Top Ten

Five years ago, I made lists of my favorite movies for each decade and then made a top 25 list. The Lion in Winter ranked #7. The only odd thing about the choice, was it was the only film I hadn't seen since becoming an adult. Almost the entire list was movies I'd returned to, but for whatever reason, I'd never returned to it. Tonight I watched it for the first time in possibly 25-30 years and might have to push it up a notch or two. Not only was it fabulous, but so much of the innuendo, I'd missed as a child, brought laughter now. Easily one of my favorite scripts, the film dazzles with words, where most would use action for pace. Some more restless viewers might say nothing happens, but there isn't a single scene where control isn't changing hands and then returning. Even the conclusion, which many find out of place, is almost a testament to how much and how little changed from the beginning to the end.