Brodie Fanns!
It's been about a year and a half since I did my top 100 of all time list. And I felt it time to revisit it for a few additions and revisions.
Now... in the midst of compiling the list, I neglected Closer, and slipped it into the 30's, pushing everything back one spot, bumping The Longest Day out of the top 100 (much to the chagrin of my dear old dad).
Since then, I've felt compelled to move a film up (it was criminally low, despite it's strong showing in the Top 20), and make three additions.
So... the first addition was Zodiac to #79, between North by Northwest now at #80, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, at #77, and bumping Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair out of the top 100.
Since the remaining changes affect only the top 20, I'll post that list. Changes in red
1 - The Godfather
2 - Pulp Fiction
3 - It's A Wonderful Life
4 - Sin City
5 - Donnie Darko
6 - Dazed and Confused
7 - The Godfather II
8 - Nosferatu
9 - Rear Window
10- Jaws
11- Shawshank Redemption
12- Beauty and the Beast
13- The Dark Knight
14- Casablanca
15- Clerks
16- Requiem for a Dream
17- American History X
18- WALL-E
19- Citizen Kane
20- Ocean's 11 (2001)
Now, the first change is I moved Dazed and Confused to #6, bumping The Shawshank Redemption out of the top 10. I did some reflection, and considering all that the film really does mean to me, I had to bump it up.
The second changes came with the addition of last year's The Dark Knight and WALL-E. The Dark Knight, no matter how you look at it, is one of the most finely crafted films of all time. With some of the finest performances put to film. But since this is a list of my FAVOURITE films, it didn't pull higher rank, because I also added personal connection to films. And WALL-E, just a beautiful film. I stare in awe at what they can do.
They bumped Die Hard and Fight Club out of the Top 20, Young Frankenstein and The Big Lebowski out of the Top 50, and Chinatown and Halloween out of the top 100, placing The Dirty Dozen at #100.
I would like you to keep in mind, that while this has altered, these are all 5 star films in my book. Hell, you'd probably have to go all the way to the bottom 100's (nearing 200) before we hit 4.5 star films. Based on the sheer amount of films I have seen in my life. So far I have seen 42 different films in theatres this year alone (actually it's closer to 50, when I add the award season '08 releases I had to wait till Jan/Feb to see). So yeah... there's that.
You can flip to my archives in Dec. 07/Jan. 08 to see the full list as originally posted. For those reading this on FaceBook, go to www.brodiemanfilm.blogpsot.com.
Peace out, honkies!
Showing posts with label List. Show all posts
Showing posts with label List. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Top Films of 2009
So I figure that now that we're at the half-way point of the year, I'd do a catch up, the Top 20 films of 2009 so far. In doing so, I came to a realization. 2009 has been a down year for movies. Maybe we're finally dealing with the ramifications of the 2007/08 WGA Strike. Or maybe it's just taking a while to get going. The second half of the year looks good though, with (all links go to trailers) Zombieland, Public Enemies, Inglorious Basterds, Funny People, District 9, Where The Wild Things Are, Avatar (no trailer available) and Sherlock Holmes.
All titles are links to clips/trailers
1)Star Trek
2)Watchmen
3)Up
4)Taken
5)The Hangover
6)Drag Me To Hell
7)Terminator Salvation
8)I Love You Man
9)State of Play
10)Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
11)X-Men Origins: Wolverine
12)The Last House on the Left
13)Duplicity
14)Monsters vs. Aliens
15)Sunshine Cleaning
16)Push
17)The International
18)Race To Witch Mountain
19)The Proposal
20)He's Just Not That Into You
All titles are links to clips/trailers
1)Star Trek
2)Watchmen
3)Up
4)Taken
5)The Hangover
6)Drag Me To Hell
7)Terminator Salvation
8)I Love You Man
9)State of Play
10)Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
11)X-Men Origins: Wolverine
12)The Last House on the Left
13)Duplicity
14)Monsters vs. Aliens
15)Sunshine Cleaning
16)Push
17)The International
18)Race To Witch Mountain
19)The Proposal
20)He's Just Not That Into You
Friday, May 23, 2008
Seven Instances of Real Life Proving Movies Right
In most case scenarios, real life tends to prove the movies wrong. From sound/explosions in space, to lit cigarettes igniting a gas spill. But what about when movies are correct? Here's a list of movies proven correct by the real world.
7) Brad Pitt + Angelina Jolie = Sexiest couple in the history of the world
We all know that Angelina Jolie is the sexiest woman EVAR! And Brad Pitt is the sexiest man EVAR! Putting them together in a movie is one thing. That's just good marketing. Which is why Mr. and Mrs. Smith was such a success. Oh yeah, they're also damn fine actors. But those two shacking after making the movie up is an explosion of sexiness that this world was not entirely ready for. And their kids? Holy crap. They're gonna be so good looking, that to look upon them will induce face-melting the likes we haven't seen Raiders of the Lost Ark. Just watch this scene. Even when they're kicking each others asses it's hot. And it gives way to a wicked hot sex scene. It's a tame sex scene, but still hot.
6) J. Dawson was a real dude. Told rich chicks he was an artist so he could see them nekkid.
There were many surprises to come out of the film Titanic. Did you know that the ship was real? And really did hit an iceberg? News to me. But more so, there was a real J. Dawson who died on the real Titanic. Still no word on whether he did the nasty in the steamed up backseat of a Renault.
5) Distilled Urine- Nutritious! Delicious! Full of Electro-lytes
One of the coolest scenes of Waterworld was when Kevin Costner urinates in a jar, distills it, then drinks it. But we here in the real world would never have to do that, that's why it's funny when Costner does it. And technically that's still true. Except for NASA astronauts. In an effort to reduce costs of hauling water into space, NASA is exploring technology to distill urine. (click for full article). Costner: Trailblazer in Piss drinkin'!
4) Nazi's are bad
Time really told on this one, and it could have been devastating to the plot of Raiders of the Lost Ark had it gone the other way. But luckily for Spielberg and crew... Nazis were dicks.
3) Scott Peterson in Chryo-stasis
We all remember that overlooked gem of an action flick known as Demolition Man. Simon Phoenix, the baddest mother f***er in 1993 gets frozen in a chryo-prison, in hopes for reanimated rehab sometime in the future. So does the cop who caught him, Mr. John Spartan. In 2030, he's unleashed on the Utopian society known as San Angeles. After going on a murder/death/kill spree, Phoenix decides to unleash the baddest of the bad also in Chryo-prison. You have to overlook the fact that he sets Jeffrey Dahmer free, even though he died a year after the flick was released. Because if you look on the screen with the list of criminals he's setting free, we see Scott Peterson. Now, in 1993, it was impossible to know that 10 years later Scott Peterson would kill his wife Laci and their unborn baby, but he did. Proving Sylvester Stallone right.
2) Bob Fosse is a psychic- predicts own death 8 years prior to following through with it.
Bob Fosse, one of the hardest working guys in show biz back in his time, directed big budget, Academy award winning/nominated Hollywood movies. But that was his side job. His real job was directing/producing/choreographing/costuming/designing/starring in/ushering big budget Broadway musicals. And after all that... he still found time to pop pills, smoke like a fish, drink like a chimney and have more sex in one night than Paris Hilton has before breakfast. So in 1979, he felt it was necessary to write/direct/produce his own semi-autobiographical film, All That Jazz with Roy Scheider playing the role of Joe Gideon (Fosse). SPOILER ALERT! Gideon dies of a heart attack from all that work, pills, booze, sex and cigarettes. 8 years later, Fosse kicks the bucket, also because of work, pills, booze, sex and cigarettes. Creepy. How'd you like that... to predict your own damn death.
1) San Dimas High School Football does, in fact, rule!
As you may recall, the primary focus of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure was the fact that they had to give a history report, which is why they were traveling through time in the first place. Well, the last half of the flick is cut with scenes of other students giving their oral reports. One of the students was a football player. He was struggling. So gain the favour of the crowd, he calls out "San Dimas High School Football RULES!!" Are we supposed to take his word for it? Up until last year, yes. But then this happened. Undeniable proof that San Dimas High School football is the best ever!
7) Brad Pitt + Angelina Jolie = Sexiest couple in the history of the world
We all know that Angelina Jolie is the sexiest woman EVAR! And Brad Pitt is the sexiest man EVAR! Putting them together in a movie is one thing. That's just good marketing. Which is why Mr. and Mrs. Smith was such a success. Oh yeah, they're also damn fine actors. But those two shacking after making the movie up is an explosion of sexiness that this world was not entirely ready for. And their kids? Holy crap. They're gonna be so good looking, that to look upon them will induce face-melting the likes we haven't seen Raiders of the Lost Ark. Just watch this scene. Even when they're kicking each others asses it's hot. And it gives way to a wicked hot sex scene. It's a tame sex scene, but still hot.
6) J. Dawson was a real dude. Told rich chicks he was an artist so he could see them nekkid.
There were many surprises to come out of the film Titanic. Did you know that the ship was real? And really did hit an iceberg? News to me. But more so, there was a real J. Dawson who died on the real Titanic. Still no word on whether he did the nasty in the steamed up backseat of a Renault.
5) Distilled Urine- Nutritious! Delicious! Full of Electro-lytes
One of the coolest scenes of Waterworld was when Kevin Costner urinates in a jar, distills it, then drinks it. But we here in the real world would never have to do that, that's why it's funny when Costner does it. And technically that's still true. Except for NASA astronauts. In an effort to reduce costs of hauling water into space, NASA is exploring technology to distill urine. (click for full article). Costner: Trailblazer in Piss drinkin'!
4) Nazi's are bad
Time really told on this one, and it could have been devastating to the plot of Raiders of the Lost Ark had it gone the other way. But luckily for Spielberg and crew... Nazis were dicks.
3) Scott Peterson in Chryo-stasis
We all remember that overlooked gem of an action flick known as Demolition Man. Simon Phoenix, the baddest mother f***er in 1993 gets frozen in a chryo-prison, in hopes for reanimated rehab sometime in the future. So does the cop who caught him, Mr. John Spartan. In 2030, he's unleashed on the Utopian society known as San Angeles. After going on a murder/death/kill spree, Phoenix decides to unleash the baddest of the bad also in Chryo-prison. You have to overlook the fact that he sets Jeffrey Dahmer free, even though he died a year after the flick was released. Because if you look on the screen with the list of criminals he's setting free, we see Scott Peterson. Now, in 1993, it was impossible to know that 10 years later Scott Peterson would kill his wife Laci and their unborn baby, but he did. Proving Sylvester Stallone right.
2) Bob Fosse is a psychic- predicts own death 8 years prior to following through with it.
Bob Fosse, one of the hardest working guys in show biz back in his time, directed big budget, Academy award winning/nominated Hollywood movies. But that was his side job. His real job was directing/producing/choreographing/costuming/designing/starring in/ushering big budget Broadway musicals. And after all that... he still found time to pop pills, smoke like a fish, drink like a chimney and have more sex in one night than Paris Hilton has before breakfast. So in 1979, he felt it was necessary to write/direct/produce his own semi-autobiographical film, All That Jazz with Roy Scheider playing the role of Joe Gideon (Fosse). SPOILER ALERT! Gideon dies of a heart attack from all that work, pills, booze, sex and cigarettes. 8 years later, Fosse kicks the bucket, also because of work, pills, booze, sex and cigarettes. Creepy. How'd you like that... to predict your own damn death.
