This, of course, lends itself to all sorts of lists. My first movie list was that of movies I thought everyone should watch at least once. Boy, did that open up a flurry of arguments and discussions. I personally fed off all the back and forth like candy. I love stirring the pot of conversation, even if it is just written conversation.
This list is one that I have really taken to. It consists of movies that I watch for the characters. The storylines are all right, although a few are a bit predictable, but the characters drive the movie and engage the mind of the audience. I like to think it is a worthy combination of writing and acting that makes these work so well.
So here we go, without further fanfare or fireworks:
Michelle's Movies to Watch for the Characters
Love, Actually
This quirky little romance has many stories that blend together like waves on the sand. Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, and Hugh Grant give stellar performances that just make you empathize, sympathize, and just cheer. What I think really makes it work is the humanity and realism that is injected into each performance. That and Hugh grant as the Prime minister dancing to the Pointer Sisters is a scream. This is a perfect gem of a British movie. Stranger than Fiction
I am not a big Will Ferrell fan. Most of his movies tend to engage a mind I think only thirteen-year-old boys possess, but this movie is a BIG exception. It is smart, funny, well written, perfectly acted, and Mr. Ferrell has a lot to do with that. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah and Emma Thompson round up this spectacular cast. Together these brilliant actors bring to life a story that is original, and will give every tragic writer a moment of pause. I recommend it to everyone. My daughter, Savannah (10) has absolutely fallen in love with it, and so have I. Kingdom Come
When I first came across this film it was described as a heartwarming positive black film. Those kinds of descriptions always make me cringe. A good film is a good film despite the ethnic background of the cast. This film is fabulous. It centers on a family who comes together because of a death. Anyone with any sort of close family will relate to this excellent film. I kept thinking about my own family as I watched it, and going "Yep, I can see that happening". Of course situations and personalities are exaggerated, but that makes it all the funnier. As Good As It Gets
I am a HUGE Jack Nicholson fan, and in this movie not only would it not have worked without him, but also if Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, or Cuba Gooding Jr. had been missing this would have been a flop. This ensemble just meshes so well that magic is created on the screen. Without these actors, and a very brilliantly written script, the audience would have never cared about a bigoted man with severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a working single mother this a chronically ill child, or the gay artist who survived a devastating attack. Alone they are not worth our time; together the story is weaved so well we cannot help but care. While You Were Sleeping
Talk about a brilliantly crafted cast. I think that the family in this movie is what makes it work so well. They are so wonderfully honest in the performances that we, the audience, buy the entire situation without hesitation. Although the plot is a bit predictable, the audience does not care. The performances are just so true to life. The blustering dad, the ditzy grandma, and the way they embrace a total stranger. People may not think this kind of acceptance can happen, but it does. Elizabethtown
When a father dies it is up to his son to meet a side of the family he never knew, and discovers, for himself, things that make life worth living. The family in this movie also makes the film. Orlando Bloom's performance as the lost son trying to do what is right is a brilliant performance that enhances all those around him. A very soft understated film, which will make you smile. Dazed and Confused
I was born in 1972, and missed an era I wish I could visit. This movie is a decadent into a way of life that is gone and never to return. It is the last day of the school year, and incoming freshman and next year's seniors collide in a right of passage. I personally could never imagine some of these antics, and others I laugh when I think of what I may have missed. There are no "stars" of the show, but Parker Posey once again proves how versatile she really is. Another plus for this outstanding film is the soundtrack. You cannot help but rock out. Best In Show
There are scenes in this movie where I do nothing but shake my head saying "No you didn't". It takes a group of people from all over the country on their way to the big dog show. It watches like a documentary, and that is one of it's greatest appeal. From Parker Posey and Michael Hitchcock as uptight yuppies bent on perfection, to Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara who sing little songs about their terrier, this is one funny movie. Christopher Guest who has used the same cast in most of his mockumentaries really hit it out of the ballpark with this one. Also recommended are Waiting for Guffman and This is Spinal Tap. Independence Day
There are no stars in this movie. I guess what I really mean is that there is not a single hero to focus out attention on. There are many. Everyone has their one spotlight moment, but they all work so well together. In this bit of action fantasy the tragedy that brings the world together makes us stronger. The focus is on working together and Will Smith, Vivica Fox, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum prove that saving the world is a team effort.
There are hundreds of films out there that have stellar casts, but these are my favorites. I can watch them repeatedly without ever getting tired of them. I hope this will encourage you to give them a look. It is well worth the rental fee.
