Many thanks to Erratic Ninja who suggested the film Lost in Translation as a possible catharsis for my recent melancholy. In fact, I saw this film when it came out in France a month or so ago and you are right, Erratic Ninja: it is indeed of cathartic value. I am waiting impatiently to get my hands on the DVD, which I know already came out in the US, but has yet to here. This stunningly beautiful film makes me want to see it over and over again. Not only does it feature Bill Murray, one of my all time favorite comedians, in a role that garnered him an Oscar nomination (and hopefully a win), and an elegant performance by the supercool Scarlett Johansson (who I was turned on to by Ghost World), but it also features Tokyo, a city that I never imagined to be so beautiful. Those scenes when Scarlett is sitting in the window with the city spread out below her are just breathtaking. And the script! My gosh, what a talent to behold in Sofia Coppola. In any case, I can't elaborate too much as one time simply isn't enough to truly grasp this film. But I am going to go out on a limb and say that this movie merits a place on the very small list of films that have touched me in such a personal way that I will never tire of them. So, wanna know what the other ones are?

Ok, here they are:

Ghostbusters
The Goonies
West Side Story
Annie Hall
Muppets From Space
The Philadelphia Story
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Lost in Translation

It is a short list, with an obvious preference for music and comedy. This is not to say that I don't appreciate the heavier brand of cinema, it's just that I really like to laugh and to sing and that is who I am. Yeah, I get depressed too, but I don't like it! And I really have distaste for movies that feature rape, domestic violence, or graphic beatings as plot thickeners, which unfortunately eliminates A LOT of movies that are being created these days. Give me the Truffle Shuffle or give me death!

PS-And as for the subject line, my first job ever was at Blockbuster and were it 7 years ago, this is what you would see under my employee picks!