A-Z #106: Jerry Maguire

You can pick up hundreds of DVDs for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. It's never about quantity, it's about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#106 - Jerry Maguire 

Why did I buy it?

Jo recommended it to me and, more and more, I had heard about how 'brilliant' Cameron Crowe was. I bought this such a long time ago - early 2000's - so I doubt I had even heard of Cameron Crowe at the time. Tom Cruise was in it... so that couldn't be bad.

Why do I still own it?

It remains so inspirational. A film that equally shows how brutal life can be - but still ensures that it builds you up again so that you can see great the world is around you. The irony is that the most memorable line in the film is "Show me the money!", when it is abundantly clear that money is not what people need to make them happy - it is people that makes people happy. The relationship Cruise and Gooding Jr have, the belief Zellweger has in Cruise. I need to re-watch the film - but money is definitely not what the film is 'about'.

A-Z #41: Chicago

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#41 - Chicago 

Why did I buy it?

I didn't buy this one either - Sarah did. But had no problem at all with the purchase - again, Best Picture winner following on the heels of a musical-rennaissance of sorts as Moulin Rouge that preceded it and the multiple musicals that followed it.

Why do I still own it?

 

Again, this isn't mine to sell, but I must admit that I liked it. It is a strong musical and has some stunning musical numbers. The sexy and sassy nature of the story made the film ripe for becoming a film - and the mafia/Chicago story ensured that the film did not automatically exclude male members of the audience ("I ain't gonna watch The Sound of Music"). Unlike, Moulin Rouge, the romance in this story is buried deep within a context consisting of celebrity, jails, sex and gangsters. Not bad considering Zellweger had only recently become a household name due to Bridget Jones's Diary. Made a lot of sense to follow up the frumpy Bridget Jones with the sassy Roxie Hart. I've yet to rewatch it, but when I did - I knew that this was the type of musical I liked.  
Maybe you know one better! Maybe I should swap it for that one? Comment below if you think so!

Remember - you can always email The Simon and Jo Film Show directly using this email: simonandjoshow@gmail.com

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A-Z #32: Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and considering why I own the films at all ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#32 - Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 

Why did I buy it?

This was a present. Sarah does like the first one and I, strangely enough, know the first one pretty well. There was a slight element of intrigue as to where the franchise would go. I knew the bad reviews but, this is unlike a usual purchase. I bought it very late in the day and me - and Sarah - were nothing to do with some Bridget Jones 'hype'.

Why do I still own it?

 

I personally wish I didn't - but alas, Sarah and I joined collections and this is inevitably the price I pay. The more important question is: Why does Sarah sleep happily in the knowledge that this completely-flawed, rehash-of-the-previous-film, unintelligent mockery of rom-com, sit in her our collection? With that, she delivers two words - two words that, though I may not understand, I see her logic. Her answer is simple: Colin Firth.

 

Same reason why most men own Wild Things and why Tomb Raider sold so well on DVD. Nothing to do with story, innovative-use of technology or blistering-performances - just certain thing in our pants which dictates (ho ho) our choice of film...

Should I sell it though? No Can Do.

Remember - you can always email The Simon and Jo Film Show directly using this email: simonandjoshow@gmail.com

We are also on Twitter  and Facebook.

A-Z #31: Bridget Jones's Diary

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and considering why I actually own the films... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#31 - Bridget  Jones's Diary

Why did I buy it?

I am completely responsible for this one. It is shocking and ridiculous that I bought this - but, alas, I did. Back in college, I watched it - with a bunch of girls - at the cinema. And maybe I was with the wrong crowd and maybe I was just a little bit too-much-in-touch with my feminine side, but I was under the impression that the film was good when I left the cinema. To make matters worse, I think, because worked at Woolworths, the huge quantity of people buying the DVD simply affected my judgement. I bought it and, as I recall, even upon watching the DVD at home, I was content with the purchase.

Why do I still own it?

 

I re-watched this film many years after the purchase - having stated for years that "its a good rom-com!" and that, I needed something of every genre, and I was content with this being in my collection as a representative for Romantic Comedies. So, again, I rewatched the film and wow. I don't know what I was thinking! This is completely for girls. In every possible sense of the word - I think a guy can get a lot out of Love, Actually (Liam Neeson in mourning, the little kid and his first-crush, Andrew Lincoln and his love for his best-friends wife... that unrequited love... guys relate to that stuff and we appreciate films that explore it) but Bridget Jones's Diary is not just rom-com - it is women-only rom-com. Akin to The Sweetest Thing and Sex and the City: The Movie. I tried to get rid of it but Sarah likes it too much to get rid of it.  
Should I sell it though? I'm not allowed to sell this film... despite my efforts.  

Remember - you can always email The Simon and Jo Film Show directly using this email: simonandjoshow@gmail.com

We are also on Twitter  and Facebook.