The MoFos Top 100 of the 90s Countdown - Redux [Archive] - Page 6

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-23-25, 11:17 AM

Home Alone: A pattern's beginning to emerge. Perfectly fine movies ... that didn't make my ballot. When I first saw HA a few decades ago, I brushed it off as egregious silliness. Then a few years ago we watched it again in search of Christmas movies for variety among the traditional favs of A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life and (yes), Wizard of Oz. It's still egregiously silly, but not so off-puttingly so as before, and we've seen it for a couple of Christmases now. We all wait for that moment: "Kevin!". Would not be terribly high on any list of mine, but no argument here.

Good Will Hunting: A really touching, and yes, sentimental, movie, with terrific performances by Robin Williams and Matt Damon, who, after nearly a decade doing bit parts, became an overnight star. Still remember that story Williams tells with that line "gotta go see about a girl" and they bring that back around at the end. Just not enough spots, in a list of 25.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViCfc3eIpv4

Seen: 20/32
Ballot: 2/25
Sleepless in Seattle: #91 / My #3
Office Space: #95 / My #23

Deschain

04-23-25, 11:29 AM

Two wildly different movies, I love it. :D

I watched Home Alone a ton as a kid and it still works on me today but in different ways. I loved all the slapstick with the traps as a youngster but now as an adult I think it’s so ****ing funny how outrageously poorly that family treats Kevin at the beginning of the film. Could you imagine calling your own nephew, a child, a “little jerk” to his face? That’s so ****ed up.

I’ve seen Good Will Hunting a couple times and it’s the performances that really carry the film. I can barely recall what the plot or themes are but it’s mostly Robin Williams as the element that stands out the best.

ApexPredator

04-23-25, 11:33 AM

I thought Home Alone was OK, but I think it's over-valued as a Christmas film.

Good Will Hunting is a solid film. Not on my list either.

Seen: 18/32

Citizen Rules

04-23-25, 11:41 AM

Home Alone...a perfect film for what it's trying to do. I've seen it a few times and it's better than a lot of Christmas movies, though I'd rather watch Barbara Stanwyck at Christmas time. Worthy of the countdown, it is a landmark movie.

Citizen Rules

04-23-25, 11:45 AM

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=69042

Good Will Hunting, I generally don't care for Robin Williams in movies...though he was a dyanmic guest on late night talk shows. As I kinda expected he was able to play a more troubled, straight role with much veracity. Most talented comedians are able to give a damn fine dramatic accounting of themselves when given half a chance to shed the comedy stuff. But when Robin went into his free form improv, his character belief faded momentarily for me. Luckily he didn't do that much and overall he was solid.

I don't like Ben Affleck, I think he's limited in his characterizations...However I did like Casey Affleck here. Casey was by far the finest actor in the film.

I'm impressed that a young Ben Affleck and Matt Damon won a Best Writing Oscar for the script. That's a big feather in their hats. But truth be told it wasn't a well written script as far as I'm concerned. The scenes were packed with too much repetitive dialogue that was suppose to be deep and or clever. This caused the scenes to loose their punch and end up more as a writing exercise than deeply reflective.

What redeemed the movie were the moments when the truth of the subject matter rang out hard with a harsh truth. Especially the scenes where Minnie Driver is being dumped by Will (Matt Damon) who is to afraid to live and to take a risk.

mrblond

04-23-25, 12:33 PM

I've skipped Home Alone and all the noise around it when it came out. I've continued ignoring it until the last years when I caught it on the TV and decided to finally examine this movie. Moreover, I saw it twice in several months period. Well, actually it is a good light comedy indeed but I think it being #70 on the list is a bit too high, considering what great films landed at the lower slots.

As for Good Will Hunting, saw it in a theatre when it was released. I found it greatly manipulative and started ignoring it since then. Nice it was considerably downranked on this 90's redux.

Deschain

04-23-25, 01:02 PM

Even the train derailment sequence? It's one of the great "cause-and-effect" action sequences in a movie, if you ask me:

https://youtu.be/MPzWRNV9PMo?si=KdTta8lGVdYuMRUo

Unfortunately I saw parodies of it before seeing the actual scene so that lessened the impact for me, but it is a good scene.

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-23-25, 01:33 PM

I don't like Ben Affleck, I think he's limited in his characterizations...However I did like Casey Affleck here. Casey was by far the finest actor in the film.

Agree on both counts. I love that last bit where Casey goes and gets into the front seat.

Little Ash

04-23-25, 02:09 PM

Alright, catching up from, probably the past week:

78. The Blair Witch Project (1999) - I saw this back in theaters when it first came out. I was in college and was in that period where I managed to basically miss the entire "big marketing campaign" that apparently everyone talks about now. I saw it with a packed audience. I thought it was a solid, little DYI horror movie that made the most with very little, emphasizing the creepiness with naturalistic acting (which in retrospect, was probably just a lot of yelling and screaming at each other). Appreciated that it managed to get under people's skins as well, in terms of, knowing people when they needed to walk through some wooded areas for a job, they'd start to get creeped out because of seeing the movie. Never really got the "greatest horror movie of all time" type of love for it and I never really understood the backlash. I fortunately managed to skip all of the found footage craze that it inspired, so that probably helped on the latter part.
I haven't revisited it since.

77. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - Never seen it. No great desire to.

76. A Moment of Innocence (1996) - Never seen, but I'll mentally catalog this one as at some point, I'd like to correct my general Iranian cinema blindspot. I've seen some, but I also know there's so much more I haven't seen that, even if I'm trying to get a 5,000 foot level view of Iranian cinema, I have a lot I still need to watch.

75. The Remains of the Day (1993) - Haven't seen... "Merchant Ivory production" just conjures images of overly-serious, British dramas from my youth, which might be an incorrect assessment, but it doesn't make me want to run out and see them.

74. Election (1999) - Sort of, "Haven't seen." This is a movie I should probably enjoy, for whatever reason, never attempted to watch it until recently. I know I did start it, but I didn't end it. I think I was just really tired that day. I suspect I would like it if I return to it and actually watch it. I do own it, so that doesn't seem implausible.

73. Close-Up (1990) - I watched this probably a decade ago because it was on the 2012 Sight & Sound Critics' poll. It... did not connect, but also left me with the sense that I was missing stuff. I sort of realized it probably wasn't a good place to start with Kiarostami, so I'll probably return to it at some time.

72. The Fugitive (1993) - Hey! I really enjoyed this in the 90s. I've never really revisted it. I'm sure it's still a fun action thriller. There are other movies from the 90s I also haven't revisited, that I suspect I'd be more interested in though.

71. The Double Life of Véronique (1991) - I don't think this was even on my shortlist, and, tbh, I don't know why. I remember it was being both abstruse and mysterious, it stuck with me. Beautifully shot. I only watched it once over a decade ago. Maybe two decades ago. My only explanation was, mentally thinking if The Three Colors trilogy would be in contention for my ballot, quickly decided it wasn't, and then just nixing this as well because it's the less big Kieslowski, but that'd be kind of odd logic since I think this one stuck with me more than Blue, White, Red.

70. Home Alone (1990) - I think I was 11 when this first came out. I really enjoyed it then. I probably watched it a couple more times over the next few years. I have not watched it since and have no desire to.

69. Good Will Hunting (1997) - I recall knowing someone in college who really liked this movie. I didn't watch it then, I'm still okay with not watching it now.

Thief

04-23-25, 02:47 PM

I've obviously seen Home Alone a bunch of times, but it's never been a favorite. It's fun, but not something I gravitate towards.

Like Double Life of Veronique, Good Will Hunting was one of my last cuts. I had it circling that bottom 5 on my ballot, but eventually chose to favor some more "obscure" ones. I knew it wouldn't need my help to make it, so I'm glad it's there. The whole film is great, but that Robin Williams monologue at the park bench has got to be one of the best monologues ever. I even did a whole episode of my podcast analyzing it. So yeah, didn't vote for it, but could've.

SEEN: 18/32
MY BALLOT: 4/25

1.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. The Blair Witch Project (1999, #78)
10.
11. Interview with the Vampire (1994, #92)
12.
13. Election (1999, #74)
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. A Few Good Men (1992, #84)
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

I_Wear_Pants

04-23-25, 02:57 PM

I watched Good Will Hunting before I watched Home Alone, to provide some perspective. I think I would have liked Home Alone more if I watched it when I was a kid. It's entertaining while not being my kind of film. I admit I did like seeing the booby trapped house though.

Good Will Hunting is pretty good. I don't recall much of it standing out. I remember being impressed with the screenplay, Damon, and Williams. It's not on my ballot though.

stillmellow

04-23-25, 03:29 PM

Home Alone didn't quite make my list, but it's always hilarious thanks to the great cast. Of course nostalgia and the holidays add a lot to its popularity, but besides being very funny, it also succeeds by not only nail king the child dialog, but how cousins and siblings talk with each other (at least in my family).

Good Will Hunting was alright. Not a high tier movie, but it has personality and heart. Robin Williams always reminds me of Judd Hirsh from Ordinary People for some reason.

Seen: 21/32
List: 3/25

stillmellow

04-23-25, 03:33 PM

Home Alone ranked ahead of Veronique based on total ballots (7 to 6)

Home Alone was huge, I remember that. (And I remember my wife and I seeing it after hearing all the hype, and afterwards saying, "well, that was decidedly average" - lol, sorry, I've tried to keep these neutral)

A lot of interesting notes on the casting at wiki, where they mention that John Mulaney was asked to audition for the role of Kevin after being scouted in a children's sketch comedy group, but his parents refused the opportunity. Culkin would get the role and would rocket to stardom.

Hunting earned Damon and Affleck a Screenplay Oscar, though their original concept had it as a "thriller about a young man in the rough-and-tumble streets of South Boston who possesses a superior intelligence and is targeted by the government with heavy-handed recruitment". It was Rob Reiner who convinced them to ditch the thriller angle and focus on the relationship between Will and his therapist.

Good Will was #27 on the previous 90s countdown, while Home failed to make the grade in the last one.

It's funny to think of John Mulaney and Culkin switching lives. There's some alternate universe where that happened.

Wyldesyde19

04-23-25, 03:35 PM

Seen both.
Home one is ok. I enjoyed it for the most part.

Good Will Hunting is from my ballot, although had I remembered I’d have probably put The Addiction in its place.
I really like GWH, it’s story of an angry young man with promise who went through years of abuse in foster homes and his inability to connect or trust was well done.
Add to this his co star, Robin Williams, playing as his therapist, who are more alike than they at first realize, and you get one of the better Oscar Winners of the 90’s.

dadgumblah

04-23-25, 03:44 PM

I thought I'd put Home Alone on my ballot but after double-checking I found I was wrong. However I love the movie. It's great fun and never fails to delight me, especially with the "Wet Bandits" showing up. I also liked Roberts Blossom alot as the "scary" neighbor who is not as he seems. It was slapstick, yeah, but in the end, had a lot of heart.

I've only seen Good Will Hunting once but I liked it a quite a bit. I thought Damon did his best acting job to date. And Williams underplayed his heart out. I'm glad he won the Oscar for this. I'm hit-or-miss with Affleck. I tend to think of him as a one-note actor and then he'll surprise me. This ain't one of those times. But still, a fine film.

Nice that both made the list, sorry I didn't include one of them. Zip for me!

Holden Pike

04-23-25, 03:56 PM

Robin Williams Good Will Hunting] always reminds me of Judd [Hirsch] from Ordinary People for some reason.
107390
Could the mysterious reason be that they both play sensitive, insightful, sweater-clad therapists who share a cleansing hug with their young male patients after tearful breakthroughs, where each young man in crisis is made to see the issue haunting them wasn't their fault?

Nah, that's probably not it. Probably because they were both sitcom stars in the late 1970s.

107391

MovieMeditation

04-23-25, 04:01 PM

I mean, Home Alone is a classic. Not quite great enough to make my list but it’s an entertaining family movie that I’ve watched many times. A Christmas classic.

As for Good Will Hunting, it was on my list at #11.

I love this movie a lot. So human and authentic. I love the young and rebellious touch that Damon and Affleck’s script brings to an otherwise very tender and heartfelt drama. The dialogue is youthful but honest. The acting is top notch. Such an all around great film.

And of course it contains some of if not Robin Williams best work. He is so so great here. I almost feel like watching it again just writing about it.

John-Connor

04-23-25, 04:37 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dGOfFbzvq4
Home Alone will be broadcast globally and seen by millions yearly during the holidays for decades to come. When all the participants of this countdown have long retired to Del Boca Vista (https://youtube.com/shorts/uJ5mUEpE5Nk?si=v998AGk0vYZtgPqq). Kevin will still be rockin' around the Christmas tree. Classic.

