10 films Cybil Chowdhry wants you to watch
Here is a list of ten films Cybil Chowdhry wants you to watch
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1. What Dreams May Come (1998)
Director: Vincent Ward
It is the story of a person going through heaven and hell to find his soul mate. Featuring Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr and Annabella Sciorra, though the movie did not receive high acclaims, it is worth a watch. Apart from being an emotional roller coaster that encompasses comedy, hope, sadness, joy and despair, the movie is also a serious visual treat due to its extremely bold imagination.
2. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Director: Mel Stuart
Featuring the late Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum and many more, the musical shows a little boy, wanting to give in to his sweet-tooth, attaining a golden ticket to visit the best candy factory. There, he is taken through a psychedelic wonderland that includes a river of chocolate, edible mushrooms, likable wallpaper and other marvelous sweets and inventions. I feel this is one movie that will always remain relevant for kids as well as adults!
3. Forrest Gump (1994)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
This film just warms the heart. A slow-witted Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) had never thought of himself as disadvantaged, and, thanks to his supportive mother (Sally Field), he leads anything but a restricted life. Whether dominating as a college football star, fighting in Vietnam or captaining a shrimp boat, he inspires people with his optimism.
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Director: Michel Gondry
It is a timeless film that portrays the intricacy of relationships. Clementine (Kate Winslet) is shown undergoing a scientific procedure that helps her remove every memory of Joel (Jim Carrey), the man she had been dating. The action is reciprocated by the male protagonist to get even with her and somewhere along the way, the movie becomes an exceptional lesson on how our memories make us who we are; a delightful watch that demands your entire attention and delivers on every aspect. The iconic frozen lake scene remains a personal favourite!
5. Little Women (1994)
Director: Gillian Armstrong
An adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic, where a group of sisters confront growing pains, financial shortages, family tragedies and romantic rivalries in the mid-19th century. Jo (Winona Ryder) struggles for independence and sometimes clashes with her beloved mother, her sisters, her cranky Aunt, their impulsive neighbour and the kindly linguistics professor.
6. Star Wars
Creator: George Lucas
This is a cult movie that everyone should see at least once ... all the episodes.
7. Life is Beautiful (1997)
Director: Roberto Benigni
This is a tear-jerker showing love, humour and sacrifice during World War II in the life of a Jewish father played by Roberto Benigni.
8. Big Fish (2003)
Director: Tim Burton
When Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) becomes ill, his son William (Billy Crudup) travels to be with him. William has a strained relationship with Edward because the father has always told exaggerated stories about his life and William thinks he’s never really told the truth. Even on his deathbed, Edward recounts fantastical anecdotes. When William, who is a journalist, starts to investigate his father’s tales, he begins to understand the man and his penchant for storytelling.
9. City of Angels (1998)
Director: Brad Silberling
This is the story of Seth (Nicolas Cage), an angel who wanders through Los Angeles, invisible to humans. As the demise of an individual approaches, he spends time near them and becomes visible while acting as their travelling companion on their trip to the great hereafter. His discovery of distressed heart surgeon Maggie (Meg Ryan) inspires him to sacrifice his immortality with a leap, not of faith but of love, and exist on earth with her as a mortal entity.
10. Roman Holiday (1953)
Director: William Wyler
Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative given by her doctor kicks in, she falls asleep on a park bench and is found by an American reporter, Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) who takes her back to his apartment for safety. At work, the next morning, Bradley finds out Ann’s regal identity and bets his editor he can get an exclusive interview with her but romance soon gets in the way.
The writer is a Pakistani supermodel, actor and host.
She tweets @CybilChowdhry
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2016.
Director: Vincent Ward
It is the story of a person going through heaven and hell to find his soul mate. Featuring Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr and Annabella Sciorra, though the movie did not receive high acclaims, it is worth a watch. Apart from being an emotional roller coaster that encompasses comedy, hope, sadness, joy and despair, the movie is also a serious visual treat due to its extremely bold imagination.
2. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Director: Mel Stuart
Featuring the late Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum and many more, the musical shows a little boy, wanting to give in to his sweet-tooth, attaining a golden ticket to visit the best candy factory. There, he is taken through a psychedelic wonderland that includes a river of chocolate, edible mushrooms, likable wallpaper and other marvelous sweets and inventions. I feel this is one movie that will always remain relevant for kids as well as adults!
3. Forrest Gump (1994)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
This film just warms the heart. A slow-witted Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) had never thought of himself as disadvantaged, and, thanks to his supportive mother (Sally Field), he leads anything but a restricted life. Whether dominating as a college football star, fighting in Vietnam or captaining a shrimp boat, he inspires people with his optimism.
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Director: Michel Gondry
It is a timeless film that portrays the intricacy of relationships. Clementine (Kate Winslet) is shown undergoing a scientific procedure that helps her remove every memory of Joel (Jim Carrey), the man she had been dating. The action is reciprocated by the male protagonist to get even with her and somewhere along the way, the movie becomes an exceptional lesson on how our memories make us who we are; a delightful watch that demands your entire attention and delivers on every aspect. The iconic frozen lake scene remains a personal favourite!
5. Little Women (1994)
Director: Gillian Armstrong
An adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic, where a group of sisters confront growing pains, financial shortages, family tragedies and romantic rivalries in the mid-19th century. Jo (Winona Ryder) struggles for independence and sometimes clashes with her beloved mother, her sisters, her cranky Aunt, their impulsive neighbour and the kindly linguistics professor.
6. Star Wars
Creator: George Lucas
This is a cult movie that everyone should see at least once ... all the episodes.
7. Life is Beautiful (1997)
Director: Roberto Benigni
This is a tear-jerker showing love, humour and sacrifice during World War II in the life of a Jewish father played by Roberto Benigni.
8. Big Fish (2003)
Director: Tim Burton
When Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) becomes ill, his son William (Billy Crudup) travels to be with him. William has a strained relationship with Edward because the father has always told exaggerated stories about his life and William thinks he’s never really told the truth. Even on his deathbed, Edward recounts fantastical anecdotes. When William, who is a journalist, starts to investigate his father’s tales, he begins to understand the man and his penchant for storytelling.
9. City of Angels (1998)
Director: Brad Silberling
This is the story of Seth (Nicolas Cage), an angel who wanders through Los Angeles, invisible to humans. As the demise of an individual approaches, he spends time near them and becomes visible while acting as their travelling companion on their trip to the great hereafter. His discovery of distressed heart surgeon Maggie (Meg Ryan) inspires him to sacrifice his immortality with a leap, not of faith but of love, and exist on earth with her as a mortal entity.
10. Roman Holiday (1953)
Director: William Wyler
Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative given by her doctor kicks in, she falls asleep on a park bench and is found by an American reporter, Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) who takes her back to his apartment for safety. At work, the next morning, Bradley finds out Ann’s regal identity and bets his editor he can get an exclusive interview with her but romance soon gets in the way.
The writer is a Pakistani supermodel, actor and host.
She tweets @CybilChowdhry
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2016.