First a note: Sorry about the lateness, I went Black Friday shopping and didn't have the energy to write this out. That said, 40 & 39 will be up either tonight or in the morning.
43. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
42. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
41. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Directed by Peter Jackson
Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson from the Novel by J.R.R. Tolkien
Starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, and so many other people.
Oscar Nominations(Fellowship): 13 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup, Best Cinematography)
Oscar Nominations (Two Towers): 6 Oscar Wins: 2 (Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects)
Oscar Nominations: (Return): 11 Oscar Wins: 11 (Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Make-up, Best Original Song (Into the West), Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects)
I really don't consider these to be separate films. They just aren't. Even more than Star Wars, they are one large narrative. Each film has separate rising actions but they each are part of the same film and for the love of god, watch the extended editions. You miss out on so much by watching the theatrical releases.
Lord of the Rings has made it hard for any fantasy franchise that gets set up these days. Gone is the day where some impressive special effects could get you through any problems with the plot. Now you have to have good acting, a good script, and believable characters. These are all things that this film had in spades. Gollum is and always will be one of films greatest characters to the point where parodies still show up in things 5 years after the fact. Among the things that are also worth noting are the visuals. Dear god is this movie a feast for the eyes. From the first shot of Bag's End to the first time we see Mount Doom, everything is just breathtakingly awesome. You could not ask for something better looking. You just get this huge tapestry of images that just blow you away, the epic score helping much of the time as well.
That said, the films do have problems. The Two Towers is the lesser of the three since it has some major slumps in the plot. It really feels like it's extended too much and The Battle of Helm's Deep goes on too long, especially when you consider that the Battle of Minas Tirith really was right next door. For that matter, there are some huge problems with Return of the King, namely the fact that there are six endings. You have to learn to compress these things down. Otherwise you end up like me with a full bladder needing to release but having to get up and sit down all those times. It's not a pleasant experience. Still, these are some awesome movies, like I said, watch the extended cuts since they give you so much more bang for your buck, and yeah, Ian McKellen rocks super hardcore!
Next Time: We switch up the format and Things get musical: "No, you see the trouble with Poet is how do you know it's deceased? Try the Priest." "Trouble. I'm talkin' 'bout trouble, with a capital 'T' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for pool."
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
The Top 100 Movies of All Time (A Very Biased List): 46-44
46. This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Directed by Rob Reiner
Written by and starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Rob Reiner
You will believe a man can burn up from the inside. The father of all mockumentaries and still one of the best. The deception is near total to the point where I forget it's not a documentary at times. The characters have the awkwardness that you often see in a documentary which helps the illusion. Another thing that helps the illusion is that the actors have done so much to help keep it going. They've released freaking albums since the movie came out. Like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the movie has gone beyond film and become phenomenon. Much of the movie is also ad-libed and that is often what makes it hilarious. The songs also really help everything along and, yeah, sorry, I'm really all too in love with this movie. Oh well. It's one of these movies that's hard to talk about. Really, watch for the cameos, be prepared to laugh like mad, and make sure you have a drummer on tap, seriously, have one handy. You'll need it.
45. Minority Report (2002)
Directed by Stephen Spielberg
Written by Scott Frank and Jon Cohen from a short story by Phillip K. Dick
Starring Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, and Max Von Sydow
Oscar Nominations: 1
Minority Report is one of those action movies that makes you think. It's all about free choice. In a world where you can get arrested for what you might do, you have no choice but to think happy thoughts. You won't hear me say this, but Tom Cruise was freaking spectacular in this movie. His role as Precrime Chief John Anderton has so many things going for it: tragedy in the form of dealing with the death of his son, drive to prove his innocence, and a desire to fight the system later. The visuals are also just amazing. It captures a futuristic world but it also isn't too far forward where it's a world we can't recognize. The other thing that really rock in this movie is Samantha Morton's psychic character. She's a sad person alternatively with cryptic. My favorite moment is when she tells someone, just a random person, "Don't go home. He knows." You don't know what it means but it has potential and makes the movie larger than it is.
44. A Night at the Opera (1935)
Directed by Sam Wood
Story by James Kevin McGuinness Screenplay by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind
Starring Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, and Margaret Dumont
One of the smartest and Funniest of the Marx Brothers' films. We do have the thing that often drags down the Brother's movies (Romantic Couple) but it doesn't quite bother me here. The couple actually works and there isn't the focus on them to the point where they are the main focus of the plot like in a couple of other movies. Instead, we have a manic film, anarchy bound, captured, and forced to work. The problem with moth Marx Brothers films is finding that balance and why A Night At The Opera works is that it find it. There are also a number of great scenes. The Stateroom scene and the ending scene at the Opera are two of the best in the history of the Brothers. The problem with Marx Brothers movies is that it's hard to talk about them because so much is visual humor and quick witted one liners. I guess I'll settle for really going in depth on them when I get to the Top 10.
Next Time: "All it was, was a bunch of people walking, three movies of people walking to a f***ing volcano."
Directed by Rob Reiner
Written by and starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Rob Reiner
You will believe a man can burn up from the inside. The father of all mockumentaries and still one of the best. The deception is near total to the point where I forget it's not a documentary at times. The characters have the awkwardness that you often see in a documentary which helps the illusion. Another thing that helps the illusion is that the actors have done so much to help keep it going. They've released freaking albums since the movie came out. Like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the movie has gone beyond film and become phenomenon. Much of the movie is also ad-libed and that is often what makes it hilarious. The songs also really help everything along and, yeah, sorry, I'm really all too in love with this movie. Oh well. It's one of these movies that's hard to talk about. Really, watch for the cameos, be prepared to laugh like mad, and make sure you have a drummer on tap, seriously, have one handy. You'll need it.
45. Minority Report (2002)
Directed by Stephen Spielberg
Written by Scott Frank and Jon Cohen from a short story by Phillip K. Dick
Starring Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, and Max Von Sydow
Oscar Nominations: 1
Minority Report is one of those action movies that makes you think. It's all about free choice. In a world where you can get arrested for what you might do, you have no choice but to think happy thoughts. You won't hear me say this, but Tom Cruise was freaking spectacular in this movie. His role as Precrime Chief John Anderton has so many things going for it: tragedy in the form of dealing with the death of his son, drive to prove his innocence, and a desire to fight the system later. The visuals are also just amazing. It captures a futuristic world but it also isn't too far forward where it's a world we can't recognize. The other thing that really rock in this movie is Samantha Morton's psychic character. She's a sad person alternatively with cryptic. My favorite moment is when she tells someone, just a random person, "Don't go home. He knows." You don't know what it means but it has potential and makes the movie larger than it is.
44. A Night at the Opera (1935)
Directed by Sam Wood
Story by James Kevin McGuinness Screenplay by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind
Starring Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, and Margaret Dumont
One of the smartest and Funniest of the Marx Brothers' films. We do have the thing that often drags down the Brother's movies (Romantic Couple) but it doesn't quite bother me here. The couple actually works and there isn't the focus on them to the point where they are the main focus of the plot like in a couple of other movies. Instead, we have a manic film, anarchy bound, captured, and forced to work. The problem with moth Marx Brothers films is finding that balance and why A Night At The Opera works is that it find it. There are also a number of great scenes. The Stateroom scene and the ending scene at the Opera are two of the best in the history of the Brothers. The problem with Marx Brothers movies is that it's hard to talk about them because so much is visual humor and quick witted one liners. I guess I'll settle for really going in depth on them when I get to the Top 10.
Next Time: "All it was, was a bunch of people walking, three movies of people walking to a f***ing volcano."
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Top 100 Movies of All Time (A Very Biased List): 49-47
49. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Directed by Elia Kazan
Written by Tennessee Williams from his Play
Starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden
Oscar Nominations: 12 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Actress Vivien Leigh, Best Supporting Actress Kim Hunter, Best Supporting Actor Karl Madden, Best Set Direction)
This movie is brutal. I say this with no irony whatsoever. For coming out in 1951, some of the scenes are very brutal and real. The movie is truly sad. The characters are the strongest part of this movie which should come as no surprise. Blanche is a flawed character but that doesn't change that she is sympathetic. Stanley isn't completely a monster but he's practically there and that one little sliver of humanity keeps him as a person that seems wholly real. Their interactions, the crumbling of Blanche's sanity, and that final act of cruelty ensure that there will be no happy ending. This is a true tragedy where everyone comes out shattered. Even Stella, who takes refuge from Stanley upstairs at the end, swearing never to go back, will have to come downstairs and the abuse will continue. It's a sad fact of a sad movie.
48. A Christmas Story (1983)
Directed by Bob Clark
Written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark
Starring Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, and Melinda Dillon
So many of my thoughts about this, my second favorite Christmas movie of all time, can be found by reading hours 1 and 2 of the 2007 Christmas Experiment. I can wait. It's even tagged at the end of the post. Anyway, what I love about this movie is that it captures so much of the spirit of Christmas and family. I remember being a kid and getting the occasional cruddy gift. More than that, it captures a lot of what being a kid is. You do stupid things, you never quite get over being awkward, and you have really gay fantasies. If you had went and read Hour 1 and 2, then you know that I think Ralphie is gay. But beyond that, the story is a classic and one that endured to this day. Try watching it three or four times on Christmas and try denying it then.
47. The Sound of Music (1965)
Directed by Robert Wise
Written by Ernest Lehman from the stage play
Music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, and Richard Haydn
Oscar Nominations: 10 Oscar Wins: 5 (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Music, Best Sound)
I'm going to say it now: I root for the Baroness. Maria is perhaps one of the most saccharine film characters of all time but then you have this tart, snarky character like the Baroness and it makes it awesome. Really, if anyone but Julie Andrews had played Maria, I probably would run screaming when I saw her open her mouth. Regardless, this is one of the few Rodgers and Hammerstein films that I can stand and not just stand but enjoy. There are moments where the characters really just work. The scenery is also just majestic throughout. As I said about a prior film, this is the kind of movie that demands to be remastered into Blu-Ray because it would just be so enjoyable. I can't believe I haven't mentioned the music. The music is great here and some is just so beautiful like "Edelweiss." I just realized how many musicals are on this list.
Next Time: "He was the patron saint of quality footwear." "How can you avoid a man you've never met?" "Don't you see, you'll be a patron of the opera. You'll get into society. Then, you can marry me and they'll kick you out of society, and all you've lost is $200,000."
Directed by Elia Kazan
Written by Tennessee Williams from his Play
Starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden
Oscar Nominations: 12 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Actress Vivien Leigh, Best Supporting Actress Kim Hunter, Best Supporting Actor Karl Madden, Best Set Direction)
This movie is brutal. I say this with no irony whatsoever. For coming out in 1951, some of the scenes are very brutal and real. The movie is truly sad. The characters are the strongest part of this movie which should come as no surprise. Blanche is a flawed character but that doesn't change that she is sympathetic. Stanley isn't completely a monster but he's practically there and that one little sliver of humanity keeps him as a person that seems wholly real. Their interactions, the crumbling of Blanche's sanity, and that final act of cruelty ensure that there will be no happy ending. This is a true tragedy where everyone comes out shattered. Even Stella, who takes refuge from Stanley upstairs at the end, swearing never to go back, will have to come downstairs and the abuse will continue. It's a sad fact of a sad movie.
48. A Christmas Story (1983)
Directed by Bob Clark
Written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark
Starring Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, and Melinda Dillon
So many of my thoughts about this, my second favorite Christmas movie of all time, can be found by reading hours 1 and 2 of the 2007 Christmas Experiment. I can wait. It's even tagged at the end of the post. Anyway, what I love about this movie is that it captures so much of the spirit of Christmas and family. I remember being a kid and getting the occasional cruddy gift. More than that, it captures a lot of what being a kid is. You do stupid things, you never quite get over being awkward, and you have really gay fantasies. If you had went and read Hour 1 and 2, then you know that I think Ralphie is gay. But beyond that, the story is a classic and one that endured to this day. Try watching it three or four times on Christmas and try denying it then.
