*hey there, it's christa*

I 💚 Classic Cinema

Movie critic confession: Until last night, I'd never seen All About Eve.

I'd always heard good things about it, though, so it was perennially on my to-watch list. Turns out, back in 1951, it was awarded the Academy Award for Best Picture, beating out one of my all-time favorites, Sunset Boulevard. Coincidentally, both were stories that revolved around aging actresses.

Unlike Sunset Boulevard that immediately draws you in with clever narration and the memorable image of the man's body floating in a pool, however, All About Eve was a bit of a slow starter. But once you were properly introduced to the characters (Bette Davis's famed Margo Channing, in particular), it was impossible to tear yourself away without knowing where the story was headed.

In addition to being a sucker for films in glorious black & white, what I probably loved most about All About Eve is its timeless quality. While the film may have released before my mother was born (!!!), the themes about celebrity and the lengths that young stars will go to fast-track their careers, still resonate today.

Plus, like the best movies, it's got plenty of memorable catchphrases. My favorite? "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night." Yes, it was indeed.

Hey Summer, It Was Nice Knowin' Ya...Part 2 (At the Movies)

Considering that I'm a movie critic by trade, it's probably not surprising that I planted my backside in plenty of those plushy cinema chairs this summer. What was a bit of a shocker, however, is how many films I actually (gasp!) enjoyed.

Per tradition, there were plenty of those mind-numbing stinkers that inevitably cause one to wonder what exactly the studio execs  were thinking (The Lone Ranger, Pacific Rim, White House Down and The Internship immediately spring to mind).

But aside from the usual fluff, there was a pretty satisfying mix of big-budget and smaller titles that totally defied my expectations. Whether I was in the mood to hang with some lovable misfits or simply longed for a momentary escape to a new, fantastical world, there was something that fit the bill. And when all else fails, watching Robert Downey Jr. wrestle with the weight of the world on his shoulders as Iron Man is pretty fun, too—especially when considering how lame the last chapter was.

As for my favorites? I can think of 11. Iron Man 3, naturally. Carey Mulligan as Daisy aside, I also loved The Great Gatsby. Another unexpected surprise was Mud (proof that Matthew McConaughey can play someone other than a suave romantic lead). As for the rest of the motley crew, I also adored Frances Ha, Much Ado About Nothing, The Way, Way Back, The Bling Ring, Red 2, Girl Most Likely, Blue Jasmine and The Spectacular Now.

Now that I've shared my favorites, how about you? What were your must-sees of Summer 2013?

Loved the Book, Can't Wait for the Movie...

I'm embarrassed to say that I first started reading the fabulous Where'd You Go, Bernadette the day after Christmas and (gasp!) just finished.

Normally when it takes me that long to finish a book it's because I'm not really feeling it. But since part of my job involves reviewing novels, and I subscribe to a veritable truckload of magazines, my pre-bedtime reading has mostly consisted of work-related titles and flipping through Williams-Sonoma catalogs and Food Network magazine and, of course, catching up on all things entertainment with People and EW.

So needless to say, poor Bernadette was neglected for way too long.

Speaking of Bernadette, I absolutely adored her character. To say she's quirky is the understatement of the century. For one, she's practically agoraphobic and outsources even the most menial of tasks, loathes her new hometown of Seattle with a passion (yeah, I don't get that either) and was a forward-thinking, accomplished architect until things went very wrong.

Yeah, to elaborate more on that would rob you of the many joys of reading, so just take my word for it and check it out. Trust me, thanks to Maria Semple, one of the writers of TV's "Arrested Development," Bernadette is a character you won't forget any time soon.

In fact, I can hardly wait to see who plays her on the big screen since the novel was recently optioned for a movie that reportedly involves a few of the people who worked on (500) Days of Summer, one of my all-time favorites.

