Another Father’s Day is upon us. If you are anything like me
you celebrate every holiday with a movie.
If you have a chance to watch one of the following gems with your own
father, instead of a traditional gift like a tie or cologne, then go for it.
These movies feature many different characters that run the
gamut of cinematic spectrums. Here are the movies I think are the best to watch
with your father on Father’s Day.
10. Road to Perdition- Tom Hanks plays an enforcer in the
Irish Mob. After his son witnesses him murder a group of people, his boss kills
his family and then goes after both Hanks and his son. Tom Hanks goes on the run while the mob hunts
them. Tom Hanks must now protect his son from the man who raised him as a
surrogate son. The colors are muted which really enhances the Depression era look
of the film. It is dark, moody, and shows the skill of the cast which ha really
gone out of the their comfort zone.
9. Mr. Mom- Michael Keaton plays a father of three in Detroit
who loses his job at an auto plant. His wife gets a job before him and he
becomes a househusband. Hilarity ensues as he befriends other housewives. He
learns how to cook, clean, and do other various things while his wife
experiences the corporate world. Being
written by John Hughes in the eighties, it has the perfect mix of humor and
cheese. It is fairly dated but the charm of the actors makes it a fun movie to
watch.
8. National Lampoon’s Vacation- Chevy Chase and Beverly
D’Angelo play Clark and Ellen Griswold. Clark wants to load up his family in
their crappy station wagon and drive across the country to go to the theme
park, Wally World. On the way they deal
with car troubles, getting lost, meeting horrible family members, and staying
in shady hotels. We watch a man who just wants to spend time with his family
get pushed to the brink of insanity with hilarious results.
7. Raising Arizona- Nicolas Cage plays H.I., an ex-con who
marries a woman who cannot have kids.
The news tells them about a rich family that recently had quintuplets.
So they come up with a plan to kidnap one of the babies for themselves. The
rest of the movie is a comedy or errors that only the Cohen brothers could create.
The script is witty and the characters are incredibly likeable for the poor
white trash that they are. It is a slice
of life that is humorous and smart.
6. Kick Ass- You might be asking, how this is a Father’s Day movie? Nicolas Cage plays the father of
a little girl he is training to be a costumed vigilante. Kick Ass is about a teenage kid that puts on
a costume and tries to make a difference by becoming a hero. He finds allies in
a man and his little girl who call themselves Big Daddy, played by Nicholas
Cage, and Hit Girl. The relationship
between Big Daddy and Hit Girl is really amusing to watch. At first it comes
off as completely normal but soon reveals a bizarre and a violent
upbringing. The movie is really amusing
and says a lot about what it takes to be a hero. Nicolas Cage steals the show with his
performance.
5. It’s A Wonderful Life- When it comes to good fathers and
good men, George Bailey give of himself until it hurts. In fact he has given so much that he has
driven himself nearly suicidal. George Bailey is like the Giving Tree of
characters. He gives so much of himself that he gives up on his own dreams in
order to make those around him happy. It always seems more tragic the more I
watch it. He is a better man than he takes credit for and he deserves a lot
more than he gets from life. Still, it is a lovely movie with a great message.
He tries so hard for his family and in the end it takes an angel warping time
and space to convince him to not kill himself after Old Man Potter rips him
off.
4. Finding Nemo- Marlon is a clownfish that losses his
entire family save his son Nemo. When a diver takes Nemo to an aquarium in a
dentist office, Marlon goes on a long trek in search of his son. On his long
journey he comes to face fears like sharks and schools of jellyfish, and he
makes new friends like Dory and several sea turtles. Pixar makes the sea look bright and colorful.
Each fish had a very unique personality and it works very well with the narrative.
When each element comes together it is a sweet and sentimental story.
3. Life is Beautiful- Roberto Benigni plays Guido, an
Italian Jew that uses humor to find the love of his life and to keep his son
safe in a Nazi concentration camp. When the Nazis take him and his son to a concentration
camp, he does everything he can to use his humor to shield his son from the
horrors they will face. It is an incredible performance from everyone involved.
It is incredibly believable that a father would want to protect his son from
the horrors Guido experiences. It is
almost impossible to make it through this movie without the accompaniment of
tissues. It is a charming and lovely film that showcases the selflessness of a
devoted father.
2. The Descendants- George Clooney plays Matt King, whose
wife is seriously injured in a boating accident. As his wife is being kept
alive by machinery, he must take care of his two young daughters. He soon
discovers that his wife was having an affair. He and his family must come to
terms with both the loss of his wife and the infidelity as well. It is a very
genuine and heartfelt movie. George Clooney takes a character that is going
through a lot of pain and gives him a sense of humanity, which is a nice change
of pace from his typical charmer persona roles.
1. The Godfather- The Godfather is all about family. The
Godfather, Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, takes care of not only his
entire family but also much of his Sicilian community; usually expecting payments
for his favors with favors. He expects his sons to be strong men. While the
sons have a lot of flaws, they all look up to their father and know that he has
their best interest at heart. He even tries very hard to steer his youngest son
Michael away from the criminal life. Vito Corleone is a loving man who is
dangerous when crossed.
Whether you watch this in the spirit of the holiday or you
watch this with your father, you will likely find these movies enjoyable. Some
of the films might even help your dad get in touch with a sensitive side you
never knew he had. In either case they are great movies that will be fun to
watch. So enjoy the films and have a safe
and happy Father’s Day.
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