View Full Version : Seanc Film Diary
100
Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4f/Robin_hood_1991.jpg/220px-Robin_hood_1991.jpg
1991 Director: Kevin Reynolds
Cast: Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Alan Rickman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
"Locksley, I'll cut your heart out with a spoon."
My relationship: If you would have asked me my favorite movie at 16-17 years old, Robin Hood may have been my answer. I have seen it dozens of times although it has been years. The film gets a bad rep recently I think. It seems to be mostly because of Costner's accent, a criticism I agree with. People also seem to hate the Bryan Adams song, a criticism I disagree with.
Why I love it: Great dialogue sandwiched between really great action sequences. I still think Robin Hood's initial fight with Little John is great. Saving the young boy by shooting through the rope with an arrow is classic. Really good banter between all the main players.
Rickman may be what still holds this film in such high regard to me after all is said and done. One of my favorite villains of all time. A great mixture of humor and dread. Also seems intelligent while still being out smarted at almost every turn, that is hard to pull off but Rickman does.
99
The Fugitive
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c7/The_Fugitive_movie.jpg/220px-The_Fugitive_movie.jpg
1993 Director: Andrew Davis
Cast: Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones
"Tell the attending he's got a puncture in the epigastric area."
My relationship: Doesn't go as deep as it should for a favorite made in 1993. I have seen it two or three times but sticks in my mind as one of the best action movies ever.
Why I love it: It is the rare action film that cares about it's characters. The cat and mouse chase is fantastic but the time we get to spend knowing the two main characters is just as great. I really should watch this again sooner than later.
98
Man On Fire
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e8/Man_on_fireposter.jpg/220px-Man_on_fireposter.jpg
2004 Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken
"Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting."
My Relationship: I have seen it at least four times, a lot for me when the film is not yet ten years old. The most effecting thriller I have ever seen and the only one that has ever welled me up. I love Denzel as an actor but there are only two of his films I truly love. The other is way up the list.
Why I Love It: The action is fantastic and tense. Scott and Denzel are equally responsible for this in my opinion. The movie for me is about the relationship. Some probably find it cheesy and melodramatic, it works for me in every way every time. I love spending time getting to know these characters and am saddened every time when the split comes. Awesome thriller.
97
The Grass Is Greener
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/27/Tgig1960.jpg/220px-Tgig1960.jpg
1960 Director: Stanley Donen
Cast: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum
"Sometimes I'm convinced that the greatest barrier between our countries is the bond of a common language."
My Relationship: This is the film I credit with my realization of how important good dialogue in a film is for me. It is my go to when I just want to hear people talk at each other in an interesting way. There are definitely plenty of talky films to come on my list but The Grass Is Greener holds a special place in my film life.
Why I Love It: I have to imagine that the way this film discusses fidelity and marriage was pretty unique in 1960. It was certainly unique to me growing up in a pretty conservative home and seeing it for the first time at 12 years old. The writing is amazing. I wish I knew more classic writers to compare it to. Since I am unrefined I will call it Sorkin-esque. The dialogue is not hurt by the fact that Grant and Mitchum are delivering most of it. A really entertaining film.
96
The Karate Kid
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a9/Karate_kid.jpg/220px-Karate_kid.jpg
1984 Director: John Avildsen
Cast: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue
" Walk middle sooner or later...squish just like grape."
My Relationship: If this is the film I have seen the most I am not surprised. Despite it being at least fifteen years since I have seen it I can still probably go through it scene by scene in my head. There are some nostalgia picks on this list but this may be the most glaring. I'm fine with that, nostalgia movies can be some of the most fun to go back to.
Why I Love It: I love under dog stories and this is nothing but that. The tournament is still pretty fun. Miyagi is still pretty cool. Elisabeth Shue is hot forever because of this movie.
95
Apocalypto
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/62/Apocalypto-poster01.jpg/220px-Apocalypto-poster01.jpg
2006 Director: Mel Gibson
Cast: Gerardo Taracena, Raoul Trujillo
My Relationship: This is the first of a good bit of movies I have only seen once on my list. Re-watchability is pretty important to me but how I feel about a film right after I see it without outside influences is important as well. Apocalypto was a Saturday night, it's on HBO and nothing else is on experience for me and I was blown away.
Why I Love It: I am not one to seek out violent films. I love quite a few violent films but I like the violence to be secondary to the characters and narrative. The violence is front and center here but it is meant to be disturbing and make you uncomfortable. A simple chase film that is shot so well and is so tense it more than makes up for its lack of narrative. Not talked about the way it should be mostly because of the train wreck Mel Gibson has become I think.
Miss Vicky
11-28-13, 01:04 PM
Love Robin Hood (it's on my own top 100). Apocalypto is a solid, entertainng movie.
I loved The Karate Kid as a child, but when I tried to watch it as an adult I couldn't get through it. The Fugitive is a good movie, but not a favorite. Haven't seen the other two.
94
Double Indemnity
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/35/Double_indemnity.jpg/220px-Double_indemnity.jpg
1944 Director: Billy Wilder
Cast: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson
"It's just like the first time I came here, isn't it? We were talking about automobile insurance, only you were thinking about murder. And I was thinking about that anklet."
My Relationship: I watched this for the first time this year and it was love at first viewing. I am not a Noir fan by any means. This one though is absolutely fantastic.
Why I Love It: The amazing dialogue. The best femme fatale ever. Edward G. Robinson stealing the show.
93
Happy Gilmore
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/be/Happygilmoreposter.jpg/215px-Happygilmoreposter.jpg
1996 Director: Dennis Dugan
Cast: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald
"I am good. You know what, you're a lousy kindergarten teacher. I've seen those finger-paintings you bring home and they SUCK."
My Relationship: I know I will get a lot of crap for this one. This came out in the middle of my SNL days. Along with Farley, Sandler was my favorite comedian at this time. I still quote it like crazy.
Why I Love It: I cried laughing the first couple of times I saw this. The anger coming from Gilmore makes for non stop comedy beats. Putting a hockey player in a golf environment seems so simplistic. Sandler did it though and it worked for me the from start to finish.
92
Ed Wood
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3b/Ed_Wood_film_poster.jpg/220px-Ed_Wood_film_poster.jpg
1994 Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau
"No, I'm all man. I even fought in W.W.2. Of course, I was wearing women's undergarments under my uniform."
My Relationship: I watched it a couple of times within the first couple of years of it coming out and loved it. Like The Fugitive it is one I should re visit sooner than later.
Why I Love It: Depp and Burton have never been better in my opinion. An interesting character study while remaining endlessly comedic and entertaining. The black and white works fantastic as well.
91
A Separation
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/00/A_Separation.jpg/215px-A_Separation.jpg
2011 Director: Asghar Farhadi
Cast: Leila Hatami, Peyman Moaadi
" He Does not know me, but I know that he is my father."
My Relationship: A one time watch, part of my branching out into foreign fare this year. A few of those films made my list which may seem like a lot. I was very particular about what I chose to watch though. I picked films that I had heard a lot about and looked closely at the conversation surrounding them. I wanted to pick films that I had a feeling I would respond to, and for the most part it worked. I would say I had twenty of these films on my watchlist and five made it onto my favorites. That percentage is high but if I handpicked American films this way I think it would be just as high.
Why I Love It: To me it appears that there is an ambiguity in most foreign films that is just not as prevalent in English language movies. I am just eating that up. Because while something like A Separation's dialouge and exposition is very ambiguous, the characters and story still remain very rich. I love this story and the characters within. Very effecting and a film that I think will grow in my estimation.
Man Sean the amount of threads you start and then abandon is ridiculous! :D
Anyway you've got some good stuff so far. The Fugitive is a great film with some fantastic action set-pieces, Karate Kid was and still is brilliant (love it so much!) and I'm also a huge fan of Ed Wood.
90
Anchorman
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/Movie_poster_Anchorman_The_Legend_of_Ron_Burgundy.jpg/215px-Movie_poster_Anchorman_The_Legend_of_Ron_Burgundy.jpg
2004 Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd
"Don't get me wrong, I love the ladies. I mean they rev my engines, but they don't belong in the newsroom."
My Relationship: One of my favorite comedies so I have seen it at least five times and quote it frequently.
Why I Love It: Ferrell's best in my opinion. Just non stop fun. Maybe one of the great comedic characters created who may be ruined for me now that he is showing up in Dodge commercials.
89
12 Angry Men
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/91/12_angry_men.jpg/220px-12_angry_men.jpg
1957 Director: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Klugman
"Well, I'm not used to supposin'. I'm just a workin' man. My boss does all the supposin', but I'll try one. Supposin' you talk us all out of this, and, uh, the kid really did knife his father?"
My Relationship: Has not been a long one but it was love at first viewing.
Why I Love It: This move is tailor made for someone with my film viewing sensibilities. Talking, talking, and then more talking. A lot of different themes are explored but we never forget that a kid's life hangs in the balance. Rich characters all portrayed excellently. "Classic" for a reason.
88
Wyatt Earp
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Wyatt_earp_ver1.jpg/220px-Wyatt_earp_ver1.jpg
1994 Director: Lawrence Kasdan
Cast: Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, Dennis Quaid
"Wyatt Earp? I've heard that name before. Don't know where, but it wasn't good."
My Relationship: Like most of the three hour movies I love, I have seen it all the way through only two or three times. I have watched twenty minutes here, thirty minutes there so often though I feel like I have seen it a dozen.
Why I Love It: I find most people my age prefer Tombstone to this film. Tombstone is bad ass but it is a much different film than this. I love that this film is more exhaustive and a richer character study. On my short list of westerns that I truly love. Oh yeah, I prefer Quaid's Holliday to Kilmer's as well which is usually not a popular opinion.
87
Amelie
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/53/Amelie_poster.jpg/220px-Amelie_poster.jpg
2001 Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Cast: Audrey Tautou
"A woman without love wilts like a flower without sun."
My Relationship: Like A Separation this is a film I have viewed for the first time this year.
Why I Love It: One of the most engaging and endearing first time viewing experiences I have ever had. The story has depth but is whimsical at the same time. Tautou gives one of my favorite performances and one I will never forget.
86
A Beautiful Mind
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b8/A_Beautiful_Mind_Poster.jpg/220px-A_Beautiful_Mind_Poster.jpg
2001 Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Paul Bettany
"Classes will dull your mind, destroy the potential for authentic creativity."
My Relationship: I have watched it at least three times but it has been five years probably.
Why I Love It: Most have soured on this film in recent years I have not. It surprised me the first time I watched it in the theater and knowing the twist did not change my love for it on subsequent viewings. It is a bio pic that has a little bit of everything: humor, sadness, triumph, and tragedy. I feel like in our current culture movies get dinged if they are not 100 percent cynical. The thinking now on A Beautiful Mind is a great example of that. For me that is a shame, for most of us there is a little bit of everything in our lives and should be in our art. That is my Beautiful Mind rant, now I will move on.
honeykid
11-29-13, 08:06 PM
Double Indemnity, Ed Wood, 12 Angry Men and Amelie. :up: I have three of them on my 100, too, so it's nice to see them here. :)
85
The 40 Year Old Virgin
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/43/40-Year-OldVirginMoviePoster.jpg/220px-40-Year-OldVirginMoviePoster.jpg
2005 Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Romany Malco
"You know what? I respect women! I love women! I respect them so much that I completely stay away from them!"
My Relationship: Like most of the comedies I love I have seen it at least half a dozen times and know all the beats.
Why I Love It: The first of the Apatow R rated raunch coms. Still the best too, in my opinion. This movie made me fall in love with Carell as a comedian, The Office grew that love. Over the past couple of years I think that love is dying unfortunately. Simplistic but original story that is ripe for comedy. Holds up very well for me.
84
Memento
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c7/Memento_poster.jpg/215px-Memento_poster.jpg
2000 Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
"We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we are. I'm no different."
My Relationship: Probably the only movie on my list that would not have been there the first time I watched it. I didn't dislike it, I just thought it was a slightly above average thriller. I loved it the second time around.
Why I Love It: Watching Memento and Inception I never get the feeling that Nolan is trying to trick me. I always feel like we are seeing things from his characters perspective as the story unfolds. I think he is a fabulous story teller. It won't be the last of his to show up on my list but the other one will not be Inception.
honeykid
11-29-13, 09:04 PM
+ rep for Memento. I know I say it a lot, but I really must sit and watch that again sometime.
83
You Can Count On Me
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/07/You_Can_Count_on_Me_Poster.jpg/220px-You_Can_Count_on_Me_Poster.jpg
2000 Director: Kenneth Lonnergan
Cast: Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo
My Relationship: Another one time view just a couple of years ago.
Why I Love It: The dialogue and the characters make this a very effecting drama. The ending kind of stinks which keeps this from being up higher on the list for me. This is also the problem I had with Lonnergan's other film Margaret. The man can flat out write though. I hope there is more to come from him.
82
Before Sunrise
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/da/Before_Sunrise_poster.jpg/220px-Before_Sunrise_poster.jpg
1995 Director: Richard Linklater
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
"Isn't everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?"
My Relationship: Another one time watch. What a wonderful watch it was.