47. The Sound of Music (1965)
Directed by Robert Wise
Written by Ernest Lehman from the stage play
Music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, and Richard Haydn
Oscar Nominations: 10 Oscar Wins: 5 (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Music, Best Sound)
I'm going to say it now: I root for the Baroness. Maria is perhaps one of the most saccharine film characters of all time but then you have this tart, snarky character like the Baroness and it makes it awesome. Really, if anyone but Julie Andrews had played Maria, I probably would run screaming when I saw her open her mouth. Regardless, this is one of the few Rodgers and Hammerstein films that I can stand and not just stand but enjoy. There are moments where the characters really just work. The scenery is also just majestic throughout. As I said about a prior film, this is the kind of movie that demands to be remastered into Blu-Ray because it would just be so enjoyable. I can't believe I haven't mentioned the music. The music is great here and some is just so beautiful like "Edelweiss." I just realized how many musicals are on this list.
Next Time: "He was the patron saint of quality footwear." "How can you avoid a man you've never met?" "Don't you see, you'll be a patron of the opera. You'll get into society. Then, you can marry me and they'll kick you out of society, and all you've lost is $200,000."
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Top 100 Movies of All Time (A Very Biased List): 52-50
52. Moulin Rouge (2001)
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pierce
Starring Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh, and John Leguizamo
Oscar Nominations: 8 Oscar Wins: 2 (Best Costume Design, Best Set Direction)
The modern revival of the musical can all be traced back to Moulin Rogue. The film is often bombastic and overflowing with energy and it has a very beautiful love story to it. THe thing that really makes this movie for me is the music. It is completely and 100% apologetically anachronistic. That said, it's the moments like the Elephant Love Song Medley and Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend that the movie trully shines. Jim Broadbent probably puts in the best performance as Moulin Rouge owner, Harold Zidler. The character is conflicted between his role as a father figure to Nicole Kidman's Satine, and that as a business owner with the dream to open a theater. BTW, what is it with me and movies where a writer is a main character?
51. Strangers on a Train (1951)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Written by Raymond Chandler, Czenzi Ormonde, and Whitfield Cook from the novel by Patricia Highsmith
Starring Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, Kasey Rogers, and Robert Walker
Oscar Nominations: 1
I love suspense and that's something that Strangers on a Train delivers in spades. Hitchcock gives us a film about the perfect murder: two unrelated people offer to kill the others intended victim. What follows is one believing it was a joke and the other being deadly serious. A lot can be said about Hitchcock's work. He is truly an auteur. Everyone of his films use certain themes and motifs to convey messages and meanings. In this case, its criss-crosses and doubles. It helps gets across that there are these two worlds: the good decent world and the world where people kill and that they're not that dissimilar. Those visuals alone make this movie worth viewing but then you get something else out of it upon the second or third viewing where you start noticing the theme everywhere and you start to doubt anyone is trully a double or anything. That's when you know that Hitchcock has you.
By the way, or those who want to know, the Hitchcock cameo is about ten minutes in. Look for the guy with the bass.
50. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)
Directed by David Lynch
Written by David Lynch and David Engels
Starring Sheryl Lee, Moira Kelly, Chris Isaak, and Ray Wise
David Lynch is the master at creating messed up visuals. Nowhere is that more evident than in Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me. Where else could you see someone eating creamed corn and make it into something so dark? The movie is a prequel to the popular tv series depicting the final week in the life of murdered Homecoming Queen Laura Palmer. Because we know she's going to die, the film takes on a tragic and depressing mood to it. Sheryl Lee's performance as Laura Palmer makes you wish she had appeared more in the show. She gets across this desperation in Laura to be accepted, to be herself, to be redeemed that carries much of the movie. Ray Wise as Laura's father is also another of the great performances. He's a man, mentally ill, also besieged by a supernatural force in himself that pushes dark urges on him. BOB, the evil inside of Leland Palmer, can be seen as a metaphor for the darkness inside us all and the mental torment for the evils we have done. The ending is my favorite part because it shows that for the tragedy that has befallen Laura, the evil that she herself has in her heart, she can be redeemed.
Next Time: "Some things are not forgivable. Deliberate cruelty is not forgivable. It is the one unforgivable thing in my opinion and the one thing of which I have never, never been guilty." "Some men are Baptists, others Catholics; my father was an Oldsmobile man!" "Darling, haven't you ever heard of a delightful little thing called boarding school?"
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pierce
Starring Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh, and John Leguizamo
Oscar Nominations: 8 Oscar Wins: 2 (Best Costume Design, Best Set Direction)
The modern revival of the musical can all be traced back to Moulin Rogue. The film is often bombastic and overflowing with energy and it has a very beautiful love story to it. THe thing that really makes this movie for me is the music. It is completely and 100% apologetically anachronistic. That said, it's the moments like the Elephant Love Song Medley and Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend that the movie trully shines. Jim Broadbent probably puts in the best performance as Moulin Rouge owner, Harold Zidler. The character is conflicted between his role as a father figure to Nicole Kidman's Satine, and that as a business owner with the dream to open a theater. BTW, what is it with me and movies where a writer is a main character?
51. Strangers on a Train (1951)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Written by Raymond Chandler, Czenzi Ormonde, and Whitfield Cook from the novel by Patricia Highsmith
Starring Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, Kasey Rogers, and Robert Walker
Oscar Nominations: 1
I love suspense and that's something that Strangers on a Train delivers in spades. Hitchcock gives us a film about the perfect murder: two unrelated people offer to kill the others intended victim. What follows is one believing it was a joke and the other being deadly serious. A lot can be said about Hitchcock's work. He is truly an auteur. Everyone of his films use certain themes and motifs to convey messages and meanings. In this case, its criss-crosses and doubles. It helps gets across that there are these two worlds: the good decent world and the world where people kill and that they're not that dissimilar. Those visuals alone make this movie worth viewing but then you get something else out of it upon the second or third viewing where you start noticing the theme everywhere and you start to doubt anyone is trully a double or anything. That's when you know that Hitchcock has you.
By the way, or those who want to know, the Hitchcock cameo is about ten minutes in. Look for the guy with the bass.
50. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)
Directed by David Lynch
Written by David Lynch and David Engels
Starring Sheryl Lee, Moira Kelly, Chris Isaak, and Ray Wise
David Lynch is the master at creating messed up visuals. Nowhere is that more evident than in Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me. Where else could you see someone eating creamed corn and make it into something so dark? The movie is a prequel to the popular tv series depicting the final week in the life of murdered Homecoming Queen Laura Palmer. Because we know she's going to die, the film takes on a tragic and depressing mood to it. Sheryl Lee's performance as Laura Palmer makes you wish she had appeared more in the show. She gets across this desperation in Laura to be accepted, to be herself, to be redeemed that carries much of the movie. Ray Wise as Laura's father is also another of the great performances. He's a man, mentally ill, also besieged by a supernatural force in himself that pushes dark urges on him. BOB, the evil inside of Leland Palmer, can be seen as a metaphor for the darkness inside us all and the mental torment for the evils we have done. The ending is my favorite part because it shows that for the tragedy that has befallen Laura, the evil that she herself has in her heart, she can be redeemed.
Next Time: "Some things are not forgivable. Deliberate cruelty is not forgivable. It is the one unforgivable thing in my opinion and the one thing of which I have never, never been guilty." "Some men are Baptists, others Catholics; my father was an Oldsmobile man!" "Darling, haven't you ever heard of a delightful little thing called boarding school?"
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Top 100 Movies of All Time (A Very Biased List): 55-53
55. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Written by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke
Starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, and William Sylvester with the voice of Douglas Rain
Oscar Nominations: 4 Oscar Wins: 1 (Visual Effects)
Possibly the most parodied movie of all time and definitely one of the most iconic. The movie is visually stunning. Today it may look a little less but that's just taking it in that context. Then it was a work of art and it still is. I don't quite feel that the movie is perfect, there are many points where it is downright dull, but it still it worthy for showing that science fiction can be more than giant monsters attacking beautiful women. It can also be something that makes you think. Still, my main reason to watch this movie is for the visuals and the music. Worth tracking down a Blu-Ray copy of the film if you can.
54. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Directed by David Hand, William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, and Ben Sharpsteen
Written by Ted Sears, Richard Creedon, Otto Englander, Dick Rickard, Earl Hurd, Merrill De Maris, Dorothy Ann Blank, and Webb Smith
Starring the Voices of Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Pinto Colvig, and Roy Atwell
Oscar Nominations: 1
The one that started it all. This was a huge technical achievement back in it's day. Today we take it for granted that something like this can be done. It was a huge undertaking and one that animation aficionados like myself will always be grateful. Because of it's historical significance, it's easy to overlook that character depiction is kinda two-dimensional but even that is negligible compared to it's beauty. It wouldn't be a few years before we get an animated picture half as good and it really is, more even then Mickey Mouse, the thing that built Disney.
53. The Philadelphia Story ( 1940)
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Written by Donald Ogden Stewart from the play by Phillip Barry
Starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, and Ruth Hussey
Oscar Nominations: 6 Oscar Wins: 2 (Best Actor James Stewart, Best Adapted Screenplay)
I love movies from the forties. Everyone talked so fast, the dialogue was thrown like knives and no movie demonstrates this quite like The Philadelphia Story. A movie about a woman's remarriage, it's cast is just sublime. Hepburn was one of the golden stars in the heaven of Hollywood and Jimmy Stewart proves himself to be a perfect actor. The film does seem stagey at times but there are others that it breaks free of it's stage trappings. Special note should be paid to the fact that up until this point, Hepburn had been considered Box Office Poison. From this point on, she proved herself to be a star and no one would ever dispute that again.
Next Time: " I AM THE EVIL MAHA RAJA! YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE!" "I still think it would be wonderful to have a man love you so much he'd kill for you." "When this kind of fire starts, it is very hard to put out. The tender boughs of innocence burn first, and the wind rises, and then all goodness is in jeopardy."
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Written by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke
Starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, and William Sylvester with the voice of Douglas Rain
Oscar Nominations: 4 Oscar Wins: 1 (Visual Effects)
Possibly the most parodied movie of all time and definitely one of the most iconic. The movie is visually stunning. Today it may look a little less but that's just taking it in that context. Then it was a work of art and it still is. I don't quite feel that the movie is perfect, there are many points where it is downright dull, but it still it worthy for showing that science fiction can be more than giant monsters attacking beautiful women. It can also be something that makes you think. Still, my main reason to watch this movie is for the visuals and the music. Worth tracking down a Blu-Ray copy of the film if you can.
54. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Directed by David Hand, William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, and Ben Sharpsteen
Written by Ted Sears, Richard Creedon, Otto Englander, Dick Rickard, Earl Hurd, Merrill De Maris, Dorothy Ann Blank, and Webb Smith
Starring the Voices of Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Pinto Colvig, and Roy Atwell
Oscar Nominations: 1
The one that started it all. This was a huge technical achievement back in it's day. Today we take it for granted that something like this can be done. It was a huge undertaking and one that animation aficionados like myself will always be grateful. Because of it's historical significance, it's easy to overlook that character depiction is kinda two-dimensional but even that is negligible compared to it's beauty. It wouldn't be a few years before we get an animated picture half as good and it really is, more even then Mickey Mouse, the thing that built Disney.
53. The Philadelphia Story ( 1940)
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Written by Donald Ogden Stewart from the play by Phillip Barry
Starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, and Ruth Hussey
Oscar Nominations: 6 Oscar Wins: 2 (Best Actor James Stewart, Best Adapted Screenplay)
I love movies from the forties. Everyone talked so fast, the dialogue was thrown like knives and no movie demonstrates this quite like The Philadelphia Story. A movie about a woman's remarriage, it's cast is just sublime. Hepburn was one of the golden stars in the heaven of Hollywood and Jimmy Stewart proves himself to be a perfect actor. The film does seem stagey at times but there are others that it breaks free of it's stage trappings. Special note should be paid to the fact that up until this point, Hepburn had been considered Box Office Poison. From this point on, she proved herself to be a star and no one would ever dispute that again.
Next Time: " I AM THE EVIL MAHA RAJA! YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE!" "I still think it would be wonderful to have a man love you so much he'd kill for you." "When this kind of fire starts, it is very hard to put out. The tender boughs of innocence burn first, and the wind rises, and then all goodness is in jeopardy."
