She was lost from the moment she saw him.

Starring: Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons, Hilton McRae, Emily Morgan, Charlotte Mitchell, Lynsey Baxter, jean Faulds, Peter Vaughan, Colin Jeavons

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"There was madness in me at that time. A bitterness, an envy. I forced myself on you, knowing that you had other obligations. It was unworthy! I suddenly saw after you had gone that I had to destroy what had begun between us!" – Sarah, to Charles

Why watch this? This is creative storytelling at its best.

Plot Summary: The story weaves together two parallel narratives, alternating between a 19th-century forbidden romance and the modern-day filming of that same story. In the Victorian time, a gentleman paleontologist named Charles becomes obsessed with Sarah, an enigmatic outcast, risking his reputation and engagement to pursue her. Meanwhile, the two actors playing these roles start an off-screen affair, mirroring the passionate but complicated dynamics of their characters.

Leon Clore; United Artists

After the Fall from Innocence the Legend begins.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Julia Ormond, Henry Thomas, Karina Lombard, Tantoo Cardinal, Gordon Tootoosis, Paul Desmond

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Every warrior hopes a good death will find him." - One Stab

Why watch this? Plucked out of the pages of a romance novel, long-locked Brad Pitt sets every female heart aflutter.

Plot Summary: Colonel William Ludlow, disillusioned by betrayal from the US government, establishes a ranch in remote Montana where he raises his three sons: Alfred, Tristan, and Samuel. The close-knit family, joined by a Cree friend and others, maintains an unbreakable bond until Samuel brings home his fiancée, Susannah. As the brothers go off to fight in World War I, their relationships are challenged by the impact of war and a rivalry for Susannah's affections, threatening to tear the family apart.

TriStar Pictures, Bedford Falls Prod.;
Sony Pictures Releasing

Love is the only inspiration

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench, Steven O'Donnell, TIm McMullan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I know something of a woman in a man's profession. Yes, by God, I do know about that." - Queen Elizabeth

Why watch this? This is a period piece that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Plot Summary: A young, struggling William Shakespeare finds himself battling a serious case of writer's block while trying to craft a new comedy titled Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. His creative slump is cured by a passionate romance with a wealthy, disguised woman named Viola, who defies social conventions to pursue her love of acting. As their affair deepens and the play is rewritten into a tragedy, the lovers must confront numerous obstacles posed by societal expectations and their existing commitments.

The Bedford Falls Co.; Miramax Films

You can only imagine the truth.

Starring: James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave, Brenda Blethyn, Juno Temple, Benedict Cumberbatch, Patrick Kennedy, Harriet Walter, Peter Wight

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I decided not to take up my place at Cambridge. I decided I wanted to make myself useful, do something practical. But no matter how hard I work, no matter how long the hours, I can't escape from what I did and what it meant, the full extent of which I'm only now beginning to grasp." – Briony, age 18

Why watch this? It's so beautifully constructed, scored and shot... a real classic love tragedy.

Plot Summary: Thirteen-year-old aspiring writer Briony Tallis irrevocably alters the course of several lives when she misinterprets an intimate moment between her older sister Cecilia and their housekeeper's son, Robbie, leading to a devastating false accusation. As World War II breaks out, Robbie is sent to fight in France while a separated Cecilia waits for him, both enduring profound hardship caused by the lie.
 

Dad's Preview: This sprawling, often epic, romance film felt immediately like it was lifted from the pages of the Ian McEwan novel that it's based upon. It covers three time periods, showing the devastating effects of one half-innocent action, taken simply out of jealousy. Young Briony single-handedly ruined the lives of her sister and the man she loved. I particularly admired the brilliant ways in which scenes were replayed from different perspectives. This film's unique structure, and how its narrative is slowly revealed, really sets it apart from most run-of-the-mill period romances. Our leading lovers are pleasantly portrayed by McAvoy and Nightley, however it is Saoirse Ronan, as the love-sick novice playwright, who captivates every scene. She deserved her nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Relativity Media, Studio Canal,
Working Title Films; Focus Features

"A singularly rich period piece"

Starring: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino, Christel Baras, Armande Boulanger

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You were right. I am scared. Do all lovers feel they're inventing something? I know the gestures. I imagined it all, waiting for you." - Héloïse

Why watch this? At a time and place of beauty in art, forbidden love cannot be denied.

