More Gift Tips For The Holidays

Yesterday, I mentioned I get an interest and become so absorbed in it, I become a walking source document. One of my past interests was old movies—and new movies too. Somewhere along the way though, I lost the time to be interested—I’m thinking it was roughly when the twins come into my life out of neonatal intensive care. An entire generation of actors has grown up and made movies since then. I know about five of their names—Colin Firth being the only one I’d want to remember. If they are younger than Tom Hanks, it’s doubtful I’ve seen them in anything.

There’s a blog I’m fond of called Reel Hollywood. The gentleman who writes it is a musical composer and music editor on some pretty big name films—and he has more than a passing resemblance to a shorter Richard Gere, something he likes to point out! He doesn’t have the best technical sense about creating a site, but he does have great, real stories about what goes on inside Hollywood in the moviemaking business. He started out at the bottom as an apprentice and has spent the past 30 years working his way up—watching, observing, and learning the moviemaking music craft. To much acclaim, it seems. I encourage you to visit him.

On that note, I can’t give everyone a present this holiday season because…oh, wait, my checks, credit cards, and all of my CDs were stolen (so no mix CDs this year)...I just can’t swing it, dammit.

So, instead, I’m giving this—my favorite movie list—for you to go out and rent. These films might have made the list because they are campy or quirky or just plain good. Hollywood Video should pay me, right? So, kick back with the remote, some 0 Trans Fat/No Salt/No Butter popcorn, some Milk Duds (it's all about balance) and enjoy:

Comedies/Black Comedies	Queer	Drama
Love, Actually (2003)	Boys in the Band (1970)	Godfather I & II
The Trouble With Harry (1955)	But, I’m A Cheerleader (1999)	Rope (1948)
Ruling Class (1971)	Longtime Companion (1990)	Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
My Man Godfrey (1936)	If These Walls Could Talk II	Maltese Falcon (1941)
His Girl Friday (1940)	Boy’s Don’t Cry (1999)	Giant (1956)
How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)	Bound (1996)	Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
The Quiet Man (1952)	Gods & Monsters (1998)	Magnificent Obsession (1954)
Kind Hearts & Coronets (1949)	The Children’s Hour (1961)	Man in the Grey Flannel Suit(1956)
The Green Man (1956)	Kiss Me, Guido (1997)	Double Indemnity (1944)
Shirley Valentine (1989)	Torch Song Trilogy (1988)	Separate Tables (1958)
Sabrina (1954)	Transamerica (2005)	Captain Blood (1935)

 

I know I'll be watching this holiday season...oh, no I won't...the DVDs were stolen too!

You can always count on Errol Flynn, he’ll always let you down. ~ David Niven

Published on: Dec 8, 2006