1) San Dimas High School Football does, in fact, rule!
As you may recall, the primary focus of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure was the fact that they had to give a history report, which is why they were traveling through time in the first place. Well, the last half of the flick is cut with scenes of other students giving their oral reports. One of the students was a football player. He was struggling. So gain the favour of the crowd, he calls out "San Dimas High School Football RULES!!" Are we supposed to take his word for it? Up until last year, yes. But then this happened. Undeniable proof that San Dimas High School football is the best ever!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Brodie Mann Films goes... TV?
Brodie Fanns!
Word. To your mothers. As those of you who have been loyally following my cinematic exploits for the past 101 posts, you know that this is a... well... film blog. I talk about film. Movie reviews, lists, essays, what have you. I talk about film.
But occasionally I venture into the realm of Film's awkward younger brother- Television.
I did this once before with Scrubs and I think I'm gonna make this my next big project... discussion on my favourite TV Shows: Past and Present.
One of my all time favourite shows is one that lasted all of 14 episodes on NBC back in the 99-00 season. But in those 14 episodes it proved to be one of the more heartwarming, endearing, original and hilarious shows on television. I'm speaking of course of Freaks and Geeks. From now on, if I write about a film or TV show, I'll link it to the IMDb page for it.
Anyway... Freaks and Geeks. What an amazing show. I had just entered high school at this time. And I had seen a few teen movies, but nothing really ever spoke to me as a new high schooler. It was an awkward time for me. For everyone. And teen movies rarely hit on that. Fast Times at Ridgemont High comes close, the book touches on it better. Breakfast Club, while a good movie, is a tad ridiculous with the stereotypes. I had yet to see/fall in love with the awesomeness that is Dazed and Confused. And 90's teen flicks, basically any after Clueless, were self-indulgent, hipster wannabe flicks. They weren't that good. They tried too hard to be cool and funny.
Freaks and Geeks, however, succeeded where so many had failed. There were the stereotypes of the high school social structure, but just like in real life, they weren't so sharply defined as they were in the late 90's teen flicks. As with any high school, there were the jocks, the geeks/nerds, the smart kids, the popular kids, the theatre kids and so on and so forth. But it wasn't so segregated. They all interacted with each other. And realistically so. It was the anti-Saved by the Bell. Which by all accounts would be reason enough to hate it, because Saved by the Bell is just so gorram awesome.
But like Saved by the Bell, what made it work was casting actual teens in these roles. I think the oldest cast member was Linda Cardellini at 24, the rest were 14-19. It wasn't like Judd Nelson, who was freakin' 30 when he did Breakfast Club. He's still kick ass, though.
So you had teens who had just gone through all this stuff, or still were. They were in the shit. And they knew what was going on. They brought that level of earnestness and reality to the stories they were telling.
And the stories were real stories. They touched on serious subjects, but never got preachy. It was preachy in the way high school guidance counselors are, not like a very special episode of Blossom preachy.
So after only 14 episodes of this much beloved, and now cult classic show, NBC does the smart thing and cancels it. Way to be. You leave ER on well past it's prime... but Freaks and Geeks you cut loose.
So I figured I'd bring you my 10 best Freaks and Geeks moments. For various reasons, these are scenes I just love. They do tend to be Bill or Daniel heavy, but those were the two best characters. I fuckin' hated Neil.
I didn't count these down, cause they're all just classic. So it's just 10 in no particular order. Though the first three really, truly are the best... The rest are just icing on the cake.
Bill Watching Gary Shandling
There are plenty of things that make this clip great. "I'm One" by The Who. The silence of the scene (aside from The Who, of course). It's a brief, yet fascinating look into the world of Bill. He's just a kid who does what he does. It's hard to describe. It's an intensely personal scene, and for a then 14 year old to be exuding that kind of grasp on a character, it's nothing short of brilliant. And it includes Gary Shandling. Who's always delightful.
Daniel Desario is in Track 3
What makes this such a great scene is the fact that it's so poignant, then pathetic, then absolutely hilarious. And he plays it off so well, that you know he's pulled this scam before. Kudos for pulling it on the same person twice in one day. At least trying to anyway.
Homecoming
It was such a relatable moment. Geek finally gets to dance with the girl... and fuckin' Styx totally ruins it. Leave it to Tommy Shaw and Dennis DeYoung to ruin everything. There's this great "DAMN IT" look on Sam's face. But then he rolls with it and has a great time. It's fantastic.
Bill Dances
It doesn't matter if you're cool or not. You're cool with your friends. And that's what matters.
Don't Wake The Dog!!
I've never been this high....
Daniel and Harris
Everyone reaches that point in their life where they wonder not only who they are... but who other people think they are. I love how Harris is who he is, and Daniel is in sheer awe of that.
Vikki and Bill- 7 minutes in heaven?
Coincidentally the 7th video... you have to skip forward to about the 2:30 mark to get the good stuff. To catch you up, the geeks end up at a make-out party, Sam's off with Cindy doin' his thang, while Bill and Neil are playing a rousing game of spin the bottle. Bill ends up with head cheerleader Vikki in the closet. Go Bill! Skip through the bottle spinning and the Sam/Cindy stuff (that storyline doesn't get good till the following episode).
That Punk Rock Music
Thankfully my parents were never that crazy. Or out of it. But luckily I'm that crazy and out of it. I don't know anything about modern music. I'm only 22 and already I'm a TV dad. I don't even have kids. Damn! I talk like that too... "That punk rock I've been hearing so much about." Generally in jest.
Oh yeah... Chicks dig Sam
What's great about this scene, is that with just one tracking shot... Sam goes from king of the world to king of the dorks. He walks in like he owns the place, then the look on his face turns from cockiness to complete terror. Pretty soon, he dies. Not literally, but trust me... he dies.
Stay Cool. Stay Sober. Stay Utterly Lame.
If you say you never had to endure one of these PSA skits in middle or high school... you are a damned liar. Again... DAMNED LIAR! You know how I know you're lying? I used to act in those things. Not because I actually believed them, but I was a theatre kid, what do you expect? Daniel's reaction to the DD is priceless, though. Who hasn't thought that about one of the wicked hot, yet goodly and sober chicks at a party?
So that's it. 10 of the best Freaks and Geeks clips YouTube had to offer. Thanks YouTube.
And thank you America!
-Brodie Mann
Word. To your mothers. As those of you who have been loyally following my cinematic exploits for the past 101 posts, you know that this is a... well... film blog. I talk about film. Movie reviews, lists, essays, what have you. I talk about film.
But occasionally I venture into the realm of Film's awkward younger brother- Television.
I did this once before with Scrubs and I think I'm gonna make this my next big project... discussion on my favourite TV Shows: Past and Present.
One of my all time favourite shows is one that lasted all of 14 episodes on NBC back in the 99-00 season. But in those 14 episodes it proved to be one of the more heartwarming, endearing, original and hilarious shows on television. I'm speaking of course of Freaks and Geeks. From now on, if I write about a film or TV show, I'll link it to the IMDb page for it.
Anyway... Freaks and Geeks. What an amazing show. I had just entered high school at this time. And I had seen a few teen movies, but nothing really ever spoke to me as a new high schooler. It was an awkward time for me. For everyone. And teen movies rarely hit on that. Fast Times at Ridgemont High comes close, the book touches on it better. Breakfast Club, while a good movie, is a tad ridiculous with the stereotypes. I had yet to see/fall in love with the awesomeness that is Dazed and Confused. And 90's teen flicks, basically any after Clueless, were self-indulgent, hipster wannabe flicks. They weren't that good. They tried too hard to be cool and funny.
Freaks and Geeks, however, succeeded where so many had failed. There were the stereotypes of the high school social structure, but just like in real life, they weren't so sharply defined as they were in the late 90's teen flicks. As with any high school, there were the jocks, the geeks/nerds, the smart kids, the popular kids, the theatre kids and so on and so forth. But it wasn't so segregated. They all interacted with each other. And realistically so. It was the anti-Saved by the Bell. Which by all accounts would be reason enough to hate it, because Saved by the Bell is just so gorram awesome.
But like Saved by the Bell, what made it work was casting actual teens in these roles. I think the oldest cast member was Linda Cardellini at 24, the rest were 14-19. It wasn't like Judd Nelson, who was freakin' 30 when he did Breakfast Club. He's still kick ass, though.
So you had teens who had just gone through all this stuff, or still were. They were in the shit. And they knew what was going on. They brought that level of earnestness and reality to the stories they were telling.
And the stories were real stories. They touched on serious subjects, but never got preachy. It was preachy in the way high school guidance counselors are, not like a very special episode of Blossom preachy.
So after only 14 episodes of this much beloved, and now cult classic show, NBC does the smart thing and cancels it. Way to be. You leave ER on well past it's prime... but Freaks and Geeks you cut loose.
So I figured I'd bring you my 10 best Freaks and Geeks moments. For various reasons, these are scenes I just love. They do tend to be Bill or Daniel heavy, but those were the two best characters. I fuckin' hated Neil.
I didn't count these down, cause they're all just classic. So it's just 10 in no particular order. Though the first three really, truly are the best... The rest are just icing on the cake.
Bill Watching Gary Shandling
There are plenty of things that make this clip great. "I'm One" by The Who. The silence of the scene (aside from The Who, of course). It's a brief, yet fascinating look into the world of Bill. He's just a kid who does what he does. It's hard to describe. It's an intensely personal scene, and for a then 14 year old to be exuding that kind of grasp on a character, it's nothing short of brilliant. And it includes Gary Shandling. Who's always delightful.
Daniel Desario is in Track 3
What makes this such a great scene is the fact that it's so poignant, then pathetic, then absolutely hilarious. And he plays it off so well, that you know he's pulled this scam before. Kudos for pulling it on the same person twice in one day. At least trying to anyway.
Homecoming
It was such a relatable moment. Geek finally gets to dance with the girl... and fuckin' Styx totally ruins it. Leave it to Tommy Shaw and Dennis DeYoung to ruin everything. There's this great "DAMN IT" look on Sam's face. But then he rolls with it and has a great time. It's fantastic.
Bill Dances
It doesn't matter if you're cool or not. You're cool with your friends. And that's what matters.
Don't Wake The Dog!!
I've never been this high....
Daniel and Harris
Everyone reaches that point in their life where they wonder not only who they are... but who other people think they are. I love how Harris is who he is, and Daniel is in sheer awe of that.
Vikki and Bill- 7 minutes in heaven?
Coincidentally the 7th video... you have to skip forward to about the 2:30 mark to get the good stuff. To catch you up, the geeks end up at a make-out party, Sam's off with Cindy doin' his thang, while Bill and Neil are playing a rousing game of spin the bottle. Bill ends up with head cheerleader Vikki in the closet. Go Bill! Skip through the bottle spinning and the Sam/Cindy stuff (that storyline doesn't get good till the following episode).