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Top 100 Movies of All Time (A Very Biased List): 58-56
58. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Directed by Stephen Spielberg
Written by Lawrence Kasdan from a story by George Lucas & Philip Kaufman
Starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, and John Rhys-Davies
Oscar Nominations: 8 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Set Direction, Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects)
A good adventure is hard to find. Raider of the Lost Ark is just that. The name alone is fun. It tells you that you're in for something awesome. When you pull back the wrapper, then you see the treasure you found. One of the things I love about this movie is Harrison Ford. He is what makes this film and there should be no excuses for not. While soe would point at Star Wars as being what made him a star, I point at Raiders just because of the sheer amount of charisma he displays. Quite frankly, I doubt anyone else could have had the combination of wonder and daring that Harrison shows off through out the film. The scene where the swordsmen, after doing that elaborate act of brandishing, just gets shot off-handily, that is a work of pure genius.
57. Finding Nemo (2003)
Directed by Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
Written by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, & David Reynolds
Starring the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, & Brad Garrett
Oscar Nominations: 4 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Animated Feature)
Ellen DeGeneres is what makes this movie for me. Dory is possibly one of my favorite characters from a Disney-Pixar film. The voice acting in incredible though, regardless of who it is though. I love this movie for so many reason though. The writing is top-notch, both funny and alternatively dramatic and sad. I admit, I may have teared up at the one scene where Dory gets left behind and Ellen's little line there. It really is a sad part of the movie. For that matter, the early scene where the big fish attacks the eggs and Nemo's Mother, that is just one heart-breaking scene. If I give Disney-Pixar anything, it's that they are not afraid to toy without emotions and I thank them for that, I really do.
56. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Directed and written by George Lucas
Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
Oscar Nominations: 10 Oscar Wins: 6 (Best Editing, Best Visual Effect, best set Direction, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Sound)
The movie that started it all. Hello, and welcome back to Epic 101. In the Epic, you need a good first act, obviously. During the first act, you need to introduce all your major players. They don't need to get along at first but you also need to give them some unifying goal. As well, you must introduce the villain. Do something to play him up as a threat, whether that is a willingness to murder innocents or supernatural abilities far beyond humankind. A first act must also end with thing looking up for the heroes. After all, the second act needs things not to start out at their worst because then what are you going too do to make it all bad at the end of act 2? Do all this and you stand a pretty good chance at being as good as the Holy Trilogy. I mean seriously, this movie is a good introduction to the whole of Star Wars, as it should as the real first movie in the franchise. So much good tension and just a bit of romance that becomes a little creepy later on down the line. Good times.
Next Time: "I know everything hasn't been quite right with me, but I can assure you now, very confidently, that it's going to be all right again. I feel much better now. I really do." "Lips red as the rose. Hair black as ebony. Skin white as snow." "We just picked the wrong first husbands, that's all."
Directed by Stephen Spielberg
Written by Lawrence Kasdan from a story by George Lucas & Philip Kaufman
Starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, and John Rhys-Davies
Oscar Nominations: 8 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Set Direction, Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects)
A good adventure is hard to find. Raider of the Lost Ark is just that. The name alone is fun. It tells you that you're in for something awesome. When you pull back the wrapper, then you see the treasure you found. One of the things I love about this movie is Harrison Ford. He is what makes this film and there should be no excuses for not. While soe would point at Star Wars as being what made him a star, I point at Raiders just because of the sheer amount of charisma he displays. Quite frankly, I doubt anyone else could have had the combination of wonder and daring that Harrison shows off through out the film. The scene where the swordsmen, after doing that elaborate act of brandishing, just gets shot off-handily, that is a work of pure genius.
57. Finding Nemo (2003)
Directed by Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
Written by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, & David Reynolds
Starring the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, & Brad Garrett
Oscar Nominations: 4 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Animated Feature)
Ellen DeGeneres is what makes this movie for me. Dory is possibly one of my favorite characters from a Disney-Pixar film. The voice acting in incredible though, regardless of who it is though. I love this movie for so many reason though. The writing is top-notch, both funny and alternatively dramatic and sad. I admit, I may have teared up at the one scene where Dory gets left behind and Ellen's little line there. It really is a sad part of the movie. For that matter, the early scene where the big fish attacks the eggs and Nemo's Mother, that is just one heart-breaking scene. If I give Disney-Pixar anything, it's that they are not afraid to toy without emotions and I thank them for that, I really do.
56. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Directed and written by George Lucas
Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
Oscar Nominations: 10 Oscar Wins: 6 (Best Editing, Best Visual Effect, best set Direction, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Sound)
The movie that started it all. Hello, and welcome back to Epic 101. In the Epic, you need a good first act, obviously. During the first act, you need to introduce all your major players. They don't need to get along at first but you also need to give them some unifying goal. As well, you must introduce the villain. Do something to play him up as a threat, whether that is a willingness to murder innocents or supernatural abilities far beyond humankind. A first act must also end with thing looking up for the heroes. After all, the second act needs things not to start out at their worst because then what are you going too do to make it all bad at the end of act 2? Do all this and you stand a pretty good chance at being as good as the Holy Trilogy. I mean seriously, this movie is a good introduction to the whole of Star Wars, as it should as the real first movie in the franchise. So much good tension and just a bit of romance that becomes a little creepy later on down the line. Good times.
Next Time: "I know everything hasn't been quite right with me, but I can assure you now, very confidently, that it's going to be all right again. I feel much better now. I really do." "Lips red as the rose. Hair black as ebony. Skin white as snow." "We just picked the wrong first husbands, that's all."
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 61-59
61. Chicago (2002)
Directed by Rob Marshall
Written by Bill Condon from the Play by Bob Fosse and Frank Ebb
Music by John Kander and Frank Ebb
Starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, and John C. Reilly
Oscar Nominations: 13 Oscar Wins: 6 (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Costumes, Best Art Direction-Set Direction)
2002 was one of the best years for movies in recent history. 3 of the movies nominated for Best Picture appear on this list. Chicago is the best single one of them. It is a classic book musical and we all know how I love musicals. The movie is a delicious black comedy with great dancing as well. There is not a thing to love about Chicago really. The acting is sublime with Catherine Zeta-Jones' Velma Kelly being the stand out. There is not a moment she is on screen that you don't find yourself thinking something awesome is going to happen. The dialogue is also great. Often in musicals, dialogue takes a back set to the songs but in Cicago, both of them shine. The movie also brings forth a good precedent that all musicals have to follow now: Have the actors sing and do their own dancing, otherwise you end up like Minnie Driver in Phantom of the Opera.
60. Annie Hall (1977)
Directed by Woody Allen
Written by Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman
Starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon
Oscar Nominations: 5 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress Diane Keaton)
I'm going to say it now: I am not a fan of Woody Allen. That said, the man is a terrific actor, writer, and director. The man gives his actor's such great characters to embody and no where is that more apparent than Annie Hall. There isn't anything not to love about this Romantic Comedy. Diane Keaton's title character is one of those people we all know, that we've all dated. They seem perfect at first but as it goes, you know it will end and yet you grasp at it. It is also a perfectly written film for one simple reason: it was intended to be a mystery movie. The studio didn't like it so that was scrapped and a quick rewrite during shooting allowed it to become the classic we have today. Seriously, whoever would have thought that Woody Allen would one day be a romantic lead.
59. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Directed by Frank Capra
Written by Sydney Buchman from a story by Lewis R. Foster
Starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Harry Carey, and Claude Rains
Oscar Nominations: 11 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Original Screenplay)
1939 is probably the best year for movies ever. Look up some of the movies that came out that year if you don't believe me. This is probably Jimmy Stewart's best role of his career. The story of a small scout master who gets sent to become a senator is classic for a reason and parts of it still ring true today. A large amount of the movie is about political corruption and what makes this country what it's supposed to be. It's a largely patriotic film and that is why I still love it. Stewart's big scene, the filibuster at the end, is still one of the best speeches ever given by an actor and it shows why Stewart will always be one of the greatest there ever was.
Next Time: "You wanna to talk to God? Let's go see him together, I've got nothing better to do." "I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine. And he shall be my Squishy." "I find your lack of faith disturbing."
Directed by Rob Marshall
Written by Bill Condon from the Play by Bob Fosse and Frank Ebb
Music by John Kander and Frank Ebb
Starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, and John C. Reilly
Oscar Nominations: 13 Oscar Wins: 6 (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Costumes, Best Art Direction-Set Direction)
2002 was one of the best years for movies in recent history. 3 of the movies nominated for Best Picture appear on this list. Chicago is the best single one of them. It is a classic book musical and we all know how I love musicals. The movie is a delicious black comedy with great dancing as well. There is not a thing to love about Chicago really. The acting is sublime with Catherine Zeta-Jones' Velma Kelly being the stand out. There is not a moment she is on screen that you don't find yourself thinking something awesome is going to happen. The dialogue is also great. Often in musicals, dialogue takes a back set to the songs but in Cicago, both of them shine. The movie also brings forth a good precedent that all musicals have to follow now: Have the actors sing and do their own dancing, otherwise you end up like Minnie Driver in Phantom of the Opera.
60. Annie Hall (1977)
Directed by Woody Allen
Written by Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman
Starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon
Oscar Nominations: 5 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress Diane Keaton)
I'm going to say it now: I am not a fan of Woody Allen. That said, the man is a terrific actor, writer, and director. The man gives his actor's such great characters to embody and no where is that more apparent than Annie Hall. There isn't anything not to love about this Romantic Comedy. Diane Keaton's title character is one of those people we all know, that we've all dated. They seem perfect at first but as it goes, you know it will end and yet you grasp at it. It is also a perfectly written film for one simple reason: it was intended to be a mystery movie. The studio didn't like it so that was scrapped and a quick rewrite during shooting allowed it to become the classic we have today. Seriously, whoever would have thought that Woody Allen would one day be a romantic lead.
59. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Directed by Frank Capra
Written by Sydney Buchman from a story by Lewis R. Foster
Starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Harry Carey, and Claude Rains
Oscar Nominations: 11 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Original Screenplay)
1939 is probably the best year for movies ever. Look up some of the movies that came out that year if you don't believe me. This is probably Jimmy Stewart's best role of his career. The story of a small scout master who gets sent to become a senator is classic for a reason and parts of it still ring true today. A large amount of the movie is about political corruption and what makes this country what it's supposed to be. It's a largely patriotic film and that is why I still love it. Stewart's big scene, the filibuster at the end, is still one of the best speeches ever given by an actor and it shows why Stewart will always be one of the greatest there ever was.
Next Time: "You wanna to talk to God? Let's go see him together, I've got nothing better to do." "I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine. And he shall be my Squishy." "I find your lack of faith disturbing."
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 64-62
64. The Departed (2006)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by William Monahan from a screenplay by Felix Chong & Alan Mak
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg
Oscar Nominations: 5 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay)
I will say now, I do not believe this to be the best work of Martin Scorsese. Yes, I am tipping my hand a little but oh well. What we do have though is an excellent crime film about being undercover in the enemy's base. What makes this movie particularly remarkable is that everyone is at least somewhat sympathetic. You may not like a character but everything they do is pretty realistic. Also, Jack Nicholson feels like he's playing a character and not just himself and isn't that what life is all about?
63. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker
Written by Roger Allens, Ron Clements, and John Musker from the fairy tale by Hans Christen Anderson
Music by Alan Menkin and Glenn Slater
Starring the voices of Rene Auberjonois, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, and Buddy Hackett
Oscar Nominations: 3 Oscar Wins: 2 (Best Score, Best Song "Under the Sea")
All animated films right now have something to owe The Little Mermaid. Before The Little Mermaid, Disney was floundering (no pun intended) but since then, it has prospered. The Golden Age came from this picture, one that would create at least one film later on down the line of the list but that's something for later. Sure, it doesn't stick to it's source material at all but it is a great movie nonetheless. The music is fun and , as I have shown before, I love the villains. Ursula is another find Disney Villain and one that has a goal other than revenge for something petty. She also has one of the best songs showing Disney Villains really do have all the fun. Really, I very much appreciate the film and what it gave us: about ten years of pretty good animation followed by Tarzan. Ugh, Tarzan.
