100 Favorite Movies, Part 4

• 70. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (1995) - Michael Douglas is an actor who frequently radiates sleaze, but here he effortlessly embodies the class, integrity and grace of a truly wonderful fictional president. This clever and romantic love story about the President dating a lobbyist (a glowing Annette Bening) realistically tackles the obstacles such a relationship would face without ever surrendering the fantasy qualities of a good romantic comedy. And if this isn't the way politics really are, well, dammit, they should be! I come out of this film believing in the myth that is America and proudly hoping the real-life politicians would make it a reality.

• 69. THE FUGITIVE (1993) - One of the most effective chase films I've ever seen pits a quietly tense Harrison Ford against the cynical ranger played by Tommy Lee Jones. The familiar plot is perfectly paced and continues to provide tension on each subsequent viewing, with a sublime supporting cast to ground the convoluted story in realism. A masterful example of the genre with scenes that never get old. Need I say more?

• 68. A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) - Everyone knows and loves this one. Stuffed wall-to-wall with memorable scenes, it captures the nostalgic kid in us all who remember that one toy we always wanted with a passion nothing else has ever matched. It manages to lampoon everything about family Christmases, and yet obviously has great affection for every character and situation. And such quotable narration, spoken with a knowing glee, by author Jean Shepard! My favorites: "In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging is space over Lake Michigan," and "Every kid, at the back of his mind, vaguely but insistently, believes that he will be struck blind before his 21st birthday. And then they'll be sorry."

• 67. WORKING GIRL (1988) - It's the Cinderella story of the business world as secretary Tess (Melanie Griffith) schemes to overcome her duplicitous boss (delightfully two-faced Sigourney Weaver) to achieve her business dreams and secure her fella (deadpan Harrison Ford). I don't know what "mergers and acquisitions" means, but thanks to Griffith's winning portrayal of the savvy underdog, I don't care. And Carly Simon's score, including the Oscar-winning "Let the River Run," has stayed fresh despite it's age.

• 66. PUMP UP THE VOLUME (1990) - Christian Slater is shy bookworm by day, shock-jock pirate DJ by night. His broadcasts are amusingly vulgar, but hold important meaning to his demoralized student body about their corrupt school system and the teachers who don't want to help. Slater balances a fine performance between his tentative loner and the outspoken wild-man he plays on the radio. Samantha Mathis is refreshing in her screen debut as tough-chick Nora DeNiro. She and Slater have a sweetly erotic scene where they literally bare all (well, from the waist up) while swaying to the awesomely sexy track "Why Can't I Fall in Love?"

• 65. TOY STORY 2 (1999) - Yeah, I know it's the sequel, and in all honesty, Toy Story is just as good as this. But in addition to getting Woody, Buzz, Slinky, Rex, Hamm and Mr. Potato Head back, we gained spunky cowgirl Jessie, Stinky Pete, the unloved prospector, and glimsped Evil Emperor Zurg confessing that he is Buzz's father in a hilarious Star Wars homage. Ultimately, what makes this the superior installment for me is the deeply sad "When She Loved Me" sung as Jessie remembers the time her owner forgot her, then gave her away. Gets me teary every time.

• 64. FIGHT CLUB (1999) - This movie isn't for everyone, but you can't deny, it has visual flair and a wicked dark sense of humor. Buried within the insanely weird psychosis, the self-help group junkies, the brutal violence, and Brad Pitt's ubiquitously bared and sweaty abs, director David Fincher is saying something very relevant about consumerism and capitalism. But for me, it's all about Bob's "bitch-tits" and "I am Jack's inflamed sense of rejection." I love a film with some genuine atmosphere and this inventive blend of violence, comedy, and the bizarre is so much fun in it's bold brilliance.

• 63. FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1994) - Some things have come into focus since the last time I wrote about this film: Garreth (Simon Callow) and Matthew (John Hannah) are by far the most touching couple in the movie, Charles was an idiot to choose the bland, fickle Carrie (Andie MacDowell) over the smart and sassy Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas), and the British apparently have vast amounts of time and money that can regularly be spent on weekend long wedding parties. However, this group of eccentric friends are a charming, witty troupe, I love Carrie's countdown of her 33 sexual partners and the adjectives she uses to describe them, and if every weekend long British wedding is this fun, then it's definitely a tradition we Americans need to adopt.
• 62. FIELD OF DREAMS (1989) - Kevin Costner was never better than as the put-upon Iowa farmer who loves baseball and builds a field where people's dreams come true. This film taps into our country's inherent love of baseball and it's deep meaning within our culture. There is a beautiful symmetry between the comical dialogue ("I've done everything you wanted, and I never asked 'What's in it for me?'" "What are you saying, Ray?" "I'm saying...what's in it for me?") and the poignant journey we all go through as we watch. James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster give masterful supporting performances, one the cranky former-activist, the other an endearing sly doctor, and Amy Madigan is the first movie "wife" to come off as a true individual. Her Annie is spunky, loyal, competent and damn near steals the show in her auditorium showdown with the "book-burning Nazi cow."

• 61. WAYNE'S WORLD (1992) - "If Benjamin were an ice cream flavor, he'd be pralines and dick." "I don't even own *a* gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack. What am I gonna do with a gun rack?" "It will be mine. Oh, yes. It will be mine." This movie is just endlessly quotable. Mike Myers and Dana Carvey create completely original and intriguing characters and meld them within this warmly populated and funny world where every odd moment feels fresh. Rob Lowe is perfection as the sleazy TV producer, Tia Carrere rocks a mean "Ballroom Blitz" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" has never been put to better use!

100 Favorite Movies Part 5