That Punk Rock Music
Thankfully my parents were never that crazy. Or out of it. But luckily I'm that crazy and out of it. I don't know anything about modern music. I'm only 22 and already I'm a TV dad. I don't even have kids. Damn! I talk like that too... "That punk rock I've been hearing so much about." Generally in jest.
Oh yeah... Chicks dig Sam
What's great about this scene, is that with just one tracking shot... Sam goes from king of the world to king of the dorks. He walks in like he owns the place, then the look on his face turns from cockiness to complete terror. Pretty soon, he dies. Not literally, but trust me... he dies.
Stay Cool. Stay Sober. Stay Utterly Lame.
If you say you never had to endure one of these PSA skits in middle or high school... you are a damned liar. Again... DAMNED LIAR! You know how I know you're lying? I used to act in those things. Not because I actually believed them, but I was a theatre kid, what do you expect? Daniel's reaction to the DD is priceless, though. Who hasn't thought that about one of the wicked hot, yet goodly and sober chicks at a party?
So that's it. 10 of the best Freaks and Geeks clips YouTube had to offer. Thanks YouTube.
And thank you America!
-Brodie Mann
Friday, March 14, 2008
100th Blog! Here's to 100 More!
Brodie Fanns!
Well... we've reached a milestone. An important milestone. This is my 100th blog posting. I'm of course talking about here on the main blog, the Blogger. If you're reading on the myspace, this is like my 52nd blog entry, and if you're reading on the facebook, I don't know what number this is, because I RSSed my Blogger to my Facebook, and they retroactively posted a bunch. Let's say it's 30-ish. Who the hell knows?
Anyway, I was wondering what would be an awesome 100th post. Then it came to me... my top 100 films of all time. FUCK! I already did that. How about... my top 10 Guiltiest Pleasures? Movies I shouldn't like, and any respectable film critic wouldn't, shouldn't and couldn't. But gorram it, I like them.
So... here you go... the movies I like, nay, love, but probably shouldn't admit to it. But you know what? A lot of these flicks have a nostalgia factor to them. To back when I was a kid, when times were simpler. So that's why I still dig them, even though I've come to realize that The Godfather is the greatest film ever made, not Hook.
10) Can't Hardly Wait
I saw this in theatres the summer before my 8th grade year, mostly due to my massive crush on Jennifer Love Hewitt. But being 12 that year... that flick (amongst many other in the teen genre) shaped my idea of what high school was like. Come to find out that wasn't the fuckin' case, but when you're 12 it's a pretty cool ideal to hold onto. I dug it then, and to this day, it's a cool little nostalgia trip to the late 90's.
9) Roadhouse
Ok, seriously, if I was gonna pick a Swayze flick, it would be Point Break, but I went with Roadhouse for 2 reasons. a) The Riff Trax for this is absolutely hilarious. b) For the wisdom expressed by Swayze in the accompanying clip.
8) Batman Forever
Normally the fact that fuckin' Joel Schumacher directed this would keep it far away from any top ten list... but this movie holds a special place in my heart. Nicole Kidman was freakin' hot, Tommy Lee Jones was crazy, and it's the movie that introduced me to one of my favourite bands- The Flaming Lips. Plus it was kinda cool to see Val Kilmer go from the Lizard King to the Dark Knight.
7) Tremors
This movie can sometimes be a saving grace when it comes to that pesky "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game. My prowess in that game has propelled me to "Favourite Parlour Trick" amongst my friends. Plus, it's a fun, cooky, bizarre monster flick. Who doesn't love those? I'll tell you who. Nazis.
6) Snakes on a Plane
Admittedly much better on a big screen with a theatre full of fans, this is a fantastic cheese fest cult classic. Do you know why this movie is so good? Cause it's snakes. On a plane. And Samuel L. Jackson, the baddest motherfucker ever to walk god's green earth, lays the smack-down on the serpents. It's crazy shit. And I have never been to an opening night, midnight showing of a flick, and people were already reciting lines along with the characters. It was a phenomenon.
5) Mighty Morphing Power Rangers
When I was a kid, there was no show cooler than the Power Rangers. When the movie came out, that was like the shit. I was 9, and I could have died the next day, and I would have led a full life. I still have every single trading card in mint condition. Hells yeah.
4) Demolition Man
Maybe it's that in the future, they view the past (which at the time of the films release, it was the present) to be a quaint, barbaric time. Maybe it's Wesley Snipes' fighting skills. Maybe it's that Sandra Bullock was hot. Maybe it's that in the future, everything was Taco Bell. Who knows why I will watch this movie anytime it comes on TBS? But I do. And I like it.
3) D2: The Mighty Ducks
Too many people view the first one as the superior one. Fuck that. The second one is where it's at. They're taking on the world. Ain't nothin' gonna stop Charlie Conway and his Triple Deke. Or the Bash Brothers. Or Julie the Cat Gaffney. Or Gordon Bombay. They're unstoppable. All hockey games I have ever seen I've always compared to Ducks vs. Iceland. It's Knuckle-Puck time! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!
2) Bio-Dome
In all honesty, trying to pick the best Pauly Shore movie is like trying to pick the shiniest piece of crap in the pile. Either way, it's still a piece of crap. But, this one's so funny. As Phillip J. Fry so eloquently put it... They sure caused trouble in that bubble. One other thing it has going for it... inclusion of a non-Alec, Baldwin brother- Stephen.
1) Waterworld
Kevin Costner drinking his piss. That's where cinema went in the 90's. And thank god they did. I think it caught a bad rap for some stupid reason. But it's a very entertaining Apocalyptic movie. It was like Mad Max meets The Little Mermaid, only Ariel's a dude and drinks her own piss. And really... it's the precursor to Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. Thanks for bringing global warming to the cinematic forefront, Kevin Costner. You truly are a visionary ahead of your time. Next time I see you, I'm buying you a nice frosty mug of piss.
-Brodie
Well... we've reached a milestone. An important milestone. This is my 100th blog posting. I'm of course talking about here on the main blog, the Blogger. If you're reading on the myspace, this is like my 52nd blog entry, and if you're reading on the facebook, I don't know what number this is, because I RSSed my Blogger to my Facebook, and they retroactively posted a bunch. Let's say it's 30-ish. Who the hell knows?
Anyway, I was wondering what would be an awesome 100th post. Then it came to me... my top 100 films of all time. FUCK! I already did that. How about... my top 10 Guiltiest Pleasures? Movies I shouldn't like, and any respectable film critic wouldn't, shouldn't and couldn't. But gorram it, I like them.
So... here you go... the movies I like, nay, love, but probably shouldn't admit to it. But you know what? A lot of these flicks have a nostalgia factor to them. To back when I was a kid, when times were simpler. So that's why I still dig them, even though I've come to realize that The Godfather is the greatest film ever made, not Hook.
10) Can't Hardly Wait
I saw this in theatres the summer before my 8th grade year, mostly due to my massive crush on Jennifer Love Hewitt. But being 12 that year... that flick (amongst many other in the teen genre) shaped my idea of what high school was like. Come to find out that wasn't the fuckin' case, but when you're 12 it's a pretty cool ideal to hold onto. I dug it then, and to this day, it's a cool little nostalgia trip to the late 90's.
9) Roadhouse
Ok, seriously, if I was gonna pick a Swayze flick, it would be Point Break, but I went with Roadhouse for 2 reasons. a) The Riff Trax for this is absolutely hilarious. b) For the wisdom expressed by Swayze in the accompanying clip.
8) Batman Forever
Normally the fact that fuckin' Joel Schumacher directed this would keep it far away from any top ten list... but this movie holds a special place in my heart. Nicole Kidman was freakin' hot, Tommy Lee Jones was crazy, and it's the movie that introduced me to one of my favourite bands- The Flaming Lips. Plus it was kinda cool to see Val Kilmer go from the Lizard King to the Dark Knight.
7) Tremors
This movie can sometimes be a saving grace when it comes to that pesky "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game. My prowess in that game has propelled me to "Favourite Parlour Trick" amongst my friends. Plus, it's a fun, cooky, bizarre monster flick. Who doesn't love those? I'll tell you who. Nazis.
6) Snakes on a Plane
Admittedly much better on a big screen with a theatre full of fans, this is a fantastic cheese fest cult classic. Do you know why this movie is so good? Cause it's snakes. On a plane. And Samuel L. Jackson, the baddest motherfucker ever to walk god's green earth, lays the smack-down on the serpents. It's crazy shit. And I have never been to an opening night, midnight showing of a flick, and people were already reciting lines along with the characters. It was a phenomenon.
5) Mighty Morphing Power Rangers
When I was a kid, there was no show cooler than the Power Rangers. When the movie came out, that was like the shit. I was 9, and I could have died the next day, and I would have led a full life. I still have every single trading card in mint condition. Hells yeah.
4) Demolition Man
Maybe it's that in the future, they view the past (which at the time of the films release, it was the present) to be a quaint, barbaric time. Maybe it's Wesley Snipes' fighting skills. Maybe it's that Sandra Bullock was hot. Maybe it's that in the future, everything was Taco Bell. Who knows why I will watch this movie anytime it comes on TBS? But I do. And I like it.
3) D2: The Mighty Ducks
Too many people view the first one as the superior one. Fuck that. The second one is where it's at. They're taking on the world. Ain't nothin' gonna stop Charlie Conway and his Triple Deke. Or the Bash Brothers. Or Julie the Cat Gaffney. Or Gordon Bombay. They're unstoppable. All hockey games I have ever seen I've always compared to Ducks vs. Iceland. It's Knuckle-Puck time! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!
2) Bio-Dome
In all honesty, trying to pick the best Pauly Shore movie is like trying to pick the shiniest piece of crap in the pile. Either way, it's still a piece of crap. But, this one's so funny. As Phillip J. Fry so eloquently put it... They sure caused trouble in that bubble. One other thing it has going for it... inclusion of a non-Alec, Baldwin brother- Stephen.
1) Waterworld
Kevin Costner drinking his piss. That's where cinema went in the 90's. And thank god they did. I think it caught a bad rap for some stupid reason. But it's a very entertaining Apocalyptic movie. It was like Mad Max meets The Little Mermaid, only Ariel's a dude and drinks her own piss. And really... it's the precursor to Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. Thanks for bringing global warming to the cinematic forefront, Kevin Costner. You truly are a visionary ahead of your time. Next time I see you, I'm buying you a nice frosty mug of piss.
-Brodie
Friday, February 01, 2008
Couldn't End it there. Just couldn't
Brodie Fanns!
Well, I loved doing my Top 100 of all time so much, that I asked around to various people I know what their top 10's were. Because I know the burning questions on all of your minds is "What kinds of films do the people Brodie associates with like?"
Well, until I run out of lists, I'll let you know.
I asked family and friends to send me their lists with optional commentary, and I would provide YouTube videos for them. If the film appeared on my list somewhere, and a YouTube video was already posted, there won't be one on their list, just for practicality's sake.
