What's On: OUAT "Souls of the Departed"

WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD....
HAPPY 100TH EPISODE OUAT!


Ok, I really don't know where to start with how much I really enjoyed tonight's episode!

I knew Adam and Eddy were going on about how it was going to have a season 1 feel to it, and it really did! It also gave us an answer as to how Henry Sr wounded up in Wonderland! I thought the plot moved very fluently and never skipped a beat! Sure the cameos were quick, but it was still satisfying! My favorite guests moments:

1. The Blind Witch (Emma Caulfield) running the Underworld Granny's and offering children or Gingerbread. I'd go with Gingerbread, it's easier to come by.

2. Henry Sr. (Tony Perez) meeting Henry Jr. and assuring Regina that she had made him proud.

3. Cora (BARBARA HERSHEY!!!!! Sorry, can you tell I'm a Hersh fan?) Cora'ding Snow as Henry Sr. It's been a long while since we were blessed with a Cora'd (Cora pretending to be someone else) moment!

The throw back shots to the first episode would totally make any huge Once Upon A Time Fan squeal with delight (or was it just me?)! The Candle shot! THE CLOCK MOVING! I was blown away by how much they not only wanted to reference in the story with dialog but also with the visuals!

Emma and the crew took a back seat tonight while the episode focused on Regina. It was a breath of fresh air after the entire first half of the season being about Emma and that annoying Captain Guyliner. Sorry, I mean Hook.

What I mean to say is that it seems since the writers went and put Regina on the sidelines to start further developing Emma, Regina had to pay the price. While she was still in the episodes, she wasn't really built on.

Instead they just focused on her very forced upon us relationship. Sorry Outlaw Queen shippers, I can't back it. I've tried and I can't. But, now that we're in a place where most of those poor happy less souls are were put there by Regina; I am glad to see her being given something to actually do besides make doe eyes at Robin all day.

There's just two little complaints I have.

One. If everyone in the Underworld has unfinished business why does Emma have to constantly think she needs to stick her nose where it doesn't belong? Her big "I must save everyone." speech at the end just sounds like those times when your nosy neighbor decides to stick her nose over the fence and get in your argument that you are privately having. I feel like the save everyone task is just really going to get out of hand.

That said, I wonder what the Blind Witch's unfinished business is? Is it deciding what to use? Gravy or Butter?

Two. I still really can't with Hyades and his CGI hair. Lose it! He came on screen and was so badass with the attitude and suit. You knew who he was the minute Cora stepped off the elevator and was scared shitless! Giving him the gimmicky hair just really takes away from how scary he can be. Also, it just looks really bad.

I did love how Cora was his Meg character though! How Hyades used her and manipulated her to get Regina out of the Underworld. It was very similar to how he used Meg in the film to get to Hercules. It reminded me of that time in the first season when Rumple was really the Beast to Belle's Belle and there wasn't no direct reference to it, or cheesy dance scene with the films musical score (yeah, I'm making fun of your use of that because god that was fondu cheese). Instead you had the basics for a story as old as time, and the hints with Rumple's characterization hinting him being the Beast. It wasn't so on the nose as the past few seasons have been.

I digress, but I'm back and as I was saying... Cora as Meg is a bigger and better choice then actually getting someone else to be Meg. I know it's going to happen and I know we're also getting Hercules. I just wish you could make Cora Meg and have Regina's goal rescue her making HER Hercules. THAT would be a true throw back to season one... when the show actually attempted to retell fairy tales in cool ways and not just remake the Disney films.

That said, I look forward to seeing what the rest of the Underworld storyline has in store for us. I also really hope to see more. Now if you excuse me I need to go track down screencaps for Cora's "Miller's Daughter" look from tonight because that was SO FREAKING AWESOME and very much, "Cora, go to your room!"

"Breakfast of Champions" (1999)

What?
The?
 Hell?
 Did?
 I?
 Just?
Watch?

I seriously can't write let alone try to digest this film. I thought "The Staircase" was bad for being over dramatic. Well, this felt like someone wrote it and directed it while on a major Acid trip.

I think it was about a car dealer who is going through a midlife crisis. I think. I really couldn't actually understand what was going on because I had no clue what was happening.