A Tribute to One of My Writing Heroes, Nora Ephron

Although we've never chatted over a cappuccino somewhere in Manhattan or exchanged friendly banter about where you can score the best tiramisu in the West Village since she was a major foodie, I've always thought that Nora Ephron and I could be great friends.

You know, if we actually knew each other...

See, in my book she's right up there with Jane Austen and Judy Blume as a writer who has a particularly profound influence on me—and my own work. Not only does her quick wit, ear for dialogue, cultural observations and clever turns of phrase still make me insanely jealous in that "why didn't I think of that?" way, but her stories were born crowd-pleasers and smart to boot. Imagine that.

Funny enough, when I think of Nora's movies, it almost always reminds me of being sick. Whenever  I'm red-nosed, achy and blowing my nose every 20 seconds, my M.O. involves wrapping up in my favorite down blanket, plopping on the couch and watching one of my favorite sick-day movies—You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle or Julie & Julia.

Just in case you were wondering, I adore When Harry Met Sally, too, but it's more of a Christmas or New Year's Eve movie for me, and (gasp!), I still haven't seen Heartburn. I have the book but not the movie and am guessing I'm going to need to remedy that. It has darling Meryl in it, after all.

Anyway, as you can imagine, I, along with the rest of the world was saddened to her of Nora's sudden passing late last month. It's hard to believe there won't be any other Nora Ephron films, but I'm thrilled she ended on such a fantastic note as Julie & Julia was one of my favorites, a rare instance where the movie was totally better than the books.

From the sounds of it, she had quite a send-off, a fitting tribute to a terrific lady who wrote little gems like these...

Harry Burns: There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.
Sally Albright: Which one am I?
Harry Burns: You're the worst kind; you're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.
Sally Albright: I don't see that.
Harry Burns: You don't see that? Waiter, I'll begin with a house salad, but I don't want the regular dressing. I'll have the balsamic vinegar and oil, but on the side. And then the salmon with the mustard sauce, but I want the mustard sauce on the side. "On the side" is a very big thing for you.
Sally Albright: Well, I just want it the way I want it.
Harry Burns: I know; high maintenance.

—When Harry Met Sally

Joe Fox: 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? "Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday."

—You've Got Mail

Annie Reed: Now that was when people KNEW how to be in love. They knew it! Time, distance... nothing could separate them because they knew. It was right. It was real. It was...
Becky: A movie! That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie.

—Sleepless in Seattle

Julia Child: You and I are vaches enragées.
Simone Beck: That's exactly what we are. Mad cows.

—Julie & Julia

You May Say I'm a Dreamer...

As I was scrolling through my DVR queue the other day, I noticed that a lot of my favorite television shows have something in common.

Whether it's "Chopped," "MasterChef" or "Next Food Network Star," even cooking, something I love to pieces, takes a serious backseat to a far greater connection point, namely the privilege of watching everyday people going after a big dream.

That idea is something I can't help resonating with because it's exactly how I feel with every novel I write. 

At the risk of sounding all sappy like a Texas equivalent of Oprah or something (yikes!), there's just something about dreamers that I can't help getting all choked up about. I love seeing—and hearing about—people who not only go after but realize their greatest dreams.

And considering that I'm also a huge movie buff, it probably won't come as a huge surprise that I'm also inspired by the story I'm about to share. A couple of weeks ago, someone who regularly reads my movie reviews at Crosswalk got in touch about a very cool film project he's working on.

Rather than go the typical studio route, Daniel George of RocktheFlix was inspired by the generous efforts of film lovers around the world who helped get Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz made and opted for a grassroots approach as well. So now, with no further adieu, here's a little about his cinematic debut, Sweet Mara, my .02 on the script and how you can get involved.

The Fight for Freedom is Front and Center in Sweet Mara

In all my years of reviewing movies (the good, the bad and otherwise), I’ve normally never commented on a film before the rough cut was available.