Seen 26/32
Ballot 4/25

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/4HnxnjxuKFLoqSx4g29oO7AytZg.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/AvEdysc5yx0DOn3oqadmxXjV7Sb.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/kmMV3IYojVjIAdl7Dm323Bg7wgP.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/inO836jWDAxKS1sdQA7B7KUek2e.jpg

5. A Few Good Men (1992)
6. The Remains of the Day (1993)
12. Point Break (1991)
21. Home Alone (1990)

kgaard

04-23-25, 04:58 PM

Never was a big fan of Home Alone. I was the wrong age for it when it came out and though I've seen it a few times, including recently, I still think it's very, as the kids say, "mid."

My memory is kinder to Good Will Hunting, which I recall as being perfectly fine, though like many films of this decade, I haven't seen it since the turn of the millenium. No vote from me.

WrinkledMind

04-23-25, 05:14 PM

I watch the three Home Alone movies, Jingle all the way & Miracle on 34th Street every year around Christmas, & I am not even Christian or celebrate that festival. But it is something that I do.

Home Alone is not a great movie. That's quite obvious. But as others have stated, it is kinda noteworthy & memorable. It also has a great re-watch value.
Lastly, John Williams' music is excellent. Especially the 'Somewhere in my Memory' track.

Home Alone was my 13th, & I am bloody pleased it has made the countdown.

stillmellow

04-23-25, 06:12 PM

stillmellow

04-23-25, 06:14 PM

Raven73

04-23-25, 06:50 PM

Home alone didn't make my list, but I sometimes watch it around Christmastime. It's a good little slapstick/heartfelt comedy.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-23-25, 07:43 PM

I'd be lying to you if I said I didn't enjoy the PG slapstick made for children version of Straw Dogs.

While Straw Dogs 2 didn't make my list, I'll be darned if I can't appreciate the powerful message of property rights AND the right to self defense as shown in the film and as major themes! Also Kevin McCallister is a true renaissance young man if there ever was one! He appreciates old movies and old music and relies on the American spirit of rugged individualism in fighting the bad guys while also surviving on his own and being inventive and creative!

A true pioneer!

Also McCallister is a good, strong Irish name!

And me boy Kevin just will not stand for the transgressions of any occupiers onto his property, yet also has the heart and Christian kindness to help the poor and pay respects to the nativity in the season which we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Kevin McCallister is a true hero of the people and of our inalienable rights!!! And even though Straw Dogs 2 didn't make my list, I'd be darned if I'm not happy and pleased to see it make the top 100! Kevin McCallister wouldn't like dem apples, oh no! Me boy Kevin would take dem apples and mold them into tools of self defense and harness their freedom fightin' power, aye he would!

https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/home-alone-filthy-animal-scene-opener-1513557739.jpg

beelzebubble

04-23-25, 08:08 PM

Home Alone will be broadcast globally and seen by millions yearly during the holidays for decades to come. When all the participants of this countdown have long retired to Del Boca Vista (https://youtube.com/shorts/uJ5mUEpE5Nk?si=v998AGk0vYZtgPqq). Kevin will still be rockin' around the Christmas tree. Classic.

I don't think I can afford Del Boca Vista. That being said, you are probably right about the staying power of Home Alone. That doesn't change the fact that I have never seen it. I wasn't a kid when it came out and I didn't have any kids.

I saw Good Will Hunting and enjoyed it a lot. I love Robin Williams in this. It also has my man Stellan Skarsgard in it.

It is not on my list.

Captain Quint

04-23-25, 08:22 PM

Today's entries filled me with apathy, which is just, hmm... Now love, love is the drug, and dislike, at least that's a feeling, but apathy is... just...

But tomorrow's duo features one of my great loves. What is it, why is it, where is it!? Care to make a guess, who do I love?

https://youtu.be/e5tSgiB_Tgc?si=tw0A_3oEULaRj839

cricket

04-23-25, 08:27 PM

A rare pair in that I saw both at the cinema.

Saw Home Alone the one time and thought it was amusing. Doubt I'd like it more today.

Like many Boston films, love Good Will Hunting. Made my last 90's ballot but it's been a while.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-23-25, 08:38 PM

As for today's other pick...

Good Will Hunting is a film that leaves me... just... meh.

It's a very formulaic and paint by numbers type of thing that goes through the motions. Of course it has great acting and a solid cast and is well made. There's nothing wrong with it. It's one of those films that your middle school or high school English teacher would love to show in class and then you'd have to write a conventional five paragraph essay over in which you regurgitated the same talking points the teacher hashed out and forced out of classroom discussions in talking about how trend-setting and profound and "brave" the message of the film is. Just like another Robin Williams' "inspirational" film Dead Poet Society.

No thanks. Not my cup of tea. While I don't entirely disagree with the message, I find it all oversimplified and mundane. It's a typical after school special type of movie, regardless of how well made it is. It's full of stock ready to order characters and situations and conflicts. It's about as white bread and vanilla and as safe of a "brave" and "profound" film as you could possibly have. I'm glad Gus Van Sant didn't stick with the Good Will Huntings and Finding Foresters stuff.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-23-25, 08:53 PM

I also like to think of MoFo as a sort of LETS Community where we are able to offer our unique talents and insights to the benefit of each other. In this case, in honor of today's pick, using my stellar research expertise and tools at my disposal (a deep dive on the YouTube encyclopedia), I was able to find this nugget of knowledge to share with you all.

I know many of you might be worried or concerned about what to do or what not to do if you find yourselves precariously stuck at home and alone. Put your fears to rest as here is a quick video detailing five steps you can follow if you find yourself in that potentially dangerous situation of being home, alone:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6FyCT9ku0Q

Harry Lime

04-23-25, 10:11 PM

Good Will Hunting is fine. I like it but it's not something I rank highly. I like my Gus Van Sant films starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck to be set in a desert and nothing much happens...or doesn't it? And when are they going to release the sequel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnESedN4vSI

You're crying from Home Alone? Well it is a holiday classic and it does make me laugh..but not cry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk-LuM7CsNI

Wooley

04-24-25, 12:05 AM

Robin Williams always reminds me of Judd Hirsh from Ordinary People for some reason.

👍

iluv2viddyfilms

04-24-25, 01:07 AM

In a complete turn of events and to the surprise of all, Pulp Fiction AND The Shawshank Redemption are going to be next on our list!

gbgoodies

04-24-25, 02:44 AM

I've never understood the love for Home Alone. The movie is pretty much just an average movie with a few fun scenes, but I don't think there's anything special about it.

On the other hand, Good Will Hunting is a great movie with excellent performances by Robin Williams and Matt Damon. I knew it would make my list as soon as this countdown was announced, and after rewatching it, it made it all the way up to #6 on my list.

My list so far:
4. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
6. Good Will Hunting (1997)
15. My Cousin Vinny (1992)
16. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Captain Quint

04-24-25, 04:13 AM

8lists92pointsApollo 13 (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/568-apollo-13.html)Director
Ron Howard, 1995

Starring
Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise

Captain Quint

04-24-25, 04:13 AM

7lists94pointsThree Colors: Blue (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/108-three-colors-blue.html)Director
Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1993

Starring
Juliette Binoche, Benoît Régent, Florence Pernel, Charlotte Véry

Captain Quint

04-24-25, 04:15 AM

The first color on the French flag, Blue concerns emotional liberty. The craft in the Three Colors Trilogy is a marvel (a quick search spoke of "its intricate narrative structure, thematic depth, and aesthetic brilliance", all fancy ways of saying, "It's damn good!") the visual rhymes, the use of color, objects, movement, numbers, sound and music to create a vibe and often, a bridge between pictures, impresses me to no end. I like how I have to be active viewer to fully appreciate what Kieslowski is striving for, and achieves, with his trilogy - and it makes me extremely happy to see him well represent on the 100. He's our first director with 3 films on the list - will others join him, surpass him?

Apollo was a big deal for director Ron Howard creatively/critically, and the third highest-grossing film of the year it was released. It was nominated for 9 Oscars, though not one for its director (he was however, nominated for a Globe), he'd have to wait 6 years before receiving his first nom (and win) from the Academy.

From Mental Floss - To simulate the weightlessness inside the module, Howard and his crew were contemplating using wires and harnesses, friend and director Stephen Spielberg suggested that he look into the KC-135, a NASA-owned airplane that’s able to simulate zero gravity. Because the KC-135 can only achieve weightlessness for 25 seconds at a time, Howard, his cast and crew had to make roughly 600 dives, in order to capture the amount of footage needed. Thirty to 40 of them were possible per flight, and the crew took two flights a day. Totaling more than four hours

https://youtu.be/C3J1AO9z0tA?si=9peNZnq8jIByKPWd

Three Colors Blue was previously #66, Apollo unranked in the last 90s poll.

StuSmallz

04-24-25, 04:42 AM

Unfortunately I saw parodies of it before seeing the actual scene so that lessened the impact for me, but it is a good scene.Heh, you mean like this one?:

https://youtu.be/cPOO48akIso?si=Xh317hNiuFdc6tua

xSookieStackhouse

04-24-25, 04:51 AM

107390
Could the mysterious reason be that they both play sensitive, insightful, sweater-clad therapists who share a cleansing hug with their young male patients after tearful breakthroughs, where each young man in crisis is made to see the issue haunting them wasn't their fault?

Nah, that's probably not it. Probably because they were both sitcom stars in the late 1970s.

107391

ahhhh i miss robin williams so much :cry:

PHOENIX74

04-24-25, 06:35 AM

70. Home Alone (1990) - I'd last seen Home Alone back when it came out, a long, long time ago. Back then my family and I were united in our dislike of the movie. We were kind of disappointed in the lack of fun and laughter we had (to be fair on the movie there had been a bit of drama that day with the passing away of a neighbour - a crazy, dramatic story in itself to rival the narrative in the movie) - but really, it wasn't our kind of thing. Watching it again after all this time, I did find it to be charming and cute - a heartwarming holiday frolic with a very enjoyable cameo by John Candy and wonderful comedic turn by Joe Pesci. I liked it well enough, even though it's still not at all on my wavelength.

69. Good Will Hunting (1997) - I keep coming back to Good Will Hunting hoping that it will finally land with me. Last time I ended up rating it 3/5 on letterboxd without giving it a review. Matt Damon and the character he plays gets on my nerves to such an unsettling degree that I can't invest myself in anything that happens to him - which wrecks the film every time. I'll try again one day, but I'm afraid that this is simply a movie that I don't like very much - that's not to say that it isn't well made, and that it doesn't have a great screenplay or good performances. It's just another example of a film I don't vibe with.

68. Apollo 13 (1995) - It was in, then out, then in, then out - in the end it ended up on my ballot after rethinks and altered calculations. I mean, what a marvelous real-life adventure this is - and what a brilliantly crafted, tense, visually astounding few hours of entertainment. I adore the take-off scene - I swear my heart beats a little faster every time I watch it. The whole film takes it's time to carefully acquaint you with the danger these astronauts lived with, and the complexity of what they did. Ron Howard is a gifted filmmaker, and casting Tom Hanks was a masterstroke - Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton - what's not to love about this movie? Truly, NASA's finest hour. Love the score, the effects and everything about this. Always rewatchable. It scraped in at #23.

67. Three Colors: Blue (1993) - It's been a bit over three years since I started the Three Colors trilogy by watching this first entry. On letterboxd I wrote : "The first film in this Kieślowski trilogy has a lot of interesting stuff going on visually, not to mention the use of orchestral music to signify something deeply personal for it's main character, Julie (Juliette Binoche). Julie has just lost her husband and young daughter in a car accident, but she doesn't go through the usual process of grieving. Julie tries to free herself from grief altogether by abandoning her former life completely, severing ties and selling all her property. Is it possible to isolate yourself like this, and if so what are the effects? This is a very poetic and artistic film with an interesting performance from Binoche who is both stricken and at the same time determined to shut herself off from all the pain. For Kieślowski, there are many "ahh, look what he did there" moments which I enjoy noticing a lot these days - so overall I enjoyed the film a great deal. Recommended for those with a passion for deeply-textured cinema." I rated it 4/5, and lean towards Red as to my favourite entry. I'm sure my rating may go up when I watch them again, because I do have fond memories of Blue.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seen : 34/34
I'd never even heard of : 0/34
Movies that had been on my radar, but I haven't seen yet : 0/34
Films from my list : 5 + 1 pointer

#68 - My #23 - Apollo 13 (1995)
#74 - My #18 - Election (1999)
#78 - My #2 - The Blair Witch Project (1999)
#81 - My #22 - Before Sunrise (1995)
#96 - My #15 - Fallen Angels (1995)
1-pointer - Deep Crimson (1996)

Allaby

04-24-25, 07:23 AM

I saw Apollo 13 at the theatre with my mom when it first came out and we both enjoyed it. It didn't make my ballot though. I saw Three Colors Blue and was somewhat underwhelmed by it, rating it a 6/10.

