Keeping the Faith (2000)

The story of two friends, Jake (Stiller) and Brian (Norton); who grew up together and hung out as young boys. They meet a young girl named Anna whom they also hang out with. But she moves away. When the young boys are adults, Jake becomes a rabbi, and Brian a priest. Years later, Anna visits New York on business and reunites with them. Soon the two men find themselves both falling for her. But because of their religious beliefs they are not allowed to pursue her; the priest cannot break his vow of celibacy and the rabbi cannot marry her since she is not Jewish.
A wonderful romantic comedy, with religious humor and quick-witted dialogue.
Starring Edward Norton, Ben Stiller, Jenna Elfman, Anne Bancroft, Eli Wallach, Ron Rifkin, Milos Forman, Holland Taylor, Lisa Edelstein, Rena Sofer 7/10

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Lolita (1962)

Humbert Humbert is middle-aged college professor of French poetry who arrives in Ramsdale, New Hampshire looking for a place to stay for the summer until he starts his teaching in the fall. He agrees to stay at the house of Charlotte Haze, a lonely widow but only so he can be around her fourteen-year-old flirtatious daughter, Lolita, whom he is entranced by at first sight.
When Charlotte tells him that she’s going to send Lolita to an all girl’s camp for the summer, he decides that the only way to be around Lolita permanently is to marry Charlotte. But when a tragic accident occurs one rainy day, for Humbert it is heaven sent because he can have Lolita all to himself. They travel together to Beardsley College where he has a teaching position but their lives are interrupted by a scheming con artist named Clare Quilty.
Mason is amazing, Sellers is fantastic and Lyon is terrific in her film debut.
Starring James Mason, Shelley Winters, Sue Lyon, Peter Sellers 9/10

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The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

The story of Christine, a young and aspiring chorus singer who dances at the Paris Opera House. When the opera house’s leading diva Carlotta resigns, Christine is chosen to replace her. She sings one night and catches the attention of The Phantom of the Opera also known as the Opera Ghost. But he’s hardly a ghost; it is a disfigured musical genius whom has been hiding in the Opera House for years because of his facial disfigurement. With the Phantom’s help, Christine becomes his leading lady. But he doesn’t realize that she’s in love with the handsome, noble Viscount Raoul De Chagny, whom they were once childhood sweethearts. He proposes marriage, she accepts and the Phantom feeling betrayed makes plans to get Christine back even if that means forcing to make the ultimate decision; be with him or sending Raoul to his death.
With an astonishing cast and an outstanding soundtrack, this film will take your breath away.
Starring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver 9/10

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The Illusionist (2006)

Norton plays Eisenheim, a famous magician in 1900’s Vienna. One night when he’s on stage, the Crown Prince Leopold makes his fiancee help out with a magic trick. When she approaches the stage Eisenheim instantly recognizes her; it’s his childhood friend Sophie whom his father was the cabinet maker that made her family’s furniture. But her parents forbid her to see him. He left and they lost touch. Now they’re reunited. They fall in love and he wants to runaway with Sophie but she knows that Leopold will hunt them down and kill them. She doesn’t want to marry him, and afraid of his plans to overthrow his father. So Eisenheim devises a plan, his greatest magic trick of all. Giamatti plays Inspector Uhl, hired by the Crown Prince to investigate Eisenheim.
A beautiful romantic story, with great performances from Norton, Giamatti and Sewell.
Starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, 8/10

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Down in the Valley (2005)

Tobe is a rebellious sixteen year old girl living with her younger brother Lonnie and father Wade in Los Angeles in the present day San Fernando Valley. She and her friends are headed to the beach on one sunny, hot afternoon when they stop at a gas station and are greeted and full-served by an attendant named Harlan, who instantly catches Tobe’s eye. She invites him to join them at the beach, but if he does he’ll get fired from the gas station. He goes along with them anyway. Almost immediately they spark up a romantic affair, even though Harlan is twice her age and despite the fact that her overbearing, short tempered father forbids Tobe from seeing him. Wade is suspicious of Harlan, and believes he’s much more than he claims to be.
Both Norton and Wood are amazing in this great underrated story.
Starring Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, David Morse, Rory Culkin, Bruce Dern, John Diehl, Geoffrey Lewis 7/10

