A Movie That Will Never Fade

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK:

This movie is the essence of a 'feel good movie'. It has romance, it has humor, it even has a little action here and there, although nothing gets blown up or demolished, and most importantly; it will never get old.
What's more, this movie is honest. Honesty plays a big part in my movie selections for the simple reason that if a movie cannot be honest about aspects of life that are indeed fit for the screen, then a movie has no reason to be honest with anything else. Without honesty, all genres would eventually require leaps of faith to watch. There would be no grounding anymore.
Moving back to the film, this movie is the chronicle of two young people, played by Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, newlywed and beginning a new portion of their lives. What follows is not so straight forward. Life isn't what they expected; it has surprises that neither of the them could have predicted; like having to sleep in a twin size bed together. Coupled with a varied and hilarious community of supporting actors and actresses, this movie presents a close perception of what love could truly mean between two people, and that in itself brings hope to its viewers.

For more information go to www.imdb.com

A Natural Classic

THE NATURAL:

"He lived for a dream that wouldn't die."

I frequently find myself looking for a solid sports movie, but apart from interesting ones like Any Given Sunday, I find myself running into dead ends. I mean, do I really want to rent Blood Sport? To be honest, I do enjoy movies like The Gridiron Gang, and Rudy, but options for satisfying sports movies are few and fare between. I rented this movie on a recommendation from someone who's movie taste i trust. I didn't know anything about it, and in the end I think that was the best way to see it; unaware.
This movie was nominated for 4 Oscars, and for good reason. It's an accessible vision of second chance, and what it takes to take the same chance a second time in a lifetime.
Robert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, an up-and-coming baseball pitcher who encounters dramatic barriers in his path to the majors. The movie really revolves around his return to the game that he loves, through many years and countless struggles. Armed with his baseball bat hand carved from a tree that was struck by lighting in his childhood, and an incredible supporting cast, Hobbs is the inspiration and determination of a generation whose dreams never went away made flesh.

Starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Robert Duvall and Joe Don Baker. Directed by Barry Levinson.
For more information go to www.imdb.com

A Still Relevant Thriller: A Rarity

THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR:

"His code name is Condor. In the next seventy-two hours everyone he trusts will try to kill him."

I think that the most important comment I can write about this movie is that among the older classic movie genre, a percentage of older film may lose some of its relevance to the current viewing generation. Some stories or trials portrayed in an older screen play are no longer considered in the same context as they were when they were first produced. That is the theme of this post; context, and the rarity of context enduring through decades of change.
This movie has done exactly that; endured. New movies like the Bourne Ultimatum series are good adaptations of books that were written in a different time and context. The special attribute of Three Days of the Condor is that it IS still relevant in its original form and with its original context. The suspense, the thrills, and the characters all resonate with the same intensity as new movies, even thirty-some odd years later.
For this post I will not reveal any plot spoilers or overviews, but instead will simply state that this movie is a superb spy/CIA thriller, a terrific movie, and possessed of an inspired cast.

Starring Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway. Directed by Sydney Pollack.
For more information go to www.imdb.com