H is for animated, suicidal, journalists

I am madly in love with anything Hayao Miyazaki does. And Howl's is probably my favorite. It is the wonderful story of a young woman who's mundane life is turned upside-down after a fateful encounter with the Witch of the Waste. This is a rare production by Miyazaki because it is adapted from a novel by Diana Wynne Jones. Typically he writes his own screenplays, but the book follows a similar theme used often in his films: a heroine who must overcome adversity to save something. This time Sophie must find a way to break the spell cast upon her by seeking the aid of Howl, a wizard who, legend says, steals young girl's souls. This film is visually stunning. It's so wonderful to watch traditional animation. Miyazaki is a master of creating beautiful landscapes with wind blowing through tall grassy fields and clouds floating in the sky. This is yet another movie my mother and I enjoyed together. What I love most is, whenever I feel sad, I just watch any of his films and they magically lift my spirits and take my cares away. That is exactly what movies should do.

 

This is another movie I grew up watching. I love telling the premise to those who've never seen it:

Harold, a teenager who attends funerals and commits suicide as a hobby meets and falls in love with Maude, an eighty year-old woman who is full of life. This is the most mismatched couple in film history, but their love affair is heartwarming, humorous and wonderful. I have to warn you, this is a very black comedy. The opening scene is at the same time somber and absolutely hilarious. After watching the introduction of Harold and his family, one has to wonder, 'who is the crazy one here, Harold and is death obsession or his mother, who is obsessed with appearance and status?' This movie is a must for anyone who has forgotten what life is truly about. Ruth Gordon's spot on performance envelopes the viewer in Maude's love of life. Pure joy.

 

You may have noticed that I have quite a few older films on this list. There's one reason for that: Hollywood used to make really great films. There was a time when it wasn't all about the money. In fact, there are many movies considered 'classic' that did horribly at the box office. I don't know how this film did. What I do know is this is truly a great film. Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell are flawless as ex-spouses, one of which pines for 'the good ole days' with his ex/newspaper buddy and the other is trying her best to break away from her ex's charms. This film is also a perfect example of another nearly extinct creature in Hollywood, the great script. This film is one of the first, if not the first, to use overlapping dialogue. And when it's Grant and Russell delivering those lines, it's pure genius. Loads of laughs and who doesn't need to laugh a lot these days.

Unlike the last letter where I struggled to find enough films, 'H' has a plethora of really good ones. There's Hope and Glory, the semi-autobiographical story of a boy's life in London during the blitz. And The Hitcher, a truly creepy tale with an equally creepy performance by Rutger Hauer (by the way, there's a remake of this that I haven't seen because you shouldn't remake perfection). Hero and House Of Flying Daggers are two more films I have to mention. They are visually stunning and full of lots of great martial arts. Let's not forget The Host, the best damn Korean horror film with the quirkiest family and the coolest monster...ever! Last but in no way least is the Oscar winning The Hurt Locker. This Best Oscar winner was one of the hardest movies I've ever watched and I may never watch it again, but I highly recommend that everyone watch it once to gain a little understanding of the horrors our soldiers go through for 'freedom'.

   

 G is for peaceful, prison, friendship

Included in many film industry top ten lists, Gandhi truly is a great film about one of history's most important figures. Ben Kingsley is superb as the Indian lawyer who takes it upon himself to rid his country of British colonialism. In fact, Dustin Hoffman considered trying for the roll, but starred in Tootsie instead. He lost the Best Actor Oscar to Kingsley. This film, directed by Richard Attenborough nearly 30 years ago, holds such resonance today with all the conflict that is occurring in the region. In a day and age where hatred and violence seem so prevalent everywhere in the world, it would behoove society to take another look at how a small man with nothing but love and peace in his heart can lead a nation toward freedom through nonviolence. 

I came upon this story first as a serial novel by Stephen King. Although he is known best as a horror writer, King has also written some very good 'normal' stories and this is a perfect example. Set in Louisiana in the mid-1930s, the film tells the story of John Coffey, a convicted murderer with a special gift. Directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tom Hanks, Michael Clark Duncan, and Michael Jeter, this is the closest adaption of a King novel that exists. I can vividly remember watching the movie and crying because I knew what was about to happen. Basically, I cried through the whole movie. So if you are not in the mood to have your heart strings tugged, steer away from this movie. But I would beg you not to do so for long. This is a wonderful film and I would also recommend you read the novel. 

 

I would like to say that this last film is a bright, sunny, happy movie, but I would be lying. Gallipoli is set in several bright, sunny places like the Australian outback, Egypt, and the west coast Turkish peninsula from which the title comes. It tells the story of two runners whose friendship takes them on a journey that ends half way around the world in a horrific battle at Gallipoli. It features a young Mel Gibson as Frank Dunne, a womanizing layabout who follows his friend, Archy Hamilton, to war because he doesn't have anything else in his life. Little does he know it will change his life forever. I love this film. It's such a wonderful tale of the endurance of friendship and it is directed by one of my favorite directors, Peter Weir. Weir doesn't make films very often, but when he does, they are absolute magic. With a resume that includes such films as The Year of Living Dangerously, Witness, Dead Poet's Society, Fearless, The Truman Show, and Master and Commander, Weir's name alone will make me go see a film. And this one is masterful.

'G' was a hard letter to do. I'd like to say that's why there was such a long gap between postings, but that would be a lie. I could only find a few films to write about, but they were all very good. Another great film would have to be Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe as a brave general who loses everything and is forced to become a fighter in the Roman arena. He then takes the opportunity to seek both revenge and peace of mind. This achievement is only possible in 'Hollywoodland'. This is one of those films that has a musical score that sweeps me away. And Mr. Crowe in a skirt is easy on the eyes, of course.

My last entry is the only comedy for this letter, Galaxy Quest. This quirky, fun film stars Tim Allen as a has-been tv star who finds himself and his former cast mates in a world that mirrors the show that has haunted him for years. Lots of laughs can be had by all. So watch the heavy ones and save this one for last. Even Gandhi would agree, laughter is a much needed ingredient in life.