The last 2 days, my wife, Deb and I watched 2 of our favorite movies together for the umpteenth time:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Mile_(film)
The Green Mile is a 1999 American epicfantasydrama film written and directed by Frank Darabont and based on the 1996 novel by Stephen King. It stars Tom Hanks as a death row prison guard during the Great Depression who witnesses supernatural events following the arrival of an enigmatic convict (Michael Clarke Duncan) at his facility.
The Green Mile premiered in the United States on December 10, 1999, to positive reviews from critics, who praised Darabont's direction and writing, emotional weight, and performances (particularly for Hanks and Duncan), although its length received some criticism. It was a commercial success, grossing $286.8 million from its $60 million budget, and was nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Duncan, Best Sound, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shawshank_Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American prisondrama film written and directed by Frank Darabont, based on the 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. The film tells the story of banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murders of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence. Over the following two decades, he befriends a fellow prisoner, contraband smuggler Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman), and becomes instrumental in a money laundering operation led by the prison warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton). William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, and James Whitmore appear in supporting roles.
Darabont purchased the film rights to King's story in 1987, but development did not begin until five years later, when he wrote the script over eight weeks. Two weeks after submitting his script to Castle Rock Entertainment, Darabont secured a $25 million budget to produce The Shawshank Redemption, which started pre-production in January 1993. While the film is set in Maine, principal photography took place from June to August 1993 almost entirely in Mansfield, Ohio, with the Ohio State Reformatory serving as the eponymous penitentiary. The project attracted many stars for the role of Andy, including Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, and Kevin Costner. Thomas Newman provided the film's score.
While The Shawshank Redemption received critical acclaim upon its release—particularly for its story and the performances of Robbins and Freeman—it was a box-office disappointment, earning only $16 million during its initial theatrical run. Many factors were attributed to its failure at the time, including competition from the films Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump, the general unpopularity of prison films, its lack of female characters, and even the title, which was considered confusing for audiences. It went on to receive multiple award nominations, including seven Academy Award nominations, and a theatrical re-release that, combined with international takings, increased the film's box-office gross to $73.3 million.
Over 320,000 VHS rental copies were shipped throughout the United States, and on the strength of its award nominations and word of mouth, it became the top video rental of 1995.
Hey MM,
I enjoyed The Green Mile.
Two that were out ~3 years apart are two of my favorites of alltime:
Sling Blade (1996) (Billy Bob Thornton was incredible also in it was John Ritter RIP) and Schindler’s List (1993)(great ensemble). These were absolutely amazing movies.
I also loved Titanic from 1996.
I thought the first Borat movie was hilarious as well as several Mel Brooks classics. Mel Brooks movies overall have been my favorite comedies.
My father and I loved several of the Pink Panther sequels of the 1970s. Rip Peter Sellers. Which reminds me to also include Being There!
Poseidon Adventure was amazing, too!
Tootsie (Dustin Hoffman and Mrs. Doubtfire (Robin Williams RIP) were hilarious in a similar way.
Who didn’t love the ultra-silly Airplane? I also liked the silly Top Secret!
Uncle Buck (John Candy RIP) was funny.
The Shining (Jack Nicholson; RIP Scatman Crothers and Shelley Duval) was good but not true to the book.
Apollo 13 (Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton (RIP) was excellent with the acting and the attention to detail of the writing.
These are just a few off the top of my head.
Those are all great ones, Larry.
My favorite Jack Nicholson movie was One flew over the cuckoos nest!
Dances with wolves is a top one. I tend to only watch movies that Deb likes.
In fact, when I have control of the clicker, I watch mostly the news, Michigan Football and maybe other sports and documentaries/history.
This was also my dad's favorites (as well as praying and playing chess).
Deb has turned me on to different game shows, America has talent, American idol, The voice and she loves crime shows.
Larry, I'll bet that you and your bro watched a lot together like this!
It really is much more fun to watch/share with another person. She watches some really dumb(she's not dumb) programs too. I'll try to get interested and sometimes they end up not being so dumb. Other times, I'll just do something on the computer in the room and let her enjoy it.
I agree with you 100% about certain things on TV being enjoyable only with another person. Examples:
My mom (RIP) and I loved to watch American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Grey’s Anatomy, Survivor (though she couldn’t watch when they ate bugs), The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice together. Trump was great TV back then!)
Once she passed, I had no desire to watch most of these ever again!
One other show I started watching with her was Desperate Housewives. I accidentally watched an episode and got hooked! Before that I figured it was a show mainly for a female audience.
With my bro, we’d watch professional wrestling going back decades to our childhood. Sadly, I’ve watched virtually none since due to loss of desire.
Yes, Deb especially loves Dancing with the stars that amazingly I enjoy too now but only when she puts it on.
I would never even think of watching a show like that by myself.
Watching the news stresses her out, especially when her husband is constantly fact checking Fox in the evening people as they spew out hate.
She's constantly saying: "why do you keep watching if you disagree so much???"
And my response is always "because I want to hear what they're saying to understand what people believe in"
So I try to limit that to when she's not in the room.