Seen: 34/34

ueno_station54

04-24-25, 07:56 AM

apollo 13 is perfectly fine. blue didn't quite come together for me when i watched it like 10+ years ago but it immediately felt like something i needed to give another shot, either way it's not the blue i would have voted for.

MovieGal

04-24-25, 08:17 AM

Seen Apollo 13 but not Blue

The Rodent

04-24-25, 08:43 AM

Doing a catch up... I missed yesterday's reveal :)

I know Home Alone isn't exactly Citizen Kane... but it's got a special place being that I was 8 when it came out and left its mark as a traditional Christmas staple.
Had it in 5th :)

List:

1.
.
5. Home Alone (1990) - 70th
.
7. Dumb and Dumber (1994) - 83rd
.
13. Point Break (1991) - 79th
.
25.

I never fully got the love for Good Will Hunting. It's ok, it just never did much for me.
Apollo 13 is great though, and James Horner's music is easily one of the best soundtracks ever made.

Holden Pike

04-24-25, 08:48 AM

107407

Three Colours: Blue was in almost exactly the same spot on the initial MoFo Top 100 of the 1990s at #66 while also placing at #49 on the MoFo Top 100 Foreign Films. This is the long-overdue debut of Apollo 13 on an official MoFo list.

Holden Pike

04-24-25, 08:56 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOc_sXkf49E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2kOMm8p4C8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aAcXf1vpRw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrexRdiP-TY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69LDSL-9--g

Omnizoa

04-24-25, 09:01 AM

Apollo 13 was a possible rewatch candidate, but I didn't get around to it and didn't remember it well enough to add to my list.

stillmellow

04-24-25, 09:14 AM

Apollo 13 is a good movie, but it didn't make my list. It just doesn't excite nearly as well as the fictitious astronaut movies do. It's fine. It's another one i haven't seen in decades, and is probably due for rewatch.

I haven't seen 3 Colors Blue.

Seen: 20/34

List: 3/25

Harry Lime

04-24-25, 09:33 AM

Two from my list! Big day for me I guess. Apollo 13 was one of those movies I saw in theaters and had a great experience, didn't watch for a while, then revisited a few years back because an ex said it was her favourite movie and you know what I was like yes I love this movie too! And I wasn't just saying it to get, well you know...Now the girl is gone but the movie is #18 on my 90s List.

I used to like Red best but now it's Blue. I have it at #23. On a rewatch it just connected more with me: the slow, meditative, yet assured tone expressed by the film enhances the themes, and of course Juliette Binoche is amazing. But really when I think of these three films I think of them as one and they are one of the best works of the 90s. Kieslowski with three leading the countdown!

1. Close-Up (1990)
12. A Moment of Innocence (1996)
18. Apollo 13 (1995)
20. Sonatine (1993)
23. Three Colors: Blue (1993)

Thief

04-24-25, 09:40 AM

Apollo 13 is a great film. Reminds me a bit of A Few Good Men in terms of its ensemble cast (both featuring Kevin Bacon!) and how it might feel over-produced for some, and too much of a "studio film"; and yet it all works almost to perfection. It is one of those films that has the quality of you knowing how it ends and yet you can't help but feel thrilled and in tension of everything that's going on. The whole cast is great, but special kudos to Ed Harris, who was nominated for an Oscar for this. It's yet another one that I had on my short list but ended up cutting at the very end, but I'm glad it came up here.

As for the other one...

I've never seen Blue or any of the Three Colors trilogy.

SEEN: 19/34
MY BALLOT: 4/25

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. The Blair Witch Project (1999, #78)
10.
11. Interview with the Vampire (1994, #92)
12.
13. Election (1999, #74)
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. A Few Good Men (1992, #84)
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

seanc

04-24-25, 09:42 AM

I don’t want to talk today. I feel like both of these should be on my list but aren’t. I didn’t forget them. Captain Quint just wouldn’t let me send two lists as would be appropriate for someone who loves the decade as much as me.

Two great movies, that appealed to me at very different times in my life. Glad they are both here.

KeyserCorleone

04-24-25, 09:43 AM

Seen Apollo 13 twice. It's easily one of Ron Howard's most focused movies, relying on the adventure of the preparation and the strength of the cast rather than forcing sfx down your throat. 97

Seen 22/34

seanc

04-24-25, 09:46 AM

Oh, and we told you honeykid

crumbsroom

04-24-25, 10:01 AM

What a shock when I came to realize that one of the worst directors of all time,Ron Howard, made such a ****ing banger with Apollo 13.

Like, this should have been scientifically impossible.

Holden Pike

04-24-25, 10:05 AM

What a shock when I came to realize that one of the worst directors of all time, Ron Howard, made such a ****ing banger with Apollo 13. Like, this should have been scientifically impossible.

https://i.imgur.com/gyuCBPU.gif https://64.media.tumblr.com/d2d64cf4e6f655fffbb0017d012b747b/d0e85c6a1cb970ed-d9/s400x600/e5717175620e1947a921f41e450dbdfb1c6a0320.gifv

Harry Lime

04-24-25, 10:13 AM

I feel like what Hollywood needs right now is more movies like Apollo 13.

kgaard

04-24-25, 10:16 AM

Ron Howard for me is like a better version of Chris Columbus. A perfectly functional director with just enough craft to make his films work reasonably well. But honestly if you showed me a Howard film without the credits I'm not sure what would tell me that he made it. He has no particular vision that I can discern. Apollo 13 is easily his best movie, but I didn't vote for it.

Three Colors: Blue is the Kieslowski film I almost voted for, but left off at the last minute. All of this trilogy is excellent, and obviously I'm pleased to see it turn up. Mostly it reminds me that I've got Dekalog just sitting there, waiting to be watched. Someday.

stillmellow

04-24-25, 10:18 AM

Miss Vicky

04-24-25, 10:24 AM

And now we have the movie that inspired a million “Houston, we have a problem” jokes. I know I saw Apollo 13 at some point in high school but I don’t remember what I thought of it. I should watch it again. As a director, Ron Howard is pretty good at engaging me in stories that I might otherwise not care about.

I liked Three Colors: Blue, but never considered it for my ballot.

Seen: 28/34
My Balllot:
9. Point Break (#79)
12. True Romance (#94)
24. Interview With the Vampire (#92)
25. Untamed Heart (One Pointer)

rauldc14

04-24-25, 10:27 AM

Oh no, no. Not this Three Colors shenanigans again.

Torgo

04-24-25, 10:28 AM

Saying Howard is one of the worst is a bit extreme. Night Shift, Willow, Parenthood, Rush and of course Apollo 13 - which I didn't vote for, but it is one of the '90s great, wholesome American historical dramas - still hold up very well (the less said about his Dan Brown movies, though, the better).

As for Blue, it landed at #9 on my list. Not much else to say other than Juliette Binoche's performance is my favorite by an actress of all time.

crumbsroom

04-24-25, 10:28 AM

I liked Willow.

When it comes to Howard, I also like Parenthood. But I generally think he is bland to the point of total irrelevance.

And his Grinch is and always will be inexcusable.

Thief

04-24-25, 10:31 AM

Parenthood and Apollo 13 are easily his best films, at least for me. I also like Ransom. The rest kinda gets lost in a blur.

Wooley

04-24-25, 10:57 AM

It will be interesting to see the 66 films from that decade that Movie Forums think is better than Blue.

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-24-25, 10:58 AM

Apollo 13: Yeah, it was great. Maybe a top 50 for me, but not top 25.

Three Colors: Blue: I've seen this trilogy. I understand why people admire it. I remember liking this one on viewing decades ago, but none of the three movies ever come to mind as a memorable viewing experience. They all seemed too spare, cold, austere, and academically crafted. I'm one of those English majors who was reading "A Farewell to Arms" in class but was feeling guilty about reading "Ringworld" on the weekend.

Seen: 22/34
Ballot: 2/25
Sleepless in Seattle: #91 / My #3
Office Space: #95 / My #23

Sedai

04-24-25, 11:30 AM

It will be interesting to see the 66 films from that decade that Movie Forums think is better than Blue.

This all comes down to criteria. if one is trying to be completely clinical/objective, I think it would be difficult to list 66 films that surpass Blue. When I put my ballot together, I tried to avoid being clinical and I tend to have trouble being objective without lots of second guessing. So for me personally, if I ask myself, which films do I enjoy watching more and tend to re-watch more? It's probably a list of hundreds of films. As I inferred in my thoughts on Red when it appeared, Blue is like, a major bummer, dude! It's craftsmanship is undeniable, but I would seriously rather watch pretty much anything else on any given day. I am fine with never watching Blue again.

Anyway: Blue, as one would guess, was not on my ballot. I just went with one of the trilogy, because I wanted to see it represented, and this time around, it was Red.

I am sue for another viewing of Apollo 13, which I remember liking quite a bit. Not on my ballot.

Holden Pike

04-24-25, 11:48 AM

It will be interesting to see the 66 films from that decade that Movie Forums think is better than Blue.
GoodFellas, The Shawshank Redemption, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Miller's Crossing, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Magnolia, Boogie Nights, SE7EN, L.A.Confidential, Unforgiven, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Silence of the Lambs, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Heat, Eyes Wide Shut, Chungking Expresss, The Thin Red Line, Being John Malkovich, Ed Wood, Léon: The Professional, The Lion King, Toy Story, Princess Mononoke, Hoop Dreams, The Crying Game, Hana-Bi, and thirty-six more.

Deschain

04-24-25, 11:48 AM

I’m a sucker for solving problems in space and that’s thanks to seeing Apollo 13 as a kid. A lot of circles of film nerds dunk on Howard for being too safe and sappy in his filmmaking, and hell I was frustrated when he was tapped to take over Solo (though that whole debacle wasn’t his fault), but Apollo 13 is too good to dismiss. Solving problems in space is an undertapped subgenre and I want more of it.

Out of the Three Colors I liked Blue the best, but ironically White is the one I remember the most of, probably due to it’s lighter tone.

Deschain

04-24-25, 11:50 AM

Heh, you mean like this one?:

https://youtu.be/cPOO48akIso?si=Xh317hNiuFdc6tua

Yes! lol. And I think Spy Hard with Leslie Nielsen also did it. And of course Simpsons also did the “I don’t care” scene with poor Milhouse.

John-Connor

04-24-25, 12:02 PM

Even though Juliette Binoche stars in two movies on my 'refreshed' Top 250 of All-time. I haven't seen Three Colours: Blue yet. I've seen Apollo 13 once in the theatre in '95 but can't remember a single scene. Interested in a re-watch though, mainly because of its cast. Ron Howard has made some solid films imo; Rush (2013), Ransom (1996), Willow (1988), Parenthood (1989), A Beautiful Mind (2001), In the Heart of the Sea (2015) and Thirteen Lives (2022). Other Ron Howard films I'm interested in watching are; The Paper (1994) and The Missing (2003).

Seen 27/34
Ballot 4/25

My blind guess for tomorrow:

Trainspotting
Sling Blade

mrblond

04-24-25, 12:07 PM

Three Colors: Blue was the first film I saw when I finally started examining this trilogy about ten years ago. At first, I couldn't believe how banal method they've used to enter the audience into a heavy drama using a car accident. Then I've immediately stopped the movie thinking it is another pseudo-cinema. Nevertheless, several months later, I pushed myself to see the whole film and this time I felt the magic of Juliette Binoche that gradually catch the spectator.
No room in my ballot but it would definitely make my top 50 of the 90's.
---

I think, I saw Apollo 13 in theatre when it came out and forgot it the next day. Typical political commission where half of the Hollywood stars are commanded to march, serving the regime. These things are quite regular in the last five or something decades and people have to pay for them.

Thief

04-24-25, 12:09 PM

It will be interesting to see the 66 films from that decade that Movie Forums think is better than Blue.

I don't think it's strictly a matter of what films are "better", but rather what films are great AND more popular/widely seen. I mean, Blue is logged 298K times on Letterboxd and has 115K ratings on IMDb. If you compare it to, say, Pulp Fiction that has 4.4M logs on Letterboxd and 2.3M ratings on IMDb, well, it's not that hard to figure out which one will come up higher in a communal list like this.

Torgo

04-24-25, 12:20 PM

Ron Howard has made some solid films imo; Rush (2013), Ransom (1996), Willow (1988), Parenthood (1989), A Beautiful Mind (2001), In the Heart of the Sea (2015) and Thirteen Lives (2022). Other Ron Howard films I'm interested in watching are; The Paper (1994) and The Missing (2003).I also enjoyed In the Heart of the Sea. I still need to check out A Beautiful Mind.

