I’m embarrassed to share with you that I hadn’t taken my child bride to see a movie in three years.
That changed on Saturday, January 22, when we shared the viewing of “A Man Called Otto,” at the Alliance Theatre.
I’m not going to take up a lot of space reviewing the movie. Suffice to say it is one of the most entertaining and RELATABLE movies I have ever seen.
With that, it comes with my five-star recommendation.
After viewing Otto, which stars Tom Hanks, I began to think back on the movies I have viewed in a theatre, home video rentals, and television/internet features shown on Netflix, HBO, etc.
Here are the most entertaining films I have viewed. And I mean entertaining. A movie that grabbed me from its start and had me in a trance until its closing credits.
These are not in order of favoritism, but timeline of viewing.
Snow White: The very first movie I watched as a child. I was five years of age, so it was 1964. The wicked queen scared me so badly that I became ill when my family and I returned home.
The Wizard of Oz: Aside from the music and the yellow brick road, my fear of the timely appearances of the Wicked Witch of the West kept me glued to a black and white TV. You may be surprised to learn that green-faced Margaret Hamilton’s total screen time was less than ten minutes – which includes Miss Elmira Gulch filmed in black and white. I believe I was also six years old when I first viewed this movie.
Blazing Saddles: All in The Family and Archie Bunker really set the stage for this movie. I viewed it in a Lincoln, NE movie theater shortly after I obtained my driver’s license in July 1975. During my first 16 years on earth, it was the hardest I had ever laughed out loud for so long. Even as a high school student, I knew great satire when I saw it.
Jaws: “You’re going to need a bigger boat,” truly told the story. In 1975, millions of Americans had a burning desire to be scared by a mechanical fish and its jaws of destruction.
Psycho: I viewed this 1960 flick on late night television in 1978. It would be over three months before I could take a shower without locking the bathroom door.
Ordinary People: As a college student in 1980, this movie was an incredible eye-opener about the fragile side of life, and, more importantly, how that fragility is handled. There is a strong reason why this movie won the Academy Award for best picture and Timothy Hutton was honored by the academy as best supporting actor. It’s incredibly relatable.
Tootsie: Dustin Hoffman was brilliant. I saw this picture in the Cozad Theater in 1982.
Beverly Hills Cop: Eddie Murphy was at his best in 1984. If I wasn’t laughing at his antics, I was cheering for his heroism.
Fatal Attraction: In 1987, psychopath Alex Forrest, played by Glenn Close, was just one-step below Hannibal Lector on the fear meter. Every married man who is considering romance with another woman, should see this movie before diving into the dirty water.
Fried Green Tomatoes: Kathy Bates won my heart in this sentimental journey about a nursing home resident befriended by Bates. I saw this movie at the Alliance Theater in 1991. It came highly recommended by Cheri Mundt, who was, at the time, serving as the administrator at Highland Park Care Center.
Mrs. Doubtfire: In 1993, a man dressing as a woman in a motion picture was nothing original. But donning a dress, wig and body suit so dad could be closer to his children certainly was. Robin Williams’ best scenes were when divorced dad Daniel Hilliard tearfully shared that he had to have his three children in his life – and that he would do anything to accomplish this feat.
Forrest Gump: Tom Hanks offered the greatest acting job in the history of the motion picture industry. I loved him from start to finish. And he had a brilliant storyline that energized his efforts.
Titanic: I saw this flick at the Alliance Theater during Christmas, 1997. I’m a sucker for good romance stories, even if they are aboard a sinking ship.
A Man Called Otto: The best movie I had viewed in 25 years. I loved it because I could relate to Otto so well.
There are several other movies I could have added or put in the category of honorable mention. The reader can handle that chore.
For now, the balcony is closed.