War, What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing.

I starting thinking about some great movies I've seen over the years and realized many of them were set during WWII. So here goes....my list of the best WWII movies in the last few decades:
(not in any particular order, I think they're all great)

Life is Beautiful
Europa, Europa
Au Revoir Les Enfants
Empire of the Sun
Mediterranea
A Midnight Clear
Schindler's List
The Pianist
Das Boot
Sophie's Choice

All of these should be seen. Let me know if you see any you haven't seen before.

Is Life Biutiful for the World's Poor?

Just came home from seeing "Biutiful" with Javier Bardem directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Wow! This is a very heavy film. Bardem's performance is amazing. It feels like you are just watching someone's life. This film reveals the lives of poor people and illegal immigrants in Spain and how they try to survive. It is very hard to watch and quite painful. However, you cannot leave this film and not feel immense gratitude for the lives we live.

More Clowns

Thanks to my loyal followers for reminding me of some more great movies by "clowns" including Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation" and "Broken Flowers." Thanks to my hubby for Robin Williams in "Good Will Hunting." Others suggest Robin Williams in "Dead Poet Society," Tom Hanks in "Philadelphia," and Steve Martin in "Simple Twist of Fate."

Send in the Clowns

My sister-in-law commented on one of my blogs about great movies. She said, what about "Stranger Than Fiction?" "Stranger Than Fiction" is a clever, quirky film starring Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, and Queen Latifah. I wasn't a Will Ferrell fan until I saw him in this movie. He was wonderful in this serious role. It got me thinking about other comedians or comedic actors who I came to appreciate when I saw them in wonderful, non-comedy roles. I hated Jim Carrey until I saw "Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." This is another clever, quirky film with terrific performances by both Carrey and one of my favorite actresses, Kate Winslet. She can do anything! Then there is Adam Sandler. Typically, Sandler is a bit too juvenile for me. But, check him out in a serious drama called "Punch Drunk Love." An amazing performance by Sandler. I can't think of any others at the moment. Can you?