View Full Version : seanc reviews 100
I feel like it is time to make a list of 100 favorites. Between doing a yearly top 10 list and an overall 50 list this year I realized a couple of things. First off I love a lot more than 50 films so stretching to 100 has been no problem. In doing my top 10's I had I believe 114 films that I ranked at least 4.5. Getting that to 100 was not an issue. I left off animated films, I will probably do a separate list for those at some point. I love quite a few animated films but just hold them to different standard as I simply don't connect with them on the same level. Secondly I have a great desire to re-watch a lot of these films that I consider great. For that reason I will be doing my list a little different than most of you. I will simply list all the films and then begin to re-watch, I will start with 50. It may take some of the drama out of counting down backwards, but let's face it if you care what my faves are you can just click on my top 10 anyway. After I re-watch a film, I'm going to try to go in order, I will review it. I know it will take a long time but that is why I am starting at the top because quite frankly I want to watch my favorites first.
Like most figuring my favorite films is not hard but ranking them is. So I simply don't think about it too much. I can usually group 5-10 together quite easily then I just sort from there. maybe the order varies a little at times because of that but the difference between 5 or 6 spots is no big deal to me anyway. One film that has continued to grow in my estimation after seeing it last fall is Magnolia so it has jumped all the way to #4, we will see if it remains that high after my second viewing.
1) The Shawshank Redemption............................................. 26) Dance With Wolves
2) Pulp Fiction..................................................................... 27) The Social Network
3) Fargo............................................................................. 28) Lord Of The Rings
4) Magnolia......................................................................... 29) Forrest Gump
5) Good Will Hunting............................................................ 30) Million Dollar Baby
6) The Godfather................................................................. 31) True Grit
7) The Godfather II.............................................................. 32) Mystic River
8) Rocky............................................................................. 33) Dumb And Dumber
9) Apocalypse Now.............................................................. 34) Saving Private Ryan
10) Remember The Titans..................................................... 35) Munich
11) Star Wars Trilogy........................................................... 36) Silence of The Lambs
12) One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest................................... 37) The Wizard Of Oz
13) Jerry Maguire................................................................ 38) Cries And Whispers
14) Inglorious Basterds........................................................ 39) A Christmas Story
15) Gladiator....................................................................... 40) Field Of Dreams
16) Lonesome Dove............................................................. 41) The Apartment
17) No Country For Old Men.................................................. 42) The Jerk
18) Band Of Brothers........................................................... 43) Letters from Iwo Jima
19) Braveheart................................................................... 44) Diner
20) Kill Bill I&II ....................................................................45) Raging Bull
21) Goodfellas..................................................................... 46) Frost/Nixon
22) Back To The Future........................................................ 47) The Color Of Money
23) A Few Good Men............................................................ 48) This Boy's Life
24) It's A Wonderful Life....................................................... 49) Sling Blade
25) The Dark Knight.............................................................. 50) There Will Be Blood
Ok that sucked, but I will fix later.
rauldc14
07-05-13, 05:23 PM
17 of those would be in my top 100.
honeykid
07-06-13, 10:03 AM
5 of them make mine. Here's hoping a lot's changed. :p
Looking forward to it, though.
#1 The Shawshank Redemption
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/81/ShawshankRedemptionMoviePoster.jpg/220px-ShawshankRedemptionMoviePoster.jpg
1994 Director: Frank Darabont
Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown
Favorite Quotes: "Get busy living or get busy dying, that's ******* right"
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"
"Easy peasy japanesey" (I love this just because I have not stopped using it for 20 years)
There are a lot more in this film as this is one of the greatest scripts ever in my opinion.
Main Themes: Redemption of course, Hope, Perseverance. I think the theme that connects the movie to so many is friendship. There are just not too many films that deal with male friendships on this level. I'm not ashamed to say that many of Red and Andy's interactions throughout this film make me well up.
I have a long relationship with The Shawshank Redemption. I went to see it in the theater upon release and I really liked it but did not fall in love immediately, in fact Forrest Gump was my favorite in '94 upon first viewings. I bought it as soon as it was released and probably watched it at least once a year till about 2000. This is one of those films that just grows in my estimation every time I see it. I probably have been calling it my favorite film for 15 years. I would say conservatively this is my 10th viewing and I still love it and am noticing different reasons as to why I do. I don't think until this viewing I ever realized how cinematic this film is. The movie is all blues and greys of course but the prison is breathtaking. The first helicopter shot when Andy arrives at Shawshank is perfect. Then as he enters the prison for the first time and looks up at and takes in the scope of the prison. Extremely haunting.
