My Favorite Film as a Child: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

I wanted to be Charlie Bucket: to win a golden ticket and show the world that nice guys could finish first. It didn’t always feel like that in the real world, but on screen it told me another story. Meanness, entitlement and cruelty had their own reward. 

Roll away blueberry, roll away. 

(I stole that last sentence structure from a post by Bondo.)

The Gold Rush

Finally. From start to finish, all the pieces have been put in their rightful order. Have I ever seen so much of a movie without having seen it? I can’t think of one; but Rocky Horror Picture Show must be the distant second.

First of all, it’s slow. So, if you’re not in a hurry, there's a “gold mine” of chuckle worthy moments. I’m still smiling over Chaplin twirling the shoe laces, picking the nail “bones” clean and maneuvering around the dog on the dance floor.

Next, it would be interesting to compile all the comedy it inspired in subsequent films—how many wind shenanigans, how many tipping houses? I also wonder how many times Mr. Depp had to watch the Oceana Roll to master it for Benny and Joon.

My Favorite Thriller: Charade

Oh, how I love this movie! 

Mix together Grant, Hepburn, Donen and Mancini and out comes a delectable confection. I can’t count how many times I have watched Charade, but I still find myself at the edge of my seat through most of it. During the rest of the time, I’m falling in love with Cary Grant all over again. 

No movie should have such power over me, but I am at its mercy.

Double Indemnity

My Absent-Minded Professor has gotten himself into a heap of trouble. 

This time around I was prepared, in that a decade ago the Apartment toppled my icon of fatherhood. Fred MacMurray convinces, whether he acts in light comedy or more serious fare.
 

Déjà vu was rampant during the viewing of this film; mostly because I’ve seen it copied in countless other movies.  I finally have traced Venetian blind shadows back to the headwaters. 

Oh, and MacMurray did provide a nickel's worth of redemption.

My Favorite Sci Fi/Fantasy Movie: Star Wars- The Empire Strikes Back

Timing is everything. 

I was ten when Star Wars came out and remember my older brothers talking about it, but did not see it till network television some time later. 

By 1980, I was ready. With babysitting money in hand, I caught a ride to the theater and had the greatest experience ever! 

I chose the picture above because Empire Strikes Back is pure movie magic. I completely got caught up in the story and the characters and didn’t emerge from my trance until I walked out of the theater. 

It was everything I could hope for in a movie.

My Favorite Action Film: The Poseidon Adventure

Childhood is a powerful time to watch films. Everything is new, big, and memorable. 

I don't know how well this film holds up to other great adventure movies I have seen over the years, but it was the first one that came to mind for today's theme. 

I remember the day after seeing it, laying on my carpet trying to figure out how I could traverse my ceiling to get down to the basement. It was a mind bending puzzle that would have never occurred to me otherwise. 

I started looking at life a little differently, because I was so impressed with the "thinking out of the box" concept. Ingenuity, the survival instinct and a big dose of self sacrifice made the characters remain with me to this day. 

Little did I know they were played by big name greats. 

My Favorite Comedy Movie: Galaxy Quest

This movie directly pokes fun at me and mine. I’ve yet to go to a sci-fi convention, but my family did hold a moment of silence when the Star Trek Experience was dismantled in Vegas. 

If Galaxy Quest were mean spirited, it would not be fun at all. However, underneath the humor is a lot of love; the cast is enjoying the ride as much as I am. Aside from the Toy Story trilogy, this is Tim Allen at his best and as always, Alan Rickman can do no wrong. As an added bonus, it’s where I first became acquainted with Tony Shalhoub, Rainn Wilson, and Sam Rockwell. 

I never get tired of this movie and it would take something pretty spectacular to bump it from my top comedy spot.

My Favorite Drama Film: To Kill a Mockingbird

Robert Duvall's first role!

ses, I wanted to see this again today, so I could pay attention to the music. It was exactly as you described. The score was so integral that I had not really noticed it before—I think that is a compliment to the composer. Also, your description of Atticus Finch is ideal, so I will just add:

Busy front porch

This film is a box of my life lesson treasures: integrity, honor, compassion, honesty and courage. As I sort through them, I realize my first introduction to discrimination, mob mentality and revenge are scattered in there as well. The first ones would not shine so brightly, had they not been held up against the latter. 