Really, the only thing that made this worth watching was to see Barbara Hershey dress in a lumber jack's hat, fur coat, and rainboots and take to walking down the street. That's it. That is all she wrote.

"The Staircase" (1998)

So you know how in the 90's there was that major resurgence of Westerns? Well, this kind of falls under it.

The film is based off of a really interesting story. In a church somewhere in Santa Fe, California there is a spiral staircase that was made and still stands that baffles people still to this day. It was made using no nails and no support beams.

If you go research the actual church and the story behind it, it's very interesting to read the sister's stories. Sadly, because this film was just one big over the top, try to take itself way to seriously mess, that interesting part got overshadowed completely by an awful script.

And by awful I really mean awful. Half way through I was trying really hard not to roll my eyes so hard for fear of straining them. There is an argument about allowing this guy to build the staircase (that they originally FORGOT to put in in the first place) that escalates so quickly that you could have blanked and BOOM, it's at the point where one guy shoots another guy... over the subject of the staircase!

No over the top movie would be complete without someone dying of cancer. Really, why wasn't this film on Lifetime? Our cancer victim this time is the Mother Superior (Barbara Hershey). Her ultimate goal is to have her church completely finished (staircase and all) before she dies. In the world of cliche finales she climbs the finished staircase complete with over the top score music (with someone actually playing along on the piano), falls but succeeds in getting to the top and just when you wish they would start playing "Stairway to Heaven" she dies dramatically in the arms of a young boy.

I can't any more. The things I do to reach a goal. This film could have had so much greatness, and have been so amazing if it was just written better. I can't even fault the actors who tried really hard to make it work because you can see that they tried. But seriously, I'm going to quote my roommate right now, "Barbara Hershey needs to come over and give me a massage."

"Frogs for Snakes" (1998)

I've hit the independent film streak and boy oh boy did this scream independent. Not to say that was a bad thing, it's not but it was certainly different.

The basic story is Eve, an actress by day and collector by night, decides she wants more for her life and wants to give up both acting and collecting and move away with her young son. Before she can do that, she must help Al (her ex-husband) locate money that has been stollen from him.

That's the basics of it. Going even deeper there is a subplot involving Al's upcoming production of "American Buffalo" and how everyone is going completely crazy trying to be a part of it. This film is huge with acting down to the point where someone would be speaking for actual dialog but then break out into a monolog. This really caused me to question quite a few times as to if it was the character speaking OR the character acting as another character, saying a particular speech from a play.

Good grief. Too much thinking.

Don't get me wrong though, Hershey's performance was so spot on that even when she broke out into a monolog you cared for what she had to say and you felt for her. I was routing for her the entire time and moved by some of her speeches.

It's certainly a dialog driven film.

"The Portrait of a Lady" (1996)

I had seen this movie twice before and every time it was hard for me to pay attention. For my third viewing I went in with an open mind and by with a few seconds of the opening credits fully realized how much I actually never understood the film. Was it because I was too young to fully appreciate it? Was it maybe perhaps I was distracted by my surroundings every time I had attempted to watch?

Either way, finally with this viewing I was able to appreciate this film for much more than how it looked (and trust me the costume porn is phenomenal!). I finally realized just how tragic these characters and the story are.

A young woman (played by Nicole Kidman) comes into a fortune from her uncle. At the same time she befriends a woman (Barbara Hershey) who introduces her to an artist (John Malkovich). Together Hershey and Malkovich's characters come up with a plan to play Kidman out of of her fortune. The rest is their twisted plan unfolding and Kidman falling more and more into becoming a woman whom she would have never seen herself becoming and is everything she could never stand.

I did find the pace slow, but I actually found the characters a lot more intriguing and was able to understand their motivations a lot more this time around. It really does prove that as you get older and learn about the world your view on films change drastically. Before where I had a strong dislike for Hershey's character, I now found a sadness and wanting for her to come out on top. I believe she did what she did with good intentions but the execution was poorly done and in the end she and Kidman's characters paid.