Plot Summary: In 18th-century France, a painter named Marianne is commissioned to secretly paint a wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young noblewoman reluctant to be married. Posing as a hired companion to study her subject by day, Marianne observes Héloïse, and the two develop an intimate connection as they share. As the painting progresses towards completion, the growing attraction between the women turns into a passionate, fleeting romance.

Lillies Films, Arte, Hold Up Films;
Pyramide Films

Based on the Novel by E. M. Forster

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson, James Wilby, Samuel West, Jemma Regraves

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Will you forgive her as you yourself have been forgiven... you have had a mistress; I forgave you." - Margaret Schlegel

Why watch this? The self-control of the British, in any situation, amazes me.

Plot Summary: This drama explores the complex intersections of three families representing different social classes in early 20th-century England. The cultured and intellectual Schlegel sisters grapple with the materialistic Wilcox family and the impoverished working-class Basts, leading to a series of unexpected encounters and evolving relationships.

Merchant Ivory Prod., Sumitomo Corp.,
Imagica Corp., Cinema Ten, JSB Japan Satallite;
Sony Pictures Classics

No ordinary love story...

Starring: Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey, Milo O'Shea, Michael York, John McEnery, Natasha Parry, Pat Heywood, Robert Stephens

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty 'till this night." - Romeo.

Why watch this? There is not a more tragic love story than this classic crafted by the Bard himself.

Plot Summary: In Verona, a long-standing and violent feud exists between the Montague and Capulet families. Young Romeo Montague attends a Capulet masked ball, where he meets and falls deeply in love with Juliet Capulet. Despite their families' animosity, the lovers secretly marry, hoping their union will end the generations-old conflict. However, a turn of events, including a murder, threatens to tear their secret marriage apart.

BHE Films; Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica,
Verona Prod.; Paramount Pictures

She's finally met the man of her dreams. He's not real but you can't have everything.

Starring: Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello, Edward Herrmann, John Wood, Deborah Rush, Zoe Caldwell, Dianne Wiest, Paul Herman, Van Johnson, Karen Akers, Milo O'Shea

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Last week I was unloved. Now, two people love me - and it's the same two people." - Cecilia

Why watch this? This unique film is speaks of love, longing and old Hollywood.

Plot Summary: Cecilia is a woman struggling to make ends meet during the Great Depression. The passionate young woman is tied down by a deadbeat, abusive husband and a diner job she is not very good at. Her true love is attending movies at the local theater. The settings are usually exotic, the stars dashing and handsome. When a new feature begins its run, The Purple Rose of Cairo, she becomes enamored with an adventurous character, Tom Baxter. As her life gets harder, she retreats to the theater, again and again. Then something truly unbelievable occurs: In a critical scene, Tom Baxter looks into the audience, addresses Cecilia directly, and does the impossible - he walks off the screen and into her life, eagerly escaping the fictitious film universe.

Robert Greenhut; Orion Pictures

Love is the greatest adventure of all.

Starring: Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Robert Shaw, Nicol Williamson, Denholm Elliott, Ronnie Barker, Kenneth Haigh, Ian Holm, Richard Harris

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I've hardly lost a battle, and I don't know what I've won. 'The day is ours, Robin,' you used to say, and then it was tomorrow. But where did the day go?" - Robin Hood

Why watch this? It's a bittersweet story of what happened to Robin Hood and Maid Marian.

Plot Summary: The story picks up the classic Robin Hood legend years after Robin's peak, finding him and Little John returning to England disillusioned from the Crusades. They discover that Maid Marian has become an abbess, and their reunion unfolds as they navigate their changed circumstances and rekindle their complicated relationship. Robin is forced to confront his aging and a changed world, leading to a final conflict with his old adversary, the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Rastar; Columbia Pictures

A timeless story of strength, secrets, and two warriors who would never surrender.