His talent at getting such memorable performances out of his actors is enough for me to consider him a good director and makes up for him just being an okay visual stylist. Think about how many Oscar nominations and wins his movies have generated and how many performers he helped to flex their craft. Off the top of my head: Keaton in Night Shift, Hanks in Splash, Hemsworth in Rush, Martin in Parenthood...

Citizen Rules

04-24-25, 12:53 PM

Finally! One from my list. I had Apollo 13 as my #20. I wrote this on my Back to the 90s (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=71706) thread.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.starburstmagazine.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F09%2FApollo-13.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=92c98c0d6fcd97cc214c92389b96eafe019aac36c478e1c0c426cb3a69925f24&ipo=images
Apollo 13 (1995)
Dir: Ron Howard

Third rewatch of Ron Howard's film of the ill fated flight of Apollo 13. Even if you're not interested in historical space flight and even if you don't care about learning more about this amazing period, the film is still a riveting & harrowing tale of survival at great odds. One of my favorites.

rating_4_5

ScarletLion

04-24-25, 12:56 PM

I don't like Ron Howard films, they're far too Hollywood for me, so Apollo 13 wasn't in the mix.

Three Colours Blue was my #1. I consider it one of the greatest films ever made. The craft, intelligence, performance, and almost spiritual like tone is just on another level. When I saw it, it changed my outlook on cinema, such was the profound feeling of emotion I felt and the enormity of what I'd just seen packed into a 2 hour film. A truly great, great film.

Thursday Next

04-24-25, 01:16 PM

Apollo 13 is a solid film that I've watched several times. I also enjoy the "solving problems in space" subgenre.

Blue looks good but I found Redto be more engaging.

Thief

04-24-25, 01:19 PM

stillmellow

04-24-25, 01:21 PM

And his Grinch is and always will be inexcusable.

There is quite a bit wrong with that movie, but it's the best performance of Jim Carrey's career, and he makes it work.

crumbsroom

04-24-25, 02:26 PM

Oh, I forgot about Frost/Nixon. That was alright. Still would have preferred someone better than him directing it though.

honeykid

04-24-25, 02:41 PM

I know I don’t have a good track record with recs for you but this feels like a Citizen flick.
I'd second that. It definitely feels like something CR would like.

The Fugitive has been 40 years since I saw this,

That's impressive. :D It's also a comfort to know the world is still functional in 8 years time.

Good Will Hunting is pretty good. In terms of Van Sant's 90's films, I prefer My Own Private Idaho and Drugstore Cowboy by decent margins and hope they'll make this list as well.
Drugstore Cowboy has no chance as it's an 80's film. :D

iluv2viddyfilms

04-24-25, 02:42 PM

I've heard about this three colors thing for years, I just haven't taken the time to watch any of them. Would it be best to view in order of release?

As far as Apollo 13 goes, we watched it in Freshman year history class back in HS, and it was OK, but I've never had the need to see it again and probably never will. Just not my thing.

Tom Hanks may be the actor who appears most on this list and we haven't even gotten to his more popular films of the decade.

Holden Pike

04-24-25, 02:47 PM

I've heard about this three colors thing for years, I just haven't taken the time to watch any of them. Would it be best to view in order of release?
Yes. Representing the three colors of the French flag, going from left to right.

107444

ApexPredator

04-24-25, 02:50 PM

Seen: 19/34

I thought Apollo 13 was solid...but not on my list.

Haven't seen Three Colors: Blue. Or any of the trilogy.

Robert the List

04-24-25, 03:05 PM

Harry Lime

04-24-25, 03:53 PM

Oh no, no. Not this Three Colors shenanigans again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbHwbgIELCc

Captain Quint

04-24-25, 04:01 PM

In my universe, yeah, the Three Colors trilogy would be considerably higher, top 20, heck, top 10 - and maybe there's a world out there where that ranking exists, somewhere, somehow -Quint breaks into song- ♫ "There's a place for me, somewhere a place for me..."♫ -MoFo's remind Cap this isn't the musicals thread and to stop with the caterwauling-

I participated in a poll elsewhere and among the 90s, Blue came in at 23, Red was #31, and that's more to my tastes - but their top 20 was pretty much our top 20, so it would seem movie fans gravitate around the same titles when it comes to the upper echelon.

From my list, the majority of contributions are found in the 100 to 51 range, I only have 4 in the top 50 (though there were plenty others I liked) - but what the hey, I'm happy to have helped get 2 of the Three Colors, Before Sunrises and Moments of Innocence on the countdown. They're here, that's what matters most.

https://youtu.be/OOWO--z1S8A?si=SSCB-GoHxMBpu6-1

Diehl40

04-24-25, 04:20 PM

Six directors account for 15 films on my ballot.

Little Ash

04-24-25, 04:46 PM

Apollo 13 - I was roughly 15 when this came out and thought it was pretty great then. I've never revisited and watching a few other Ron Howard movies as I got older, combined with my vague recollection of the movie makes me think I wouldn't think much of it if I watched it now.

Three Colors: Blue - I think I already said some of what I thought about this before. Visually stunning, almost enough to make me like it. But I just never got onboard for the dramatic story/journey in a way that actually ventured into dislike. Granted, I saw this, probably 20 years ago (I honestly can't remember if this was a collage watch or mid-20s post-college watch). Though I did say I warmed up to White greatly on re-watch (though my original opinion of that was indifference). Maybe my opinion would shift on it if I ever did re-watch it.

Sedai

04-24-25, 05:04 PM

Followed by The Double Life of Veronique.

I started this last night, but it was late and I was beat, so I decided to get back to it when I can give it my full attention.

Thief

04-24-25, 05:06 PM

What the heck, since we're talking about Howard, here's my ranking of his work...

Apollo 13 - 4.5
Parenthood (https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2328758-parenthood.html) - 4.5
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week (https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2214561-the_beatles_eight_days_a_week_-_the_touring_years.html) - 4
Ransom - 3.5
Frost/Nixon - 3.5
A Beautiful Mind - 3
Angels & Demons - 3
The Da Vinci Code - 2.5
Solo: A Star Wars Story - 2
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - 2

It's been a long time since I've seen some of these, though.

I just realized I missed a handful that I know I've seen, but as far as ranking goes, it wouldn't matter much cause it's been too long and I don't remember most of these...

Willow - haven't seen it since its release
Splash - haven't seen it probably since the late 80s or early 90s
Backdraft - haven't seen it since its release
Far and Away - have it logged as seen, but I don't even remember it at all
edTV - saw it shortly after it came out, thought it was fun, but barely remember it.

Harry Lime

04-24-25, 05:07 PM

His best film is A Short Film About Killing.
Yes but someone should watch the entire Dekalog in order and insert the feature length versions of Killing and Love where they would be in the series. At least that's my opinion.

Captain Quint

04-24-25, 05:58 PM

I didn't care for the extended "Killing", why? In the Old Testament, it’s apparent to me that there’s a clear distinction between killing and murder. God kills, sanctions death, and takes sides in wars - but flat-out murder. We’re told, “Thou Shall Not Kill? I think an examination of the Biblical notion of killing and murder would have made for fascinating, gray area cinema. But that’s not where Kieślowski went. He had a point of view he wanted to sell, period. And while that point of view touched other viewers, I was unmoved. For example, attempts to humanize the murderer by having him speak of his sister was –for me- manipulative and heavy-handed. Hell Krzysztof, you might as well have pulled out the violins in that scene.

My concern was that the Dekalog was going to be 10 episodes of the director wagging his finger in my face. Happily, I discovered that the other chapters were not as reductive or contrived - though they are not, by any means, subtle. Kieślowski foreshadows and telegraphs (I) can be heavily expository (IV). But it works, because what was being said interested me. The people and their struggles interested me.

Anyway, I don’t think extended films are the way to go with these pieces, I think they work better in concert, even that 5th (shorter) chapter is better when it’s huddled between the other tales.

While I have my favorites (Dekalog III, VII & X), and those I felt were the lesser, as a thematic whole it packs a punch.

Robert the List

04-24-25, 06:11 PM

Captain Quint

04-24-25, 06:14 PM

People dont' say M 1931's crap because it sympathises with child killers. And that's even though much of the 2nd half is crap.

A Story of Killing isn't. Whether you agree with the moral position or not, it's still a highly innovative and striking film.

I didn't say that - I spoke about the delivery of the message, which was heavy handed on its own. I felt it was better joined with the others, where it becomes part of a larger thematic tapestry.

stillmellow

04-24-25, 06:25 PM

Six directors account for 15 films on my ballot.

Towards the other end of the spectrum, four directors each
appear twice in my list, and every other director only appears once.

dadgumblah

04-24-25, 06:25 PM

Okay, at last! I love Apollo 13. As my Aunt and Cousin worked for NASA, I knew about this story without ever seeing any news reports concerning it. Also, years later, I watched a documentary (I think it was either on The History Channel or Discovery) about the ill-fated trip of Apollo 13. And the doc was way before the movie was even made, I believe. So when the movie came out I knew what was going to happen and most times that's a hugh bummer, but not this time. It felt (because of my NASA kin) somewhat personal. All the performances were great and the spectacle of it all was fine. I can watch this any time and be entertained. This was #25 on my list. I can only go up from here. Literally.

My list:
#25 Apollo 13 list proper #68

Robert the List

04-24-25, 06:26 PM

I didn't say that - I spoke about the delivery of the message, which was heavy handed on its own. I felt it was better joined with the others, where it becomes part of a larger thematic tapestry.
Reading your comment again, I can see that I have slightly misinterpreted/misrepresented it.

It still seems though, even if you were being more nuanced than I'd credited, that you seem to be saying you would rather he made a film delivering a different message to the one that he did. It seems to me that you are still effectively criticising the director for not presenting the debate which you would like to have been presented.

Isn't it a case of waiting for that particular film to come along, and in the mean time assess A Short Film About Killing for what it is? rather than for what it isn't or what else it might have been?

Robert the List

04-24-25, 06:30 PM

I have 23 directors (well 25 actually, but only because there are 2 double acts).

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-24-25, 06:52 PM

Towards the other end of the spectrum, four directors each
appear twice in my list, and every other director only appears once.

Two directors with three each. No other repeats (somewhat by design).

I've ranked my picks according my prediction on whether they'd place. One of those two directors has three films with a "good" chance, while the other with three has two "fair" chances and one "no chance."

Good Chance: 0/12
Fair Chance: 2/10
- Sleepless in Seattle: #91 / My #3
- Office Space: #95 / My #23
No Chance: 0/3

The Rodent

04-24-25, 07:11 PM

Just experimenting with the collapsible list thing...

1. Yes
2. Hope So
3. Definitely
4. Definitely
5. Home Alone (1990) - 70th
6. Definitely
7. Dumb and Dumber (1994) - 83rd
8. Definitely
9. Maybe
10. Yes
11. Probably Not, But Hopeful
12. Yes
13. Point Break (1991) - 79th
14. Yes
15. Definitely
16. Definitely
17. Definitely
18. Maybe
19. Maybe
20. Probably
21. Maybe
22. Definitely
23. Yes
24. Definitely
25. Probably Not, But Hopeful

cricket

04-24-25, 07:25 PM

Blue is terrific, yet somehow it was my least favorite of the trilogy.

Have never seen Apollo 13. I'm not as much of a Tom Hanks fan as I once thought I was, and with some exceptions, I'm also not a big fan of space films. I'd definitely watch it though.

Miss Vicky

04-24-25, 07:27 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbHwbgIELCc

We're gonging French movies now?

rauldc14

04-24-25, 07:28 PM

We're gonging French movies now?

SC wouldn't have it any other way.

Miss Vicky

04-24-25, 07:29 PM

SC wouldn't have it any other way.

I thought he only gonged Asian movies?

Captain Quint

04-24-25, 07:41 PM

Reading your comment again, I can see that I have slightly misinterpreted/misrepresented it.

It still seems though, even if you were being more nuanced than I'd credited, that you seem to be saying you would rather he made a film delivering a different message to the one that he did. It seems to me that you are still effectively criticising the director for not presenting the debate which you would like to have been presented.

Isn't it a case of waiting for that particular film to come along, and in the mean time assess A Short Film About Killing for what it is? rather than for what it isn't or what else it might have been?

A lot of films say something, or make the attempt, they take a position, but that doesn't give them a free pass. Well, he meant to do this, so we can't criticize it. No, we criticize movies because we feel they fail to do this or that all the time, even great movies and directors - and something in the delivery didn't gel. I felt the approach here, the message, which was very important to director, was delivered with a heavy hand... that a subtler, more nuanced approach might have made for a better picture. I am judging the movie for what it is, and I found it lacking. It's not the position, it's the telling, which felt forced to me.

