“Heat”

Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer in “Heat” (Warner Bros., 1995)

One of the coolest cops and robbers movies ever filmed is “Heat” (Warner Bros., 1995). Al Pacino plays Lt. Vincent Hanna, a LAPD homicide detective who is putting the heat on a local crime ring run by Neil McCauley, played by Robert De Niro, that has been busy stealing money and killing witnesses and other people in their way. Under the expert hand and eye of writer and director Michael Mann, the film portrays the complexity of the battle between good and evil and the complexity of the people fighting it. The mesmerizing minimalist soundtrack by composer Elliott Goldenthal adds to the moodiness of this great film. Filmed throughout the Los Angeles area, modern life has never looked more bleak or more beautiful. Full of violence, gore and swear words, this film is definitely made for grown ups. Also stars Val Kilmer, Jon Voigt, Tom Sizemore, Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, and Amy Brenneman. Written and directed by Michael Mann. “Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.”

“You’ve Got Mail”

Meg Ryan in “You’ve Got Mail” (Warner Bros., 1998)

“You’ve Got Mail” (Warner Bros., 1998) is a favorite modern romantic comedy. Kathleen Kelly (played by Meg Ryan), a second generation children’s book shop owner in Manhattan, has to fight off a big box book store owned by rival Joe Fox (played by Tom Hanks) that is opening up around the corner from her store and posing a huge threat to her beloved business. While Kathleen and Joe strongly dislike each other based on their real life encounters and their business goals, their respective online personas “Shopgirl” and “NY152” have met each other in an anonymous online chat room and have become blossoming pen pals. Idyllic cinematography of New York’s Upper West Side, charming performances by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, and an incredibly sweet resolution to the conflict make this a great movie that I love. Based on the play “Parfumerie” by Miklós László. (“The Shop Around the Corner” and “In the Good Old Summertime” are other film adaptations of the play.) Written by Nora Ephron and her sister Delia Ephron. Directed by Nora Ephron. “It’s a lovely store, and in a week it will be something really depressing, like a Baby Gap.”

“Cars”

Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) tries to teach Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) a thing or two in “Cars” (Disney/Pixar, 2006)

OK, I know that 2006’s “Cars” (and its 2011 sequel “Cars 2”) might not be the pinnacles of storytelling/filmmaking from Pixar Animation Studios. However, I really love both films, particularly “Cars.” The message about slowing down and enjoying the journey is a good one and a meaningful one. The animation in this film is so fantastic, too–from the NASCAR-style racing scenes, to the design of Radiator Springs and Ornament Valley, to the anthropomorphic car characters, the art ever-impresses. Plus, being a car fanatic makes this film even more fun to watch with all of the automotive references and motifs throughout. The great voice cast includes Owen Wilson, Michael Keaton, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub, George Carlin, John Ratzenberger, and many others. Written by Dan Fogelman, John Lasseter, Joe Ranft, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin and Jorgen Klubien. Co-directed by Joe Ranft. Directed by John Lasseter. “You’ve got a lot of stuff, kid.”

“On an Island with You”

Esther Williams in “On an Island with You” (MGM, 1948)

Have you ever seen an Esther Williams movie? She was the bathing beauty who starred in a bunch of MGM musicals during the 1940s and 1950s. The musicals were light on plot and heavy on the sychronized swimming. One of these musicals is 1948’s “On an Island with You.” Williams plays a Rosalind Rennolds, a stage performer turned movie star who while filming her latest film project in Hawaii gets romantically pursued by a U.S. Navy lieutenant (played by Peter Lawford) who had fallen in love with her years earlier when they met briefly during one of her shows. It’s completely stupid, but worth a view just for the kitsch of it all. Filmed in glorious Technicolor. Also stars Ricardo Montalban, Jimmy Durante, Cyd Charisse, Kathryn Beaumont, along with Xavier Cugat and his orchestra. Written by Dorothy Kingsley, Dorothy Cooper, Charles Martin and Hans Wilhelm (sorry to be critical, but I can’t believe it took four writers to write this screenplay–just sayin’). Directed by Richard Thorpe. “If I put my arms around your neck I’d choke you!”

“Heaven Can Wait”

Buck Henry and Warren Beatty in “Heaven Can Wait” (Paramount, 1978)

Another movie I loved as a kid was “Heaven Can Wait” (Paramount, 1978). Warren Beatty stars as Joe Pendleton, a quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams football team who, on the weekend when he is about to get put in as a starter, gets pulled out of his body by his guardian angel escort (played by Buck Henry) just before an impending accident. When Mr. Jordan (played by James Mason), the supervisor in the afterlife, sees in his file that Joe was supposed to survive the accident and that he wasn’t supposed to die for many years in the future, they try to restore Joe to his original body, only to discover that it had already been cremated. Mr. Jordan makes a deal with Joe that they will find a suitable replacement body for him (mostly, one that can play professional football), but in the meantime, they will need to put him in a temporary body while they search. One option is the body of recently murdered (by his wife and his personal assistant, no less) Leo Farnsworth. Joe is unsure about going into Mr. Farnsworth body’s until he sees the lovely Betty Logan (played by the lovely Julie Christie), who has come to plead her case against one of Mr. Farnsworth business dealings. Crazyness ensues as Joe lives life through Leo’s body while “heaven can wait.” This is such a terrific, charming and hopeful romantic comedy. Highly recommended. I couldn’t find it on Netflix, but it was available on Amazon Instant Video. Also stars Jack Warden, Charles Grodin and Dyan Cannon. Written by Elaine May and Warren Beatty. Based on the play by Harry Segall. Directed by Bucky Henry and Warren Beatty. “There is always a plan.”