Why I Love It: Two people walking and talking has never been so engaging. I would call this script perfect. The second did not live up to the first in my estimation but the third is amazing as well. Also easily the most romantic movie I have ever watched.
honeykid
11-29-13, 10:29 PM
I've said it many times, but that's the most romantic film I've ever seen.
81
The Insider
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/The_insider_movie_poster_1999.jpg/220px-The_insider_movie_poster_1999.jpg
1999 Director: Michael Mann
Cast: Al Pacino, Russell Crowe
"Yes. Yes, I do. I get extremely emotional when a**holes put bullets in my mailbox!"
My Relationship: I watched The Insider two or three times within the first two years it was released. Another one that I would like to get back to sooner rather than later.
Why I Love It: This is what I call a man's drama. Extremely taut and filled with edge of your seat suspense. Very well written and acted from top to bottom.
Gabrielle947
11-29-13, 10:45 PM
Not really my type of list as most of the movies I didn't saw or watched only once and some time ago. :)) Anyway,Apocalypco is one those just interesting movies. :up: I liked Ed Wood very much but never rewatched it,Happy Gilmore has its moments,didn't like Amelie,liked a lot Beautiful Mind but I think I wouldn't now.Least favorite would be probably Memento.
Not really my type of list as most of the movies I didn't saw or watched only once and some time ago. :)) Anyway,Apocalypco is one those just interesting movies. :up: I liked Ed Wood very much but never rewatched it,Happy Gilmore has its moments,didn't like Amelie,liked a lot Beautiful Mind but I think I wouldn't now.Least favorite would be probably Memento.
Stick around Gabrielle, maybe it will get better. You know I think it does.;)
Gabrielle947
11-29-13, 10:52 PM
Hope so. :)) I really don't like watching people lists often as I always want to watch everything and then I can't choose. :/
edarsenal
11-30-13, 12:18 AM
quite the wide variety of films for starters which is always a cool thing to see.
Totally with you on Quaid's Holliday over Kilmer's and i've always enjoyed prince of thieves particulary for rickman but the whole cast has great dialogue that put a grin on my face every time.
cricket
11-30-13, 02:05 AM
You Can Count on Me, The Insider, Karate Kid, 40 Year Old Virgin, Happy Gilmore, 12 Angry Men, and Memento are all favorites. I also really like The Fugitive and Anchorman. The only ones I don't care for are Man on Fire and A Beautiful Mind, although I don't hate them.
80
Drive
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/13/Drive2011Poster.jpg/220px-Drive2011Poster.jpg
2011 Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan
" My hands are a little dirty."
My Relationship: One time watch, my favorite film of 2011.
Why I Love It: I love it when a violent story uses it's violence to get a quick visceral reaction from it's audience and then is able to be quiet and allow us to wonder where it is going to come from again. The shocking violence does not over shadow the story which in a strange way is rather sweet. Great performances with Pearlman, Cranston, and Brooks all showing up and none of them disappointing.
79
Bull Durham
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ef/Bull_Durham_film_poster.jpg/220px-Bull_Durham_film_poster.jpg
1988 Director: Ron Shelton
Cast: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins
"Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic."
My Relationship: Hard to say how many times I have watched Bull Durham. There was a time when baseball and Kevin Costner movies were like breathing for me.
Why I Love It: One of those movies where the individual scenes mean more than the movie as a whole. Some of my favorite scenes from any movie take place in Bull Durham. Great dialogue and very funny.
Daniel M
12-02-13, 09:37 PM
I like Anchorman, The 40 Year Old Virgin and The Karate Kid (from what I remember), then I really like 12 Angry Men, Memento and Drive. Then there's Double Indemnity, which I saw recently and already love, it's a fantastic film.
Edited for below: Oldboy is also a great film.
78
Oldboy
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/67/Oldboykoreanposter.jpg/220px-Oldboykoreanposter.jpg
2003 Director: Park Chan-wook
Cast: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone."
My Relationship: Another one time watch this past year.
Why I Love It: Like Drive it has notoriety because of the violence but it is so much more than that. So many revenge stories take pleasure in their revenge, I never once got that feeling while watching Oldboy. The story goes to some strange places making it one of the most unique movies I have ever watched. The cinematography is top notch. Still not sure about that ending.
Nostromo87
12-02-13, 10:35 PM
+ rep for a bunch of these, but a special one for Double Indemnity
just one of those pictures that during the entire runtime reminded me why i love movies
honeykid
12-03-13, 02:09 AM
Not seen Drive, but Bull Durham is on my own 100. I just love that film. :)
rauldc14
12-03-13, 08:15 PM
There's some good stuff here, particularly Man on Fire, A Beautiful Mind, and Double Indemnity.
77
As Good As It Gets
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/dc/As_good_as_it_gets.jpg/215px-As_good_as_it_gets.jpg
1997 Director: James Brooks
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear
"I'm drowning here, and you're describing the water!"
My Relationship: Love at first viewing. There have been three more at least although it has been a few years.
Why I Love It: The dysfunctional, richly drawn characters. Great dialogue. Endlessly entertaining.
76
LA Confidential
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d8/La_confidential.jpg/215px-La_confidential.jpg
1997 Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Kim Bassinger, Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe
"Some men get the world. Others get ex-hookers and a trip to Arizona."
My Relationship: When it is hard to remember the last time you have seen a movie you love it is time for a re-watch.
Why I Love It: Amazing story with an out of this world cast. LA Confidential is probably the reason that I like Spacey, Crowe, and Pearce as much as I do.
75
Lincoln
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6a/Lincoln_2012_Teaser_Poster.jpg/220px-Lincoln_2012_Teaser_Poster.jpg
2012 Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones
"Each of us has made it possible for the other to do terrible things."
My Relationship: My favorite movie from last year. The most recent film on my list by a good margin.
Why I Love It: I love the performances and I love the way it revolves a very small amount of time in the life of Lincoln. The cinematography is fantastic. There are not many figures in our history that deserve to be framed as the icon that Spielberg portrays Lincoln as. Lincoln is one of those figures though and this film is a perfect symbol of that.
edarsenal
12-03-13, 11:17 PM
big fan of Bull Durham (always loved the list of things he believed in and sarandon responding with: Oh, my,) and yes, SO many great scenes. Oldboy - of course, frickin AMAZING and LA Confidential is spot on, damn great book that it came from too and i just finished seeing Lincoln and firmly agree. Been ages since seeing As Good As It Gets
74
Adaptation
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5e/Adaptation._film.jpg/220px-Adaptation._film.jpg
2002 Director: Spike Jonze
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper
"You and I share the same DNA. Is there anything more lonely than that?"
My Relationship: A couple of viewings after which I say to myself, "has a better script ever been written?"
Why I Love It: Script, script, and script. Oh yeah, three amazing performances. Is there a better character actor than Chris Cooper? Did I mention Kaufman's script?
73
Dog Day Afternoon
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/44/Dog_Day_Afternoon_film_poster.jpg/215px-Dog_Day_Afternoon_film_poster.jpg
1975 Director: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Al Pacino, John Cazale
"I'm robbing a bank because they got money here. That's why I'm robbing it."
My Relationship: Probably have only sat down with the intent to watch this film twice. But have stumbled across it on TV and sat enthralled to the end at least half a dozen times.
Why I Love It: Bank robbery or hostage movies are a dime a dozen. Ones with Al Pacino, great characters, and a great script are not.
72
The Aviator
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f7/The_Aviator_Poster.jpg/220px-The_Aviator_Poster.jpg
2004 Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett
"You have called me a liar and a thief and a war profiteer."
My Relationship: Two or Three admiring views.
Why I Love It: I love bio-pics, I love Scorsese. Hughes is an intriguing character, Scorsese makes his story engrossing.
71
The Royal Tenenbaums
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3b/The_Tenenbaums.jpg/220px-The_Tenenbaums.jpg
2001 Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bill Murray
"Please don't get in the middle of this, Mr. Sherman. This is a family matter."
My Relationship: First viewing: So-So. Second Viewing: What was I thinking.
Why I Love It: Admittedly Anderson has been an acquired taste for me, not something I am usually prone to take the time for. The last three years I have re-watched almost all his movies and he is now one of my favorites. His style speaks for itself and is one of the most recognizable in all of film. Tenenbaum's has my favorite group of characters of all his films but won't be the last to show up. Two on my list this time, I won't be surprised if there are four next go round.
70
Serpico
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3d/Serpico_imp.jpg/225px-Serpico_imp.jpg
1973 Director: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Al Pacino
"The reality is that we do not wash our own laundry - it just gets dirtier."
My Relationship: At least three viewings. Has always been one of my favorite cop dramas, looking at my list, it is my favorite cop drama.
Why I Love It: I had no idea until after I made my list that I had three Lumet movies on here. The man is an awesome story teller and gets great performances. Serpico is a great example of that, pretty under rated I think.
Cobpyth
12-06-13, 11:55 PM
A great bunch of films so far! Ed Wood, Double Indemnity and Oldboy are favorites of mine and the other films I've seen from your list are mostly good ones.
Looking forward to the rest of it!
69
Batman
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3c/Batman_ver2.jpg/220px-Batman_ver2.jpg
1989 Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Bassinger
"Tell me something, my friend. You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
My Relationship: God knows how many times I have watched it, been a few years though.
Why I Love It: I was not a comic book kid, this movie made me think maybe I should have been. Many since have proved that maybe I had the right idea in the first place. I never thought there would be a better Batman movie, there is. I never thought there would be a better Joker, I go back and forth on that one. Great movie, people think of it as too juvenile now, I disagree. This film is pretty dark.
68
City Of God
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/CidadedeDeus.jpg/220px-CidadedeDeus.jpg
2002 Director: Fernando Meirelles
Cast: Alexandre Rodrigues, Alice Braga, Leandro Firmino
"You need more than guts to be a good gangster. You need ideas."
My Relationship: One viewing earlier this year.
Why I Love It: Really great crime drama. The juxtaposition of the two main characters is perfect for this world. Good script and really good performances as well. I even got through the shaky cam.
67
Rounders
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/67/RoundersPoster.jpg/220px-RoundersPoster.jpg
1998 Director: John Dahl
Cast: Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Malkovich
"Rolled up aces over kings. Check-raising stupid tourists and taking huge pots off of them."
My Relationship: Know it by heart, if I haven't watched it ten times I am shocked.
Why I Love It: Not one you will probably see on a lot of favorite lists but I have always loved it. A simple fun stories with great dialogue, performances, and individual scenes.
66
The Matrix
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c1/The_Matrix_Poster.jpg
1999 Director: Wachowski siblings
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
"No one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself."
My Relationship: Three or four viewings. Watched it within the past year.
Why I Love It: Many have soured on it. In my opinion that is more because of the sequels than the original. The Matrix holds up as a smart and fun sci-fi action flick for me.
65
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/62/Eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind_ver3.jpg/215px-Eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind_ver3.jpg
2004 Director: Michel Gondry
Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet
"I thought maybe you were a nut... but you were exciting."
My Relationship: One that I should have watched more than twice by now.
Why I Love It: Kaufman's script is phenomenal. Really great and complex characters. Messes with your head quite a bit, I don't know that Gondry and Kaufman want us to come away with a firm grip, kind of the point. Universal themes.
64
Mr. Holland's Opus
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Mr_Hollands_Opus.jpg/220px-Mr_Hollands_Opus.jpg
1995 Director: Stephen Herek
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly
"You love music and you made the kids love it with you."
My Relationship: At least three viewings but it has been too long. I am due for a re-watch.
Why I Love It: A very melodramatic pick, I have a few of those I know. I just love this character and spending time with him. Plays like a bio-pic in all the right ways.
Just a bit of catching up. Favourites since my last post would be Anchorman, 12 Angry Men, Amelie, Bull Durham, Oldboy, LA Confidential, Dog Day Afternoon, Royal Tenenbaums, Serpico, Matrix and Eternal Sunshine
Although given my penchant for superheroes you may be surprised to learn that I'm not much of a fan of Batman.
Why I Love It: Ferrell's best in my opinion. Just non stop fun. Maybe one of the great comedic characters created who may be ruined for me now that he is showing up in Dodge commercials.
Not seen them myself but what's wrong with the commercials? Are they just unfunny or do you feel it's a sell-out or what?
Not seen them myself but what's wrong with the commercials? Are they just unfunny or do you feel it's a sell-out or what?
Both really. It just seems like we are on Anchorman overload over here. That combined with the fact that the trailers don't look great has me nervous. I am cool with whatever people want to do to promote their movie. It just feels like they might be overcompensating for the fact that it looks like all the same jokes. We shall see.
Well on the selling out side of it perhaps this will help. Ron telling the truth about the Dodge Durango :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSqF4GG3JTU
63
Lost In Translation
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/Lost_in_Translation_poster.jpg/220px-Lost_in_Translation_poster.jpg
2003 Director: Sofia Coppola
Cast: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson
You want more mysterious? I'll just try and think, "Where the hell's the whiskey?"
My Relationship: Two or three delightful viewings.
Why I Love It: I think anyone who loves well developed characters interacting loves this film. It may be the best possible version of simply that.
