Favorite Movies
Jul. 27th, 2006 05:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quasigeostrophyI don't know if this was a meme, but it is now. :-) ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
joedecker posted several of his favorite movies and why they made his list. So I'm doing likewise. This list isn't exhaustive, nor is it sorted. But here are a handful of films I can almost always watch.
The Sting - The earliest movie I can recall seeing in a theatre, I think it cemented an enjoyment for twist movies in my brain at an early age. Even with an obvious bad edit late in the film, it still won best picture. I can watch it again and again and still enjoy when Lonnegan gets his due.
Koyaanisqatsi - Astounding visuals. This one always makes me feel very small at the end, which I think is part of Reggio's message of Life out of Balance. I want to photograph everywhere he shot out west in this film. :-)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Steve Martin overdoes it a little, but the chemistry between him, Michael Caine, and Glenn Headley is fabulous. Frank Oz did a marvelous job putting together a great silly con movie.
Apollo 13 - My earliest memory is of the Apollo 11 landing on TV before the events of this film, but it's still striking. Ron Howard and cast put together an emotional story that gets enough of the details right without bogging down in the science. And when Kathleen Quinlan is worried during the crew's passage behind the moon, I still choke up.
Real Genius - What can I say? This one pokes at every science geek sensibility I've ever had. I relate to Mitch and Chris, and quote this one often.
Gotcha! - A little-known film by the guy who directed Revenge of the Nerds. Anthony Edwards is a college freshman off to Europe with a buddy, and he meets Linda Fiorentino as an older Czech film student. Just when you think this is going to be another college party movie, it gets very interesting. Another one I can and do quote from often.
Siesta - Ellen Barkin as a daredevil who finds herself wandering around Madrid with no memory and blood on her dress. Told non-linear years before Memento, it takes a while to figure out what's going on, but the payoff is fantastic.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - A lot of people don't like the bicycle scene, saying it makes it not a western. So what? I think it plays a bit on the almost poly relationship the guys have with Etta. And who can not love "Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?" and "Who are those guys?"?
Things Change - A David Mamet screenplay that is almost perfect. Joe Montegna has to watch Don Ameche over a weekend before he turns himself in to the cops in a deal with the mafia. Over that weekend, the title says it all. Another amusing payoff.
Breaking Away - One of my favorite hobbies, in my home state. Always wanted to be able to ride in something like the Little 500, but back then I was in no shape for it. It's a simple story and a nice, pleasant picture of a very realistic family.
Lawrence of Arabia - The desert is the real star of this film. It's also hard to believe this was Peter O'Toole's first big break in film. Got a chance to see this on the big screen a few years ago, and it was fantastic.
A Fish Called Wanda - "Don't call me stupid." Does this one even need comment? Two of the best minds in British comedy ever to grace the screen pair up with a couple of solid American stars and they all look like they had a blast doing it.
Dave - Kevin Kline as a double for the President of the U.S. Frank Langella is more evil than when he has played vampires.
The Great Train Robbery - Sean Connery teaming up with Donald Sutherland to rob the Crimean Gold train in the 1860s. Funny anti-hero movie directed by Michael Crichton.
Groundhog Day - I'm still fascinated with Bill Murray's character's transformation in this, and I love to speculate about how long he was really in the loop and what all might have gone on to get him through it.
Memoirs of an Invisible Man - Chevy Chase playing more of a smart comedy character than usual. Directed by John Carpenter, and it isn't gross, either. A smart modernization of the classic invisible man story that isn't overly scary either.
Persona - Weird Bergman flick about a woman taking care of an actress who suddenly can't speak. The whole movie is the nurse's dialogue as she eerily picks up the personality of her silent charge. Surreal.
The Trouble with Harry - Hitchcock's best, IMHO. Light-hearted, for him. Funny.
Waking Ned Devine - I just love the way the townsfolk try to pull off their scam of the lottery.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady - Joanne Woodward has to sit in for Henry Fonda on a poker game. And she doesn't know how to play. I love just about anything Jason Robards did - here, he's a crotchety old rancher with no love for women.
Stalag 17 - I love how Holden's character gets through the hell of a Nazi prison camp, and uncovers some treachery along the way.
Once Upon a Time in the West - I'm not much for westerns in general, but if you're gonna like one, Leone plays with every stereotype here. It's a model for everything overblown about a spaghetti western. Another great Jason Robards character, and Henry Fonda as the villain!!
Parenthood - Another Ron Howard classic. A look at life through three generations with mild but realistic humor. And one of the best lines, by, of all people, Keanu Reeves: "You need a license to have a dog. You need a license to catch a fish. But any butt-reamin' asshole can be a dad."
joedecker posted several of his favorite movies and why they made his list. So I'm doing likewise. This list isn't exhaustive, nor is it sorted. But here are a handful of films I can almost always watch.The Sting - The earliest movie I can recall seeing in a theatre, I think it cemented an enjoyment for twist movies in my brain at an early age. Even with an obvious bad edit late in the film, it still won best picture. I can watch it again and again and still enjoy when Lonnegan gets his due.
