10 movie dads: the good, the bad, the snugly

Happy Father's Day!

To commemorate this fine occasion, you can:

1) Buy dad a necktie he'll never wear again.

2) Play catch with him in the rain (a 50 percent chance as of this report).

3) Sit down with him to watch movies all about dads.

No. 3? Good choice.

Fathers and father figures factor into lots of movies: "The Empire Strikes Back," "The Godfather," "The Shining," "Finding Nemo," "The Stepfather," "The Lion King." But most use their paternal characters in the service of stories about other, larger subjects.

So, here come 10 suggestions for movies that put the fatherhood relationship at the story's center, be it nurturing and positive, or a tough learning experience.

10. "Saving Mr. Banks" - Dad/daughter movies constitute an underserved subgenre in Hollywood. John Lee Hancock directs a heartfelt 2013 drama based on writer P.L. Travers' relationship with her self-destructive, alcoholic father (a painfully vulnerable Colin Farrell). Their bond profoundly influences her life, and ultimately inspires her to write "Mary Poppins." You'll never watch the Julie Andrews musical the same after seeing Emma Thompson as the grown-up Travers.

9. "The Great Santini" - The scene from the 1979 drama still haunts me: military dad (Robert Duvall) taunting his son (Michael O'Keefe) by continually bouncing a basketball off the back of his head. Pat Conroy's autobiographical story concerns a retired Marine fighter pilot who has no idea how to be a family man, so he treats his wife and sons like recruits. Your heart should go to the kid. But it goes out to the dad who's relating to his boy the only way he knows.

8. "Liar Liar" - Yes, this crazy, over-the-top 1999 Jim Carrey vehicle comes crammed with broad, overboard comedy (Swoosie Kurtz calls Carrey "over-actor" in the outtakes). This surprisingly touching story illustrates a boy's faith in his father to find his way home. Justin Cooper sees how Dad's dishonesty has destroyed their family. So, his birthday wish is his dad must tell the truth for 24 hours. And it comes true.

7. "Mrs. Doubtfire" - How far will a divorced, devoted dad go to be with his kids and avoid conflict with his ex? Robin Williams' solution is simple: dress up as the titular, middle-aged woman and con his ex-wife (Sally Field) into hiring her, uh, him, as a nanny for their children. A zany, sweet 1993 farce worthy of a modern Moliere play.

6. "This Boy's Life" - Robert De Niro is your stepfather? That can't be a cakewalk. A very young Leonardo DiCaprio discovers this as teenage Tobias Wolff, whose single mom (Ellen Barkin) marries De Niro's sweet, attentive Dwight, who turns out to be a physically and emotionally abusive control freak. Michael Caton-Jones' 1993 drama, based on the real Tobias Wolff's autobiographical novel, writhes with conflict in a brutal fight for power.

5. "The Pursuit of Happyness" - The real-life father-son connection between actors Will Smith and Jaden Smith gives this fact-based 2006 drama an extra zing of realism. Salesman Chris Gardner goes into survival mode after he and his 5-year-old son become homeless in San Francisco. Big picture, it's the struggle for the American dream. Bigger picture: a portrait of a father who never gives up to protect and provide for his boy. (In the last scene, the real Chris Gardner of Chicago does a walk-on.)

4. "Kramer vs. Kramer" - We've seen the "neglectful, workaholic dad sees the light and becomes a good father" plot before, but Robert Benton's 1979 drama does it best. An executive's unhappy wife (Meryl Streep) walks out on her hubby (Dustin Hoffman), leaving behind their 6-year-old son (Justin Henry) for him to incompetently care for. Does she open the door for Dad's redemption? Or, is the movie suggesting Dad makes a better mom than Mom?

3. "At Close Range" - The influence of a strong father can be a powerful force. But when that father, Pennsylvania backwoods crime boss Brad Whitewood Sr., is evil incarnate (and is played by Christopher Walken), his son Brad Jr. (Sean Penn) must muster all his strength to break free from the old man's murderous grip. James Foley's harrowing 1986 crime tale is based on a terrible, true story.

2. "Field of Dreams" - The greatest all-American dad/son story in film. This 1989 drama has ghosts, baseball, cornfields and the Chicago Black Sox. But the movie isn't really about any of these. It's a teary fantasy about second chances for a farmer (Kevin Costner) to make amends with his estranged, deceased father. The close-to-final scene is the throat-lumper in a supernatural mystery that celebrates how the greatest joys in life are those daily experiences we often take for granted.

1. "To Kill a Mockingbird" - Can we agree that the greatest, most positive movie dad ever must be Atticus Finch, a small-town Alabama attorney played by Gregory Peck? He's the hero of his young daughter Scout (Mary Badham), the main character in Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning story, set during the 1930s. She watches her widowed father apply his beliefs in justice, equality, fairness and empathy against horrific opposition. He also employs stoic strength and situational ethics when required. He's not the dad we all get. Just the one we all need.