62
First Blood
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d6/First_blood_poster.jpg/220px-First_blood_poster.jpg
1982 Director: Ted Kotcheff
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy
"They drew first blood, not me."
My Relationship: Very long and many viewings.
Why I Love It: Like the first Rocky, I think it gets lost in the shuffle of what the series became. If you want to know the difference between First Blood and the rest of the series simply google the kill counts for each film. First Blood is still a really great film.
61
Fight Club
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fc/Fight_Club_poster.jpg/220px-Fight_Club_poster.jpg
1999 Director: David Fincher
Cast: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything."
My Relationship: At least three viewings but has been a few years.
Why I Love It: The characters and dialogue are great. This was a really original movie at the time of its release. Seems to lost some of its swagger with film geeks, but I think it holds up well. When a film becomes known for its twist but still is very re-watchable, that is saying something.
60
Get Shorty
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/81/Get_shorty.jpg/220px-Get_shorty.jpg
1999 Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast: John Travolta, Renee Russo, Gene Hackman
"Rough business, this movie business. I'm gonna have to go back to loan-sharking just to take a rest."
My Relationship: Loved it since my first theater viewing. Have seen it many times since and have not stopped loving it.
Why I Love It: Manages to be a comedy and a gangster film at the same time. Perfect characters, writing, and performances.
honeykid
12-14-13, 02:18 PM
I bloody love First Blood. :up: Sadly, I could just never get into Get Shorty.
I can't imagine that. Your film life must feel so empty.
honeykid
12-14-13, 02:32 PM
It's just trying so hard and failing so miserably. I don't think it's funny or cool and, not being either of those things, it has nothing left.
Or being both, it has everything. ;) Do you feel this way about most of Leonard's stuff or just Shorty?
honeykid
12-14-13, 08:37 PM
The only other film adaptation of one of his books, apart from Jackie Brown, that I can think of is Out Of Sight, which I liked at the time, but didn't really get into the second (and last) time I went to watch it. I just felt that everyone in Get Shorty was trying too hard to be cool.
Like HK I absolutely LOVE First Blood. Such an awesome film! I used to love Fight Club but wouldn't say that I do anymore. Still think it's a great film though. Never really got into Lost in Translation although it's been many years since I've seen it and would like to think I've matured a bit since then so perhaps it would appeal more to me now. I think I enjoyed Get Shorty but I honestly can't really remember.
The only other film adaptation of one of his books, apart from Jackie Brown, that I can think of is Out Of Sight, which I liked at the time, but didn't really get into the second (and last) time I went to watch it. I just felt that everyone in Get Shorty was trying too hard to be cool.
Yeah, I like both of those. 3:10 to Yuma is his story as well which I like. Be Cool is not great but I thought it was fun. I like the series Justified as well. He draws great characters. Not particularly diverse characters, but his stories always remind me that film and books don't have to be so serious. Sometimes they are just meant to entertain. Leonard did that very well but I see why a lot of it wouldn't work for everybody.
59
Young Guns
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/aa/Young_Guns_%281988_film%29_poster.jpg/220px-Young_Guns_%281988_film%29_poster.jpg
1988 Director: Christopher Cain
Cast: Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen
"It ain't easy having pals."
My Relationship: Teens of viewings. Watch it almost once a year.
Why I Love It: I like the western genre, I wouldn't say I love it. This one I do, it is just infinitely re-watchable for me. Engaging characters and a good mix of heart and fun.
58
Office Space
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8e/Office_space_poster.jpg/215px-Office_space_poster.jpg
1999 Director: Mike Judge
Cast: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Anniston
"The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care."
My Relationship: At least five or six viewings.
Why I Love It: One of the comedies that gets better with each viewing for me. Once I start quoting it with a friend I can't stop, and each quote makes me laugh like it's the first time hearing it. I think because the themes are so relate-able. Classic
57
Quiz Show
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/22/QuizShowPoster.jpg/220px-QuizShowPoster.jpg
1994 Director: Robert Redford
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Rob Murrow, John Turturro
"And they love me for the same reason they used to hate me, because I'm the guy who knows everything."
My Relationship: At least three viewings, been a minute.
Why I Love It: Under rated in my opinion, maybe because of the year it was released. Amazing true story. Very well written. Great acting. Universal themes. Not much not to like here.
56
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4b/Raiders.jpg/220px-Raiders.jpg
1981 Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen
"It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."
My Relationship: I have always loved it. It has been years since I watched it.
Why I Love It: Everything a great action movie should be. Good characters, good story, and lots of memorable scenes.
55
Rushmore
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/42/Rushmoreposter.png/220px-Rushmoreposter.png
1998 Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams, Bill Murray
"I saved Latin. What did you ever do?"
My Relationship: Only two viewings but I have watched it in the last year.
Why I Love It: Pure joy, one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Anderson created a perfect character.
54
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/Babe_ver1.jpg/215px-Babe_ver1.jpg
1995 Director: Chris Noonan
Cast: James Cromwell
"Christmas! Christmas dinner, yeah. Dinner means death. Death means carnage! Christmas means carnage!"
My Relationship: Many, many viewings. Most recently last week. Yeah, it is still great.
Why I Love It: One of the most endearing movies I have ever seen. Can almost make me into a vegetarian...almost.
honeykid
12-15-13, 08:19 PM
Some solid films there. Probably not the ones that most people would mention, but I'm not most people.:D
53
I Am Sam
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/26/ImAmSamSeanMichelle.jpg/220px-ImAmSamSeanMichelle.jpg
2001 Director: Jessie Nelson
Cast: Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning
"You're going a little faster than everybody else. I was wondering if you noticed that."
My relationship: Loved it the first time I watched it in the theater. I have seen it at least two more times.
Why I Love It: First movie that ever moved me to tears. Many think it is over sentimental but I never felt that way. Best soundtrack ever.
52
The Legend Of
Bagger Vance
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b3/Legend_of_bagger_vance_ver2.jpg/220px-Legend_of_bagger_vance_ver2.jpg
2000 Director: Robert Redford
Cast: Matt Damon, Will Smith, Charlize Theron
"I hear you lost your swing. I guess we got to go find it."
My Relationship: Love at first viewing, many viewings since.
Why I Love It: Another pick that is probably too sentimental for most. I love the characters and dialogue, but individual scenes are what stand out in my mind and there are many great ones.
51
Apollo 13
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9e/Apollo_thirteen_movie.jpg/220px-Apollo_thirteen_movie.jpg
1995 Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Ed Harris
"From now on, we live in a world where man has walked on the moon. And it's not a miracle, we just decided to go."
My Relationship: Goes all the way back to the theater and remains solid.
Why I Love It: Great movie. All the beats are just perfect, I can't think of a misstep in the telling of this emotional true story.
Mmmm Donuts
12-15-13, 09:13 PM
First time looking at this. Some great movies you got here! Reps for all the ones I've seen and loved.
50
There Will Be Blood
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/da/There_Will_Be_Blood_Poster.jpg/220px-There_Will_Be_Blood_Poster.jpg
2007 Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano
"I drink your milkshake, I drink it up."
My Relationship: Two or three glorious viewings.
Why I Love It: This was my first PTA movie and it was before I even knew who he was. I was just drawn to this film. The scope, the emotion, and of course the amazing Lewis performance. Considered one of the greats for good reason. Also one of my top five favorite endings.
49
Sling Blade
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/44/Slingbladeposter.jpg/220px-Slingbladeposter.jpg
1996 Director: Billy Bob Thornton
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam
"I don't reckon I got no reason to kill nobody."
My Relationship: I have watched it a bunch, been a few years.
Why I Love It: One of my favorite first time watches. Really original, touching, and humorous. I love Thornton and Yoakam's performances as well.
48
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/This_Boys_Life.jpg/215px-This_Boys_Life.jpg
1993 Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Ellen Barkin
"Sometimes I had to blame somebody; she was the only one there."
My Relationship: I have watched it three or four times, it has been some time.
Why I Love It: Upsetting but effecting true life drama. Very under rated in my opinion.
47
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a9/The_Color_Of_Money.jpg/220px-The_Color_Of_Money.jpg
1986 Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Tom Cruise, Paul Newman, Mary Mastrantonio
"Money won is twice as sweet as money earned."
My Relationship: Lots of viewings but probably been more than ten years.
Why I Love It: One of my favorite Scorsese flicks. Fun story with great performances. Better than the original. Shhh...don't tell the purists.
46
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b1/Frost_nixon.jpg/220px-Frost_nixon.jpg
2008 Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen
"I'm saying that when the President does it, it's *not* illegal!"
My Relationship: Only one viewing but it blew me away.
Why I Love It: One of the best scripts ever. Really engaging with great performances.
45
Raging Bull
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5f/Raging_Bull_poster.jpg/220px-Raging_Bull_poster.jpg
1980 Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty
"I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss."
My Relationship: Only two viewings. Tremendous.
Why I Love It: One of the true pillars of modern cinema. An all time great performance. Scorsese at his best.
44
Diner
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f0/Dinerposter.jpg/220px-Dinerposter.jpg
1982 Director: Barry Levinson
Cast: Timothy Daly, Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke
"You're dealing with a rational girl; that's your problem."
My Relationship: At least three viewings. I seem to return to it about every five years.
Why I Love It: One of my favorite casts and scripts ever. Very light-hearted while being about serious themes.
43
Letters From Iwo Jima
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/87/Letters_from_Iwo_Jima.jpg/220px-Letters_from_Iwo_Jima.jpg
2006 Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Ken Watanabe
"A day will come when they will weep and pray for your souls."
My Relationship: Two viewings in the past five years.
Why I Love It: An American making a war film from the "enemies" point of view. Gutsy and unique but also great. One of my favorite war films.
42
The Jerk
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3e/The_Jerk.jpg/220px-The_Jerk.jpg
1979 Director: Carl Reiner
Cast: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters
"Navin, I'd love you if you were the color of a baboon's ass."
My Relationship: I have watched it at least half a dozen times. The last time was around a year ago.
Why I Love It: My favorite comedy character ever created. Non stop one liners. Martin is brilliant.
cricket
12-22-13, 11:04 PM
A big thumbs up for There Will Be Blood, Sling Blade, The Color of Money, Raging Bull, and The Jerk.:up:
I haven't seen the others from tonight.
honeykid
12-23-13, 01:20 AM
Some good films on this page so far, but nothing I really like or love.
41
The Apartment
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/Apartment_60.jpg
1960 Director: Billy Wilder
Cast: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine
"When you're in love with a married man, you shouldn't wear mascara."
My Relationship:One time viewing less than a year ago. Most recent viewing on the list.
Why I Love It: Great premise and the witty dialogue. First rate characters, topped by a "I had no idea she was that cute" MacLaine.
40
Field Of Dreams
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6b/Field_of_Dreams_poster.jpg/220px-Field_of_Dreams_poster.jpg
1989 Director:Phil Robinson
Cast: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta
"If you build it they will come."
My Relationship: I lost count of how many times I have watched this movie, been a favorite since I fell in love with movies.
Why I Love It: It's a fairy tale for movie loving men. Whimsical and fun.
You've kind of lost me of late sean, but not as a result of poor choices, just the fact that I've hardly seen any of them! However you've got me back on track with Field of Dreams, I absolutely adore that film. :up:
39
A Christmas Story
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/65/A_Christmas_Story_film_poster.jpg/225px-A_Christmas_Story_film_poster.jpg
1983 Director: Bob Clark
Cast: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
"Only one thing in the world could've dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window."
My Relationship: Once a year for probably the last fifteen I fall in love all over again.
Why I Love It: I love two Christmas movies, this is one of them. Perfect and fun story telling. One of the very few movies where narration enhances instead of detracts.
You've kind of lost me of late sean, but not as a result of poor choices, just the fact that I've hardly seen any of them! However you've got me back on track with Field of Dreams, I absolutely adore that film. :up:
Load up that watch list. I expect the usual outstanding reviews.:)
38
Cries & Whispers
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/58/Ciesandwhispers.jpg/220px-Ciesandwhispers.jpg
1972 Director: Ingmar Bergman
Cast: Harriet Andersson, Kari Sylwan, Ingrid Thulin
"Do you realize I hate you and how foolish I find your insipid smile."
My Relationship: One devastating viewing.
Why I Love It: The most effecting movie about relationships I have ever seen. I will be diving head first into more Bergman in the coming year. Cries & Whispers is the reason why.
37
The Wizard Of Oz
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/WIZARD_OF_OZ_ORIGINAL_POSTER_1939.jpg/212px-WIZARD_OF_OZ_ORIGINAL_POSTER_1939.jpg
1939 Director: Victor Fleming
Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."
My Relationship: I probably have watched it twenty times but it has probably been twenty years.
Why I Love It: Some of my earliest memories is watching this once a year, waaay back when they used to put it on TV once a year. Classic story, classic characters, and classic music.
cricket
12-24-13, 12:02 AM
Cool to see you include The Wizard of Oz; I echo what you say about early childhood memories. It's a special movie.
36
Silence Of The Lambs
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/86/The_Silence_of_the_Lambs_poster.jpg/220px-The_Silence_of_the_Lambs_poster.jpg
1991 Director: Jonathan Demme
Cast: Jodi Foster, Anthony Hopkins
"I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti."
