How to Steal (Okay, Borrow) Style from Movie Characters—And Make It All Your Own

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We all have that one movie or TV character whose style just sticks with us. Maybe it’s Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” Ryan Gosling’s “Drive” jacket, or the entire wardrobe from “Clueless” (raises hand). There’s something magnetic about on-screen style—it’s iconic, it’s bold, and it somehow manages to be both timeless and just a little bit daring. The good news? You don’t need a Hollywood budget or a personal stylist to channel a little of that magic.

Figure Out What Actually Catches Your Eye

Start by asking yourself, what is it about that look that makes you pause? Is it the color palette—think all black, neutrals, or tons of color blocking? Maybe it’s the fit—oversized coats, perfectly tailored suits, high-waist pants, or dresses that twirl? Even little touches, like a scarf tossed just so or a statement pair of glasses, can transform a basic outfit into something movie-worthy.

Let’s be honest, Carrie Bradshaw’s wild shoe collection or Holly Golightly’s signature pearls aren’t just accessories—they’re personality, cranked up to 11. So, jot down or screenshot what you love during your next movie night. Bonus tip: keep a little inspiration folder on your phone for all those “must try this” fleeting moments.

Adapt the Vibe—Don’t Just Copy and Paste

Here’s where people get tripped up. You don’t need to cosplay as Elle Woods to bring a little “Legally Blonde” into your workday. Pick one or two signature elements—the bright pink blazer, the classic silhouettes, maybe a clever hair accessory—and weave them into your own wardrobe. Blend them with what’s already in your closet. The end goal is to look like you—just with a wink to your fave character.

Play With Accessories—You Don’t Need the Exact Thing

Accessories are the secret sauce. Sometimes, a nod to your movie muse is enough to turn a casual Wednesday into something a little special. Whether it’s bold sunglasses, a vintage brooch, or a structured statement purse, small details go a long way. For example, there’s something about women’s luxury bags that just screams “leading lady.” You don’t need a designer price tag, but a well-made structured bag (inspired by your favorite on-screen power player) brings instant polish. 

Mix In Your Own Personality

Don’t forget—your favorite character might live in ’90s plaid, but if that’s not your thing, pick the essence instead. Maybe it’s their confidence or the color combos, not the exact boots. Give yourself permission to get playful and experiment, even if you miss the mark sometimes. (Hey, that time I tried to “Annie Hall” my wardrobe? I still laugh about those giant trousers.)

Style is About Feeling, Not Just Looking

The best thing about movie-inspired style is how it makes you feel. Channeling a character you adore can turn an ordinary day into one where you feel a little braver, a little cooler, or maybe just a bit more yourself. A great outfit, after all, is your daily plot twist.

Movie style isn’t reserved for the credits—steal a little inspo, make it your own, and strut into your everyday like you’re about to nail the perfect scene. Lights, camera… you.

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20 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE: The 10 Best Films of 2005

In an annual series, Every Movie Has a Lesson is going to look back twenty years to revisit, relearn, and reexamine a year of cinema history to share favorites, lists, and experiences from the films of that year. When measuring back as far as twenty years or more, I feel like “favorites” that have stood the test of time have aged to become some level of “best.” I feel like a bunch of those populate my reflective look back at the best of 2005.

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As with every year, I need to offer a personal level of clarification when I build and justify lists like the one you’re going to read below for 2005. That challenge is that there can often be a distinct difference between a movie that is considered one of the “best,” respected and revered on technical and artistic levels, and something held dear as a personal and subjective “favorite.” I find myself torn between “bests” and “favorites” all the time, every year present or past, when creating any “10 Best” list as a credentialed film critic. Call it an occupational hazard.

NOTE: Poster images from IMP Awards

MY TOP 10 FILMS OF 2005

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1. Pride and Prejudice

2. Good Night, and Good Luck

3. King Kong

4. Kung Fu Hustle

5. Batman Begins

6. The 40-Year-Old Virgin

7. Sin City

8. Brokeback Mountain

9. War of the Worlds

10. A History of Violence

In 2005, I celebrated my “golden birthday” of turning 26 on August 26th. Teaching. Teaching, long-term relationships, and a steady social life for a guy in his 20s was, looking back, probably and their peaks. I was one year away from getting married and started courses for a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Even so, I couldn’t stay away from the movies.

However, 20 years of time has definitely reshaped this particularm year’s Top 10 list from where it likely was in 2005. I know I had King Kong at #1 until I got more cinema savvy and kept Good Night, and Good Luck in that spot for the majority of the two decades. Joe Wright’s exquisite Pride and Prejudice was a blind spot until this past year and leapfrogged the entire list for the top spot. I have my Cinephile Hissy Fit partner Will Johnson and his daughter Lizzie to thank for that. With no regrets, it’s the best of 2005.

The rest of this Top 10 jiggled and wiggled too. For example, I have no shame ranking the ingenuity and flat-out inventive entertainment of Kung Fu Hustle over Batman Begins and Sin City over both Steven Spielberg entries of 2005. Brokeback Mountain was a difficult one to place. I respect it’s high quality, but it’s a chore to watch. Some of the same goes for David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence. Both are movies that are not very rewatchable, no matter how good they are.

