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“I guess I just like liking things”

October 15, 2013 Tuesday 10: Sandra Bullock Movies

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“America’s Sweetheart” is a term that gets bandied about now and again. Meg Ryan had the title for a while, and I’m pretty sure Audrey Hepburn did, too. I think Sandra Bullock even had it for while, but then lost it while moving once or something, but I think she might have it again now? It’s very hard to keep track, honestly.

I think you have to work very hard to dislike Ms. Bullock.  She seems nice and most of her work is in enjoyable things, and those two things are the main criteria for being America’s Sweetheart.  I don’t know what the criteria are for other country’s sweethearts, but that’s what we’ve got going on here, so start padding your résumé.

Here are my favorite Sandra Bullock movies:

10. The Proposal (2009) – I know this one might as well be named “Generic Rom-Com #872,” but it has Betty White in it.  Also, I have a soft spot for this movie because it was the one of the first ones my wife and I saw together.

9. The Heat (2013) – Sandy does comedy pretty well, especially if she gets to play the straight woman.  Few do “uptight” like her, so pairing her with Melissa McCarthy was a pretty good idea.

8. While You Were Sleeping (1995) – I think this is the one that earned her “America’s Sweetheart” the first time around.  I don’t remember too many details about this one, other than Peter Gallagher played the “coma guy” and my favorite thing he ever did was be a lounge singer in The Hudsucker Proxy. This is how my brain works.

7. The Net (1995) – The movie with “that girl” from “the bus,” according to Frank Costanza. Notable for being many people’s first look at what the future of the Internet might be.  “We’ll be able to order pizzas online?!?”

6. The Blind Side (2009) – I don’t know that she should’ve gotten a Best Actress Oscar for this, but I don’t mind her having a Best Actress Oscar, if that makes any sense.

5. Crash (2004) – I know it isn’t cool to like this movie, either, but I don’t really care. Boiled-down, manipulative diatribes on topics can still help start discussions.

4. The Lake House (2006) – I couldn’t say exactly what it is I like about this one so much. A TARDIS mailbox next to a house with a tree growing through it? Okay, sure.  I think I like that little bit of scifi that makes it possible for these two to get together – it’s a bit like the traffic sign in L.A. Story, but not as witty.

3. Speed (1994) – I’ve never seen the sequel, but I’ve heard enough about it to know that I don’t need to. At the same time, I can completely understand why they’d want to make a sequel to this movie.

2. Gravity (2013) – I absolutely loved this movie. Beautiful and terrifying, it reinforces my decision to never be an astronaut (even though that’s not even really up to me anymore).

1. Demolition Man (1993) – You’d be surprised, I think, how often I want to end conversations with “Be well, Lenina Huxley!”

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