LJMTitle

Bored and desperate for love and attention, young Harold dwells in his own misery and tries to bring everyone around him down along with him. Obsessed with death, his morbid personality is a reflection of his dissociation with the world around him. His rich mother simultaneously ignores him and smothers him, leaving Harold starved for affection and longing to join his deceased father, yet lacking the conviction to actually end his miserable existence.

Enter Maude, a totally over-the-top senior citizen who is loopy, lovable, and overflowing with life. Played magnificently by the late, great Ruth Gordon, Maude is a true eccentric with an insatiable lust for life, and Harold is immediately drawn to her. They form a unique bond and develop a relationship which changes Harold profoundly.

This movie stands the test of time. While the cars and clothes may be dated, the characters express feeling and emotion which does not change over time. And while all this sounds very deep and dramatic, this is actually one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. You really have to see this one for yourself, and I'm happy to hear that new generations of film lovers are continuing to enjoy this "cult" favorite.

A touching yet humorous tale, THE FISHER KING brings together amongst the best performances given by Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges, as well as Terry Gilliam's finest directorial effort. Solid supporting performances by Amanda Plummer and Mercedes Ruehl round out a great film that ranks among my personal favorites.

Bridges portrays an arrogant radio shock-jock, who's big mouth and flippant comments send a disturbed listener on a murderous rampage, thus ending his career. Enter Ruehl as his new enabler girlfriend, waiting patiently for him to drag himself up from the dregs, hoping to catch a ride to the top. Just when Bridges seems to have hit rock bottom, he encounters Williams, a crazed vagrant who thinks he is a knight in shining armor.

What ensues is a tale of remorse, redemption and rebirth which is made all the more magical by Gilliam's magnificent vision. Most notable is a scene which takes place in Grand Central Station where the hustle and bustle of the busy commuters dissolves into a spectacular waltz as Williams follows Plummer, the woman of his dreams. Gilliam's style makes Williams delusions come alive as the character makes the slow journey from trauma-induced insanity to stark, yet hopeful, reality.

Every character in this film undergoes a metamorphosis, each learning from the others along the transformation. It is a beautiful film to watch, and an achievement to all involved that subject matter of such depth can come across with such humor and with such beauty.

Mixing humor, common sense, science and food is a winning recipe for Alton Brown's "Good Eats" series. I'm always amused by his quirky way of approaching food topics, and I walk away from every episode a little bit smarter - never a bad thing! The shows are set up more like a cross between a sitcom and an episode of Sesame Street, if you can imagine that, which is appealing to anyone who thinks the average cooking show is a little bit "stale". A great show for beginner cooks, since everything is explained thoroughly and logically, so you don't just learn what ingredients go into a dish; you also learn why the ingredients work together and what they contribute to the recipe. This show is definitely one of my favorites; I highly recommend it to everyone.