20 Movies That I Would Highly Recommend…

(not in any particular order)

1. Casablanca (1942) One of THE best movies you'll ever see.

Captain Renault: What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?
Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.
Captain Renault: The waters? What waters? We're in the desert!
Rick: I was misinformed.

2. The Fountain (2006) This is not a movie. This is an experience. The first time I watched it, the only thing I could say was, "Wow." Simply blown away. Director Darren Aronofsky described it as, "A very simple love story". Hmmm. Simple.
I really admire Izzy and the way she is able to come to terms with what is happening to her. But poor Tommy, like so many others, can't handle the death of his loved one.
I think this film is really stripped down to the core, there's nothing in it that takes away from the  story at hand which could potentially be a real problem with so many stories-within-stories and what not.
I might also add that Clint Mansell is incredible. The music is definitely another main character in this film.  

Death is the road to awe.

3. Charade (1963) love, Love, LOVE this movie!!!! Originally Cary Grant wasn't really comfortable with the age difference between himself and Audrey. I think he said that he felt like a "predator" or something. So they made Audrey the predator which makes it hilarious. I just laugh the whole time, there are so many good quotes. Prolly my favorite movie.
P.S. Cary Grant's real name was like.. Archibald or Aberforth or something crazy like that. It's that freaking awesome?!??!?!

Reggie Lampert: I already know an awful lot of people and until one of them dies I couldn't possibly meet anyone else.
Peter Joshua: Well, if anyone goes on the critical list, let me know.

4. Taare Zameen Par (2007) The first time I saw this movie it was late at night and I was all alone in my room. Needless to say I cried through the whole thing. I was so inspired after seeing it. Like really, it changed my life. Aamir Khan directed and starred in it. Such a moving story.

Maa:
Please don't leave me like this in the crowd
I won't be able to come back home Mom.
Please, don't send me so far that
You will not even remember me Mom.
Mom, am I that bad?
Am I that bad, Mom?

5. To Have And Have Not (1944) Ahhhhh. Look at those two!! They met
 and fell in love during this film. I LOVE it when that happens!! This is practically another Casablanca....but we love it anyways. They're both marvellous. Lauren Bacall was only 19.
19! But that muh girl. I've been reading her auto-biography and really, she is my hero. PLUS she married Bogie. Maybe she should be my idol...

[Slim kisses Steve]
Steve: What did you do that for?
Slim: I've been wondering if I'd like it.
Steve: What's the decision?
Slim: I don't know yet.
[They kiss again]
Slim: It's even better when you help.

6. Bella (2006) This is another really moving film. I think it shows how a simple moment can change your life forever. I feel like there is so much more I want to say about it...But there it is.

José: My grandmother used to say, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."

7. Coco Avant Chanel (2009) I'm not even sure why I like this movie so much, but I do. I also feel like I have to throw in a French film.. ha. So yeah. Audrey Tautou. She knows where it's at.
Anyways, I have such a fascination with  people's lives. How they really were. So I really enjoyed learning about Coco Chanel because other than her Chanel #5 I knew nothing of her. She was so avant-garde and I love that.

Étienne Balsan: A woman who cuts her hair, is about to change her life.

8. Where The Wild Things Are (2009) I have no recollection of ever reading this book. When the movie came out several people told me how much I would like it, but still; nothing. I finally just bought it for cheaps. Thank goodness! It's one of those films where you have to watch it more than once to catch everything. I feel like I learn something new every time I watch it. Also filled with good quotes.

Judith: Happiness isn't always the best way to be happy.

9. Lagaan (2001) Oh, Lagaan. My first Aamir Khan film. You will always be special to me. The more I watch it though...I must say the cricket sequence goes on....forever. Ha. But still a great film. I also feel so bad/embarrassed for Elizabeth. Sorry honey, if this was an American film you would have totally ended up with Bhuvan. But because it was a legit Indian film, no dice. And sorry, but I was always rooting for Gauri anyways...

[Gauri is walking away in tears, Bhuvan shouts after her]
Bhuvan: Hey Gauri! There's only one house in the village with a neem tree in the yard. There's also a big field beside it. There's some chickens, two cows, and three goats. And I know whose house that is! It's mine, you silly girl! One thing before you go. Mother likes you, too!

10. Bringing Up Baby (1938) Ha! My favorite slap-stick comedy!!! And what I mean by "slapstick" is pretty much over exaggerated, wouldn't really happen in real life type stuff. I love Cary Grant and Kathrine Hepburn together. Hahaha poor guy. She sure takes a lot to handle.

Susan Vance: You're angry with me, aren't you?
David Huxley: Yes, I am!
Susan Vance: Mm-hmm. The love impulse in men frequently reveals itself in terms of conflict.

