SMALL TALK WITH DAVE: TOP FIVE “MOM” MOVIES

*Posted May 13, 2008*

Since Sunday was Mother’s Day, I asked my Mom to come up with a few top fives for the site.She gave me her top five movies and top five favorites actors, allowing me to do a little write up on each of them. We usually don’t plug other people’s opinions often on this site, but we’re going to let it slide this time. Now keep in mind, just because you see these movies ranked on my spot, it does not mean I support the movies. I have seen most of these movies, and I do like a few of them, but my all time favorites? Don’t let this stuff get you confused with what we usually hoist upon the mantle.Make sure you have read the top ten of this decade by Andy to brush you up with stuff we prefer (except for that Matrix crap, that’s only Andy’s opinion. I think it eats shit.)So here we go with my Mom’s favorites that are listed in no particular order because that’s how mom’s are. In fact, since they aren’t in order, I’ll rank them according to what I think is best:(my comments are written in red, synopses provided by imdb.com)

5.Sleuth (1970’s) - Tagline: If it was murder, where's the body?

In England, the Italian English hairdresser Milo Tindle (Michael Caine) is invited by the successful writer of detective stories Andrew Wyke (Laurence Olivier) to visit his isolated house. The lower class Milo is the lover of Andrew's wife, who is used to have a comfortable life, and he intends to marry her. Andrew proposes Milo to steal his jewelry simulating a burglary. Milo would make a fortune selling the jewels to an intermediary; and Andrew would be reimbursed by the insurance company and would not pay alimony. However, the whole situation was part of an evil game. When Milo vanishes, a detective visits Andrew to investigate what really happened that night, when deadly games are disclosed.

I’ve never seen this one; it just sounds lousy to me. I feel like it’s gonna put me to sleep! Starring two guys who I’ve only known as old farts, I just can’t get excited about it. Major mom movie I guess.Tagline kinda sucks, too.

4.Ladyhawke (1980’s) - Tagline: CURSED FOR ETERNITY...No force in Heaven will release them. No power on Earth can save them.

Philipe Gastone (Matthew Broderick), a thief, escapes from the dungeon at Aquila, sparking a manhunt. He is nearly captured when Captain Navarre (Rutger Hauer) befriends him. Navarre has been hunted by the Bishop's men for two years, ever since he escaped with the Lady Isabeau (Michelle Pfeiffer) who the Bishop has lusted after. Navarre and Isabeau have a curse that the Bishop has placed on them that causes Navarre to be a wolf during the night and Isabeau to be a hawk during the day. Navarre insists that Philipe help him re-enter the city to help him kill the heavily guarded Bishop.

It gets fourth because this is the other one I haven’t seen, but my mom is absolutely insane over this movie, and I can see why. This movie sounds nuts, and that’s one of its pros. Plus, the actors are all cool, so I’d see this movie, but what’s the with e on the end of the title, it’s kinda gay.

3.Silverado (mid 80’s) - Tagline:Get ready for the ride of your life.

Emmett (Scott Glenn) is the cowboy, who finds Paden (Kevin Kline) lying almost dead in the wild. Paden got ambushed, borrows money from old friend Cobb, (Brian Dennehy) who offers him a job. The only problem is that they used to ride and do business together. Paden won't ride with them again because Tyree (Jeff Fahey) is still one of the bunch.

There is a wagon train with a beautiful young woman (Rosanna Arquette) with it. Emmett is heading to meet his kid brother Jake (Kevin Costner) who seems to attract problems. He encounters the sheriff (John Cleese) who has Jake in jail. After escaping, the 3 ride on and encounter the 4th member of their "good guys" team, Malachi Johnson (Danny Glover). They all ride to another town, where they find that Jake's old friend, Cobb is now the sheriff and operates a saloon with Stella (Linda Hunt). Slick (Jeff Goldblum) the new card shark in town, runs a card game there. Slick romances Malachi’s sister (Lynne Whitfield) after Cobb kills their old father guarding the ranch.

Glenn's cowboy has a felonious past, as do most of the men. There's enough civilization in the 10-block town to keep people riding away from it. But the prairies hold the festering peace other people are trying to steal. Women seem to be both the prize and the scapegoat of whatever is going on with the men.

The movie holds together without any saccharine prime-time happy endings. Many more recognizable faces are in this movie, even if you don't know the names. It's just as authentic as any old western.

I had to watch this movie in a film class and it kicks ass.The synopsis tells you pretty much what there is to know.

2.Last of the Mohicans (1993ish?) - Tagline: The first American hero.

The story is about a dying tribe called the Mohicans in which only two are left as well as one adopted white man. These three men refuse to enter the militia for English in 1757 for they want freedom. On their way to Kentucky, the intercept Indians attacking a small regiment of British including the two daughters of an English Colonel on their way to a fort. The three men lead the survivors to the fort while two love stories take place but the French and Indian War continues.However, the survivors have been targeted by Magua, a sadistic and vengeful Huron warrior who has dedicated his life to destroying the girls' father for a past injustice.

This movie used to be on TNT every now and then, but anytime I turned it on, it was always near the end. I did end up watching the dvd about four years ago and of course thought it to be a classic. And chances are you probably feel the same way since most people have seen this movie. Does anybody not like it?I guy’s heart gets EATEN. Yea, you see it all (my mom though? Always covered up for stuff like that).

1.Raising Arizona(late 80’s) - Tagline: A comedy beyond belief

Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child. Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona. The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes.

Chances are you’ve seen No Country For Old Men.Since you have, you know how good the Coen brothers are. I guess out of all time brothers, they rank somewhere between the Staal brothers (Mark and Eric, anyway) and the Super Mario Bros. The story is about a couple (a reformed criminal and a cop) that can’t have kids, so they figure, what’s the harm of taking one off of a family that has five? This was way back before Nic Cage turned fake (fake teeth, fake hair, lame movies). Every character is truly unique and offers gem after gem of a quote. They steal a kid named Nathan Jr., and yet still call him Nathan Jr.! With a soundtrack that includes yodeling, a bounty hunter with a road runner tattoo, and two fugitives who love pomade, you really feel like you’re in another world where everything’s hilarious. I couldn’t say enough about this movie, so go out and watch it now. I’ll leave you with a little taste.

Top 5 Mom Actors

Brian Dennehy

Scott Glenn

Tommy Lee Jones

Rutger Hauer

Sam Elliot