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."
No comments:
Post a Comment