Movie Favorites O'Mine (41 of 100)
Submitted by ambient on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 19:04
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- All of Me (1984) - The “Jerk” had finally moved on, only to be robbed by the Academy. His best movie in my opinion. I’m also a big Lily Tomlin fan, but Stevo HAD this one.
- Animal House (1978) - The “real” sequel to American Graffiti for the middle class. I guess I sort of identified with one of the characters, whom I won’t mention here.
- Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) - Spencer Tracy’s great turn as a lone man on the trail of hidden truth. I’ve always found it interesting that the movie was backdated to 1945. The obvious notion is the story line, but I’ve always suspected a secondary motive. The movie felt the need to take us back to a time when a one-armed, post-war veteran could still snoop around in a hostile and isolated environment without getting killed in the first 30 minutes of the movie. A fantastic cast with a film noir feeling.
- Bound For Glory (1976) - Supposedly, Dustin Hoffman, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Johnny Cash among others were all passed over for David Carradine in the lead role as Woody Guthrie. Unfortunately, Carradine’s movie career was both heralded and busted simultaneously as this is still one of the most unseen, great biographical movies ever made.
- Cry-Baby (1990) - Arguably the only Waters movie that doesn’t go too far. Being a big Johnny Depp fan doesn’t hurt. Good soundtrack. Disappointed by Iggy Pop turning in a big zero as an actor.
- Do The Right Thing (1989) - Spike Lee developed his characters to the extent that the audience could virtually sympathize with any of their actions, good or bad.
- Fearless (1993) - I like how it juggles the “fate vs. belief” quandary without dropping or eliminating either. Jeff Bridges was excellent at transferring his characters thoughts to the screen.
- Fresh (1994) - A very smart movie on urban survival with an unlikely, but fully believable and hopeful source. Great ending with a “survival of the fittest” motif. Don’t miss the last 60 seconds.
- Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) - Jim Jarmusch, style out of left field. I loved the little things that I couldn’t instantly understand - like the mob characters watching classic cartoons in their spare time, but turning them off in frustration when the bad guy gets bested. Forrest Whitaker, Samurai culture, aging mobsters and honor among hitmen… what more could you want?
- Goodfellas (1990) - Scorsese’s detailed direction makes the movie. Ray Liotta joins the mob circus and takes us along for the ride, through the blood splatter, the broken honor and treachery of friends into the swirl of cocaine induced paranoia.
- Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) - My favorite dark comedy. Established John Cusack in a whole new category for me. Dan Ackroyd was a bad distraction, but didn’t ruin the movie.
- Grumpy Old Men (1993) - A Walter Matthau natural. The sequel is just as good.
- Hard Days Night (1964) - The best use of non-actors in a movie to say the very least. The music didn’t hurt either ;-)
- Home Alone (1990) - The great ensemble cast (Joe Pesci in particular) keeps ALL the attention off the cute, but sometimes annoying McCauley Culkin. Together they made two great movies, but this was the best.
- In Cold Blood (1967) - Based on a true story filtered through the eyes of Truman Capote. Scenes were filmed at the farm where the actual murders occurred, six jurors in the movie were from the real jury and the hangman is the same man who performed the real hanging. The almost hidden animalistic need for “escape” by the characters, especially Robert Blake’s mentally and physically scarred Perry Smith crawls under your skin throughout the movie.
- In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders (1988) - (TV) - This has always been a favorite of mine. I was lucky enough to tape it on it’s first airing and it remains one of the best TV movies I’ve seen to this day. I recently looked it up on a couple of critic sites and was glad to see I’m not alone in my praise. It must have taken some courage to cast Michael Gross against type, but it worked out great and he matched the intensity of David Soul’s character perfectly. Based on a true story.
- Koyaanisqatsi (1983) - The first and best of the trilogy. Brain and eye candy that you either get, or don’t. More than a movie… an experience.
- L.A. Confidential (1997) - Smooth, cool, film noir that can easily fall apart if you bat an eye or worse yet, miss a scene. Not that you would want to in this beautiful period piece. See it uninterrupted or not at all.
- Legend of Hell House, The (1973) - While never really a fan of Roddy McDowall before this movie, I was fascinated for a number of reasons including his performance. It manages to remain close to the “The Haunting” from which it was derived, but takes us one step further with color and an even eerier soundtrack. Close-ups are common and help the viewer feel the “closed cage” atmosphere of the house guests. Like the original, the direction leaves plenty of room for the imagination.
