The Wonderful Pulitzer Prize Play... becomes one of the Great Motion Pictures of our Time!

Starring: James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Peggy Dow, Charles Drake, Wallace Ford, William H. Lynn, Victoria Horne, Jesse White, Cecil Kellaway

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Years ago my mother used to say to me, "In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you may quote me." - Elwood P. Dowd

Why watch this? It's one of Stewart's best and most beloved films.

Plot Summary: Elwood P. Dowd, a kind and eccentric man, claims his best friend is an invisible, six-foot-three-and-a-half-inch tall rabbit named Harvey. His sister, Veta Louise, is determined to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium due to his insistence on Harvey's existence, which is hindering her family's social standing and her daughter's marriage prospects. A comedic mix-up at the sanitarium leads to Veta Louise being temporarily committed herself, forcing Elwood to navigate the situation with his usual pleasant demeanor and the help of his unseen companion.

Dad's Preview: We all know someone who is a little "touched". Elwood sees a giant pooka. Gotta love him. The script is just so off-the-wall that you can't help but love this film. Sure our protagonist is a little strange, but aren't those oddities the traits that make people unique and interesting in the first place? It is certainly an entertaining movie... and it just might hop right into your heart.

Universal Pictures

From the Director of About Schmidt and Sideways

Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Robert Forster

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"On the phone he can escape. In person, he's got nowhere to go. I wanna see his face." - Matt King, regarding a meeting with his dying wife's lover.

Why watch this? It's heart-warming, heart-breaking, painful, and often really funny.

Plot Summary: In Hawaii, Matt King must navigate family turmoil and reconnect with his daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident. While grappling with his wife's coma, he also faces pressure to make a decision about selling land wrapped up in a large family land trust.

Dad's Preview: For years I just did not like George Clooney. To me, he seemed a cocky, handsome jerk living off his family name (his aunt is Rosemary Clooney). This film, however, changed all that for me. He plays a man whose wife is in a terminal coma. Set in Hawaii, the film's heart is this man's pain, and his daughter's reluctant support. You will laugh, then cry, then laugh again. Nick Krause, as Sid, gets an honorable mention for his perfectly delivered, and quite dumb-ass, comedic lines.

Ad Hominem Entertainment; Fox Searchlight Pictures

Caroline's a rising executive. Jack just lost his job. Jack's going to have to start from the bottom up.

Starring: Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, Martin Mull, Ann Jillian, Christopher Lloyd, Jeffrey Tambor, Frederick Koehler, Graham Jarvis

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"My brain is like oatmeal. I yelled at Kenny today for coloring outside the lines! Megan and I are starting to watch the same TV shows, and I'm liking them! I'm losing it." - Jack Butler

Why watch this? It's funny, tender and great to see the "shoe on the other foot".

Plot Summary: Facing unexpected unemployment, Jack Butler, a Detroit automotive engineer trades roles with his wife, who returns to the advertising workforce after years as a homemaker. He then embarks on a steep learning curve of domestic duties and childcare, including navigating chaotic grocery trips and managing mischievous children. Meanwhile, his wife faces the challenges of the corporate world, including a predatory boss.

Dad's Preview: Switching marital roles might be easy for some, but not the couple in this family comedy. This hilarious film has a lot to teach about appreciating both roles as couples grapple with changes in their lives. By changes I mean children, you know, that massive responsibility that you don't get a manual for. It is however excellent fodder for great comedy. This is Keaton at the height of his comedic film run.

Sherwood Productions; 20th Century Fox

Starting from scratch never tasted so good.

Starring: John Favreau, Sofía Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt, Emjay Anthony, Robert Downey Jr.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I may not do everything great in my life, but I'm good at this. I manage to touch people's lives with what I do and I want to share this with you." - Carl Casper to his son, Percy

Why watch this? It's a wonderful father/son film, and most is onboard a food truck!

