Alex J Cavanaugh - Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest

TOP TEN MOVIES - IMPOSSIBLE TASK. I'm just listing the first 10 amazing movies that pop into my head, not in any particular order, well, except for Number 1..

1. GONE WITH THE WIND (1940) - Unforgettable (to me) characters. Scarlett, Rhett, Mammy, Mellie, and that milksop Ashley Wilkes - they are a part of my life. So intense was the storyline, so human were the actions/reactions of those caught up in the war against slavery and the war against themselves. It was a huge project, probably too broad for modern producers/directors, but the romantic elements were there and added extra suspense and colour to the powerful story.

Rhett Butler: With enough courage, you can do without a reputation. 

Rhett and Scarlett as we remember them

2.  MOONLIGHT AND VALENTINO (1995) - A realistic look at a wife's life/regrets on losing her husband in a freak accident. Heartwarming role of Whoopi Goldberg as the best friend. A great look at women helping women. Strong female cast - Gwenyth Paltrow is wonderful in her role as the depressed engenue, and Kathleen Turner...she just wants to be loved. Jon Bon Jovi ain't half bad as the house painter either!

3.  SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - (1994) - How many times have I watched this movie? Lost count. Love its ironical storyline and the actors are awesome. Morgan Freeman is perfect in his role as the friend and confidante of the wrongly-accused Tim Robbin's character. The ending is truly inspiring.

4.  POWER OF ONE - (1992) - I adored the Bryce Courtney book - and I usually dislike movies based on long books, as the director has to cut too much. Even though the movie didn't give enough air time to one of my favourite characters, Grandpa, a book can't delight with amazing, soulful Zulu singing or portray the gun-trucks blazing their way through the townships quite as well. The young Peekay is adorable, and Morgan Freeman delights again as the boxer trainer. Peekay's passion to change the world still runs throughout the movie.

5.  GIRL, INTERRUPTED - (1999) - Woah! Angelina Jolie blazed through her role in the mental institution and made everyone else look drab. She stole the show from Producer, Winona Ryder. A realistic-looking portrayal of life in a mental institution. I usually get my senior students to watch it when they're studying One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest.

Susanna: You know, taking us for ice creams in a blizzard... makes you wonder who the real whack jobs are. 

6.  CROCODILE DUNDEE - (1986) - A send-up of the great Australian stereotype of the bronzed Aussie yobbo okker. Well, if you go to a pub in Western Queensland or parts of the Northern Territory, you'll find Mick Dundee alive and well and wrestling crocodiles once he's got a full stomach of XXXX beer. Mick, er Paul Hogan ended up winning the leading lady, the American Lynda Kowzlski and they're still living happily ever after in the States.

This is a crocodile!

This is a knife!

7. LES MISERABLES (2012) - Loved Victor Hugo's French historical novel, it was unforgettable on stage, and the film was every bit as inspiring. Loved Hugh Jackman in the lead role of Jean Valjean. Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Fantine and her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream can still bring tears to my eyes. But who will ever forget the little kid! The ending was superb.

8. THE MATRIX - (1999) Love this series of movies, but I like the first one best. Loved the concept, loved the costumes, loved the actors - Keanu Reeves was perfectly cast, as was Hugo Weaving as the bad guy. Loved the syncronated fighting. Was more like ballet. Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss - great!!

9. UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN - (2003) - I adore reading travel narratives, and it is great to see the occasional movie made from one. This is one of the best adaptations INMO. Diane Lane is believable in her role of the American expat. However, like all travel memoirs, the location is the best character. I adored it cuz I've been there. Great to spot places you've visited. Tuscany has got to be one of the most glorious settings on earth - who really cares about the story? Although Sandra Oh from Grey's Anatomy was amazing.

20. SAFE HAVEN - (2013) - I realise I've manily chosen 1990's movies - is that because, like books, the old ones have that extra something that affects you more than the modern? Or is it just because I had more time in the 90s to watch movies? But I do try to see the latest ones -- this movie is based on the Nickolas Spark's novel. He's one of my favourite authors - he can be corny, but her always has great stories. This one is predictable, explores some contemporary issues, but all the big guns come out for a super-duper climax. 

There it is. Hope you enjoyed your trip through my memory lane of movies...

All images copied from Google Images, so I'll be whipping them down in a few days...

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If you're up for a bit of March Mayhem, how about writing a murder story/poem up to 1,000 words? RomanticFridayWriters are inviting you to write for them. You can submit your name in my top right hand sidebar or visit RFW. Submissions close March 24.

#RomanticFridayWriters - New Year! New Love! Hugh Jackman, anyone?

It's time for RomanticFridayWriters again! Our first challenge for the year is: New Year! New Love! You are welcome to join up and flex your writing muscles. The linky is open until Monday, January 21. Any genre--flash fiction to 1,000 words or poetry. 

Of course my mind's on Hugh Jackman, recent Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee, for his Jean Valjean role in Les Misérables.  My mind's also on the Australian bushfires which are sweeping across the country as we swelter in heatwave conditions, so I resurrected this story and updated it for this challenge...

(All words and expressions are in Australian English.)

‘Jeremy, we need to talk.’ 

