Russ Brown (fb1313912453)

City Slickers PG-13

Simply, when your down and feeling troubled and you need a helping hand....... A film that will bring a smile to a sad face and have you shouting out loud.... Yes! The theme is middle aged blokes dealing with their mid life crisis via a cattle drive, but the film has a wider appeal to anyone who ever looked for the hero inside. Great musical score, with a nod to the classic western movies and TV shows. Our unlikely hero Billy Crystal is probably at his best, certainly on a par with when Harry met Sally. He has a unique style of playing the clichés and acknowledging them for being just that. Though the show is almost stolen by Jack Palance as the initially uncompromising trail boss. Possibly my favourite film of all time.

The Pursuit of Happyness PG-13

This film was simply perfect. It had everything going for it. A passionate Italian director in the form of Gabriele Muccino. Outstanding casting from the leads down to the minor uncredited roles. Will Smith absolutely nailed the lead roll in this true story of the rags to riches journey of Chris Gardner. Will clearly respected the real life character and working with his own son to make this film made the father son relationship scenes so much more comfortable than they could have been with an unrelated young actor. British actress Thandie Newton also crossed the Anglo American divide on a par with Renée Zellweger to play Christopher's (Chris Gardener Jr's)less than devoted mother very believably. The ending was inevitably as predictable as the Titanic's with a lovely nod to the real life hero of the film at the end, but it is the journey to that ending that this film is all about. This is a feel good film that works at every level. It will inspire many not to give up on their dreams and give those that have already tasted success the opportunity to reflect on the good fortune in their lives. I recommend watching this at the end of a tough day when you want uplifting.