- Moonstruck (1987) - Ethnic Italian humor, two charismatic actors and a few dips into dark comedy make a great mix.
- Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985) - A fantastic carry-over from the TV show. I always loved the “retro” feel and the sight-gags.
- Platoon (1986) - The best movie to transfer the intensity of war combat to the screen. It can be overwhelming at times to anyone who’s ever been to that level, as well as to anyone unaware of just how easily that potential runs through all of us. Another movie to see uninterrupted or not at all.
- Pulp Fiction (1994) - Dialog, direction, Samuel Jackson and of course, Mr. Wolf. Does anyone really hate this movie?
- Raising Arizona (1987) - A great Coen comedy detailed down to the expression on a face, the curl of a cowlick or the slight inflection in a comment made by a redneck. Best surreal comedy south of Dr. Stranglove.
- Red Rock West (1992) - Reminded me of “Bad Day At Black Rock”. Film noir in the sunlight. Lots of twists and curves I like to drive. Great characters.
- Resurrection (1980) - Fascinating study on established beliefs and the strengths they have to overpower anything at odds with what has been taught.
- Shawshank Redemption (1994) - Everything a movie could hope for and the best I’ve seen. Much more than a story about one man. Currently the best movie on my list.
- Sling Blade (1996) - The best Billy Bob Thorton will ever do. A great but sad human study with a brilliant cast.
- The Big Lebowski (1998) - I’ve always been a Jeff Bridges and Coen Bros. fan.
- The General (1927) - The best silent comedy I’ve seen. Perhaps because of the combination of a magnificent restoration to DVD in 2001 and one of mine and most everybody’s favorite silent film stars, Buster Keaton.
- The Grey Fox (1982) - The best film I’ve seen that covers the modernization of the old west in the early 1900’s. Richard Farnsworth, former great Hollywood stuntman made everyone wish he had switched to acting when Ben Johnson did. Arguably the greatest moment of his short acting career.
- The Limey (1999) - Great abstract style and direction. Something new and different concerning revenge and “hitman” (gunfighter) retirement. Something tells me Terence Stamp has came to my attention a little too late. Peter Fonda successfully shakes off his father’s shadow from Ulee’s Gold.
- The Onion Field (1979) - This is one of my favorite character studies - following the ruined lives of all those involved in a police standoff. Very dark and intense at times. It was based on a true story from Los Angeles police files.
- The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) - The cinematography is great and so is Eastwood’s usual “don’t give a crap, bad ass attitude”. A little post-civil war cynicism flows throughout the movie, but it helps to anchor the film to the period. Chief Dan George is a standout. Eastwood's first encounter with Sandra Locke, who would later become his career albatross.
- The Princess Bride (1987) - Dialog, direction, fast pace and Mandy Patinkin make it one of my all time favorite comedies. The storybook reading by Peter Fauk to Fred Savage was just icing on the cake.
- The Quiet Man (1952) - The chemistry between John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara peaked in this film about the people, land and culture of Ireland. My ancestry.
- The Sure Thing (1985) - Lived it, almost. Loved “what’s-her-name” ; ) Cusack was great. Underrated.
- Two Lane Blacktop (1971) - Warren Oates always fascinated me and I eventually owned a ‘55 Chevy myself. No influence here ;-) Proof that minimalism can be great. Americana.
- Ulee’s Gold (1997) - A common criticism was that Peter was simply playing Henry. How could he not? The acting was great with the possible exception of Christine Dunford who I don’t think really fit the role of a drugged-out sister-in-law. The movie seems to have the genuine feel of the slow-paced world of Tupelo Honey collecting as I’ve read about it. I really enjoyed seeing Patricia Richardson working in a different atmosphere.
- Unforgiven (1992) - Lost souls trying to plant some flowers on their pathways to Hell. Clints best. My only complaint was the “kid” took too much time away from Morgan Freeman.
- When Harry Met Sally (1989) - With a perfect script, Rob Reiner’s direction and two actors with fantastic chemistry, what could go wrong? The best romantic comedy ever. I’ve always been completely fascinated with the invisible line running through Harry and Sally’s arguments and her crying scenes that keep them amusing.
