Where can I begin to discuss my second favorite movie? Well, I guess I can start with the fact that I actually saw this movie opening day at a matinee showing in Colorado Springs. It was the summer between my freshman year of college and my...freshman year of college (it was a rough first year people, I was a sophomore by second semester!). I was still living at home in the summer with Dad and we were getting ready for a move to Texas.
Some of my favorite moments of this movie (and I have quite a few) involve the scenery of the cities it takes place in. Chicago, Seattle, Baltimore and New York are lovely places to see and this movie absolutely showcases the best in class and kitch in these places - "Sam" (Tom Hank's character) would be the class and "Annie" (Meg Ryan's character) would be the kitch.
Noah, Sam's 8 year old son, calls into a radio show on Christmas Eve and shares his concerns about his father's feelings since Noah's mom passed away. Annie hears the radio show on Christmas Eve and soon becomes entangled in an emotional pull between her head and her heart. Her head says "you're perfectly happy with Walter" and her heart tells her "wait, there might be more out there for me with someone else".
The relationship between Annie and her fiance Walter is one that many of us have either experienced first-hand or from the outside looking in. Two individuals who care for each other with a comfortable love. In Annie's case, she feels a little TOO comfortable with Walter. Deep down she longs for something more - and Walter is kind enough to let Annie go with his good wishes when they both realize that maybe their relationship isn't what they thought it was.
Sam's relationship with new girlfriend Victoria doesn't ever really get off the ground thanks to his 8-year old son Noah. Noah believes there's something better out there for BOTH him and his father - and he's convinced Annie is it.
This movie introduced me to the movie "An Affair to Remember" and I will always be in Norah Ephron's debt for assisting in producing one of my favorite MOVIE soundtracks of all time. In fact, this is one of those few movies that had such a successful soundtrack that they released an entire SECOND soundtrack called "More Songs for Sleepless Nights" - a collection of music inspired by the first collection of music. I happen to have both CD's. I'm just cool like that. But mostly because this MOVIE is just cool like that.
One last funny note - I heard "Stand By Your Man" two nights in a row - once in this movie and once in The Blues Brothers. I actually prefer the Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi version last night to the Tammy Wynette version.
The IMDB Link
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