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang, Chang Chen, Sihung Lung, Cheng Pei-pei, Wang Deming, Li Li, Hai Yan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"The things we touch have no permanence. My master would say: there is nothing we can hold onto in this world. Only by letting go can we truly possess what is real." - Li Mu Bai

Why watch this? The fight scenes are legendary, flowing like Cantonese ballet.

Plot Summary: Two skilled warriors, Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, track a stolen legendary sword known as the Green Destiny. This quest leads them to a young woman, Jen Yu, who possesses incredible martial arts abilities and a mysterious past. Their pursuit of the sword becomes intertwined with Jen's journey of self-discovery and her pursuit of freedom, while also uncovering a connection to an old nemesis.

Columbia Pictures Film, Prod. Asia, Good
Machine Intl., Edko Films, Zoom Hunt Prod.;
Sony Pictures Classics

Love is a burning thing.

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, McGhee Monteith, Dallas Roberts, Dan John Miller, Larry Bagby, Shelby Lynne, Tyler Hilton, Waylon Payne, Shooter Jennings

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"My Daddy's right. It should have been me on that saw. Jack was so good. He would have done so many good things. What have I done? Just hurt everybody I know. I know I've hurt you. I'm nothin'." – Johnny Cash

Why watch this? This amazing, heart-rending film takes us on the road with a legend.

Plot Summary: This biographical drama explores the life of country music icon Johnny Cash, from his humble beginnings in rural Arkansas to his explosive rise to fame. As his career takes off, his personal life begins to unravel due to his struggles with substance abuse and the breakdown of his first marriage. Ultimately, his tempestuous romance and musical collaboration with fellow singer June Carter become the driving force behind his personal redemption and legendary success.
 

Dad's Preview: I am a Johnny Cash fan, not because I grew up with him, but through discovery in my thirties. There is an Americana honesty that he brings like no other. His five American series albums, which he recorded late in his life, are must-haves if you like music. This is the telling of his hard-scrapple Arkansas roots, his rise to fame, and the hard road to get to the only woman he ever loved. This man lived a life worth hearing about. Joaquin Phoenix's performance is so damn good. The only better performance is that of Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. She is incredible, as the feisty, funny and angelic Miss Carter; and she deservedly won the Best Actress Oscar. They both did all the musical work including the vocals. Wow. When the final credits rolled, I felt like I had experienced their tumultuous lives, and now I more clearly understood the man in black.

Fox 2000 Pictures; 20th Century Fox

Keep Your Heart Open

Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, Olivia Lynes, Justine Mitchell, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, James Skinner, Noah Jupe, David Wilmot

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We must never let our guard down. Never take for granted... that our children's hearts beat, that they draw breath, that they walk and speak and... smile, argue, play. Never forget for a moment that they may be gone." - Mary

Why watch this? Stories are best when they take us on a journey rife with happiness and pain.

Plot Summary: Set in 1590s England, the film follows the passionate romance and family life of Agnes and her ambitious playwright husband, William, as they navigate love and marriage in Stratford-upon-Avon. When an unexpected tragedy hits, the couple faces immense, devastating grief that fractures their household.
 

Dad's Preview: Tales set back in the late middle ages remind us how good we have things today. These early populations constantly feared injury, the plague, and fevers that were particularly deadly for children. Yet, people still fell in love and raised families. This lovely film centers on one such couple, Agnes and William. Despite reservations from his parents (they are wary that the forest-loving Agnes is a witch), the pair marry and have three children. The magic here is how director Zhao takes her time in life's moments. This builds our relationships with the characters. When tragedy occurs, it's a literal gut-punch. The film's ending is masterful, a play within a play, that will, very possibly, restore your faith in the human experience.

Hera Pictures, Neal Street Prod., Amblin Ent.,
Book of Shadows; Focus Features

In memory, love lives forever.