62. Mary Poppins (1964)
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi from the Novel by P.L. Travers
Starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Karen Dotrice, and Matthew Garber
Oscar Nominations: 13 Oscar Wins: 5 (Best Actress Julie Andrews, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Song "Chim-Chim-Cheree", Best Visual Effects)
This movie is almost perfect in every way. Julie Andrews is just terrific and is the best part of the film. Well, other than the colorful visuals and the such. It really is a splendid performance, one worthy of acclaim. Sorry, hard to say more right now.
Next Time: "In this town, murder's a form of entertainment." "A relationship I think, is like a shark. It has to constantly move forward or it dies. And I think what we got on our hands is a dead shark." "I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too."
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by William Monahan from a screenplay by Felix Chong & Alan Mak
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg
Oscar Nominations: 5 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay)
I will say now, I do not believe this to be the best work of Martin Scorsese. Yes, I am tipping my hand a little but oh well. What we do have though is an excellent crime film about being undercover in the enemy's base. What makes this movie particularly remarkable is that everyone is at least somewhat sympathetic. You may not like a character but everything they do is pretty realistic. Also, Jack Nicholson feels like he's playing a character and not just himself and isn't that what life is all about?
63. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker
Written by Roger Allens, Ron Clements, and John Musker from the fairy tale by Hans Christen Anderson
Music by Alan Menkin and Glenn Slater
Starring the voices of Rene Auberjonois, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, and Buddy Hackett
Oscar Nominations: 3 Oscar Wins: 2 (Best Score, Best Song "Under the Sea")
All animated films right now have something to owe The Little Mermaid. Before The Little Mermaid, Disney was floundering (no pun intended) but since then, it has prospered. The Golden Age came from this picture, one that would create at least one film later on down the line of the list but that's something for later. Sure, it doesn't stick to it's source material at all but it is a great movie nonetheless. The music is fun and , as I have shown before, I love the villains. Ursula is another find Disney Villain and one that has a goal other than revenge for something petty. She also has one of the best songs showing Disney Villains really do have all the fun. Really, I very much appreciate the film and what it gave us: about ten years of pretty good animation followed by Tarzan. Ugh, Tarzan.
62. Mary Poppins (1964)
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi from the Novel by P.L. Travers
Starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Karen Dotrice, and Matthew Garber
Oscar Nominations: 13 Oscar Wins: 5 (Best Actress Julie Andrews, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Song "Chim-Chim-Cheree", Best Visual Effects)
This movie is almost perfect in every way. Julie Andrews is just terrific and is the best part of the film. Well, other than the colorful visuals and the such. It really is a splendid performance, one worthy of acclaim. Sorry, hard to say more right now.
Next Time: "In this town, murder's a form of entertainment." "A relationship I think, is like a shark. It has to constantly move forward or it dies. And I think what we got on our hands is a dead shark." "I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too."
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 67-65
67. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Directed by John Madden
Written By Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard
Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Colin Firth, Judi Dench, Ben Affleck, & Geoffrey Rush
Oscar Nominations: 13 Oscar Wins: 7 (Best Picture, Best Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Best Supporting Actress Judi Dench, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Music, Best Costumes, Best Set Direction)
I love Shakespeare. The man was brilliant and his writing gorgeous. That said, since there isn't much known about his life, a good biopic is far and few between so I got to settle for fictional ones or episodes of Doctor Who. Whichever. This is a well acted film and quite funny and romantic at times. It is also a good depeiction of how Renaissance Theater worked. The acting is stellar and I got to say that there isn't too much that this movie misfires on.
66. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Directed and written by Roman Polanski from the novel by Ira Levin
Starring Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer
Oscar Nominations: 2 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Supporting Actress Ruth Gordon)
There's a lot to love about Rosemary's Baby. The best part is the mood of the film. It really is a psychological horror film. Unlike The Omen where you knew there was something wrong with Damien right away, a fair amount of this film is Mia Farrow's Rosemary realizing that there's something not quite right going on here. From that point on throughout the movie, she finds herself trying to find out if she's going insane or if she is pregnant with the child of the Devil. The paranoia about the freaky neighbors in addition to some of the visuals is what dials up the creepiness factor. It doesn't hurt that Mia Farrow and Ruth Gordon both hit the ball out of the field in the acting.
65. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2005)
Directed by Michael Gondry
Wirtten by Charlie Kaufman
Starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson
Oscar Nominations: 2 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Original Screenplay)
I'm going to start by saying that Charlie Kaufman has to be taking some good drugs because that's the only way to explain how trippy this movie is. That all said, it is freaking terrific and probably one of the best written movies of the new millennium. On one hand, it's a love story. On another, it's about a rather novel idea, deleting part of your memory so that you don't have to deal with the pain. From there, we get to be inside Jum Carrey's mind as he tries to wipe out the remains of his ex-girlfriend, played brilliantly by Kate Winslet, possibly the most gifted actress of her generation. She will surpass Meryl Streep someday, I bet it.That said, the highlight of this movie is the writing. In comedies, it's rare to capture the awkwardness of a person's life and that's what Charlie Kaufman accomplishes here. I really have nothing but good things to say about this movie.
Next Time: "You have an immaculate record. Some guys don't trust an immaculate record. I do. I have an immaculate record." "Come in. Come in, my child. We mustn't lurk in doorways. It's rude. One might question your upbringing." "Why do you always complicate things that are really quite simple?"
Directed by John Madden
Written By Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard
Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Colin Firth, Judi Dench, Ben Affleck, & Geoffrey Rush
Oscar Nominations: 13 Oscar Wins: 7 (Best Picture, Best Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Best Supporting Actress Judi Dench, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Music, Best Costumes, Best Set Direction)
I love Shakespeare. The man was brilliant and his writing gorgeous. That said, since there isn't much known about his life, a good biopic is far and few between so I got to settle for fictional ones or episodes of Doctor Who. Whichever. This is a well acted film and quite funny and romantic at times. It is also a good depeiction of how Renaissance Theater worked. The acting is stellar and I got to say that there isn't too much that this movie misfires on.
66. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Directed and written by Roman Polanski from the novel by Ira Levin
Starring Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer
Oscar Nominations: 2 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Supporting Actress Ruth Gordon)
There's a lot to love about Rosemary's Baby. The best part is the mood of the film. It really is a psychological horror film. Unlike The Omen where you knew there was something wrong with Damien right away, a fair amount of this film is Mia Farrow's Rosemary realizing that there's something not quite right going on here. From that point on throughout the movie, she finds herself trying to find out if she's going insane or if she is pregnant with the child of the Devil. The paranoia about the freaky neighbors in addition to some of the visuals is what dials up the creepiness factor. It doesn't hurt that Mia Farrow and Ruth Gordon both hit the ball out of the field in the acting.
65. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2005)
Directed by Michael Gondry
Wirtten by Charlie Kaufman
Starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson
Oscar Nominations: 2 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Original Screenplay)
I'm going to start by saying that Charlie Kaufman has to be taking some good drugs because that's the only way to explain how trippy this movie is. That all said, it is freaking terrific and probably one of the best written movies of the new millennium. On one hand, it's a love story. On another, it's about a rather novel idea, deleting part of your memory so that you don't have to deal with the pain. From there, we get to be inside Jum Carrey's mind as he tries to wipe out the remains of his ex-girlfriend, played brilliantly by Kate Winslet, possibly the most gifted actress of her generation. She will surpass Meryl Streep someday, I bet it.That said, the highlight of this movie is the writing. In comedies, it's rare to capture the awkwardness of a person's life and that's what Charlie Kaufman accomplishes here. I really have nothing but good things to say about this movie.
Next Time: "You have an immaculate record. Some guys don't trust an immaculate record. I do. I have an immaculate record." "Come in. Come in, my child. We mustn't lurk in doorways. It's rude. One might question your upbringing." "Why do you always complicate things that are really quite simple?"
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 70-68
70. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Directed by Clyde Geronimi
Written by Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Joe Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, and Milt Banta from the Fairy Tale
Starring the voices of Mary Costa, Eleanor Audley, and Marvin Miller
Oscar Nominations: 1
There are a number of reasons why this is one of the best films in the Walt Disney collection. A major reason for me is the music. A lot of it is taken directly from the score of Tchaikovsky's ballet of the same name. Another reason is the art. It looks like something taken directly from medieval art. It's a style that's distinct from any of the disney films that came before or after. Now, that all said, the major reason I love this movie is the villain, Maleficent, possibly my favorite of all the Disney villains. She definitely the most evil. She wants to kill a baby simply because she got slighted an invitation to a party. She has no problem ruining lives and she is unabashedly evil. While doing all this, she always has an air of elegance and style to her that makes it seem alright that she's terrorizing these people. That fact that she can turn into a huge dragon is completely arbitrary but still adds to her coolness.
69. Run Lola Run (1999)
Directed & Written by Tom Twyker
Starring Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, and Herbert Knaup
Run Lola Run, or Lola Rennt as it's known in it's native Germany, is a movie about cause and effect. In the film, Lola has 20 minutes to find 100,000 marks before her boyfriend holds up a grocery to get the money he needs to pay back a crime lord. What happens is Lola running through the streets of Berlin, trying to accomplish that. What makes the film novel is that we are shown three different versions of the events, all based off of an opening scene of her running down the stairs and encountering a dog. In each case it changes how the rest of the film goes for Lola and also changes the effect on the people she encounters. In three cases in each story, Lola interacts with a person for half a second and because of that, their life is shown for a moment showing how it turns out. Really, that is what I love about this movie. It basically says that every moment of every day counts and we need to live with that, running to make it work if necessary.
68. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Directed by Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones
Written by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Llama, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, & Michael Palin
Starring Many of the people in the above line.
What can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said?
Next time, "There's something about an anatomically correct rubber suit that puts fire in a girl's lips.." "I used to love Doggy Chow, too!" "Oh my god, they're eating her and then they're going to eat me. Oh my god!"
Okay, fine, I'll talk Monty Python and The Holy Grail is a geek classic, I would probably be thrown out of geekdom if it wasn't on here. It is one of the most quotable movies of all time and the ending is infamous but very much in style. There really isn't a lot to say since this is a hard movie to describe, it really has to be seen. Go out and rent it. NOW!
The real Next Time: "Playwrights teach us nothing about love. They make it pretty or they make it comical or they make it lust." "They're his father's eyes." "Constantly talking isn't necessarily communicating."
Directed by Clyde Geronimi
Written by Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Joe Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, and Milt Banta from the Fairy Tale
Starring the voices of Mary Costa, Eleanor Audley, and Marvin Miller
Oscar Nominations: 1
There are a number of reasons why this is one of the best films in the Walt Disney collection. A major reason for me is the music. A lot of it is taken directly from the score of Tchaikovsky's ballet of the same name. Another reason is the art. It looks like something taken directly from medieval art. It's a style that's distinct from any of the disney films that came before or after. Now, that all said, the major reason I love this movie is the villain, Maleficent, possibly my favorite of all the Disney villains. She definitely the most evil. She wants to kill a baby simply because she got slighted an invitation to a party. She has no problem ruining lives and she is unabashedly evil. While doing all this, she always has an air of elegance and style to her that makes it seem alright that she's terrorizing these people. That fact that she can turn into a huge dragon is completely arbitrary but still adds to her coolness.
69. Run Lola Run (1999)
Directed & Written by Tom Twyker
Starring Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, and Herbert Knaup
Run Lola Run, or Lola Rennt as it's known in it's native Germany, is a movie about cause and effect. In the film, Lola has 20 minutes to find 100,000 marks before her boyfriend holds up a grocery to get the money he needs to pay back a crime lord. What happens is Lola running through the streets of Berlin, trying to accomplish that. What makes the film novel is that we are shown three different versions of the events, all based off of an opening scene of her running down the stairs and encountering a dog. In each case it changes how the rest of the film goes for Lola and also changes the effect on the people she encounters. In three cases in each story, Lola interacts with a person for half a second and because of that, their life is shown for a moment showing how it turns out. Really, that is what I love about this movie. It basically says that every moment of every day counts and we need to live with that, running to make it work if necessary.
68. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Directed by Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones
Written by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Llama, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, & Michael Palin
Starring Many of the people in the above line.
What can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said?
Next time, "There's something about an anatomically correct rubber suit that puts fire in a girl's lips.." "I used to love Doggy Chow, too!" "Oh my god, they're eating her and then they're going to eat me. Oh my god!"