My Relationship: Three viewings. One of my few favorites where revisiting isn't exactly "fun".
Why I Love It: Two iconic performances and one of the greatest characters ever created. Just about every scene is intense and unnerving.
35
Munich
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/08/Munich_1_Poster.jpg/220px-Munich_1_Poster.jpg
2005 Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Geoffrey Rush
"I don't know if we were ever that decent."
My Relationship: Two viewings, feels like I have been waiting years for a Blu-Ray release.
Why I Love It: Everything you want from a procedural. A+ story with interesting characters and great performances. A perfect picture of how we can lose ourselves chasing revenge. One of my favorite endings.
34
Saving Private Ryan
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ac/Saving_Private_Ryan_poster.jpg/220px-Saving_Private_Ryan_poster.jpg
1998 Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore
"'The Statue of Liberty is kaput" - that's disconcerting."
My Relationship: Two viewings
Why I Love It: The ultra realistic war scenes. Unlike most people I enjoy what is beyond that as well. One of the greatest war movies ever.
cricket
12-26-13, 11:50 PM
Saving Private Ryan is a very impressive movie but it didn't quite satisfy me for whatever reason.
Thumbs up for Silence of the Lambs.
I'm going to try and watch Munich soon.
33
Dumb And Dumber
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/Dumbanddumber.jpg/198px-Dumbanddumber.jpg
1994 Director: Farrelly Bros.
Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels
"That John Denver's full of s**t, man."
My Relationship: I have watched it more times than I can count or remember.
Why I Love It: The funniest most quotable movie I have ever seen. That's enough.
32
Mystic River
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/93/Mystic_River_poster.jpg/220px-Mystic_River_poster.jpg
2003 Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon
"I know in my soul I contributed to your death."
My Relationship: Two viewings. Been a few years.
Why I Love It: I can't imagine loving movies and not liking Mystic River. Strong narrative, great characters acted well, and superb script.
cricket
12-28-13, 01:37 AM
I love your last 2 picks although Mystic River seems to have a few detractors on this site. I think it's a great film. Dumb and Dumber never gets old; I'd love for the sequel to be half as good.
31
True Grit
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/ce/True_Grit_Poster.jpg/220px-True_Grit_Poster.jpg
2010 Director: Coen Bros.
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Stanfield
"If them men wanted a decent burial, they should have gotten themselves kilt in summer."
My Relationship: Two viewings. I feel due to see it again.
Why I Love It: Great western with great characters done Coen style. I love every minute of it.
30
Million Dollar Baby
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d3/Million_Dollar_Baby_poster.jpg/220px-Million_Dollar_Baby_poster.jpg
2004 Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Hillary swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman
"I'm not your boss and that bag's working you."
My Relationship: Three or four viewings.
Why I Love It: I am a sucker for a good boxing story and Million Dollar Baby is a great one. Swank gives one of my favorite performances.
29
Forrest Gump
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/67/Forrest_Gump_poster.jpg/220px-Forrest_Gump_poster.jpg
1994 Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
"I'm not a smart man... but I know what love is."
My Relationship: I have watched it about half a dozen times. Been at least five years.
Why I Love It: Great story telling. It has a little bit of everything you can think of and one of the great performances ever.
28
Lord Of The Rings
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/87/Ringstrilogyposter.jpg/220px-Ringstrilogyposter.jpg
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian Mckellen
"One ring to rule them all."
My Relationship: I have seen them all twice. Movies I would love to watch more but they are looong.
Why I Love It: My first cheat, won't be the last. It is all one story so I love them as such. Probably the greatest large scale fantasy story telling ever. I will always be Star Wars guy but Lucas's world is not built like this one.
27
The Social Network
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7a/Social_network_film_poster.jpg/220px-Social_network_film_poster.jpg
2010 Director: David Fincher
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer
"You're not an a**hole, Mark. You're just trying so hard to be."
My Relationship: Four viewings, been better each time.
Why I Love It: I loved this movie the first time I watched but couldn't help but think maybe it was because it was timely. After three more viewings I no longer think so. It has gotten better to me and that is because the themes are universal separate from Facebook. The writing is also other worldly.
26
Dances With Wolves
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/82/Dances_with_Wolves_poster.jpg/220px-Dances_with_Wolves_poster.jpg
1990 Director: Kevin Costner
Cast: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene
"My place is with you. I go where you go."
My Relationship: I have watched it at least four times but it is another that is due for a revisit.
Why I Love It: I watched this at the theater when I was 14 and it was the first movie that really effected me emotionally. I think it was the moment I fell in love with drama and Costner as an actor. One of those loves did not stand the test of time.
25
The Dark Knight
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/Dark_Knight.jpg/220px-Dark_Knight.jpg
2008 Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
"This city just showed you that it's full of people ready to believe in good."
My Relationship: Three viewings, as good as ever.
Why I Love It: I am that guy I just love this movie. It transcends the genre. The things that drive people nuts, I like. The things that people like, I love.
24
It's A Wonderful Life
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/95/Its_A_Wonderful_Life_Movie_Poster.jpg/215px-Its_A_Wonderful_Life_Movie_Poster.jpg
1946 Director: Frank Capra
Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed
"Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"
My Relationship: I get a viewing once a year. I haven't missed many in the past twenty years.
Why I Love It: Not just the perfect Christmas movie but the perfect movie period. I love the story and the performances.
The Gunslinger45
01-01-14, 04:36 PM
In my opinion It's A Wonderful Life is the best movie ever made! Great choice!
Miss Vicky
01-01-14, 04:36 PM
Meh, I found it a little too sappy for my tastes.
Meh, I found it a little too sappy for my tastes.
It is sappy but not till the end. It goes pretty dark for a significant amount time.
23
A Few Good Men
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/45/A_Few_Good_Men_poster.jpg/220px-A_Few_Good_Men_poster.jpg
1992 Director: Rob Reiner
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore
"Maybe, if we work at it, we can get Dawson charged with the Kennedy assassination."
My Relationship: I have watched it probably a dozen times. It has been a good ten years though.
Why I Love It: One of my favorite scripts for sure. Great performances. Many individual scenes that I love.
22
Back To The Future
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d2/Back_to_the_Future.jpg/220px-Back_to_the_Future.jpg
1985 Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd
"Wait a minute, Doc. Ah... Are you telling me that you built a time machine... out of a DeLorean"
My Relationship: Many, many, many, many viewings.
Why I Love It: Classic fun. Maybe the most fun movie on my list.
21
GoodFellas
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7b/Goodfellas.jpg/220px-Goodfellas.jpg
1990 Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro
"Whenever we needed money, we'd rob the airport. To us, it was better than Citibank."
My Relationship: Three viewings, one within the last year.
Why I Love It: Great character study. One of the all time great gangster flicks.
20
Kill Bill I&II
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Kill_bill_vol_one_ver.jpg/220px-Kill_bill_vol_one_ver.jpg
2004 Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen
"No wonder you can't do it, you acquiesce to defeat before you even begin."
My Relationship: For some unknown reason I waited till this year to watch these movies. I will be watching them again in the coming year.
Why I Love It: All the standard Tarantino goodness is here. Amazingly drawn characters spouting perfectly written dialogue.
19
Braveheart
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/55/Braveheart_imp.jpg/220px-Braveheart_imp.jpg
1995 Director: Mel Gibson
Cast: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau
"It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom."
My Relationship: Probably three full viewings. Many partial.
Why I Love It: Amazing epic that has everything and then some.
18
Band Of Brothers
http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTI3ODc2ODc0M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMjgzNjc3._V1_SX214_.jpg
2001
Producers: Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg
Cast: Damian Lewis, Ron Livingstone
My Relationship: Only one viewing. I didn't watch it in 2001. Probably 2010.
Why I Love It: Unbelievable. There is nothing else like it for a war movie. The Pacific came close to matching it but not quite.
17
No Country For Old Men
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8b/No_Country_for_Old_Men_poster.jpg/220px-No_Country_for_Old_Men_poster.jpg
2007 Director: Coen Bros.
Cast: Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones
"I always figured when I got older, God would sorta come inta my life somehow. And he didn't. I don't blame him. If I was him I would have the same opinion of me that he does."
My Relationship: Three viewings. One very recently.
Why I Love It: Great cinematic story telling. Quiet without being boring. One of the great villains.
16
Lonesome Dove
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/45/Lonesome_Dove_dvd_cover.jpg/190px-Lonesome_Dove_dvd_cover.jpg
1989 Director: Simon Wincer
Cast: Robert Duval, Tommy Lee Jones
"I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it."
"A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough."
My Relationship: I have watched it all the way through twice.
Why I Love It: Two of my favorite characters ever created. Not a scene in the over six hours that I don't like. Great dialogue and characters throughout.
15
Gladiator
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8d/Gladiator_ver1.jpg/220px-Gladiator_ver1.jpg
2000 Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix
"What we do in life echoes in eternity."
My Relationship: Been a favorite from the first viewing in the theater. I have watched it probably five times.
Why I Love It: Epic in every way. Love the gladiator scenes. Love the dramatic moments. Love it when it is tugging at the heart strings.
14
Inglorious Basterds
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Inglourious_Basterds_poster.jpg/215px-Inglourious_Basterds_poster.jpg
2009 Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Christoph Waltz, Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger
"You know how you get to Carnegie Hall, don't ya? Practice."
My Relationship: Three viewings spread out over the last five years.
Why I Love It: Waltz's performance alone is enough to make this a good film. The usual Tarantino dialogue and characters are very good as well. There are two scenes that send this film into the stratosphere for me. the opening and the bar. They are both long, tense, and as good as film gets.
13
Jerry Maguire
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ea/Jerry_Maguire_movie_poster.jpg/220px-Jerry_Maguire_movie_poster.jpg
1996 Director: Cameron Crowe
Cast: Tom Cruise. Renee Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr.
"It's not "show friends." It's show *business*."
My Relationship: I have watched it half a dozen times, been more than five years.
Why I Love It: Great story that makes me smile and laugh throughout. Gooding has never been better, one of my favorite characters.
12
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/26/One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo%27s_Nest_poster.jpg/220px-One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo%27s_Nest_poster.jpg
1975 Director: Milos Forman
Cast: Jack Nicholson
"I'm a ******* marvel of modern science."
My Relationship: Three or four viewings.
Why I Love It: One of the great character studies. Nicholson giving an all time performance of an all time character.
11
Star Wars Trilogy
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/87/StarWarsMoviePoster1977.jpg/220px-StarWarsMoviePoster1977.jpg
George Lucas
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
"May the force be with you."
My Relationship: The only one that I watched in its original theatrical run is Return Of The Jedi. I was hooked and have stayed hooked, and have turned my kids into Star Wars geeks. It is true unconditional love. I found out that it was unconditional when the prequels came out and I didn't hate them.:D
Why I Love It: Great characters in a well built world. Lots of fun. Lots of :cool:
honeykid
01-01-14, 09:13 PM
Trilogies and tv shows? The films were bad enough, but at least they were a single entity. :p
cricket
01-01-14, 11:00 PM
Love True Grit, Forrest Gump, It's A Wonderful Life, Braveheart, A Few Good Men, Back to the Future, Goodfellas, Jerry Maguire, Cuckoo's Nest, Star Wars, and No Country for Old Men
I really liked The Social Network and Million Dollar Baby.
Haven't seen Lord of the Rings, Dark Knight, *Dances With Wolves, Band of Brothers, Lonesome Dove, or Basterds.
The Kill Bill movies and Gladiator are the only ones I'm not a big fan of.
10
Remember The Titans
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d1/Remember_the_titansposter.jpg/220px-Remember_the_titansposter.jpg
2000 Director: Boaz Yakin
Cast: Denzel Washington, Will Patton
"This is no democracy. It is a dictatorship. I am the law."
My Relationship: Probably easier to count birthdays then viewings. This film is firmly planted as one of my top movies and not going anywhere.
Why I Love It: It is schmaltzy for sure. I love the characters and the themes though. Laughs and tears, victory and defeat, I love it all.
9
Apocalypse Now
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ac/Apocnow.jpg/215px-Apocnow.jpg
1979 Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Marlon Brando
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
My Relationship: Only two viewings but boy did they leave an impression.
Why I Love It: For sure the most contemplative war film that I have seen. Lots of great characters and set pieces but Duvall's Kilgore is my favorite. No wasted scenes, no wasted lines.
Daniel M
01-05-14, 06:47 PM
Not seen Remember the Titans but Apocalypse Now is a great film :up:
8
Rocky
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/18/Rocky_poster.jpg/220px-Rocky_poster.jpg
1976 Director: John Avildsen
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith
"He doesn't know it's a damn show! He thinks it's a damn fight!"
My Relationship: I have loved it forever and watched it a lot.
Why I Love It: Like First Blood I think it gets forgotten and dismissed because of what it became with the sequels. Great underdog story with fantastic characters. I respect the ending a lot, I think it would be a different film if it had gone the conventional route.
7
Godfather II
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Godfather_part_ii.jpg/220px-Godfather_part_ii.jpg
1974 Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton
"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
My Relationship: I have watched it three times. Came to these movies later in life, I was in my twenties, than I care to admit. I found them though and love them.
