Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (AFI #99)

Wow. Unlike Yankee Doodle Dandy, I loved this movie and can absolutely see why it's on AFI's list. Unlike the recent(ish) remake, Guess Who, this movie focused more on social prejudices and family relationships, instead of just trying to get laughs. Katharine Hepburn played the loving mother perfectly. The scene at the beginning where she's in the bedroom talking to her daughter is so sweet; and the part where she sends Hillary on her way made me gasp, and at the same time, made me wonder if that's something Katharine Hepburn would have done in real life! Spencer Tracy was also perfect in his role as the cantankerous father who (spoiler alert!) eventually comes around. His final speech made me a little teary and actually seemed quite relevant, given the current issues surrounding gay marriage. And as for Sidney Poitier . . . what can I say? Perfection, as always. In another moment that seemed oddly relevant and current, his character remarked on, and chuckled a little bit about how his fiance thought their (half-white, half-black, in case you haven't caught on yet!) child would some day be President. Oh, how naive he thought she was being!

So . . . long story short, rent this movie. It was much better than most of the movies I've seen lately.

Next up on the list is Unforgiven. I'm not a big fan of Westerns, so we'll see how this goes. I blame my dislike of them on an unfortunate childhood viewing of the movie, Shane. I can still hear that obnoxious little kid saying "Shaaaaaaaaaaane!" If you've seen it, you know what I mean!