Within the past 5 years or so, I've developed (and am still developing) a real love for movies. They're a wonderful way to live the lives of other people. These are some of my favourite films and why exactly I like them. The first few are my ultimate favourites, but mostly I can't put them in any order.

Lawn Dogs
This is a film that not a lot of people have heard of, it's a small independent flick starring Sam Rockwell and Mischa Barton. The basic premise of the story is that Trent (Sam Rockwell) is a poor guy who mows lawns for rich people, and Devon (Mischa Barton) is the 10 year old daughter of one of the families that Trent works for. They become good friends, but of course must keep it a secret for fear of it apearing like Trent is taking advantage of Devon. There are loads of great subplots that come into the film, and some wonderful storytelling. The ending is miraculous if you can suspend your disbelief.

To Kill A Mockingbird
Broadly speaking I'm not the most open of people when it comes to watching old movies in black and white, I still have a fairly adolescent attitude towards them. This is one of a few exceptions, initially made because I love the book by Harper Lee. And I still do love the book, but I seperate it from this film because I think this is a wonderful film in its own right. It's the sort of film that makes me want to find out more about screen legends like Gregory Peck. Sometimes I wonder if they'll remake it, and I am divided on the issue since I can see a few of Hollywood's stars now playing the roles very well, but why ruin something that's already perfect?

Hope Floats
I don't tend to go for romantic films, because the ending is a foregone conclusion in almost every single one. Not only the ending, but more often than not a whole film can be predicted. It'll go something like: boy meets girl, boy and girl get on each others nerves for a while, boy and girl end up alone together and kiss, boy and girl take time apart to try and come to terms with the kiss and go back to not talking to each other, eventually boy realises he's desperately in love with girl and tracks her down (sometimes nivolving getting on a plane) and they kiss again as the credits roll. Having said all that... I *love* Hope Floats even though it follows almost all of those criteria. A lot of my love is tied up in Harry Connick Jr. admittedly, but he plays a role that would make anyone love him, surely.

The Silence of the Lambs
Talk about a defining film. This made the whole genre of crime thriller. I love the general concept, the evilness of Dr. Lecter, the Hitchcockian-style directing and the plot twists, but there is one particular scene that steals the show for me. When the cop opens the door to the room where Lecter is being held in his cage, and sees the partially flayed form of another cop hanging from the bars of the cage, with the bright rays of sunshine shining around it... it's just a beautiful scene. And I know that's very sick of me, but it's the surreal place between horror and artistry that catches the eye. I don't know another film with anything remotely like that in it.

The Kid
Yes, I know, sappy made-for-kids Disney movie. But do not underestimate the humour in a sappy, made-for-kids Disney movie. The sappy parts can be ignored in favour of the humour that Bruce Willis is suprisingly wonderful at carrying off. And, you know, sometimes I don't mind sappiness. Especially when the lead actor is mmmmmmmmlicious. At the end of the day, it's not a film you have to concentrate very hard on, and it ultimately has a nice, feel-good ending which is great as long as you don't OD on too many feel-good endings.