I think it is funny that they went to Mexico and managed not to run into anyone with a Mexican accent.

I liked “21” in spite of itself. It’s not well written, it’s not well directed, and most of the supporting cast is incredibly annoying. It’s a very interesting story, but you definitely come away with the feeling that you just watched the incredibly fictionalized version (of the non-fictional book which also happened to be highly fictionalized). In fact, throughout the movie, I was constantly surprised that I was enjoying it, even as I groaned over one-liners a high school student would think are original and/or clever, and the direction that uses a slow-motion cigarette being dropped into a coffee cup to tell us that Lawrence Fishburne is a tough guy. The movie definitely needs to be watched when you’re not in a serious mood – otherwise you might question why a “genius” would use his dorm room ceiling as a hiding place for $300K. Maybe I’m just a sucker for Jim Sturgess’s charm, but I don’t regret watching it.

How many animals died to make this movie? Almost every outfit had fur. Man, PETA must hate this one.

I love it when you sit down to watch a movie and it has such a surprisingly fresh script that it grabs you from the beginning. Even better when the film was made decades ago. There are so many amazing stories to be told, but so many of the same ones keep getting produced, it really is a joy to find an original. Matthau is brilliant.

This is quite possibly my favorite Astaire/Rogers musical. You have the expected – the lovely Art Deco scenery, the light love story that keeps Fred and Ginger apart and fighting through most of the film, etc. But this film has some of their best numbers, thanks to Ira Gershwin’s score. Two of the songs are still incredibly recognizable today: “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and “You Can’t Take That Away from Me.” In particular, the tap-dancing/roller-skating scene is, in my opinion, the most breathtaking number the duo ever performed – a pure joy to watch. Top Hat and Swing Time are better regarded, but this should definitely be considered as one of their best.

Great look at how damaging the media can be. Sally Fields plays a newspaper writer who receives a leak that the key suspect in a union leader’s disappearance is the son of a mobster, played by Paul Newman. Excellent, fast-paced script, which felt like a throwback to ‘30s films such as His Girl Friday. Strong performances and a creative storyline. Loved it.

The first half of the movie annoyed me for several reasons. My favorite movie is Trainspotting, so this ‘50s version of drug addiction is at times laughable, but I’m sure at the time it was very groundbreaking. I was not blown away by the acting. The screenplay (based on a play) was well written and as the actors said their lines, I could picture it being said differently and better, more realistic and less theatrical. The entire thing felt more like a lesson than art – “Come watch how evil drugs destroy a veteran and his family.” However, by the second half of the movie I really did care what happened to Eva Marie Saint and Anthony Franciosa.

This movie just about broke my heart, in a nice, not overly dramatic way. Greer Garson working in the office and telling Charles about her son made me cry. The movie is not perfect (I hated how the costume department didn’t even try to make the clothing accurate for the time period), but it is definitely one of the all-time best love stories.

Oh, Jennifer Jones – where is your self-respect? Yes, Gregory Peck is surprisingly hot, but is that is any excuse?

I was never able to buy into the idea of Bette Davis being so irresistible. Made me very glad that she didn’t get the role of Scarlett in Gone with the Wind. The story still works (after all, it could be updated as the Dina Lohan story), but it was all just too over the top.