But the first list is my esteemed cousin, Elizabeth Fredericks. She and I share similar tastes, which is always fun. We can compare notes, and inform each other on classics, current releases and upcoming flicks. She introduced me to Brick, which became one of my favourite movies of the past few years.
So here's her list, in no particular order-
Top 10 Movies EVAR
Casablanca -
It's a bit trite to have Casablanca on a top 10 list, and even worse to lead off with it, but in truth, I do watch this movie at least two or three times a year, making it the cinematic equivalent of a favorite sweater: I am unashamed of how comfortable I feel when all wrapped up in it. I know the pacing feels incredibly slow to a modern audience at times, but this is a movie that you can inhabit, not just watch, and the writing is crisp and precise. **NOTE: Video has been posted on this film at least twice before. So there.**
The Third Man -
I really like Orson Welles and I really like Graham Greene and so naturally I adored this movie. The setting is post-WWII Vienna, and Joseph Cotten plays the American naif who ventures into the morass of post-war devastation only to discover a mystery surrounding the apparent death of the friend who invited him. The cinematography is simply gorgeous, and Welles' famous "cuckoo clock" speech evocatively and unnervingly sums up the uneasy grey morality of the place and time.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind -
Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is undeniably brilliant, but this was the first film of his that seemed to have an emotional core underneath the narrative acrobatics. Kate Winslet was her typical brilliant self, and Jim Carrey surprised me for how much he disappeared into his role. Add in the very fine supporting cast and there's not much to dislike. **NOTE: Video has been posted on this film.***
Bon Voyage -
Obligatory foreign film? Maaaaybe...but it is a favorite of mine. I saw this the day after seeing the visually stunning but utterly depressing Korean film Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring, and it was the perfect antidote. It's a bit of a melodrama, a bit of a farce, a bit of a thriller, all taking place in France during World War II. Put a lovelorn writer and the self-absorbed actress he's mooning over in with a professor and his lab assistant trying to smuggle heavy water to England and a charming thief and let the magic unfold. It's just a deeply pleasing film.
Hot Fuzz -
This should be fresh enough in everyone's mind to require little explanation. A roommate of mine rhetorically asked, "Who wouldn't like Hot Fuzz?" We agreed the only answer was "people with no joy in their souls." Whereas the climactic shoot-out in Mr and Mrs Smith caused the whole film to go off the rails, the climactic shoot-out in Hot Fuzz fits seamlessly with all that comes before it and, furthermore, contains some of the most giggle-worthy moments in the whole film. It's wickedly funny, and you only feel a little bad for laughing so hard at an old lady getting kicked in the face.
Robin Hood (Disney Animated) -
Personally, I think every top 10 list needs to contain a childhood favorite, and this was one of mine. My brother and I practically wore out our videotape of this film when we were children, and really, this stuff is the golden age of Disney animation, with fantastic voice talent like Andy Devine and Phil Harris. I can't ever stop loving this movie.
Brick -
Not nearly enough people saw this film during its very brief theatrical release in 2006, but it earned that Sundance award for Originality of Vision fairly. I've got a soft spot for film noir and hardboiled detective stories, and Rian Johnson's transfer of those tropes, archetypes, and distinctive lingo to a modern Southern California high school was daring and captivating. It's not so perfect that you can't see the seams, but it's quite polished for a $500,000 production.
Serenity -
I didn't jump on to the Browncoat bandwagon until more than a year after the original series was canceled, but it was soon enough to breathlessly anticipate the movie and drag my family along to it. My dad went in with zero expectations and came out musing that he preferred it to Revenge of the Sith. (Controversy, ignite!) As with Brick, Serenity contained its own unique reimagining of a largely-abandoned genre, this time the western, and also had its own very special brand of dialogue and vocabulary. It's one of the best ensemble casts I've ever had the pleasure of watching, and the film fairly earns all the laughter and heartstring-tugging that it aims for. And oh, such quotable lines.
It's a Wonderful Life -
A professor of mine once said that to brand Frank Capra's films as sentimental is to do them something of an injustice, for Capra almost unfailingly acknowledges the misery that life can contain before unleashing his feel-good sentiment upon you. The time he invests in making you both love and pity George Bailey deserves the film's happy ending. It's charming but never precious, and captures Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart at their prettiest and most engaging. **NOTE: Video has previously been posted.**
Wait Until Dark -
I know I'm not the only person who mistakenly thought at one point this was a Hitchcock film, which should indicate something about the tense, claustrophobic setting that director Terence Young creates in this thriller. It's tough to go wrong with Audrey Hepburn starring, and the final confrontation between her blind character and Alan Arkin's creepy villain is pure suspense movie perfection.
Runners-up: Lord of the Rings, North by Northwest, The Big Sleep, Singin' in the Rain, The Bourne Trilogy, Chinatown, The Incredibles, Infernal Affairs, Beauty and the Beast (Disney), You Can't Take It With You.
Well, I loved doing my Top 100 of all time so much, that I asked around to various people I know what their top 10's were. Because I know the burning questions on all of your minds is "What kinds of films do the people Brodie associates with like?"
Well, until I run out of lists, I'll let you know.
I asked family and friends to send me their lists with optional commentary, and I would provide YouTube videos for them. If the film appeared on my list somewhere, and a YouTube video was already posted, there won't be one on their list, just for practicality's sake.
But the first list is my esteemed cousin, Elizabeth Fredericks. She and I share similar tastes, which is always fun. We can compare notes, and inform each other on classics, current releases and upcoming flicks. She introduced me to Brick, which became one of my favourite movies of the past few years.
So here's her list, in no particular order-
Top 10 Movies EVAR
Casablanca -
It's a bit trite to have Casablanca on a top 10 list, and even worse to lead off with it, but in truth, I do watch this movie at least two or three times a year, making it the cinematic equivalent of a favorite sweater: I am unashamed of how comfortable I feel when all wrapped up in it. I know the pacing feels incredibly slow to a modern audience at times, but this is a movie that you can inhabit, not just watch, and the writing is crisp and precise. **NOTE: Video has been posted on this film at least twice before. So there.**
The Third Man -
I really like Orson Welles and I really like Graham Greene and so naturally I adored this movie. The setting is post-WWII Vienna, and Joseph Cotten plays the American naif who ventures into the morass of post-war devastation only to discover a mystery surrounding the apparent death of the friend who invited him. The cinematography is simply gorgeous, and Welles' famous "cuckoo clock" speech evocatively and unnervingly sums up the uneasy grey morality of the place and time.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind -
Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is undeniably brilliant, but this was the first film of his that seemed to have an emotional core underneath the narrative acrobatics. Kate Winslet was her typical brilliant self, and Jim Carrey surprised me for how much he disappeared into his role. Add in the very fine supporting cast and there's not much to dislike. **NOTE: Video has been posted on this film.***
Bon Voyage -
Obligatory foreign film? Maaaaybe...but it is a favorite of mine. I saw this the day after seeing the visually stunning but utterly depressing Korean film Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring, and it was the perfect antidote. It's a bit of a melodrama, a bit of a farce, a bit of a thriller, all taking place in France during World War II. Put a lovelorn writer and the self-absorbed actress he's mooning over in with a professor and his lab assistant trying to smuggle heavy water to England and a charming thief and let the magic unfold. It's just a deeply pleasing film.
Hot Fuzz -
This should be fresh enough in everyone's mind to require little explanation. A roommate of mine rhetorically asked, "Who wouldn't like Hot Fuzz?" We agreed the only answer was "people with no joy in their souls." Whereas the climactic shoot-out in Mr and Mrs Smith caused the whole film to go off the rails, the climactic shoot-out in Hot Fuzz fits seamlessly with all that comes before it and, furthermore, contains some of the most giggle-worthy moments in the whole film. It's wickedly funny, and you only feel a little bad for laughing so hard at an old lady getting kicked in the face.
Robin Hood (Disney Animated) -
Personally, I think every top 10 list needs to contain a childhood favorite, and this was one of mine. My brother and I practically wore out our videotape of this film when we were children, and really, this stuff is the golden age of Disney animation, with fantastic voice talent like Andy Devine and Phil Harris. I can't ever stop loving this movie.
Brick -
Not nearly enough people saw this film during its very brief theatrical release in 2006, but it earned that Sundance award for Originality of Vision fairly. I've got a soft spot for film noir and hardboiled detective stories, and Rian Johnson's transfer of those tropes, archetypes, and distinctive lingo to a modern Southern California high school was daring and captivating. It's not so perfect that you can't see the seams, but it's quite polished for a $500,000 production.
Serenity -
I didn't jump on to the Browncoat bandwagon until more than a year after the original series was canceled, but it was soon enough to breathlessly anticipate the movie and drag my family along to it. My dad went in with zero expectations and came out musing that he preferred it to Revenge of the Sith. (Controversy, ignite!) As with Brick, Serenity contained its own unique reimagining of a largely-abandoned genre, this time the western, and also had its own very special brand of dialogue and vocabulary. It's one of the best ensemble casts I've ever had the pleasure of watching, and the film fairly earns all the laughter and heartstring-tugging that it aims for. And oh, such quotable lines.
It's a Wonderful Life -
A professor of mine once said that to brand Frank Capra's films as sentimental is to do them something of an injustice, for Capra almost unfailingly acknowledges the misery that life can contain before unleashing his feel-good sentiment upon you. The time he invests in making you both love and pity George Bailey deserves the film's happy ending. It's charming but never precious, and captures Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart at their prettiest and most engaging. **NOTE: Video has previously been posted.**
Wait Until Dark -
I know I'm not the only person who mistakenly thought at one point this was a Hitchcock film, which should indicate something about the tense, claustrophobic setting that director Terence Young creates in this thriller. It's tough to go wrong with Audrey Hepburn starring, and the final confrontation between her blind character and Alan Arkin's creepy villain is pure suspense movie perfection.
Runners-up: Lord of the Rings, North by Northwest, The Big Sleep, Singin' in the Rain, The Bourne Trilogy, Chinatown, The Incredibles, Infernal Affairs, Beauty and the Beast (Disney), You Can't Take It With You.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tops in DVD's + Hellboy comes to the shire.
Meh... it's the catchiest title I could think of at 5 am.
Anywho, as some of you may have heard two months ago, not only did Peter Jackson, writer/director/producer of the massively successful Lord of the Rings trilogy, settle his dispute with New Line Cinema concerning unpaid royalties, but New Line and MGM reached an agreement over the rights to J.R.R. Tolkien's Rings companion novel, The Hobbit. Unfortunately for us, visionary Jackson will not be helming the duo of films (yes, they're splitting it into two films) set for release in 2010 and 2011, pending resolution of the writer's strike.
Jackson has already been committed to direct an adaptation of Alice Sebold's bestseller The Lovely Bones, and to co-direct Tintin, with none-other than Mr. Steven Spielberg, both set for a 2009 release. Jackson will remain on board as producer and possibly a write.
So who is directing? Well, luckily for everyone who cares (and I'm guessing it's a lot of you), Mexican visual master Guillermo del Toro has been signed to cast, according to early reports. The director, who has masterfully brought us Hellboy (get the headline now?) and the wonderously beautiful El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth), will helm both installments of the Rings prequel films, set to be shot simultaneously.
