The Stunt Man

Man, has this film got it all...

1980 movie directed by Richard Rush is a thriller, drama, comedy, romance, action flick...about the only thing it isn't is a musical.

Starring Peter O'Toole, Steve Railsback, and Barbara Hershey, The Stuntman is about a fugitive who comes upon a film set. Unwittingly causing the death of the film's stunt man, the convict is given refuge by the director if he replaces the stunt man.

Railsback is the fugitive. O'Toole absolutely steals the show as the director, who threatens, cajoles, does anything to get his way and to get his scenes shot.

Brilliant film, lots of fun and thought provoking.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081568/

To Have and Have Not

Bogart and Bacall at their best. Howard Hawks directed them in 1944. This is the first film they worked on together and the chemistry is evident.

Faulkner worked on the screenplay from an uncredited Hemingway novel.

Bogart plays a charter boat captain during World War Two who tries to remain aloof and neutral. But circumstances force him to become involved in the resistance and with a sexy cabaret singer.

Great adventure romance.

Walter Brennan shines as Bogart's drunk first mate ("Ever been stung by a dead bee?"), Bacall is HOT and Bogart is prime.

Not to be missed.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037382/

Charade

Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, and Walter Matthau star in this 1963 Stanley Donan comedy/romance/mystery that is fun and a delight.

Hepburn, finding out she is a widow, is stalked by nefarious strangers who are looking for wartime booty that her late husband stashed away. She turns to Cary Grant for help...but is he to be trusted?

The plot twists, Grant and Hepburn are great together, and the movie charms and delights.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056923/

High Fidelity

Stepen Frears film made in 2000 adapted brom Nick Hornby's book stars John Cusack, Tim Robbins, Jack Black.

Record store owner Cusack is a compulsive list maker and record snob who looks back over his romantic break-ups. Film is tender and sad in parts but overall very funny. Cusack is great as always, Tim Robbins makes the most out of a very small role...but Jack Black steals a number of scenes. Watch for his new band's debut...surprisingly good and a riot in context of the film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146882/

Elvira Madigan

Ah romance.

This Swedish film from 1967 was directed by Bo Widerberg and stars Pia Degemark and Thommy Berggren.

A beautiful story and absolutely a feast for the eyes, with lush, pastoral images seemingly pulled from an art gallery.

Based upon true events, Elvira Madigan is the story of a popular tightrope artist/dance who travels with her father's small circus. She meets and falls in love with a married army deserter. They run away together but the star-crossed lovers run into difficulties. It is a moving story, wonderful to look at, and the Mozart music brings it to a whole other level.

A film for the romantic in all of us.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061620/