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas, Willem Dafoe, Naveen Andrews, Colin Firth, Julian Wadham, Jürgen Prochnow, Kevin Whately, Nino Castelnuovo

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I'm not in love with him. I'm in love with ghosts. So is he, he's in love with ghosts." - Hana

Why watch this? Love and heartbreak are heads on the same coin in this epic romance.

Plot Summary: At the close of World War II, a severely burned man, called the English patient, is cared for by a young nurse in a secluded Italian villa. His fragmented memories, gradually revealed through morphine-induced flashbacks, unveil his past as a Hungarian count mapping the Sahara Desert and a tragic affair with a married woman. As his story unfolds, intertwined with the lives of the nurse and other companions, the film explores themes of love, betrayal, and the lingering scars of war.

Tiger Moth Productions; Miramax Films

The Happiest Sound In All The World!

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood, Charmian Carr, Eleanor Parker, Angela Cartwright, Ben Wright

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I can't seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what's worse, I can't seem to stop saying things - anything and everything I think and feel." - Maria

Why watch this? It is deservedly the standard by which all family musicals are measured.

Plot Summary: Set in Austria on the cusp of World War II, a high-spirited young woman named Maria, considering a life as a nun, is sent to be a governess to the seven children of the widowed and strict Captain Georg von Trapp. Maria's love for music and kind nature gradually bring joy and warmth back into the children's lives, and eventually the Captain's as well.

Argyle Enterprises, Inc.; 20th Century Fox

Stripped of everything - they lived and loved and fought as if there were no tomorrow...

Starring: John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda, Burgess Meredith, Patricia Neal, Brandon DeWilde, Dana Andrews, Tom Tyron, Paula Prentiss, Jill Haworth, Stanley Holloway, Franchot Tone, Patrick O'Neal, Carroll O'Connor, Henry Fonda

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 100 #96 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of In Harm's Way

"Old Rock of Ages, we've got ourselves another war. A gut bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war." - Cmdr. Paul Eddington, after the attack on Pearl Harbor

Why watch this? One of the best films ever about the US Navy.

Plot Summary: During the immediate aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. Navy Captain Rockwell "Rock" Torrey finds himself reassigned to a desk job following a controversial decision in battle. While adjusting to this new role, he begins a romance with nurse Maggie Haynes and attempts to reconnect with his estranged son, Jere, who is also serving in the Navy. As the war intensifies in the Pacific, Rock is given a chance at redemption when he is tasked with leading a crucial and dangerous mission against the Japanese forces.
 

Dad's Preview: This film is not a typical Wayne war movie. It focuses on the effect war has on the men and women embroiled within it. It paints a realistic picture of the lives of Navy personnel. Wayne's Rock Torrey can command a ship, but his marriage failed and his own son hates him. Kirk Douglas' Paul Eddington knows how to get things done, but he is hiding a violent temper beneath his easy-going persona. We also see the savagery of Naval sea battles, where ships fire huge shells at one another, causing incredible damage and mutilate the sailors on board.

Otto Preminger; Paramount Pictures

The African Queen (1951), Director: John Huston, rated PG for some war violence

Bogart the King is back with the 'Queen!'

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Bull, Theodore Bikel, Walter Gotell, Peter Stanwick

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I never dreamed that any mere physical experience could be so stimulating!" – Rose Sayer

Why watch this? It's a wonderful adventure film from the 50's with two Hollywood icons.

Plot Summary: Set during World War I, in German East Africa, Charlie Allnut, a rough-and-tumble Canadian riverboat captain, finds himself thrown together with a strait-laced British missionary named Rose Sayer. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey down a treacherous river on Charlie's dilapidated boat, the African Queen, facing natural dangers and German forces. Despite their vastly different personalities and frequent arguments, an unlikely bond develops as they navigate their perilous mission.

Horizon Pictures, Romulus Pictures;
United Artists

She was heralded as unsinkable...