"The Pallbearer " (1996)

Wow did it take me a while for me to actually really get involved with this film. Actually, I cared about Barbara's character but that's because I was going into this film for her. I'm not really a fan of anyone else so when ever someone who wasn't her was on screen it was hard to really pay attention.

The story itself was one to really try to swallow. A mother of a recent suicide victim mistakes one of her son's high school classmates for being her son's best friend and asks him to be the pallbearer for his funeral. Instead of correcting her he agrees and soon a simple request turns into a complicated relationship. Meanwhile, he is also trying to get his high school crush to fall in love with him.

Really the parts I love the most of this film are any scenes that involve Barbara or Carol Kane, who plays the main character's mother.

"Last of the Dogmen" (1995)

"Beaches" may be one of my favorite movies BUT "Last of the Dogmen" is by far my favorite Barbara Hershey film!

After a group of convicts go missing in the woods a tracker is hired to find them and bring them back. He gets much more for what he bargained for when the men are killed by something mysterious. While researching what may have caused their disappearances he stumbles upon a group of Dogmen, the last of their tribe and with the help of a Native American History professor they attempt to save them from extinction.

I love the story, and I love the cast! Most of all this is by far my favorite character that Barbara has done. Sure, I've seen roles where she's amazing but this one really allows her to have a great stride as the sassy History Professor. She may be the "romantic lead" but she's also a strong character on her own! She's completely able to hold herself and steals every single scene she's in. I remember seeing this for the first time and by the end of it I was completely wanting to be like her character.

Sure, it has its flaws. There are some plot holes that after my millionth viewing I have begun to notice, but the film is just so enjoyable you kind of forget that they're there.

"Splitting Heirs" (1993)

It's so enjoyable to watch a roll and think of just how funny it must have been for everyone on set. Also, how enjoyable it must have been to just play this character of the Duchess because man oh man did it look like a lot of fun!

"Splitting Heirs" tells the story of Tommy. A man who grew up thinking he belonged in one place, but learned of his true family and had to try and think of a round about way of telling those involved. This is because Henry, the child Tommy was switched with, was raised to become the next Duke and after the misfortune of the current Duke's death he is made just that. Now in order for Tommy to get his title the current Duke must die.

It's really hard to tell the plot without getting confused but it plays out so well, and is really funny! It's also a plus to see baby face Catherine Zeta Jones running around and being totally side judged by Barbara! Even when Barbara is busy hitting on Tommy, not knowing it's really her son, you can't help but start dying of laughter.

Another plus is that it also had Sadie Frost! Most people will remember her from being Lucy in 1992's Dracula or the first wife to Jude Law. I've been a fan of her's for years... actually, she's one of my very early girl crushes (thank you Dracula). Actually, this is bad because now I think I want to go see what she's been acting in recently but no! Must finish the Hersh's filmography timeline!

Anyways, I hadn't watched this film in a long while, but i now remember how much I really enjoy it!

"Swing Kids" (1993)

I'm sorry it was sort of a stand still for a while, life happened.  Anyways, ON WARD WE GO!

I was introduced to "Swing Kids" by my roommate, and when I first watched it I went in not knowing anything about the film except it involved Christian Bale dancing. I came out loving the story and everything about it.

Peter (Robert Sean Leonard), Tom (Christian Bale) and Arvid (Frank Whaley) play a group of friends living in Germany during the Nazi reign. They are all huge fans of American Swing music and live by their own code for it. When Peter gets caught stealing he is sent to a school where they reeducate you with the "Nazi way". Feeling guilty, Tom joins him. As Germany pushes more and more into war, and becoming more hostile towards the Jews Peter and Tom are pushed into different directions. Both are forced to grow up, but how they chose to be will change their friendship.

Hershey plays Peter's mother Frau Muller, the wife of someone who was convicted of being a Communist. In order to keep her family and herself from being persecuted she does what she can to survive and protect her family. She forms a relationship with a man very close to Hitler (played by Kenneth Branagh), and before that it is suggested that she's done things she's not proud of.

The film itself is great to watch. It flows so well. There are moments where you laugh, cry and even make you think. If you haven't seen this then you really should go check it out!

"Falling Down" (1993)

We all have those days where we feel as though we are going to lose it being stuck in traffic. Well, this film starts off that way, but it quickly escalates to something more.