Okay, fine, I'll talk Monty Python and The Holy Grail is a geek classic, I would probably be thrown out of geekdom if it wasn't on here. It is one of the most quotable movies of all time and the ending is infamous but very much in style. There really isn't a lot to say since this is a hard movie to describe, it really has to be seen. Go out and rent it. NOW!
The real Next Time: "Playwrights teach us nothing about love. They make it pretty or they make it comical or they make it lust." "They're his father's eyes." "Constantly talking isn't necessarily communicating."
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Top 100 Movies of All Time (A Very Biased List) 73-71
73. Return of the Jedi (1983)
Direceted by Richard Marquand
Written by Larence Kasdan from a story by George Lucas
Starring Harrison Ford, Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher, and Billy Dee Williams
Oscar Nominations: 4 Oscar Wins: 1 (Special Achievement)
A good story has three acts. An epic saga on the other hand has to have multiple acts. While the middle act is possibly going to be the most important, the last one is where everything is leading and it has to have a good resolution. That is why the original Star Wars Trilogy works. I will tell you now that I will be talking about all three films (hint hint) at some point in the near future but Return of the Jedi came first so it's the first one I'll be talking about. What makes Jedi work is the ending. We have three seperate climaxes, one emotional (Luke vs The Emperor and Vader), One Romantic (Luke and Han), and one Apocalyptic (The rebels vs The Empire and the Death Star.) All are satisfying and that's why this is a good ending.
72. The Graduate (1967)
Directed by Mike Nichols
Written by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry from the novel by Charles Webb
Starring Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, and Katherine Ross
Oscar Nominations: 7 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Director)
The journey into adult hood is tough. That is what I have learned and what the lesson of The Graduate is. The one thing most people know abut this film is Dustin Hoffman sleeping with Anne Bancroft's character. That is not at all the point of the film. The point is that we have a protagonist, fresh out of college, not sure what he wants from his life. An older woman displays interest in him, something the world at large has ignored, and he's entranced. That's only part of the show because it's Dustin's growth into a man, responsible and sure of himself, not afraid of love. On, and I have one word for you: Plastics.
71. Sweet Charity (1969)
Directed by Bob Fosse
Written by Peter Stone from the Musical by Neil Simon
Music by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields
Starring Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin, Chita Rivera, and Paula Kelly
Oscar Nominations: 3
Ah, singing, dancing Prostitutes and some awesome choreography to boot. One of my favorite Fosse movies, Sweet Charity is music you can hum to and some messed up visuals as well (The Rich Man's Frug anyone?) I first saw this film back in high school and didn't know what to think. I still don't know what to think. The story can be odd but the acting and songs are what drives it into awesomeness. Plus, there are some cool cameos, including Sammy Davis Jr. singing The Rhythm of Life.
Next Time: "Now, shall you deal with ME, O Prince - and all the powers of HELL!" "Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?" "The ball is round, a game lasts 90 minutes, everything else is pure theory. Off we go!"
Direceted by Richard Marquand
Written by Larence Kasdan from a story by George Lucas
Starring Harrison Ford, Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher, and Billy Dee Williams
Oscar Nominations: 4 Oscar Wins: 1 (Special Achievement)
A good story has three acts. An epic saga on the other hand has to have multiple acts. While the middle act is possibly going to be the most important, the last one is where everything is leading and it has to have a good resolution. That is why the original Star Wars Trilogy works. I will tell you now that I will be talking about all three films (hint hint) at some point in the near future but Return of the Jedi came first so it's the first one I'll be talking about. What makes Jedi work is the ending. We have three seperate climaxes, one emotional (Luke vs The Emperor and Vader), One Romantic (Luke and Han), and one Apocalyptic (The rebels vs The Empire and the Death Star.) All are satisfying and that's why this is a good ending.
72. The Graduate (1967)
Directed by Mike Nichols
Written by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry from the novel by Charles Webb
Starring Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, and Katherine Ross
Oscar Nominations: 7 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Director)
The journey into adult hood is tough. That is what I have learned and what the lesson of The Graduate is. The one thing most people know abut this film is Dustin Hoffman sleeping with Anne Bancroft's character. That is not at all the point of the film. The point is that we have a protagonist, fresh out of college, not sure what he wants from his life. An older woman displays interest in him, something the world at large has ignored, and he's entranced. That's only part of the show because it's Dustin's growth into a man, responsible and sure of himself, not afraid of love. On, and I have one word for you: Plastics.
71. Sweet Charity (1969)
Directed by Bob Fosse
Written by Peter Stone from the Musical by Neil Simon
Music by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields
Starring Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin, Chita Rivera, and Paula Kelly
Oscar Nominations: 3
Ah, singing, dancing Prostitutes and some awesome choreography to boot. One of my favorite Fosse movies, Sweet Charity is music you can hum to and some messed up visuals as well (The Rich Man's Frug anyone?) I first saw this film back in high school and didn't know what to think. I still don't know what to think. The story can be odd but the acting and songs are what drives it into awesomeness. Plus, there are some cool cameos, including Sammy Davis Jr. singing The Rhythm of Life.
Next Time: "Now, shall you deal with ME, O Prince - and all the powers of HELL!" "Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?" "The ball is round, a game lasts 90 minutes, everything else is pure theory. Off we go!"
The Top 100 Movie List : Postponement
I have to go into work early today so today's entry won't be up until after five. Sorry. Until then, enjoy Ghost Love Score by Nightwish.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 76-74
76. The Bad Seed (1956)
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy
Written by John Lee Mahin from the play by Maxwell Anderson
Starring Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, and Henry Jones
Oscar Nominations: 4
I must like movies featuring psychopathic munchkins because we have another movie featuring an evil little girl. It's a well-written movie about a mother who starts to suspect that her daughter is a killer. It actually seems like a plausible premise to me. One of the things that I really enjoy about the movie is that performance of Patty McCormack who plays Rhoda, the daughter. She is variably evil and sweet and always slightly creepy but only if you know that she's evil. The thing that makes or breaks these kind of movies are the children actors. If they're terrible, it sinks. If they're good, it rocks.
75. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Directed by Ang Lee
Written by Hui-Lee Wang, James Schaums, and Kuo Jung Tsai from the novel by Wang Du Lu
Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen
Oscar Nominations: 10 Oscars won: 4 (Best Foreign Film, Cinematography, Score, Art Direction-Set Direction)
A feast for the eyes, one of the most visually beautiful movies I have ever seen. The thing that makes this movie as awesome as it is is that it's a feast for the senses. It's beautiful to look at, the music is very striking and serves the mood well. The other that makes it great is the romance between the lovers in the film. What could have been a quest movie for a stolen sword is a romance between two sets of lovers as well as a commentary on the battle of the sexes, literally in this case. The women in this movie kick as much ass as the men and so much so at times. The fight choreography is also very splendid with the use of wires actually good in this case.
74. Tootsie (1982)
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Written by Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal, Barry Levinson, Elaine May
Starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, and Terri Garr
Oscar Nominations: 10 Oscar won: 1 (Best Support Actress Jessica Lange)
The premise of Tootsie is brilliant. If an actor can't get work, how about an actress? I have always had a fascination with the movies about show business because it demands so much out of the actor. They have to be both a new character but if their character is an actor, they often have to be their character as another character. Hoffman does a great job of it here. That is what makes this movie grand is that there are times that Dustin Hoffman's character, Michael Dorsey, disappears into Dorothy Michaels. The most grand part of the movie is as well the dialogue. The most important thing of a good comedy is dialogue. Slapstick only gets you so far, with crappy dialogue, it will fall flat eventually. Then again, I am a writer and I tend to place emphasis on writing.
Next Time: "It's against my programming to impersonate a deity." "Plastics" "Wow, this place is sure full of celebrities. I'm the only one in here I've never heard of."
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy
Written by John Lee Mahin from the play by Maxwell Anderson
Starring Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, and Henry Jones
Oscar Nominations: 4
I must like movies featuring psychopathic munchkins because we have another movie featuring an evil little girl. It's a well-written movie about a mother who starts to suspect that her daughter is a killer. It actually seems like a plausible premise to me. One of the things that I really enjoy about the movie is that performance of Patty McCormack who plays Rhoda, the daughter. She is variably evil and sweet and always slightly creepy but only if you know that she's evil. The thing that makes or breaks these kind of movies are the children actors. If they're terrible, it sinks. If they're good, it rocks.
75. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Directed by Ang Lee
Written by Hui-Lee Wang, James Schaums, and Kuo Jung Tsai from the novel by Wang Du Lu
Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen
Oscar Nominations: 10 Oscars won: 4 (Best Foreign Film, Cinematography, Score, Art Direction-Set Direction)
A feast for the eyes, one of the most visually beautiful movies I have ever seen. The thing that makes this movie as awesome as it is is that it's a feast for the senses. It's beautiful to look at, the music is very striking and serves the mood well. The other that makes it great is the romance between the lovers in the film. What could have been a quest movie for a stolen sword is a romance between two sets of lovers as well as a commentary on the battle of the sexes, literally in this case. The women in this movie kick as much ass as the men and so much so at times. The fight choreography is also very splendid with the use of wires actually good in this case.
74. Tootsie (1982)
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Written by Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal, Barry Levinson, Elaine May
Starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, and Terri Garr
Oscar Nominations: 10 Oscar won: 1 (Best Support Actress Jessica Lange)
The premise of Tootsie is brilliant. If an actor can't get work, how about an actress? I have always had a fascination with the movies about show business because it demands so much out of the actor. They have to be both a new character but if their character is an actor, they often have to be their character as another character. Hoffman does a great job of it here. That is what makes this movie grand is that there are times that Dustin Hoffman's character, Michael Dorsey, disappears into Dorothy Michaels. The most grand part of the movie is as well the dialogue. The most important thing of a good comedy is dialogue. Slapstick only gets you so far, with crappy dialogue, it will fall flat eventually. Then again, I am a writer and I tend to place emphasis on writing.
Next Time: "It's against my programming to impersonate a deity." "Plastics" "Wow, this place is sure full of celebrities. I'm the only one in here I've never heard of."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Taking 20: Death of a Friend
I grew up in the 90's. It was a dark age to be a comic book fan. That said, there were bright light in those days and I hate it when one goes dark, especially when it's a character I grew up with, one who appealed to me as a right-brain thinker. More after the jump since spoilers ensue.
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 79-77
79. A Mighty Wind (2003)
Directed by Christopher Guest
Written by Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy
Starring loads of people. Just IMDB it, I can't single out 4.
Oscar Nominations: 1
The mockumentary is an art form. Nomrally with a movie, an actor just needs to convince the audience that they're playing a part. In the documentary, they have to convince us that they're something else that's worthy of being filmed. A heavy amount of improv ability is also often needed. Christopher Guest is a master of this. A lot of his work appears on this list. Anyway, what makes this movie truly great that in addition to being hilarious, the music is just phenomenal. I don't much care for folk but A Kiss At The End of the Rainbow is one of my favorite songs of all time. Once again, the actors do all of their own singing so that just makes it all the more awesome because there's no bad lipsyncing. We needs as little of that as possible.
78. Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Directed and written by Nicholas Ray
Starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo
Oscar Nominations: 3
James Dean is a legend. The man did three films and none of them suck. He died young which ensures his legend lives on. Rebel Without a Cause cements that. The story of a troublemaker, his girl, and best friend is a classic. All three leads turn in some of their best performances and the best part is that they sound like real teenagers. Another note of comment is Plato, portrayed by Sal Mineo. Plato is one of the first gay characters to be portrayed with anything resembling decency in Hollywood. He's not a stereotype and the only real problem is that, like in The Children's Hour, he gets killed off. Still, it's all good.
77. Amadeus (1984)
Directed by Milos Forman
Written by Peter Shaffer from his play
Starring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge
Oscar Nomination: 11 Wins: 8 (Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Actor F. Murray Abraham, Costumes, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound)
I like biopics. As said before, this is not one. That doesn't make it any less powerful though. For starters, unlike many films in the genre, it doesn't seek to put it's subject on a golden pedestal. Instead, it decides that the subject is a flawed human being who sins. A lot. More than that, Amadeus is a story about one man's descent into madness. Salieri is just an awesome character, an actors dream part due to the levels of complexity that he must send out. Another great factor to the movie is the use of Mozart's music. It is part of what makes the movie. Without it, the movie would mean so much less.
