AMELIE

Movie of the week:
AMELIE

Try this experiment. Go around to people that you know or meet and ask them if they've seen the movie, Amelie. Now watch their face change to a grin just before they say yes. Now continue to watch their face as they play scenes in their head from the movie. You'll then have every reason you need to see this film.

Follow the link above to the imdb site. The Internet movie data base keeps every kind of statistic about movies you can think of. Among them is a list of the top 250 films of all time. That is, the top movies, rated by readers - visitors of the site (that's a lot of people). Of all the films of all time, Amelie comes in at #29, right between Lawrence of Arabia and It's a Wonderful Life.

What makes Amelie so good? Amelie is such a likable character, you can't help but feel good no matter what she's doing, whether acting as a matchmaker, or pursuing her own love interest across town. Amelie is an instrument of fate, a force of nature. Here's why you should see it.

1. In French with English subtitles. Deal with it.
2. Whenever you're in a tight spot, and you think to yourself, "What would Amelie do in this situation?", you'll know.
3. You'll never have to lie on your deathbed and regret never having seen Amelie.
4. You've seen "Lawrence of Arabia". Amelie is next.
   
5. If you haven't seen "Lawrence of Arabia", make it a double feature.
   
6. If you're going to make it a double feature (see #5 above), start early. "Lawrence of Arabia" is really really really long.
7. Amelie was made by the same creative team that brought you Delicatessen. It has a similar vivid look - but this is a much more mainstream movie.
   
8. Here's another idea for a double feature. Watch Amelie twice.
9. Here's yet another idea for a double feature. Watch Amelie plus this week's archive movie, Whale Rider. You'll feel so "up" by the time you're done, you'll need to watch some horror show to ground you back to earth. Try watching the news.
10. Watch for all the little visual details. Freeze the frame now and then if you have to. For example, watch for the framed pictures in Amelie's apartment.
    

Rent it this week and enjoy.