Why I Love It: Perfect movie on every level. Very cinematic. Simply flawless.
6
The Godfather
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1c/Godfather_ver1.jpg/215px-Godfather_ver1.jpg
1972 Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, RObert Duvall, Diane Keaton
"My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
My Relationship: Three viewings just like part II
Why I Love It: Same reasons as part II. Did I mention they are perfect.
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
" 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."
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.
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
" 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."
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.
3
Fargo
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ac/Fargo.jpg/220px-Fargo.jpg
1996 Director: Coen Bros.
Cast: William H Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
"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."
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.
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."
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.
#1
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/Shawshank.jpg
1994 Director: Frank Darabont
Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown
"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)
Congrats on finishing your list Sean. Great work :up:
cricket
01-05-14, 10:08 PM
I haven't seen Remember the Titans yet but I love everything that came after it with the exception of Magnolia, which I have to try again. Great list bud.
Thanks guys, time to start watching some movies and posting reviews. I have to try and keep up with Jay Dee this year.;) That's never gonna happen.
honeykid
01-06-14, 06:28 AM
While I wasn't impressed with the previous 10, that's a good top 10, Sean. :up: Congratulations on finishing your list. :cool: Now, go and watch some great films so you can knock the crappy stuff off the list. :p
rauldc14
01-06-14, 03:38 PM
You and I have a lot in common when it comes to film. Hopefully I will like Magnolia when I finally get to seeing it.
Pulp Fiction is so damn rewatchable and entertaining, I think it might even be in my top 20 of all-time at the moment and Shawshank Redemption is just brilliant. Love that film as well. Congrats on finishing your list SeanC. :)
Cobpyth
01-06-14, 04:22 PM
Good list, Seanc! It's a little conventional, but hey, I'm the guy with Casablanca, Chinatown and Citizen Kane in his top 3. :p
I'm a big fan of Apocalypse Now, The Godfather Part 1 & 2, Magnolia, Fargo and Pulp Fiction and I really like The Shawshank's Redemtion, although I still can't see why it's seen by so many as THE best film of all time (pretty much the same feeling that I have with Forrest Gump, although I like Shawshank better).
Good Will Hunting has kind of an intelligent script, but, like you said, I'm one of those guys who thinks it's a little too sentimental and even heavy-handed at some times for what it is. It's a very well made film, though, with a great coming of age concept.
I'm also not THAT much of a Matt Damon/Ben Affleck fan, so that might be another reason why I don't love this film.
Looking forward to your future lists and reviews! :)
Thanks guys, time to start watching some movies and posting reviews. I have to try and keep up with Jay Dee this year.;)
http://imageshack.com/a/img843/5128/iz85.jpg
So you're coming after my award are you? You wanna run with the big dog? Then bring it on!!!
:p
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/PMMM.jpeg
2011 Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
This is a watch for the third round of the MoFo Hall Of Fame. One I was not looking forward to but settled into nicely. You are not going to see the word masterpiece or flawless anywhere in my review. I do think I can remain more positive than negative however, and my score will reflect that.
Concerning the characters: The first half of the movie mostly revolves around two characters and their decision of whether to join the battle against witches who are waging a supernatural war against humanity. We are also introduced to a couple of characters who are already engaging in that battle. Overall the character development is solid. I did not consider them engaging 100% of the time. There were points when 2 or 3 episodes went by where I simply wanted to get to the next so the story would progress. What I liked a lot was the subtlety of the characters arc without 1) trying to trick us or 2) telegraphing where the characters were headed. There are two characters in particular that I knew from the beginning were not what they seemed. I never understood entirely where they were going until they got there. When we did arrive at the destination it was easy to see where some of the hints were. That is good character building in my estimation.
There is one character in particular who bothered me throughout and he or she was known as the incubator. This character seemed irrelevant to me. Everything that was said by the incubator felt like a theme dump. What I mean by this is instead of letting the themes flow naturally during the course of the story, every so often the the incubator would explicitly spell out everything the writers want you to know in a short speech to another character. It is as if the writers do not trust you to draw conclusions from the story organically. It was quite noticeable and probably my biggest issue with the episodes.
Concerning the aesthetic: I would consider the animation average to good. The main characters are drawn nicely and the way they are dressed is at times really striking. The world they live in is nothing extraordinary to me but also not poor. The witches and Labyrinths are mostly poor. I was expecting the conflict and action to be the most striking visually and they fell short almost every time. The scene in the opening episode that involves a checker board look was the best and most memorable in the series. I wish there had been more that was that striking.
Concerning the themes: PMMM is very concerned with female empowerment which is great. The protagonist's father is consistently shown cooking and taking care of the baby while the mother is talked about as a successful business women. There are some sweet scenes between the mother and her daughter where they are both simply brushing their teeth together and the mother is giving advice on boys but most of all on how to be strong and independent. It is the theme of the series that is handled with the most care and the most subtlety. There are many other themes at play: self sacrifice, friendship, love, and even sexuality are explored. Sometimes these themes are evident through the characters arc as it should be. Other times they feel like they are being preached to you. Which brings me to:
Concerning Christ imagery: As a Christian Christ imagery is not something that usually bothers me. It is not something that I feel is usually done well however, as I think the point of Christ is usually missed. PMMM is no different. Normally I can roll right past obvious Christ imagery, Man Of Steel earlier in the year comes to mind. That is because normally it is just used to represent someone who is more concerned with others than they are themselves, someone who is for the greater good of humanity. However when you go so far as to call your protagonist a God, I am going to notice. That is what Madoka is called at the end of PMMM. This is because she finds a way to sacrifice herself for the sake of humanity. If it ended there I am fine. When PMMM goes on to paint her as a being who is now distant from humanity, a memory, almost a fairy tale, I'm not okay with it. I am not offended by it but I believe it misses the main point of the Christ story. Thus if you want to paint your character in this manner leave Christ out of it.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/PMMM2.jpeg
Overall my experience with PMMM was positive. I easily went from one episode to the next wanting to know where the characters were headed. The main characters were the best part of the episodes. I simply wish that the writers would have trusted the characters they developed a little more. Allowed the viewer to explore the themes themselves and draw their own conclusions. I think if they had PMMM would not have felt so uneven to me.
3
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/PMMM3.jpeg
Guaporense
01-29-14, 09:21 PM
Nice to hear your opinion.
There is one character in particular who bothered me throughout and he or she was known as the incubator. This character seemed irrelevant to me. Everything that was said by the incubator felt like a theme dump. What I mean by this is instead of letting the themes flow naturally during the course of the story, every so often the the incubator would explicitly spell out everything the writers want you to know in a short speech to another character. It is as if the writers do not trust you to draw conclusions from the story organically. It was quite noticeable and probably my biggest issue with the episodes.
You made a good point there. I never noticed it, I thought it was the villain of the movie/series.
Concerning the aesthetic: I would consider the animation average to good. The main characters are drawn nicely and the way they are dressed is at times really striking. The world they live in is nothing extraordinary to me but also not poor. The witches and Labyrinths are mostly poor. I was expecting the conflict and action to be the most striking visually and they fell short almost every time. The scene in the opening episode that involves a checker board look was the best and most memorable in the series. I wish there had been more that was that striking.
The whole thing was made on a budget of 1.5 million dollars. Each episode was made for 125,000 dollars. The voice actresses made each 6 thousand dollars. It was a shoestring budget show.
For comparison, Spongebob Squarepants the Movie was made on a budget of 30 million dollars.
Concerning Christ imagery: As a Christian Christ imagery is not something that usually bothers me. It is not something that I feel is usually done well however, as I think the point of Christ is usually missed. PMMM is no different. Normally I can roll right past obvious Christ imagery, Man Of Steel earlier in the year comes to mind. That is because normally it is just used to represent someone who is more concerned with others than they are themselves, someone who is for the greater good of humanity. However when you go so far as to call your protagonist a God, I am going to notice. That is what Madoka is called at the end of PMMM. This is because she finds a way to sacrifice herself for the sake of humanity. If it ended there I am fine. When PMMM goes on to paint her as a being who is now distant from humanity, a memory, almost a fairy tale, I'm not okay with it. I am not offended by it but I believe it misses the main point of the Christ story. Thus if you want to paint your character in this manner leave Christ out of it.
I recommend to you Evangelion, the giant robot anime, for Christian symbolism (for example, the name of the giant robots is "Eva", they are clones of a giant monster found in antartica whose name was "Adam", the enemy monsters are "The Angels"):
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7n-OefIquM/TB8gjNqcL4I/AAAAAAAAAHc/CP7awJADZgA/s640/%5BD-RAWS%5D+Evangelion+2.22+You+Can+%28Not%29+Advance+%28BD+1920x1080+H.264+AAC+2ch%2B5.1ch%29.mp41570.j pg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E7n-OefIquM/TB8g2mL4JhI/AAAAAAAAAHk/kfY-QZTUfwA/s640/%5BD-RAWS%5D+Evange%5B20100531-0056015%5D.JPG
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7n-OefIquM/TB8gLfc_JtI/AAAAAAAAAHU/tuy8PNl_VVw/s640/%5BD-RAWS%5D+Evangelion+2.22+You+Can+%28Not%29+Advance+%28BD+1920x1080+H.264+AAC+2ch%2B5.1ch%29.mp45996.j pg
http://loopingworld.com/misc/eva111.jpg
An Eva fighting an Angel:
http://outsiderjapan.pbworks.com/f/1196242382/amhaynes_evangelion.jpg
http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/7f/dc/images_9.jpg?itok=I-OzgTu8
PMMM is said to be more about Buddhist symbolism. :D Though I didn't notice any, since I don't know a thing about Buddhism.
Allowed the viewer to explore the themes themselves and draw their own conclusions. I think if they had PMMM would not have felt so uneven to me.
It's not subtle and is not supposed to be subtle, it is supposed to hit you with a sledgehammer. Like Ikiru, Grave of the Fireflies and Schindler's List. Also, it's not a near perfect work (far from it), I love it because I had extremely powerful emotional reactions for it, just that.
Glad you though your way about it. I did not notice the same things you did.
Thanks for the feedback and reco guap. I got a whole bunch on the watch list right now but will keep it in mind.
Guaporense
01-30-14, 12:08 AM
Also, I noticed you didn't like the infodumping in PMMM, yes, it's a popular work also because it explains stuff to the audience.
Lain, for instance, doesn't explain anything so it's more subtle and less popular than PMMM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9kYAEyVjEY&list=PL29CFFB0C178E4903
The whole thing is 260 minutes long and is on youtube. I am thinking of nominating it for the next Hall of Fame.
rauldc14
01-30-14, 01:00 AM
C'mon Guap. Lay off the anime madness.
Director Spotlight
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/Hitchcock.jpg
I thoroughly enjoyed my last three months with one of the greatest film makers of all time. I watched twelve of his films. Two of these were re watches. I had watched Vertigo less than a year ago, so it did not receive a re watch, but it did kind of kick this whole thing off. Hitchcock is referred to as the master of suspense. I think why I enjoy him so much is because he is the master of character. It is reoccurring theme with me and the film makers I love. If you spend time developing characters I care about the story almost becomes insignificant. The Hitchcock film that ended up being my favorite is not the one I would have guessed. The plot is preposterous, but everything else is perfect to me, thus I adored the film.
In addition to Hitchcock's attention to his characters I love the way he ends his films. He was not afraid of an ambiguous ending. I think certain film makers need to be careful of leaving things too open ended but Hitchcock's films are perfect for this approach. His characters always have an abundance of mystery to them. This makes the ambiguous ending effective because it leaves the viewer fixated on these characters long after the movie ends. It is always good for a movie to end on a high note because that is what sticks with us. I am not saying that this alone made Hitchcock great, it sure didn't hurt however.
My complaints about Hitchcock are few but I do have some. I don't feel he is a very good adventure writer, Both films that I would put in this category are at the bottom of my list. I also did not enjoy the only film of his that I would consider a straight comedy. he uses humor very effectively in his films, this did not translate to pure comedic writing in my opinion. I also felt his scores were over bearing. I know this was pretty standard for the time. It still became distracting at points.
A few things surprised me during my Hitchcock watching. I did not realize how much I liked Cary Grant till watching all these movies. Even the films of his I did not enjoy, Grant was the best part of them. I also did not realize that Hitchcock was the original Stan Lee. After spotting him the first time it became pretty fun to wonder where he would show up. Thankfully he did not get to full of himself and try his hand at speaking parts like some of today's directors who shall remain nameless.
Best Hitchcock Scene:
Playground in The Birds
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/thebirds1.jpg
So many great scenes to choose from. The perfect endings of Suspicion and Vertigo were very hard to ignore. I just love the way this scene was shot and it stuck with me. Melanie is simply sitting on a bench waiting for the children to be let out of school. We see the slow build in the cut shots of birds beginning to accumulate on the monkey bars. Great visual story telling, and a scene that will always stick with me.
