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O'Hara's Wife (1982)
Don't over think it!
Forget about the plot - of course "ghost" movies can run into formula. What's amazing about this little film - which I just watched again after 30 years - is the acting by Hartley, Asner and Bosley. Besides being genuinely touching (with a very poignant moment regarding end of life decisions that was ahead of its time), this movie is absolutely hysterical at times. Hartley never misses a beat, and shows off her comedic chops brilliantly. But it's the interpersonal relationships, little quips and asides that make this so enjoyable. It's certainly better than anything running on network television right now - especially in regard to strong, intelligent female characters (who aren't law enforcers shooting people or lawyers).
You Can't Fool Your Wife (1940)
Lucy is surprisingly good!
If you're a Lucille Ball fan and want to see a bit of her dramatic range (even though this is a screwball comedy--kind of), this is a great little film that shows off more of her depth. I was incredibly impressed, being only familiar with her TV shows and comedy movies like Fancy Pants, Yours Mine, etc., and the pretty bad Desi/Lucy movies. It helps that this film is actually very well written--although it does, as the other commentator on this board points out, have a "sloppy" ending. Still, the dialogue is witty and intelligent, especially the lines slung by Ball's "mother," and Ball herself gets to do more than just character impressions--which she gets to do as well, and here you'll see the early Lucy Ricardo shining through in all her comedic glory.
The Night of the Iguana (1964)
The BEST film ever... or pretty close!
First, you must understand the nature of Night of the Iguana. The story centers on Shannon (Burton), a life-long preacher caught in a philosophical crisis. His humanity clashes with his theology and leaves havoc in its wake. Removed from his position in a quiet Texas community after an affair with an underage girl, he takes a job in Puerto Vallarta as the tour guide for a rickety bus full of pious old women and one manipulative nymph (Lyon). Shannon is tortured by the girl's advances and finally gives in--only to be found out by her bullish chaperone. To save his job, Shannon hijacks the bus and takes the ladies to a remote motel high on the mountain, run by his ex-flame, Maxine (Gardner). Max is a bawdy, hard-drinking, hard-loving gal, not too keen on the new arrivals. She harbors an unrequited love for Shannon, however, so relents. Within moments of the troop's arrival, two stragglers also enter: Hannah (Kerr) is a penniless watercolor painter who, with her aged grandfather, Nonno--a supposedly renowned oral poet--travels from place to place selling their wares. They wearily hike up the mountain and plead for board, offering to paint or recite poetry to earn their keep.
As the characters struggle with their passions, their pride, and their self-definition, egos break and walls come down, exposing the underbelly of the human situation. They grapple with the questions and desires that plague us all. Who am I? Do my actions define me or do my thoughts? Why am I here? The answers come in ten-fold, and in a poignant moment, Kerr reveals our purpose on Earth: To connect with each other. To help each other through each day. To meet, to see, hear, and feel, and share what we have experienced. This is the meaning of life. Totall riveting. Especially if you travel to Puerto Vallarta and put these questions to the test.
Last Night (1998)
A refreshing look at human nature.
This film is amazing. And disturbing. A refreshing look at what a few people do when the Earth has only 6 hours left of existence. This film is not about special effects or saving the planet or watching anxiety-ridden humans bring chaos to their remaining days, but shows how individual personalities deal with a fatalistic future. They don't do what you might expect, and in fact take the coming of the end of the world in stride, focusing on what uniquely means something to them. A brilliant idea and quite original, this film has been highly praised by critics and rightly so. Fabulous use of the song Guantanamero, as well. I'll never be able to listen to it again and not be moved to tears.