Plot Summary: A talented chef loses his job at a Los Angeles restaurant after a clash with a food critic. Determined to rediscover his passion for cooking and reconnect with his family, he decides to start a food truck. With the help from his ex-wife, teen son and a friend, he travels across the country, selling delicious grub.

Dad's Preview: You can literally taste the love that director Jon Favreau puts into this little cinematic gem. He portrays Carl, a perfectionist chef who blows up at a restaurant critic (all wonderfully filmed and posted online) and loses his job. With some urging from his ex-wife, he starts a food truck. He's also urged to take along his preteen son, for some badly needed bonding. The film is fun and heart-warming to watch, and afterwards you will be craving a real Cubano sandwich!

Aldamisa Ent., Fairview Ent., Fetisov Teterin Films, Prescience,
Altus Media, Kilburn Media; Open Road Films

To achieve the incredible you have to attempt the impossible.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Megan Cavanagh, Tracy Reiner, Bitty Schram, Anne Ramsay

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Are you crying?! There's no crying! There's no crying in baseball!" - Jimmy Dugan

Why watch this? The complicated sister relationship between Davis and Petty is priceless!

Plot Summary: During World War II, with many men fighting overseas, the future of Major League Baseball was uncertain. To keep professional baseball alive, a league of female players was formed, and scouts traversed the country to find talented women, including sisters Dottie and Kit, from a small farming town in Oregon. We follow their journey as they navigate the challenges of being professional athletes in the 1940s, grapple with a gruff, alcoholic manager, and struggle to keep the league and their team, the Rockford Peaches.

Dad's Preview: I crave films about historical events that most folks never heard of. This sports movie, about the 1943 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, has a lot of heart. That comes from Director Penny Marshall. Audiences and critics loved this adorable flick featuring female leads. Geena Davis and Lori Petty are splendid throughout. Tom Hanks, of course, is great as the team's drunken, angry and disenfranchised manager. It's a comedy that will warm your soul.

Parkway Productions; Columbia Pictures

Life is a state of mind.

Starring: Peter Sellers, Shirley McLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart,  Richard Basehart, Than Wyenn, David Clennon

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden." - Chauncey The Gardener

Why watch this? It's a creative story about powerful men who see simplicity as wisdom... which it is.

Plot Summary: A simple gardener, Chance, is forced to leave the only home he has ever known after his employer's death. Having only ever see the world through television and gardening, his quaint observations are misinterpreted as profound wisdom by those he encounters in the outside world. Through a series of miscommunications and societal projections, he finds himself becoming an influential figure in Washington politics. Chance even gets the ear of the U.S. President.

Dad's Preview: This tale skirts the borderline between what is and what people want to believe. Nominated for two Academy Awards, I feel this film is its generation's Forrest Gump (1994). As a film pre-viewer, I ask that you be patient, and let this slow-burn film develop. Your reward will be a thought-provoking film ending, and perhaps a little added wisdom.

Lorimar Productions; United Artists

The monster movie that breaks new ground.

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire, Bobby Jacoby, Tony Genaro, Ariana Richards, Richard Marcus

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Run for it? Running is not a plan. Running is what you do when a plan fails!" - Earl

Why watch this? Gigantic, underground, man-eating worms! That's a hard YES for me.

Plot Summary: Set in the remote desert town of Perfection, Nevada, two handymen, Val and Earl, decide to leave their dull lives. Before they can depart, strange tremors and a series of mysterious deaths suggest a dangerous threat lurks beneath the surface. Along with other residents, including a seismologist and a survivalist couple, they must fight to survive against unseen, giant creatures that hunt by sensing vibrations.

Dad's Preview: I cannot say enough about Kevin Bacon. In Animal House (1978) I hated him as a snobby frat boy. He has since earned my respect. He certainly is a hard-working actor. This monster film hits the right blend of horror/gore, action and comedy from start to finish. Scientifically it's preposterous, so don't waste your time trying to make it make sense. Just go with it. Fred Ward also shines as Bacon's hillbilly sidekick, Earl. The two become unlikely protectors as giant worms threaten a small, desert hamlet. Despite the topic, the film is well-done and very fun to watch. 

