Tonight, M and I spent about an hour and a half on the phone discussing movies. It was one of those blissfully unessential conversations – nothing about what’s going on in either of our worlds; just a chance to learn just a little more about each other. For instance:
M: “You haven’t seen Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?!”
Me: “You haven’t seen My Fair Lady?!”
M: [Beginning to list movies he likes]: “O Brother Where Art Thou… The Godfather…”
Me: “Why do all men feel the need to love The Godfather?”
M: (I can practically hear him shaking his head at me. Then, in a gruff voice:) “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse…”
I suppose I should actually watch The Godfather before I criticize. Incidentally, the only quote I know from The Godfather is the one about going to the mattresses. And I only know it from You’ve Got Mail:
JOE (via internet chat): Minus specifics, it’s hard to help. Except to say, go to the mattresses.
KATHLEEN: What?
JOE: It’s from The Godfather. It means you have to go to war.
KATHLEEN: The Godfather? What is it with men and The Godfather?
JOE: The Godfather is the I Ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather is the answer to any question. What should I pack for my summer vacation? “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” What day of the week is it? “Maunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday.” And the answer to your question is “Go to the mattresses.”
One day, back when I worked in a cubicle, I overheard a conversation between two male friends. One advised the other to “go to the mattresses.” When asked what that meant, he replied, with a touch of bravado: “It’s from the Godfather.” “I don’t remember that line,” was the reply. “Which scene? Who says it?” Silence. I couldn’t resist peaking my head around the cubicle wall and saying: “It’s also quoted on You’ve Got Mail.” Busted! The guy protested that his wife just loves that movie…
Anyway, back to tonight’s movie talk. Quite a few of our conversations seem lead to internet research. (M’s common refrain: “I bet Wiki will know!”) I like to think we’re just an inquisitive couple. We also both love lists. So this conversation led to internet research into lists of the “top 100 movies of all time” and (at my request) “the top 25 romantic movies of all time.” My discovery of the evening : I am completely uneducated when it comes to movies. I’d seen maybe 15 of the top 10, and heard of less than half. Perhaps I just have poor taste. I’m sorry, but I just didn’t get much enjoyment out of The Third Man. And I’ve never seen Ben Hur. I have no desire to see Ben Hur. I’ve also never seen Citizen Kane or Gone with the Wind (I’d like to see both, even though someone ruined the Rosebud mystery for me). I do, however, very much approve of the likes of Casablanca and Singin’ in the Rain and An Affair to Remember and Breakfast at Tiffany’s and It’s a Wonderful Life, all of which are fabulous. I can’t help wondering why I didn’t see Roman Holiday in any of these lists, but then I’m a sucker for Audrey Hepburn movies.
Reading through a list of the top movies of all time, M and I occasionally expressed shock at the movies one of us hasn’t seen. Which leads me to one of those very exciting projects that I fear poor M may end up having to endure rather than enjoy. Here is my list.
And yes, I may have taste when it comes to literature, but movies are another story (i.e. I’m a sappy, plot-obsessed romantic).
(Mostly Romantic) Movies To, erm, Encourage M To Watch With Me *
(In no particular order):
- My Fair Lady
- Possession (academic mystery and transatlantic love – oh yeah. The book is better, but two hours of passive watching is probably more of a reasonable expectation…)
- The Sound of Music (a singing nun, Nazis, alps, guitars, puppets, a gazebo, a hurt finger, a chase, and many many favourite things…)
- Sabrina (the remake)
- The Notebook (Yes, I appreciate that this movie is utterly terrible. But surely you have to have seen this display of pure cheese.)
- Roman Holiday
- Mamma Mia!
- Singin’ In The Rain
- Message in a Bottle (there’s a theme: soppy romances!)
- Somewhere In Time (classic cult hit with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. You can’t get any better/worse than a movie about a man who goes back in time to meet a woman in a photograph. I used to watch this movie over and over again.)
- Finding Nemo (“just keep swimming, just keep swimming” – not a romance, but I love it anyway)
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (wacky and wonderful)
- Sweet Home Alabama (not sure if he’s seen this one…)
- Bridges of Madison County
This last one, I re-watched this evening with my parents. Despite the fact that I posted a Meryl Streep clip on here earlier today, this was purely a coincidence; my Dad was channel-flipping after the Andy Murray Wimbledon match, and it was just beginning. I put it on the list because, well, let’s face it: don’t we all want to be loved like that? And so I reiterate my earlier Meryl sentiment: she is pure talent. There are so many of her movies I haven’t seen. I’m thinking about seeing if L is interested in a Meryl Marathon in the Fall (I won’t subject M to that, but I know L will be up for it). I have still never seen Sophie’s Choice, but fear I may have to stock up on Kleenex.
* I hereby reserve the right to alter or amend this list at my discretion.