Next Time: "Children can be nasty, don't you think?" "A sword by itself rules nothing. It only comes alive in skilled hands." "I don't believe in hell. I believe in unemployment, but not hell."
Directed by Christopher Guest
Written by Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy
Starring loads of people. Just IMDB it, I can't single out 4.
Oscar Nominations: 1
The mockumentary is an art form. Nomrally with a movie, an actor just needs to convince the audience that they're playing a part. In the documentary, they have to convince us that they're something else that's worthy of being filmed. A heavy amount of improv ability is also often needed. Christopher Guest is a master of this. A lot of his work appears on this list. Anyway, what makes this movie truly great that in addition to being hilarious, the music is just phenomenal. I don't much care for folk but A Kiss At The End of the Rainbow is one of my favorite songs of all time. Once again, the actors do all of their own singing so that just makes it all the more awesome because there's no bad lipsyncing. We needs as little of that as possible.
78. Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Directed and written by Nicholas Ray
Starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo
Oscar Nominations: 3
James Dean is a legend. The man did three films and none of them suck. He died young which ensures his legend lives on. Rebel Without a Cause cements that. The story of a troublemaker, his girl, and best friend is a classic. All three leads turn in some of their best performances and the best part is that they sound like real teenagers. Another note of comment is Plato, portrayed by Sal Mineo. Plato is one of the first gay characters to be portrayed with anything resembling decency in Hollywood. He's not a stereotype and the only real problem is that, like in The Children's Hour, he gets killed off. Still, it's all good.
77. Amadeus (1984)
Directed by Milos Forman
Written by Peter Shaffer from his play
Starring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge
Oscar Nomination: 11 Wins: 8 (Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Actor F. Murray Abraham, Costumes, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound)
I like biopics. As said before, this is not one. That doesn't make it any less powerful though. For starters, unlike many films in the genre, it doesn't seek to put it's subject on a golden pedestal. Instead, it decides that the subject is a flawed human being who sins. A lot. More than that, Amadeus is a story about one man's descent into madness. Salieri is just an awesome character, an actors dream part due to the levels of complexity that he must send out. Another great factor to the movie is the use of Mozart's music. It is part of what makes the movie. Without it, the movie would mean so much less.
Next Time: "Children can be nasty, don't you think?" "A sword by itself rules nothing. It only comes alive in skilled hands." "I don't believe in hell. I believe in unemployment, but not hell."
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 82-80
82. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wolfgang Reitherman
Staring the voices of Rod Taylor, Cate Bauer. and Betty Lou Gerson
Written by Bill Pleet from the novel by Dodie Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frf0d2lFlYE (Couldn't find a video of the trailer that allowed embedding)
One of my favorite Disney movies and just goes to prove that a good villain can make anything better. Cruella De Vil is probably one of the greatest villains of all time and that gives me a great idea I'll have to use later. Anyway, the movie has a lot going for it outside of just Cruella. For starters, there are times that you forget that the dogs are actually dogs simply because of the way that they interact with one another. Another thing is the music. It has some of the best music from the 50's, 60's Disney Era outside of another pick further down the list but I digress. Great movie and it has some awesome moments with a great villain as well.
21. Get Shorty (1996)
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
Written by Scott Frank from the novel by Elmore Lenonard
Starring John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, and Danny DeVito
There's just something about this movie. I'm not a big fan of the Gangster movie but I am a big fan of great dialogue so I'll cut this movie some slack. Besides, it has great acting and one of the best long-cons in a movie that I've seen in recent history.Travolta made good use of his Pulp Fiction career revival with this one where he plays a gangster trying to bust into the film producing business, a more legal form of crime. Special note should also go to Gene Hackman's producer character who tries to hard half the time.
80. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Directed by Frank Oz
Written by Howard Jones from his stage play
Music Composed by Howard Ashman
Staring Rick Morranis, Ellen Greene, and Vincent Gardenia
Oscar Nominations: 1 Oscar Wins: Best Visual Effects
Yes, I like weird movies. I get that. There's something about a musical about a giant green plant from space trying to take over the world that I think rocks. The music is some of the best from 1980's musical theater and Mean Green Mother has a habit of coming up on my iPod a lot for some weird reason. The acting is great and they can sing. Ellen Greene is one of those actresses that I've always liked despite something that makes me think I shouldn't. Her role here as an abused shop worker is one of her best. The same can be said for Rick Morranis, who I can't help but wonder whatever happened to. Seriously, when's the last time anyone has seen him in anything?
Next time: "There's a kiss at the end of the rainbow, More precious than a pot of gold." "Every day I look in the mirror and say 'What? You still here?'" "I speak for all mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint."
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wolfgang Reitherman
Staring the voices of Rod Taylor, Cate Bauer. and Betty Lou Gerson
Written by Bill Pleet from the novel by Dodie Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frf0d2lFlYE (Couldn't find a video of the trailer that allowed embedding)
One of my favorite Disney movies and just goes to prove that a good villain can make anything better. Cruella De Vil is probably one of the greatest villains of all time and that gives me a great idea I'll have to use later. Anyway, the movie has a lot going for it outside of just Cruella. For starters, there are times that you forget that the dogs are actually dogs simply because of the way that they interact with one another. Another thing is the music. It has some of the best music from the 50's, 60's Disney Era outside of another pick further down the list but I digress. Great movie and it has some awesome moments with a great villain as well.
21. Get Shorty (1996)
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
Written by Scott Frank from the novel by Elmore Lenonard
Starring John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, and Danny DeVito
There's just something about this movie. I'm not a big fan of the Gangster movie but I am a big fan of great dialogue so I'll cut this movie some slack. Besides, it has great acting and one of the best long-cons in a movie that I've seen in recent history.Travolta made good use of his Pulp Fiction career revival with this one where he plays a gangster trying to bust into the film producing business, a more legal form of crime. Special note should also go to Gene Hackman's producer character who tries to hard half the time.
80. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Directed by Frank Oz
Written by Howard Jones from his stage play
Music Composed by Howard Ashman
Staring Rick Morranis, Ellen Greene, and Vincent Gardenia
Oscar Nominations: 1 Oscar Wins: Best Visual Effects
Yes, I like weird movies. I get that. There's something about a musical about a giant green plant from space trying to take over the world that I think rocks. The music is some of the best from 1980's musical theater and Mean Green Mother has a habit of coming up on my iPod a lot for some weird reason. The acting is great and they can sing. Ellen Greene is one of those actresses that I've always liked despite something that makes me think I shouldn't. Her role here as an abused shop worker is one of her best. The same can be said for Rick Morranis, who I can't help but wonder whatever happened to. Seriously, when's the last time anyone has seen him in anything?
Next time: "There's a kiss at the end of the rainbow, More precious than a pot of gold." "Every day I look in the mirror and say 'What? You still here?'" "I speak for all mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint."
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 85-83
85. Terminator 2:Judgement Day (1991)
Directed by James Cameron
Written by James Cameron and William Wisher Jr.
Starng Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, and Robert Patrick
Oscar Nominations: 6 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Make-up, Best Sound Effects Editing)
I'll get it out of the way: Yes, I like the occasional dumb action movie. Let me follow up that with a resounding affirmation of this not being a dumb action movie. In addition to plenty of explosions, this is a movie about thinking., namely about the nature of fate. A major part of the movie is the repeated phrase, "The Future is not yet set." Obviously if it was, evil AIs wouldn't be sending robots into the past. Instead, we get a movie which the message of is that we make out own fates. Another thing the movie touches on is what I call, "The Hitler Time Travel Paradox." Mainly, if you went back in time, would you kill Hitler's mom, a woman who's only fault was birthing a monster, just to change the future. Does saving millions of lives justify cold-blooded murder? The scene between Linda Hamilton's Sarah Conner and Joe Morton's Miles Dyson really drives that point home. So, we have an action movie that's kinda cool and has some things that make you think.
84. South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999)
Directed by Trey Parker
Written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady
Songs by Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman
Staring the Voices of Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, and Issac Hayes
Oscar Nominations: 1
Yes, this movie, like the series that spawned it, is crude. I will not dispute that in the least bit. That said, like the previous film, it uses that pretense to pull in the audience and then say something, in this case talking about censorship and people taking responsibility rather than blaming everything on someone else. The movie doesn't shy away from being obscene but it also admits itself for being what it is: Foul but sweet underneath. The music is some of the best Shaiman has written with La Resistance being very reminiscent of Les Mis at times. I recommend this movie but also know it won't be everyone's cup of tea.
83. Wonder Boys (2000)
Directed by Curtis Hanson
Written by Steven Cloves from the novel by Michael Chabon
Staring Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, and Robert Downey Jr.
Oscar Nominations: 3 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Original Song)
I am a writer. Above all I am a writer. That said, this movie speaks to me as one who has a vague case of writer's block for the past year or so. It happens. Anyway, Michael Douglas's character is a novelist with issues. His most recent book is currently sitting at about 2000 odd pages and no where near done. He's sleeping with his bosses wife. A student is following him around. Complete chaos. The movie is funny and touching at both times and I truly believe Douglas should have been nominated for this movie, if not won. A movie for writer's, the book is better, but still worth a rental and a trip to the library.
Next Time: "I live for furs, I worship furs." "Movie stars never pick up the check. They have no idea what things cost. Most of them don't know their zip code and a lot don't even know their own phone number." "Wait for me, Audrey. This is between me and the vegetable!"
Directed by James Cameron
Written by James Cameron and William Wisher Jr.
Starng Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, and Robert Patrick
Oscar Nominations: 6 Oscar Wins: 4 (Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Make-up, Best Sound Effects Editing)
I'll get it out of the way: Yes, I like the occasional dumb action movie. Let me follow up that with a resounding affirmation of this not being a dumb action movie. In addition to plenty of explosions, this is a movie about thinking., namely about the nature of fate. A major part of the movie is the repeated phrase, "The Future is not yet set." Obviously if it was, evil AIs wouldn't be sending robots into the past. Instead, we get a movie which the message of is that we make out own fates. Another thing the movie touches on is what I call, "The Hitler Time Travel Paradox." Mainly, if you went back in time, would you kill Hitler's mom, a woman who's only fault was birthing a monster, just to change the future. Does saving millions of lives justify cold-blooded murder? The scene between Linda Hamilton's Sarah Conner and Joe Morton's Miles Dyson really drives that point home. So, we have an action movie that's kinda cool and has some things that make you think.
84. South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999)
Directed by Trey Parker
Written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady
Songs by Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman
Staring the Voices of Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, and Issac Hayes
Oscar Nominations: 1
Yes, this movie, like the series that spawned it, is crude. I will not dispute that in the least bit. That said, like the previous film, it uses that pretense to pull in the audience and then say something, in this case talking about censorship and people taking responsibility rather than blaming everything on someone else. The movie doesn't shy away from being obscene but it also admits itself for being what it is: Foul but sweet underneath. The music is some of the best Shaiman has written with La Resistance being very reminiscent of Les Mis at times. I recommend this movie but also know it won't be everyone's cup of tea.
83. Wonder Boys (2000)
Directed by Curtis Hanson
Written by Steven Cloves from the novel by Michael Chabon
Staring Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, and Robert Downey Jr.
Oscar Nominations: 3 Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Original Song)
I am a writer. Above all I am a writer. That said, this movie speaks to me as one who has a vague case of writer's block for the past year or so. It happens. Anyway, Michael Douglas's character is a novelist with issues. His most recent book is currently sitting at about 2000 odd pages and no where near done. He's sleeping with his bosses wife. A student is following him around. Complete chaos. The movie is funny and touching at both times and I truly believe Douglas should have been nominated for this movie, if not won. A movie for writer's, the book is better, but still worth a rental and a trip to the library.
Next Time: "I live for furs, I worship furs." "Movie stars never pick up the check. They have no idea what things cost. Most of them don't know their zip code and a lot don't even know their own phone number." "Wait for me, Audrey. This is between me and the vegetable!"
