While comfort food gets a big notice, I think there’s such a thing as a comfort movie too. You know, the movies you stick in the vcr/dvd when you’re sick or blue or otherwise upset…the type of movies that lifts you out of your misery for a little while.
Mine for the longest time have been:
** Empire Records**- which until recently would be the movie I’ve seen the most times. There’s something very appealing about the chacters and the dialogue.
** If Lucy Fell**- I’m not much of a romantic, but this movie makes even me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
** The Professional**- I don’t know why, so don’t ask.
And more recently:
** The X-Files: Fight The Future**- I’ve watched this six or seven times already, and it’s been less than a year since I first saw it…
** I’ve Been Waiting For You**- which is the best B horror movie I’ve ever watched.
** Drive Me Crazy**- Yet another of the romantic comedies I pretend to have no interest in…
Local Hero, of course, both because it’s that sort of movie and because I first saw it during one of my favorite periods of my life, when things were damn close to perfect, and watching lets me recapture a little of that.
The Princess Bride. A popular choice already, I see.
Sullivan’s Travels. Gotta have at least one Sturges film on a list like this. Besides, I have this thing for Veronica Lake (despite my usual preference for dark hair/eyes).
Bull Durham. I love minor league baseball. It’s obvious that Ron Shelton played the game. Annie Savoy is beginning to wear on my nerves the more times I see it, but I can deal with it. Shelton’s commentary on the DVD is the best director’s commentary I’ve encountered so far .
The Cocoanuts. Not most people’s favorite among the Marx Brothers’ films, but I sort of like that there’s even less story here than in the later films – less plot = more lunacy. It’s also probably the closest you can get to seeing what the Marx Brothers’ vaudeville act was like.
I would go with The TRUMAN SHOW - Not only was it one of my favorite movies, I first saw it during the best period of my life (The day it came out in theaters).
And I would have to go with The X-Files movie as well… - That came out in the summer of 1998 too. Great times. I wish the show kept up with the quality. I was a HUGE fan.
Another vote for The Truman Show. I also saw it at a memorable time, (took my four-week old daughter in with me and breast-fed her through the entire film), but even without that I’d love it. It doesn’t explore all the issues it could, but in a way that makes it a better, more focussed movie. Jim Carey is perfect, and usually I can’t stand him.
My best comfort movie is Terminator 1. I know, doesn’t sound as if it would be comforting, does it? But to me they’re not comfort movies as such, but reset movies - to remind you of who you really are when your life is going through a change.
Local Hero - love the setting, characters, quirky story,soundtrack
“We have an injured rabbit.”
Little Women (Winona Ryder version) a favorite story from childhood, brought to life, with hunky Christian Bale playing hunky Laurie. I never had sisters, the March sisters are my pretend ones. “Oh Jo, your one beauty.”
Dazed and Confused the story and soundtrack of my teen years; takes me right back. “Just keep on livin.’”
When I worked third shift, I had a lot of conflicts with my boss and co-workers because I wanted to do the (somewhat technical) work neatly and correctly, and they just didn’t care. Many mornings I’d come home, pop Tootsie in the VCR, and fast-forward to the scene in his agent’s office: “They can’t all be idiots, Michael, you argue with EVERYBODY!” That movie is about so much more than a man in a dress. I totally idenify with Michael Dorsey the perfectionist.
Also The Court Jester, Raising Arizona, and perhaps my favorite move ever, The Apartment.
Dazed and Confused–the soundtrack, Matthew McConaghey (sp?) and the little long-haired stoner guy make the whole movie. Plus I secretly love Wiley Wiggins.
Tootsie–one of the best movies ever, IMO.
Baby Boom–I harbor the fantasy of moving to a rambling old house in the country, so this movie is very satisfying to me.
Reality Bites–so does the movie, but come on; can’t you feel the love?
