It’s Friday. That means date night around this house. But since my husband is snow camping with my two older boys, it means video night for me and the munchkins. After I watch something superhero-oriented with them, I’m going to pop in one of my favorite videos. A treat, just for me.
I’m pretty picky when it comes to the movies I watch. First of all, they have to have a plot. Period. They also have to have nice dialogue and beautiful cinematography. And I prefer them not to have a European ending — no ending the movie on a tragic note. I hate when I watch a movie and at the end I realize that I will never get those 2 hours of my life back. Life is too short to watch bad movies.
Here are a few of my favorite movies. If you haven’t heard of them, check them out. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
1. Amelie: O.K. this one is French. Do you hate to read subtitles? I hope that won’t stop you from watching this movie. It’s one of my all time favorites!
Official Synopsis: Impish gamine Amélie (Audrey Tautou) lives alone and works in a café. When she finds a trove of toys hidden for 40 years behind a baseboard in her apartment, she’s inspired to repatriate the items, an impulse of generosity that sparks more benevolent acts. A celebration of life, Amélie reminds us of the small wonders that abound around us … if only we paused to look.
2. Dear Frankie: I don’t remember how I stumbled across this movie. I think it’s when we had Netflix and I was trying to get my money’s worth. It’s a beaut of a movie…and a tear jerker.
Official Synopsis: Nine year-old Frankie and his single mother Lizzie have been on the move ever since Frankie can remember, most recently arriving in a seaside Scottish town. Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they’ve run away from his father, Lizzie has invented a story that he is away at sea on the HMS Accra. Every few weeks, Lizzie writes to Frankie a make-believe letter from his father, telling of his adventures in exotic lands. As Frankie tracks the ship’s progress around the globe, he discovers that it is due to dock in his hometown. With the real HMS Accra arriving in only a fortnight, Lizzie must choose between telling Frankie the truth and finding the perfect stranger to play Frankie’s father for just one day.
3. Millions: I could watch this movie over and over. The main character is so cute that I want to adopt him.
Official Synopsis: In just seven days’ time Britain converts to the Euro. It’s the biggest opportunity the criminal world has ever had. When a railway heist goes wrong and an enormous bag of money falls from the sky into the hands of Damian and Anthony, there’s only one thing to do–spend it like there’s no tomorrow.
4. Slumdog Millionaire: Beautifully made, beautifully written, great actors. It transports you to another place entirely.
Official Synopsis: The story of how impoverished Indian teen Jamal Malik became a contestant on the Hindi version of “Who Wants to be A Millionaire?” — an endeavor made without prize money in mind, rather, an effort to prove his love for his friend Latika, who is an ardent fan of the show.
5. Band of Brothers: This is actually a mini series. My husband and I watch it every year during the Christmas holidays. I’m including this in memory of Dick Winters who passed away in the beginning of January. Incredible story. I’m not a war story kind of girl…but this the exception.
From this day to the ending of the world,
...we in it shall be remembered,
...we band of brothers.
-William Shakespeare
Official Synopsis: Too lengthy…seriously. Google it.
6. Shindler’s List: It’s been years since I’ve seen this movie, but I remember everything about it. A triumph of a movie.
Official Synopsis: The true story of Austrian industrialist Oskar Schindler, who harbored Polish Jews during WWII by using them as workers in his factory. Schindler saved 1,100 Jews from certain death.
8. Stand By Me: Besides the language (I hate gratuitous language), I love this movie. Great characters, great music, makes me feel like I’m in the 1950s.
Official Synopsis: Four boys set out on a search for a missing teenager and have the adventure of their lives.
9. Waitress: This one is light hearted…no subtitles or accents to sort through. It’s funny and sad and heartwarming.
Official Synopsis: WAITRESS is the story of one woman trapped in a life from which she dreams of escape. Jenna’s (Russell) secret ambition is to save enough money from her waitressing job to leave her overbearing and controlling husband(Sisto). Jenna is a sharp, sassy woman with a gift for making unusual pies whose recipes are inspired by the trials, tribulations and circumstances of her life. An unwanted pregnancy changes the course of events giving her an unexpected confidence via letters to her unborn baby.
10. Juno: I’ve seen this movie more times than I can count and it always makes me laugh.
Official Synopsis: Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual and bizarre decision regarding her unborn child.
Did I miss a movie you love??? Tell me…I’d love to check it out!
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