Lazy Sunday – My Favorite Modern Classics or Boy Do I Feel Old!
Lazy Sunday – a weekly column where I discuss my favorite lazy day indulgences – movies, television shows, books and music.
So recently I was having a conversation with a co-worker and I mentioned that something reminded me of the film “About A Boy.” She looked at me blankly and I remembered that we’re about 10 years apart. Yup, turns out she had never heard of it. Oy vey, if ever there was a moment where I felt old. It only came out in 2002! It’s not that old! Oh wait…she was a kid then. Oh boy.
On the plus side it gave me a topic for this weeks Lazy Sunday! So without further ado here’s a list of my favorite modern classics. And by modern I mean within the last 15 years or so.
There’s a reason I brought this movie up in a conversation. For a long time it was my favorite movie. An amazing performance by Hugh Grant. The cutest weird kid around. Lots of laughs while tackling serious subject matter. A killer soundtrack by Badly Drawn Boy. What’s not to love? Also, this is one of those rare films that I thought was much better than the book.
Ok, this is kind of embarrassing. When Spiderman came out I had an instant crush on Tobey Maguire. I thought he was so cute that I started to watch every movie he was in (I was in my early 20’s…I hope that’s a good explanation). When I came across Wonder Boys I was instantly taken with how amazingly good it is. Seriously. This remains on of my favorite films to this day. Michael Douglas, who I don’t ordinarily care for, gives an incredible performance. Robert Downey Jr. was in the middle of his drug saga when this was made. Pulling together this role in those dark days of his is an astonishing feat. And Tobey was good, too.
The true life story of the incredible Harvey Pekar, an ordinary guy with a not so ordinary skill as an amazing comic book author. Yup, that is Paul Giamatti in the role that first got him notice. The film is incredibly unique with animated sequences from the books and interstitials by the true life people portrayed in the film. It is an incredibly unique, amazing piece of work.
I am an admitted Austenite. I’ve read all the books and seen most of the film adaptations. Including Bride and Predjudice – a Bollywood take on her most famous of novels. I remember going to see this at the movies just because I had nothing else to do. You know, one of those days where you go to the theatre, look at what’s playing, and pick which one sounds the most appealing. Boy, did I pick the right one! This movie is just FUN.
I’m pretty sure this is the most well known title on the list as it often comes up on many “best of” lists. But that’s because it’s so SO good. I’ve always felt that Jim Carrey was robbed of the Oscar for this. He wasn’t even nominated but hands down, this was the best performance of 2004. Who did win? Jamie Foxx for Ray. Ugh. I rest my case.
There is no way I could write this list and not include a film by my favorite modern director, Wes Anderson. Rushmore is my favorite film of his. So beautiful looking. So hilarious. Bill Murray. What more could you ask for? Plus it’s infinitely quotable. “I saved Latin.” “O.R. they?” “She’s my Rushmore.” See what I mean?