As a film fan I know that I am naturally drawn to movies with strong dialogue and characters. Therefore it should be no surprise to me that The Shawshank Redemption appeals to me so deeply. No line in this script is wasted, every scene and line of dialogue is rich and has purpose. Red and Andy are perfectly drawn characters. I love the juxtaposition of Andy being the only innocent man at Shawshank and Red being the only man who admits his guilt. This speaks to their uniqueness in this setting and why they would be drawn to each other. They each have an honesty and innocence that would separate them from the other inmates. If I ever had a beef with this film it is in how one dimensional the warden and Hadley are as characters. It never takes me out of the film but it is striking. I watched a commentary feature after viewing the film this time and was surprised to see the actor who plays Tommy address this point. He believes the reason for this is that the film is coming from Red's point of view so they would be the natural pure villains of the film. Not sure if I am 100% behind this take but it certainly is Red and Andy's film so it is a small point of contention.
My favorite scene in Shawshank sets up the climax of the film. It is the scene with Andy and Red right after Andy is released from being in the hole for two months. His hopes of the truth coming out about the murder of his wife have been crushed. He is at his breaking point. The raw humanity of Andy telling Red what kind of husband he is probably the most emotional dialogue in the film. This is also the scene where we first hear one of the most famous lines in recent film history. To end the scene Andy asks Red to do him a favor which ultimately sets up what Red's future will be. In a movie with no wasted scenes I still find this one to be the most poignant and emotional.
After this viewing The Shawshank Redemption still remains a perfect film to me. I re-watched it a week ago and have not stopped thinking about it all week despite seeing a couple of movie in the meantime. When I get the question what is your favorite movie? I don't see myself answering anything besides The Shawshank Redemption anytime soon.
This is my fave scene in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4oPFXWXaDE
It was so hard for me to choose. This scene is great. "Courtesy of the hardest screw that ever walked Shawshank." Then Andy refusing the beer. Awesome scene, can't argue with that choice.
#2 Pulp Fiction
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/82/Pulp_Fiction_cover.jpg/215px-Pulp_Fiction_cover.jpg
1994 Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Ving Rhames, Bruce Willis
Quotes: "You ain't my friend Palooka."
"Pretty please with sugar on top, clean the f****** car."
"Dogs have personality, personality goes a long way."
Themes: Jules apparent journey to redemption is the only redeeming theme in Pulp Fiction, it is just not that kind of film. I know, 666, band aid on the neck. Blah, Blah, Blah.
Quentin Tarantino writes incredible dialogue and creates amazing characters. So his disjointed story telling and lack of characters with redeeming values does not matter. Few film makers can get away with that and create mass appeal but he does. Tarantino may not have always had mass appeal but he does now and the reasons above are why. The kicker is in Pulp Fiction he manages to make gangsters cool. Watching Vince and Jules interact with each other is the epitome of cool. Their relaxed manner even when being confrontational, their clothing, the way Vince smokes, or how Jules owns the room. They should not be cool, but they just are.
I think how Tarantino draws us into his world despite it's sociopath nature is humor. Pulp Fiction would probably not be considered by many to be a comedy, but nearly every scene has multiple laughs. I love how Tarantino builds to simple punchlines. My favorite example of this is Jules and Vince's first scene in the car. Vince is telling Jules about his time in Amsterdam and much of it revolves around the food at McDonalds and what different things are called. The conversation lasts for quite a while and is more detailed than it needs to be. Towards the end Jules ask what they call a Whopper. Vince's simple response is, "I don't know I didn't go into a Burger King." Not poignant, not necessary, simply relate-able and very funny.
Everyone has their favorite Pulp Fiction character and scenes. I am no different. Although Butch's story has always been my least favorite, my appreciation for it does grow each time I see the film. This may be my favorite role of his and I think his scenes with Fabienne are fun and endearing. I am still not a fan of the Imp sequence, but each time I watch it seems shorter and shorter and does have a nice and necessary payoff. "Zed's dead baby, Zed's dead." I also love the short but great role of Keitel as Mr. Wolfe. The authority this character brings is amazing. He is simply chewing up the two coolest characters in the movie. Once again great writing and humor. "You guys have to move out of the sticks." I love everything about Mia and Vince's time together. Again there is a ton of humor and cool. Of course it all culminates in the most tension filled sequence in the film. "Ketchup."
