The ten guilty pleasures in my movie library.

So what is a guilty pleasure? In my book it a movie that may not be great or well liked, perhaps even hated by a wide range of people, but for me it is film I enjoy no matter what people may think of it. It also may be a movie I would not readily tell people I have watched unless they admited to seeing it first. That does not mean I am ashamed of the movie, it only means it is one that I enjoy watching again and again but the title may not come up in normal conversation with everyday people. Enough explanations and on with the list. And by the way, they are listed in no particular order.

The Hangover
(2009)
I lied!!! This movie is my favorite guilty pleasure! I find it so entertaining that while I watch it I am taken away from real life (which sometimes sucks) and follow the antics of the three groomsmen who lost their groom during a men's weekend in Las Vegas before the wedding. Las Vegas becomes the fifth star after the four main actors as it is showcased in such wonderful detail it makes you want to fly there right away and follow in their footsteps. Alright, maybe I would not do everything they did, but it made Vegas seem like fun. And the movie's soundtrack, so darn awesome! It introduced music I have never listened to before and made me appreciated artists I would have never thought of listening to. I have met several people who absolutely hate this movie and I shake my head, but keep my thoughts to myself.

Clerks II
(2006)

Spirited Away
(2001)


O Brother, Where Art Thou?
(2000)

Dude, Where's my car?
(2000)

Dogma
(1999)

Candy
(1968)
My memory is a little fuzzy of when and where I had first seen this movie but I believe it was at the Liberty Theatre in Mexico, Missouri in 1968. During the late 60's and early 70's the Liberty was showing art house movies along with bigger named films which was not bad for a small town movie theatre. I think Candy was my first introduction to an "R" rated movie and it blew my socks off! It is a classic psychedelic 60's free love movie with so many big stars it made news in the mainstream media. People were wondering why Richard Burton, Marlon Brando, James Coburn, John Huston, Walter Matthau, Charles Aznavour and John Astin would star in such a sex farce. Even Ringo Starr of the Beatles had a role as a gardener who makes love to the star, Ewa Aulin, on a pool table while yelling out "Viva La Revolution"! The movie is quite dated now but the soundtrack will take you back with songs from Steppenwolf and the Byrds. So if you are a fan of that era in music and free love history, check out this movie and you will not be disappointed. And I sometimes wonder, what ever happened to the actress Ewa Aulin who played Candy? Perhaps someone can find out for me.

The Big Lebowski
(1998)

Be Cool
(2005)

A Little Princess
(1995)
This movie squeezes my heart as it is a Father/Daughter film of the highest quality. So many times I have watched it when my daughter was younger, and so many times I had to leave before the end so she could not see me choked up with emotion. What a wonderful bit of story telling by the Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron, who interestingly made the soft porn movie "Y Tu Mama Tambien". The producers of the Harry Potter movie series seen the "Little Princess" and hired Cuaron to direct "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" with J.K. Rowling's blessing. The main character of Sara is played by Liesel Matthews who surprisingly has not been in many movies after the "Little Princess". It is interesting to note that she is heir to the Hyatt Hotel chain and the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and the family has been caught up in a messy divorce battle. And I guess she preferred college over acting. In a personal note, my daughter was bound and determined to change her name to Sara whenever she could legally do so. That is how much she liked this movie although she still hasn't changed her name yet. Even now typing this I have a tear in my eye remembering such great times with my daughter.