Now, you can get away with that sometimes... I'm not really in line with Mrinal Sen's politics for example, but I love how he tells a story, how he relays the message. I thought Chorus, for example, was amazing filmmaking, even though he's repeatedly hitting his audience over the head with a big Marxist hammer. I think the politics in Soy Cuba are the same - big hammer propaganda, but it's so gorgeously filmed and such a powerfully told picture, that I'm absolutely enthralled with it. And I go along with it not because I agree or disagree with its position, but because on cinematic terms, it's astonishing.

But I feel Kieslowski stumbles in his telling, most especially as a stand-alone. Certainly, you can take a humanistic approach about a horrible act, Dostoevsky did so with Crime and Punishment, where even this murderer receives grace - even if he doesn't deserve it, and he knows he doesn't deserve it, he receives it, in the form of Sonja, who represents that Christ like grace and forgiveness.

KeyserCorleone

04-24-25, 07:44 PM

Isn't it a case of waiting for that particular film to come along, and in the mean time assess A Short Film About Killing for what it is? rather than for what it isn't or what else it might have been?

Any film "might've been" something else. The crew behind Saw "might've" kept the getaway car's model in mind before just grabbing another one to finish a scene because they didn't think anyone would've noticed. And in the eyes of the subjective, moral standards can easily play a part in something, especially if certain information feels forced or basic, not progressing or advancing as far as it should.

Harry Lime

04-24-25, 07:58 PM

We're gonging French movies now?
This one was special case gong just for raul and SC.

Captain Quint

04-24-25, 08:16 PM

I was wondering what the gong was about, I thought it might be a meme type of thing, but a googleearch came up empty... "Hmm, then it must be a MoFo thing"

CharlesAoup

04-24-25, 08:30 PM

Positively surprised to see Blue above Red . I always saw Red rated as the best one. Not holding my breath for White though.

Captain Quint

04-24-25, 08:39 PM

And one more thought about the debate on A Short Film About a Killing - I'll entertain the idea that I could be wrong, that I'm missing something. When I don't love a movie that's considered a beloved classic, I often question myself (and I'm talking about higher level pieces - I'm not losing sleep over not loving Home Alone as much as others do).

While some folks get mad at the movie, get mad at the people who admire it, I'll often look at myself and search for a reason why - this was worthwhile to a lot of people I respect, am I being stupid here, and if so, let's not cling to my stupidity and figure this out, because certain movies are worth it.

For example, friends would wonder why I kept going back to Jeanne Dielman when I couldn't stand it... for decades I did this, watch, study, ask questions, watch again... it was actually the people here, folks like SpelingError and crumbsroom with his advice on how to approach it from a musical, rhythm standpoint who helped the most, they gave me the key to unlocking the thing, and it was like the scales fell from my eyes, "Holy ---- I can see it, I finally understand, and it's incredible and worth all the time I spent on it" Why do I go back, why do I question myself, that's why, the reward is worth it when it clicks.

So, by all means, push back on me, tell where I got it wrong. I'll defend my position probably, and when it's all said and done, I could feel the same, that my criticisms are valid (I'm looking at you, the ending to "No Country for Old Men"), but tell me anyway. It's like good medicine.

beelzebubble

04-24-25, 09:16 PM

Juliette Binoche is one of the best. Anything she is in is a must see for me. Apollo 13 is an excellent movie. And yet… neither is on my list.

I_Wear_Pants

04-24-25, 09:36 PM

Apollo 13 is good. I saw it once a few years ago. I enjoyed it. I never had the desire to rewatch it.

I don't watch French films anymore. I've hated each one I've seen.

beelzebubble

04-24-25, 11:12 PM

I don't watch French films anymore. I've hated each one I've seen.
That’s a strong reaction. Which French films have you seen?

I_Wear_Pants

04-25-25, 12:09 AM

That’s a strong reaction. Which French films have you seen?

I don't remember all of them. I know I've seen Breathless, 400 Blows, Mon Oncle, Passion Joan d'Arc, and Le Samourai. There are others I fail to recall. I can't stand any of them.

KeyserCorleone

04-25-25, 12:21 AM

I don't remember all of them. I know I've seen Breathless, 400 Blows, Mon Oncle, Passion Joan d'Arc, and Le Samourai. There are others I fail to recall. I can't stand any of them.

You poor soul. But if you like tense movies, as suggested by several movies in your top 10, check out A Man Escaped and Army of Shadows. Now I agree that Le Samourai is a bit overrated, but Army of Shadows is legit, as well as 400 Blows and Passion of Joan of Arc.

I_Wear_Pants

04-25-25, 12:27 AM

You poor soul. But if you like tense movies, as suggested by several movies in your top 10, check out A Man Escaped and Army of Shadows. Now I agree that Le Samourai is a bit overrated, but Army of Shadows is legit, as well as 400 Blows and Passion of Joan of Arc.

Tension is good. I don't know that those will appeal to me. I can look into them at least. I won't make any predictions on anything though.

KeyserCorleone

04-25-25, 12:29 AM

Tension is good. I don't know that those will appeal to me. I can look into them at least. I won't make any predictions on anything though.

I hope at least one of them will work, as a top ten is only a general basis for guessing. If I had to tell you my highest rated French movie, it's Amelie.

I_Wear_Pants

04-25-25, 12:49 AM

I hope at least one of them will work, as a top ten is only a general basis for guessing. If I had to tell you my highest rated French movie, it's Amelie.

I've heard of that one. It hadn't piqued my interest. The two you mentioned are centered around World War II so that helps. Maybe if I can find them for free I can give them a go.

Thief

04-25-25, 01:05 AM

I don't remember all of them. I know I've seen Breathless, 400 Blows, Mon Oncle, Passion Joan d'Arc, and Le Samourai. There are others I fail to recall. I can't stand any of them.

Two of those are French New Wave, and four of those are 1950s-60s films, so maybe it's not an issue with French films per se, but perhaps with the period and style of the time. Maybe check out modern French films first, and see how that goes. There's bound to be something you like; whether it is romantic films (Priceless, The Lovers on the Bridge), horror (High Tension, Martyrs, Raw), drama (Au Revoir les Enfants, Sarah's Key), action (Léon: The Professional) or more wacky, surreal stuff (Delicatessen, Amélie). I'd be surprised if one of those doesn't stick.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-25-25, 01:44 AM

The Fifth Element and Natural Born Killers have got to pop up soon.

I_Wear_Pants

04-25-25, 01:49 AM

Two of those are French New Wave, and four of those are 1950s-60s films, so maybe it's not an issue with French films per se, but perhaps with the period and style of the time. Maybe check out modern French films first, and see how that goes. There's bound to be something you like; whether it is romantic films (Priceless, The Lovers on the Bridge), horror (High Tension, Martyrs, Raw), drama (Au Revoir les Enfants, Sarah's Key), action (Léon: The Professional) or more wacky, surreal stuff (Delicatessen, Amélie). I'd be surprised if one of those doesn't stick.

Oh dang. Okay.

I should add this, because I didn't realize it is French (I could have forgotten); I have seen Leon, which I thought was good. I do remember watching it mostly for Portman and Reno, honestly, and I thought they were quite good (I didn't know Oldman was in it) (nor did I really know who he was at the time). I had seen Reno in an American movie and someone suggested Leon, so I watched it for that.

gbgoodies

04-25-25, 02:24 AM

Apollo 13 is one of those movies that is kind of on the border of best movies vs favorite movies for me. It leans a little bit more towards best movies, but I like it enough that I considered it for my list. If it leaned a little bit more on the favorite movies side, it might have made my list. Either way, it's a great movie and I'm glad to see that it made the countdown.

I haven't seen Three Colors: Blue.

I_Wear_Pants

04-25-25, 02:55 AM

You poor soul. But if you like tense movies, as suggested by several movies in your top 10, check out A Man Escaped and Army of Shadows. Now I agree that Le Samourai is a bit overrated, but Army of Shadows is legit, as well as 400 Blows and Passion of Joan of Arc.

I make no promises and I'll go in with an open mind; I requested Army of Shadows from the library. We'll see how it goes.

Holden Pike

04-25-25, 05:20 AM

I am gonna blind guess Léon: The Professional and Misery for today's pair.

Captain Quint

04-25-25, 05:34 AM

7lists95pointsGlengarry Glen Ross (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/9504-glengarry-glen-ross.html)Director
James Foley, 1992

Starring
Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin

Captain Quint

04-25-25, 05:35 AM

7lists96pointsPrincess Mononoke (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/128-princess-mononoke.html)Director
Hayao Miyazaki, 1997

Starring
Yoji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yuko Tanaka, Kaoru Kobayashi

Captain Quint

04-25-25, 05:37 AM

Too big a drop for Mononoke - The thing I liked about Miyazaki was the vast imagination, he took me places and showed me things that, well... take Mononoke, seen on the big screen (it was the first Studio Ghibli film to be released internationally) it simply blew my mind. Miyazaki delivers his message, but I never felt like he was hammering me over the head with it. I loved the ambiguity, Lady Eboshi isn’t cut and dried villainy, she does good for her people. On the other hand, nature can be volatile and dangerous (I love when the wolf grabs the prince’s head and starts shaking it – these aint Disney’s happy, helpful singing animals); we are given many shades of gray. And the ending is epic, truly breathtaking.

Trivia? It the most expensive animated film at the time. Some computer-generated imagery and other digital techniques (the shimmering demon flesh) were used in conjunction with hand-drawn animation, a first for Miyazaki.

While not a box office hit, Glengarry was a critical darling - Not noted for its direction, it's instead an acting clinic, with a superb ensemble cast who took substantial pay cuts in order to be part of the project.

Alec Baldwin's character was created for the film adaptation and gets one of the most quoted lines and speeches... "Always Be Closing"

With all that talent, Pacino was the only one to receive an acting nomination.

https://youtu.be/cHXOS2CrzGk?si=UAuqyskMQC62rq6R
The Simpsons Gil Gunderson is based on Jack Lemmon's portrayal of Shelley Levene in the film version of Glengarry Glen Ross

Princess was ranked #22 on the original 90s list, Glen was previously unranked

Holden Pike

04-25-25, 05:45 AM

107458

Princess Mononoke is no stranger to the kingdom of MoFo Lists. She was #22 on the initial MoFo Top 100 of the 1990s as well as #9 on the MoFo Top 100 Animated Films and #46 on the MoFo Top 100 Foreign Films. Glengarry Glen Ross makes its MoFo debut.

ScarletLion

04-25-25, 05:49 AM

I don't watch French films anymore. I've hated each one I've seen.

'Only the Animals' (2019)

ScarletLion

04-25-25, 05:50 AM

Only seen Glengarry once and I thought it was overrated, a little too talky for it's own good.

Not seen Mononoke

Holden Pike

04-25-25, 05:56 AM

https://youtu.be/4wBUnziyPWQ?si=D8h9JYqW2-EZSFLG
https://youtu.be/1I1p4EaCbLY?si=7ys8aNyAaDzcWMX8
https://youtu.be/gsX9g8RZ25w?si=6PDLCU1kH2jUfI8f
https://youtu.be/8eZgspth7KE?si=og9kzz876vz1bxxJ
https://youtu.be/8pNsV4-ob4U?si=PuJvlDCWAKxnouhw
https://youtu.be/J_vSirIJEsY?si=N4GKhy95pySXLsr3
https://youtu.be/cHXOS2CrzGk?si=JreHvmMwSC1R4h2F
https://youtu.be/zOYLzA69xVY?si=LN78pPGK997q6Ia-

The Rodent

04-25-25, 06:10 AM

Not seen Glengarry Glen Ross but I can say one thing about it...

The title alone makes me want to drink whiskey for some reason.

PHOENIX74

04-25-25, 06:13 AM

66. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) - I love Glengarry Glen Ross. I've loved it ever since I first saw it, and I was young enough for it to make an impression as far as to how my attitudes towards high pressure shoddy real estate practices go. I mean, all these guys seem to be dirtbags, but we feel sorry for them because their boss is close to being an absolute psychopath. I also got a comedic thrill every time I saw character Gil Gunderson do his bit on The Simpsons. It owes everything to David Mamet's writing and a congregation of incredible actors performing at the peak of their powers. Every scene is electrifying and vicious. Every scene is full to the brim with desperation and bloodlust. Actually, I would have been hoping for this to appear way up the top of this list instead of down here, but I guess competition for spots on this countdown is as cutthroat as the competition going on between the characters in this film. Anyway, this one was always going to be on my ballot because of how strongly I feel about it. These days it comes in at a lofty level : #6.

