Monday, September 20, 2010

Monday Movie Meme - They've Fallen and They Can't Get Up!!!


Within the last three weeks, both of our beloved Bumbles have turned 40 (Happy Birthday Molly and Andy!). Welcome to middle age! As they face the second half of their lives, they thought it might be fun to talk about movies that focus on aging or being elderly this week. Make sure you check out their post...they have listed some goodies...On Golden Pond, Grumpy Old Men, Driving Miss Daisy. Here are a few that I enjoy:

1. The Bucket List - this movie was a topic of discussion just last week between me and my BFF, and it has one of the best lines ever. "Never trust a fart". Truer words have never been spoken!

2. Cocoon - officially Cocoon isn't about aging, but cheating the aging process, but once you've seen this movie, it is hard to forget the image of a group of guys in their 70's and 80's frolicking around like teenagers. 117 minutes of pure delight!

3. Ikiru - I've mentioned this one before because it is an undiscovered treasure. An grumpy, elderly man discovers he has terminal cancer and decides to take stock in his life, change his ways and leave a legacy. I didn't expect to be so moved.

4. The Straight Story - I talk about this one now and again as well, because it is just so darned wonderful. A determined elderly man decides he isn't getting any younger and wants to make amends with his brother. So he rigs up his John Deere mower and travels across several states, making friends and making a difference in people's lives along the way.

5. A Christmas Carol - To me, this is just another way to tell the same story told in Ikiru: Change your curmudgeonish ways before it is too late!

6. Orphan - I'm not going to explain this one, because it would be a spoiler. But this terrifying movie does have something to do with the aging process, and scares the pee out of you along the way.


So what are your favorite old-person movies? Funny, when I was a kid, I thought 44 was ancient. The definition of old keeps changing, doesn't it?




13 comments:

Care said...

I love this list and will seek out Ikiru, thanks. I have been meaning to create a list of books that feature more aged protagonists but just haven't gotten around to it. yet.

Care said...

I love this list and will seek out Ikiru, thanks. I have been meaning to create a list of books that feature more aged protagonists but just haven't gotten around to it. yet.

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I have always loved Cocoon. Except for Christmas Carol, I haven't seen any of the others, but I think I have to add Orphan to the list!

Trisha said...

Ah! Orphan! Nuff said.

Zibilee said...

I haven't ever seen any of these movies except A Christmas Carol. I do think that a lot of them sound good though, and I am going to have to add a few to my queue. I particularly like the sound of Orphan. It's great to get the pee scared out of you every once in awhile!

bermudaonion said...

I'm having trouble thinking of any, but I loved Cocoon and The Bucket List.

Alyce said...

I haven't seen Cocoon in such a long time! My parents loved it when it came out and I remember watching it over and over again on video with them as a teenager.

Unknown said...

Great list, Sandy! I can't believe we only have 1 movie in common, pretty cool! I read about "Ikiru" here before but haven't seen it yet. I have to remedy that soon! I've heard about "The Straight Story" but never saw this one either. I'll be adding this one to my list too! I second everything you wrote about "Orphan" Scary!!

~ Amy

Kaye said...

Grumpy Old Men is my absolute fav "He died in his sleep" with the rejoinder of "lucky bastard!" is now part of my permanent vocabulary. Of course it didn't hurt to have such incredible actors as Walter Matthau, Jack Lemon and Burgess Meredith in it.

Unknown said...

I love The Straight Story. I think it's a masterpiece. I'd like to add two of my favorites, The Sunshine Boys with George Burns and Walter Matthau as a reuinted vaudeville comedy team who can't stand eachother. And Harry and Tonto with Art Carney. Art Carney won the Oscar for best actor. He plays a life-long New Yorker who decides to travel across America with his cat Tonto when his apartment buildig is torn down. I think it's wonderful.

caite said...

yes, but which version of A Christmas Carol...that is the question.

I was surprised by how much I like The Bucket List, way more than I thought I would.

Pam Ripling said...

Great list! Add: Tuesdays With Morrie. Another "life lessons" flick with Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria. Well worth the time.

Alice said...

Arrgggghhhh!!! I can't believe this is another list of movies in which I haven't watched any!