Michael Douglas portrays D-Fens, the man who begins an odyssey to get home to his wife (Barbara Hershey) and child. It seems simple enough, but soon everything begins to go wrong for him. First, he gets involved in small things such as destruction of property but it grows to murder. He just keeps digging himself deeper and deeper and soon you find yourself wondering if he was always like this.

We learn from his wife why she left him, and that she even has a restraining order against him. She is completely petrified for her and her daughter's safety when it comes to him. It's with good excuse too.

One of the incidences that involve him is in a fast food restaurant. He completely loses it because all he wants is breakfast and sadly the place had stopped serving it. Most people would be angry but just get lunch and go on with their day. Instead, he flips out. Pulls out a gun, hold the entire place hostage until he gets what he wants. Then, he changes his mind and just goes with the lunch menu.

Let me just say, as someone working in this field right now this is probably one of the things I worry about. At first sight this guy appears harmless and he's just being difficult, but it changes so quickly that you're afraid to push him any more.

Robert Duvall plays Prendergast, a detective who is retiring making this his last day of work. He is the complete opposite of D-Fens. He doesn't showcase his anger. Instead it seems as though he bottles it up. Especially when it comes to his wife, who might be depressed among other things. He's a really good contrast to D-Fens.

"Paris Trout" (1991)

Picture this. A small town. In the deep South. In the mid 50's. A tragedy strikes as a young colored child is murdered after trying to protect her brother and mother. As the trial begins the murder's lawyer, the murder's wife, and the murder all have their lives changed and molded.

Paris Trout (Dennis Hopper), the man accused of murdering the young girl, is very disturbing. For the public he puts on a happy, proud, well respected face. He owns the general store where everyone comes for supplies, and the occasional loan. Under it all though, he is cruel and shows no remorse for any of his actions. He verbally and physically abuses his wife (Hershey).

Hannah Trout, is such a strong and smart woman that it really does make you question why she stays with Paris. I found myself asking this question when ever she is on screen because she really does seem like she has no love for this man and just feels sorry for him. Sorry that he feels like he can "get a thrill" off her emotional and physical displeasure.

I found it hard to watch their scenes together because I've seen relationships like that in my own history and I've always question and can't understand why. Why do women (and men) put themselves through this much pain and embarrassment? She was a teacher. She was smart enough to lock herself away to keep him from hurting her; even though the smarter thing would have been to leave and get as far away as possible.

Being conflicted by all of this is Trout's lawyer, Harry Seagraves (Ed Harris). Going in he has no problem with proving what Trout did was completely out of self defense. Yet, as he digs deeper and deeper it becomes a moral conflict upon himself. He knows that Paris is guilty. He's heard him speak of it as if he would do it over and over again because he just doesn't care. Paris lives by his own moral code, and it's a huge conflict to Harry. Also adding to his displeasure is the fact that Harry uncovers what Paris had done to Hannah.

No one is pure in this film. Everyone has such huge flaws, but that's what makes everyone feel so human that by the end of it you learn a little bit more that nothing is black and white. The man that has to protect his guilty client is fighting the same feelings as the guy trying to put the murder away. The battered wife might be too afraid to leave. The crazy social path husband might finally get pushed too far, and for someone who showed no emotion with killing someone before is faced with a chance to do it again he just might.

I will say that I absolutely love that Barbara Hershey has turned towards doing all these deep, strong character roles. She brings a certain strength but frailty that is needed. Like, she is able to be strong but even when she's strong you can sense that there's something deep inside that is second questioning and causing conflict for her to act upon it. I really don't think it would have been the same performance had it been someone else. You just wouldn't have gotten it. It's that little quality that I feel that I am drawn towards. It just makes her characters more natural.

"Tune in Tomorrow" (1990)

How can a movie be completely cheesy but still enjoyable? You have one hell of a cast (except Keanu Reeves, I can never stand him), some really funny moments, and know that you shouldn't be taking yourself too seriously but instead run with it and have fun!

