play to celebrate their 150th anniversary the best "talents" in town audition. This mockumentary is an actor's Spinal Tap. Zefirelli's Romeo and Juliet My favorite adaption of my second favorite Shakespearean drama.