5 Late-Night Movies

We've all been up into the late hours of the morning because of stress, insomnia, or just-for-the-fuck-of-it, good old-fashioned, late-night TV watching. And what better way to spend those hours than by watching one of these five movies that always seem to be on at one, two or three o'clock in the morning. I know I've watched these movies at least a dozen times when I should've been in the middle of a Jessica Alba sex-dream. But I digress...

5) When A Man Loves A Woman

This is one of the few chick flicks I can stomach watching, and for some reason, it hasn't been on the air in a really long time, sorry to say (must explain why I bought it on DVD recently). Whatever the reason, this Meg Ryan/Andy Garcia drama about Ryan's struggle with alcohol addiction was always good for a sitting or two. It's not a particularly great film, but it's enjoyable enough to get you through the night. It's also the only Meg Ryan movie I can sit through other than When Harry Met Sally...



4) Basic Instinct

I was always grateful when this was on. It meant someone up there must really like me. How else do you explain four awesome sex-scenes that go further than almost any other mainstream movie to date? If you're lucky enough to catch it on Bravo! you'll likely get the unrated version, ten times better than the R-rated version they usually show on CTV. Don't bother watching it on some American channel like FOX though. You'd be better off watching one of those 1-900 infomercials.



3) The Shawshank Redemption

One of the few movies where you can watch it from any point and feel like you didn't miss anything. I particularly like catching it right around the time Andy escapes. The final scene between him and Red is the most touching thing on screen (in a completely heterosexual way of course).



2) The Untouchables

Sort of like Shawshank in that you can come in mid-way and still enjoy it, this flick is pure popcorn, good vs. evil, reminiscent of something but don't quite know what, fun. It's also got the best film score thanks to film composer legend Ennio Morricone. The train station scene never grows old.



1) The Fugitive

I happened to catch this the other night right at the beginning, and was tempted to sit and watch the whole thing 'till four am, but used my better judgement. However, had I caved, I would still have enjoyed this fantabulous action movie that never gets boring. The beauty of this film is watching Harrison Ford elude Tommy Lee Jones for two-and-a-half hours, not to mention trying to figure out how and why he's framed for murder. It's the best thing Ford did other than Star Wars, and it's better on each viewing.



Honourable Mentions

Jurassic Park

Because it has dinosaurs. And dinosaurs rule.

Titanic

Still engrossing after all these years.

The Crow

R.I.P. Brandon Lee

The 40-Year-Old Virgin

Haven't seen it on network TV yet, but that doesn't stop me from watching it whenever TMN airs it.

Terminator 2

Ah-Nold!

Aliens

For the last thirty minutes alone.

Old School

Holds up surprisingly well on network TV.

Road House

Swayze, baby.