"Tune in Tomorrow" is about a wannabe radio writer (Reeves) who falls head over heels in love with his Aunt Julie. Ok, so apparently she's his Uncle's wives sister through marriage... but still, an aunt of some sorts. Meanwhile, the radio station he's been working at has hired a new writer to boost their ratings. The new writer, Pedro Carmichael, discovers the secret affair and begins to use it in his recent soap.

The soap which starts to take on a life of it's own and adds to the campiness of the entire film. The film starts out straight forward enough but as the plot to Carmichael's soap becomes more and more outlandish so does the plot of out actual main characters.

Like I said, it gets really cheesy at some points and the dialog becomes very laughable, but it really feels like everyone makes the most of it. But, I really can't stand Keanu who just feels so out of place from everyone else. Even Hershey is able to let her hair down and seems like she is able to just be funny. Keanu constantly feels like he's trying to play catch up to everyone.

"Beaches" (1988)

Back in 2003, a girl sat on the bed in her room trying to find something to watch. She continuously flipped through the channels but nothing caught her eye. That was until she landed on Lifetime and caught the last half an hour of a little movie about a longtime friendship between two women. Lucky for me, it played all over again right after and the rest they say is history.

At that point in my life, I didn't fully appreciate how much I really needed this film in my life. I had heard about it constantly from bits on VH1's I Love The 80's but never had I decided to rush out to go track it down. After that first viewing though, I rushed to my public library and located the VHS. I think that tape never saw the light of day from anyone else after that!

I learned the songs. I learned the lines, and I may have even picked up a few of Barbara Hershey's mannerisms from it as well.

From that first viewing I was instantly drawn to Hillary. I don't know why, I still don't. I did know that at the time I was having problems at home and I turned toward strong female fictional characters for guidance. It's difficult to explain but after that first watch, I wish I had Hillary as a mother. I just wanted to be so much like her because I loved how she escaped her life to move in with CC and became a lawyer.

Sure, she has flaws. Sure I still don't agree that she apologizes for whatever CC said even though she was clearly the one who instigated that big outburst in the department store. But, she was still so strong in her own right that I wanted to be so much like her that these flaws only added to how round her character was. So when she gets hit with a giant punch of being terminally ill it hurts even harder because you see the life she's made and the things she's over come.

Over the years as I continuously watch and rewatch this film I keep seeing it with new eyes. When I was younger it only scratched the surface about how friends can last forever and will be there for you always. Now that I'm older though, the themes go a lot deeper. Their individual characters go a lot deeper and you can really see how they balance one another out with their differences. How we all should have that one person who makes us question and challenge ourselves, and doesn't have to be a guy. The bonds we make as women can teach us some pretty powerful things.

I can really go on and on about how much this film has done for my outlook on life, but I'll spare you. I will say, this was the film that introduced me to Barbara Hershey. I went from watching this to tracking down everything else I could get my hands on to see if everything I loved about her portrayal of Hillary could be found in her other work, and in very subtle incidences it could.

As of now, I only have been watching the film when I am in really deep need of "an emotional cleansing"... which is about three times a year. This film really allows me to experience a wide range of feelings, some of which I didn't even know I was feeling. For me I really enjoy taking that journey. I don't think I will ever get tired of this film, and if that day comes then I would truly feel sorry for myself.

I do leave you with one question that I still never got the answer to, "What DOES yodeling got to do with it?"

"The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988)

There are many films about the actual crucifixion of Jesus Christ, but not many about how the man lived. This film is based on a book by the same name.

It begins in the middle of his life, when he worked as a carpenter. It explores him coming into his own as he discovers his destiny from God, travels around preaching, and even his death. You see Jesus not just as the man you learn about in your Sunday school classes, but as a person with his good share of flaws.

Yes, he was a man like everyone else with thoughts and feelings that would cross anyone in the same situation as him. It doesn't belittle the belief in him though, instead I believe it makes him appear stronger as a character.

It has taken me two times watching this to appreciate it a lot more because there is a lot to take in. The entire last 40 minutes is basically one big "what if" moment that I got the first time, but really enjoyed a lot more upon watching it again.

"Shy People" (1987)

Everyone has that part of the family who they know very little about, right? Well, can you imagine going and trying to find out about them? In "Shy People" Diana does just that.

