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."

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