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Pretty Woman (1990)

Gere plays a wealthy business tycoon who happens to meet Hollywood Boulevard hooker Roberts while driving in his lawyer’s sports car one night. He hires her to be his escort for a week, takes her shopping for new clothes to change her look, and eventually falls in love with her. A great romantic love story that is extremely likable, mostly for Julia’s performance.
Starring Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander, Hector Elizondo, Larry Miller, Amy Yasbeck, Laura San Giacomo 7/10

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Sabrina (1954)

Hepburn plays Sabrina, the chauffeur’s daughter to the rich Larrabee family. She’s in love with David, the playboy and youngest son but he doesn’t even know she exists. She goes away to cooking school in Paris and comes back a sophisticated young lady which immediately catches David’s attention when he’s driving one day and sees her stranded at the train station. But he does not recognize her until later when she reunites with her father and the staff of the Larrabee household. David invites her to their party, and Sabrina think it’s a dream come true. Until the older brother Linus sees them dancing together and devises a plan to get Sabrina back to Paris so David can marry his fiancee Elizabeth Tyson, so Larrabee Industries can merge with Tyson Plastics.
A wonderfully romantic comedy with the three leads giving terrific performances.
Starring Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, William Holden, John Williams, Walter Hampden, Martha Hyer, Nella Walker, Ellen Corby 9/10

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The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976)

The classic story of Cinderella; her parents are dead, she lives with her horrible and cruel stepmother and spoiled, demanding stepsisters. In the tiny kingdom of Euphrania, the King and his royal court are very anxious to get the Prince Edward, heir to the throne to marry, but he wants to marry for love. So the King and Lord Chamberlain decide to have a bride-finding ball so he can choose one.
Meanwhile Cinderella is forced to move into the cellar or go to an orphanage. She stays and is assigned long and grueling tasks. But one day she meets a cheery fairy godmother who helps her complete the tasks. And with the help of magic, she gets to go to the ball in a fancy gown and a beautiful carriage.
Edward and Cinderella meet at the ball and instantly fall in love. They want to marry but the King and Queen can’t consent because the Prince must make a marriage of alliance with a princess of royal blood, otherwise it could lead to war. This is by far my favorite tale of Cinderella; with an interesting plot, wonderful songs, and delightful performances.
Starring Richard Chamberlain, Gemma Craven, Annette Crosbie, Michael Hordern, Edith Evans, Margaret Lockwood, Kenneth More 9/10

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Wild at Heart (1990)

After Elvis wannabe Sailor Ripley breaks parole for manslaughter, he and his blonde bombshell girlfriend Lula Fortune leave town and take a road trip to New Orleans. Lula’s mother Marietta, protective of her daughter hires a hitman and private detective to hunt down the young lovers. On the way they witness a young woman dying after a car accident, and Lula believes this is a bad omen. When in New Orleans they meet a bunch of weird characters, including the evil and psychotic Bobby Peru, who convinces Sailor to help him carry out a bank robbery.
Typically bizarre David Lynch film, with references to The Wizard of Oz. But despite the strangeness of it, the love story between Sailor and Lula is the main focus.
Starring Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, Crispin Glover, Diane Ladd, Isabella Rossellini, Harry Dean Stanton, Sherilyn Fenn 9/10

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The Wedding Singer (1998)

Sandler plays Robbie Hart, a sweet and likeable guy who has a job singing at weddings. His dreams are shattered when his fiancee stands him up at the alter of his own wedding. While trying desperately to move on, he meets and becomes friends with an adorable waitress, and finds out she’s about to make the biggest mistake of her life by marrying a jerk that will ruin her life.
A wonderful romantic comedy with a great 80’s music soundtrack. Starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor, Allen Covert, Angela Featherstone, Christina Pickles, Jon Lovitz, Billy Idol 7/10

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