My favorite scene in Pulp Fiction is the closing diner sequence. I love how it starts with the humor I have mentioned so many times, Vince and Jules talking about filthy animals. Of course it culminates with Jules simply owning everything that is transpiring, exuding the cool that I obviously love so much. Every line of dialogue that comes out of Jules during this sequence is perfect. It has to be seen to be appreciated, few movies end so perfectly. I hope Jules is somewhere walking the earth like Caine.
Pulp Fiction is amazing and perfect. This is probably my fifth viewing and I have loved it every time. This film is not moving from my top 5 any time soon.
edarsenal
07-11-13, 11:54 PM
great reviews on two favorite movies. Been a while since i watched shawshank, having seen it at the theaters several times and been deeply moved on each viewing.
Pulp is, as you say, epitome of cool regarding characters, dialogue, the intense situations they get and out of. Tarantion, along with his partner at the time, roger avery, did some amazing writing
#3 Fargo
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ac/Fargo.jpg/220px-Fargo.jpg
1996 Director: Joel Coen
Cast: William H Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
Quotes: "That's a fountain of conversation man."
" You are a smooth smoothie."
"I'm not sure I agree with you 100% on your police work there Lou."
"And here you are and it's a beautiful day."
Themes: Greed, contentment. Another choice with not many characters with redeeming qualities.
I don't remember under what circumstances I first viewed Fargo, I do know I didn't see it in the theater. This is my 4th or 5th viewing though so I have a pretty long relationship with it and responded to it immediately. Fargo is not a cold film, it is absolutely frigid. From the opening moment that we see Jerry pulling the tan ciera down the long stretch of road, that we will see many times, the tone is set for this film. Although it is frigid and gritty I find it mesmerizing to look at. The Coens do an outstanding job of framing this masterpiece. From headlights barely peeking at us through the the snowy night to the beautiful skyline of Minneapolis, Fargo is stunning visually. Of course visuals are not enough for this movie lover, I want rich characters and sharp dialogue. Fargo delivers on both counts and then some. I don't know if their is another film that I can say I truly love each and every character. There just is not a bad one, from Jerry to Norm, all are great and none are wasted.
Jerry drives this film and I don't think Macy has ever given a better performance. I can't think of another character in film that is as horrible and selfish as Jerry while still maintaining an innocence and naivete that make you shake your head and laugh at the same time. In his interaction with every other character in the film he is a fish out of water. Even his son has an intelligence and maturity that is superior to Jerry's. His job as a car salesman could not suit this character more. Every one he interacts with knows that he is trying to "sell" them but it is as if they let him, thinking that he is harmless and that they can dispense of him later. Of course Jerry turns out not to be harmless as every bad thing that happens in the film is a direct result of his decisions. Jerry is the definition of a tragically flawed character.
Carl and Gaear are the filth of the film but still provide much of the humor. Where Jerry at least believes that he is doing wrong for the sake of his family, Carl and Gaear have no such delusions. They are in it for the cash and will do whatever it takes to get as much of it as possible. They have no loyalties not even to each other. Buscemi and Stormare play off each other perfectly. Buscemi gets all of the punchlines but many would fall flat if not for the, "are you serious", stares that Stormare provides. Watching Buscemi blow up time and time again as if he is owed something is entertaining and a lot of what makes Fargo so enjoyable to me.
Marge Gunderson is the conscious and heart of the film, and played perfectly by McDormand. Her awe shucks, innocent demeanor is honest but misleading. Marge is a more than capable officer. She quickly and accurately assesses the first crime scene and is the reason that all of the conflict comes to a head. The way she interacts with the criminal element in the film is fun to watch, like Jerry she is underestimated by those she comes in contact with. The juxtaposition of Jerry and Marge is striking and deftly handled by the Coens. Marge and Jerry have similar demeanor and sensibilities but are the polar opposites of each other. Where Jerry is selfish and dishonest Marge is selfless and transparent. Marge's interaction with her husband is sweet and engrossing and provides much needed calm to the film.