No Frills Prod., Pacific Western Prod.; Universal Pictures

American Beauty (1999), Director: Sam Mendes, rated R strong sexuality, nudity, language, violence

... look closer

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley, Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Chris Cooper

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I feel like I've been in a coma for the past twenty years. And I'm just now waking up." – Lester Burnham

Why watch this? It's such a uniquely American tragedy, both beautiful and brutally painful.

Plot Summary: Lester Burnham is a man slogging through a suburban marriage, and a midlife crisis, who becomes infatuated with his daughter's best friend. This sexual obsession leads him to question and significantly change his life, including his career and his relationships. These changes are a bit too radical for his wife to handle.

Dad's Preview: This film takes a critical look at the American way of life, and how the insatiable quest for material happiness can screw people up. We have a man in the midst of a mid-life crisis. His tightly wound wife is losing her mind, and having an affair, too. Their teenage daughter desperately just wants to be seen. Their neighbor is a hard-ass ex-military man, who's hell-bent on toughing up his sensitive son. Mix this all together, and the result is a cinematic climax you won't soon forget. 

Jinks/Cohen Company; DreamWorks Pictures

Time to rock it from the Delta to the DMZ!

Starring: Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Bruno Kirby, Robert Wuhl, Tung Thanh, Chintara Sukapatana, J. T. Walsh

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Five months in Vietnam and my best friend is a V.C.! This will not look good on a résumé!" - Adrian Cronauer

Why watch this? Robin Williams steals the show, and I think that was the idea.

Plot Summary: Adrian Cronauer, an Armed Forces Radio Service DJ, is assigned to Saigon during the Vietnam War in 1965. His irreverent style and choice of music make him incredibly popular with the troops, but they infuriate his stuffy superiors. The film explores the contrast between Cronauer's attempts to bring levity and rock and roll to the soldiers, and the growing realities and complexities of the war surrounding them.

Dad's Preview: Robin Williams, early on, was a quick-witted, almost manic, comedian. Here, he is an Army DJ in Vietnam, spinning tunes, and witty humor, for the troops. Could the film-makers harness his high energy, yet control it enough, to succeed on film? This vehicle let him be spontaneous, and funny, but it also exposed us to the real actor behind the mania. His complicated relationship with two Vietnamese siblings gives the film a real beating heart.

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners III; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

If he's crazy, what does that make you?

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, William Redfield, Michael Berryman, Scatman Crothers, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Sydney Lassick, Will Sampson, Brad Dourif

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"They was giving me ten thousand watts a day, you know, and I'm hot to trot! The next woman takes me on is gonna light up like a pinball machine and pay off in silver dollars!" - McMurphy

Why watch this? To remind you do everything possible to avoid a mental institute.

Plot Summary: Randle P. McMurphy is a rebellious and boisterous convict who feigns mental illness to avoid hard labor and is sent to a psychiatric hospital. There, he clashes with the authoritarian head nurse, Nurse Ratched, who rules the ward with strict control and manipulative tactics. McMurphy attempts to disrupt the oppressive routines and inspire the other patients to regain their sense of individuality and freedom.

Dad's Preview: An ensemble cast, most destined to become superstars, grace the screen in this story of abuse in a mental hospital. Nicholson, as only he can, plays an incarcerated "grifter" who just wants to bring a little fun to his fellow inmates. The infamous Nurse Ratched does all she can to stop him and maintain order, often exposing the depths of her cruelty. Special kudos to the towering Will Sampson as "Chief".

Fantasy Films; United Artists

A tough bounty hunter. A sensitive criminal.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Well if you don't shut up, pretty soon you're gonna suffer from fistaphobia." – Jack Walsh to "The Duke"

Why watch this? The exchanges between Grodin and De Niro are priceless.

