Singin' in the Rain (1952)

I love musicals. Why? Because they're just so fun. And that's why I am so excitedly looking forward to Damien Chazelle's upcoming La La Land. To prepare, I watched Singin' in the Rain, the legendary movie musical. The music is iconic: Good Morning, Singin' in the Rain, Make Em Laugh.  And of course, Gene Kelly was a dancer. There is that gorgeous dance scene in the rain with the umbrella. Now that is iconic.

The plot is quite light. It is about the transition from silent movies to the talkies, a classic story that has been told many times since Singin' in the Rain, such as in Best Picture winner The Artist. I love the depiction of Old Hollywood.  It is really a magical period for a movie lover. But it's not about the plot. Good old song and dance are all you need. 

Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (2016)

I've never really had much of an opinion of Carrie Fisher; I was indifferent. But she is actually a hilarious woman. She was at the screening to introduce her film, but she left before it started. She has been spotted around Cannes with her dog walking the red carpet. This dog is very prominently featured in the movie. Her banter makes for great TV cause she is funny. But apart from being funny, the movie is sweet. It is about her relationship with her mother, Debbie Reynolds, who I did not realize was her mother. Time has taken its toll on Reynolds. Her body is succumbing to age, but she continued to perform shows like she was still young. But also time has faded her star power. She rides her scooter through a casino in Vegas before her show, and countless people pass her without even turning their head, unaware that they were in the presence of a star. HBO also recently made a documentary about Anderson Cooper and his mother, which I have not seen, but I can't imagine Anderson Cooper is as much of a riot as Princess Leia.