65. Princess Mononoke (1997) - This is one of the Studio Ghibli movies I've seen - I'm getting through them alright! Saw it a while ago, rated it 4/5, and had this to say about it on letterboxd : "Still relevant today, or perhaps even more so, Princess Mononoke contemplates the spiritual side of the trade-off we make when we destroy entire habitats for industry. It does so with one of the most delightful and fast-paced animated stories you could ever hope to watch - there's very little down time, despite the fact that this is a pretty long Studio Ghibli film at 133-minutes in length. Prince Ashitaka (voiced in the dubbed version by Billy Crudup) finds himself on a journey when a massive demon pig attacks his village and he's cursed by it's touch. What he finds is a distant war, where Lady Eboshi (Minnie Driver), ruler of Irontown, is fighting San (Claire Danes), who is struggling on behalf of the spirits of the forest. It's human vs spirit in a complex tale which involves different clans, conspiracies and characters both spirit-wise and human. The animation is quite haunting and imaginative, and the music plays into that theme of the spiritual and ghostly. The action and narrative keeps moving forward at a very brisk pace, and it's the kind of film that will really reward multiple viewings. Next time, I'll probably try it with the original Japanese voice talent on - hearing the likes of Billy Bob Thornton as a Japanese monk and mercenary, is really quite weird. My rating might go up in time, I was really quite impressed with Princess Mononoke." I have it on DVD.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seen : 36/36
I'd never even heard of : 0/36
Movies that had been on my radar, but I haven't seen yet : 0/36
Films from my list : 6 + 1 pointer

#66 - My #6 - Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
#68 - My #23 - Apollo 13 (1995)
#74 - My #18 - Election (1999)
#78 - My #2 - The Blair Witch Project (1999)
#81 - My #22 - Before Sunrise (1995)
#96 - My #15 - Fallen Angels (1995)
1-pointer - Deep Crimson (1996)

ueno_station54

04-25-25, 06:44 AM

i've only seen that one scene from glengarry glen ross and i loved princess mononoke the one time i saw it in high school, i wonder if it holds up.

Allaby

04-25-25, 07:19 AM

Glengarry Glen Ross has a great cast with strong performances and a sharp, crackling screenplay. I liked it, but didn't vote for it. Princess Mononoke is fantastic, but I didn't have room on my ballot for it. Glad it made the countdown.

Seen: 36/36

ApexPredator

04-25-25, 08:31 AM

Make that 19/36 seen...

Although I've had Glengarry Glen Ross downloaded for a while now from Amazon Prime. Maybe because I thought it'd fit in a category somewhere?

Hadn't Seen Princess Mononoke...My output on Studio Ghibli is definitely lagging!

Omnizoa

04-25-25, 09:29 AM

Like I said, Ghibli movies just had no presence overseas until Spirited Away released. And then all of a sudden there were 2 types of people:

Spirited Away Fans: whose first and/or only exposure to Studio Ghibli of course meant that it was the best thing Miyazaki's ever done, and...

Princess Mononoke Enjoyers: who each, by virtue of having seen more than 1 Studio Ghibli movie, are truly the internet's most cultured cinephiles because they are entitled to the contrarian opinion that Princess Mononoke is ACTUALLY the greatest movie Miyazaki's ever made and Spirited Away is merely pedestrian by comparison.

For my money, I've seen Princess Mononoke exactly once, and have never been interested in seeing it again. However, the same could NOT be said for Ninja Scroll, which is a movie I just realized is 90s eligible and will not receive any love in this Countdown unless I mention it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4H32pFc-Qk

seanc

04-25-25, 09:43 AM

Mononoke and Nausicca were my first two Miyazaki movies and I found them dreadful. I just couldn’t tolerate the characterisations. Although I still don’t consider him a favorite, I have come around on the director since, like way around. So I definitely owe this a second look.

Glen Gary is a 4 star movie for me that feels like something that should be in my top 10. It’s just my kind of thing, but something holds it back a little each watch. Maybe next time. Glad to see it here.

seanc

04-25-25, 09:44 AM

Not seen Glengarry Glen Ross but I can say one thing about it...

The title alone makes me want to drink whiskey for some reason.

This made me laugh, because it makes total sense somehow.

Miss Vicky

04-25-25, 09:50 AM

I don’t like Princess Mononoke and I haven’t seen Glengarry Glen Ross.

Seen: 29/36
My Balllot:
9. Point Break (#79)
12. True Romance (#94)
24. Interview With the Vampire (#92)
25. Untamed Heart (One Pointer)

crumbsroom

04-25-25, 10:03 AM

The dislike I have towards Princess Mononoke is one of the times I know the problem is with me. Miyazaki is a genius. There is pretty much no question everything he's ever done is at least 'good'. And I've liked everything else I've seen from him. Except for this .Which, yes, makes me the big dummy this time around. I've got to admit, it doesn't feel very good.

Glengarry, as has already been stated here, is brilliant as a screenplay and endlessly watchable because of its ensemble of actors. I like it a lot. But it's never seemed more than just 'pretty good' as a movie for me. Super entertaining though (so I guess it's got to lose half a star for that)

John-Connor

04-25-25, 10:22 AM

https://i0.wp.com/www.brendanmcginley.com/hermesoneiropompus/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/SpaceJam2.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1
Princess Mononoke needs a re-watch but it's lower on my animated list than Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll, A Close Shave and Space Jam. Sadly all four of them I don't really expect to show at this point.

I have Glengarry Glen Ross at #66 on my own nineties top hundred so I'm perfectly in agreement with its placement at #66 on this list. Moreover I have another film starring Alec Baldwin another starring Ed Harris and a couple starring Al Pacino on my ballot.

Seen 29/36
Ballot 4/25

Miss Vicky

04-25-25, 10:29 AM

Looks like Glengarry Glen Ross is on Kanopy. I might check it out.

Harry Lime

04-25-25, 10:36 AM

I'm in sales so of course I'm constantly quoting Princess Mononoke. Both films are good. I haven't seen Glengarry Glen Ross for years but I recall great drama, acting, dialogue, etc. Almost like it was a play. I like Princess Mononoke but it's never been high on my Miyazaki list, even after a rewatch, but I get why others love it.

Torgo

04-25-25, 10:38 AM

Not a big fan of Mononoke. I greatly prefer Miyazaki's other environmentalism movie, Nausicaa. In the best Miyazaki movies, the themes emerge with subtlety and organically from the storytelling. Mononoke, on the other hand, is akin to someone standing next to you and screaming the themes in your ear. I'll at least give the Forest Spirit sequence credit, which may feature the most incredible animation in any of his movies.

Glengarry is terrific, terrifically acted and landed at #24 on my ballot. As a white collar worker, I have reasons to think about it on an almost weekly basis.

Harry Lime

04-25-25, 10:38 AM

Oh and here you go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbHwbgIELCc
Fun fact: This is the same gong as used in the original. We wanted to provide viewers with that authenticity.

Torgo

04-25-25, 10:50 AM

Are we gonging posters who are annoying or something a la The Gong Show? :D

https://youtu.be/brlYQu8ABUs?si=Q-msFY5AXijaSH3t

KeyserCorleone

04-25-25, 11:17 AM

Mononoke is one of those animated films you just have to watch. Seen it three times. Miyazaki got extremely invested in the world and lore building here, and the visuals never distract from the storytelling. In fact, one can say they ARE storytelling. 98.

Seen 23/36

Sedai

04-25-25, 11:18 AM

It's been ages since I saw Glengarry Glen Ross, but I recall being pretty enthralled by it when I did see it.

As a father who is raising a now six year-old daughter, we have of course watched a variety of Ghibli films over and over. The princess falls somewhere in the middle of the pack for me, and my daughter just straight up doesn't really like it. I think it is a bit too intense for her, but I think perhaps that she just prefers the more whimsical and simple storytelling in films like Kiki and Totoro. I like both of those films more, as well. As for Spirited Away, it's good, but still not my favorite of Miyazaki's work.

Neither film made my ballot. Still just 1/25.

Harry Lime

04-25-25, 11:18 AM

Are we gonging posters who are annoying or something a la The Gong Show? :D

https://youtu.be/brlYQu8ABUs?si=Q-msFY5AXijaSH3t
Sure why not.

rauldc14

04-25-25, 11:22 AM

Me. They are gonging me.

Neither on my list by the way.

Harry Lime

04-25-25, 11:22 AM

He likes it

Citizen Rules

04-25-25, 11:48 AM

Glengarry Glen Ross, I watched the first 45 minutes recently and shut it off, just call me Stirchley;)

The first 45 minutes were composed of very contrived, fakey ass writing, I didn't buy any of it. Instead I was acutely aware that some writer decided to spice up their dull script with more shockingly cool language than I could count, to the point it all became comical. I found Baldwin's character so over the top with his brass balls speech that it felt like a satirical SNL skit. Stupid shit for sure. It will take brass balls to rep this post:D

Deschain

04-25-25, 11:49 AM

Glengarry Glen Ross is great. A movie that lives or dies by its performances but with such a stacked cast it can’t fail.

Haven’t seen Princess Mononoke.

seanc

04-25-25, 12:07 PM

Citizen Rules

04-25-25, 12:09 PM

Yeah dude, stick to that super grounded non theatrical Noir dialogue. ;) I repped you. Every opinion valid, it is always just a little harder to stomach criticism when the criticism criticises what is intentional.Well that's one rep anyway!:p

crumbsroom

04-25-25, 12:23 PM

Thief

04-25-25, 12:31 PM

Glengarry Glen Ross is yet another one I had floating over my list and ended up cutting at the last minute. I saw it back in the 90s and fell in love with it. Probably one of the best openings on any film, great performances and a captivating story, mostly anchored on those excellent performances. I mean, look at that cast? Pacino, Lemmon, Harris, Arkin, Spacey, Baldwin. Not a weak spot there. I revisited it in 2014, after years, and it held up really well. However, I just haven't gone back to it, which is the main reason why I didn't vote for it. But, as with some recent entries, I'm really glad it showed up.

Princess Mononoke was my first Miyazaki back in the late 90s/early 2000s, and it really didn't do a good job grabbing my attention. I've never been an anime guy, and I really didn't get in the vibe of this film. Been meaning to rewatch it, but me not caring about Spirited Away either (sorry!) has put me off a bit on any Miyazaki/Ghibli film.

SEEN: 21/36
MY BALLOT: 4/25

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. The Blair Witch Project (1999, #78)
10.
11. Interview with the Vampire (1994, #92)
12.
13. Election (1999, #74)
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. A Few Good Men (1992, #84)
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Thief

04-25-25, 12:34 PM

Also, *ding, ding, ding* for Miyazaki being the third director with multiple entries on the countdown.

Citizen Rules

04-25-25, 12:36 PM

If anyone is looking for realism in acting styles or screenwriting or dialogue, you can basically write off the entire history of film before the 70's (the only consistent exceptions being some of the films that came out of Italian Neo-Realism). And even once we get to the 70's, particularly the American New Wave where reproducing supposed gritty reality was paramount, it's all just a different brand of artifice. It's always stylized to fit the mood of a generation. Sure, hard nosed cops kinda talk like Popeye Doyle....but not really. We just become more accepting of whatever bullshit representations we have grown accustomed to. But, when it's all boiled down, everything is always a lie. Usually an obvious one. So the important trick becomes to learn how to believe as many of those lies as possible. Not to find all the different ways to reject them.Incorrect. You extrapolated wrongly from my post where I said the dialogue in Glengarry Glen Ross was fakey. Non-ergo that fakey dialogue translates to me wanting all movie dialogue to sound like natural speech. If I did I wouldn't be such a fan of old early mid 20th century movies. Glengarry Glen Ross is overcooked. To bad Roger Corman didn't make it back in the 1980s then it might have had a b-cult movie coolness to it. As it is, it's a poser.

Sedai

04-25-25, 12:44 PM

This keeps coming up: Comments about how something seems written or make itself obvious it is written etc.

This reminds me of a time I was sitting at the local lunch counter chatting about books with a fella. I commented that I had just read Look Homeward, Angel and this mug screwed up his face and said "Meh, I don't like Wolfe, his writing is too purple." I thought about that for a minute and then I hauled off and just punched this two-bit bozo in the nose as hard as I could, you get me? I says to this clown, I says "Now what's purple, Mr. Smart Guy!?"

Not really, but that would have been kinda funny in a film. I think he meant that his prose was too flowery, and it drew attention to the writing and not the content. This may be so, but it never really bothered me, and in fact, it had me rereading several sections due to just how completely stunning this guy's use of the English language was. My story about probably seems written, too.

They just don't write em' like they used to, eh? ;)

Thursday Next

04-25-25, 12:56 PM

I have watched Princess Mononoke a couple of times and I appreciate the animation and parts of the story but the story and characters don't grab me overall. I always feel like I should like it more than I do.

Citizen Rules

04-25-25, 01:03 PM

This keeps coming up: Comments about how something seems written or make itself obvious it is written etc.