She is a big named journalist on a big named magazine, with a troubled daughter. She decides to do an interest piece on the section of her relatives that she knows very little about. With her daughter, they travel to backwater Louisiana to locate her distant cousins. Once out there though they discover that things are very different from the big city. The culture is much simpler, and believes are very high in superstition.

She meets Ruth, her uncle's second wife, and her four sons. One of which has been declared as dead among the family and another locked up in a shed as punishment. These folk don't have electricity, or what seems like an education pass elementary school (if even that).

Things begin to go wrong as Diana and her daughter attempt to throw their lifestyle at them. The troubles of the past come out.

I enjoyed it even though I really couldn't stand the daughter at all. She was constantly complaining and made some really dumb choices that had me wanting to throw something at her and yell, "THINK WOMAN!" I really loved Hershey's character though! She was so in charge and may not have been book smart, but she was smarter in her own ways.

"A World Apart" (1987)

South Africa. The 60's. It was a hard place to grow up for anyone; with the battle for civil rights going on and a battle against Communism. One never knew when they would be whisked away from their families, or if they would even see them again. Then there was everyone else. They would have to go on with their daily lives not knowing if their loved one was ok or dead. It's a horrible picture to imagine, right?

Well, for Molly Roth she must live through it and we take the journey with her in "A World Apart". Molly's parents are leftist and when her father leaves to avoid being captured she is left with her mother and two younger siblings. That is until her mother is taken away for a 90 day holding period to be interrogated.

Molly must go on with her life but nothing is the same. Her eyes slowly become more open as she begins to take in the world around her and really see the darkness that is spreading throughout her homeland. She must learn the hard lessons that people can be very cruel. She loses her friends, and witnesses the violence done to everything going on.

This is very much a coming of age story and also a mother/ daughter bonding film. By the end Molly's mother, Diana, has to come to terms with the fact that her daughter is not a little girl anymore and fully comprehends what she is fighting for even though that life is not fair to her or anyone.

It really is a beautiful film and really resinates with you afterwords. Especially with everything that has happened here in the United States the past year. It really seems as though the battle for equal rights may never end until if we allow ourselves to open our eyes. The amazing thing about this film is that the main perspective is seen through the eyes of a child. Children are full of innocence and they have completely different look outs when it comes to things. Maybe what people need to do is adjust their outlook on things.

"Tin Men" (1987)

"Tin Men" is definitely a film that guys would love and girl would love to a point.

It starts off basic enough. An accident happens between two men and what is the most natural thing they could think to do? Seek revenge out on one another. It's all fun and games there, but the minute you decide to bring in the innocent wife of one of them there's a line that is beginning to be drawn. But this twisted tale of revenge quickly turns into a love story.

The two men are played by Richard Dreyfuss and Danny DeVito. DeVito's bystander wife is Hershey, who actually to me has some more of the funnier scenes between all three of them. Nothing is more funny then seeing her take revenge out on being mislead by two dummies. My favorite scene has to go to when she finds out what exactly she's been dropped into and reacts on it.

Sure I'll get behind Dreyfuss having feelings for Hershey, but some things that go on totally end up making me yell at him. Then he pulls some stunt where he is given the chance to "win her" like some trophy from DeVito and I can't help but want to throw things at them both! But thank goodness Hershey shares my mindset with this because if the writers actually made her stupid over this I was going to throw in the towel!

The romance aside, there's some other storyline going on about how both men, who share the same job of being a Tin Man (From what I gathered from the film they try to swindle people into remodeling the outside of their homes) are both being investigated. It really is just all background noise for what is the main point of the film: Revenge and love.

Funny? Sure. Enjoyable? Sure. A master piece? Heck no.

"Hoosiers" (1986)

I've touched on what makes a "sports movie" a really good film before but I will give you another reason. Not only is it because it teaches you to follow and strive to achieve your dream, but also because it teaches you that in order to achieve greatness it is a team effort.

It's one thing to have a sport's film be about one person and their story of self discovery, it is a completely different one to have it be about the entire team and how it also impacts their town. Usually, in these films they are metaphors for each other.