I am going to cheat for my favorite scene in the film and combine both scenes where Marge and Jerry interact in his sales office. Macy and McDormand are doing such perfect work with their characters that watching them together is priceless. I find myself wishing that there were more interaction between the two but that would maybe lessen the two perfect moments that we get to enjoy. Marge distrusts Jerry from their first meeting but again Jerry kind of bluffs his way out of it. In the second scene we get the pleasure of seeing Marge handle Jerry. There is not an adjective good enough to describe the joy I get out of watching Jerry completely unravel at the hands of Marge.
Fargo more than holds up as a top 10 movie for me. Another black comedy so maybe I have a dark side I haven't tapped into yet, thank God for that. I like most every Coen brothers films I have seen, and would call a couple of them masterpieces. Fargo is more than worthy of that distinction.
Guaporense
07-17-13, 01:55 AM
I think Fargo is my second favorite Coens movie after Big Lebowski.
Deadite
07-17-13, 02:18 AM
Fargo is great. I especially love Macy's performance.
honeykid
07-17-13, 01:03 PM
Fargo's an odd one for me, as I really liked it when I saw it, yet I've only seen it the once. I seem to have an aversion to seeing it again.
Cobpyth
07-17-13, 01:09 PM
Some great movies there. I like The Shawshank Redemption and I LOVE Pulp Fiction and Fargo.
Those last two would rank among my 40, 30 or maybe even 20 favorite movies of all time, for sure!
#51-#100
51) Apollo 13..............................................76) LA Confidential
52) The Legend Of Bagger Vance..................77) As Good As It Gets
53) I Am Sam..............................................78) Oldboy
54) Babe....................................................79) Bull Durham
55) Rushmore.............................................80) Drive
56) Raiders Of The Lost Ark..........................81) The Insider
57) Quiz Show............................................82) Before Sunrise
58) Office Space........................................83) You Can Count On Me
59) Young Guns..........................................84) Memento
60) Get Shorty............................................85) 40 Year Old Virgin
61) Fight Club.............................................86) A Beautiful Mind
62) First Blood............................................87) Amelie
63) Lost In Translation.................................88) Wyatt Earp
64) Mr. Holland's Opus.................................89) 12 Angry Men
65) Eternal Sunshine....................................90) Anchorman
66) The Matrix.............................................91) A Seperation
67) Rounders...............................................92) Ed Wood
68) City Of God.............................................93) Happy Gilmore
69) Batman '89.............................................94) Double Indemnity
70) Serpicio..................................................95) Apocalypto
71) Royal Tennenbaums................................96) The Karate Kid
72) The Aviator.....................................97) Grass Is Always Greener
73) Dog Day Afternoon...................................98) Man On Fire
74) Adaptation..............................................99) The Fugitive
75) Lincoln....................................................100) Robin Hood(POT)
honeykid
07-23-13, 11:35 PM
I like 17 of those. As usual, I much prefer the bottom half of someone's list to the top.:D
#4 Magnolia
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9c/Magnolia_poster.jpg/215px-Magnolia_poster.jpg
1999 Director:Paul Thomas Anderson
Exodus 8:2
Cast: Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise, William Macy, Philip Baker Hall, John Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Quotes: " The most useless thing in the world is what's behind me."
"I have sickness all around me and you ask me my life."
"This is the regret that you make."
"And we may be through with the past but the past is not through with us."
" Sometimes people need a little help, sometimes they need to be forgiven, and sometimes they need to go to jail."
Themes: Dealing and moving forward from the past. Father-child relationships. Forgiveness. I don't think any other film deals with raw humanity as effectively.
I have a short relationship with Magnolia. This is my second time watching it in the past year. I responded to it so strongly that it instantly became one of my favorite films. After this second viewing there is no reason for me to think it is going anywhere anytime soon. In fact if anything I only see it growing even more in my estimation, which is hard to do with a movie you consider to be among your five favorites.
If you have not seen Magnolia it is very hard to get a grasp for the narrative from a normal plot summary. We have two older men at the end of their lives who want to make amends with their children. We have two child game show prodigies. One who was that years ago and is trying to deal with the fact that he no longer is. The other who is trying to deal with the pressure of being one now, most of that pressure coming from an overbearing father. We have a lonely cop who wants nothing more from life than to do the right thing and meet the right women. The film transitions quickly from story to story. It does so perfectly and this is all because of Anderson's direction. I don't think I have ever seen a better directed film. To juggle so many moving parts yet keep them all running seamlessly while still engaging the audience emotionally is directing perfection.