Best Script:
Dial M For Murder
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/dialm.jpg
Again a very hard decision when dealing with so many great films. In Dial M For Murder the script is everything. The film is mostly contained, maybe exclusively, in a small apartment. The characters are all fantastic and perfectly written. My favorite ended up being the detective. He seems simple at first and is easy to dismiss. Then he becomes the focus and is amazing in the last few scenes. Loving this movie may be my biggest surprise during my viewings.
Female Performance:
Tippi Hedren- The Birds
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/thebirds2.jpg
The Birds was one of only a couple Hitchcock movies that I watched the special features with. I was surprised to find out Hedren was a rookie. She carried this movie and is one of the biggest reasons it is so great.
Male Performance:
Anthony Perkins- Psycho
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/psycho.jpg
Another surprise for me. Not that he was good but that he stood out among Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant performances. Really creepy but also charming when need be. All time classic performance for good reason.
The Movies:
#13- North By Northwest
"In the world of advertising, there's no such thing as a lie. There's only expedient exaggeration."
Only the chemistry between Grant and Saint kept me from falling asleep. I know plenty love this movie, I just don't understand why.
2.5
#12- To Catch A Thief
"Are you sure you were talking about water skis? From where I sat it looked as though you were conjugating some irregular verbs."
Nearly the exact same problems as North By Northwest. A little more quiet time with Grant and Kelly elevates it ever so slightly.
2.5
#11- The Trouble With Harry
"He looked exactly the same when he was alive, only he was vertical."
Very few comedies make me say the writing is memorable but it just wasn't funny. This film made me say that exactly. The burying and unburying, I just hate that kind of stuff. It has MacLaine though, and boy have I come to love her.
2.5
#10- Strangers On A Train
"I still think it would be wonderful to have a man love you so much he'd kill for you."
Bruno Anthony may be my favorite Hitchcock antagonist. Unfortunately he was in the wrong movie, because not much else worked for me.
2.5
#9- Notorious
"There's nothing like a love song to give you a good laugh."
Bergman's character is great. Of course Grant is great with her which is a common theme throughout Hitchcock's movie for me. Their relationship felt under developed though, which kept me from totally embracing this one. Good book ends however.
3
#8- Rebecca
"You thought I loved Rebecca? You thought that? I hated her!"
Slow build. The getting there was fantastic. One of the few where I didn;t feel the end lived up to the rest. Very good though.
3.5
#7- Suspicion
"If you're going to kill someone, do it simply."
Similar to Rebecca in the way it builds the central relationship. This one ends great though. Probably my second favorite Hitchcock ending to Vertigo, not by much though.
3.5
#6- Psycho
"It's not like my mother is a maniac or a raving thing. She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes."
How can Psycho be my sixth favorite Hitchcock? Because the top five are amazing. I get the greatness of Psycho, Perkins mentioned above being a big part of that. If I am honest with myself I just find it clunky in too many spots to call it perfect. The interactions with mother that are supposedly being heard all the way at the hotel, clunky. The scene where he catches one of the Crane sister and dresses as mother in two seconds, clunky. The ending speech by the shrink, most clunky of all. The great far outweighs those scenes but I can't overlook them.
4
Top 5 Hitchcock films coming soon.
All are 3.5 or 4 movies for me, except for Suspicion, which I give 3. :)
All are 3.5 or 4 movies for me, except for Suspicion, which I give 3. :)
Lots of 4 coming up. What is your favorite Hitchcock?
rauldc14
02-08-14, 12:20 AM
I love Hitchcock. He has so many good films. Even his not so good films are good, if that makes sense.
honeykid
02-08-14, 11:39 AM
All are 3.5 or 4 movies for me, except for Suspicion, which I give 3. :)
That's because your ratings aren't strict enough. :D
Good stuff here, Seanc. :up: I have the same troubles with Hitchcock as you do, but they make me dislike the films more. Well, that, and the things you like about them don't work as well for me. For example, I really don't care about Cary Grant. :shrug: Neither do I usually care for the female protagonists in his films or, rather, the actresses that play them.
Not even Hedren. Or as I call her, the Barrymore of the 60's.:D
rauldc14
02-08-14, 11:50 AM
Cary Grants best films are his Hitchcock films. That and Bringing Up Baby
And People Will Talk, Gunga Din, The Philadelphia Story, Mr. Lucky, His Girl Friday, Charade, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Bishop's Wife, That Touch of Mink, The Talk of the Town, The Grass is Greener, Holiday, Indiscreet, etc. :)
rauldc14
02-08-14, 12:31 PM
And People Will Talk, Gunga Din, The Philadelphia Story, Mr. Lucky, His Girl Friday, Charade, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Bishop's Wife, That Touch of Mink, The Talk of the Town, The Grass is Greener, Holiday, Indiscreet, etc. :)
Well, I've seen three of those too.
How many "etc." have you seen? :)
honeykid
02-08-14, 12:57 PM
Not even Hedren. Or as I call her, the Barrymore of the 60's.:D
It's like you want me to hit you. :confused:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuBWbpTJRqk
rauldc14
02-08-14, 01:41 PM
And People Will Talk, Gunga Din, The Philadelphia Story, Mr. Lucky, His Girl Friday, Charade, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Bishop's Wife, That Touch of Mink, The Talk of the Town, The Grass is Greener, Holiday, Indiscreet, etc. :)
I've seen 7 Cary Grant films. 1 from the etc. variety.
Director Spotlight
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/Hitchcock.jpg
#5 Vertigo
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Vertigomovie_restoration.jpg/220px-Vertigomovie_restoration.jpg
Cast: Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novack, Barbara Bel Geddes
"Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere."
I really loved Vertigo. The opening scene between Stewart and Geddes is impeccable. One of my slight problems with the film ended up being I cared more about that relationship then the one between Stewart and Novack. I can not say enough about the ending of this movie. Second only to Gone With The Wind's ending for me.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/vertigo.jpeg
4
#4 Dial M For Murder
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Dial_M_For_Murder.jpg/225px-Dial_M_For_Murder.jpg
Cast: Ray Milland, Grace Kelly
"People don't commit murder on credit."
The best written of all the Hitchcock's I watched and that is saying something. Classic "murder" scene. I really didn't see the last couple of scenes coming, and they were fantastic.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/dialm-1.jpeg
4
#3 Shadow Of A Doubt
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2b/Original_movie_poster_for_the_film_Shadow_of_a_Doubt.jpg/220px-Original_movie_poster_for_the_film_Shadow_of_a_Doubt.jpg
Cast: Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten
"What's the use of looking backward? What's the use of looking ahead? Today's the thing - that's my philosophy. Today."
Great movie from start to finish. The lead characters are perfect. There is not one character I did not enjoy. The family and the detectives were really well drawn peripheral characters. Goes to some genuinely creepy places.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/shadowofadoubt.jpeg
4.5
#2 Rear Window
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Rear_Window_film_poster.jpg/220px-Rear_Window_film_poster.jpg
Cast: Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly
"Nobody ever invented a polite word for a killin' yet."
Very hard choice between this film and my favorite Hitchcock. This film is perfect in every way, except for the helicopter someone cut that out please. The scenes between Stewart and Kelly are riveting. This movie is about watching though, and we love watching as much as the main character. I don't think it would have mattered what happened with the central story arc. Everything surrounding it is so amazing.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/rearwindow.jpeg
5
#1 The Birds
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/The_Birds_original_poster.jpg/220px-The_Birds_original_poster.jpg
Cast: Rid Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette
"I have never known birds of different species to flock together."
From the opening scene I knew I would love this film. I didn't know where the central relationship was headed at that point. I knew it would be fun. Every scene in this movie is great, not a boring moment. The secondary relationships are as engaging as the primary. Love the moments in the diner. Sure to be one of my favorites forever.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/movie%20posters/thebirds.jpeg
5
cricket
02-08-14, 09:02 PM
:up::up::up::up::up:
honeykid
02-08-14, 10:03 PM
I think Shadow Of A Doubt is magnificent. I'm not really bothered by the rest. I used to really like Rear Window, but I've had trouble the last couple of times I've tried to watch it. Hopefully that's just a mood thing. Even as a child I didn't care much for The Birds and that hasn't changed in adulthood. I've never been a fan of Dial M For Murder, however, the last time I watched it I liked it a bit more than I ever have. As for Vertigo, well, as I've said many times, I just find it dull. I don't hate/dislike it as much as I used to, it just bores me now.
Frightened Inmate No. 2
02-08-14, 10:50 PM
the birds is the only one i don't like very much. the acting is awful, the characters are stupider than normal for a hitchcock movie, and i never once felt any suspense at all. everything else i've seen from him is great, though, and i still have a ton to see.
my rankings:
psycho
vertigo
rear window
marnie
the birds
Guaporense
02-08-14, 11:01 PM
That child acting in The Birds is horrible.
The Gunslinger45
03-23-14, 07:43 PM
Glad you liked it. I myself will need a rewatch. I get where Scorsese was coming from but did not really care for it. I did not think it was bad. I could see why people would get pissed with it, but not sacrilegious.
rauldc14
03-23-14, 07:46 PM
I really do need to see Shadow of a Doubt. Also haven't seen The Last Temptation of Christ.
Captain Spaulding
03-24-14, 01:15 AM
I'm a huge fan of Last Temptation. It's my second favorite Scorsese. I'm not a religious person whatsoever, but I agree with you that there's nothing sacrilegious in the movie. I think a lot of Christians probably don't even give it a chance or don't bother watching it. But, even as a non-believer, Last Temptation moves me. I think it's the most loving portrayal of Jesus I've seen, and the only one that I can relate to or identify with in anyway.
In most movies, Jesus comes across more like a superhero than a human being. In Last Temptation, however, we see his vulnerability and his fears and his doubts. I mean, if you're hearing the voice of God in your head and He wants you to be crucified for the sake of mankind, you're not going to be like, "Great idea!" No, you're going to be like, "Why me?" Perhaps that's where the controversy comes in. Christians don't want to see Jesus portrayed with anything that they deem as weakness. But the Jesus I see in Last Temptation is stronger and more worthy of being a Savior that the Jesus I've seen in any other religious movie.
Director Spotlight
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/wes_anderson_collection-1.jpg
Thank God for Wes Anderson. He is not the only director who cares about every single small detail of his films. He is one of the very few who excels in absolutely every area of film making however. This makes him one of the greatest movie directors working right now and my favorite director of the moment. His attention to every detail in every frame of his films is mesmerizing. The way he scores his films using a great mixture of styles of music, his aesthetically pleasing use of color, and the sense of place that he sets are enough to make his movies fantastic. However, I think Anderson's greatest strength is the dynamic characters he creates with their quick witted dense dialogue. In fact Anderson's movies are so dense that they reward repeat viewings which is something very rare. While I have loved Anderson's films each time I have watched them, each one that I have re-watched has only grown in my estimation. Anderson is also the only director I love who does not have a weak link in his filmography. I only rank one of his films below a 4/5, that is The Life Aquatic. I have only watched that film once and fully expect that I will like it more the second time around.
Anderson films are also unique in that the characters feel real and flawed but their is a great sense of fun and mischief. This is a hard balance to strike but once again Anderson does it perfectly. His movies are also among the funniest I have ever seen. They are not always laugh out loud funny but they are filled with wit and charm. I know a lot of people consider Anderson quirky and strange and I can certainly understand that. In fact I don't think I would want many other directors to try and work in his aesthetic. I do want him to continue to make his style of films for many more years though. I am pretty confident that I will cherish each and every one.
Favorite Wes Anderson Scene:
Very hard choice here. I am going with The Rushmore dinner scene. At this point we know that Max is in love with the teacher. He is in his glory after directing a successful play. His hopes are destroyed when the teacher brings a date to the play and the dinner. I love Max in this scene. He is at his rudest and most comical. He is also in maybe his most vulnerable state. It is a perfect example of what Anderson does so well in blending so much humanity into his story telling.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/rushmore2.jpg
Favorite Female Performance:
If their was a knock on Anderson that I could ever agree with it may be that their are not an abundance of strong female characters. There are exceptions and Paltrow's Margot from Tenenbaums is one of them. She is also one of the most sympathetic Anderson characters in my opinion.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/tenenbaums.png
Best Male Performance:
Almost as hard of a choice as scene. I love Fiennes in Grand Budapest Hotel. Pitch perfect. Again a great blend of brokenness and humor.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/grandbudapest.png
Best Script:
Although everyone of his scripts are fantastic this was not a hard decision. Rushmore is my favorite Anderson film for two reasons. The main character and the unbelievable script.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/rushmore3.png
rauldc14
04-18-14, 12:14 AM
All I've really seen is Tenenbaums, and I just didn't get what the hooplah was about. It was ok though.
All I've really seen is Tenenbaums, and I just didn't get what the hooplah was about. It was ok though.
Check out Fantastic Mr. Fox, that's my favorite of his and it's hard not to like. I haven't found anyone who doesn't like it.
rauldc14
04-18-14, 12:18 AM
Check out Fantastic Mr. Fox, that's my favorite of his and it's hard not to like. I haven't found anyone who doesn't like it.
I'll add it to my queue. I've wanted to see Rushmore too.
All I've really seen is Tenenbaums, and I just didn't get what the hooplah was about. It was ok though.
