After 20 years, a new favorite

Rating: 10/10 (28 May 2005)

Sorry, Robert Redford. "The Natural" has now been bumped to 2nd place on my list by this wonderful, moving, offbeat picture.
I first saw it last summer as a rental, in a houseful of noisy people who kept walking into the room, viewing part of a scene, asking "What are you watching?" and walking back out. I guess there are more than a few scenes (especially of the couple trying to make a living as porn-movie body doubles) that would inspire such a question, but the real treat is when you sit down with the DVD remote in hand and really watch it all the way through several times.
Every character is inspiring; every actor is top-notch. The closest thing to a "villain" is Alan Rickman's secretary, and by the end of the film, you're thinking "Aw, let her keep the stupid necklace, who cares?" I want to go out and find all these people and bring them home.
I hope Love, Actually becomes a new Christmas tradition in my home...I've seen It's a Wonderful Life enough times already.
However, you should check out The Natural, too, if you haven't yet. ;) CR04