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 88-86
88. Chasing Amy (1997)
Directed and Written by Kevin Smith
Starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee
I like Kevin Smith. I really do. What he did here was a very personal film that is both emotional and funny. That and it has a bit to do with the comic book industry which, if you know me, I am primarily a comic book geek but I digress. This movie works on multiple levels. It works as a character piece, studying human sexuality. It works as a comedy, with stuff that anyone could laugh at. It works as a human drama about two people falling in love. I don't know, there's just something about this movie that keeps me interested.
87. The Omen (1976)
Directed by Richard Donner
Written by David Seltzer
Starring Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, and Patrick Troughton
Oscars Nominated: 2 Oscars won: 1 (Best Score)
Here's the difference between horror movies then and horror movies now. Now, we get blood, gore, carnage candy. In the 70's on the other hand, it was all psychological. Evil was not just something attacking us from the outside, it's something that attack within at anything, including our children. That is why The Omen is such an effective horror movie. We get tons of hints that Damien is evil but he's also a little child so he seems innocent. He couldn't be. Another great part of the horror is that Damien never directly kills anyone. Everything is an accident. True evil doesn't leave evidence. In fact, in the series (there were two more movies in the franchise) Damien only directly murders about one or two people. Anyway, the movie is helped along by using great actors like Gregory Peck who turn in performances that really enhance the feeling of dread that the audience should be experiencing. The final image of the film is a killer.
86. Gosford Park (2001)
Directed by Robert Altman
Written by Julian Fellowes
Starring Way too many people. Check it's IMDB page. Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren rock in it though.
Oscar Nominations: 7 (Including Best Picture) Oscars Won: 1 (Best Original Screenplay)
I love Robert Altman. He's one of those director's that is truly an actor's Director. What he does here is epic. There are about 10 subplots going around an hunting weekend at a pre-WW2 British Manor when someone gets murdered. What makes this movie remarkable is that the movie is really about the servants. There is not a scene in the movie without any of the servants at least in the frame. This is a movie that demands to be watched with the subtitles on. You don't and you might miss a piece of dialogue here or there. The best part is you expect the movie to be snobby and intellectual but there is some terrific humor in it. Maggie Smith's character probably deals out enough one liners that I have troubles picking out one I like the most. The movie gets extra points because who did it isn't going to necessarily be evident upon watching it the first time but that's what makes it awesome because it all makes sense.
Next Time: "There's no fate but what we make for ourselves." We must blame them and cause a fuss/Before somebody thinks of blaming us!" "Trust me, James, when the family pet's been assassinated, the owner doesn't want to hear one of her students was the trigger man."
Directed and Written by Kevin Smith
Starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee
I like Kevin Smith. I really do. What he did here was a very personal film that is both emotional and funny. That and it has a bit to do with the comic book industry which, if you know me, I am primarily a comic book geek but I digress. This movie works on multiple levels. It works as a character piece, studying human sexuality. It works as a comedy, with stuff that anyone could laugh at. It works as a human drama about two people falling in love. I don't know, there's just something about this movie that keeps me interested.
87. The Omen (1976)
Directed by Richard Donner
Written by David Seltzer
Starring Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, and Patrick Troughton
Oscars Nominated: 2 Oscars won: 1 (Best Score)
Here's the difference between horror movies then and horror movies now. Now, we get blood, gore, carnage candy. In the 70's on the other hand, it was all psychological. Evil was not just something attacking us from the outside, it's something that attack within at anything, including our children. That is why The Omen is such an effective horror movie. We get tons of hints that Damien is evil but he's also a little child so he seems innocent. He couldn't be. Another great part of the horror is that Damien never directly kills anyone. Everything is an accident. True evil doesn't leave evidence. In fact, in the series (there were two more movies in the franchise) Damien only directly murders about one or two people. Anyway, the movie is helped along by using great actors like Gregory Peck who turn in performances that really enhance the feeling of dread that the audience should be experiencing. The final image of the film is a killer.
86. Gosford Park (2001)
Directed by Robert Altman
Written by Julian Fellowes
Starring Way too many people. Check it's IMDB page. Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren rock in it though.
Oscar Nominations: 7 (Including Best Picture) Oscars Won: 1 (Best Original Screenplay)
I love Robert Altman. He's one of those director's that is truly an actor's Director. What he does here is epic. There are about 10 subplots going around an hunting weekend at a pre-WW2 British Manor when someone gets murdered. What makes this movie remarkable is that the movie is really about the servants. There is not a scene in the movie without any of the servants at least in the frame. This is a movie that demands to be watched with the subtitles on. You don't and you might miss a piece of dialogue here or there. The best part is you expect the movie to be snobby and intellectual but there is some terrific humor in it. Maggie Smith's character probably deals out enough one liners that I have troubles picking out one I like the most. The movie gets extra points because who did it isn't going to necessarily be evident upon watching it the first time but that's what makes it awesome because it all makes sense.
Next Time: "There's no fate but what we make for ourselves." We must blame them and cause a fuss/Before somebody thinks of blaming us!" "Trust me, James, when the family pet's been assassinated, the owner doesn't want to hear one of her students was the trigger man."
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 91-89
First off, made a change so one of the hints yesterday no longer means anything. No biggie. Anyway, here we go.
91. Ghostbusters (1984)
Directed by Ivan Reitman
Written by Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd
Starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, and Sigourney Weaver
Oscar Nominations: 2
One of the all time greatest comedies and best contributions to cinema from the eighties. I personally love Ghostbusters mainly because it's silly but it's also good science-fiction. I personally think the movie is helped by the fact that it is well-acted, has some great one-liners, and is also very intelligent at times. I dunno what it is about the movie that makes me think of it as being as awesome as it is. I would have to guess it's just that we don't get movies this good anymore that can scare you one moment and make you truly laugh the next. Plus, it has one of the few genuinely good sequels to ever come along.
90. Clue (1985)
Directed and written by Jonathon Lynn
Starring Tim Curry, Madeline Khan, Martin Null, and Michael McKean
I grew up with Clue and it's one of those rare movies I can watch and repeat every line. I know. I've done it. The writing is very sharp and it is one of those great send-ups of the closed circle mystery movie. The novel part is when you would go to see the movie in the trailer, you would end up watching one of the three endings at random. We're spoiled because the home video release includes all three and even tell you which one is the most likely but still, all could work with minimal plot holes. Once again, the one liners are the key here. They just work well between the ensemble cast and none of them seem particularly forced.
89. Carrie (1976)
Directed by Brian De Palma
Written by Lawrence D. Cohen from the novel by Stephen King
Starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Betty Buckley, and John Travolta
Oscar Nominations: 2
Carrie isn't just a movie about a telekinetic teenager who kills everyone at her high school prom. It's a movie about a girl becoming a woman, it's about a teenager who is physically abused by her mother, and it's about growing up. It just happens to involve mass murder as well, but oh well. The performances by Spacek and Laurie are some of the best I've ever seen in a horror movie, in particular Piper Laurie's but then again, she is one of my favorite actresses so who knows, I might be biased. It gets bonus points for inspiring the musical that came after that is infamous for a reason.
Next time: "If this is a crush, I don't think I could take it if the real thing ever happened." "It's all for you!" "Aw, it's a pity, really. I thought it was a good idea to have someone in the house who is actually sorry he's dead."
91. Ghostbusters (1984)
Directed by Ivan Reitman
Written by Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd
Starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, and Sigourney Weaver
Oscar Nominations: 2
One of the all time greatest comedies and best contributions to cinema from the eighties. I personally love Ghostbusters mainly because it's silly but it's also good science-fiction. I personally think the movie is helped by the fact that it is well-acted, has some great one-liners, and is also very intelligent at times. I dunno what it is about the movie that makes me think of it as being as awesome as it is. I would have to guess it's just that we don't get movies this good anymore that can scare you one moment and make you truly laugh the next. Plus, it has one of the few genuinely good sequels to ever come along.
90. Clue (1985)
Directed and written by Jonathon Lynn
Starring Tim Curry, Madeline Khan, Martin Null, and Michael McKean
I grew up with Clue and it's one of those rare movies I can watch and repeat every line. I know. I've done it. The writing is very sharp and it is one of those great send-ups of the closed circle mystery movie. The novel part is when you would go to see the movie in the trailer, you would end up watching one of the three endings at random. We're spoiled because the home video release includes all three and even tell you which one is the most likely but still, all could work with minimal plot holes. Once again, the one liners are the key here. They just work well between the ensemble cast and none of them seem particularly forced.
89. Carrie (1976)
Directed by Brian De Palma
Written by Lawrence D. Cohen from the novel by Stephen King
Starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Betty Buckley, and John Travolta
Oscar Nominations: 2
Carrie isn't just a movie about a telekinetic teenager who kills everyone at her high school prom. It's a movie about a girl becoming a woman, it's about a teenager who is physically abused by her mother, and it's about growing up. It just happens to involve mass murder as well, but oh well. The performances by Spacek and Laurie are some of the best I've ever seen in a horror movie, in particular Piper Laurie's but then again, she is one of my favorite actresses so who knows, I might be biased. It gets bonus points for inspiring the musical that came after that is infamous for a reason.
Next time: "If this is a crush, I don't think I could take it if the real thing ever happened." "It's all for you!" "Aw, it's a pity, really. I thought it was a good idea to have someone in the house who is actually sorry he's dead."
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 94-92
94. Misery (1990)
Directed by Rob Reiner
Written by William Goldman from the novel by Stephen King
Starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, and Richard Farnsworth
Oscar Nominations: 1 (Best actress, Kathy Bates. Won)
This why I am scared of ever being successful: That someone would kidnap me and keep me locked up in their house. Based off of one of Stephen King's less supernatural novels, the fear here is very human, very base.James Caan is a writer who has killed off he heroine of his best-selling series and just wrote his first novel he's really proud of. His car goes off the road and he's "rescued" by Kathy Bates, his number-one fan. One of the reason I really love this movie is Kathy Bates' performance. On one hand, she is a psychopathic murder. On the other hand, her tone of voice when it comes to her craft is just beautiful. The suspense is another plus. There are a number of scenes where you don't know what's happening but the sense of dread just builds rapidly. The ending is a little over the top but understandable.
93. The Hours (1992)
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by David Hare from the novel by Michael Cunningham
Starring Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, and Meryl Streep
Oscar Nominations: 9 Wins: 1 (Best Actress, Nicole Kidman)
A woman's life in one day. Three different women, three different time periods. all of their lives connected by Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway". Nicole Kidman is the suicidal author of the novel. Julianne Moore is a depressed 1950's housewife reading the novel. Meryl Streep is a modern lesbian in New York living the novel. All three put in great performances deserving of awards. The three performances are what make this movie and, partially, what make this so depressing (The Phillip Glass soundtrack is depressing and beautiful most of the time as well.) There are some moments of the Meryl Streep portion that seem kinda iffy but overall, the themes of what a woman's life is run deep through the story and while a large part of the movie has to do with suicide, it is also a hopeful movie at times.
92. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Directed by Jim Sharman
Written by Jim Sharman and Richard O'Brien from his Stage Play, The Rocky Horror Show
Starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick
What is there to say about The Rocky Horror Picture Show? It's one of those movies where you either love it or don't but it definitely isn't boring. It's the grandfather of all midnight movies and should be thanked for that. The movie stars Curry as a mad scientist from the planet Transylvania on the night he makes his creation, Rocky, a muscular blond Frankenstein. Sarandon and Bostwick are a couple who's car broke down and they get drawn into matters. All of the songs are catchy, my favorite being the ending Floor Show.
Next time: "Who you going to call?" "Thanks to the silver screen your neurosis has got style." "They're all gonna laugh at you."
Directed by Rob Reiner
Written by William Goldman from the novel by Stephen King
Starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, and Richard Farnsworth
Oscar Nominations: 1 (Best actress, Kathy Bates. Won)
This why I am scared of ever being successful: That someone would kidnap me and keep me locked up in their house. Based off of one of Stephen King's less supernatural novels, the fear here is very human, very base.James Caan is a writer who has killed off he heroine of his best-selling series and just wrote his first novel he's really proud of. His car goes off the road and he's "rescued" by Kathy Bates, his number-one fan. One of the reason I really love this movie is Kathy Bates' performance. On one hand, she is a psychopathic murder. On the other hand, her tone of voice when it comes to her craft is just beautiful. The suspense is another plus. There are a number of scenes where you don't know what's happening but the sense of dread just builds rapidly. The ending is a little over the top but understandable.