But when I heard about a filmmaker who’s recently launched the first-ever campaign to raise $1 million dollars via Kickstarter for his passion project, Sweet Mara, I couldn’t help wondering what all the hub-bub was about. Basically, what was it about this story that not only commanded one California film buff’s attention (for the record, that’s Daniel George, founder of RocktheFlix, a virtual studio for film, music and art) for the long, demanding process of writing a screenplay but would also inspire the masses to lend their support as well?

Well, it didn’t take too long to figure it out…

While many movies with overtly redemptive themes can often feel a little heavy-handed in the moralizing department, the writing of Sweet Mara has a surprisingly deft touch. Filled with compelling characters you can’t help relating to and no shortage of action beats with plenty of clever twists and turns along the way, it’s the stalwart fight for freedom that’s reminiscent of the spirit of last month’s national release of For Greater Glory starring Andy Garcia (Oceans 11, The Godfather III), that’s ultimately front and center.

In Sweet Mara, the story centers around the journey of one brave man named Stefan. Willing to risk his life so he and his family can eventually escape the clutches of an evil dictator in Romania, he’s forced to leave his loved ones, namely his wife Mara and two young sons, behind while he makes his way to America. And as expected, Stefan’s dangerous adventure is fraught with conflict from the get-go, which naturally makes the quest all the more fulfilling.

Adding another layer of intrigue to the proceedings is the bravery of the movie’s namesake. Not only is she routinely interrogated and forced to do all sorts of challenging manual labor after she’s demoted at work, but when a horrible accident injuries her youngest son, she has to swallow her pride and welcome her estranged father back in her life. For the record, this is the same man who made it impossible for her to accomplish her life-long dream of becoming a professional violinist.

Like the best novels, the script for Sweet Mara is a page-turner, and even without the benefit of faces to put the names with or skillful cinematography to provide a sense of place, it’s not difficult picturing how everything plays out because the storytelling is so visual. And while the driving narrative doesn’t scale back on the harrowing realities that would be commonplace in a storyline like this, Sweet Mara is never gratuitous for sheer shock value’s sake.

If anything, simple authenticity is the order of the day, and the payoff is a film where themes of freedom, forgiveness and family are the true shining stars.      

For more information on Sweet Mara, including a link to where you can be an integral part in getting this film in production, please visit www.rocktheflix.com.

An Open Letter to the Academy

Dear Academy,

You'd think after the whole James Franco/Anne Hathaway hosting fiasco of last year that I would've been smart enough to at least DVR the Oscars so I can skip through the boring parts.

But considering a bona fide Oscar veteran, Billy Crystal, was taking the reins this time around, well, I was willing to give the whole shebang another chance.

And while I'm thrilled that last night's ceremony wasn't nearly as cringeworthy as the great Franco meltdown of 2011, I still expected more. In fact, if I may be so bold to ask, I'd like my three hours back (I'd say four, but watching E!'s red carpet coverage was my own fault).

Since you went the whole traditional route with selecting Crystal as the host, I wasn't expecting anything laugh-out-loud funny or even edgy in the manner of say, Ricky Gervais. But I didn't think they'd have that stale, just-fished-out-of-mothballs feel either.

Heck, I probably got the biggest kick out of Sasha Baron Cohen dumping Bisquick baking mix all over Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet, and that was a good hour before the Oscars even began. Once the show started, I laughed exactly twice. The first time was when Chris Rock introduced the Animation category, and later on, the chuckles came courtesy of Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis playing the cymbals (a cowbell would've been funnier, but hey, I'll take what I could get laughs-wise).

The trouble is, the rest of the show show was downright B-O-R-I-N-G, and when you start out with a technical award that most people don't care about, it sets a bad precedent for the rest of the evening. So in the spirit of being helpful, here are a few suggestions (in no particular order) for future Oscar telecasts.