Magnolia does engage you emotionally right from the start. If it doesn't you will probably not enjoy this film. If it does you will probably have the reaction that many have over the years. No character is wasted in Magnolia and every single one is drawn perfectly. All of the characters are shown dealing with something from their past that has effected all aspects of their life. As we learn what those circumstance are we gain understanding of their psyche and connect with them. The first half of the film is spent building this theme of dealing with the past. The torment that each character is going through builds and builds until each gets some type of release. Anderson guides us through it every step of the way with his beautiful transitions and his choice of music which sets the tone and fits perfectly.
Of course as hard as every character tries they cannot bury the past. They most face their demons as we all do. The raw emotion of seeing each character deal with their circumstance in their own way engages us in yet another way emotionally with Magnolia. Every actor does a tremendous job of conveying these emotions in their respective scenes. In fact there is not a bad performance in Magnolia. Cruise, Moore, Hall, Reilly, Hoffman, and Walters are each brilliant. Each also have emotional scenes to showcase their talent. This is something else that Anderson should be given a lot of credit for. Similar to Tarantino he rarely, if ever, has bad performances in his films. I believe this is because of the characters he creates. They are so well fleshed out that if you simply put them in the hands of a capable actor then he receives a great performance.
It is hard of course to pick a favorite scene in a movie you love so much, but for me the best scene in Magnolia is the musical interlude. I have read many negative things about this scene but for me it fits the film perfectly. It comes at a moment when Anderson wants us to know that the characters are having an emotional release. Maybe I am in the minority but many times in my life when I have needed such a release it has happened when I was by myself and listening to a song that effects me. Exactly the way it happens for the characters in Magnolia. The song comes at a perfect time, it is the perfect song, and it is a joy to watch.
Concerning the frogs. Another device that has been decried by critics. Like the song I again think it is simple and well handled. In Exodus God sent plagues on Egypt until Pharaoh would let his people, or children, go. Simple but effective symbolism used here by Anderson. The characters in this film are in bondage. They have been held in bondage by someone in their life. They need to be freed. Some may have a better or deeper take on this sequence. For me it was simple, it was effective, and once again handled amazingly by Anderson.
In my estimation Magnolia is nothing short of perfect. I love going on this journey, as emotionally draining as it may be, with the characters. As stated above I do not think there is better film out there at dealing with raw humanity. The characters and themes are complex and must be experienced, probably many times, to be unraveled. It is well worth the effort if you have any interest in experiencing film on a emotional level.
#5 Good Will Hunting
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b8/Good_Will_Hunting_theatrical_poster.jpg/220px-Good_Will_Hunting_theatrical_poster.jpg
1995 Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver
Quotes: " I got her number, How do ya like dem apples?"
"Real loss is only possible when you love something more than you love yourself."
"You will have bad times, but it will always wake you up to the good stuff you weren't paying attention to."
" I gotta go see about a girl."
Themes: Overcoming adversity, striving to reach your potential, friendship.
I have been watching Good Will Hunting for over 15 years and I would say this is probably my tenth viewing. This film has always been a tremendous series of scenes strung together to me. I don't think there is a single scene in this movie that I don't think about at some point on an individual basis. There is also not one scene that I don't look forward to when watching the film.
Good Will Hunting is the story of an intellectual prodigy from south Boston with a tragic childhood. Will was shuffled from foster home to foster home and been horribly abused. After he strikes a police officer he avoids jail by agreeing to be put under the care of an MIT professor. He must also spend time with a therapist who is the character played by Williams. Will seems intent on avoiding any intimate relationships outside of his handful of close friends. He also seems unwilling to challenge himself in any meaningful way. When he makes a connection with the therapist those walls slowly begin crumble. He also meets a Harvard women who falls in love with him and wants him to go with her to California.
I have never viewed this film as schmaltzy but after my last couple of viewings I can certainly see how some would feel this way. I never felt like Will's journey is a complete transformation and for me that is what always has kept it grounded in reality as pertains to his relationships. I feel that Will's transformation is one in which he is willing to try, to make the changes that on some level he always knew he needed to make. This transformation is made possible by his meeting of two people who are willing to care about him unconditionally. Juxtapose them with the professor who has cared about him only because of his unique ability. Which is probably how he has been treated many times before and why he recoils into his safe world.