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, David Warner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The press knows the size of Titanic, now I want them to marvel at her speed, too. We must give them something new to print. And the maiden voyage of Titanic must make headlines!" – I. Bruce Ismay

Why watch this? A truly epic telling of the greatest maritime disaster.

Plot Summary: A young, upper-class lady, Rose DeWitt Bukater, feels trapped by her engagement to a wealthy but controlling man, Cal. Aboard the luxurious RMS Titanic, she meets Jack Dawson, a free-spirited artist traveling in third class. Despite their stark class differences and Rose's engagement, they fall deeply in love. However, their romance unfolds against the backdrop of the ship's fateful maiden voyage and the impending disaster that will forever change their lives.

20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Ent.;
Paramount Pictures

Love Is A Force Of Nature

Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid, Linda Cardellini

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The bottom line is...we're around each other and...this thing grabs hold of us again...in the wrong place...in the wrong time...we're dead." - Ennis Del Mar

Why watch this? This is a love story, set in a place where folks don't tolerate anybody "different".

Plot Summary: In 1963, two out-of-work cowboys, Jack and Ennis, hire on working sheep in the Wyoming wilderness. Unexpectedly, the two become intimate, something they agree was a "one time deal". They return to their lives, both marrying and having kids. Over the next ten years, however, their forbidden relationship grows as they meet for annual fishing trips.

River Road Entertainment; Focus Features

They had a date with fate in Casablanca!

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You know, Rick, I have many a friend in Casablanca, but somehow, just because you despise me, you are the only one I trust." - Ugarte

Why watch this? This is film noir's holy grail. It has all the classic elements.

Plot Summary: Rick Blaine is an expatriate running a seedy bar in Casablanca. In walks Ilsa Lund, an old love, who is now married to Victor Laszlo, a secret Czech resistance leader trying to escape the city. The love triangle heats up as Ilsa clearly still has feelings for Rick. However, World War II is also heating up, and although Rick claims to be neutral, he certainly has no love for the Germans.

Hal B. Wallis; Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.

The most magnificent picture ever!

Starring: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Hattie McDaniel, Ona Munson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill, as God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again." - Scarlett O'Hara

Why watch this? ... the burning of Atlanta, which is a spectacle on screen to behold.

Plot Summary: It follows the life of Scarlett O'Hara, a spoiled, rich plantation debutante. Then the Civil War begins... As the South's eventual loss becomes evident, Atlanta is burned. In the aftermath, Scarlett finally returns to her devastated plantation home. With her father dead, she has a fight on her hands to keep it. Luckily, the noble scoundrel, Rhett Butler, gives her aid.
 

Dad's Preview: This is the great American story of the Old South.  As I have watched this film through the years, my affection for Scarlett has evolved. The film is about her and the many conflicts she endures. My Mom, though, only saw the handsome Clark Gable and all his confident charm. Many have called this a "racist" film - I disagree. Sure, it portrays a racist South, yet also gave us an admirable black character in Hattie McDaniel as the strong-willed servant Mammy. She was the first African American to win and Academy Award (for Best Supporting Actress).

Selznick International Pictures,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.

An epic adventure and passionate romance unfold against the panorama of a frontier wilderness ravaged by war.

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, Jodhi May, Steven Waddington, Wes Studi, Maurice Roëves

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #21 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Last of the Mohicans

"When the Grey Hair is dead, Magua will eat his heart. Before he dies, Magua will put his children under the knife, so the Grey Hair will know his seed is wiped out forever." - Magua

Why watch this? This classic American frontier story is a flawless work of art.

Plot Summary: During the French and Indian War in 1757, three trappers must escort a British colonel's daughters through the dangerous American wilderness to the safety of Fort William Henry. Their journey is complicated by the betrayal of a treacherous Huron guide, leading to an intense struggle for survival against hostile enemy forces. As the group battles through the rugged frontier landscape, the eldest daughter, Cora, and the Mohican scout, Hawkeye, form a profound connection amidst the escalating conflict.

Michael Mann, Hunt Lowry; 20th Century Fox