Plot Summary: Gruff bounty hunter, Jack Walsh, agrees to a seemingly easy job: retrieve a mob accountant from New York and bring him back to Los Angeles. However, the accountant, Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas, turns out to be a demanding and eccentric individual with a fear of flying, forcing the two men on an arduous cross-country journey by various modes of transportation. As they travel, they are pursued relentlessly by the FBI, who want The Duke to testify against his former boss, and by the mob, who want to silence him permanently, all while facing off against a rival bounty hunter.

Dad's Preview: This is a superb buddy and/or road movie. It focuses on two polar opposite characters: one is a tough bail bondsman, Jack; the other, a meek, soft-spoken mob accountant known as "The Duke". Suffice it to say this film is packed with FBI agents, the Mob, car chases, and train rides. That said, I really enjoy the small scenes: scamming cash from Red's Bar, Jack's hurried visit to his estranged wife and daughter, and the film's perfect ending. What really impressed me was the humor, especially from non-comedic actors De Niro and Grodin - they play so well off each other.

City Lights Films; Universal Pictures

The year's most revealing comedy.

Starring: Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Addy, William Snape, Paul Barber, Hugo Speer, Lesley Sharp, Emily Woof

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Anti-wrinkle cream there may be, but anti-fat-bastard cream there is not." - Dave

Why watch this? I have never loved a film more than this one I fully expected to hate.

Plot Summary: Featuring the most unlikely of topics for a comedy, this film centers on a group of unemployed English steel workers who are desperate to find work. When Gaz spies women lined up at a male strip club, he develops a desperate plan. That's right, he'll gather up his mates and give it a jolly old go. How hard could it be?

Dad's Preview: Some of the greatest comedies are spawned from the most unlikeliest of subjects. By all accounts, unemployed British men should not be funny, yet it is. I mean, we got garden gnomes, folks. This is a huge tribute to some fine direction, and a solid script. There are also great performances through-out, leads to supporting cast. It truly is a dream ensemble. There are laughs throughout, and, trust me, the film's fully-gratifying ending will be one you won't soon forget.

Redwave Films, Channel Four Films; Fox Searchlight Pictures

Sometimes the perfect woman for the job... is a man.

Starring: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Robert Prosky, Polly Holliday, Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence, Mara Wilson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Ever wish you could freeze frame a moment in your day, and look at it and say "this is not my life"?"- Daniel Hillard

Why watch this? ... the Bridges Restaurant scene - pure comedic genius. Kills me every time.

Plot Summary: After a bitter divorce and limited custody of his children, a loving but irresponsible father disguises himself as an elderly British nanny to spend more time with his kids and ex-wife. He adopts the persona of Mrs. Doubtfire and becomes the children's housekeeper. As he navigates this complicated double life, he endeavors to become a more responsible parent and cope with his ex-wife's handsome new boyfriend.

Dad's Preview:  Smart directors learned to rein in Robin Williams' natural tendency to be a comedic spaz. This divorce film has hilarious moments, but it also does not hand us another sappy Hollywood divorce film we might expect (The Parent Trap (1998) or Liar Liar (1997)). Williams was a great actor. One minute he's a cross-dressing granny with a British accent... the next he's a wounded divorcee who just wants to be with his three kids again. But here, Dad and Mom don't get back together. They're really better people without each other, and that is more real.

Blue Wolf Productions; 20th Century Fox

For some, it's the last real taste of innocence, and the first real taste of life.
But for everyone, it's the time that memories are made of.

Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Frances Lee McCain, Richard Dreyfuss

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Boy, you don't know nothing. Mighty Mouse is a cartoon. Superman's a real guy. There's no way a cartoon could beat up a real guy!" - Teddy

Why watch this? I was one of these kids, going on long adventures, playing in the woods, worrying my mom.

Plot Summary: Four young friends are on a journey through the Oregon wilderness in the summer of 1959, as they search for a missing boy. During their quest, they face various adventures and challenges, which test their bonds and force them to confront personal struggles. This journey becomes a coming-of-age experience, shaping their individual paths and deepening their understanding of friendship and loss.

