The Sapient Investor

As we mourn the passing of Pope Francis today, and reflect upon yesterday’s celebration of Easter, “The Two Popes” is a very relevant film: touching, inspiring, and entertaining.

Branagh’s adaptation is “highly entertaining and accessible”, “a pure delight that will leave you uplifted.” What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

For this year’s Christmas movie, I recommend “It Happened on 5th Avenue.” This Black & White gem was released in 1947. It reflects its time, when Americans, having pulled through WWII, trusted, respected, and relied upon each other. Together, they made the world a better place.

For this Valentine’s Day, I recommend “Yesterday.” Beloved Beatles songs and a heartwarming love story combine into a film that is, according to one critic, “funny, romantic, thought-provoking and ultimately just one of the most satisfying movies in years.”

For this Christmas, I recommend “Beyond Tomorrow.” This heartwarming movie is something of a cross between “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol.” Little known, it should be a Christmas classic.

For St. Patrick’s Day, I recommend “The Secret of Roan Inish.” This uplifting family-friendly film captures a slice of the history, geography, and magic of the Emerald Isle. A delight for everyone, not just for kids.

This Valentine’s Day I recommend the classic romcom, “Roman Holiday,” starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. The movie “made the whole world fall in love with Audrey Hepburn and half the world want to run out and buy a Vespa scooter.” It is intelligent, restrained, and innocent—“a relic of a vanished civilization” that some of us still cherish.

For this holiday season I recommend ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas,’ which tells the story of how Charles Dickens came to write ‘A Christmas Carol.’ The movie avoids a mere rehash of the beloved book, but incorporates many of its best elements.

For Labor Day viewing I recommend this movie adaptation of the Pulitzer prize-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross. One critic says: “Clearly some of the best work that the likes of Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, and even the great Jack Lemmon, have ever done.”

The movie adaptation of the award-winning Broadway show, "1776." Delightful songs, engaging acting, inspiring story. As one top critic says, “Every American should watch this once a year.”

A grandfather reluctantly tells his grandson about his service in WWII. The grandson later becomes a soldier himself, serving in the Middle East, and reflects back on his grandfather’s words and experiences. This movie is a balanced and respectful treatment of military service appropriate for Memorial Day viewing.

Easter is about life and death, faith and doubt, hope and despair. For Easter and Holy Week viewing, I suggest this thought-provoking movie superbly performed by two truly great actors, Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones.

For Valentine’s Day viewing, I suggest this romantic drama based on the real-life love story between C.S. Lewis and Joy Gresham.

A Christmas movie that captures the best sentiments surrounding the holiday. Based on the unofficial Christmas truce that took place on the Western Front during WWI.