Great Movie Moments...

Jennings: Don't write this down, but I find Milton probably as boring as you find Milton. Mrs. Milton found him boring too. He's a little bit long-winded, he doesn't translate very well into our generation, and his jokes are terrible.

[Bell rings, students rise to leave]

Jennings: But that doesn't relieve you of your responsibility for this material. Now I'm waiting for reports from some of you... Listen, I'm not joking. This is my job!

A Classic Summer Thriller

If you're looking for a good throwback film for a Friday night, consider Shadow of a Doubt. This Hitchcock thriller staring Teresa Newton and Joseph Cotten debuted in 1943. Classified as film-noir, Shadow of A Doubt tells the story of a young, humble girl, "Young Charlie" who is visited by her sophisticated and esteemed "Uncle Charlie".

The plot takes a twist when two detectives arrive to ask Young Charlie some questions about the possibility of her uncle being a serial killer known as the "Merry Widow Murderer". Refusing to believe the accusations, she keeps the visit a secret but begins to notice strange behavior. Like any Hitchcock thriller, a suspenseful ending ties up all loose ends.

Pay close attention to at the beginning of the movie. Hitchcock, who himself appears in more Hitchcock films than any actor, makes a cameo about 15 minutes into the feature.

Shadow of a Doubt received unanimously positive reviews. New York Times critic Bosley Crowther loved the film, stating that "Hitchcock could raise more goose pimples to the square inch of a customer's flesh than any other director in Hollywood". I couldn't agree more.

Great Movie Moments...

Fletch: Can I borrow your towel for a sec? My car just hit a water buffalo.

Take me to the Movies

Recently, I have been asked for some favorite movie recommendations. Skirting around the staples, my first reply has been An Education. This BBC Film based on the book by Nick Hornby released in 2009 but I didn't get a chance to catch it in the theatre.

The attraction stems from an appreciation for surprises so I won't give too much away. Having never heard of the flick until it was on my coffee table, I didn't' have any expectations (no chance for a let-down). The plot was creative. The actors, Carrie Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard, delivered. My knowledge about London in the 1960s has increased (Mom - I know what you were up to!). All in all it's a winner for a wintry evening.

I will not drink an effing Merlot!

Sideways, staring Paul Giamatti, is one of my favorite movies to watch over and over again. I saw it for the first time in Boston when I visited a friend during spring break. We snuck a bottle of wine into the theater (big purses rock!) and stumbled home through severe East Coast snowstorm.

This video is my favorite scene, and has now become my favorite line to pull out during random conversations. It's right up there with the classic Home Alone line, "Buzz, you're girlfriend... Woof!"