Give Anderson a couple of shots. You may end up loving him. Maybe start back with Bottle Rocket actually. It has some of the quirk but not as much as his other movies.
Director Spotlight]
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/wes_anderson_collection-1.jpg
Really what good is subjective art if we don't rank it. Like I said I love this man's entire filmography so the low film on the totem pole is still pretty great in my opinion. Next time I make a 100 list at least five of these will probably make it on.
#8
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7c/Lifeaquaticposter.jpg/220px-Lifeaquaticposter.jpg
Cast: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett
"Don't point that gun at him, he's an unpaid intern."
I don't know why this one doesn't resonate with me like the others. It has great performances and an amazing script just like all of his films. I have only watched it once so I am hoping that repeat viewings will make me love it even more.
3.5
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/lifeaquatic.png
#7
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/af/Fantastic_mr_fox.jpg/220px-Fantastic_mr_fox.jpg
Voices: George Clooney, Meryl Streep,
" If you're gonna cuss with somebody, you're not gonna cuss with me, you little cuss!"
The visuals in this movie don't really do it for me. Everything else is so great though. Very witty film.
4
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/fantasticmrfox-1.jpg
#6
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Bottle-Rocket.jpg/220px-Bottle-Rocket.jpg
Cast: Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson
"He's out. And your out too. I don't think I'm in either."
I just recently watched Anderson's first film. I held off for a reason, having not heard much about it in the past I figured it was probably a dud. What a pleasant surprise. It should not have been a surprise that an Anderson film would have great dialogue and great characters. The Wilson's are perfect together. Many laugh out loud scenes.
4
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/bottlerocket.jpg
#5
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1e/Darjeeling_Limited_Poster.jpg/220px-Darjeeling_Limited_Poster.jpg
Cast: Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman
" I love you too, but I'm gonna mace you in the face!"
A lot of people consider this lesser Anderson, not me. I think that it is just a continuation of everything he does so well. Entertaining throughout.
4
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/darjeelinglimited.jpg
I gotta watch Fantastic Mr. Fox at some point.
You're crazy, the visuals of Fantastic Mr. Fox are great!
You're crazy, the visuals of Fantastic Mr. Fox are great!
I know that's the consensus. Stop motion just isn't my jam and the colors are too dull.
I think stop motion is one of the greatest things in the universe, personally. Maybe even second after The Office.
I think stop motion is one of the greatest things in the universe, personally. Maybe even second after The Office.
So happy someone else around here loves The Office. I was beginning to think I was the only one. I love it all the way through five and even then I don't think it got as bad as people said. The last few episodes of the season Michael left were pretty great. When did it stop being great for you? or did it even.
Season 5 is actually my favorite season. It just makes me laugh the most ("why, because I'm quote white, unquote?"). I think 1 - 5 are absolutely phenomenal, 6 and 7 aren't as great but still good (season 7 has some fantastic episodes). It's hard to watch season 8 and 9 because there's no Michael Scott, but I like them and think they get a bad rap. They're still better than most stuff on TV and I'd rather watch them than a lot of stuff.
Director Spotlight
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/wes_anderson_collection-1.jpg
#4
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a6/The_Grand_Budapest_Hotel_Poster.jpg/220px-The_Grand_Budapest_Hotel_Poster.jpg
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori
" You're looking so well darling, you really are. I don't know what sort of cream they put on you down at the morgue but, I want some."
Anderson's most recent and definitely has room and the chops to move up the list. My favorite Fiennes performance to date. Another Anderson triumph I have not mentioned. I never ever like Adrian Brody unless he is in an Anderson film.
4
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/budapest2-1.jpg
#3
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4f/Moonrise_Kingdom_FilmPoster.jpeg/220px-Moonrise_Kingdom_FilmPoster.jpeg
Cast: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward
" I'd be careful if I were you. One of these days, somebody's gonna get pushed too far. And who knows what they're capable of?"
Maybe only Anderson could make me care about a pre-pubescent romance. A really sweet and funny film.
4.5
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/moonrisekingdom2.jpg
#2
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3b/The_Tenenbaums.jpg/220px-The_Tenenbaums.jpg
Cast: Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow
" Anybody interested in grabbing a couple of burgers and hittin' the cemetery?"
I absolutely love this movie but never feel like I have watched it enough. There is so much going on with so many characters I just want to glean more and more from it.
4.5
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/royaltennenbaums.jpg
#1
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/42/Rushmoreposter.png/220px-Rushmoreposter.png
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams
" My top schools where I want to apply to are Oxford and the Sorbonne. My safety's Harvard."
I was not in love the first time I watched Rusmore. It was my first Anderson film and I liked it a lot. I thought it was quirky, mildly funny, with a pretty good main character. Twelve years and three viewings later I think it is brilliant, one if the funniest movies ever, and has one of my top few characters ever created for film. So many scenes are so much better to watch when you have the context of all the characters. The first time I saw the Murray high dive scene it left little impression. Now I can't take my eyes off it, it says so much about his character and where he is in his life. The dinner scene similarly has is so much more poignant after multiple viewings. This is an unbelievable film and one I think I will love forever.
5
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/rushmore.jpg
Superhero Overload
I went and watched The Amazing Spider-Man 2 with my boys this weekend. I didn't particularly want to see it. I thought the first one was pretty terrible. My five year old has become a bit of a Spider-Man nut over the past couple months however, so off to the theater we went. Us and about a gazillion other people. I know I am not breaking new ground here. Many people have become pretty overwhelmed by the amount of superhero films coming out over the past few years. Not only are they being released by the boat load but the studios now feel an overwhelming need to provide constant continuity within franchises. The studio making the DC films has been scrambling with all the success of Marvel. They are making decisions on the properties before anyone even has a story to tell. All in their quest to keep up with the big boys. It was announced last week that anything that has had to do with Star Wars outside of the six films is no longer considered cannon. All the books and video games are out. It is a new day, only the things created from here forward are the real deal. Why? Who cares? Are those of us who read the books going to protest when the new films don't line up with what we have read? Scratch that, many probably would, but I wouldn't. I think what Marvel has been able to do is amazing, despite not loving all the films. To try and duplicate that success is futile though. Studios should just make movies when there are good stories to tell and people will come watch. Now that they are moving on with Batman are Nolan's films somehow going to be marginalized? Not for me, and not for many others who feel they are the standard.
So it got me thinking. What made those movies so special for me? No it was not the Nolan factor. These movies are the reason I now consider myself a Nolan fan boy, not the other way around. Origin stories must be the reason. I am a sucker for a good origin story. I like the stripped down feel of them and I enjoy watching the character development that comes along with it. Those things are true, but if they were the whole answer more than two of my five favorite comic movies would be origin stories. Begins would also be my favorite of Nolan's films, but as it turns out it is my least favorite of the three. Stakes must be it, I am a big believer in stakes and have been using it as my number one reason for not enjoying the last couple years in comic book movies. After this weekend I have to admit Spider-Man proved it had stakes. I am not going to spoil anything but it went somewhere where I didn't think these types of films were willing to go. Also if I am being honest, I never feared for the life of Nolan's Batman or any of The Avengers, and those movies are fantastic.
I think the simple answer is that the studios were letting these film makers make the movies they wanted without looking ahead to the string of films coming for the next five years. Nolan's universe was a self contained thing. He had a string of stories in mind and simply told them. He told them brilliantly, with great characters and visuals. The Avengers was an experiment. The films leading up to it were mostly good. The exception was probably Iron Man 2, and this is when it was most apparent that Marvel was starting to look ahead. The Avengers was lightning in a bottle, the perfect storm. It had great characters and was fun. Now everything Marvel is doing is looking towards the next film. By trying to make their universe perfectly synced, they are sapping all the joy straight out of their films and all the other studios are following suit. The Amazing Spider-Man was way to soon for a reboot. Most of us liked the Raimi movies until 3. We didn't need Spider-Man reborn so soon but we got it and the result is two movies that just are not very good. They are not terrible, just too familiar and too bombastic. They are also ready to cash in on the connected universe model. With The Sinister Six coming next and then another Spider-Man film. Superman is the same deal. Most people's problem with Man Of Steel is the amount of destruction. Snyder was paying attention to The Avenger's finale when creating his own and it showed. Now we have to have The Justice League. Not because there is a great story there but because it is time to cash in. Marvel I am afraid is also falling victim to it's own success. The last three movies just feel like they are propelling us to the next, the fun is gone in my opinion.This is all my opinion of course. These movies are making tons of cash and as long as they do we will continue to get what we are getting. I just want better movies, and instead I feel like they are getting worse.
Ten That Got It Right:
#10
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bc/Watchmen_film_poster.jpg/220px-Watchmen_film_poster.jpg
3.5
The anti-hero superhero movie. I am due for a re-watch but thought it was underrated.
#9
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ec/The_Incredibles.jpg/220px-The_Incredibles.jpg
3.5
A very fun take on the genre from Pixar.
#8
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/55/X-MenFirstClassMoviePoster.jpg/220px-X-MenFirstClassMoviePoster.jpg
3.5
I guess it is not a reboot, but kind of is to me as the originals didn't do much for me. One series that I am still interested in.
#7
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f3/Spider-Man2002Poster.jpg/220px-Spider-Man2002Poster.jpg
3.5
Spider-Man done right. Fun and fresh at the time.
#6
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3c/Batman_ver2.jpg/220px-Batman_ver2.jpg
3.5
The movie that has made me go to all other comic book movies. Still my favorite villain.
#5
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/af/Batman_Begins_Poster.jpg/220px-Batman_Begins_Poster.jpg
3.5
I think I mentioned how much I love Nolan's Batman.
#4
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/83/Dark_knight_rises_poster.jpg/220px-Dark_knight_rises_poster.jpg
4
All the bad rep I have heard is about the plot holes. It's a comic book movie, yeah I think people were ready to rip Nolan. I loved it.
#3
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f9/TheAvengers2012Poster.jpg/220px-TheAvengers2012Poster.jpg
4
Is now the standard for a reason. Loads of fun.
#2
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/Ironmanposter.JPG/220px-Ironmanposter.JPG
4
I think Tony Stark is one of the great characters to come out of the genre.
#1
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/Dark_Knight.jpg/220px-Dark_Knight.jpg
5
I know many have soured on it, I have not. I re-watch it almost every year at this point and think it is fantastic. Amazing characters and great action sequences. One of my 25 favorite movies.
rauldc14
05-05-14, 11:50 PM
Completely agree with your top 3. I would throw Thor somewhere on that list and then it would look just like mine.
I keep going back and forth on whether I want to see The Amazing Spiderman movies. Also not sure about the new X Men movie coming soon.
Completely agree with your top 3. I would throw Thor somewhere on that list and then it would look just like mine.
I keep going back and forth on whether I want to see The Amazing Spiderman movies. Also not sure about the new X Men movie coming soon.
Have you seen First Class?
Don't bother with Spidey.
rauldc14
05-06-14, 12:04 AM
I've only seen one X Men movie and that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It was pretty good so I've always wondered about the rest.
First class is good. Im looking forward to the next one.
100 Performances
Inspired a bit by Mr.Minio, inspired a bit by one of my favorite podcasts, I have decided to put together a list of my favorite performances. Instead of doing ten, I decided to go for the whole enchilada. 100 performances. I did want to set some rules for myself. I picked 25 each from supporting actress, supporting actor, lead actress, and lead actor. I also limited myself to one performance per actor or actress. This kept me from making a list where 70 spots go to Nicholson, DeNiro, and Streep. The result is there is some performances I love that got left off, but it also kind of looks like a list of my favorite actors and actresses. So overall I am happy with the result. I also moved some performances around compared to where they were placed in Academy nominations. I just used my better judgement because it is my list and sometimes the Academy is stupid. Just to prove I am not completely anti Academy I will be chauvinistic and start with the ladies.
Supporting Actress
25) Oprah Winfrey: The Color Purple 1985
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/oprah.jpg
Boy do I wish Oprah had decided to act. I did not love this film as much as I had hoped after seeing it three or four years ago. It has two fantastic performances that made my list though. Oprah was fantastic in The Butler last year as well.
24) Tatum O'Neal: Paper Moon 1973
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/papermoon.jpg
A movie that has faded far from my mind in the past fifteen years. Not this performance though. The wise cracking O'Neal was perfect and the only child performance to make my list.
23) Mariel Hemmingway: Manhattan 1979
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/manattan.jpg
I really love how this character was written but Hemmingway helps pull it off. Holding her own with the older more "sophisticated" intellectual heavy weights.
22) Lorraine Bracco: Goodfellas 1990
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/goodfellas.jpg
Not nearly as much to do as her male counter parts but she makes every scene she is in count. A strong sympathetic character.
cricket
07-19-14, 08:36 PM
I've seen all four and I'd have to agree, although I think more of Tatum as a lead actress in Paper Moon. Bracco deserves a lot of credit for shining in a male dominated movie like Goodfellas; whoever cast an unknown like that took a big risk, and it payed off brilliantly.
21) Reese Witherspoon: Election 1999
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/election.jpg
The first part I remember seeing her in and still my favorite. Very fun character in a great dark comedy.
