The Moms' Movie Club

In one of my former lives, I was a movie buff. Thanks to media jobs and membership in the WGA Film Society, I saw just about every quality film as soon as it came out (sometimes before release), and in the spring, I could make informed guesses at my friends' Academy Awards parties.

That changed when I got married and became a parent. My husband doesn't care about going to the movies (unless it's got "Star Trek," or "X-Men" or "Bourne" in the title). He especially hates it when a film makes him cry -- so even if I do manage to drag him out to something I want to see, it had better not be too serious.

I started indoctrinating my daughter into the movie-going habit as soon as she was old enough to sit still for one (I think the first one was "The Parent Trap," 1998 -- she was 2). So until she got too busy with gymnastics, I was very familiar with the entire oeuvre of G and PG-rated films.

But that still left me at a loss when the Oscar nominations came in.

That's why I was surprised last week, when I read Entertainment Weekly's "25 Movies to See Now -- Whether or Not the Show Goes On." That's because this year, I've actually seen quite a few of them:

1. No Country for Old Men
2. Atonement
3. Juno
4. Michael Clayton
5. There Will Be Blood
6. Into the Wild
7. American Gangster
8. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
9. Sweeney Todd
10. Charlie Wilson's War
11. The Kite Runner
12. Away From Her
13. Eastern Promises
14. La Vie en Rose
15. I'm Not There
16. A Mighty Heart
17. Gone Baby Gone
18. The Assassination of Jesse James
19. Lars and the Real Girl
20. Hairspray
21. 3:10 to Yuma
22. The Savages
23. Enchanted
24. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
25. Ratatouille

Now, three of those (Enchanted, Ratatouille and Hairspray) are films I saw with Megan. But the rest are adult, inappropriate material for a child. You see, in 2006 I got smart and took time just for me -- to get out and see a few movies (including some that would NEVER be on anyone's Oscar list, like SuperBad). I even managed to enlist some of my friends to play hooky from mom duties and catch an 11:00 a.m. matinee with me (which gets us out in time to pick the kids up from school -- maybe even catch a quick lunch together).

I call it the Moms' Movie Club, and last week, we had our first meeting of 2008, at the fabulous Sherman Oaks ArcLight Cinema, to see the Keira Knightley/James McAvoy romance, Atonement (see what I thought of it on my review blog, here). We had so much fun, we returned to the scene of the crime Friday for Sweeney Todd (review to come later this week).

I'm thinking of making this a weekly event, butr am unsure if my friend will always be able to join me. So SoCal moms: Anyone interested in catching a flick with me this Friday? I'm torn between Charlie Wilson's War (another film on the list) -- or going in a completely different direction, with lighter fare (27 Dresses or Mad Money). All start around noon and will end around 2:00.

If you're interested, drop me a line or a tweet - and be sure to let me know your preference!

Comments

[Laurie]

I'm going to start a movie club! Great idea.

[Florinda]

I would love to be part of this, but I'm at work all day on Friday. However, I saw "Charlie Wilson's War" over New Year's and really liked it, for what that's worth in your decision-making. Have a great time, whatever you end up seeing!

[Michele]

You know I'm in. I know I missed the last couple, but I plan on making the others.

[TechMama]

What a great idea!!! Wish I could join you, I really miss going to movies... Tell me if you have any northern california movie lunches.