Hannah leaned across the table, showing just the right amount of creamy white cleavage. She took his hands in hers, kissing his fingers one by one, studying him with half-closed eyes, waiting  for his reaction. With a jolt he noticed how cold her eyes were—glittering icy emeralds in her beautiful white face.

The meal had been superb. Nothing like a bloody beef steak to satisfy a cattleman. He wasn’t used to champagne, though; it had messed with his head. A bad idea when he was on the morning roster for the volunteer Bush Fire Brigade. No telling when the latest crop of fires might jump the river and hightail it into town. 

He loosened his bow tie. At Hannah’s words, the bubbles sloshed around his stomach like cattle dip.

Every man knew what ‘We need to talk’ meant. 

‘Why? Why do we need to talk?’ he managed to croak through a throat scrubbed with sandpaper. ‘We’ve just spent the whole day together. We enjoyed the riding, the campfire, the--I thought it was a great day. A perfect way to see the New Year in.’

Hannah hung her head, brushed an imaginary crumb from her breast.

Jeremy’s heart had been soaring with joy; he could have sung at the top of his voice from the highest hill...but now his joy was disappearing like the smoke from a stuttering campfire. No other girlfriend came close to the raging torrent of his feelings for Hannah. She was his Botticelli angel with her mane of red curls, her smile that cracked open his heart.

‘I’m married.’ She jutted her chin into the air. 

The waiter had been about to top up their Pouilly-Fumé. He made a hasty retreat, leaving froth in his wake. Poor bastard. They must have a sixth sense for trouble in paradise.

Married! He hadn’t seen that coming. How did she fit in being married with all the time they'd spent together on their adjoining properties--working cattle on his, shearing those stupid sheep on hers?

‘How--’ He started to speak, but the words dried up like a river in drought. He tossed his bow tie onto the table and wrenched open the top button of his checked shirt.

‘How did I fit you in? He travels a lot. He probably has other women.’

‘And this makes it okay?’

‘I’m just saying.’

He turned away. A hot tear ran down his cheek. The waiter flicked his white napkin, then crumpled it in his fist.

She reached up and patted his face where the tear lay, caught in his stubble. ‘Poor Jerry. You must hate me.’

‘Yes. I hate you.’ He tried to man up. Wished those hollow words were true. He leaned back in his chair and clasped his hand around the little box in his checked bespoke sports coat pocket. He watched her and caught the pitying look on her face. She knew!

‘I didn’t want it to happen.’ She folded her arms, lay back in her chair, not a care in the world.

‘Didn’t want what to happen? The marriage? Meeting me? What?’

She leaned forward again. ‘Meeting you. Having an affair. You were just so darned cute. So Hugh Jackman. So irristible.’

‘So I’m just some fantasy?’

‘Heck no; Hugh Jackman’s more than a fantasy. He’s real. God, he’s so real. I can’t wait to see him play Jean Valjean, if it ever gets to this hick town.’

‘He bleeds huh? So do I. I’m bleeding here.’

‘When I was with you I felt so excited.’

‘Like Nicole Kidman in “Australia”, huh?’

She laughed out loud. 'Well, watching you have your bucket wash out in the back paddock last night--I was excited all right.' 

The waiter took a few tentative steps in their direction, bottle in hand. He saw the look on Jeremy's face and retreated quick smart. 

Hannah was enjoying herself. ‘As Nicole would say: "Too bloody right mate." You are so hot, Jerry, more's the pity.’

‘I love you Hannah. You. You’re my fantasy come to life. When I met you I made a resolution to give all the other girls the flick.’

‘Hmm. It’s not working out with Frederick, you know.’

‘Frederick? No, I don't know. Who the hell is Frederick?’

‘What a name, huh? That’ll be the husband. Old money. Descended from the British squattocracy. Thinks he's still British and Australia's part of the empire.' She sniggered. 'Sheep’s always been his thing, not cattle. Lowered himself to marry little-old-convict-stock me. That’s why I relate to Hugh’s Jean Valjean.’

‘Another fantasy?’

‘Yes, Frederick’s. He thought I was so exciting after all those hoity-toity blue bloods his parents paraded under his nose. But we do have a family together, Frederick and I.’

‘Family? What?’ He leaned forward, body rigid.

‘The triplets are six. Nanny insists on throwing a birthday party for them tomorrow. They're home from boarding school. That’s why I can’t spend the whole weekend with you.’

He knew she was lying through her pearly white teeth. Triplets! What a ridiculous cover story! ‘Then why did you promise me we’d have three whole days here on the property?’

‘Sorry. I’d forgotten.’

‘Forgotten you were married? Forgotten you had triplets? Forgotten you’d promised to stay with me?’

‘All of the above.’She stood up. Patted his cheek. Sighed theatrically. 

He growled his best Wolverine growl. ‘Now you’ll have to forget me.’

‘Already done. Bad memory. That’s me.’

He sat nailed to the chair, watching her, tearing his black curls, Les Misérable personified.

Hannah knotted her silk scarf around her lying little throat, picked up her sparkling evening bag, threw him a kiss and sashayed across the room. Every male eye followed her swaying hips.

The waiter hovered by his side, watching Hannah melt into the night.

‘I’d stay away from her, mate. She’s bad news.’

‘Bring me a beer.’

‘A whisky might be more the thing, old chap.’

‘Beer’s my drink. No more champagne for me.’

©DeniseCovey2013

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