- Kristen Bell's a
Tough Act to Follow [article] - Hot Summer Indies [slide show]
- Salma Hayek: For
the Love of Frida [article] - WANDER WOMAN by
Misty Ewing [your thoughts] - Heath Ledger's
Brave New World [article]
The artist formerly known as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince -- yup, we can call him by his given name again -- was memorable as a struggling young biracial musician fighting his way toward recognition. You'd think his problems would start and end with hatching a music career, but he's also fighting for Apollonia, the beautiful vixen who's tempted by a more successful enemy band (and its lead singer) -- even though she pawned off her ankle bracelet so Prince could get his coveted guitar! Prince must also grin and bear an abusive father and shattered mother. But forget about plot -- it's the soundtrack that makes the movie.
6. Top Gun
Date: 1986
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis
Reason to watch it: Tom Cruise, my friend, Tom Cruise.
Of course Tom's name in the movie is Maverick. A guy with that grin deserves a name like that. And grin he does in this movie. He also sulks and acts macho and, well, you know the score with these Cruise movies. But it's a formula that works. Top Gun is the touching story of a talented pilot who loses his best friend in flight, blames himself and has to struggle to maintain a sense of who he is and whether he can fly again. So he gets together with the older female flying instructor (McGillis), and his self-sufficiency and self-trust are steadily erected, allowing the Maverick, once again, to be his very best.