20) Kate Hudson: Almost Famous 2000
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/almostfamous.jpg
My favorite character in a movie that has a lot of pretty good ones. My favorite Hudson performance by a long shot.
19) Marcia Gay Harden: Mystic River 2003
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/mysticriver.jpg
Talk about your sympathetic characters. Watching her go through the turmoil she does is gut wrenching. Especially with the way she knows the neighborhood and her husband's friends.
18) Renee Zellweger: Jerry Maguire 1996
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/maguire.jpg
I thought I was going to fall in love with Zellweger after seeing this movie. It didn't happen unfortunately. I know she got more acclaim for Cold Mountain but for my money this is the performance I like. Will not be the last performance from the movie to make the list.
rauldc14
07-21-14, 08:27 PM
Marcia Gay Harden put on a hell of a performance. I can't wait to see the rest of this list Sean.
rauldc14
07-21-14, 08:28 PM
O Neal and Hemmingway were also good. Bracco was great as well.
cricket
07-21-14, 08:29 PM
I personally think that those are 4 spectacular choices from 4 movies that I love. My wife hated Zellweger in that movie; she found her annoying, but oh well.
17) Minnie Driver: Good Will Hunting 1997
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/goodwillhunting.jpg
I love Minnie Driver as an actress because of this film. I am not sure I have actually liked anything else she has done. :shrug:
16) Amy Adams: American Hustle 2013
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/hustle-1.jpg
This may be a cumulative I love Amy Adams in The Fighter, The Master, Her, and Hustle award. I don't care she is awesome and I look forward to everything she does.
15) Catherine Keener: Being John Malkovich 1999
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/malkovich.jpg
Absolutely captivating in a well conceived and better written character.
14) Eva Marie Saint: On The Waterfront 1954
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/waterfront.jpg
Holds her own with one of the best there ever was in an actors movie.
rauldc14
07-21-14, 11:16 PM
Love Amy Adams performance. Eva Marie Saints performance is top 15 for me too. And Minnie Driver also gives a great performance. Love what I've seen so far!
Cobpyth
07-21-14, 11:34 PM
All great choices! My favorite choices so far are Tatum O'Neal in Paper Moon and Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas.
I've already stated it in my review thread, but Tatum O'Neal's performance in Paper Moon is probably my favorite child performance of all time. She's a real star in that one!
And Lorraine Bracco... Well, she is simply fantastic. She does everything right in Goodfellas. She's one of the many elements that make the film such a masterpiece. I love all of her scenes!
http://i.imgur.com/roEOf.gif
cricket
07-22-14, 12:39 AM
12 for 12 as far as I'm concerned; my only thing is that I don't consider all of these to be supporting performances-Tatum, Reese, Adams.
Miss Vicky
07-22-14, 12:43 AM
+rep for Tatum Oneal and Kate Hudson.
In regards to Minnie Driver: Have you seen Grosse Pointe Blank? I just rewatched it and thought she was quite good in it. Though of course I love it for a certain Mr. Cusack (and his sister, she cracks me up).
+rep for Tatum Oneal and Kate Hudson.
In regards to Minnie Driver: Have you seen Grosse Pointe Blank? I just rewatched it and thought she was quite good in it. Though of course I love it for a certain Mr. Cusack (and his sister, she cracks me up).
It has been years since seeing that but I remember liking it well enough. Driver was a radio host if I am not mistaken. I love the Cusacks as well although I have no recollection of Joan in Grosse Point.
Miss Vicky
07-22-14, 11:03 AM
I love the Cusacks as well although I have no recollection of Joan in Grosse Point.
Joan played John's secretary, basically. It's a small role, but funny.
rauldc14
07-22-14, 11:45 AM
Let's see the rest Sean
Miss Vicky
07-22-14, 11:47 AM
How did I totally not even notice Keener the first time? +rep for that too.
Let's see the rest Sean
Patience my friend. I have not even ranked my men's lists yet although I have all 50 ready to go. I am still getting pics together as well. I will do at least four a day this week and then I may be able to ramp it up over the weekend.
13) Mary McDonnell: Dances With Wolves 1990
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/wolves.jpg
I know the rose is off the bloom for Dances With Wolves but I still love it. McDonnell's performance is a big reason why. She is the glue for everything.
12) Dianne Wiest: Hannah And Her Sisters 1986
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/hannah.jpg
I love the complexity of this character so much. Of course being an Allen movie it is extremely well written but Wiest is amazing as well.
11) Grace Kelly: Rear Window 1954
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/rearwindow.jpg
I love Hithcock's women characters as you will see from this list. That sound you heard was HK leaving my thread.
10) Gwyneth Paltrow: The Royal Tenenbaums 2001
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/paltrow.jpg
I probably love Anderson characters even more than Hitchcock. Paltrow portrays one of his best. Funny and heart breaking as Margot Tenenbaum.
9) Kathy Bates: About Schmidt 2002
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/bates.jpg
Another case of a lot of Bates performances could go here. This remains my favorite though. Probably no accident that it is a Payne film.
8) Mary Tyler Moore: Ordinary People 1980
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/ordinarypeople.jpg
Why did Mary Tyler Moore do so few movies? I came to Ordinary People very late but I am glad I found it. Under rated for sure.
7) Barbara Bel Geddes: Vertigo 1958
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/vertigo.jpg
Amazing character who stole the movie for me.
6) Melora Walters: Magnolia 1999
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/walters.jpg
I love every character and performance in this movie. Walters won't be the last to show up.
rauldc14
07-22-14, 09:33 PM
Everything I have seen on your list I really like with the exception of Mary Tyler Moore. Though it wasn't a bad performance, just not memorable for me. I NEED to see a lot of these on your list yet. I'm assuming I'd love them.
rauldc14
07-22-14, 09:34 PM
I also do like Paltrow and Walters though I'm not biggest fan of either film. I like Magnolia though.
5) Julianne Moore: Magnolia 1999
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/moore.jpg
Moore is always amazing. For me she has never been better than the time we get to spend with her in Magnolia.
4) Uma Thurman: Pulp Fiction 1994
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/pulp-1.jpg
This is not an actress I love past her Tarantino characters. Man do I love her in Pulp Fiction.
3) Talia Shire: Rocky 1976
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/rocky.jpg
I love the way Shire plays this character. So sympathetic yet shy to the point of almost annoying at the beginning of this film. Really great the way she plays off of Stallone.
2) Frances McDormand: Fargo 1996
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/fargo.jpg
This is one of the greatest characters ever created and played perfectly by McDormand.
1) Meryl Streep: Adaptation 2002
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/adaptation.jpg
Picking a Streep performance was not easy for me. I don't think there is an actress or actor that compares to her. She is amazing every time out. I made it easy on myself and picked the film with her that I like the best.
rauldc14
07-26-14, 12:34 AM
I didn't know you were a big fan of Streep. I am not, though I think her best is The Hours. But here's some of my favorite supporting role performances (I'll list 15) a few repeating yours:
Jennifer Connelly- A Beautiful Mind
Shailene Woodley- The Descendants
Eva Marie Saint- On the Waterfront
Amy Adams- American Hustle
Jennifer Lawrence- American Hustle
Marcia Gay Harden- Mystic River
Amy Ryan- Gone Baby Gone
Rachel McAdams- State of Play
Anna Kendrick- Up in the Air
Liv Ullman- Autumn Sonata
Frances McDormand- Fargo (lead role, but supporting screen time)
Rosanna Arquette- After Hours
Grace Kelly- High Noon (rear window is a lead role for me)
Jane Darwell- Grapes of Wrath
Donna Reed- From Here to Eternity
A few I recently saw so this list may reflect that.
I didn't know you were a big fan of Streep. I am not, though I think her best is The Hours. But here's some of my favorite supporting role performances (I'll list 15) a few repeating yours:
Jennifer Connelly- A Beautiful Mind
Shailene Woodley- The Descendants
Eva Marie Saint- On the Waterfront
Amy Adams- American Hustle
Jennifer Lawrence- American Hustle
Marcia Gay Harden- Mystic River
Amy Ryan- Gone Baby Gone
Rachel McAdams- State of Play
Anna Kendrick- Up in the Air
Liv Ullman- Autumn Sonata
Frances McDormand- Fargo (lead role, but supporting screen time)
Rosanna Arquette- After Hours
Grace Kelly- High Noon (rear window is a lead role for me)
Jane Darwell- Grapes of Wrath
Donna Reed- From Here to Eternity
A few I recently saw so this list may reflect that.
I considered Connelly. I like the performances by Woodley and McAdams a lot. Lawrence may or may not show up yet. ;) I really should give Up In The Air another chance. It got so much hype that year so I saw it, didn't care for it, and immediately forgot it.
cricket
07-26-14, 01:12 AM
Great list Sean; I haven't seen all of the last 13, but seem most, and not a shaky one in the bunch. I need to see Ordinary People.
Lead Actress
25) Emma Thompson: Primary Colors 1998
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/emmathompson.jpg
There will be a few in lead that people would probably not expect, this is one. I love Thompson and this is my favorite of hers. Primary Colors is a performance movie.
24) Jennifer Lawrence: Winter's Bone 2010
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/jlaw.jpg
Some may think it is too early for Lawrence to show up on this kind of list. I love a lot of her performances already and this is one.
23) Joan Fontaine: Rebecca 1940
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/rebecca.jpg
I am an admitted sucker for a Hitchcock female performance. Fontaine is not the first and will not be the last.
22) Michelle Williams: Blue Valentine 2010
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/bluevalentine.jpg
Williams does no wrong in my eyes. She gets more publicity for other performances but this remains my favorite thus far.
cricket
08-04-14, 10:53 PM
I know I liked Primary Colors, but I don't remember the performances enough to even have an opinion.
I would agree with Lawrence and Fontaine.
I haven't seen Blue Valentine yet but I want to; I'm a sucker for Michelle Williams.
rauldc14
08-05-14, 12:20 AM
You reminded me I need to see Lawrence in Winters Bone. I thought Williams was good, but I didn't like Blue Valentine overall.
21) Juliette Binoche: Blue 1993
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/binoche.jpg
I was not a huge fan of Three Colors but I liked Blue quite a bit. Binoche is a huge reason why. I love her in everything I have seen her in but this was the best.
20) Vivien Leigh: Gone With The Wind 1939
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/GWTW.jpg
I only think Gone With The Wind is fine, but I love the two lead performances.
19) Julie Christie: McCabe & Mrs. Miller 1971
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/mccabe.jpg
I only thought that McCabe was okay until Christie shows up. She really elevated the movie and that is saying something because Beatty was pretty darn good.
18) Whoopie Glodberg: The Color Purple 1985
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/goldberg.jpg
Never saw Whoopi like this before, never did again. Classic performance.
cricket
08-07-14, 11:23 PM
I've only seen 19 and 20 from that set-both great performances.
rauldc14
08-07-14, 11:26 PM
Haven't seen any of those yet.
17) Mia Farrow: The Purple Rose Of Cairo 1985
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/purplerose.jpg
Such a sweet and innocent character. Another great Allen lead female.
16) Teresa Wright: Shadow Of A Doubt 1943
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/shadow.jpg
Love the transformation of this character from wide eyed innocence to real world heartache and fear.
15) Charlize Theron: Monster 2003
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/monster.jpg
One of the most trans-formative performances I have ever seen.
14) Laura Linney: You Can Count On Me 2000
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/linney.jpg
Tragically under seen movie with by far Linney's best performance.
rauldc14
08-09-14, 07:59 PM
Farrow and Theron :up:
And of course, I'm holding onto Shadow of a Doubt. I'm weird and I think I'll really like the film but will be a bit bummed to cross it off my list of Hitchcock. Weird I know.
cricket
08-09-14, 08:04 PM
Right on with Laura Linney and You Can Count on Me. Great performance and a great movie that doesn't get their due. It also made me a Mark Ruffalo fan.
I've seen Shadow of a Doubt but can't remember it well.
I still need to see Monster.
I'll probably see The Purple Rose of Cairo at some point.
13) Audrey Tautou: Amelie 2001
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/amelie.jpg
Have only watched this once but instantly became one of my favorites ever. So damn cute.
12) Tippi Hedren: The Birds 1963
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/thebirds.jpg
I know she was an unknown and all that. I don't care I fell in love with her and this movie from the opening scene.
11) Bette Davis: All About Eve 1950
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/allabouteve.jpg
Known as one of the all time greats for very good reason.
10) Jodie Foster: Silence Of The Lambs 1991
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/seancriswell/foster.jpg
I have always loved Foster and have only one reason to. This is it. Two amazing performances in this movie.
rauldc14
08-09-14, 10:01 PM
Tippi and Foster :up:
rauldc14
08-20-14, 09:44 PM
Come on Sean! Moar! Lol
Come on Sean! Moar! Lol
Dude I lost my comp book I had my lists in. That more than ticked me off. I will move forward but I have to get over the sting first.:D
cricket
08-20-14, 11:21 PM
I don't care for Amelie but I love the other 3. My wife won a costume contest dressed as Tippi Hedren with a bunch of birds stuck to her.
vBulletin® v3.8.0, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.