Sorry I cannot believe that it has been this long for a post, I am sorry for my business with things. But you know it is about that time for midterms and what is more important, keeping you at home happy or doing well in school? Well clearly keeping the reader happy because I am posting right now.
Some readers were not satisfied about the fact that I broke down my favorite movies into separate categories and did not give a top list of all time, so I am going to keep the post short and do so right now with a follow up tomorrow about my favorite actresses. Drum Roll please…
1. Casablanca: what can I say? It is too good to be not on the top of my all-time list. The number three best actor of all time on my list and a top actress for me in Bergman (foreshadowing), plus the narrative, plus… I could go on and on.
2. Citizen Kane: well it did not even make the top movie in its genre, but it would have if it weren’t for Casablanca. Orson Wells is amazing in the movie and the many things that he makes that movie fantastic.
3. Sunrise: yes I told you this movie is GREAT. See it, there is nothing more that I can say about it.
4. Ben-Hur: yeah it slides this high. Some may find it surprising but this movie is great and doesn’t get enough credit. Now I wish the price for it on DVD would come down so that I can get it for less than $30.
5. El Dorado: childhood and still young adult classic. Don’t know why but when I think Western I think this movie. You wont find it on anyone else’s top 10 list, or top 100 for that matter, but I like so that’s why its on here.
6. The Kid: also not on the greatest movie in its genre from below. But the movie is great. It has the Charlie Chaplin humor, mixed with the pathos that only Chaplin can deliver on celluloid. Plus not to mention a young Jackie Coogan as ‘the kid.’
7. Sound of Music: great film, great songs. However has anyone ever wondered how much better looking Julie Andrews is than the real Maria? Look for yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_von_Trapp
8. Searchers: another Western. John Wayne delivers a great performance in this non-traditional style western. It has some of the usual characteristics, but there is something different making it more of a hybrid…
9. Raiders of the Lost Arc: action movie that I could watch over and over again.
10. Star Wars Episode IV: to round out the top 10. I just wonder how some people rate the top 100 picking 10 was hard enough.
2 comments:
a solid list, no doubt. i think that naming my top 10 films of all time is too intimidating an undertaking for me, so i will name my favorite of every genre, as you did earlier. if this makes me a nancy/what-have-you, then so be it . . .
drama: it's hard to argue with casablanca, but i will risk incurring some wrath for my choice: it's a wonderful life. the emotional impact of this movie is undeniable and it's a wonderful tale of a man's sacrifices throughout life in order to be a good person.
action: i'm a sucker for spy movies, and the bourne series has revitalized the genre. bourne identity wins this category, edging out the connery-bond classics (and possibly casino royale).
adventure: no contest, raiders of the lost ark. intended as an homage to saturday afternoon serials, lucas/spielberg created an intelligent and alluring film filled with exotic destinations and occult mythology. fantastic.
comedy: ghostbusters. a competitive category, to be sure, but i consider bill murray to be the preeminent comedic actor of the past 20+ years. even otherwise bad movies that murray stars in are watchable due to his presence.
crime/gangster: it's debatable whether this movie can be included in this category, however, my selection is pulp fiction. quentin tarantino's magnum opus is iconic. not quite as vapid as the kill bill series, pulp fiction has compelling script writing, a breathless plot, fantastic acting (samuel l. jackson at his finest [which is saying something]), and a creepy but intriguing voyeurism that keeps you glued to the screen.
epic/historical: so many to choose from . . . gandhi, braveheart, last of the mohicans . . . ben hur is the best of a stellar group of films. you need a lot of popcorn to make your way through it, but it's worth it.
horror: i despise this genre, so i'm going to take some liberties here in choosing silence of the lambs. anthony hopkins is mesmerizing and the film is psychologically the most frightening movie i have ever seen.
musical: julie andrews dominates this category and i've got to go with mary poppins. the latter day musicals like chicago and moulin rouge are schizophrenic and nigh unwatchable. mary poppins is magical.
science fiction: empire strikes back is my choice, though it's a tough one in another competitive category. blade runner finishes a close second and a.i. gets the bronze (with me conveniently forgetting the final 20 minutes of the movie . . . shudder).
silent: i can't say that any silent films come to mind. shame on me.
war: patton . . . george c. scott is mesmerizing.
western: the good the bad and the ugly is a cliche choice, but there is a reason for that. a fantastic film on all fronts with arguable the best ending in music history. who do you trust?
and 3 new categories:
fantasy: ok, i put this in just to give the two towers a plug. the best of the 3 movies is the worst of the 3 books, but no matter. this is the greatest film trilogy of my generation.
sports: bull durham. baseball isn't front and center in this movie, it's really about relationships, but that's kind of how life is. baseball is after all, just a game, but it's a pretty good distraction along the way.
animated: sleeping beauty is the standard by which i judge all others, but finding nemo is truly an heir to the throne (thank you, pixar, for reviving this genre).
regretfully, i made an error in my previous post. as far as musicals go, i am replacing mary poppins with the wizard of oz. not placing the wizard of oz as my favorite musical of all time is an egregious oversight and one that i am compelled to remedy.
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