No word on who will be cast in key roles, though I'm guessing Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving and Andy Serkis will return as Gandalf, Elrond and Gollum, respectively. And knowing del Toro... Ron Perlman as Bilbo.
Oh, and now for something completely different.
And what the hell... a while back I decided why not figure who is best represented in my DVD collection. Which actor/actress/director had the most films in my collection. It was hard to determine these stats, for various reasons, but I stuck to the following rules.
For Boxed sets (trilogies and the like), each individual title will count, rather than Star Wars trilogy only counting as one mark for Harrison Ford.
For TV Shows, each individual season counts, as it is part of one title. So I have 5 seasons of 24 on DVD, that's 5 marks for Keifer Sutherland. It would not go by episode, then it would be like... 120 for Sutherland.
Cameos count. Cate Blanchett's cameo in Hott Fuzz counts as a mark toward her. These sort of things got harder when it was ensemble casts, but I tried to do my best with counting them all.
Those are the basic rules.
Top 5 Actors in my DVD collection (which currently stands at a count of 478)
1) Matt Damon - 15
2) Bruce Willis - 14
3) Brad Pitt - 13
* George Clooney -13
5) Al Pacino - 12
* Tom Cruise - 12
Top 5 Actresses
1) Cate Blanchett - 8
2) Kirsten Dunst - 7
3) Elizabeth Banks - 6
* Joan Allen - 6
* Keira Knightly - 6
Top 5 Directors
1) Steven Spielberg - 9
2) Oliver Stone - 7
3) Kevin Smith - 6
* Quentin Tarantino - 6
5) Robert Rodriguez - 5
* Sidney Lumet - 5
* Robert Zemeckis - 5
* Brian De Palma - 5
* Stephen Soderbergh - 5
It should be noted that some of those two come with the multiple films, same role, particularly Matt Damon, who has 6 films populated solely by the Bourne and Ocean's franchises.
Let it also be noted that while Spielberg may have 9 in my collection... Sofia Coppola could technically be considered the most prolific, as I own 100% of her films (which does stand at 3). Though of Tarantino's films that are strictly Tarantino (not counting Four Rooms which he co-directed with 3 others), I do own all of his films.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
100 Favourite, Part VII: 10-1
Brodie Fanns!
And a-now, the end is near. And so I face, the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear, I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
Had throw a little Sinatra in there. It's the last of the list. I'm done after this. It's over. Game over, man. Game over. Not totally. Just for this mini-series of lists. I'll still have reviews and lists and essays coming at you on a regular basis.
BUT THIS IS IT MAN! The Top 10! My Brett Favre list. Last week was Aaron Rodgers. Now it's the big cheese.
I'm not gonna get all flowery with the intro. I'm cuttin' to the damn chase. So drum roll please...
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
It would be cool if I had video of Letterman doing this.
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada!
10) The Shawshank Redemption
What a powerhouse this was. Both Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins were hitting their stride. Frank Darabont took a Stephen King novella of not particular grandeur and made it an epic character piece. This is the Morgan Freeman that I like, and remember. It was him narrating before it was a cliche for him to narrate. And Robbins, well I like him because he is a consummate professional. There's really two movies here. One about Robbins' Andy, and one about Freeman's Red. Both are exceptional, and both work together to make one of the finest damn movies this world has ever seen. It's too bad that it lost the '94 Best Picture Oscar to... Forrest Gump? Don't get me wrong, Forrest Gump, good movie. But over Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption AND Quiz Show? That was 1976 all over again when All The President's Men, Network and Taxi Driver all lost to... Rocky?! This film has stood the test of time, despite being given basically free reign over TNT's airwaves for the past 14 years. I can sit down and watch it and be just as moved as I was the first time. Standing Ovation!a (there's gonna be 9 more.)
9) Jaws
Hands down one of the scariest films ever made. Spielberg exploded onto the scene, combining new school film-making with old school story telling. It's the first of the $100 million blockbusters, and launched a new era in film making, but it pays a wonderful homage to Hitchcockian suspense building. We never see the shark till, well, the clip that I show (thank fucking christ I found that precise clip). The cast, Spielberg, John Williams, hell even the shark, all cemented their places in pop culture history with this film. It's terrifying, it's beautiful, it's mesmerizing- it's an original. Standing Ovation!
8) Rear Window
And this is what I was talking about. Hitchcockian suspense. At it's finest. Not known for cutting corners, Hitchcock was meticulous. So meticulous, in fact, that that entire city block those apartments sit on was built on a sound stage. So precise, that to add to the suspense, we only got to see that what Jimmy Stewart's L.B. Jefferies sees. Especially the beautiful Grace Kelly. Way to go Jimmy. It's very niiice. It's a taught thriller that builds tension through seclusion, isolation and imagination- yours and his. Rear Window is one of the most fascinating films ever made, I could literally watch it over and over. But I don't. I don't have that kind of free time. Standing Ovation!
7) Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Graunes
The scariest film ever made. F.W. Murnau is a visual master who set the stage for future greats like Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, George A. Romero and John Carpenter. Looking at it from today's perspective, you can watch this film, and see the future of horror, indeed the future of cinema in this film. It's a beautiful piece of work. that can't be denied. Max Schreck's characterization of the frighteningly daft vampire Nosferatu is the stuff nightmares are made of. Standing Ovation!
6) The Godfather: Part II
Al Pacino. Robert De Niro. Robert Duvall. Diane Keaton. Lee Strasberg. Cameos by Marlon Brando and James Caan. The talent alone is enough to make any cine-phile cream their jeans, but Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo's adaptation of Puzo's novel is really where it's at. The novel was so hugely massive that they had to split it up into two films. A bulk of the story is in the first one, but the rest and more was put into The Godfather II. We get a compelling look into the parallels and the stark differences between Michael and Vito's respective rises to power. It's an amazing film that everyone needs to view at least once in their life. Standing Ovation!
5) Donnie Darko
It's completely twisted, completely complicated, but ultimately the one of the most beautiful stories ever told. Richard Kelly rules all with his debut feature film that put Jake Gyllenhaal on the map. It delves into the interesting psychosis of a young man facing the ultimate decision of sacrifice and redemption. Not to mention the added bonus of a completely intricate time travel sub-plot. It'll take a few viewings for it to fully sink in... but once it does, it'll blow your mind. Standing Ovation!
SPOILER ALERT! So... it is the end scene, but I don't think you really can get spoiled because you need to see the whole film... plus it doesn't really give anything away.
4) Sin City
Robert Rodriguez essentially created a beautiful new era of film making when he shot his all digital opus Sin City. Taking everything Lucas had been doing for the past 10 years, and then actually doing it with style and talent, Rodriguez is able to elicit some stand-out performances from actors who are performing in front of mostly green screen sets, and without the actors they're in the scene with. That's right. There's a scene between Marv (Mickey Rourke) and Nancy (Jessica Alba), and the two characters do appear on screen together, but it was originally shot with just Alba, then shot again with just Rourke. It's seamless, you can't tell. It was modern-noir at it's best, and gloriously gory. Standing Ovation!
3) It's A Wonderful Life
And it's a wonderful film, too. Every great filmmaker has that one film which defines their career, and this is Frank Capra's. He's done a multitude of great films, but this is HIS. My biggest interest in films in general comes from the development of characters. And George Baily is one of the most fascinating, relatable characters ever put to film. High ideals mixed with personal obligations, everybody has at some point felt like George. They sacrifice and sacrifice and ask "where's mine?" when they're tired of the sacrifice. It's an inspirational film, that isn't so much a holiday film, just a film that takes place during the holidays. Jimmy Stewart was at the top of his game, and the film is only enhanced by the supporting cast also at the top of their game. From Donna Reed to Lionel Barrymore to Henry Travers, all were never better. Standing Ovation!
2) Pulp Fiction
Ever since I saw Pulp Fiction when I was, maybe 14, I knew that this was the film to like. There is something about it. The retro 70's feel of the film, the hip dialog, the plentiful but just this side of gratuitous violence, the unconventional story telling. It's all perfectly put together with fantastic performances from Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Ving Rhames, Harvey Keitel and Eric Stoltz. Tarantino made his statement with Reservoir Dogs, but it's Pulp Fiction that's his landmark. His peak. Not to say everything since has been shit. It's all been great. But it will be hard for him to top Pulp Fiction.
1) The Godfather
It's number one. With a bullet. It, to me, is the perfect film. It doesn't suffer the trappings of many longer films, and that is pacing problems. Francis Ford Coppola perfectly laid out the most epic of crime sagas with the most fantastic of casts. There's multiple stories being told, but Coppola never overextends the bounds of the film. It's about the family, and that's what we're told. Only towards the end does it shift focus to the main thrust of the franchise- Al Pacino's Michael Corleone. Powerful, gut-wrenching, emotional, violent and moody, it's the perfect film. Everybody needs to see it. Now. Right now. Go. Now. Rent it. Standing Ovation!
So that's it. That's my top 10. Of all time. EVAR!
Sorry it's late, I've had an interesting weekend. This week I'll have a post-game wrap up of the list, and a few reviews (FINALLY Sweeny Todd and also Cloverfield. Little forecast on that, it's the best film of '08, not saying much at this point, but I predict it staying near the top all year)
Have a good Sunday! Go Pack Go. Tom Brady's a douche bag.
-Brodie Mann
And a-now, the end is near. And so I face, the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear, I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
Had throw a little Sinatra in there. It's the last of the list. I'm done after this. It's over. Game over, man. Game over. Not totally. Just for this mini-series of lists. I'll still have reviews and lists and essays coming at you on a regular basis.
BUT THIS IS IT MAN! The Top 10! My Brett Favre list. Last week was Aaron Rodgers. Now it's the big cheese.
I'm not gonna get all flowery with the intro. I'm cuttin' to the damn chase. So drum roll please...
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
It would be cool if I had video of Letterman doing this.
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada!
10) The Shawshank Redemption
What a powerhouse this was. Both Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins were hitting their stride. Frank Darabont took a Stephen King novella of not particular grandeur and made it an epic character piece. This is the Morgan Freeman that I like, and remember. It was him narrating before it was a cliche for him to narrate. And Robbins, well I like him because he is a consummate professional. There's really two movies here. One about Robbins' Andy, and one about Freeman's Red. Both are exceptional, and both work together to make one of the finest damn movies this world has ever seen. It's too bad that it lost the '94 Best Picture Oscar to... Forrest Gump? Don't get me wrong, Forrest Gump, good movie. But over Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption AND Quiz Show? That was 1976 all over again when All The President's Men, Network and Taxi Driver all lost to... Rocky?! This film has stood the test of time, despite being given basically free reign over TNT's airwaves for the past 14 years. I can sit down and watch it and be just as moved as I was the first time. Standing Ovation!a (there's gonna be 9 more.)
