A reader writes:
Had a thought this eve while viewing “Cinema Paradiso” for first tiime
since theatre run some 14 years ago and with horror of Madrid in mind as
I lived there two years some many years ago but thanks to the Web, could
find online the two major Madrid dailies: Pais (irony there) and ABC.
and have first-hand account from them. And have so strong love for
Spanish people and their civilized way of life.
Back to “Cinema Paradiso”, in world of film, we often ask of you, the
experts, what are your favorite 10 or 50 , “best” or “favorites” but
never: “what is the sweetest film in your experience”.
In this time of Spanish tragedy, I ask you the question of what is
your sweetest film–LOL just as if you pose that question on your blog,
we could all join in happy shared thoughts in a time of sadness.
I realize that I presume.
Not at all, and I can answer your question right off the top of my head. The sweetest movie I know is Michael Caton-Jones’ Doc Hollywood, a lovely little fantasy about life in a small southern town. Michael J. Fox never gave a better performance, and Julie Warner (I wonder what happened to her?), Woody Harrelson, David Ogden Stiers, Frances Sternhagen, George Hamilton, and Bridget Fonda are all just right. No, small towns aren’t really like that, but some of them occasionally come close, and Doc Hollywood reminds me quite strongly of the one from which I came. I can’t promise that it’ll put a smile on your face, but it’s never failed to put one on mine.
(Incidentally, it seems that Reflections in D Minor
is another fan of W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings.)