In the midwest sports are a way for a community to come together, which could probably explain why most sport's films take place here. If you have a broken team, you sure enough will most like have a broken community. It is then that by getting your team mates to cooperate with one another can you begin to bring the town together.

For Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers" he must do just that and along the way he also is able to discover and most past his own ghost.

This film has been ranked among a lot of lists when it comes to top "Sport's Films" and it's with good reason. The story of the little team that could is one of inspiration, and very beautifully acted, written and directed. It is also one of my personal favorites when it comes to this genre.

"Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986)

Fate has a fickle fickle way of working itself out and we may all not really know our own desires until we can take the journey and find them for ourselves. Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Two Sisters" takes us on this very journey as we voyage along two years in the lives of three sisters and their extremely chaotic lives.

First you have Hannah, who is happily married with children and is the key figure among all the story lines. Everyone in the film can be tracked back to her. She is quiet and reserved and has a plan for everything. Her journey through out the film is being able to allow herself to ask for help and to acknowledge that she may not always have the right answers.

Hannah's husband, Elliot, though is madly in love with her sister Lee. Lee, is very grounded and certainly the one someone would go to for advice. She feels emotions with every ounce of her being. It becomes hard for her with not really knowing if she wants to act on her own feelings for Elliot and run the risk of hurting her sister, or stay in the relationship she is currently in which has seems to have lost itself. Lee is living her own little version of the countless books she has immersed herself in.

Meanwhile, the youngest of the three sisters, Holly, is a free spirit but also have many many issues of her own including a dwindling self esteem. She changes careers so many times from actress, to cater, to writer. Her closest friend (Played by the fabulous Carrie Fisher) is the polar opposite.  She is welling to put herself out there. I kind of wonder if Holly being friends with her is Holly's way to over compensate for her own low self esteem, even though is just makes her feel worse.

Mickey is Hannah's first husband and has more worries than anyone you have probably met. He goes through his own voyage of trying to rediscover a sense of faith after he leads himself to believe that he has a brain tumor.

Woody takes these cast of characters and throw them all into the most culture stricken jungle around, New York City. A city that is known for making the most fickle of things happen. Maybe it's running into someone whom you haven't seen in years thus allowing you to rekindle a relationship. Or maybe it's allowing you to fall back in love with someone whom you "might not realize you love more than you think." Either way, this film just goes to show that things have a way of working themselves out in the end even if it's not what you expect.

This has always been my favorite of Allen's films, the only one really coming extremely close to topping it has been Midnight in Paris. Lee has also been one of my favorite Barbara Hershey characters possibly because of her groundness of being the middle child. She doesn't have the uber urge to take care of everyone like the older sibling, or try to prove herself like the youngest. She is able to find her own hook and take her own time discovering herself. I personally think I'm a mix between Hannah and Lee.

"The Natural" (1984)

It seems like nothing is as inspiring as a really good sports film. It's very American to have someone come from nothing with lots of unlocked talent, be misunderstood by everyone, and then prove them all wrong and rise above them. Hell, that seems like the history of America in it's own nutshell.

In this story though, the star is Roy Hobbs, played by Robert Redford (who is certainly one of my favorite actors of all time.) He comes from a small farming town and is groomed to become a very good baseball player. Very stereotypical for anyone living in middle america in the 50's in Hollywood cinema.

His hopes and dreams are put on hold though when he has the misfortune of falling victim to Harriet Bird (Hershey's character), who seems to have a huge grudge against sporty types and shows it with a pistol. After taking 16 years to build back his strength it is time for his chance once again, and this is where the story really begins.

This film is more than a "sports film" though, it's about a person's moral sense and defying the odds. Hobbs is in his early thirties and going into a career that most people are usually retiring from at his age. He is benched and told countless times that he won't be able to do it. He is blackmailed and swindled but still manages to keep his own moral code together. It's something we could all learn from.

It also doesn't hurt that your main character is being played by a man who oozes the golden picture of the perfect American Golden Boy, well, man. Robert Redford has done countless roles where he is the one who holds up the perfect non-corruptible moral code that many should strive to. To do right and keep a clear conscience.

Yes, he is my actor crush and I will admit that from the top of a mountain!