Introduction
When there’s nothing in the new release section on Netflix or at the video store, don’t fret. There are plenty of movies out there that may pique your interest. The key is to hone in on a genre and then go from there. Are you feeling more horror than comedy? Maybe you’re in a romantic comedy kind of mood? Here are some suggestions for 15 different genres. Odds are you’ve heard of many of these movies before but you’ve been so dazzled by the new releases you’ve forgotten about the slightly older models. But sometimes the older models are even better than the new, shiny ones. Take a look and see for yourself.
NOMINATED FILMS
Monster’s Ball
Rated: R
Lead actors: Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry
Halle Berry was the first African American woman to ever win a Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the Oscars for her role in Monster’s Ball in 2001. Her portrayal of Leticia, a black woman whose husband was executed on Death Row, is powerful and quite deserving of the Oscar. There’s a scene between Berry and Thornton that’s hard to watch but also hard to look away. It’s so powerful you have to wonder how they made it through the scene themselves.
Forrest Gump
Rated: PG-13
Lead actors: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright Penn, Sally Field
Tom Hanks won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1994 for his performance as Forrest Gump. The film also picked up the Best Picture Academy Award that same year. Hanks’ performance as Gump is sweet and innocent. Viewers are drawn into Gump’s ho-hum demeanor and root for him to win his one true love - Jenny.
A Beautiful Mind
Rated: PG-13
Lead actors: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Christopher Plummer
A Beautiful Mind won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2001. Director Ron Howard does a great job with this film that tells the story of John Forbes Nash Jr. Nash was a math prodigy who suffered from schizophrenia. He eventually won the Nobel Prize. Crowe’s performance as Nash is incredible. The viewer can really feel what it must be like to live in the mind of a schizophrenic.
Ghost
Rated: PG-13
Lead actors: Patrick Swayze, Whoopie Goldberg, Demi Moore
Whoopie Goldberg won a Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1990 for her portrayal of Oda Mae Brown, the psychic who can communicate with Patrick Swayze’s spirit. The movie is a sad love story. The pottery wheel scene is probably one of the most recognizable scenes of any film. If you haven’t seen it yet, shame on you!<