Dad's Preview: This is yet another film created from a Stephen King story (The Body). It follows four 12-year-old boys who venture to find the body of a boy who was killed along a remote stretch of railroad tracks. The strength of this film is simply the mannerisms and interactions between the boys. Each one is different, with unique skills and problems. Yet they stick together, as they get closer to their grim destination.

Act III Productions; Columbia Pictures

The World is Watching

Starring: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor, Ed Harris

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented, it's as simple as that." - Christof

Why watch this? This is a masterpiece for director Peter Weir and star Jim Carrey.

Plot Summary: Truman Burbank is an average man who lives a seemingly normal life in a picturesque town. Unknown to him, his entire world is a meticulously constructed set, and everyone he knows – his family, friends, and neighbors – are actors in a globally-televised reality show called The Truman Show. As strange occurrences begin to disrupt his routine, Truman slowly starts to question the reality of his existence and seeks to discover the truth about his life.

Dad's Preview: This is exactly the kind of reality-bending film that attracts me. Truman is the unknowing star of a TV show about his fabricated life. He lives in a bubble, all his interactions are with actors. This "project" is the vision of the mysterious Christof. There is so much wrong with this concept, but hey, the ratings are through the roof. Truman starts to wonder about his life, and wants more. It's creative, brilliant and deeply thought-provoking. Carey dials down the zany antics and it really pays off.  

Scott Rudin Productions; Paramount Pictures

Somebody said get a life... so they did.

Starring: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald, Brad Pitt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You said you 'n' me was gonna get out of town and for once just really let our hair down. Well, darlin', look out, 'cause my hair is comin' down!" - Thelma

Why watch this? ... it has Elsie's "Golden Stamp of Approval". Ladies, time to cut loose!

Plot Summary: Two best friends, Thelma and Louise, decide to escape their mundane lives for a weekend getaway. Their plans take an unexpected turn when an act of self-defense leads them on the run from the law. As they flee towards Mexico, the women rediscover their strength and the unbreakable bond of their friendship while navigating a series of perilous encounters.

Dad's Preview: My mom absolutely loved this flick. When I finally watched it, I could see why. It was fiercely female, and very personal to her. It follows two women who are tired of "taking it" from men and the system. They set out on a road adventure determined to live... for possibly the first time in their lives! My Mom was the perfect wife and mother. All that got her was a lousy divorce, and a broken heart. Sarandon and Davis are perfect for the lead roles.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Pathé Ent., Percy Main Prod., Star Partners III Ltd.;
MGM-Pathé Communications

The director of "Splash," "Willow" and "Cocoon" brings you a comedy about life, love and the gentle art of raising children.

Starring: Steve Martin, Tom Hulce, Jason Robarbs, Diane Wiest, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves, Mary Steenburgen, Joaquin Phoenix

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

“My whole life is have to." - Gil Buckman

Why watch this? ... it's great film about a normal family with its traumas, issues and events.

Plot Summary: The film follows the chaotic and often humorous lives of the Buckman family, showcasing the joys and tribulations across multiple generations as they navigate the complexities of raising children. The film explores various parenting styles and the challenges each family member faces, including career pressure, marital difficulties, and the struggle to understand and guide their children through different stages of life.

Dad's Preview: Steve Martin plays an excellent father in many flicks. Ironically, in real-life he bore no children. This film touches on the things that parents do to deal with "family things" that are often out of their control: a child who lacks confidence; an adult son who always makes bad decisions; parents who obsess with perfection. Those are serious topics, and Parenthood covers them in a way that makes you laugh. You'll enjoy the warm performances from a stellar all-star cast.

Imagine Entertainment; Universal Pictures

The greatest adventure is just getting back home.

Starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #35 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Up

"My name is Dug. I have just met you, and I love you." - Dug

Why watch this? I feel-good story that requires your imagination and suspension of belief.

