Movie Clip O' the Day: The Lost Boys

Today’s Movie Clip O’ the Day comes from The Lost Boys because I remember being nine when I first saw this and then, from that moment on, daydreaming constantly about living in a beach town in California. Today I live in California, less than ten minutes from the beach. Before this, I lived 45 minutes from the actual beach town in The Lost Boys.

This boardwalk used to be my boardwalk and every time I really thought about it, I’d get giddy remembering 9-year-old me & my daydreams.

This boardwalk used to be my boardwalk and every time I really thought about it, I’d get giddy remembering 9-year-old me & my daydreams.

Never in my decades as a Virginian / Washingtonian did I think I’d ever actually end up out here. “I’m too East Coast for that,” I would tell myself. And yet, I’ve been a legitimate Californian coming up on 10 years now. Life is wild. Don’t bet on never.

Movie Clip O' the Day: Home Alone

Today’s Movie Clip O’ the Day comes from Home Alone because I miss John Candy, which is odd since I’d never met the man. What’s even more interesting is that I know I’m not the only one who can say that. Some people* really do give off top tier energy.

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Thanks to TikTok (yes, there are fossils like me on TikTok), I was reminded that John Candy improvised most of his lines on the set of Home Alone. In fact, this entire scene was improvised. He was only on set for a single day. And what a good day it must have been.

*

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Movie Clip O' the Day: Independence Day

Today’s Movie Clip O’ the Day comes from Independence Day because what kind of American would I be if I didn’t share at least one completely unrealistic portrayal of patriotism on the internet today? To be fair, patriotism is often just as distorted in the real world. Anyway, here’s to hoping we don’t need the threat of interstellar war and annihilation to change our ways.

Good morning.

In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from the around the world, and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind.

Mankind—that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests, perhaps faith that today is the 4th of July and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live, to exist. And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday but as the day when the world declared in one voice, “We will not go quietly into the night. We will not vanish without a fight. We’re going to live on. We’re going to survive. Today we celebrate our independence day.”

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Bonus Patriotism Points if you can name a specific subset of Americans who also fought for their “right to live, to exist” in this land that was made for you and meeeeee? 🎼🇺🇸

Movie Clip O' the Day: French Kiss

Today’s Movie Clip O’ the Day comes from French Kiss because I will quote this line until the day I die. And, there will likely always be someone within earshot who shoots me a WTF look when I do it. Ironically, those folks are the kind of people who end up with twitchy asses.

French Kiss is Meg Ryan and Kevin Klein at their rom-com best. It’s my current favorite in the genre and totally underrated in every way. I’d tell you to stream it but I’m not sure you can. I can’t stream it here in the US. I had to buy a physical copy. Totally worth it.

French Kiss (1995)

A woman flying to France to confront her straying fiance gets into trouble when the charming crook seated next to her uses her for smuggling.

Movie Clip O' the Day: Selena

Today’s Movie Clip O’ the Day comes from Selena because it IS exhausting, especially on days like today (Cinco de Mayo). Also, because I remember the precise moment I first saw this scene. I’d never felt more represented in a movie in my entire life. I got emotional quick and then immediately embarrassed. I didn’t want anyone in the theater to know I was about to spill a couple of tears during a scene which was clearly meant to be lighthearted. But, I’d finally seen my experience reflected back at me on the silver screen and that doesn’t happen often for Mexican chicks. For a movie nerd like me, this was huge. I’ll never forget it.

Selena (1997)

The true story of Selena, a Texas-born Tejano singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart topping albums on the Latin music charts.

PS - By now I’m sure you’re well aware that Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence day. What you may not know is that the way we celebrate this holiday in the US has a lot to do with the American Civil War. So don’t let anyone tell you it’s not a real holiday. It is, at least for some of us.

Nothing beats the real Selena.

Nothing beats the real Selena.

“Cinco de Mayo is part of the Latino experience of the American Civil War. It’s not about the Mexican experience.”

David E Hayes-Bautista, Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the School of Medicine at UCLA.

The Surprising True History Behind Cinco de Mayo - time.com

Movie Clip O' the Day: 12 Angry Men

I’m over here waiting for the announcement of the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial and all I can think about are the people on that jury, the real people behind those doors. I wonder what they’re doing with all the information that they’ve been bombarded with during this trial. I hope they’ve done the right thing. My heart is with the family of George Floyd. I cannot imagine the pain this is causing them, all that on top of the absolute horror of losing a loved one in such a traumatic, sudden and well-documented manner.

Today’s Movie Clip O’ the Day comes from 12 Angry Men because character is what we do behind closed doors, it’s what we say when we think no one is listening, it’s how we react when we’re caught off guard, what we do when we feel threatened.

12 Angry Men (1957)

A jury holdout attempts to prevent a miscarriage of justice by forcing his colleagues to reconsider the evidence.