A Movie I Used to Love, but Now Hate: Footloose

Not Kevin Bacon

A locally made film is supposed to be beloved—forever! The excitement of having various locations of the valley projected onto the big screen lasted a few years and then, a re-watch. 

So earnest, and so very 80s

The music is great, Lori Singer grates. Even the first time watching it, I wondered why such an unlikable character would be of interest to Ren. Was she dangerous, exotic? It was as if he was the small town boy when it came to girls.

Everyone in the film is so earnest--earnestly two dimensional as they live in absolutes. Yes, that’s a teenager’s prerogative, but the adults should know better. 

A contrived conflict does not a favorite movie make, but hate is a strong word. Disappointment is a better word and it is directed at myself for thinking this film was important. 

Each day that I drive by the Lehi Roller Mills to get on the freeway, instead of joy, my thoughts go to "blech".  

Le fils (The Son)

This movie asks me to explore the capacity of the human heart. 

There are no directions or explanations, just the camera following closely, frenetically, almost afraid to miss something. I'm carried alongside, observing. 

In the end, without knowing the how, I am satisfied with what can be. It such a simply told story, but then again, not at all. 

I don't know anything about Olivier Gourmet (I do like his name!), but I'm not sure how many other actors could believably pull this off. 

The Film That Depicts My Life: Edward Scissorhands

The idea of this film came about from Tim Burton’s lonely childhood. He said, “I get the feeling people just got this urge to want to leave me alone for some reason, I don’t know exactly why.” Caroline Thompson, the writer of the original story, dedicated the “love poem” to Burton, saying that he was “the most articulate person I know, but couldn't put a single sentence together.” Those two reasons alone could be reasons enough to use this film as my choice for today.

I do have an idea about the why’s of being left alone though. I believe it is part self preservation and part internal living. There tends to be a “not available” sign on my forehead at times. Riding the seesaw of I care too much and I care to little is tiring yet it’s almost impossible to stay balanced in the middle.

As for self preservation, I watch Edward innocently become the new trend, the side show attraction for all to utilize and exploit and I know the outcome is burnout, inability to meet expectations, and then retreat.

There is also the danger that if he does reach out, more harm than good could occur. I worry also. My daughter says that I have been known to delve too deep. It’s the caring too much side.

Beautiful isolated Edward, I see you, I understand you and in a minuscule way, I am you. As I reside in my internal tower chipping away at my creations, perhaps the by-product will create a happy moment for someone somewhere.

(TMI) 

The Movie No One Expected Me to Like: Dr. Strangelove

(or, more specifically, Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.)

Kubrick and I, we go way back. But after 2001: A Space Odyssey, we hadn’t kept in touch. I guess we just ran in different circles. I did catch a brief glimpse of him in A.I. Artificial Intelligence and was very pleased to see him.

One might not think Dr. Strangelove would be my kind of movie, but I can describe my love for it in two words—Peter and Sellers. (I grew up with the Pink Panther series.)

My Guilty Pleasure: Strictly Ballroom

"A life lived in fear is a life half lived." 

A slight tongue twister or a profound mantra? I would argue that it is a bit of both. 

The movie is so silly and over the top and it is a powerful lesson on nonconformity. Scott wants to dance like no one else. His creativity bubbles up inside him, but has no support. Fran sees his genius, but no one sees her. 

Together they tear down all the walls including his perceptions and her self doubt and then--
they fly!

Films by My Most and Least Favorite Directors

The Best: Frank Capra-It Happened One Night


Ahh, sweet Capra-corn. 

I eat this stuff up. The goodness of humanity, the rewards of hard work and the blessings of selflessness are all themes that resonate with me. 

It Happened One Night combines them and adds in clever dialogue and real emotional weight. I care about the characters here as well as in his other films. Even thought I know how each story will probably end, somehow I'm still eager to find out. 

Truly this day's challenge of choosing a single director was impossible, so I went with the director that makes me consistently happy.

* * *

The Worst: Ed Wood- Plan 9 From Outer Space

Flying Saucers made from plates, wobbling tombstones, pillows seen for falling stunts, cue card reading priests, it's day-no it's night- no it's day, X’s marked on the floor for scene blocking—have some respect for the craft, man!

Because it is beyond bad, it does make for a fun movie night.