Secondhand Lions

Movies that strike a chord in our lives are few and far between. Most of the famous movies, touted as classics leave me cold. I am not a fan of Casablanca or the dissolute downward spiral of Toulouse-Lautrec in the old version of Moulin Rouge. What I do like is a movie with fabulous acting, great characters and a touching and somewhat sentimental storyline. One of my favorite movies of all time, is Secondhand Lions. Maybe in my declining years, I identify with the two main characters, Garth and Hub. Maybe I admire the emotional courage of Walter, the young boy forced to live with his irresponsible mother and yet finding a way to be a decent human being. Maybe, in the last analysis I identify with the aging retired second-hand lion.

In a world where explosions are considered the main character of a movie, it is refreshing to find a movie that can make you shed a tear or two on the strength of its characters and its story line. My vote for one of the top ten, is Secondhand Lions.