10 movies to watch over the Holidays

Completely unpretentious, they’re just good. I promise.

I’m reading Bill Maher’s book What This Comedian Said Will Shock You. I love it, it‘s my thing. I just finished Chapter 20’s skewering of Hollywood. So I press pause to remind you all of a holiday movie list I had made. Simple, and often deceptively complex, films that provide food for thought. Enjoyment. Discussion. Or just a place in your mind where you can just rest and be. Remember, these are my opinions. But for many of you, we share a similar mindset, so I bet you will enjoy - how ever you define enjoyment. Ok?

If you know me, you know I love movies. I tend to be a harsh judge of those who don’t recall movie lines, or worse, have never seen the movie to which I’m referring. Ironic coming from someone who can’t remember anyone’s name. But you see, I find movies to be so revealing about where peoples collective heads are at certain moments in time and I love seeing a hint of things through the lens that my parents or grandparents might have seen the world. I suppose it’s why I often prefer a movie that was made in the 1930s rather than a movie about the 1930s. When you watch a movie like My Man Godfrey, you’re watching something in its exactness that millions and millions of people watched over 90 years ago- did you know around 80 million people a week went to the movies in the 1930s? These were such important cultural moments and if they don’t portray life exactly as it was, it is regardless part of the story of how people lived their lives.

When I waitressed in college, our line chef was also a part time movie critic. He only watched foreign films, or movies like Barton Fink or Eraserhead. The fact that I was moved by Dead Poets Society made him cringe. He would hate much of this list. Whatever.

So here for you I have 10 movies that I’ll force my family to watch this weekend. One that was on the list, Slingblade, I had to remove. It’s not available for streaming anywhere and I no longer own a dvd player. That sucks.

So, in no particular order:

The sweating scene with Albert Brooks and Joan Cusacks role as production assistant will make this well worth the time invested in watching.

Crossing Delancey. Just a film that is so light but at the same time not at all forgetful. Like just a really good light dessert.

Priceless. Just really really funny. I have to use English subtitles of course, fucking Duolingo and I just have not worked well together. Merde.

I mean….. I can watch over and over. And it annoys the living fuck out of me when Stella in our office doesn’t know what I mean when I tell her she completes me.

Babe. Honestly, you think its just for kids, but that tissue box is out from the first scene and it has me booking tickets back to Australia.

Most people haven’t seen these, or if they have it’s been a while. So good and the cast was amazing. I think this may have been Cameron Diaz’s first film. The style is great, the story line holds through to today.

Chinatown. Required watching for anyone who hasn’t seen it. You have to think when you watch this one. And that’s not a bad thing.

Because it just is so lovely to watch.

And this one too. Just fun. Just really fun and nice.

This one is one of my favorites of all time. Just the psychological study of a mom’s relationship with her son, the New England culture, this movie melts me. The acting was amazing, it’s a super solid watch.

I hope you enjoy the list. And have a great holiday, get rest, don’t do much, eat lots. And most of all, cherish your family, life is so short and precious and I love how very different we all are.