Stop being so stuffy and give comedy its proper due. I know, I know, you threw Bridesmaids a couple of bones. But everyone knew there was no way Melissa McCarthy was taking home a golden statue for "Best Supporting Actress" when she's up against very deserving "serious" competition like Octavia Spencer. Even as much as I loved last night's big winner, The Artist, it might be nice for the films and actors that everyone loves to get a little recognition, too. After all, being funny isn't exactly easy—just ask the majority of today's modern rom-com screenwriters (yes, I'm calling you out, This Means War).

Axe those superfluous film montages. I get it. You want us to feel all warm and fuzzy about the filmgoing experience. But instead of nostalgic, all you're really doing is making us want to watch those movies instead of this long, boring telecast that highlights flicks most people haven't bothered watching yet.

And while you're at it...As much as I'd like to get excited about the "Best Art Direction" and "Best Sound Editing" categories, I just can't, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Why not save these awards for the pre-telecast and save some major minutes?

Fire the stylists. I know the fashion part of the show isn't technically in your jurisdiction, but work with me for a second. How much fun would the Oscars be if these Hollywood folks dressed themselves? Leave them to their own styling, and the show would probably be 1,453% more interesting. Take Meryl Streep for example. There's no way a stylist would let her leave the house in what she wore to the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, even last night when she was channeling Frieda from ABBA. So how much fun would it be if everyone had the same freedom? I'm guessing the outfits would've made for far more exciting watercooler chatter...

Limit the "Best Picture" nominees to 5. Nine is exactly four too many.

I'm sure if I gave it more thought, I could've come up with a few more surefire ways to improve the annual tradition of Hollywood honoring Hollywood, but I'm afraid I'm out of ideas for now. All I can say is, aside from the color of Penelope Cruz's dress and Octavia's teary acceptance speech, there wasn't much that was inspiring about The Oscars.

One can only hope that'll change soon because I promise, I won't be fooled again. No matter who's hosting, I'll be DVRing, Academy, because Sunday nights are a precious commodity.

Sincerely,

Christa Banister, disgrunted entertainment critic

P.S. Could you please send Angelina a sandwich? She looked particularly hungry last night.

 

Kicking Off the Holiday Season With Serendipity

I don't know how this "tradition" got started, but for the past couple of years, Will and I have officially kicked off the holiday season by watching Serendipity.

Now if you're not a fan of this John Cusack-Kate Beckinsale romantic comedy, I recommend skipping this post altogether because the following paragraphs will address exactly what makes the movie so downright lovable.

But then again, how could anyone not like this film? I mean it stars everybody's favorite Everyman, John Cusack. Even if you're not into romantic comedy (and really, these days, I couldn't blame you for that—they've been sooo bad.), Cusack makes what could've been an awful ordeal downright enjoyable (the same cannot be said, however, for Must Love Dogs, but I won't bother going off on that tangent).

What also helps is there's a pretty good script, not to mention a plethora of engaging side characters. Sure, like most sitcom characters, these supporting players are much too outrageous to resemble anyone from real life, but you still can't help loving them all the same.

Not only is Molly Shannon fantastic as the kooky owner of a New Age bookstore who doesn't exactly believe in what she's selling, but who could forget John Corbett's wackadoodle (yes, I just made that up) world musician Lars? Not only does he insist on sporting totally hideous scarves as part of his everyday wardrobe, but he really gets into his own music videos.

Memo to Lars: Yes, those bloodthirsty vikings hate the music—along with everyone else.

What also doesn't hurt the cause are all those adoring close-ups of frozen hot chocolates from Serendipity, the restaurant. And if that didn't already send your sweet tooth into overdrive, there's the chocolate cake that neither Kate or Molly (yes, I forgot their characters' names, so sue me) even bother taking a bite of when celebrating Molly's b-day. Lemme just say they should both be arrested for leaving that behind.

But more than anything, as frustrating as the journey can be on occasion (the first time I saw it with my pal Jessica, all those near misses between John and Kate were just grrr!), it's this sweet story of the lengths two people will go to for true love. But (SPOILER ALERT) when John Cusack finally gets the girl, Nick Drake, rather than say, cheesy Celine Dion (it does take place in the '90s, after all), is playing in the background.

