10 Movies to Watch on a Rainy Day

As much as I love films, there are some works that are much better to watch when you're all cuddled up in your blanket and just want to relax and unwind and forget the world (which is a rare event these days). To limit myself to ten movies, the ones who make on the list are those that I have seen for the first time this year, no matter when it was released. These are the films that made the cut:

What a better way to spend your day in bed by watching a brilliantly produced parody of Star Trek (unless you're a fan of the original or the reboot, then go ahead and watch those as well - you can make a marathon out of it!)? It's funny and fun, as the actors scramble around trying to become the characters they play on television when an alien race assumes that they were the real deal. While Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver are the ultimate stars, it was Alan Rickman who completely stole the show. This boasts a great cast, as Tony Shalhoub and the very talented Sam Rockwell are included in this ensemble. 

Revisit your childhood and imagination with the characters brought to life by Studio Ghibli. Totoro is completely adorable, and the Catbus is awesome. If you don't have the penchant or patience for reading subtitles, there's an English dubbed version of it. 

Mislabeled as an 'abortion comedy', Obvious Child has a lot more than that - it offers character growth as we watch Donna Stern try to piece her life together. It's not an issue-filled film, it just happens to be the premise. It's charming and entails a lot of emotion but it's touched in a comic setting that it becomes subtle. One of the great films released this year.

I would suggest Steve Carell's other dramatic work 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World', something I've seen last year, but Dan in Real Life has its charms. It's about a widow who falls in love with this brilliant, charming woman…who turns out to be his brother's girlfriend. Carell has been proving himself to be a versatile actor and I love how he could quickly change from being a comic to a serious actor in one go. I'm definitely looking forward for his more dramatic turn in Foxcatcher. 

I initially dismissed this as a replica of The Time Traveler's Wife (a movie I dislike with gusto - and something my friends and I end up debating about because they all loved it!), but it's so much different than that. This teaches us the value of time in a sci-fi setting, when the lead character finds out that the men in the family have the ability to time travel, with a few rules and exceptions, of course. What I really loved about the film is not the love connection he makes, but the decisions he chooses that eventually forges his path, not to mention his endearing relationship with his father. Their scene at the beach absolutely had me in tears! 

This was one of my blind spot choices this year, and I absolutely loved it. Whenever I hear 'As Time Goes By', I remember Rick and Ilsa, their relationship, down to their parting words. It's heart-shattering (which sounds like an exaggeration, but a part of me was screaming "No!" on the inside), but at the same time it was beautiful. I can just listen to them talk and talk, and just be taken away with their words. 

This was one of my soundtrack addictions this year (the other was Guardians of the Galaxy). I loved the music, and it was Keira Knightley who was singing her songs! She's one of those actresses that always does period pieces, so I try to see her modern work. Mark Ruffalo also portrays the down-on-his-luck producer very well. I've been a fan of his since I watched 'My Life Without Me', and I've always loved his work. 

When you unwind on a cold or rainy day, of course there has to be a cult classic on your list! Pulp Fiction was also one of my blind spot choices for the year, and I enjoyed every bit of it. The characters were interesting, the writing was tremendous and everything just flowed together. If I'm going to strictly stick to the list, I'd watch the cult classic either in the middle of my marathon, or towards the end. 

This has got to be the Tom Cruise 'mini' movie (because it's not a franchise) that was actually good that nobody watched for various reasons. Despite it being a war flick, it's not action/explosive heavy as compared to other blockbusters. Maybe it's primarily of its time loop capability that the action sequences just basically repeats itself. I like how Cruise was portrayed here as someone who is unsure of himself when placed in a situation he can't handle. He can't even pretend to be confident; he had a lost look on his face almost the whole duration of the movie. Emily Blunt was pretty amazing here, as always. 

I'm surprised of my love for Smashed; it's still holding its end on my favorite first time watched movies (that are not released this year) list. While I don't know anyone in her kind of situation, the addiction itself stands as a metaphor for a challenge that you're finding hard to face and pass through. I guess that's why it resonates with me, I don't have to be battling alcoholism to know that I have other demons that I'm battling with in a similar manner. Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives a brilliant performance until the very end. 

Honorable Mentions: 

Chef - Only if you know in your gut that you're not going to get any food, or when you're already eating. Either way, this will make you hungry. 

Her - It's like watching the future where we're now capable of forging relations with technology. Scarlett Johansson does very convincing voice work that added to the charm of Samantha. 

The Fault in Our Stars - If you feel like reliving the whole Hazel-Gus relationship pain. 

I know my list likely differs from yours, so what are your picks for a cold or rainy day viewing?