Nine

Nine what? Not big stars, there are only 8. Not musical numbers, there are more than 9. It was, after all, a Tony-winning Broadway play before it was a movie. Not complex relationships, there are only 7 or 8. So why the Nine title? I believe it is all about the magic of being a kid - a 9 year old kid.

Throughout the movie the agonizing protagonist has flashbacks to when he was 9. As a carefree, mischievous boy, Guido, was controlled by his faith and his mother. The adult Guido converses with his dead mother who is still a big influence in his life. Daniel Day Lewis plays the torture son, all grown up, and Sophia Loren is a delight as the mother.

This movie is also about the craziness of making movies. The egos involved, the money, the players, and the process. Hype and Hollywood. Nothing is what it seems. Although the story takes place in 1960's Italy, many similarities still exist.

Marion Cotillard plays the long-suffering wife and Penelope Cruz plays the mistress and muse. Judi Dench plays the costume mistress and closest adviser, and Nicole Kidman plays the bombshell star. Kate Hudson plays a feisty American fashion journalist, and Stacy Ferguson (Fergie) plays the sexy boyhood memory.

Bottom line, it is only when Guido discovers the joy of his youth that he can climb back in the directors chair with success. A great lesson for all of us. If we can find childhood joy in our jobs, we'll never "work" another day in our lives. Or something like that.

Watch this movie with someone who loves a good musical - or Italian style - or movies about making movies.

Chocolat

Ever wanted to change the world? This movie will inspire you. If you have not already seen it, you are in for a treat. Juliette Binoche is magical, and her supporting cast, which includes greats such as Dame Judi Dench, Lena Olin, and Johnny Depp all weave together a delicious dramedy.

It is a story of good versus evil, right versus left, old versus new, and yin versus yang. The parties all discover that it is only when they embrace each other that they can stand themselves. Even if you don't have an addiction to chocolate, you will find this movie intoxicating. The more often you watch it, the more you learn from it.

Nominated for best picture and 4 other academy awards in 2001, "Chocolat" was a risky venture. The script and setting were better suited to Masterpiece Theater audiences, but Disney, via it's Miramax label, decided to give the viewing public a taste of smart story-telling that raised the bar for other studios.

Eating popcorn during this movie seems odd, so choose the milk duds or bon bons instead. It is a great movie to watch in front of the fire on a dark and stormy night.