My Favorite Movies

Would you rather rent Tsotis? If you don't want to commit yourself, just rent Tsotsi on DVD. It will arrive within a day or two in your mailbox. Keep it as long as you want, and then return it through the mail in the postage paid envelope. It's as easy as that.

Would you rather rent Arlington Road? If you don't want to commit yourself, just rent it on DVD. It will arrive within a day or two in your mailbox. Keep it as long as you want, and then return it through the mail in the postage paid envelope. It's as easy as that.

Some movies aren't on my highlighed my favorite movies list above but I felt they stood out due to their unique nature and are definitely worth mentioning.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004):
This was Jim Carrey minus much of his goofiness in a rather unique love story, or break up story, whichever way you want to look at it. It started out a bit confusing for me as it switched between past and present, reality and memories, but it ended up really pulling me in. Good acting, interesting story line, and a revealing message about losing and forgetting a love.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape?(1993)
It's an older film but in case you missed it, this one is a worthy watch. With Johnny Depp as the star you can expect something that's not just run of the mill and in this one you get the bonus of a young Leonardo DiCaprio turning in a fantastic performance. It's the story of a young man's struggles under the pressure of a great deal of responsibility and living in a family with a secret and some significant dysfunction.

Hotel Rwanda (2005):
This film is based on the true story of a man who managed to shelter and save the lives of over a thousand Tutsis during the 1994 Rwandan genocide through shear persistence and a willingness to deal with anybody in anyway necessary. The horror of the event and the failure of the world to respond are stunning but real. Don Cheadle plays the lead role of the desperate yet resourceful hotel manager who does not allow himself to be paralyzed by his dire situation. The film conveys the brutality and carnage but doesn't display any graphic violence. This film should be required viewing to awaken and sensitize the world to the crimes that we are often too willing to ignore.

These are a few all time favorites, but don't make the hightlighted portion of my favorite movies list above due to age and/or their huge box office success. In these instances, I feel confident that most breathing beings have heard of them; but, just in case...

Shawshank Redemption (1994):
If you have somehow managed not to see Shawshank Redemption, you must. Tim Robbins plays a very reserved, mild mannered hero, imprisoned for the murder of his wife and her lover. Morgan Freeman is a lifer at Shawshank who ultimately befriends him. Both are admirable men and their friendship and triumph over "evil" is perhaps predictable and somewhat melodramatic but nonetheless uplifting and beautifully told.

Crash (2005):
This movie is probably my number one choice as it was a conversation piece for weeks afterward. It weaves the lives of several individuals/couples of various racial/ethnic backgrounds together and demonstrates the destructive role that stereotyping plays in society. This is a must see.

Sixth Sense (1999):
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie as more of a "psychological thriller"; it's ending, which I figured out only a moment before it occurred, was astonishing for me. If you haven't seen it and haven't heard about the ending, I say you should take the time to see it for yourself.

Babe (1995):
I do like family movies too. Babe is an older movie but one of my favorites. I love the story book feel of this film but even more, the characters are simply wonderful. Babe, the title character (pig) is adopted and befriended by a smattering of other barnyard animals and manages to escape his slaughtering and become a much more accomplished swine than anyone ever imagined. There is only suggested violence; a butchering before the holiday meal. My only reservation is that cats are maligned as the only feline character is typecast as the evil and vindictive nemesis of Babe. (oh, well) A thoroughly enjoyable film!

A Beautiful Mind (2001):
This film is loosely based on the life of world renowned mathematician John Nash. Russell Crowe is the lead and delivers an outstanding performance. As a genius with numbers, Nash is recruited to work with the government in breaking codes. His world begins to unravel however and viewers experience the reality of schizophrenia. The distinction between paranoia/delusions and reality is at first difficult to make but for me this seemed to be what the schizophrenics world must be like. The film is entertaining, educational, and inspirational; one that will surely win a spot on nearly anyone's top 20 list.

Photo Credits
Introduction: Darren Hester.

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