You can't help who you love. You're not supposed to.

"Taste" is a complicated thing. ...

Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) - "The abuse Rocky Barbella endures at the hand of his father, and subsequent run-ins with the law, lead him in and out of detention centers and prisons. When it seems he has it together, Rocky is drafted but, refusing to adhere to Army rules, goes AWOL. He takes up boxing to earn quick money, but when he discovers he has a natural talent in the ring, he builds the confidence to pursue his love interest, Norma, and fulfill his potential as a fighter. "
source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it had great reviews
IMDB: 7.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 85% Audience: 86%
my IMDB: 4/10

notable quote: "The whole world is not so different from my candy store. Someone comes in, sits down in the fountain, asks for a soda. I give him a soda. He drinks the soda. I give him a check. He's got to pay for it! It's the same out there. He who wants a soda must be willing to pay the check. You do something wrong, Rocky, you got to pay the check. It's a very simple truth, yet some men find it difficult to understand. They get angry when time for payment comes. 'Who me?' they cry. 'For what?' For the soda. That's for what, Rocky. Never ask for a soda unless you are prepared to pay the check."

MPAA rating: [passed]

directed by: Robert Wise

my notes: I didn't like this film. Rocky was a childish, violent (duh) person. He doesn't seem to make decisions but simply careens through life like a pinball, smacking into people and taking what he can get from them. It was well-shot and -acted, but definitely didn't leave a good impression on me.

Academy Award winner:
• Best Cinematography, Black and White

• Best Art Direction - Set Decoration, Black and White
Academy Award nominee: Best Film Editing
overall: not  recommended

The Full Monty (1997) - "After losing his job at a steel factory, Gaz (Robert Carlyle) learns that his wife wants to sue him for missed child support payments. Desperate for money, Gaz and his friend Dave (Mark Addy) decide to create their own male strip-tease act. The two friends recruit four more men, including their former foreman (Tom Wilkinson) and a security guard (Steve Huison). The group promises that their show will succeed because they are willing to go 'the full monty': completely naked."

source: college BFF owns the DVD
I watched it because: she wanted me to laugh...
IMDB: 7.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 96% Audience: 79%
my IMDB: 8/10

notable quote: "Folks don't laugh so loud when you've a grand in your back pocket."

MPAA rating: R

directed by: Peter Cattaneo

my notes: loved it. Forgot that I'd seen it before until we were well into it. Freshly entertained and charmed. Mark Addy (Dave) is the unsung hero and star of the show. I could happily watch this once a year.

Academy Award winner: Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Picture

• Best Director—Cattaneo

• Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

(previously rated here)
overall: highly recommended

Save the Last Dance (2001) - "Sara wants to be a ballerina, but her dreams are cut short by the sudden death of her mother. She moves in with her father, who she has not seen for a long time. He lives on the other side of town, in a predominantly Black neighborhood. She gets transferred to a new school where she is one of the few White students there. She becomes friends with Chenille, and later, falls in love with Chenille's brother, Derek. "
source: on TV
I watched it because: I saw it a long time ago and liked it
IMDB: 6.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 53% Audience: 59%
my IMDB: 6/10

notable quote: "It's about me and him, not about us and other people."

MPAA rating: PG-13

directed by: Thomas Carter

my notes: it has not aged well. The dancing is still fun but the racial tolerance message gets murky - but is facile at the same time, as more recent events have born out.
overall:  recommended with reservations

50 First Dates (2004) - "Henry Roth lives in a Hawaiian paradise with the company of endless women with no strings attached. This is until he meets Lucy Whitmore. Both Henry and Lucy enjoy the company of each other and feel the start of a serious relationship occurring. Approaching Lucy the next day, Henry is confused when Lucy fails to recognize him. This is the moment Henry discovers that Lucy actually suffers from short term memory loss and can't remember each individual day. Henry won't let this stop him and is prepared to make her fall in love with him all over again, each and every day."
source: on TV
I watched it because: I've seen it before, but long enough ago that I wanted to see it again
IMDB: 6.8/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 45% Audience: 65%
my IMDB: 7/10

notable quote: "Can I have one last first kiss?"

MPAA rating: PG-13

directed by: Peter Segal

my notes: dumb, but entertaining - if you can turn off all logic.
overall: marginally recommended

[the title quotation is from Save the Last Dance]