I need suggestions for an escapist movie.

<p>I haven’t read through all the posts to see if someone already suggested this, but I <em>loved</em> Young @ Heart. It’s a wonderful film.</p>

<p>I 3rd Northern Exposure. Of course it was filmed around here so I watched it when it first came out. I ran into the actress that played Shelly recently with her toddler. She looked very thin and frazzled, kind of like her character.
I actually couldn’t remember where I knew her from, thought it was just from around town , and gave her some mom advice.</p>

<p>It was only later that I recognized her! :o</p>

<p>[Ruth-Ann</a> was another favorite character](<a href=“http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/95227_phillips12.shtml]Ruth-Ann”>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/95227_phillips12.shtml)
heck they all were.</p>

<p>( it was kind of a shock to see John Corbett who had gained a bit of weight- but then haven’t we all & his girlfriend Bo Derek in coordinating outfits a few years ago in the neighborhood, they stuck out more than celebs usually do)</p>

<p>Even better than “The Illusionist” (we thought) is “The Prestige” with Hugh Jackman & Eric Banna. Loved that one.</p>

<p>Two more:</p>

<p>Blood Diamond</p>

<p>Shawshank Redemption</p>

<p>Last November, I was called for jury duty. I and some hundred more half-awaked citizens met at the Hall of Justice and waited (and waited) for our names to be called. Randomly chosen from the voting rolls, our pool of jurors crossed every demographic you can shake a stick at. </p>

<p>The staff played a short video about the importance of jury duty. It got as much attention as passengers on a plane give to the seatbelt instructions. Later, to entertain the jurors de jour, the staff stuck a movie into the VCR. On the overhead video monitors, “The Preacher’s Wife” appeared. A 1996 Penny Marshall directed re-make of “The Bishop’s Wife”. Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston and Courtney B. Vance starred. </p>

<p>The movie takes place in greater New York during the holidays. Courtney B. Vance plays a minister married to Whitney Houston. The couple has marital problems. Denzel Washington plays an angel sent down from heaven to help them out. </p>

<p>There we were, staring off into the middle distance (or looking at our shoes), reading a paperback or the newspaper. Slowly, but surely, people raised their heads and started to watch the movie. “The Preacher’s Wife” is utterly charming. All the characters are good, decent people. No body shouts. Even the kids behave as kids and not thirty year olds. Old-fashion and predictable? So? When was the last time you saw a movie where you liked the characters? We potential jurors did.</p>

<p>Here’s a little gem (early Alicia Silverstone) feel good movie with character and charm.
A BLAST FROM THE PAST - 1999</p>

<p>From Ebert’s write up…and, my mother,(hard to please), really enjoyed this last year!
<code>Blast From the Past’’ is the first screen credit for writer Bill Kelly, who co-scripted with the director, Wilson (</code>The First Wives Club,‘’ the overlooked ``Guarding Tess’'). It’s a sophisticated and observant film that wears its social commentary lightly but never forgets it, as Adam wanders through a strange new world of burgeoning technology and decaying manners. His innocence has an infectious charm, although the world-wise Eve can hardly believe he doesn’t know the value of his dad’s baseball card collection. (Wait until she hears about his dad’s stock portfolio.) The movie is funny and entertaining in all the usual ways, yes, but I was grateful that it tried for more: that it was actually about something, that it had an original premise, that it used satire and irony and had sly undercurrents.</p>

<p>Millions is a great movie…about a couple of young British boys…find some money…the youngest brother is obsessed with saints… I loved that movie…</p>

<p>bz2010: It’s funny you mention “The Prestige”. H & I saw “The Illusionist” first, having been told The Prestige was better, but it wasn’t available at the video store.</p>

<p>We later saw “The Prestige”, expecting it to be even better. We really liked The Prestige, but we LOVED The Illusionist. Maybe because we were both so struck by the cleverness.</p>

<p>Guess it’s all a matter of opinion–something for everyone :)</p>