We at ApEx are great believers in people’s list of favorites. We’re always asking friends and relatives to recommend their favorite books, music, and movies. The thing about reading books, listening to music, and watching movies that come recommended by someone is that we are 100 percent sure that we will love them. We have made up my mind that these will be fantastic experiences and so we always have a good time.

Recently, one of us was talking to a friend about a book ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin that we were reading together and we somehow got on the topic of movies. She mentioned that she isn’t much of a movie person and that she rewatches the same 10 movies, mainly because they provide comfort but also because they have great costume designs.

We asked her to share the list and watched a few of those movies over the weekend. We had a blast. They get your mind off things. For the several hours they lasted, some of us forgot all our worries. We’re sharing five movies from the list hoping the stories will lighten your mood.

Clueless

‘Clueless’ is a timeless PG-13 romance comedy with witty dialogue and many fashion takeaways. Alicia Silverstone, in her role as the protagonist Cher, is endearing. The movie is a feel-good classic that never fails to entertain. The 1995 American coming-of-age film is a loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel ‘Emma’. Our friend apparently knows all the dialogues by heart. They are witty one-liners so we can understand why. Though the movie was primarily aimed at teenagers, we believe it will appeal to everyone with a sense of humor. 

Sabrina

If you were to google you would find that there are several movies titled Sabrina. And we actually like quite a few of them. But our friend recommended the 1954 American romantic comedy directed by Billy Wilder. The movie stars Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden. In 2002, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’. The movie has a lot of drama and romance and a fair bit of intrigue. The characters are charming, gluing you to the screen. 

Howl’s Moving Castle

Read the book and watch the movie for a wholesome experience. The movie is perhaps one of the best works to come out of Studio Ghibli. The Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki is loosely based on the 1986 novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones. An under-confident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch. Her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his weird companions in his legged, walking castle. A brilliant execution of a great plot makes it a gripping and entertaining watch.  

Under the Tuscan Sun

Based on Frances Mayes’ 1996 memoir of the same name, the movie is about a recently divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscany on a whim. Frances Mayes is a writer whose seemingly perfect life takes an unexpected turn when she learns that her husband has been cheating on her and that his young lover is pregnant with his child. Her best friend Patti worries that Frances might never recover from the traumatic divorce and urges her to go on a vacation. At first, Frances refuses. But then later she decides it might be a good idea to get away for a while and goes to Tuscany where she buys a villa on whim hoping it will change her life. Diana Lane received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance in the movie. 

Funny Face

This musical is just what you need on a gloomy day when you don’t feel like doing anything. The 1957 romantic comedy is filled with vibrant performances by Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn. Funny Face is fascinating though there are quite a few loopholes in the writing. The movie has a lot of nonsensical elements between the dance numbers which is why it sticks to your mind. It does feel a tad bit misogynistic at times—the male character is the same throughout the movie while the female lead is the one who learns a lesson and changes. But the good thing is you don’t need to invest a lot of mental energy into the film and will definitely be entertained.