And who's not a sucker for that, along with some pretty memorable NYC scenery to boot?

What I've Been Doing on My "Summer Vacation"...Part 3

When I haven't been working, hanging with friends and family or flying the friendly skies, my summer fun has often involved my personal entertainment trifecta—TV, music and movies.

While my DVR is certainly less crowded than usual, there are two guilty pleasures that have kept these warmer months interesting, namely "Next Food Network Star" and far, far more embarrassing reality programming, "The Bachelorette."

More than any other season in recent memory, "Next Food Network Star" has been a total trainwreck—and yes, I've absolutely been lovin' it. Unlike last season where the focus was clearly the food, this time around it's the contestants (and their respective drama, drama, drama) that's taking center stage.

Whether it's Penny the sabotager formerly known as "Stilettos in the Kitchen," Alicia the perpetual cryer who couldn't remember her famous cupcake recipe when duty called or Chris, the loud, beer drinking frat boy who's determined to show the judges that he's mature enough to be a star (yeah, right), it's been so delicious to watch.

As for who I think will succeed the lovable Aarti, last season's winner, my early favorites are Jyll, Orchid and Whitney—although I like Justin, the bow tie guy from Minneapolis, too. I'm pretty sure Justin would capture a demo that's been missing on Food Network since no one really has that geeky professor thing going, except maybe Alton Brown who is a little too sarcastic for his own good (and this is coming from a girl who's fluent in sarcasm).

Moving on to "The Bachelorette," lemme just say that I never, ever intended to watch this season. After surviving Brad's journey to find love, I was o-u-t. After all, weepy, boozy Ashley was nothing short of annoying, and I couldn't fathom watching an entire series featuring (gasp!) her.

But when I was flipping through the channels that particular Monday night, it happened again. I don't remember what it was exactly, but slimy Chris Harrison and his cohorts hooked me yet again.

So now I've basically signed up for several weeks of Ashley whining about Bentley (guess she must have skipped the obligatory single girl reading, He's Just Not That Into You), Ashley questioning whether the guys are really there for the right reasons and Ashley declaring how totally perrrrrfect Thailand is. Like every locale on "The Bachelor" or "The Bachelorette," it is the perfect place to fall in love, after all.

Yeah, I'm mocking, and yes, I already can't wait to watch next Monday night. Or make that Tuesday night since I'll be suffering through the third installment of Transformers while Ashley is handing out roses and reconnecting with Bentley in what's likely to be the most controversial episode of The Bachelorette ever! (Those joining me in watching will be the only ones who'll get the significance of that last sentence...ha ha!).

Of course, summer isn't summer without great movies and music, too. Truth be told, most of the summer flicks haven't been worth all the hype (especially you, Pirates of the Caribbean: Could've Used Some Even Stranger Tides.

Thankfully, J.J. Abrams rarely lets me down (the verdict's still out on "Fringe" mind you, since I've never bothered watching), so Super 8 has definitely been one of the highlights, as was Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, which was pretty much the perfect valentine to the glorious City of Love I visited only months ago.

Musically speaking, I've been loving the new singles from Coldplay and Gavin DeGraw, not to mention the latest album from Death Cab for Cutie. But for some reason, I seem to be stuck on an oldies but goodies kick. So everyone from Rosemary Clooney to Ella Fitzgerald to Miles Davis has been providing the soundtrack to this summer...not a bad way to make it through those tragically hot months if I do say so myself...

Now it's your turn...what's been rockin' your world entertainment-wise this summer? Anything I should be adding to my DVR or iTunes pronto?

List #8: 10 Christmas Movies That Make the Season Merry Indeed

While my morning Starbucks cup may be red instead of the traditional white and green, and my house is now all tinsel-y and bright, I'm still in a bit of denial that it's actually Christmas time.

