Movie Weather

Given the days on end of rain we are having, I am suddenly in the mood to see a movie. With two kids, actually getting out to a movie theater just doesn't happen so we end up searching cable, on-demand listings, and sifting through the non-kid DVDs we have (not many there) in order to find something to watch.

Below is a list of ten movies that if I stumble across them playing, I am sucked in and must watch:

1) Rear Window - This is our all-time favorite movie. Bet Sean and I have seen this over 100 times, no exaggeration. We own the DVD so this is our "go to" movie when we need some comfort. Hitchcock at his best. Grace Kelly is stunning and her clothes alone are worth a watch for the ladies. We were fortunate to get to see this on a big screen when we lived in LA and it was amazing how much more detail you could see. All time #1 for me.

2) Marie Antoinette - An odd pick I know. Kirsten Dunst is a great as the 15 year old Austrian royalty married off to the dauphin of France. She is taken aback by the excess and stuffiness of life in Versailles but then ends up neck deep in it (wow, that was a bad pun). The costumes are amazing. I love how Sofia Coppola threw in a pair of Converse high-tops in the shoe shopping scene and how the soundtrack is pure 80s New Wave which creates a very different feel for this period piece.

3) Gattica - This is the futuristic tale of genetic engineering and DNA discrimination. Ethan Hawk,Uma Thurman and Jude Law are great. The story of never giving up no matter what is timeless. The biggest winner here is the cinematography and art direction...simply a beautiful movie to watch. Origin of one of my favorite quotes: "I never saved anything for the swim back."

4) Spy Game - Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. Need I say more? LOL. Well actually I love this movie for the plot and music. Great CIA twister and better when you watch it the second time. Not a movie you run across much in the cable/on-demand listings but worth a watch if you do. The "training montage" song is a regular on my workout playlist.

5) Pride & Prejudice - I usually don't enjoy "stuffy" movies which is the category in which I put this movie when it came out. Just looked boring to me. However after watching it once on cable, I am hooked. Keira Knightly is perfectly cast as Lizzy and that scene where you see Mr. Darcy in his long duster coat striding over the hillside to her in the morning light gives me chills.

6) Dial M for Murder - More Hitchcock with Grace Kelly. Great plot of man who wants his wife murdered for her money but beauty is in the details. Pay close attention or you may miss some important stuff. Again, probably better the second (or 50th) time you see it. The loose remake of it called A Perfect Murder with Michael Douglas and Gweneth Paltrow is decent however no comparison to Hitchcock's version.

7) Wall Street - Yep, Gordon Gekko baby. That scene where Gordon is on the beach talking on that H-U-G-E phone is hilarious! Not to be out done by the over the top decorating Darien does to Bud's new apartment. Once you finish cringing over how cheesy the 80s were, the rest is just pretty good drama.

8) Dirty Dancing - Ok, I admit it. I love watching this movie. Funny thing is that I don't really think it is that GOOD of a movie but yet I get sucked into watching it when I come upon it. Nobody puts Baby in a corner.

9) No Way Out - Maybe I am stuck in the 80s or something. Great suspenseful flick with Kevin Coser caught heading up an FBI manhunt. Watch until the VERY end or you miss the big twist.

10) Star Wars - Lumping these into one but mainly referring to Episode 4 and 5 (the original Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back). To anyone that knows me, this is a no-brainer. Do you think it was by chance our first born was named LUKE?

That is all for today. Kids are napping and there is a pile of laundry with my name on it. Here's hoping I can find one of these on to keep me company.