My Years in Movies

Fandango Groovers Movie Blog is a fun movie blog hailing from the UK (or Australia, or somewhere like that. I can't find the post where he mentions where he's blogging from.) Regardless, you can get insights on movies that have not released in the states yet and revisit those that have. Recently, he issued a challenge to pick not only your favorite movies, but one for each year you have been alive. Fun!

1981- Evil Dead

82- Poltergeist

83- The Hunger
84- Ghostbusters (I didn't plan for this to be all horror related)
85- The Breakfast Club (See! I told ya!)
86- Aliens (Oops...)
87- The Princess Bride
88- Beetlejuice
89- Say Anything

1990- La Femme Nikita

91- The Addam's Family

92-  Batman Returns
93- Groundhog Day
94- Pulp Fiction
95- The Usual Suspects/ Hackers (What? I get one double!)
96- The Craft

97- The Fifth Element (Well there went my no repeats rule)

98- Elizabeth
99- Boondock Saints

2000- American Psycho (Though if I were being honest, it would probably be "Bring it On" for the sheer volume of times viewed)

01- Donnie Darko
02- Road to Perdition

03- Kill Bill, Vol. 1

04- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

05- Sin City

06- The Departed

07- Eastern Promises

08- In Bruges
09- (500) Days of Summer
2010- Inception
11- Hanna (So far)

What's really weird is how recent some of these movies seem and how old that makes me feel. Doesn't it feel like "The Departed" just came out a year or two ago? Try over 4! It's like when I was talking about music the other day with a friend and I mentioned how I usually prefer the "B" sides and they asked, "What's a 'B' side?" I think my jaw literally hit the floor. Of course, if you're under 25 tapes are just something you see at a vintage store or garage sale.

I Can See You But You Can't See Me

Somehow, a group of us got to talking about songs about stalking. You know the kind that sound really nice then you listen to the lyrics and realize the singer is probably fantasizing about wearing your skin like a coat. Those songs! We came up with a few and then were distracted, probably by a shiny object. Thankfully, the internet didn't let me down so I present to you a list of the best creepy, stalker-ific songs out there!

"Every Breath You Take"- Police- The granddaddy of them all! Sting wrote it shortly after his divorce. Wonder what he was thinking...

"One Way or Another"- Blondie- Gotta love a woman scorned.

"Someone Like You" - Adele- "I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited. But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it. I hoped you'd see my face and be reminded. That for me it isn't over." Oh girl, no.

"I Want You to Want Me"- Cheap Trick- Remember that commercial, I want to say it was for a credit card; about this perfect guy who knew all the lyrics to this song and we're watching him sing it in the shower? Yea, they got it.

"Run For Your Life"- The Beatles- "Rubber Soul" is my favorite Beatles album, hands down. There's also something about John Lennon singing about doing bad things to his girlfriend while she was running around on him that gives me pause... I don't know why it seems weird. According to Wikipedia, this was George Harrison's favorite song. Since he's my favorite Beatles, it seems it was meant to be!

"I Drove All Night"- Cyndi Lauper- Maybe it's the lady in me, but I always imagined this was about a girl going to see her long-distance boy friend and surprise him with morning sex. How could that be bad? Then I started making this list and it all changed for me. Damned list! Ruining another great love song!

"Sunglasses at Night"- Corey Hart- Yea, this song is creepy no matter which way you slice it. Pun intended.

"Private Eyes"- Hall & Oates- Okay, maybe Oates is a private detective. Or, maybe he's lost his crackers and just thinks he is.

"I Will Possess Your Heart"- Death Cab for Cutie- "There are days when outside your window, I see my reflection as I slowly pass. And I long for this mirrored perspective, when we'll be lovers, lovers at last."  Girls are dumb. If a guy said any of these things to us we'd probably melt on the spot.


"I Will Follow Him"- Lesley Gore- Whether you're stalking some guy you casually met at a sock hop or the Lord, desperation is not a good scent.

"Possession"- Sarah McLachlan- Apparently, the lyrics come from real letter she received from a crazy fan who then sued her and committed suicide. Talk about stalker!

"Hungry Like the Wolf"- Duran Duran- Stalker or just another horny guy at the club?

"Pictures of You"- The Cure- Robert Smith says this song literally about looking at pictures of his wife. Boring! I like it better if I imagine a "Seven" or "Silence of the Lambs" kind of thing.

"Possum Kingdom"- The Toadies- A note to ladies: Do not go wandering into the woods or other remote areas with strangers, I don't care how good looking they may be. That is all.

"Alison"- Elvis Costello- Oh those crazy exes... "I think somebody better put out the big light, cause I can't stand to see you this way. Alison, I know this world is killing you. Oh, Alison, my aim is true."


"A Little Piece of Heaven"- Avenged Sevenfold- Um... I must be disturbed, because I really love this song. It's sexy in a "Devil's Rejects"/horror movie kind of way. Dude is so worried his girl is going to leave him he kills her, then himself, and they get married in hell. How Burton-esque.

"Walking After You"- Foo Fighters- Come now Dave Grohl. Let me comfort you. Leave that other girl alone. You'll be fine, you're a rock star! Cheer up, Buttercup!

"Happy Together"- The Turtles- Totally ruins the old "other fish in the sea" cliche.