93. The Hours (1992)
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by David Hare from the novel by Michael Cunningham
Starring Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, and Meryl Streep
Oscar Nominations: 9 Wins: 1 (Best Actress, Nicole Kidman)
A woman's life in one day. Three different women, three different time periods. all of their lives connected by Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway". Nicole Kidman is the suicidal author of the novel. Julianne Moore is a depressed 1950's housewife reading the novel. Meryl Streep is a modern lesbian in New York living the novel. All three put in great performances deserving of awards. The three performances are what make this movie and, partially, what make this so depressing (The Phillip Glass soundtrack is depressing and beautiful most of the time as well.) There are some moments of the Meryl Streep portion that seem kinda iffy but overall, the themes of what a woman's life is run deep through the story and while a large part of the movie has to do with suicide, it is also a hopeful movie at times.
92. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Directed by Jim Sharman
Written by Jim Sharman and Richard O'Brien from his Stage Play, The Rocky Horror Show
Starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick
What is there to say about The Rocky Horror Picture Show? It's one of those movies where you either love it or don't but it definitely isn't boring. It's the grandfather of all midnight movies and should be thanked for that. The movie stars Curry as a mad scientist from the planet Transylvania on the night he makes his creation, Rocky, a muscular blond Frankenstein. Sarandon and Bostwick are a couple who's car broke down and they get drawn into matters. All of the songs are catchy, my favorite being the ending Floor Show.
Next time: "Who you going to call?" "Thanks to the silver screen your neurosis has got style." "They're all gonna laugh at you."
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 97-95
97. Heathers (1989)
Directed by Michael Lehmann
Written by Daniel Waters
Starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty
A fantastic black comedy about high school love, life, and suicide. It feels like a John Hughes movie if it was directed by Tim Burton and there are plenty of moments where you feel guilty for laughing but at the same time, why bother. The basic premises is Ryder's character is a part of the most popular clique is school, the Heathers, named so because with the exception of Ryder's character, they're all named Heather. Winona accidentally kills one of them and she and her boyfriend make it look like suicide. This sets off a chain of events leading to other deaths and one of my favorite lines in a movie ever, "I love my dead gay son!"
96. The Children's Hour
Directed by William Wyler
Written by John Michael Hayes from the play by Lillian Hellman
Starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley Maclaine and James Garner
Oscar Nominations: 5
For me, this is one of those movies I can watch when I want to feel something. It's incredibly emotional and demonstrates something of Hollywood's "morality" before the 70's. The movie is about two college friends who start a private school. A bratty girl gets angry with them and starts a rumor that the two are involved in a relationship with each other. The rest of the film is the deterioration of their lives because of a single lie. The ending really hits you and embodied the trope of Bury your Gays.
95. Repo: The Genetic Opera (2008)
Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman
Written by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich
Starring: Anthony Stewart Head, Alexa Vega, and Paul Sorvino
What we have here is if Saw and Moulin Rouge had a baby and it didn't suck. A post-apocalyptic rock opera about organ failure, some of the moments are very iffy at best but it's made up for by the performances by it's leads and their voices. This is another hard to describe plots because there are about four plot threads running through but oh well. Look it up on wiki.
Next time: "I'm your biggest fan." "Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself." "Don't dream it, be it!"
Directed by Michael Lehmann
Written by Daniel Waters
Starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty
A fantastic black comedy about high school love, life, and suicide. It feels like a John Hughes movie if it was directed by Tim Burton and there are plenty of moments where you feel guilty for laughing but at the same time, why bother. The basic premises is Ryder's character is a part of the most popular clique is school, the Heathers, named so because with the exception of Ryder's character, they're all named Heather. Winona accidentally kills one of them and she and her boyfriend make it look like suicide. This sets off a chain of events leading to other deaths and one of my favorite lines in a movie ever, "I love my dead gay son!"
96. The Children's Hour
Directed by William Wyler
Written by John Michael Hayes from the play by Lillian Hellman
Starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley Maclaine and James Garner
Oscar Nominations: 5
For me, this is one of those movies I can watch when I want to feel something. It's incredibly emotional and demonstrates something of Hollywood's "morality" before the 70's. The movie is about two college friends who start a private school. A bratty girl gets angry with them and starts a rumor that the two are involved in a relationship with each other. The rest of the film is the deterioration of their lives because of a single lie. The ending really hits you and embodied the trope of Bury your Gays.
95. Repo: The Genetic Opera (2008)
Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman
Written by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich
Starring: Anthony Stewart Head, Alexa Vega, and Paul Sorvino
What we have here is if Saw and Moulin Rouge had a baby and it didn't suck. A post-apocalyptic rock opera about organ failure, some of the moments are very iffy at best but it's made up for by the performances by it's leads and their voices. This is another hard to describe plots because there are about four plot threads running through but oh well. Look it up on wiki.
Next time: "I'm your biggest fan." "Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself." "Don't dream it, be it!"
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Top 100 Movie List (A Very Biased List): 10-98
100. Election (1999)
Directed by Alexander Payne
Written by Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Starring Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, and Chris Klein
Oscar Nominations: 1 (Best Adapted Screenplay)
Election is a perfect satire of the American Political system and psychotic, single-minded obsession. The movie speaks to me mainly for those reasons. Reese Witherspoon, an actress I am usually uncaring about, puts in a great performance as Tracy Flick, a single-minded high school senior who just wants to win student council president at any cost. Matthew Broderick is the teacher trying to stop her, in this case banking on the people to vote for the stupid, popular Chris Klein. It's far from a perfect movie but it's still rather funny and a good send-up of over-achievers and their place in our culture.
99. Immortal Beloved (1994)
Directed and written by Bernard Rose
Starring Gary Oldman and Jeroen Krabbe
This movie is not very historically inaccurate but neither are most biopics. Instead, it's a gorgeous use of Beethoven's music and well acted to boot. The main premise is a man's search for the "Immortal Beloved" a figure who appears in a few love letters penned by the master. What ensues is also mystery and romance. I could go into it further but that entails spoilers and there are only a few movies that I'm going to do that here. Worth a rental.
98. What's Up Doc? (1972)
Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
Written by Peter Bogdanovich, Buck Henry, David Newman, and Robert Benton
Staring Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neil, and Madeline Khan
A send-up of the screwball comedies of the golden age of Hollywood. It also features my diva but that's beside the point. A genuinely hilarious film, the plot is hard to synopsize because it goes all over the place because of some of the conventions it indulges in including mistaken identity, romance, and musical rocks. Seriously, it is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen and definitely a treat. Another important note is that includes the first major motion picture appearance of Madeline Khan, a woman that left us too soon. But more on her later.
Next time: Teenage Suicide, Don't do it; One of the worst children in cinema history; and something that comes in a little glass vial.
Directed by Alexander Payne
Written by Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Starring Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, and Chris Klein
Oscar Nominations: 1 (Best Adapted Screenplay)
Election is a perfect satire of the American Political system and psychotic, single-minded obsession. The movie speaks to me mainly for those reasons. Reese Witherspoon, an actress I am usually uncaring about, puts in a great performance as Tracy Flick, a single-minded high school senior who just wants to win student council president at any cost. Matthew Broderick is the teacher trying to stop her, in this case banking on the people to vote for the stupid, popular Chris Klein. It's far from a perfect movie but it's still rather funny and a good send-up of over-achievers and their place in our culture.
99. Immortal Beloved (1994)
Directed and written by Bernard Rose
Starring Gary Oldman and Jeroen Krabbe
This movie is not very historically inaccurate but neither are most biopics. Instead, it's a gorgeous use of Beethoven's music and well acted to boot. The main premise is a man's search for the "Immortal Beloved" a figure who appears in a few love letters penned by the master. What ensues is also mystery and romance. I could go into it further but that entails spoilers and there are only a few movies that I'm going to do that here. Worth a rental.
98. What's Up Doc? (1972)
Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
Written by Peter Bogdanovich, Buck Henry, David Newman, and Robert Benton
Staring Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neil, and Madeline Khan
A send-up of the screwball comedies of the golden age of Hollywood. It also features my diva but that's beside the point. A genuinely hilarious film, the plot is hard to synopsize because it goes all over the place because of some of the conventions it indulges in including mistaken identity, romance, and musical rocks. Seriously, it is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen and definitely a treat. Another important note is that includes the first major motion picture appearance of Madeline Khan, a woman that left us too soon. But more on her later.
Next time: Teenage Suicide, Don't do it; One of the worst children in cinema history; and something that comes in a little glass vial.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Bardic Knowledge: Love Never Dies
First off, a reminder that I will be starting my top 100 list tomorrow. That is something that I am going to try to stick to and it should be up sometime in the afternoon at the latest.
That said, a rant. I am a fan of musicals. I am gay after all, it's hardwired in there plus I do have a past in theater. That said, sequels tend not to be so good in the theater world. So, hearing that a truly great musical like Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera is getting a sequel, Love Never Dies. Really? Yeah, it's happening. After close to a a decade of threats, it's finally happening in 2010.
The plot follows something like this: The Phantom has escaped to New York where he has basically became the designer of Coney Island's many famous attractions. The Giry's are also there for no good reason. Anyway, The Phantom lures Christine, Raoul, and their son to New York and hijinks ensue. Now, I have problems with this plot. First off, let's assume Christine is still one of the leading Divas of the Opéra Populaire. Why would she do a gig at a relatively unknown overseas landmark? She can do much better, at least doing The Met.
I have some problems with Lloyd Webber overall. The man ruined Broadway for many years and his works are kinda overrated. I am a huge fan of Phantom and Sunset BLVD. but the second one is partially because of my feelings on the source material. Other than that, they helped set in place the British mega-musical where spectacle was always a good substitute for a great show. This feeling has continued to this day. Even great musicals like Wicked have gimmicks. When you think of Phantom, you think of the Chandelier, Miss Saigon had that helicopter, Wicked has the Time Dragon, and Les Mis had the spinning wheel of actor nausea.
Overall, Andrew Lloyd Webber has been going down hill for a few years. None of his shows have lasted all that long since Phantom. Sunset was the last one to actually experience a realm of critical success. Overall, it's kinda annoying to me that a man can be treated like a success all these years when he has a few huge successes then the second half of his career has been rather unremarkable *cough*Coppola*cough*. Where was I? Oh yeah, anyway, I'm reserving judgment on this piece of something but I'm not going to be counting on something perfect.
That said, a rant. I am a fan of musicals. I am gay after all, it's hardwired in there plus I do have a past in theater. That said, sequels tend not to be so good in the theater world. So, hearing that a truly great musical like Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera is getting a sequel, Love Never Dies. Really? Yeah, it's happening. After close to a a decade of threats, it's finally happening in 2010.
The plot follows something like this: The Phantom has escaped to New York where he has basically became the designer of Coney Island's many famous attractions. The Giry's are also there for no good reason. Anyway, The Phantom lures Christine, Raoul, and their son to New York and hijinks ensue. Now, I have problems with this plot. First off, let's assume Christine is still one of the leading Divas of the Opéra Populaire. Why would she do a gig at a relatively unknown overseas landmark? She can do much better, at least doing The Met.
I have some problems with Lloyd Webber overall. The man ruined Broadway for many years and his works are kinda overrated. I am a huge fan of Phantom and Sunset BLVD. but the second one is partially because of my feelings on the source material. Other than that, they helped set in place the British mega-musical where spectacle was always a good substitute for a great show. This feeling has continued to this day. Even great musicals like Wicked have gimmicks. When you think of Phantom, you think of the Chandelier, Miss Saigon had that helicopter, Wicked has the Time Dragon, and Les Mis had the spinning wheel of actor nausea.
Overall, Andrew Lloyd Webber has been going down hill for a few years. None of his shows have lasted all that long since Phantom. Sunset was the last one to actually experience a realm of critical success. Overall, it's kinda annoying to me that a man can be treated like a success all these years when he has a few huge successes then the second half of his career has been rather unremarkable *cough*Coppola*cough*. Where was I? Oh yeah, anyway, I'm reserving judgment on this piece of something but I'm not going to be counting on something perfect.
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