The American President

Rob Reiner may be best known for directing When Harry Met Sally, a bar-setting romantic comedy, but his variety is expansive. His only Oscar nod came from the courtroom drama A Few Good Men. This story combines both political reality with romantic comedy.

Michael Douglas and Annette Bening are wonderful here as a sitting President and hired-gun lobbyist. Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, and Richard Dreyfus have small roles as well.

This is an enjoyable story if you don't focus too much on the gravity of the different situations. Watch it as a romantic comedy and not a political drama. Expect to be entertained and not educated.

While this movie didn't actually win anything it was nominated for everything significant at the Golden Globes in 1996.

Watch it with someone who knows what a difference a good pair of shoes makes.

The Bucket List

Everyone should see this movie regardless of age, economic status, or religious belief. There are not many movies I feel this strongly about. Crash also comes to mind.

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are at the absolute top of their game here. Like their characters, they are a very unlikely acting duo. But this makes the whole concept, the whole movie, work much better.

Sean Hayes of Will & Grace fame, also does a great job playing the straight-man to Nicholson's character. Pun intended.

I also recommend watching the Extra Feature short about Writing a Bucket List. Then I suggest, while the laughter and tears this movie emotes are still fresh in your memory, you write your own Bucket List.

Even though you know from the beginning how this movie ends, I'm guessing you will still be touched by how well Rob Reiner pulls it off. Reiner is an absolute genius. Look at the diversity of movies he has done - This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, and now this. Any one of these movies would make a career high for someone. But to all come from the same mind is evidence of solid brilliance.

Watch this movie with someone who will be part of your personal Bucket List.