#14. Secondhand Lions

Michael Caine has been in "the biz" for decades... Lending a hand to the theatre and film industry with an incredibly humble disposition. You never hear about this guy on the news, going into rehab or get arrested for possession of marijuana. Robert Duvall and Haley Joel Osment tend to shy away from the spotlight as well. By ignoring the glitz and glam of Hollywood, these actors have honed their talents into some Oscar-worthy performances. I'm quite surprised no one thought of combining these three earlier. Secondhand Lions is my 14th pick for the countdown!

14. Secondhand Lions
15. The Italian Job
16. Shawshank Redemption
17. Little Miss Sunshine
18. The Greatest Game Ever Played
19. Roman Holiday
20. Fight Club
21. The Prestige
22. Once
23. Road To Perdition
24. V For Vendetta
25. Dear Frankie


After discovering that a pair of distant uncles is rumored to possess a stash of money, Walter's mother leaves him with the men... Hoping that her son will find the treasure. Secondhand Lions follows the adventures of Walter, Uncle Hub, and Uncle Garth. Through the period of a few months, Walter learns valuable lessons in life that "stir his spirit and re-ignite his uncle's lives."


Favorite Scene: Uncle Hub and Uncle Garth use shotguns to thwart traveling salesmen. The only visible trace of visitors is a cloud of dust left in their wake. It's a tactic that (most likely) sparked the idea for telemarketing. Salespersons realized that it would be a worthwhile investment to put away the car keys and pick up a phone instead.


Rating: ********* (9 out of 10)

Author's Note: The dog pictured above is a French Bulldog... I want one for my birthday. It's on August 24th --- my address is 2013 Edgewater Avenue (Saint Paul, MN) if you'd like to send it via post. I prefer puppies... I want to name it Milton or Zoey.