The Fountainhead

Friday evening is movie evening in our household.  We've been 'Netflix' people for years.  While we don't watch much TV other than sporting events, every Friday evening is reserved for our Netflix film.  Last Friday, we watched "The Fountainhead," a 1949 film starring Gary Cooper and based on Ayn Rand's novel of the same name.  I believe she also wrote the screenplay to the film.

Another extraordinary night for us.  The film is terrific.  We originally watched it to find Gary Cooper's/Roarke's immortal words, "I don't think about you anymore."  We picked them up easily, but the film is much deeper than a single scene.  This is a film about one man's commitment to what he believes in.

I strongly recommend this film.  By the way, the picture on the DVD box and the film poster has nothing to do with the film.  Gary Cooper is THE man, and no woman will ever reduce him to Jello!

Off the Map

Rarely do I watch a film more than once, and rarer still that I would actually rent a film more than once.  Last night was one of those rare occasions.  We netflixed "Off the Map" for the second time in five years or so.  This quirky film stars two of my favorites, Sam Elliott and Joan Allen -- both are excellent -- and Valentina de Angeles plays the lead role of 11-year old Bo.  "Off the Map" is one of those great fills that you just stumble into, like I hope readers might stumble into it from this blog.  This film is about depression, growing up, self-discovery and in its own unique way about minimalism, which I doubt was a much-used term when the fill was made in 2003.  It will make you laugh and it may make you cry, but it will certainly make you feel good about your place in the world.  Check it out.  You'll be glad you did.