Maybe it's the absence of snow (which for the record, I don't miss in the least) or that I haven't actually started my holiday shopping (tsk tsk). Or maybe it's because 2010 has been a gigantic blur for the most part (I chalk that up to moving), but I just wasn't really feeling it.

Well, until I started listening to Harry, Bing, Frank this past week and watching holiday movies. Now it's beginning to look—and sound—a lot like Christmas...

And just because I'm in such a giving mood, I thought I'd dedicate my 8th list to my 10 favorite flicks (in no particular order, naturally, because I wouldn't want to hurt any of the other films' feelings).

Basically, if you haven't seen some of these, you've now got a cheat sheet for what to add to your Netflix queue...

Christmas in Connecticut—Can't believe that Hollywood hasn't ruined updated this one yet because it's such a fantastic movie. Basically, Barbara Stanwyck's character pretends she's this domestic goddess in her popular magazine column, but truth be told, she can hardly boil water. And just when the charade couldn't be going better, she's forced to deliver the "perfect Christmas" to a soldier who's just come home from war.

Cue culinary hi-jinks and a whole lot more...

Love Actually—Why watch just one rom-com when you can have like seven packed into a single movie? Any movie with Hugh Grant and Colin Firth is usually a winner in my book, but this one particularly shines because the script it so darn funny and heartfelt. Plus, as a Wisconsinite, I busted out laughing when one the character's big journey to America was to Milwaukee of all places. Turns out, it made a memorable first impression, and not just for the beer.

Home Alone—Yeah, after 20 years, it still cracks me up when the pizza guy shows up and Macaulay Culkin's character presses play on Angels With Filthy Souls.

White Christmas—Singing. Dancing. That song about sisters. Yeah, it pretty much rocks.

Serendipity—Ok, so it's not technically a Christmas movie, but the story begins on Christmas Eve, so close enough. Love, love, love the New York and San Fran scenery, and John Cusack is his usual self-depracating self in this twisty rom-com that questions the significance of fate's role in our love lives.

Elf—Will Ferrell declares that smiling is his favorite while sporting the elfish green tights. Plus syrup stands in for spaghetti sauce as the perfect pasta topper. Basically, what's not to love?

It's a Wonderful Life—I know what you're thinking...hello Captain Obvious. But work with me here: Even though this film has been probably airing on NBC since the birth of television, I never watched it until I was a newlywed. Funny thing is, both Will and I were probably the only people on the planet who'd never seen It's a Wonderful Life until 2005. But now that I have, I definitely know why everyone loves it so much...

How the Grinch Stole Christmas—The cartoon, not the frighteningly bad Jim Carrey version, is absolutely genius. Love the songs, love the old-school animation, love the Seuss.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe—Journeying to the world where it's always winter, never Christmas, is always a delight—Turkish and otherwise. I always love the scene when Lucy first steps foot in Narnia...the sense of wonder on her face is beyond memorable.

The Holiday—Yeah, it's not your traditional holiday movie either, but since everything happens during Christmas break, I've decided that it counts. Not only does is take place in two of my favorite cities (London and Los Angeles), but I just love the story that Nancy Meyers has whipped up here. Sure, it's got little basis in actual living, breathing reality (I could write an entire blog entry about that, but I won't bother ruining the fantasy), but really, it's the perfect escapist flick—and quite quotable to boot—just ask Will.

Ok, so now that I've weighed in, what are some of your Christmas must-watches and why? What should I add to my Netflix queue—pronto?

 

List #2: 10 Movies I Watch Over and Over (and Over) Again...

When you're a film critic, it's goes without saying that you watch lots and lots and lots of movies of varying degrees of quality.

Lately, I seem to be on a bit of a hot streak. I loved The Social Network. The Wall Street sequel exceeded my expectations. Life As We Know It actually made me tear up for approximately 1.3 seconds, and that's saying a lot, (darn those cute babies!) considering it stars my least favorite leading lady, Katherine Heigl. And RED (yep, that's the one with Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker and a machine gun-toting Helen Mirren) was a total hoot. Yeah, I laughed. A LOT.

