Kevin: Did you have any kids?
Bird Lady: No. Oh, l wanted them. But the man I loved fell out of love with me. That broke my heart. And whenever the chance to be loved came along again, I ran away from it. I stopped trusting people.
Kevin: No offense, but that seems like sort of a dumb thing to do.
Bird Lady: I was afraid of getting my heart broken again. You see, sometimes you can trust a person, and then, when things are down, they forget about you.
Kevin: Maybe they're just too busy. Maybe they don't forget about you, but they forget to remember you. l don't think people mean to forget. l think it just happens.
Bird Lady: I'm just afraid if I do trust someone, I'll get my heart broken again.
Kevin: I understand that. l used to have this really nice pair of rollerblades. l was afraid if l wore them, l'd wreck them. So l kept them in a box. Do you know what happened?
Bird Lady: No.
Kevin: I outgrew them. I never wore them once outside. l just wore them in my room a couple times.
Bird Lady: A person's heart and a person's feelings are very different than skates.
Kevin: Well, they're kind of the same thing. lf you aren't going to use your heart, then what's the difference if it gets broken? If you just keep it to yourself, maybe it'll be like my rollerblades. When you do decide to try it, it won't be any good. You should take a chance. Got nothing to lose.
Bird Lady: A bit of truth in there somewhere.
Rest in peace, Brenda Fricker (1945-2026) 🕊️
🎞️ Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
🎥 Dir. Chris Columbus
Kenneth Branagh's #Cinderella (2015) remains my favorite Disney live-action remake, and this particular scene is exactly why the remake justifies its existence and deserves to sit among the very best of the Cinderella library. The Prince actually joins the search for Ella in disguise instead of simply waiting in the castle. Along the way, he confirms his suspicions about the Grand Duke's dishonesty when he catches him trying to abandon the search after hearing Ella singing. Even better, he personally witnesses the Stepmother's cruelty when she's exposed right in front of him and the guards accompanying him in disguise. This change adds so much more depth and personality to the Prince, making him feel like an active participant in the story rather than someone who just waits for fate to reunite him with Ella. It also makes their romance feel much more mutual, since he's willing to go out and search for her himself. Now that's how you expand a relationship in a live-action remake without betraying what made the original so timeless!
Oh my god, I can't stress enough how perfectly everyone in this movie was cast. From the performances to the writing, cinematography, costumes, production design, the beautiful score, and Branagh's elegant direction, nearly every aspect of the filmmaking feels close to perfection. Like I've said before, it feels like a whimsical, Jane Austen-esque fairy tale brought to life. I still remember seeing this movie in theaters, and when the Prince finally revealed himself during the slipper search, everyone in the audience gasped. It was such a satisfying payoff because, for the first time, he wasn't just waiting for Ella to come back to him, he had been there all along, determined to find her himself. It's one of these moments that perfectly captures why this remake works so well.
I've watched this movie so many times, which, of course, is a rarity for me when it comes to Disney's live-action remakes. Every time a mediocre one comes out, I always find myself returning to Cinderella. It reminds me what a genuine, sincere live-action remake looks like when it's made with real care and respect for the original while still finding meaningful ways to expand on it. If this movie is in your favorites or your Letterboxd Top 4, you have my respect. Hats off to everyone who worked on this movie 🥰
Laura Dern pays tribute to Sam Neill:
"Sam was my beloved lifetime friend… He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit. A true and noble gentleman, who was wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant.”
“the trembling of her hands allows me to ask a favor. “will you make sure my token gets home to my girl?”
effie nods and lays a hand over it solemnly. “i will do my absolute best.”