This reminds me of a time I was sitting at the local lunch counter chatting about books with a fella. I commented that I had just read Look Homeward Angel and this mug screwed up his face and said "Meh, I don't like Wolfe, his writing is too purple." I thought about that for a minute and then I hauled off and just punched this two-bit bozo in the nose as hard as I could, you get me? I says to this clown, I says "Now what's purple, Mr. Smart Guy!?"

Not really, but that would have been kinda funny in a film. I think he meant that his prose was too flowery, and it drew attention to the writing and not the content. This may be so, but it never really bothered me, and in fact, it had me rereading several sections due to just how completely stunning this guy's use of the English language was. My story about probably seems written, too.

They just don't write em' like they used to, eh? ;)Sweet.

Holden Pike

04-25-25, 01:10 PM

The first 45 minutes [of Glengarry Glen Ross] were composed of very contrived, fakey ass writing, I didn't buy any of it. Instead I was acutely aware that some writer decided to spice up their dull script with more shockingly cool language than I could count, to the point it all became comical.
We're back to the Aaron Sorkin thing? David Mamet's dialogue is indeed highly stylized and artificial and it all sounds the same. By design. For those who grove to it is is indeed comical - intentionally so - and a heck of a lot of fun. If you don't groove to it, you don't groove to it.

Mamet's play debuted in 1983, starring one of his regulars Joe Mantegna as Ricky Roma (Pacino's character in the film). In addition to winning Tony, Drama Desk, and New York Drama Critics' Circle awards, Glengarry Glen Ross won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Seven of the nine Pulitzer Prize winners from the 1980s have been turned into films: Beth Henley's Crimes of the Heart (1981) became Bruce Beresford's 1986 film starring Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, and Sissy Spacek, Charles Fuller's A Soldier's Play (1982) became Norman Jewison's A Soldier's Story (1984) starring Howard E. Rollins Jr., Adolph Caesar, and Denzel Washington, Marsha Norman's 'night, Mother (1983) which was made into the 1986 film by Tom Moore starring Sissy Spacek and Anne Bancroft, August Wilson's Fences (1987) which took a while to make it to the big screen directed by and starring Denzel Washington in 2016 co-starring Viola Davis, Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy (1988) was immediately turned into Bruce Beresford's 1989 Best Picture Oscar winner with Morgan Freeman reprising his role while Jessica Tandy took over for Judith Ivey, and Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles (1989) was adapted into a 1995 made-for-TV movie directed by Paul Bogart starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Tom Hulce.

It's not unusual for award winning plays to be adapted into films, but seven of the Pulitzers from a single decade hadn't happened since the 1950s when eight of the nine winners became movies (South Pacific, The Shrike, Picnic, The Teahouse of the August Moon, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Diary of Anne Frank, Long Day's Journey into Night, and "Look Homeward, Angel").

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivDIqku1LO0

That original Chicago and then Broadway cast of Glengarry Glen Ross was killer. Mantegna's Roma beat out Robert Prosky's Shelly "The Machine" Levene for Best Actor at the Tonys, but the rest of the cast was James Tolkan (Back to the Future, Top Gun) as Moss (the Ed Harris film role), the late, great J.T. Walsh as Williamson (Spacey's film role), Mike Nussbaum (House of Games, Men in Black) as Aaronow (Alan Arkin's film role), and William Petersen (To Live and Die in L.A., Manhunter, "C.S.I.") as Jame Lyngk (Jonathan Pryce's film role) in Chicago then Lane Smith (My Cousin Vinny, "Lois & Clark") on Broadway.

There continue to be major revivals, including Broadway in 2005 with Alan Alda as Shelly Levene, a 2007 West End production with Jonathan Pryce moving to Shelly Levene, a 2012 Broadway production where Pacino tried his hand at playing Shelly Levene (Bobby Cannavale was Roma), and a current Broadway production with Bob Odenkirk as Shelly, Kieran Culkin as Roma, Michael McKean as Aaronow, and Bill Burr making his stage debut as Moss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6uzDyhJskY&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD

crumbsroom

04-25-25, 01:28 PM

As it is, it's a poser.

Posing to be what? A David Mamet production? Like any great writer, Mamet has a specific style which is beholden only to itself. The dialogue isn't simply constructed to draw attention to its writerly qualities, but to externalize the interior worlds of its characters. The closest example I can think of this off the top of my head is Tennessee Williams, where everything is exaggerated intentionally to give us an understanding of the little insular world his characters live in, all their weird idioms and turns of phrase and way of relating to eachother. It's also given all this extra flavour in order to be comical. And in the case of GGR, it's all fitting being that these are all salesmen, all men who have been hired to sell lies. They are fictional characters in their own lives, by design, by necessity.

It may not be your thing, just like Whit Stillman isn't my thing for similar reasons. But it isn't posing. It knows exactly what it is, and it's not trying to be anything else.

Captain Quint

04-25-25, 01:33 PM

I like animation, all forms of it - I was into comics, I was into art, especially the surrealists, and other strange and imaginative ones. I drew, went to college for commercial arts, my mother painted (mostly pretty landscapes), my drummer GF painted (mostly dark stuff that could hang in the Night Gallery). So, art in film, that's a draw for sure.

Going down memory lane - in 1994 Siskel & Ebert are making their video picks of the week, and My Neighbor Totoro was Roger's selection - the clip left an impression, so one weekend we walked to the 7-11 that was a couple blocks from our apt and boy howdie, there it was on the shelves - and that's where it all began. Slurpee's and a cat bus and me and my best gal digging the hell out of this new discovery we made. (After this we found Kiki - then visits to the theater became a must for any new Miyazaki release).

Funny, I thought it (Totoro) was one of the trippiest things I’d ever viewed, little did I know that by comparison, it would wind up one of the most sedate and straight forward films from the master (but still trippy).

I remember how Mononoke got under my skin - i was in awe of everything presented there on the screen. I wasn't versed in Japanese folklore at the time, so it was all so strange and new and absorbing.

Totoro will always be my #2 for it being the first, Mononoke my #1 for sending me on this mind-blowing journey - Spirited Away is #3, Castle in the Sky #4 and Porco Rosso #5

https://youtu.be/E1JCKePCss8?si=1Ks2ekHRxuNeEDCg

Oh, and I found the Siskel & Ebert episode, in addition to Totoro, that was the one where they hated, hated North, but gave 2 thumbs up to Whit Stillman's Barcelona (which was a movie I eventually saw and loved)

Citizen Rules

04-25-25, 01:40 PM

Posing to be what? A David Mamet production? Like any great writer, Mamet has a specific style which is beholden only to itself. The dialogue isn't simply constructed to draw attention to its writerly qualities, but to externalize the interior worlds of its characters. The closest example I can think of this off the top of my head is Tennessee Williams, where everything is exaggerated intentionally to give us an understanding of the little insular world his characters live in, all their weird idioms and turns of phrase and way of relating to eachother. It's also given all this extra flavour in order to be comical. And in the case of GGR, it's all fitting being that these are all salesmen, all men who have been hired to sell lies. They are fictional characters in their own lives, by design, by necessity.

It may not be your thing, just like Whit Stillman isn't my thing for similar reasons. But it isn't posing. It knows exactly what it is, and it's not trying to be anything else.Not to go to far off topic in this light heartened thread, but if a movie knows what it wants to be (figuratively of course) then that's the same thing as my staunch belief that everyone's opinion is correct onto itself, as it's their own opinion (as long as they are being honest with their feelings of course). I remember you diametrically (thanks spelling check!) opposed that idea. Buy hey, I can go for the notion that Glengarry Glen Ross is doing exactly what it wants to do...but it ain't what I want it to do.

You can have the finally word, I'm not into typing and debating while the sun is shining.

LeBoyWondeur

04-25-25, 01:41 PM

Princess Mononoke....what the heck is this? It looks like TV cartoon.
I would expect something as niche as this to be a one-pointer in this countdown - but at #65??

I've also never seen Glengarry Glen Ross therefore I watched some clips on youtube. It looks like The Office but with lots of grandstanding and without humour. Quite dull, actually.

On the upside, these two entries have pushed my 23 favourites closer to the top 25. All's well that ends well :yup:

The Rodent

04-25-25, 01:43 PM

I like animation, all forms of it

You must love those "live-action" remakes that Disney's been churning out recently then :D

Wyldesyde19

04-25-25, 01:50 PM

Princess Mononoke is my my #14 on my ballot. I remember watching it on dvd after its theatrical run and becoming enthralled with it. Was hoping it would have improved its position, not drop.

GlenGary Glen Ross is another one of those films I’ve known for about 30 years or so and just haven’t gotten around to watching it despite having it on my watchlist. Maybe someday soon.

Captain Quint

04-25-25, 01:50 PM

You must love those "live-action" remakes that Disney's been churning out recently then :D

Those are all incredible upgrades, the greatest decision in film history was for the studio to remake their classics. I'll go even further and suggest that Disney burn all the animated originals and make the 'live action' the standard, after all, human models were used in the animations, some used some type of rotoscoping, so same diff, right?

The Rodent

04-25-25, 01:57 PM

Those are all incredible upgrades, the greatest decision in film history was for the studio to remake their classics. I'll go even further and suggest that Disney burn all the animated originals and make the 'live action' the standard, after all, human models were used in the animations, some used some type of rotoscoping, so same diff, right?

That's a good point tbh.
Snow White was essentially mo-cap.

crumbsroom

04-25-25, 02:03 PM

You can have the finally word, I'm not into typing and debating while the sun is shining.

:rolleyes:

SpelingError

04-25-25, 02:27 PM

Apollo 13 is very good, but I haven't seen it in forever.

Three Colors: Blue is also great, but it didn't make my ballot either.

I went to check my ballot and neither Princess Mononoke nor Glengarry Glen Ross made my ballot. In retrospect, I kind of regret leaving them off. Oh well...

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-25-25, 02:31 PM

Glengarry Glen Ross: Not on my ballot, but easily top 50. When I was part of a high tech marketing operations team, doing systems training for novice sales reps, my ice-breaker intro often included replaying the first part of Alec Baldwin's famous "coffee is for closers" speech, up through the part where he says these are the A leads, and you don't get them, and he passes them over his shoulder to Kevin Spacey. Before the profanity started. (As the recruits got older and culture changed, I had to ask the manager for permission to show it, as most had never heard of it.) Well acted. Jack Lemmon ... such a believable sad sack in this one. Yup, very stagey dialog. Me likey.

Princess Mononoke: Caught up with this within the last year. Not the top tier Miyazaki for me. Something about it made me a bit edgy. Hard to describe. Still, no argument with it being here.

Seen: 24/36
Ballot: 2/25

My predictions of how my picks will place:

Good Chance: 0/12
Fair Chance: 2/10
Sleepless in Seattle: #91 / My #3
Office Space: #95 / My #23
No Chance: 0/3

stillmellow

04-25-25, 02:41 PM

Princess Mononoke is the only Miyazaki movie that didn't work for me. It's just a bit too depressing, combined with protagonists I didn't like. It's a beautiful film, very well made, but not for me

Glengarry Glenn Ross is a showcase of terrible people, in an environment where the most terrible people thrive the most. And the least terrible among them has the worst fate. Not in my list, but a good movie.

Seen: 26/36
List: 3

WrinkledMind

04-25-25, 02:49 PM

Princess Mononoke is my eight & my favourite Miyazaki film.
I find it utterly captivating.
Quite surprised it has featured so low, but at least glad it has featured on the list.

seanc

04-25-25, 02:51 PM

Incorrect. You extrapolated wrongly from my post where I said the dialogue in Glengarry Glen Ross was fakey. Non-ergo that fakey dialogue translates to me wanting all movie dialogue to sound like natural speech. If I did I wouldn't be such a fan of old early mid 20th century movies. Glengarry Glen Ross is overcooked. To bad Roger Corman didn't make it back in the 1980s then it might have had a b-cult movie coolness to it. As it is, it's a poser.

Posing as what?

beelzebubble

04-25-25, 03:04 PM

I don't remember all of them. I know I've seen Breathless, 400 Blows, Mon Oncle, Passion Joan d'Arc, and Le Samourai. There are others I fail to recall. I can't stand any of them.
That's a pretty broad swath style-wise.
I love Breathless and 400 Blows. I haven't seen the others, but I have seen a lot French films from the Eighties and Nineties. I enjoyed most of them.
Oh well, too each his own.

beelzebubble

04-25-25, 03:14 PM

If anyone is looking for realism in acting styles or screenwriting or dialogue, you can basically write off the entire history of film before the 70's (the only consistent exceptions being some of the films that came out of Italian Neo-Realism). And even once we get to the 70's, particularly the American New Wave where reproducing supposed gritty reality was paramount, it's all just a different brand of artifice. It's always stylized to fit the mood of a generation. Sure, hard nosed cops kinda talk like Popeye Doyle....but not really. We just become more accepting of whatever bullshit representations we have grown accustomed to. But, when it's all boiled down, everything is always a lie. Usually an obvious one. So the important trick becomes to learn how to believe as many of those lies as possible. Not to find all the different ways to reject them.
Sound advice.