Koyaanisqatsi - Astounding visuals. This one always makes me feel very small at the end, which I think is part of Reggio's message of Life out of Balance. I want to photograph everywhere he shot out west in this film. :-)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Steve Martin overdoes it a little, but the chemistry between him, Michael Caine, and Glenn Headley is fabulous. Frank Oz did a marvelous job putting together a great silly con movie.
Apollo 13 - My earliest memory is of the Apollo 11 landing on TV before the events of this film, but it's still striking. Ron Howard and cast put together an emotional story that gets enough of the details right without bogging down in the science. And when Kathleen Quinlan is worried during the crew's passage behind the moon, I still choke up.
Real Genius - What can I say? This one pokes at every science geek sensibility I've ever had. I relate to Mitch and Chris, and quote this one often.
Gotcha! - A little-known film by the guy who directed Revenge of the Nerds. Anthony Edwards is a college freshman off to Europe with a buddy, and he meets Linda Fiorentino as an older Czech film student. Just when you think this is going to be another college party movie, it gets very interesting. Another one I can and do quote from often.
Siesta - Ellen Barkin as a daredevil who finds herself wandering around Madrid with no memory and blood on her dress. Told non-linear years before Memento, it takes a while to figure out what's going on, but the payoff is fantastic.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - A lot of people don't like the bicycle scene, saying it makes it not a western. So what? I think it plays a bit on the almost poly relationship the guys have with Etta. And who can not love "Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?" and "Who are those guys?"?
Things Change - A David Mamet screenplay that is almost perfect. Joe Montegna has to watch Don Ameche over a weekend before he turns himself in to the cops in a deal with the mafia. Over that weekend, the title says it all. Another amusing payoff.
Breaking Away - One of my favorite hobbies, in my home state. Always wanted to be able to ride in something like the Little 500, but back then I was in no shape for it. It's a simple story and a nice, pleasant picture of a very realistic family.
Lawrence of Arabia - The desert is the real star of this film. It's also hard to believe this was Peter O'Toole's first big break in film. Got a chance to see this on the big screen a few years ago, and it was fantastic.
A Fish Called Wanda - "Don't call me stupid." Does this one even need comment? Two of the best minds in British comedy ever to grace the screen pair up with a couple of solid American stars and they all look like they had a blast doing it.
Dave - Kevin Kline as a double for the President of the U.S. Frank Langella is more evil than when he has played vampires.
The Great Train Robbery - Sean Connery teaming up with Donald Sutherland to rob the Crimean Gold train in the 1860s. Funny anti-hero movie directed by Michael Crichton.
Groundhog Day - I'm still fascinated with Bill Murray's character's transformation in this, and I love to speculate about how long he was really in the loop and what all might have gone on to get him through it.
Memoirs of an Invisible Man - Chevy Chase playing more of a smart comedy character than usual. Directed by John Carpenter, and it isn't gross, either. A smart modernization of the classic invisible man story that isn't overly scary either.
Persona - Weird Bergman flick about a woman taking care of an actress who suddenly can't speak. The whole movie is the nurse's dialogue as she eerily picks up the personality of her silent charge. Surreal.
The Trouble with Harry - Hitchcock's best, IMHO. Light-hearted, for him. Funny.
Waking Ned Devine - I just love the way the townsfolk try to pull off their scam of the lottery.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady - Joanne Woodward has to sit in for Henry Fonda on a poker game. And she doesn't know how to play. I love just about anything Jason Robards did - here, he's a crotchety old rancher with no love for women.
Stalag 17 - I love how Holden's character gets through the hell of a Nazi prison camp, and uncovers some treachery along the way.
Once Upon a Time in the West - I'm not much for westerns in general, but if you're gonna like one, Leone plays with every stereotype here. It's a model for everything overblown about a spaghetti western. Another great Jason Robards character, and Henry Fonda as the villain!!
Parenthood - Another Ron Howard classic. A look at life through three generations with mild but realistic humor. And one of the best lines, by, of all people, Keanu Reeves: "You need a license to have a dog. You need a license to catch a fish. But any butt-reamin' asshole can be a dad."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-07-27 10:01 pm (UTC)Kevin Kline is definately a husband for that movie alone. Otto is a special kind of stupid ... and I love it :)
Groundhog Day? With characters like "Ned the Head", who can forget it? Among my all time favorites. Remember, "don't drive angry!"
no subject
Date: 2006-07-28 01:17 am (UTC)"Do you wanna throw up?"
"Okay. BLEAHHHHHHH"