The Majestic, 2001

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!
Sydney Pollack--David Ogden Stiers



Director: Frank Darabont

Stars: Jim Carrey, Martin Landau, David Ogden Stiers, Sydney Pollack (voice)




Peter Appleton (Carrey), a writer in 1950's Hollywood, is on the verge of being arrested for being a Communist, which he's not.  He goes for a long drive, gets in an accident, and wakes up with no memory of who he is.  The man who finds him brings him into town, where the whole town mistakes him for Luke Trimble, a man reported MIA 8 years prior.

Not knowing who he actually is, he tries to remember being Luke, and turns the town upside down in the process.

This is a slow-moving story, and I thought it was sweet.  Very unbelievable of course, but still sweet.  It's so nice to see Jim Carrey in something that isn't comedy!

NOTE:  I recognized the voice of Luke Trimble right away!  It's Matt Damon!  I love his voice.  

Made of Honor, 2008

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Patrick Dempsey--Sydney Pollack



Director: Paul Weiland

Stars: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Sydney Pollack





Womanizer Tom (Dempsey) met Hannah (Monaghan) in college, and since then, they've been best friends.  Tom is with a different woman practically every night, but Hannah is his special girl he can do anything with, including take home to his messed-up family.  Hannah wishes Tom would see her as more than a friend, but can't wait around forever.  While visiting Scotland for a few weeks, she meets, and gets engaged to, Colin (McKidd)-- just when Tom was thinking she was the perfect girl!

Hannah asks Tom to be her Maid of Honor, and after he discusses it with his friends, he says yes- because he wants to be in on the planning, and he really plans to steal the bride.

This is rated R, and it certainly deserves it.  It just reminds me of how much I HATE romantic comedies these days.

Enchanted, 2007

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Amy Adams-- Patrick Dempsey


Director: Kevin Lima

Stars: Amy Adams, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden






Giselle (Adams) lives in a fairy-tale world, but she is banished to New York by an evil queen (Sarandon).  In the real world, Giselle meets a lawyer (Dempsey), whose daughter takes a liking to Giselle, and he soon finds himself liking her as well, though he is puzzled by her innocent outlook on life.  And her strange gift for communicating with animals.

This is a silly fairy tale movie.  Real people, cartoons, a huge musical number in Central Park, an evil queen who turns into a dragon, a hero, a princess--this one has everything!  And it's cute and funny, as well.

Julie and Julia, 2009

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!!
Stanley Tucci-- Amy Adams




Director: Nora Ephron

Stars: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci









Julie (Adams) decides to start a blog going through Julia Child's (Streep) book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year.  To her surprise, her blog takes off and becomes very popular, soon taking over her life, in a way, and she neglects her husband, among other things.

This movie takes on Julie's story, while going back in time and going through Julia's story as she was writing the cookbook.  It's a very sweet movie, touching at times, and you should definitely have soem good food ready to eat!  You will be hungry.

Swing Vote, 2008

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!!
Kevin Costner-- Stanley Tucci



Director: Joshua Michael Stern

Stars: Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Judge Reinhold








Bud Johnson (Costner) is an alcoholic factory-worker, whose over-achieving daughter, Molly (Carroll), wants him to get more involved in everything, especially on Election Day.  Bud is supposed to meet her at the polls, but ends up passed out in his truck.  Molly is desperate, and when the volunteer falls asleep, she signs her father's name, takes his ballot, and prepares to cast his vote.  The ballot is in the machine, when it loses power suddenly, and Molly dashes out, the vote incomplete.

It doesn't take long for the authorities to figure out who didn't cast their vote.  And maybe it wouldn't have mattered, except the Presidential election ends up hanging on the electoral votes in New Mexico, in Bud's county, and surprise, surprise-- on Bud's vote.  Yes, it is discovered that Bud Johnson is the man who will pick the next President of the United States! 

The Bodyguard, 1992

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Debbie Reynolds-- Kevin Costner



Director: Mick jackson

Stars: Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp, Ralph Waite, Debbie Reynolds










This is one of those movies (like The Fugitive and Independence Day) that I can't stop watching whenever it's on tv and I am bored and channel-surfing.  This almost never happens, but still!

Former secret service agent Frank Farmer (Costner) gets a new job: he becomes a diva's bodyguard.  Rachel (Houston) has been receiving death threats and crazy letters, and although she knows she needs a bodyguard, she and frank clash instantly.  Rachel is used to having things her way, but Frank insists on certain precautions being taken.  After more attempts are made on her life, she begins to trust Frank, and do what he says.

I really enjoy watching this one.  But I can't say I like the end.  SPOILER!  Why couldn't they just end up together?  Not entirely happy....

Singin in the Rain, 1952

(Originally posted: March 11, 2012)
THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Gene Kelly-- Debbie Reynolds

Director: Stanley Donan, Gene Kelly

Choreographer: Gene Kelly

Stars: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Cyd Charisse

Silent film star Don Lockwood (Kelly) and his on-screen partner Lina Lamont (Hagen) need to start making the transition to "talking pictures" like all the other Hollywood studios are doing. The problem is: Lina has the most awful voice! She works as a silent film star, but in public, the studio keeps her from talking at all costs!

On the way to one of his studio parties, Don meets Kathy (Reynolds), who doesn't fall for his tricks, and promptly puts the great star in his place. Then, unfortunately for her, their paths cross again at the party, where she is one of the hired dancers for entertainment.

Don can't stop thinking about Kathy, which is probably because she was the first girl not to fall for any of his lines, as his friend Cosmo (O'Connor) told him. When they accidentally meet again, he doesn't waste any time letting her know how he feels, and their romance begins. But Lina is still a problem. Not only is her voice horrendous, but she also seems to think that she and Don should be together.

This is the greatest American musical ever made! I think this one and The Sound of Music are definitely tied for my favorite musical of all time.