This is always an interesting time of year for movies. The post-summer/pre-holiday movie season has a reputation for showing the B movies from the major studios. Other than I (heart) huckabees and The Forgotten…I can’t think of much that I’m craving in the movies! It’s a good thing we have DVD’s!

I’ll be highlighting three films this week:

34. DOG DAY AFTERNOON – ATTICA! ATTICA! Can anyone ever forget this line? Al Pacino and John Cazale star in this (true) story about a bank robbery-gone-wrong. Hostages, the police, the FBI and some bizarre personal details help to move this film along at a good clip. I had never heard of this film until I saw Swordfish with John Travolta (which is an under-rated film itself!). John Travolta (the “bad guy” of the film) asks another character what they think would have happened if Al Pacino started executing the hostages in Dog Day Afternoon. This piqued my interest (along with my appreciation for all things Pacino) and led me to this amazing film. Pacino is in charge of the robbery and Cazale is the side-kick (and no…they don’t bear the last name Corleone). I can’t elaborate to such a great degree without giving away some major plot points so I’ll just leave it at…see the film!

35. ARMAGEDDON – I seem to be mocked by a lot of people for liking this film a lot. Affleck, Willis, Wilson, Duncan, Buscemi, Tyler, Thornton, the list goes on forever. Plenty of people would say that a good cast (or this particular good cast) doesn’t always make a good film (case in point: Very Bad Things…or…Mars Attacks). Fortunately, Armageddon delivers it all: light comedy, (like the discussion of Jethro Tull…a guy or a band?), serious drama (asteroid heads for Earth…what will become of us all!), tough choices (Affleck and Willis at the end) and a whole lot of action make this a terrific film. Whether you love it or hate it…I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing became an instant standard. Trevor Rabin wrote a terrific score…and you walk away happy from the film…despite the conflicted ending.

36. SWINGERS – The bunny, breakfast anytime, waiting to call the girl, cheesy lounge singers, Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn…and Heather Graham! This movie has everything. The real beauty of this movie is the fact that you’re made to identify with the socially awkward Favreau, not the slick Vaughn. This allows the viewers to look through Favreau’s eyes and see how absurd certain situations (which seem normal to Vaughn) can be. I really identified with Favreau because I can remember seeing people at my fraternity’s parties in college and wondering how they could act a certain way…and not seem ridiculous to everybody else…watch this movie and be prepared to laugh, smile and listen to great swing music by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and their peers.

I’ll throw in an older gem before I go:

PUNCHLINE – I rarely end up in the position where people recommend films to me (I usually do the recommending), but this one sounded too good to miss. Tom Hanks, Sally Field and John Goodman star in this film about struggling comedians and the emotional turmoil that they encounter. I was skeptical at first…since I had never heard of this Tom Hanks film (and that makes one worry). Luckily, I was wrong and I ended up loving this film. Tom Hanks shows a really dramatic flair that reminds us of the 1990-2000′s (Philadelphia, Apollo 13, etc.) Tom Hanks rather than the 1980′s (Bachelor Party, etc.) Tom Hanks. Damon Wayans and several other notables have guest appearances in this warm, funny, touching film. Rent it if you get a chance!

Next week I’ll return to the two film format when I discuss my appreciation of LA Confidential and The Usual Suspects. See you then!

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