9) Jaws
Hands down one of the scariest films ever made. Spielberg exploded onto the scene, combining new school film-making with old school story telling. It's the first of the $100 million blockbusters, and launched a new era in film making, but it pays a wonderful homage to Hitchcockian suspense building. We never see the shark till, well, the clip that I show (thank fucking christ I found that precise clip). The cast, Spielberg, John Williams, hell even the shark, all cemented their places in pop culture history with this film. It's terrifying, it's beautiful, it's mesmerizing- it's an original. Standing Ovation!
8) Rear Window
And this is what I was talking about. Hitchcockian suspense. At it's finest. Not known for cutting corners, Hitchcock was meticulous. So meticulous, in fact, that that entire city block those apartments sit on was built on a sound stage. So precise, that to add to the suspense, we only got to see that what Jimmy Stewart's L.B. Jefferies sees. Especially the beautiful Grace Kelly. Way to go Jimmy. It's very niiice. It's a taught thriller that builds tension through seclusion, isolation and imagination- yours and his. Rear Window is one of the most fascinating films ever made, I could literally watch it over and over. But I don't. I don't have that kind of free time. Standing Ovation!
7) Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Graunes
The scariest film ever made. F.W. Murnau is a visual master who set the stage for future greats like Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, George A. Romero and John Carpenter. Looking at it from today's perspective, you can watch this film, and see the future of horror, indeed the future of cinema in this film. It's a beautiful piece of work. that can't be denied. Max Schreck's characterization of the frighteningly daft vampire Nosferatu is the stuff nightmares are made of. Standing Ovation!
6) The Godfather: Part II
Al Pacino. Robert De Niro. Robert Duvall. Diane Keaton. Lee Strasberg. Cameos by Marlon Brando and James Caan. The talent alone is enough to make any cine-phile cream their jeans, but Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo's adaptation of Puzo's novel is really where it's at. The novel was so hugely massive that they had to split it up into two films. A bulk of the story is in the first one, but the rest and more was put into The Godfather II. We get a compelling look into the parallels and the stark differences between Michael and Vito's respective rises to power. It's an amazing film that everyone needs to view at least once in their life. Standing Ovation!
5) Donnie Darko
It's completely twisted, completely complicated, but ultimately the one of the most beautiful stories ever told. Richard Kelly rules all with his debut feature film that put Jake Gyllenhaal on the map. It delves into the interesting psychosis of a young man facing the ultimate decision of sacrifice and redemption. Not to mention the added bonus of a completely intricate time travel sub-plot. It'll take a few viewings for it to fully sink in... but once it does, it'll blow your mind. Standing Ovation!
SPOILER ALERT! So... it is the end scene, but I don't think you really can get spoiled because you need to see the whole film... plus it doesn't really give anything away.
4) Sin City
Robert Rodriguez essentially created a beautiful new era of film making when he shot his all digital opus Sin City. Taking everything Lucas had been doing for the past 10 years, and then actually doing it with style and talent, Rodriguez is able to elicit some stand-out performances from actors who are performing in front of mostly green screen sets, and without the actors they're in the scene with. That's right. There's a scene between Marv (Mickey Rourke) and Nancy (Jessica Alba), and the two characters do appear on screen together, but it was originally shot with just Alba, then shot again with just Rourke. It's seamless, you can't tell. It was modern-noir at it's best, and gloriously gory. Standing Ovation!
3) It's A Wonderful Life
And it's a wonderful film, too. Every great filmmaker has that one film which defines their career, and this is Frank Capra's. He's done a multitude of great films, but this is HIS. My biggest interest in films in general comes from the development of characters. And George Baily is one of the most fascinating, relatable characters ever put to film. High ideals mixed with personal obligations, everybody has at some point felt like George. They sacrifice and sacrifice and ask "where's mine?" when they're tired of the sacrifice. It's an inspirational film, that isn't so much a holiday film, just a film that takes place during the holidays. Jimmy Stewart was at the top of his game, and the film is only enhanced by the supporting cast also at the top of their game. From Donna Reed to Lionel Barrymore to Henry Travers, all were never better. Standing Ovation!
2) Pulp Fiction
Ever since I saw Pulp Fiction when I was, maybe 14, I knew that this was the film to like. There is something about it. The retro 70's feel of the film, the hip dialog, the plentiful but just this side of gratuitous violence, the unconventional story telling. It's all perfectly put together with fantastic performances from Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Ving Rhames, Harvey Keitel and Eric Stoltz. Tarantino made his statement with Reservoir Dogs, but it's Pulp Fiction that's his landmark. His peak. Not to say everything since has been shit. It's all been great. But it will be hard for him to top Pulp Fiction.
1) The Godfather
It's number one. With a bullet. It, to me, is the perfect film. It doesn't suffer the trappings of many longer films, and that is pacing problems. Francis Ford Coppola perfectly laid out the most epic of crime sagas with the most fantastic of casts. There's multiple stories being told, but Coppola never overextends the bounds of the film. It's about the family, and that's what we're told. Only towards the end does it shift focus to the main thrust of the franchise- Al Pacino's Michael Corleone. Powerful, gut-wrenching, emotional, violent and moody, it's the perfect film. Everybody needs to see it. Now. Right now. Go. Now. Rent it. Standing Ovation!
So that's it. That's my top 10. Of all time. EVAR!
Sorry it's late, I've had an interesting weekend. This week I'll have a post-game wrap up of the list, and a few reviews (FINALLY Sweeny Todd and also Cloverfield. Little forecast on that, it's the best film of '08, not saying much at this point, but I predict it staying near the top all year)
Have a good Sunday! Go Pack Go. Tom Brady's a douche bag.
-Brodie Mann
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
2x the Brodie! 2x the lists
Brodie Fanns!
As many of you very well know, we're in the final week of my epic-miniseries chronicling my Top 100 Favourite Films of all time.
And because of the holiday season and other stuff that popped up, I have a few of those Top 5 supplemental lists still laying around, waiting to be posted. So to speed things up, I'm posting 2 lists in one today. Awesome for you, right?
Right.
Here we go
5) The Matrix
It became the gold standard for parody, but take yourself back to when it first came out. This flick was fuckin' mind-blowing. I remember watching it for the first time and being left speechless. Who knew, that a guns/kung fu movie, could be that damn smart and intricate and philosophical? It's surprisingly deep for an action flick, and has unfortunately been parodied and copied so many times that it became a cliche. But you have to take yourself back to when it first came out. Before the subsequent hype. That's the Matrix I remember, and love.
4) Heat
Featuring the legendary first meeting of Pacino and De Niro on screen (this is the first film where they actually share a scene), this is one of the finest crafted films of the 90's. Michael Mann has a knack for making action important and compelling, rather than "Hey, let's just blow shit up for 2 hours and call it a day." He also has interesting plots, instead of ridiculous ones. And the actors he scores... damn! First Pacino and De Niro, then Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, William Fichtner and Dennis Haysbert. DAMN!
3) The Great Escape
As if it didn't already register a 10 on the cool meter for Steve McQueen alone, they had to add James Garner, James Coburn and Charles Bronson. This clip here is more than enough proof of it's bad ass-itude.
2) Terminator 2: Judgment Day
One of the few sequels that is vastly superior to it's original. James Cameron was really coming into his own as an edgier, darker version of Spielberg (this is pre-Titanic). It had been 7 years since the first one, so Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger (seriously, try spelling that without looking it up) each had time to mature, cash in on the fame from the first one and hone their craft. And it was just this perfect film. It was one of the first to mesh old school film-making and the new school technology. I have the 2.5 hour extended cut, and every minute of it is riveting. It's a fantastic film.
1) Die Hard
I've already posted plenty about this flick. Go back to my 11-20 list, or my Holiday list, twisted edition. But I will give you this very funny Die Hard parody from the hilarious and criminally underrated Ben Stiller Show.
5) The Great Train Robbery
You could call me out on this one, as it's not a feature film. But come on. It's essentially the first film. At 12 minutes long, it is THE landmark of cinema. And luckily, I can present the whole thing.
4) Metropolis
Set the gold standard for sci-fi for years to come (sad as it is to say, pretty much till George "I'm a whore" Lucas made Star Wars). Fritz Lange gave us a stark, bleak, dystopian vision that went unparalleled until Ridley Scott's opus Blade Runner.
3) The General
See, I could put both Chaplin and Keaton on this list, not worry about it, and call it a day. But unfortunately the other 4 entrants meant that I could only put one on, and Keaton's The General is just so damn funny, and so damn good. Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Jim Carrey and Johnny Depp all owe a great deal to Keaton, he created and perfected that physical comedy they have used in their films.
2) Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari.
The original horror/thriller. Robert Wiene does such an amazing job with tone and pacing. To this day it's an effective film. Anybody who isn't affected by this is missing something in their head.
1) Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Graunes
The scariest film ever made. F.W. Murnau is a visual master who set the stage for future greats like Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, George A. Romero and John Carpenter. Looking at it from today's perspective, you can watch this film, and see the future of horror, indeed the future of cinema in this film. It's a beautiful piece of work. that can't be denied.
As many of you very well know, we're in the final week of my epic-miniseries chronicling my Top 100 Favourite Films of all time.
And because of the holiday season and other stuff that popped up, I have a few of those Top 5 supplemental lists still laying around, waiting to be posted. So to speed things up, I'm posting 2 lists in one today. Awesome for you, right?
Right.
Here we go
Top 5 Action Films
5) The Matrix
It became the gold standard for parody, but take yourself back to when it first came out. This flick was fuckin' mind-blowing. I remember watching it for the first time and being left speechless. Who knew, that a guns/kung fu movie, could be that damn smart and intricate and philosophical? It's surprisingly deep for an action flick, and has unfortunately been parodied and copied so many times that it became a cliche. But you have to take yourself back to when it first came out. Before the subsequent hype. That's the Matrix I remember, and love.
4) Heat
Featuring the legendary first meeting of Pacino and De Niro on screen (this is the first film where they actually share a scene), this is one of the finest crafted films of the 90's. Michael Mann has a knack for making action important and compelling, rather than "Hey, let's just blow shit up for 2 hours and call it a day." He also has interesting plots, instead of ridiculous ones. And the actors he scores... damn! First Pacino and De Niro, then Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, William Fichtner and Dennis Haysbert. DAMN!
3) The Great Escape
As if it didn't already register a 10 on the cool meter for Steve McQueen alone, they had to add James Garner, James Coburn and Charles Bronson. This clip here is more than enough proof of it's bad ass-itude.
2) Terminator 2: Judgment Day
One of the few sequels that is vastly superior to it's original. James Cameron was really coming into his own as an edgier, darker version of Spielberg (this is pre-Titanic). It had been 7 years since the first one, so Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger (seriously, try spelling that without looking it up) each had time to mature, cash in on the fame from the first one and hone their craft. And it was just this perfect film. It was one of the first to mesh old school film-making and the new school technology. I have the 2.5 hour extended cut, and every minute of it is riveting. It's a fantastic film.
1) Die Hard
I've already posted plenty about this flick. Go back to my 11-20 list, or my Holiday list, twisted edition. But I will give you this very funny Die Hard parody from the hilarious and criminally underrated Ben Stiller Show.