Plot Summary: Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman, embarks on a journey to the wilds of South America in his house, lifted by thousands of balloons, fulfilling a lifelong dream. He unintentionally takes along a stowaway and young Wilderness Explorer named Russell. The unlikely duo encounters adventure, strange creatures, and a surprising revelation about Carl's childhood hero on their journey towards Paradise Falls.

Dad's Preview: In a crowded stable of excellent Pixar-Disney films, this one stands out for me. Perhaps it's Carl, the grumpy old man looking to get away from a world that doesn't want him. Maybe it's Russell, the plump young scout trying to earn his merit badges. It could be Dug, the delightful dog able to "talk" using a voice modulator. Combine these quirky characters with a high-flying, creative premise and you have a winner in my book. It packs a punch, too - You'll be bawling before the opening credits are over.

Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

A family on the verge of a breakdown

Starring: Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, Beth Grant

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #33 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Little Miss Sunshine

"I'd like to dedicate this to my grandpa, who showed me these moves." - Olive Hoover

Why watch this? Imagine the family road trip from hell. Then multiply it by 100.

Plot Summary: The Hoover family embarks on a chaotic cross-country road trip to get their young daughter, Olive, to the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant in California. Along the way, the eccentric family faces a series of setbacks and personal struggles that force them to re-evaluate their notions of success and happiness. The journey culminates in Olive's unconventional performance at the pageant.

Dad's Preview: This film is a superb ode to the wonderfulness that resides in families that are blessed to be 'non-normal'. I am proud to say this fits my family. Each family member is thoroughly fleshed out, and it's pretty clear that every one of them (except sweet tween Olive) is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Together they load up their yellow VW van to take Olive to compete in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. You will laugh until you cry during this dysfunction-laden road trip. It's pure genius - mostly because it reminds us our own family dynamics.

Big Beach Films, Bona Fide Prod., Third Gear Prod.; Fox Searchlight Pictures

The world will never be the same once you've seen it through the eyes of Forrest Gump.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field, Mykelti Williamson, Haley Joel Osment

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #14 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Forrest Gump

"Stupid is as stupid does." - Forrest Gump

Why watch this? There is something to be said for seeing a story through the eyes of the unsophisticated.

Plot Summary: This epic story follows the incredible and often serendipitous life of a kind-hearted but slow-witted man from Alabama. He recounts his experiences, which intertwine with significant historical events and figures of the 20th century, to strangers at a bus stop. Throughout his extraordinary journey, his only constant desire is to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Jenny.

Dad's Preview: This film is America. We get everything... all its shimmer and warts, it's beauty and imperfections. Be it peaceful Alabama cypress trees, napalm exploding in Vietnam, a quiet desert highway at sunset, a devastating storm at sea. We follow the life events of childlike Forrest Gump. On him we pin our hopes and dreams. This simple man shows us so much about ourselves. Hanks makes another wise role choice. It won 5 Oscars including Best Picture, Director and Actor.

The Tisch Company; Paramount Pictures

a homespun murder story

Starring: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Harve Presnell, Peter Stormare

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #12 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Fargo

"Sir, you have no call to get snippy with me. I'm just doing my job here." - Marge Gunderson

Why watch this? Brutal violence. Quirky characters. As only the Coen brothers can.

Plot Summary: Desperate for money, a Minnesota car salesman hires two men to kidnap his wife, intending to extort a ransom from her wealthy father. The seemingly foolproof scheme quickly unravels as events take a violent turn, leading to multiple deaths. A pregnant police chief in Brainerd, Minnesota, launches a tenacious investigation to uncover the truth behind the escalating crimes.

Dad's Preview: It's hard to hit the 'sweet spot' where a film can be violent, yet occasionally humorous. This is Fargo's genius. It centers on a kidnapping plot gone wrong, and a series of brutal, cold-blooded murders. Yet, half the time, I am chuckling at the odd mannerisms of the overly-nice, Mid-Western yokels. McDormand shines as 7-month-pregnant Police Chief Marge Gunderson.

Working Title Films; Gramercy Pictures