you go think in your room and I'll think in mine ... as we miss each other

Continued travels through the American Film Institute best lists, which are pretty awesome. Check them out.

Tootsie (1982) - "Michael Dorsey, an unsuccessful actor, disguises himself as a woman in order to get a role on a trashy hospital soap."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from the public library
I watched it because: I pulled it from the AFI lists

AFI: 100 Years ... 100 Movies (original list 1998) #62

    100 Years ... 100 Laughs (2000) #2

    100 Years ... 100 Movies (10th anniversary ed. 2007) #69

IMDB: 7.4/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 90% Audience: 81%

notable quote: "That is one nutty hospital."
story: superficially silly, this is a disturbingly timely film in the current era of anti-'privilege' backlash
costumes, hair & makeup: these are characters in and of themselves
acting: this time around, I was taken by Bill Murray's performance as Jeff, the roommate and straight-man

intangibles: it is not a movie that I especially enjoy, but I think it is powerful and important
Academy Award winner: Best Supporting Actress—Jessica Lange (Julie)
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Picture

• Best Actor—Dustin Hoffman (Michael/Dorothy)

• Best Supporting Actress—Teri Garr (Sandy)

• Best Director—Sydney Pollack

• Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

• Best Cinematography

• Best Sound

• Best Film Editing

• Best Music, Original Song
overall: recommended

An Affair to Remember (1957) - "A couple falls in love and agrees to meet in six months at the Empire State building—but will it happen?"
Source: I borrowed the DVD from the public library
I watched it because: I pulled it from the AFI lists
AFI: 100 Years... 100 Passions (2002) #5

IMDB: 7.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 65% Audience: 87%

notable quote: "There must be something between us, even if it's only an ocean."
story: boy meets girl—and they were the original "it's complicated" 
visuals: splendid scenery and lighting
costumes, hair & makeup: lovely costuming
acting: Deborah Kerr (Terry McKay) was so graceful and sophisticated, yet accessible and warm. His portrayal of Nickie Ferrante is prehaps the best role of Cary Grant's career. I also appreciated the fine performance of Cathleen Nesbitt as Grandmother Janou.

intangibles: a wonderful film, the kind that can make an old cynic tear up and believe in love again...
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Cinematography

• Best Costume Design

• Best Music, Original Song

• Best Music, Score
overall: recommended

Psycho (1960) - "A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man apparently under the domination of his mother."
Source: I borrowed the Blu-ray from the public library
I watched it because: I pulled it from the AFI lists

AFI: 100 Years ... 100 Movies (original list 1998) #18

100 Years ... 100 Thrills (2001) #1

100 Years ... 100 Movies (10th anniversary ed. 2007) #14

IMDB: 8.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 96% Audience: 95%

notable quote: "Oh, someone has seen her, all right. Someone always sees a girl with forty thousand dollars."
story: the description up top pretty well covers it, and yet doesn't even scratch the surface. This is one of those movies that, until you've seen it, you probably think you know what it's about, because it's such a cultural phenomenon. It's way darker (psychologically) than I had realized, and less of a horror film than a, well, Hitchcock movie. Which makes sense.
visuals: exquisite. Worth the price of admission just for some of these camera angles! Considering the limited effects in 1960, I was amazed.
costumes, hair & makeup: fun! Especially the first scene—wow!
acting: Janet Leigh (Marion Crane) was terrific. I also liked Martin Balsam as the quirky and dedicated Detective Milton Arbogast.

intangibles: I expected it to scare me to death, and that I would not like it as a result. Instead, I thought it was very well done and not really "scary" in the normal sense.
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Supporting Actress—Leigh

• Best Director—Alfred Hitchcock

• Best Cinematography, Black and White

• Best Art Direction—Set Decoration, Black and White
overall: recommended

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - "Exiled into the dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother, a princess is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from the public library
I watched it because: I pulled it from the AFI lists
AFI: 100 Years ... 100 Movies (original list 1998) #49

    100 Years ... 100 Movies (10th anniversary ed. 2007) #34

    10 Top 10 (2008) Animation #1

IMDB: 7.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 98% Audience: 78%
notable quote: "Why, Grumpy! You do care!"

visuals: sweet and quaint

intangibles: modern full-length animated films are written at two levels—or adults and for kids. In the old days, they were just for children. It is (obviously) a basic story, beautifully drawn.
Academy Award winner: Recognized as a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field (awarded one statuette and seven miniature statuettes)
overall: recommended

Alison Krauss & Union Station Live (2003) - "Filmed in high definition at the Louisville Palace in Louisville, Kentucky. Complete set and exclusive interviews with Alison and the band, behind-the-scenes and on-the-road footage, over 150 rare and unreleased photographs and home videos, discography, special video and tribute."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I like Raising Sand, Alison's duet album with Robert Plant, and my dad recommended this
IMDB: 8.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: N/A%

visuals: very simple, warm, and comfortable

intangibles: good music, and some clever and funny back-and-forth among the band members 
overall: recommended

[the title quotation is from An Affair to Remember]