Top 5 Silent Films
5) The Great Train Robbery
You could call me out on this one, as it's not a feature film. But come on. It's essentially the first film. At 12 minutes long, it is THE landmark of cinema. And luckily, I can present the whole thing.
4) Metropolis
Set the gold standard for sci-fi for years to come (sad as it is to say, pretty much till George "I'm a whore" Lucas made Star Wars). Fritz Lange gave us a stark, bleak, dystopian vision that went unparalleled until Ridley Scott's opus Blade Runner.
3) The General
See, I could put both Chaplin and Keaton on this list, not worry about it, and call it a day. But unfortunately the other 4 entrants meant that I could only put one on, and Keaton's The General is just so damn funny, and so damn good. Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Jim Carrey and Johnny Depp all owe a great deal to Keaton, he created and perfected that physical comedy they have used in their films.
2) Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari.
The original horror/thriller. Robert Wiene does such an amazing job with tone and pacing. To this day it's an effective film. Anybody who isn't affected by this is missing something in their head.
1) Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Graunes
The scariest film ever made. F.W. Murnau is a visual master who set the stage for future greats like Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, George A. Romero and John Carpenter. Looking at it from today's perspective, you can watch this film, and see the future of horror, indeed the future of cinema in this film. It's a beautiful piece of work. that can't be denied.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Top 10 of 2007!
Brodie Fanns!
Finally, at long last... or after 2 weeks of waiting, at least, here it is. The top 10 films of 2007. I waited long enough for Sweeny Todd. Though knowing my luck, as soon as I post this, I'm going to cruise over to Carmike's website and BAM! it's playing up here. Oh well... if the list needs changing, then I'll change it. But out of the 43 different releases I saw this past year, these 10 are the 10 best, as I saw it. Oh... and I'm all tapped out with synopsis (I think that's the plural) as I'm diverting all that energy to the Top 100 list I'm doing. So you'll have to take my word for it, and settle for the trailer.
10) Gone Baby Gone
9) Charlie Wilson's War
8) Hot Fuzz
7) Juno
6) Knocked Up
5) 3:10 to Yuma
4) 300
3) Planet Terror/Death Proof (Grindhouse)
2) Zodiac
1) No Country for Old Men
There it is. Top 10 of 2007. Go rent/see what you can. If they aren't available in a theatre or rental store near you, then just bide your time, they will be soon.
-Brodie Mann
Finally, at long last... or after 2 weeks of waiting, at least, here it is. The top 10 films of 2007. I waited long enough for Sweeny Todd. Though knowing my luck, as soon as I post this, I'm going to cruise over to Carmike's website and BAM! it's playing up here. Oh well... if the list needs changing, then I'll change it. But out of the 43 different releases I saw this past year, these 10 are the 10 best, as I saw it. Oh... and I'm all tapped out with synopsis (I think that's the plural) as I'm diverting all that energy to the Top 100 list I'm doing. So you'll have to take my word for it, and settle for the trailer.
10) Gone Baby Gone
9) Charlie Wilson's War
8) Hot Fuzz
7) Juno
6) Knocked Up
5) 3:10 to Yuma
4) 300
3) Planet Terror/Death Proof (Grindhouse)
2) Zodiac
1) No Country for Old Men
There it is. Top 10 of 2007. Go rent/see what you can. If they aren't available in a theatre or rental store near you, then just bide your time, they will be soon.
-Brodie Mann
Friday, January 11, 2008
100 Favourite, Part VI: 20-11
Brodie Fanns!
And so it is, we have approached the Top 20. After this, there's only 10 more films. The TOP 10. The most important 10. My 10 favourite films... OF ALL TIME! But that's next week. THIS week, however, we have the... second place of top 10 lists. The 11-20. If any of the main Top 10 got injured, one from this list would step in. It's my second string Top 10. It's my Aaron Rodgers to the Brett Farve of the Top 10.
So here it is... the Aaron Rodgers list....
20) Fight Club
I mentioned this film, if you remember, in conjunction with my number 45 film, Office Space. I said it was a socially relevant film. And I stand by that. It gave a voice to the problem of "You're a white, suburban male, what could you possibly have to be depressed about?" That's what we have. The lack of sympathy. The feeling that no one is there to listen to us when we do have a problem. And this movie exemplified that growing frustration among the white, middle-class. They're only outlet was purposeful and accepted violence amongst themselves. Edward Norton and Brad Pitt cemented themselves as two of the most fascinating actors going into the new millennium with Helena Bonham Carter coming along as a rising star, a fast one at that.
SPOILER ALERT! This clip contains hints and clues at the twist ending. If you are one of the three people in the world who has not seen this flick, and don't want the ending spoiled, don't play the clip.
19) Die Hard
If the 80's mainstream cinema is to be remembered for one thing... it's probably John Hughes. But if it's to be remembered for two things, that second one is the golden era of action films. And penultimate action hero/film of all time has to be Bruce Willis' John McClane in Die Hard. More than just your brainless actioner that we had previously seen with Robocop, They Live, First Blood and The Terminator (the second one is where that franchise is at), Willis brings a sense of urgency, heart and humanity to the action hero. He's not this muscle bound war hero, impervious to pain, like others. He's just a guy in a little over his head, trying to save his wife so they can have a good Christmas with the kids. It's gritty, stripped down, raw and visceral, everything that it's predecessors wanted to be, and everything it's followers tried to be. This was the peak of of classic action.
Again, no YouTube, but I'll repost the link to the other video... Click here for Die Hard video.
18) Ocean's Eleven
Despite being a huge Sinatra fan, I have to place the Clooney remake on the list. Why? It surpasses the original. It's its own movie. And goddamn is it cool. It is the most fun I've had watching a movie, because you can tell onscreen that the actors had fun making the movie. They're love for what they were doing elevated the overall feel of the film. And with the three leads (Clooney, Pitt and Damon) all really hitting their stride with this film, it's a glorious glimpse into what is to come for the next several years. What amazing films those three have done since. The whole cast is spot on perfect, even Julia Roberts, who I've never really been a fan of. It's cool, hip, funny, thrilling... I'm running out of adjectives. It's just... DAMN what a great film. And the music! Oh god the music!
17) Citizen Kane
The AFI named it the number 1 best American film ever made. And technically speaking, it most likely is. I think it's wonderfully directed, acted, written, all that. But this is a list of my 100 favourite, not best, so it can't take the number 1 slot. But like I said, everything about this is spot on. And when you consider that Orson Welles was only 25 when he wrote, directed and starred in the grand epic, scoring Oscar nominations for each endeavour. It's the film that overcame all the odds to become considered one of the finest films ever made, and it's just as compelling today as it was 67 years ago.
16) American History X
It's one of only two films that I consider a necessary viewing. To a more graphic and disturbing extent than Fight Club, it explores the white man's frustration, and the damage that can do if left unchecked. It's a striking look into the world of racism, but more importantly, it's a story of redemption. Superbly acted by all involved, including stars Edward Norton and Edward Furlong, and supporting players Elliot Gould, Ethan Suplee and Avery Brooks. It's one of the more intense films I've ever seen, and one that certainly should be shown to kids, but must be shown to kids, as it does drive home the point that hate and racism and intolerance is a damaging force in our society.
SPOILER ALERT! This is the end scene from the film. It's the summation, so that's why I chose it, but again, if you have yet to see the film, and don't want it spoiled for you, don't watch the clip.
15) Requiem For A Dream
The second of my two "must view" films. What "Scared Straight" did for juvenile delinquents, this film will do for kids and drugs. Seriously, you want your kids to stay away from drugs, any kind, from the Tony Montana/cocaine snorting to the Jessie Spano/pill popping, show them this movie. And they will be terrified of drugs. Darren Aronofsky creates a beautifully disturbing take on the drug culture. Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayanes are all strikingly poignant in their portrayals of different kinds of addicts, and showing the lengths and depths at which they will go to score their next fix. See this movie. Show it to your kids.
SPOILER ALERT! Sorry for all the "end scenes", but: a) They're easier to find and b) they're better clips.
14) Clerks.
Kevin Smith, along with two other filmmakers who we will see later, are the three reasons that I like film. I credit them with my love film. Sure my parents had me watching old films as a kid, so it's kinda been something I've always been interested in. But after seeing the films of Kevin Smith, I decided that I wanted to make film, my life. In some way, shape or form, cinema was going to be my life. And Clerks started it all. I saw this movie when I was... 13 or 14, and I was blown away that there could be dialog this whip smart, vulgar and all around cool. And what makes it all the better, is that it's Kevin Smith's film. He made it. He got the funding together, cast it, wrote it, shot it, chopped it, what have you, he made it. It is his film. It was my first experience with indie-films. And even though as a kid I was accustomed to high budget, dazzling production value, what blew me away was the simplicity. It was simple, but profoundly amazing. A statement that Smith was here, and he's making films on his terms. I can't think of a better debut film, thank you Kevin Smith.
13) Casablanca
As stated earlier this week, it's the perfect love story. You can't get any better. It has all the elements. Handsome man, beautiful woman, heartbreak, alcohol, a piano, Nazis. It's got everything a love story needs. But above all that, it's just a damn fine film. Bogart was at the top of his game at this point and this is just one of many films that go in the pantheon of great Bogey performances. Bergman was as beautiful as ever. And the song. "As Time Goes By". What a great song. It's such a beautiful film. Curl up with your woman and watch this flick.
12) Beauty and the Beast
Yeah, I'm a guy, and I put the Disney Beauty and the Beast at number 12 of my top 100 list. Fuck you, it's a great film. This film represents the pinnacle of what can be done with animation. It trumps the 3D computer animation of Pixar and Dreamworks and what not. That's an advancement of technology. It was natural progression. Sure it can animate faster and a better quality, but essentially, last year's Ratatouille isn't a giant leap forward from 1995's Toy Story. But the traditional hand drawn style coupled with computer imaging for 1991's Beauty and the Beast is just beautiful. Couple that with a classic but lovable love story and hilarious secondary characters make for a classic film. This is the best Disney has to offer, and the best animation has to offer. I mean... just look at the grand sweeping camera shots in this sequence. What craftsmanship.
11) Dazed and Confused
If you've ever had a conversation with me, you know precisely how much I love this film. Fascinating characters, superb plotline. It is so much more than a teen movie (a genre in which this is the best), more than a coming of age film, it is a film about life. It just happens to center around teens in the late 70's. And was there a better time to grow up? No. I've always felt that I was born about 25 years too late, and this movie exemplifies that. It features a lot of future stars before they were big, and that's when they were good, before their egos outweighed their actual talent (sorry Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck). It is such a fantastic film. Watch it. You'll love it.
So there it is... 20-11... see you all next week.
-Brodie Mann
And so it is, we have approached the Top 20. After this, there's only 10 more films. The TOP 10. The most important 10. My 10 favourite films... OF ALL TIME! But that's next week. THIS week, however, we have the... second place of top 10 lists. The 11-20. If any of the main Top 10 got injured, one from this list would step in. It's my second string Top 10. It's my Aaron Rodgers to the Brett Farve of the Top 10.
So here it is... the Aaron Rodgers list....
