Movies are a beautiful thing. For anywhere from eighty minutes to well over three hours, movies provide us with a small escape from reality as well as grant us stories that can teach us lessons and viewpoints on a number of topics. But a lecture about film is not why this article exists; it exists because there’s those certain movies that you keep coming back to, no matter how many times you’ve seen them. And I’m here to inform you on five of my personal favorites that I believe, in no particular order, will never get old.
#1: The Blues Brothers
Evolving from a regular skit on Saturday Night Live into its own feature, this is a simple story of two brothers (played by the comedy-king duo of John Belushi and Dan Akroyd) trying to save the orphanage they were raised in from foreclosure. The premise might sound like the workings of an intense and emotional drama, but you won’t find any of that here! Fantastic chemistry between the whole cast, sheer ridiculousness, and quotable lines galore is just part of the charm this flick still carries even today, backed up by a foot-tappin’ soundtrack and some pretty notable guest appearances. Even if you’re not a fan of musicals, this is always a good choice for killing an hour or two.
#2: Rocky
From the streets of Chicago to
Philadelphia. Even if you have amazingly managed to not watch this movie by
now, you are intricately familiar with the concept. Rocky Balboa, a simple and
humble boxer, chases the American dream against all odds. The film has just as
much heart as it’s protagonist, and its simplicity of plot along with memorable
scenes, like the much-imitated stair run up the Philadelphia Art Museum, made
this an instant classic and Sylvester Stallone a star. And don’t even get me
started on that theme song.
#3: Napoleon Dynamite
This is one of those movies that when I take a step back to look at it, I think “What were these guys thinking making this?” But in this case, that is certainly not a bad thing. Perhaps the second-most quotable movie to come out in the last twenty years (more on that in a minute), this movie personifies dry humor. To make things even better, the movie came out of nowhere back in 2004, making it a true “sleeper” hit. All of the characters are memorable, your attention is somehow held onto long enough to pay attention, and the trivia surrounding the film make it something truly genuine. Jon Heder’s legendary performance (and dance moves) as Napoleon Dynamite were just icing on this gloriously awkward cake.
#4: Edward Scissorhands
After eight movies starring ever-malleable Johnny Depp helmed by the sweetly-macabre Tim Burton, it’s hard to imagine that this is where that famed partnership began. And even after all that, it’s still the best of the bunch. The movie, as a modern fairy tale, speaks to the childlike wonder in all of us that we still desperately cling to, the wonder that maybe there is still something magical about the world we live in, and appeals to the lonesome soul in all of us. Depp’s performance as Edward is equally tragic and comic, and his blossoming relationship with Kim (played by the wonderful Winona Ryder) is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Danny Elfman's score is seamless and breath-taking, perfect for what I consider Burton's masterwork. This is probably my most favorite movie, and there isn’t a time when I don’t cry both tears of joy and heartache at Edward’s enchanting story.
#5: Forrest Gump
Come on, you knew this had to be on here somewhere. There’s not a lot that I can say about this movie that hasn’t been said a thousand times by everyone who has ever seen this movie. Tom Hanks is simply perfect as Forrest, the film is a masterpiece, it’s uplifting, funny, quotable beyond belief… If you’ve seen the movie, and you one-hundred percent should have by now, you’ll know what I mean. And that’s all I have to say about that.
