I Love Sally Field, and I Don't Care Who Knows It!

So, some of my guy friends, who think I'm such a cool chick because I like sports and movies like "Knocked Up" and "Superbad" may be distressed to see the title of this post. But I am not ashamed to admit that I love Sally Field. I cry every time I watch "Steel Magnolias" at the same exact frame of the movie (you know the spot, ladies, it's right after Shelby kicks the bucket and M'Lynn has to go pick up Jack Jr. at Aunt Fern's) and continue right on sobbing through her entire speech at the cemetery ("I can run all the way to Texas and back, but my daughter can't!") The woman specializes in wild swings of emotion and she's been rewarded for it many times; from Sybill, to Norma Rae to her most recent award for playing the fiercely devoted mother of five, Nora Walker, on the hit ABC family drama "Brothers & Sisters". I love this show, and Sally's just one reason why.

Who knew Calista Flockhart had it in her to play anything but the walking tick in a short skirt that was Ally McBeal? She's excellent as Kitty, the one conservative in a liberal family, while her sister Sarah is played to perfection by Rachel Griffiths. Rachel played the uber-dark and disturbed Brenda on "Six Feet Under", but here she is a driven career woman and mother who is currently going through a tough divorce. When she had to pack her kids off to their dad's for two weeks recently, she broke my heart. At this point, I have to remind myself that these people are not actually related, they are that good.

And the guys are as good, if not better...well, except Balthazar Getty, as eldest brother Tommy, but I have to blame the writers more than the acting. It seems like they liked the idea of having five kids, but then they forget Tommy periodically because they only really have stories for four kids going around the writers' room. His plots are the ones you can see coming a mile away, even the current adultery plot. Dave Annable, who was so good on the very disappointing "Reunion" a couple seasons back, is great (and such a babe!) as tormented drug addict Justin, who just returned from Iraq with a busted knee. And then there's Matthew Rhys, who has done most of his work in his native Britain, as gay brother Kevin, who is always good for a great one-liner when things get too tense. Not to mention, he plays the "funny gay guy" without being a stereotype; he's a far cry from "Just Jack". And, I'd be remiss if I left off the underrated Rob Lowe as Kitty's fiance and boss, Senator Robert McCallister. He's come a long way from Billy Hicks in "St. Elmo's Fire" and dancing with Snow White at the Oscars. Basically, if you're looking for a good relationship show to curl up with on Sunday nights, this is the one. Every episode has pathos and humor mixed in with the drama. If you're a crier like me though, you might need a box of tissues with you. You have been warned. In the meantime, "drink your juice Shelby, drink your juice." (I'm going to hell for that one.)