Kim may be the quietest of the Dames but that in no way means she’s our shyest. Kim is the conscience of the group, reminding us of the warmth and sensitivity that can come from utter garbage. She tries to be complimentary, even when she’s being mean. She’s just so darn nice! So in honor of her birthday we’re looking at the movies that make us think of her. Happy birthday, Kim!!
Kristen’s 5
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
I’m 100% we all have this on our 5, including Kim herself. If we know anything it’s that Kim loves her some boys that don’t look like they’ve hit puberty yet. When I watched Bad Times and saw Lewis Pullman my mind immediately said, “Kim will love this guy!” Boy, do I love being right!
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
I actually blame Karen for this choice because since she included Julia Roberts’ introduction to Cameron Diaz’s character from this movie in our intro, I always associate Kim with it. If you’ve noticed, I’ve actually started saying Kim’s name like Julia says it. “And Kimmmm-berly Pierce!”
Ex Machina (2014)
I could have easily put Star Wars on here considering both Kim’s husband, Domnhall Gleeson, and mine are in them together. I do love every time I watch this that I’m like “Kim and me would both storm the castle for our guys in this….we’d just be going to opposite corners.”
Tea With the Dames (2018)
Kim is a total Anglophile and I’m not 100% convinced she isn’t secretly a little old lady masquerading as a younger woman. All of this is to say she’d absolutely love Tea With the Dames. A movie about four English biddies reminiscing about the past. This is totally Kim’s joint!
Don’t Bother to Knock (1952)
I’m gonna assume Kim has seen this. If she hasn’t she should because this is the movie I associate with her creepy dead lover, Richard Widmark (this and the “Richard Widmark grapefruit” episode of I Love Lucy). Widmark plays a guy letching on a poor, mentally unhinged Marilyn Monroe and it’s all kinds of weird. You know Kim is Googling this right now.
Karen’s 5
Kimberly Pierce may seem like the sweet one of the group, but remember. It’s always the quiet ones you gotta watch out for. And trust me when I say, there’s a lot more to Kim than meets the eye! Happy Birthday, friend!
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
Yes, yes, she agrees with us about that whole Chris Hemsworth Cult of the Sleeping in the Big House. But her heart truly belongs to another cast member: Baby Pullman. He’s sweet. He’s a dear. He’s all hers.
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
She says she loves the story, but we all know it’s really about William Holden, right?
About Time (2013)
Look at that darling ginger up there. I do believe this movie is the exact moment her love for him began, and, honestly, who can blame her?
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Much like Kim herself, this movie is pure joy and happiness and delight. Darling Debbie Reynolds, utterly charming Gene Kelly, adorable Donald O’Connor. Is there a film in all of history that feels more like a “Kim Movie?”
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Kim is a geek girl at heart, and so the Marvel Universe is definitely her jam. And which Avenger is the most perfect for her? Why, 1940s, uniform-wearing Captain Steve Rogers, aka Captain America. He’s sweet, charming, pure in heart. Plus really cute. If it’s gonna be a superhero, he is the one for her.
Lauren’s 5
I feel like Kim is both very on brand with her loves, and also has the most eclectic taste of all of us. She’s unpredictable in what film she’ll like, yet so often I can tell exactly which character she’ll love. She’s also one of the kindest people I know, BTW. So, Happy belated Birthday, Kim, and here are some films that remind me of you!
Pickup on South Street (1953)
Richard Widmark, film noir, hard-boiled dialogue, and Cold War espionage. I mean, I hope to hell that Kim likes this film, because it reminds me of her.
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
We all loved Bad Times at the El Royale, but only Kim expressed her heartfelt appreciation of Baby Pullman and Chris Hemsworth. She’s a woman of many parts.
Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
Around the same time that Kim wrote her column on this, I started re-watching it as well and immediately went, “Man, I bet Kim loves this movie.” So, Kim, in this, you’re very on brand.
Hot Summer (1968)
This is more of a “I really hope that Kim has seen/will see this” movie, because oh my God, she would love it. Hot Summer is an East German beach musical (yeah, you read that right) featuring a group of teenagers who go to a farming commune for the summer and undergo all the usual contemporary teenage problems, like love, sex, and how to work together as a collective for the good of the whole. Please, Kim, watch this movie.
Laura (1944)
Kim wrote about this one as part of her Feminist Friday column and while we do not share a love of Dana Andrews, I hope we can both agree that young Vincent Price is a tasty snack.
Kimberly’s 5
You know those moments where you think you’re a hard person to peg, and people read you like a trashy romance novel? I can’t disagree with a single one of these choices (quickly scribbles down Lauren’s recommendation). This was sooooooo hard! If I could have had 15 or 20 entries, I would say most if not all these movies make the list. Oh! Two responses: Yes I most certainly have seen Don’t Bother to Knock and Lewis Pullman is past puberty. Thank you for everything this last year and a half, Dames! Here’s to many more.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
I’ve talked a lot about this film and my love of it is long standing. The classic musical holds so much importance for me, from jump-starting my love of classic Hollywood, to beginning a lengthy crush on Donald O’Connor. There’s nothing I would change in this perfect movie and would certainly watch it on repeat.
Night and the City (1950)
Like Lauren pegged above, noir and Richard Widmark. Yes, yes, yes. When thinking about which Widmark movie to pick, I find myself legitimately torn (between all of them!). This film is so unique in its English setting and its boxing subject mater. While Widmark will always hold a spot in my heart, I absolutely love Gene Tierney’s performance, and Jules Dassin is one of my favorite directors.
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
As I sat down to watch this movie, I had an immediate realization: Drew Goddard made this movie for me! Yup, just me. All the Dames included it, so it must be so! This included my pre-established thirst for Chris Hemsworth (why yes, I would fight to sleep in the big house), to my newfound love for Lewis Pullman and my appreciation of all things vintage. Look at that face! I mean, you’re talking to the girl who stayed at the CalNeva Resort before it shut down.
Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
I love that Lauren mentioned this movie above, because this is another longtime favorite of mine. True story, when I first watched the musical in elementary school, I spent a year trying to convince people to help me put on the musical. I even wrote out scripts. Everything! I was that kid listening to the Beatles and Elvis Presley and this reminds me of all the years I spent (in the 1990s) giggling over Paul McCartney. However, they should have stuck with the Broadway cast and brought on Dick Gautier.
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
I watched this movie early in life and it ticks sooooo many boxes for me. I may have started it because of Martin Milner (I mean, like most people, right?), but it’s all the noir-ey goodness that I love. It’s New York City and showbiz nightlife and it truly fascinates me. Everything is so good in this film, from Tony Curtis to another of my favorite directors Alexander Mackendrick.