But despite all that praise for the aforementioned, those movies still won't be making my oh-so-elusive "Movies I Watch Over and Over (and Over) Again" list. After all, that esteemed ranking is reserved for those extremely rare breeds—the ones you always reach for when you're sick, the ones that cheers you up after a bad day at work, the ones you know every line from, much to the chagrin of your close friends and family.

Even my favorite flick of all time, Roman Holiday, won't make this particular cut because it's more of a once-a-year event. Ditto for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind which is simply too sad to watch over and over again, and Amelie, which requires me to read while I watch because I don't happen to be fluent in French. Now don't get me wrong, I never mind a movie with subtitles, but sometimes, it's just too much work.

So now that I've clarified all of that (whew!), at long last, here's the 10 movies I watch over and over (and over) again in no particular order:

(500) Days of Summer-I love a good rom-com, but even I have grown soooo tired of the same ol' tired storylines. Thankfully, someone thought to shake things up, which is exactly what (500) Days of Summer does with aplomb (and a killer soundtrack to boot). Whether breaking up, making out in the copyroom or shopping at IKEA together, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel's characters are just plain cute while simutaneously breaking your heart when it's all said and done.

Almost Famous-What can I say? I heart Cameron Crowe films, and this is one of his finest. Great characters. Great music. Fantastic characterization of the music industry and how it all really goes down...

You've Got Mail-Horrible memories of the wheezing sound of AOL's dial-up aside, this movie is my go-to sick day flick. I love the dialogue, the decidedly '90s feel, and I don't even care that five whole minutes are practically an infomerical for Starbucks. Plus, is there anything better than NYC in the fall? Or when Parker Posey's character declares that if she ever makes it out of the elevator that she'll have her eyes lasered? I think not.

Zoolander-So many quotable lines, so many laughs. In fact, I've got three words for ya: Orange mocha frappuccino! (Cue Wham's "Wake Me Up Before You Go- Go)

Breakfast at Tiffany's-It's such an odd little movie, but you certainly experience the full spectrum of emotions whenever you're watching. I mean, I'm not even a cat person, and I still get chocked up when Holly Golightly opens the cab door and throws poor ol' Cat out in the street. On an unrelated note, have you ever noticed how the couch in her living room looks just like a bathtub? Yeah, I always spot the most random of details...

Two Weeks Notice-Even though I resent whoever titled the movie for leaving that crucial apostrophe out after the "s" in "weeks," this Hugh Grant-Sandra Bullock comedy never gets old. Of all Hugh's female costars, (and trust me, I've seen everything he's been in because I think he's so funny) I think he and Sandy are the best together and need to reunite pronto.

Elf-Even if it's not Christmas, who can resist watching Will Ferrell in those crazy green tights? Or proclaiming that smiling is his favorite? Certainly not me.

Julie & Julia-I absolutely adore everything about this movie—the gorgeous Parisian scenery, the mouthwatering shots of food with copious amounts of butter, the fact that Julia Child didn't find her calling until she was 40 (!!!) but didn't let that stop her. Nora Ephron did such a great job of adapting two beloved books for the big screen. Truth be told, I much preferred the movie to them any day of the week, particularly in the case of Julie & Julia.

Marie Antoinette-I know, I know, I was probably one of 10,000 people who actually saw Sofia Coppola's modern interpretation that starred Kirsten Dunst back in 2006. But I'm not afraid to say that I loved each and every minute of it. Everything from the cool ambient music to casting Jason Schwartzman as Marie's reluctant hubby to all that pink (!!!) was right on point.

Yes Man-This was probably one of Jim Carrey's least successful comedic outings, save for The Cable Guy, but one of my all-time favorites because it's just so darn funny. In fact, it's one of those movies that gets funnier the more times you watch it. And pairing him with the equally quirky Zooey Deschanel was a genius move.