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THE NEXT TEN BEST

11. Munich

12. Lord of War

13. Kingdom of Heaven

14. Cinderella Man

15. Wedding Crashers

16. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

17. Hitch

18. Hustle & Flow

19. Coach Carter

20. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

There are days it’s a straight-up coin flip between Munich and War of the Worlds for Spielberg superiority. They are two very good and very different movies. Back in the late 1990s and 00’s, heady screenwriter Andrew Niccol could do no wrong between Gattaca and The Truman Show. I think Lord of War follows suit and is still timely today. Cinderella Man and Kingdom of Heaven used to be Top 10 movies for me for 2005, but both have become afterthoughts. I need to rewatch that massive director’s cut of Kingdom of Heaven, and maybe I’ll be swayed. Like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Wedding Crashers would probably get cancelled today, but I’m still laughing and naming Stage 5 Clingers I meet in life. With more time and another watch, I think Hitch and Hustle & Flow get higher on these lists.

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NEXT: Best of the rest of 2005!

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20 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE: The 10 Best Films of 2004

In an annual series, Every Movie Has a Lesson is going to look back twenty years to revisit, relearn, and reexamine a year of cinema history to share favorites, lists, and experiences from the films of that year. When measuring back as far as twenty years or more, I feel like “favorites” that have stood the test of time have aged to become some level of “best.” I feel like a bunch of those populate my reflective look back at the best of 2004.

---

As with every year, I need to offer a personal level of clarification when I build and justify lists like the one you’re going to read below for 2004. That challenge is that there can often be a distinct difference between a movie that is considered one of the “best,” respected and revered on technical and artistic levels, and something held dear as a personal and subjective “favorite.” I find myself torn between “bests” and “favorites” all the time, every year present or past, when creating any “10 Best” list as a credentialed film critic. Call it an occupational hazard.

NOTE: Poster images from IMP Awards

MY TOP 10 FILMS OF 2004

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1. Million Dollar Baby

2. Infernal Affairs

3. Before Sunset

4. Spider-Man 2

5. ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDy

6. the notebook

7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

8. Finding Neverland

9. The Butterfly EffecT

10. HOTEL RWANDA

In 2004, I turned 25 and was an my third year of a solid teaching job I would have for seven years. If I wasn’t doing “Thirsty Thursday” happy hours with teacher friends or driving to spend weekends with my then-fiance, I was trying to catch as many movies as I could. With The Lord of the Rings gone, Spider-Man 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Bourne Supremacy and The Incredibles were appointment public popularity movies and did not disappoint. As a busy guy, one way or another, I couldn’t see everything, and many of these movies ranked above weren’t seen in 2004 and took circling back to in the decades since. Looking at these two lists of ten, it was a softy year for sure.

Three examples of that were #2, #3, and #9. Asian cinema had made its mark after a big splash in 2000 with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but Infernal Affairs (the basis of Martin Scorsese’s future Best Picture winner The Departed) and Hero were home media watches. 1995’s Before Sunrise was before my time, meaning it took more adulthood to completely appreciate its sequel Before Sunset. It’s my pick for the best of the Before trilogy from Richard Linklater, and occupies a sweet Criterion boxed set now.

While #2 and #3 and more have shuffled greatly, Million Dollar Baby has held the #1 spot unchallenged since 2004. I think it’s Clint Eastwood’s best late-career directorial work where the crushing feelings still hit. Staying in the feels department, there’s no denying The Notebook, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Finding Neverland, and Hotel Rwanda and their Kleenex-destroying power. If there’s a surprise addition to the feels department, it’s The Butterfly Effect at #10. My expectations were so low from that Ashton Kutcher vehicle, that its painful and longing take on over-corrective time travel hit like a ton of bricks. It counts as a buried treasure these years later.

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THE NEXT TEN BEST

11. the incredibles

12. Collateral

13. Friday Night Lights

14. Mean Girls

15. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

16. The BOURNE SUPREMACY

17. The AVIATOR

18. Garden State

19. House of Flying Daggers

20. MIRACLE

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NEXT: Best of the rest of 2004!

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MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Daily Mail UK piece for "Pride and Prejuduce"

Image: Daily Mail UK Facebook page

It took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that a quote of mine on the excellent 2005 Joe Wright film Pride and Prejuduce was recently cited on the media site Daily Mail UK. Showbiz report Emma Guinness wrote a piece to cover the film’s streaming status on Netflix and used it as the crux of the headline. In fact, the quote comes from my Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast episode on the film submitted to Rotten Tomatoes than anything I’ve written on Every Movie Has a Lesson or Film Obsessive. They didn’t ask for my permission, but I don’t mind. Thanks for the reference and clicks!

Full Daily Mail UK Article

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MEDIA APPEARANCE: Included in Rotten Tomatoes "First Reviews" for "Anaconda"

Every now and then for the big new releases, Rotten Tomatoes will collect the tip-of-the-spear “first reviews” and highlight them in an editorial news column piece. If I can get my work in fast enough and it gets noticed, I have the chance of being selected and included in these round-up features. Recently, I was cited for Anaconda. For a guy like me, it’s the closest I’ll get to a pull quote anytime soon. It’s an honor to see my work recognized and mentioned next to some of my peers and the best critics in the business. Thank you, Christopher Campbell. Check out your boy!

Full RT "First Reviews" Post My Full "Anaconda” Review

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