how many times have we had to fall in love all over again?

Average rating: 8.75. Hard to ask for any more than that!

The Best Years of our Lives (1946) - "Fred, Al and Homer are three World War II veterans facing difficulties as they re-enter civilian life. Fred is a war hero who, unable to compete with more highly skilled workers, has to return to his low-wage soda jerk job. Bank executive Al gets into trouble for offering favorable loans to veterans. After losing both hands in the war, Homer returns to his loving fiancée, but must struggle to adjust."
length: 2 hours, 50 minutes

source: I own the DVD (previously reviewed here)
I watched it because: I was in the mood for something smart and thoughtful
IMDB: 8.1/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 98% Audience: 93%
my IMDB: 10/10

AFI: 100 Years…100 Movies (original list 1998) #37

    100 Years…100 Cheers (2006) #11

    100 Years…100 Movies - 10th anniversary edition (2007) #37

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "Are you all right in your mind? Can't you get those things out of your system? Maybe that's what's holding you back! You know, the war's over! You won't get anyplace 'til you stop thinking about it. Come on—snap out of it!"

directed by: William Wyler

my notes: a marvelous, heartbreaking, inspiring, sad, lovely, realistic movie. I absolutely love it, every performance is terrific.

Academy Award winner: 

• Best Motion Picture

• Best Director—William Wyler 

• Best Actor—Fredric March 

• Best Writing, Screenplay—Robert E Sherwood

• Best Supporting Actor—Harold Russell 

• Best Film Editing—Daniel Mandell

• Best Music, Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture—Hugo Friedhofer

• Honorary Award—Harold Russell: For bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance in The Best Years of Our Lives

Academy Award nominee: Best Sound Recording—Gordon Sawyer
overall:  most highly recommended

 

A Christmas Carol (1984) - "Ebenezer Scrooge is a bitter old miser who only cares about making money. He has no friends, has disowned his only living relative—his nephew Fred Hollywell—and generally treats everyone he meets with extreme contempt. He particularly loathes Christmas, which he sees as an excuse for picking a man's pocket once a year, and only reluctantly gives his loyal clerk Bob Cratchit the day off. On Christmas Eve however, he is visited by the ghost of his long-dead partner Jacob Marley, who begs him to change his wicked ways. Refusing to do so, he is warned that three ghosts—the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come—will visit him that night. They show him what he has lost and what he will leave behind after he is gone unless he mends his ways for the better."
length: 1 hour, 40 minutes

source: streamed on PlutoTV
I watched it because: the holiday spirit is not strong in me this year and I'm hoping this will jump-start it; as I write, it's Christmas Eve (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 7.8/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 75%
my IMDB: 9/10 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

MPAA rating: PG

notable quote: "'I almost went after her.'

    '"Almost" carries no weight. Especially in matters of the heart.'"

directed by: Clive Donner

my notes: wonderful. My favorite adaptation.

Emmy Award nominee: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special—Scott
overall: highly recommended

Modern Times (1935) - "This comedic masterpiece finds the iconic Little Tramp  employed at a state-of-the-art factory where the inescapable machinery completely overwhelms him, and where various mishaps keep getting him sent to prison. In between his various jail stints, he meets and befriends an orphan girl. Both together and apart, they try to contend with the difficulties of modern life, with the Tramp working as a waiter and eventually a performer."

length: 1 hour, 27 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: I am trying to watch (and eventually collect) the silent and other early classics
IMDB: 8.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 98% Audience: 95%
my IMDB: 9/10

AFI: 100 Years…100 Movies (original list 1998) #81

    100 Years…100 Laughs (2000) #33

    100 Years…100 Movies - 10th anniversary edition (2007) #78

MPAA rating: G

notable quote: "Can't I stay a little longer? I'm so happy here."

directed by: Charles Chaplin

my notes: loved it. Chaplin is a comedic, tragic genius. Intricate, delightful, funny, shocking, and terribly prescient. Marvelous.

overall:  recommended

Blitz (2011) - "In London, the violent Detective Sergeant Tom Brant is in trouble with the press and his superiors request a low profile attitude from him. When a cop killer called Blitz attacks police officers in London, Brant is assigned to the manhunt with his chief, the gay cop Porter Nash. His investigation shows that the criminal is the hoodlum Barry Weiss, but the police can not find any evidence against Barry. When he is released from jail thanks to his lawyer, Brant and Nash put Barry under surveillance expecting a new attack of the Blitz."
length: 1 hour, 37 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: I wanted something action-y and preferably over the top violent. (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 6.1/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 48% Audience: 36%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "I don't give a fuck what people do as long as they keep it to themselves."

directed by: Elliott Lester

my notes: look, it's not great cinema, but it's super entertaining. Jason Statham and Paddy Considine make a great Oscar & Felix buddy team, and reveal surprising respect despite the limitations of this script. Mark Rylance, though... in a rough role he's phenomenal (as always). I think this movie is frightening, fast, surprisingly smart, and fun to watch.

overall:  recommended

 

[the title quotation is from The Best Years of our Lives]