Thursday Movie Picks-Coming Home

This is the last theme for this year and we are all here to read about it or pick our favourite (or non favourite) for this week. As I'm writing this, thinking of 2 of the films I will use, the 3rd comes on TV! It is an obvious choice but never crossed my mind until I hear the music. I hope everyone had a good Christmas. I was behind and wrapping Christmas Eve which was pathetic but at least it got all done and it was wonderful. Now, the theme this week is about Coming Home and there are many films that can fit this bill but these are my 3. If you wish to know what the others have picked, head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what everyone else has chosen. The The list for next year have already been picked so if you wish to join, just start Next Thursday. By the way Happy New Year!!

1. THE WIZARD OF OZ-1939

This is the movie I am re-watching right now when I should be in bed but I am late in writing this and I am enjoying this movie. I wonder if there is anyone who has not seen this film. It's all about a young girl, named Dorothy, who sings about being over the rainbow and after a tornado, ends up there or so she believes. She kills the wicked witch of the East by accident when Dorothy's house falls on top of  the meanie. Glenda, the good witch, places the Ruby shoes onto Dorothy's feet which just pisses off The Wicked Witch of the West. During Dorothy's trip down the yellow brick road she meets a Scarecrow, a tin man and a cowardly lion who all decide to venture to the Emerald City to meet the great and powerful Oz. Personally, I always thought Glenda was a smarmy bitch, I mean, she could have told her from the get go that she could go home. I mean, after seeing the munchkins, I would have believed without that long trip:)

2. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES-1946

This does not show the war at all but, yet, you experience all the horrors of it through the 3 men who are coming home. We meet them on the plane as they are coming back from the war and all have reservations coming back to their family, their job and resuming their lives as if nothing changed.  One man is a banker with a wonderful family, another was a hero and an officer who returns to a slutty wife and his job as a soda jerk. The third, a true real life war veteran who lost both his hands in the war, is coming home to his family and his fiancée and is wondering how they will have to deal with someone crippled by the war. This is a powerful statement, not only on the war but on how families were affected, PTSD, coming home to jobs that no longer seem fulfilling. This is a powerful film, brilliantly acted and one of the best films dealing with men who have trouble fitting back into society.

3. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES-1987

I am expecting this film to be big this week and with good reason, it's brilliant! Every time I watch this film, it makes me miss John Candy even more. This is so funny, sweet, sentimental and it has heart. Steve Martin plays an uptight advertising man who is trying to get back home to Chicago but due to a major snowfall, his plane is diverted to Wichita with the amiable doofus, John Candy in tow. Somehow, the uptight, neat Neal Page becomes partners with the huge, slobby Del Griffith to get home to Chicago. I can watch this film over and over again and it never fails to make me laugh. The music is brilliantly juxtaposed with some great scenes that can only be seen to be appreciated. There are also many great lines("those aren't pillows!) that leave you laughing and the ending makes you tear up...at least it does for me.

I will be doing a post on Carrie Fisher and her mom, Debbie Reynolds. This is so very sad especially for their loved ones left behind.

Let's hope the New Year will not be as big a year for famous deaths. Regardless, I wish you all a very Happy New Year filled with love, health and happiness.