11. 3 Idiots (2009) Yay! Al iz vell!!! I seriously do that all the time. Put your hand over your heart and say, "Al is vell. Al iz vell." That thing scares easy you know. This is pretty much a college-age version of Taare Zameen Par but not quite as touching. A little more humorous. But still amazing.

All is well!

12. Jane Eyre (2006) Oh my gosh. Let's just say I love everything about this movie/book/Toby Stephens.
The End.

Edward Rochester: There you are- you're back!
Ungrateful thing.
I give you leave for a week and you're gone a whole month! I want my money back, since you have me so little in your thoughts.
Jane Eyre: I said I was going to be gone for as long as I was needed.
And I was.
And you still owe me wages.

13. The Importance Of Being Ernest (2002) THE funniest movie ever. And an insanely good cast! I mean we're talking about Judi Dench, Rupert Evrett, Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, aaaaaand some other really great people. Phenom.

Cecily: I wouldn't care to catch a sensible man. I shouldn't know what to talk to him about.

14. In A Lonely Place (1950) In the beginning phases of my Bogie induced obsession this was his only film that I could get my hands on...so...I probably watched it 7 or 8 times in  2 to 3 days. It was also my first exposure to Film Noir. Now I have, or course, seen many others because a lot of his films were, Film Noir. And if you were looking at the picture and recognize the girl, it's the old, "I can't say no" from Oklahoma. At first I was really skeptical about her, but actually I think she did a really good job.

Dixon Steele: It was his story against mine, but of course, I told my story better.

15.  O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) Again, so many good quotes!! No wonder I love all of these films. Loosely (and I mean loosely) based on Homer's Odyssey. I think the writers of this film had maybe heard some stuff about it, never read it themselves, and sort of ran with it. Buuuuuut I'm ok with that because it's a great movie. So funny. Actually for some reason I have never really warmed up to George Clooney but obviously I still love the film. I guess he really worked hard to sing for the film (he even had voice lessons) but in the end they went with someone else. He was pretty crushed. Sad day. "That man will pay you to sing in a can"... Well, I guess he would pay you Georgie.
Ouch.
Too harsh?
Sorry.
:s

Pete: You miserable little snake! You stole from my kin!
Ulysses Everett McGill: Who was fixin' to betray us.
Pete: You didn't know that at the time.
Ulysses Everett McGill: So I borrowed it until I did know.
Pete: That don't make no sense!
Ulysses Everett McGill: Pete, it's a fool that looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.

16.  Clue (1985) Again, funny, quotable, it's my kind of movie.

Colonel Mustard: This is war, Peacock! Casualties are inevitable! You cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs, every cook will tell you that.
Mrs. Peacock: But look what happened to the cook!

17. What Dreams May Come (1998) The author of this book, Richard Matheson, (who also wrote Somewhere in Time) listed a bunch of books that he studied while writing it. It was things like The Tibetan Book of the Dead and Dante's Inferno and what have you. Very interesting. This film gives you a lot to think about.

Annie Nielsen: A whole family lost to car crashes. Enough to make a person buy a bike...

18. Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967) Sadly this was the last film that Katie and Spence did together. He died shortly after it was finished. She was never able to bring herself to watch it. There's a very touching speech he gives at the end about how much he loved Christina (Kathrine) and I always tear up because I think about how sweet it is that those were his last words to her on film. Spencer Tracy always did movies that he felt meant something to him. This was a film in the 60's about an interracial couple. Very taboo at the time. But he was really proud of being involved with speaking out about things like that. It's also very funny and he's such a good grumpy old man. I seriously think the makers of Up saw this movie and that's where they got their inspiration for Mr. Fredrickson.

Christina Drayton: I don't think I'm going to faint, but I'll sit down anyway.

19. Paris When It Sizzles (1964) This is kind of a crazy, all over the place movie, and it has a "make it up as we go along" feel but that's probably why I love it. Very funny. I  love Tony Curtis in it, even though he has a very small role. Watch this and you won't be sorry you did.

Richard: You really like it, don't you?
Gabrielle: What?
Richard: Life.
Gabrielle: Oh! Every morning when I wake up and I see there's a whole new other day, I just go absolutely ape!

20. City Lights (1931) I simply had to throw in a Chaplin film. Talkies were the new rage but Charlie felt like the magic of the Tramp would be lost if he spoke, and I agree. So, he simply started making movies with sound and sound effects but the Tramp remained silent. This is a typical Chaplin film. He's making you laugh until all of the sudden you realize you're crying. And not the, "I'm-laughing-so-hard-I'm-crying" cry, but yeah. The real honest type cry. He was just so good.

The Tramp: Be careful how you're driving! 
Eccentric Millionaire: Am I driving?