This leads me to my favorite scene which is in the final third and is between Will and his best friend Chuckie. They have just gotten off work for the day and are having a beer at their construction site. Will talks to Chuckie about how they will be raising their kids together in the same neighborhood they grew up in. Chuckie tells him in a very frank manner that he will be wasting his life and insulting those he grew up with if this is how his life plays out. It is probably the type of conversation that most of us will never experience in our lives. But as with most of Good Will Hunting it works for me because there is a lot of truth in the conversation and it is the way that most of us would feel if we had a friend in Will's position. So on that level it is very realistic. It is one among the many great scenes in the film and for me is very effecting.
I still, and believe I always will, love Good Will Hunting. It introduced me to Matt Damon who remains one of the actors I most look forward to. It is the best of the Boston dramas that I feel Affleck should stick to because it is where he excels. It is also still my favorite Williams performance. If I am honest though I can see why others don't respond to it the way I do and I wonder how I would rate it if I was to see it for the first time in 2013.
Well you know that I disagree completely with you on Magnolia but it's a very good review nonetheless. Good Will Hunting though is great.
Well you know that I disagree completely with you on Magnolia but it's a very good review nonetheless. Good Will Hunting though is great.
Thanks Jay Dee. Good to see you back on my thread. Don't worry I won't give you as much crap as Skepsis about Magnolia. However you are wrong of course.
#6 The Godfather
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1c/Godfather_ver1.jpg/215px-Godfather_ver1.jpg
1972 Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duval, Diane Keaton
" I made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
"Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes."
"This one time I'll let you ask me about my affairs."
"all those politicians you carry in your pocket like so many nickels and dimes."
Themes of family character, and revenge.
This is only my third complete, start to finish, viewing of The Godfather. This is one of those films that you feel like you have seen a hundred times even when you have not. It is such a part of the consciousness of our culture I felt like I saw it even before I did. Needless to say I responded to it immediately and have considered it one of my favorites since my first viewing about fifteen years ago. Everything about The Godfather is cinematic. The opening wedding scene, Michael in Italy, and the Corleone's home, everything is big and beautiful and shot perfectly. Considering it is a gangster film I also appreciate how quiet this film is. Where something like Goodfellas is all energy and brashness, The Godfather is contemplative. It allows its story and characters to breathe. For me that makes the film refreshing and gives it an organic feeling.
The story arc is simple and familiar. Most of us probably knew of Michael's journey before even viewing the film. No matter, what makes this film immersive and gives it its weight is the characters. Each one is drawn and acted brilliantly. It seems as though Puzo and Coppola care as much for their secondary characters as they do the main players. None feel as though they are expendable. Each and every one feels as though they are an important part of this world and because of this what happens to them is important to the viewer. Very few films have had so many moving parts and handled them so deftly.
The Godfather introduced, or in some cases reintroduced, me to so many actors. Duval, Pacino, and Keaton are all actors that I had seen before this and enjoyed but their performances are so unique here that they are almost unrecognizable as the actors I had watched before. Brando is perfect of course. His final scene with Michael is brilliant and mesmerizing. The way he drifts from talking about family to business and back again as a man at the end of life hanging on to what is important while still struggling with the things that he let consume his existence. I love this scene and have loved Brando from the first time I saw it. Caan is great as Sonny as well. I struggle to think of another Caan performance that I really like but always talk about him as a great actor and I think it is due solely to how much I love his portrayal as Sonny.
My favorite scene in The Godfather is Connie's wedding. It is long and beautiful and provides us so much of the exposition that propels not only this film but the next two as well. It sets up Vito as a man of character, even if his character does not jive with our moral compass. It sets up Sonny as the arrogant hot head. It sets up Tom as the brains and even hand. It shows us that Fredo is a character who is dismissed easily because of his lack of brains and gumption. Most of all it gives us insight into Michael and Kate's relationship and starts us on their important journey. Michael being honest about his family's business while at the same time explaining to Kate that he has chosen a different path is one of the great moments in this film. It is even more poignant I think when you are already aware of what path he is headed down. Once again the secondary characters do so much to set the tone of the scene. The funeral director with the plea for his daughter. The boss who has a reporter frisked and his film destroyed. The tongue tied made guy nervous to see the Godfather. Perfect scene and a perfect beginning to a perfect film.
In case I have been mincing words I will end by saying I love everything about this film. I don't think there has been a movie more made for the cinematic experience. If The Godfather is ever anything more than a perfect film to me something about the way I view film will have to change drastically.
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