"I Put A Spell on You"- Various- If you want to avoid jealous wrath; then don't cheat, just break up!

"Never Gonna Give You Up"- Rick Astley- Maybe she's a free spirit Rick, like Holly Holiday (yes, I totally just made a "Glee" reference. What are you gonna do about it?!) Gives getting "rick rolled" a whole new meaning.

"Until You Come Back to Me"- Aretha Franklin- Who would walk out on the Queen of Soul and fear endangering her wrath?

"#1 Crush"- Garbage- I think there are a lot of guys, and let's be honest, a lot of women; who wouldn't mind Shirley Manson trying to win them over.

Why aren't there more modern songs on this list? I feel like we're missing an incredible opportunity to both right the new "Every Breath You Take" and reference Facebook at the same time. Where's my song about cyber stalking your ex? Come on emo kids! Country music stars!

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and what better way to bask in wonder of your loved one or plot their demise than with a movie marathon. I know just what you need to enjoy/feel better about the day:

When You're in Love:

* Before Sunrise/ Before Sunset- In "Before Sunrise", Ethan Hawke meets the lovely Julie Delpy on a train and they spend the evening falling in love. Of course, it's doomed to end. Now, before you grab for your hankie; the sequel picks up 9 years later when the two bump into each other in France. They spend the day together and reminisce about that one night in Vienna. Are they ready now to give in to love? I love the sequel more than the original, but if you haven't seen either now is the time. Richard Linklater ("Dazed and Confused", "Slacker") at his most romantic.

* Titanic- Why do people in love relish a good tragedy? I have no idea, but this movie tops the list for sappy young women reliving their youth while simultaneously torturing their significant other.

* Wall-E- I'm not a huge fan of animated movies. When I was younger I thought I would always love cartoons like my Dad does. Unfortunately, as I got older the cartoons got worse. "Wall-E" is the exception. A beautiful story about not only romantic love but love for our planet.

* Good Will Hunting- How do you like them apples?

* Jules et Jim- Can a love triangle stand the test of time? If you're Jeanne Moreau and this in 1960s France, you bet your bonnet!

* Edge of Love- When love triangles go wrong. Who will win, the wife or the fist love?

* Annie Hall- One of my top 10 movies of all time, it reminds me that Woody Allen is talented even if he is recently misguided in his efforts. It also showcases his most natural romance on film with the titular character, a bohemian modern day suffragette played by Diane Keaton.

* Amelie- The French really know romance. Who wouldn't like this whimsical tale of a shy Parisian girl who lures her crush in with kooky games and a travelling gnome? Communists maybe.

* Secretary- For the kinkier in love set there is no greater movie.

* Garden State- For the hipster, introspective types.

* Brokeback Mountain- I'm still pissed this didn't win Best Picture at the Oscars, but I can get my revenge by making everyone I know see it. A beautiful and tragic love story. Is there any other kind?

* Almost Famous- Maybe you're not in love this V-day, but you're not all homicidal either. A boys love for music and his first real crush on a girl converge in one of the best soundtracks of all time.

* Benny & Joon- Oh Johnny Depp, what can't you do?


When You're Out of Love:

* Singles- You're 20s are defined by a series of one-night stands, flings, first loves, and singledom. This movie wraps it all up in a perfect, mid 90s, plaid bow.

* Swingers- Depending on your gender, this is either a cautionary tale or an awesome adventure. Either way, the fast paced, witty dialogue and who's who of actors make it one of the best comedies ever.

* Chasing Amy- At least your love life isn't this complicated.

* The Sweetest Thing- Every lady I know loves this movie and for good reason. It's hilarious, depicts female relationships in a realistic way, and the love interest is almost secondary to the friendship between the three leads. Did I mention it's hilarious?

* High Fidelity- Grab a box of Kleenex and your crate of records and tuck into the best break-up movie ever. See also, killer soundtrack.

* Heavy- Just seeing the trailer for this movie makes me tear up. Plump Pruitt Taylor Vance works at his mother's diner/bar. When the lovely Liv Tyler shows up looking for a job, his life is forever altered.

* The Thing Called Love- Samantha Mathis wants to be a country song writer, her roommate Sandra Bullock fancies herself a singer. River Pheonix and Durmot Mulrroney get in the way. Love this movie about heartbreak!

* The Virgin Suicides- The title says it all.

* Closer- The undeniable wretchedness of people is explored with amazing performances by all. I was numb after watching this movie and highly recommend that feeling this time of year.

* All the Real Girls- David Gordon Green ("Pineapple Express") used to make really personal, intimate films like this one about a womanizer who falls for his best friends sister. Can people change? Would you want them to?

* (500) Days of Summer- How about a Zooey Deschanel mini-marathon? The trajectory of a doomed relationship is chronicled.

* Le Divorce- Maybe it's because I'm a girl, or maybe because I love period dramas and comedies, but I love Merchant Ivory films. this one got a lot of slack when it came out, but it's a nice adaptation of the book about a young woman in the midst of divorcing her French husband when he gets murdered. What divorcee hasn't thought about that? Naomi Watts is wonderful of course, and the only let down is Mathew Modine chewing up the scenery as per usual.

What are your favorite movies when you are in or out of love?