Neither Glenfiddich Glenn Close nor Princess Mononucleosis is on my list.

Now back to the Pope's funeral.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-25-25, 03:52 PM

We're back to the Aaron Sorkin thing? David Mamet's dialogue is indeed highly stylized and artificial and it all sounds the same. By design. For those who grove to it is is indeed comical - intentionally so - and a heck of a lot of fun.

No not hardly; not at all. I know this reply you wrote is in response to Citizen Rules, but I think you're also alluding to the issue I took with Sorkin a few days back. Yes, both David Mamet and Sorkin write highly stylized and quippy dialogue, but I think you missed the point.

Stylized and quippy dialogue isn't the critique.
Characters sounding similar isn't the critique (my mentioning the "Our American Stories" broadcast with Rod Serling was to observe how in some cases it matters, and in others it doesn't) - it matters IF and WHEN it's within or out of context.

David Mamet is a great writer whereas Sorkin can write great and there's a world of difference. I don't intend to blow this up into a full fledge comparison and contrast between Sorkin and Mamet, but rather just to clarify a point - Mamet's writing and dialogue is appropriate to the story and the characters in which he creates... in so many words... it fits AND his story/plot progression isn't hackneyed as much as Sorkin who feels the need to Frank Capra-up the underlying story with a fresh coat of snappy dialogue and big speeches. Also just because two things share surface similarities and might be stylized doesn't mean they're the same and can't widely differ, which Mamet and Sorkin do.

For example, the primary reason why the "You can't handle the truth!" sequence and plot development doesn't work is that it betrays the characters. There is no way a seasoned and corrupt grizzled general Jessup (sp?), Nicholson's character is going to be baited on the stand like that no less be allowed to give a self incriminating speech in front of a judge, lawyers, and military personnel. It's just a nicely, neat wrapped up with a pretty box package of a ending for a cheap audience "feel good" ending where the bad guy gets his comeuppance at the expense of having his say. This also provoked by an inexperienced upstart lawyer AFTER the judge has already indicated contempt in court... it's a bridge too far. Yeah on a very surface elementary level this stuff might sound like Mamet, but it hasn't been earned because the underlying story and framework is weak and contrived.

Sorkin is Frank Capra with the pat-on-the-back edginess cuss words and mean-spirited plotting and Machiavellian characters, but without the heart and sincerity behind the Capra-corn. Whereas Capra telegraphs to his audience and admits he is writing fantasy and a world we would want to have as the real world, Sorkin disguises that fact behind his stylizations and I find the stuff I have seen from him incredibly insincere, but again this is the type of stuff, just like Good Will Hunting that gets the applause lines from both audiences and the intellecktuals in academia. And underneath it all, yeah from watching numerous interviews and discussions with both Mamet and Sorkin, I find Mamet to be brilliant but sincere and real and also humble while recognizing his greatness. Meanwhile I find Sorkin to be smug and arrogant... so there's that.

If Mamet is Charlie Parker then Sorkin is Kenny G... both have adoring fans, both are playing the same instruments, both are playing in the same genre, both are hitting similar notes... but one is jazz and the other ain't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwuUrpzYTRs

Oh but as for Glengarry Glen Ross, it's frippin' brilliant AND it was my number 14... more on this...

My list so far:

10. Dead Man
14. Glengarry Glen Ross
19. Close-Up
25. Beauty and the Beast

Robert the List

04-25-25, 03:59 PM

I don't remember all of them. I know I've seen Breathless, 400 Blows, Mon Oncle, Passion Joan d'Arc, and Le Samourai. There are others I fail to recall. I can't stand any of them.

This is ridiculous IWP. Pull yourself together.

Breathless-It's OK, nothing more imo
400 Blows-This is alright. Not sure how anyone can not stand it. It's a decent film.
Mon Oncle-I agree, I find Tati boring
Passion Joan d'Arc- You need the right soundtrack.
Le Samourai- this is OK nothing special..

These French films are special though imo:
12. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg 1964 France
11. Le Bonheur 1965 France
10. Bob the Gambler 1956 France
9. Fire of Love (doc) 2022 France
8. Last Year at Marienbad 1961 France
7. Lola 1961 France
6. Panique 1946 France
5. La Belle et La Bete 1946
4. Pierrot Le Fou 1965
3. Alphaville 1965
2. Le Cousin Jules (doc) 1973
1. La Jetee 1962

Fire of Love is spectacular, enchanting and fascinating.

Marienbad is a slow watch the first time. It's still an experience though, and actually it becomes more enjoyable and more fluid the second time. It does actually build to a climax which takes you by surprise.

Lola Lola is a charm.

Panique is a conventional film superbly done. It's hugely overlooked.

La Belle is magical. Some of the scenes are completely ordinary, but others are pure delight.

I have recently bumped Pierrot Le Fou up my list because I just love the freedom of it. It's just completely freestyling.

Alphaville I can completely understand people thinking it's terrible, but it is genius. Improvisation. Metaphors wrapped in metaphors. Foresight. And a love story.

La Cousin Jules is simply a beautiful film.

La Jetee is a little miracle of artistic creation.

Others I would recommend:
Port of Shadows 1938
La Pointe Courte 1955
Cleo from 5 to 7 1962
Bay of Angels 1963
Le Mepris 1963
Stolen Kisses 1968
At First Sight 1983
L'Argent 1983
Au Revoir Les Enfants 1987
Spoorloos The Vanishing 1988
The Double Life of Veronique 1991
Le Petit Soldat 1963

I_Wear_Pants

04-25-25, 03:59 PM

I've heard the names Glengarry Glen Ross and Princess Mononoke and have absolutely no knowledge of the films beyond their names.

I_Wear_Pants

04-25-25, 04:04 PM

This is ridiculous IWP. Pull yourself together.

Breathless-It's OK, nothing more imo
400 Blows-This is alright. Not sure how anyone can not stand it. It's a decent film.
Mon Oncle-I agree, I find Tati boring
Passion Joan d'Arc- You need the right soundtrack.
Le Samourai- this is OK nothing special..

These French films are special though imo:
12. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg 1964 France
11. Le Bonheur 1965 France
10. Bob the Gambler 1956 France
9. Fire of Love (doc) 2022 France
8. Last Year at Marienbad 1961 France
7. Lola 1961 France
6. Panique 1946 France
5. La Belle et La Bete 1946
4. Pierrot Le Fou 1965
3. Alphaville 1965
2. Le Cousin Jules (doc) 1973
1. La Jetee 1962

Fire of Love is spectacular, enchanting and fascinating.

Marienbad is a slow watch the first time. It's still an experience though, and actually it becomes more enjoyable and more fluid the second time. It does actually build to a climax which takes you by surprise.

Lola Lola is a charm.

Panique is a conventional film superbly done. It's hugely overlooked.

La Belle is magical. Some of the scenes are completely ordinary, but others are pure delight.

I have recently bumped Pierrot Le Fou up my list because I just love the freedom of it. It's just completely freestyling.

Alphaville I can completely understand people thinking it's terrible, but it is genius. Improvisation. Metaphors wrapped in metaphors. Foresight. And a love story.

La Cousin Jules is simply a beautiful film.

La Jetee is a little miracle of artistic creation.

Others I would recommend:
Port of Shadows 1938
La Pointe Courte 1955
Cleo from 5 to 7 1962
Bay of Angels 1963
Le Mepris 1963
Stolen Kisses 1968
At First Sight 1983
L'Argent 1983
Au Revoir Les Enfants 1987
Spoorloos The Vanishing 1988
The Double Life of Veronique 1991
Le Petit Soldat 1963

Oh I've seen Last Year at Marienbad. I remember being bored to near-death. The others don't sound familiar. Everyone who has responded to my post seems to believe I watched the wrong French films to see their true quality. I'll start with Army of Shadows and Man Escaped and go from there.

Some others of your list sound familiar although I can't quite place them. I don't think I've seen them though, apart from Marienbad.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-25-25, 04:04 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjXOlw2ac5w

iluv2viddyfilms

04-25-25, 04:07 PM

I've heard the names Glengarry Glen Ross and Princess Mononoke and have absolutely no knowledge of the films beyond their names.

I have seen Princess Mononoke and try as I might, I still find myself struggling to get into anime.

Glengarry Glen Ross is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, if you're a Prime member, and honestly, is there anyone in the US under 70 years old who isn't a Prime member at this point?

Robert the List

04-25-25, 04:12 PM

I've heard the names Glengarry Glen Ross and Princess Mononoke and have absolutely no knowledge of the films beyond their names.
that actually did make me lol.

fair enough.

actually, i'm about the same.

which reminds me, I'd better do my tally update...

I_Wear_Pants

04-25-25, 04:22 PM

I have seen Princess Mononoke and try as I might, I still find myself struggling to get into anime.

Glengarry Glen Ross is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, if you're a Prime member, and honestly, is there anyone in the US under 70 years old who isn't a Prime member at this point?

I think I have Prime. I did for a while, and then I didn't. I think I do again though. I don't feel like going into detail.

I like anime personally. I just haven't watched Princess Mononoke for some reason. It could be because I rarely remember it exists.

Citizen Rules

04-25-25, 04:24 PM

Posing as what?I'm just getting home from a fun shopping trip at the grocery store, not really fun:p...Anyway, I'm not wanting to go too deep on Glengarry Glen Ross as I mentioned before I've only seen the first 45 minutes. So I can't critique the entire movie. But I really hated those first 45 minutes. It was a film I wanted to watch as the subject matter sounded fascinating.

When I said "as it was, it was a poser", I was not meaning to say it was posing as something else. I meant poser as a negative, not an analytical term of any kind...I wasn't deep thinking it, just a throw away shot at the movie.

I suppose loosely I meant 'it's a poser' as in all dressed up with nowhere to go. One thing that I really hated was the dialogue got repeated. A good example is when Baldwin comes into the office and gives his speech after a few minutes the writer has him saying the same thing with a few changes. I call that lazy writing and padding. If others like that sort of thing well that's OK, I like old Elvis movies.

dadgumblah

04-25-25, 04:25 PM

I like Princess Mononoke but didn't vote for it.

Have never seen Glengarry Glen Ross. No votes.

1 step forward yesterday, 1 step back. Oh well.

My list:
#25 Apollo 13 list proper #68

Robert the List

04-25-25, 04:27 PM

Heard of: 30/36
Started: 25/36
Finished: 13/36
In my ballot: 2/36

Maximum films from my ballot that can still make the list: 25/25

Sedai

04-25-25, 05:24 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjXOlw2ac5w

As a Boston Red Sox fan, I must protest!

cricket

04-25-25, 05:40 PM

I like both of today's entries, especially GGR. No votes from me.

mrblond

04-25-25, 05:41 PM

I discovered Glengarry Glen Ross about ten years ago, saw it twice then. Good film for audience that love the theatre type of approach. Superb cast indeed and above all of them for me that's Jack Lemmon, outstanding performance.
No vote from me, would make my extended list, range #40-60.

107465

Thursday Next

04-25-25, 05:50 PM

My favourite thing about Glengarry Glen Ross was finding out that the cast referred to it as "Death of a F#cking Salesman" which I think encapsulates it perfectly :laugh:

Robert the List

04-25-25, 06:29 PM

CosmicRunaway

04-25-25, 08:05 PM

I've been keeping up with the reveals, but haven't really had much to say before today, since other than Home Alone - which I enjoyed as a kid (and still sometimes put on at Christmas time if it's on tv), I don't really remember much about the other films I've seen.

I think I meant to rewatch The Fugitive when compiling my shortlist, but it completely slipped my mind. I know I've seen Good Will Hunting and Apollo 13, but the details about them are foggy at best. Similarly, the only thing I really remember from Glengarry Glen Ross is "coffee is for closers".

I haven't seen Election, Close-up, The Double Life of Veronique, or Three Colours: Blue.

I am not really a fan of Studio Ghibli or Hayao Miyazaki's films, but for some reason Princess Mononoke has always been a very nostalgic film for me. I was actually afraid to revisit it in case I ruined my memory of the film, but I rewatched it before submitting my list, and I still enjoyed the story, animation style, and its kind of depressing tone.

But most importantly, I still love that sound the kodama make when they rattle their heads haha

https://64.media.tumblr.com/771da5b0c5ad2a6e677f97dc25697596/6798f08868e9958f-63/s500x750/cf5eebb1550118d4ab067bdbc4234059c29e69b5.gifv

The film was on my list at #13.

Seen: 22/36

My List: 4

07. Strange Days (1995) - #82
11. Gattaca (1997) - #86
13. Princess Mononoke (1997) - #65
18. Total Recall (1990) - #87