20) Fight Club
I mentioned this film, if you remember, in conjunction with my number 45 film, Office Space. I said it was a socially relevant film. And I stand by that. It gave a voice to the problem of "You're a white, suburban male, what could you possibly have to be depressed about?" That's what we have. The lack of sympathy. The feeling that no one is there to listen to us when we do have a problem. And this movie exemplified that growing frustration among the white, middle-class. They're only outlet was purposeful and accepted violence amongst themselves. Edward Norton and Brad Pitt cemented themselves as two of the most fascinating actors going into the new millennium with Helena Bonham Carter coming along as a rising star, a fast one at that.
SPOILER ALERT! This clip contains hints and clues at the twist ending. If you are one of the three people in the world who has not seen this flick, and don't want the ending spoiled, don't play the clip.
19) Die Hard
If the 80's mainstream cinema is to be remembered for one thing... it's probably John Hughes. But if it's to be remembered for two things, that second one is the golden era of action films. And penultimate action hero/film of all time has to be Bruce Willis' John McClane in Die Hard. More than just your brainless actioner that we had previously seen with Robocop, They Live, First Blood and The Terminator (the second one is where that franchise is at), Willis brings a sense of urgency, heart and humanity to the action hero. He's not this muscle bound war hero, impervious to pain, like others. He's just a guy in a little over his head, trying to save his wife so they can have a good Christmas with the kids. It's gritty, stripped down, raw and visceral, everything that it's predecessors wanted to be, and everything it's followers tried to be. This was the peak of of classic action.
Again, no YouTube, but I'll repost the link to the other video... Click here for Die Hard video.
18) Ocean's Eleven
Despite being a huge Sinatra fan, I have to place the Clooney remake on the list. Why? It surpasses the original. It's its own movie. And goddamn is it cool. It is the most fun I've had watching a movie, because you can tell onscreen that the actors had fun making the movie. They're love for what they were doing elevated the overall feel of the film. And with the three leads (Clooney, Pitt and Damon) all really hitting their stride with this film, it's a glorious glimpse into what is to come for the next several years. What amazing films those three have done since. The whole cast is spot on perfect, even Julia Roberts, who I've never really been a fan of. It's cool, hip, funny, thrilling... I'm running out of adjectives. It's just... DAMN what a great film. And the music! Oh god the music!
17) Citizen Kane
The AFI named it the number 1 best American film ever made. And technically speaking, it most likely is. I think it's wonderfully directed, acted, written, all that. But this is a list of my 100 favourite, not best, so it can't take the number 1 slot. But like I said, everything about this is spot on. And when you consider that Orson Welles was only 25 when he wrote, directed and starred in the grand epic, scoring Oscar nominations for each endeavour. It's the film that overcame all the odds to become considered one of the finest films ever made, and it's just as compelling today as it was 67 years ago.
16) American History X
It's one of only two films that I consider a necessary viewing. To a more graphic and disturbing extent than Fight Club, it explores the white man's frustration, and the damage that can do if left unchecked. It's a striking look into the world of racism, but more importantly, it's a story of redemption. Superbly acted by all involved, including stars Edward Norton and Edward Furlong, and supporting players Elliot Gould, Ethan Suplee and Avery Brooks. It's one of the more intense films I've ever seen, and one that certainly should be shown to kids, but must be shown to kids, as it does drive home the point that hate and racism and intolerance is a damaging force in our society.
SPOILER ALERT! This is the end scene from the film. It's the summation, so that's why I chose it, but again, if you have yet to see the film, and don't want it spoiled for you, don't watch the clip.
15) Requiem For A Dream
The second of my two "must view" films. What "Scared Straight" did for juvenile delinquents, this film will do for kids and drugs. Seriously, you want your kids to stay away from drugs, any kind, from the Tony Montana/cocaine snorting to the Jessie Spano/pill popping, show them this movie. And they will be terrified of drugs. Darren Aronofsky creates a beautifully disturbing take on the drug culture. Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayanes are all strikingly poignant in their portrayals of different kinds of addicts, and showing the lengths and depths at which they will go to score their next fix. See this movie. Show it to your kids.
SPOILER ALERT! Sorry for all the "end scenes", but: a) They're easier to find and b) they're better clips.
14) Clerks.
Kevin Smith, along with two other filmmakers who we will see later, are the three reasons that I like film. I credit them with my love film. Sure my parents had me watching old films as a kid, so it's kinda been something I've always been interested in. But after seeing the films of Kevin Smith, I decided that I wanted to make film, my life. In some way, shape or form, cinema was going to be my life. And Clerks started it all. I saw this movie when I was... 13 or 14, and I was blown away that there could be dialog this whip smart, vulgar and all around cool. And what makes it all the better, is that it's Kevin Smith's film. He made it. He got the funding together, cast it, wrote it, shot it, chopped it, what have you, he made it. It is his film. It was my first experience with indie-films. And even though as a kid I was accustomed to high budget, dazzling production value, what blew me away was the simplicity. It was simple, but profoundly amazing. A statement that Smith was here, and he's making films on his terms. I can't think of a better debut film, thank you Kevin Smith.
13) Casablanca
As stated earlier this week, it's the perfect love story. You can't get any better. It has all the elements. Handsome man, beautiful woman, heartbreak, alcohol, a piano, Nazis. It's got everything a love story needs. But above all that, it's just a damn fine film. Bogart was at the top of his game at this point and this is just one of many films that go in the pantheon of great Bogey performances. Bergman was as beautiful as ever. And the song. "As Time Goes By". What a great song. It's such a beautiful film. Curl up with your woman and watch this flick.
12) Beauty and the Beast
Yeah, I'm a guy, and I put the Disney Beauty and the Beast at number 12 of my top 100 list. Fuck you, it's a great film. This film represents the pinnacle of what can be done with animation. It trumps the 3D computer animation of Pixar and Dreamworks and what not. That's an advancement of technology. It was natural progression. Sure it can animate faster and a better quality, but essentially, last year's Ratatouille isn't a giant leap forward from 1995's Toy Story. But the traditional hand drawn style coupled with computer imaging for 1991's Beauty and the Beast is just beautiful. Couple that with a classic but lovable love story and hilarious secondary characters make for a classic film. This is the best Disney has to offer, and the best animation has to offer. I mean... just look at the grand sweeping camera shots in this sequence. What craftsmanship.
11) Dazed and Confused
If you've ever had a conversation with me, you know precisely how much I love this film. Fascinating characters, superb plotline. It is so much more than a teen movie (a genre in which this is the best), more than a coming of age film, it is a film about life. It just happens to center around teens in the late 70's. And was there a better time to grow up? No. I've always felt that I was born about 25 years too late, and this movie exemplifies that. It features a lot of future stars before they were big, and that's when they were good, before their egos outweighed their actual talent (sorry Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck). It is such a fantastic film. Watch it. You'll love it.
So there it is... 20-11... see you all next week.
-Brodie Mann
Friday, January 04, 2008
100 Favourite, Part V: 30-21
Brodie Fanns:
Bueno news for you all. We're closing in on the Top 20 Films. AND, I have no more last minute additions. So the math all adds up now. Good times had by all.
So here we go... 30-21.
30) 28 Days Later...
Danny Boyle fuses the perfect collaboration of horror film and social commentary. But he succeeds where most others have failed. It's relevant, poignant, meaningful and effective. Taking the old standard of the zombie movie, and equating it to modern times in two separate ways. One: by making it a pandemic, which is medically and scientifically possible. (In fact, Read this article for an in-depth analysis of how a zombie invasion could plausibly happen.) Two: Rage. We live in a wound up world, where there's air rage, road rage, phone rage, work rage, everything rage. It's perfect. And the scares are never cheap, and dialog never cheesy. And the climactic scene forces you to come to a disturbing realization. Watch the whole movie to get the full context... but this scene is just beautiful.
29) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Easily one of the most beautiful love stories ever told. It poses the question of fate and how it affects the lives of everyone around you. Yet also addresses the age old question, if you could erase your painful memories, would you? Jim Carrey gives the performance of his career, one that he had been gearing up for since The Truman Show, and is the perfect opposite for Kate Winslet in exceptionally bizarre form. Tom Wilkinson, Marc Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst and a post Lord of the Rings Elijah Wood keep us grounded in the real world while we're exploring the inner workings of Carrey's mind. Michel Gondry gives us a visual treat while working from Charlie Kaufman's mind-bending script.
28) Field of Dreams
One of a few films to make me cry, Field of Dreams is not just about baseball. It's about that special bond fathers and sons share through baseball. It's about the classic sense of the American Dream, paying homage to a simpler time, back when the American Dream meant something. Kevin Costner before he became the biggest movie star in the world gives a touching performance as a confused man, guided by a mysterious voice in a corn field, just wanting to reconnect with his father, who has unfortunately passed. Scott Ian of metal band Anthrax said it best: "If you don't cry after watching Field of Dreams, then you have ice in your veins."
27) Almost Famous
A sweet, endearing, sentimental look at when rock was good: mid-70's. Cameron Crowe's mostly-autobiographical look at a young man's tour with an up and coming rock band as a guest writer for Rolling Stone magazine. Billy Crudup scores as the enigmatic, charismatic frontman of Stillwater, and Kate Hudson makes us wonder, what the hell happened to her as she showed so much promise, but has done nothing but bubbly rom-coms for the past 8 years. Crowe's talent for honest writing shows through in his best script since 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High. And can this guy put together a soundtrack or what?
26) A Night at The Opera
I'm feeling particularly lazy today, so I'll just repost what I said yesterday BUT with a different clip: You can make a case for just about any one of their films. From Duck Soup to Animal Crackers to A Day at the Races, they're all classics. But my personal favourite is A Night at the Opera. It's got classic site gags, amazing physical comedy and some of the best one liners ever put to film. It's classic. I unfortunately have to use the same clip, as the poster of my first choice had his damn YouTube account suspended. Jerk.
25) Blazing Saddles
When asked to play The Waco Kid, John Wayne said this to Mel Brooks: "Naw, I can't do a movie like that but I'll be first in line to see it!" Thankfully he turned it down, because the teaming of Gene Wilder (as The Kid) and Cleavon Little is priceless, and is one of the greatest comedy duos in cinematic history. Meshing the sublime and the ridiculous, mostly ridiculous, Brooks' classic send up of the most beloved genre of the time will keep you laughing from start to finish, and it has great repeatability. DIFFERENT CLIP THAN YESTERDAY!
24) JFK
Oliver Stone takes a good, hard look at the JFK assassination and alleged conspiracy through the eyes of the only man ever to bring someone to trial in connection with the assassination, New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, grippingly played by Kevin Costner. Stone takes some artistic license, but one must keep in mind that while it heavily relies on facts, it is still a work of fiction. It's one of the more ambitious films ever made, with every detail painstakingly recreated, even if it never showed on screen for more than a matter of seconds. And at 3.5 hours, the director's cut is the version to watch. Good for the politically minded, and the conspiracy enthusiasts in us all. Not to mention the all star cast.
23) Memento
Christopher Nolan, is perhaps the most engaging filmmaker of the new millennium. Watch one of his films, be it Memento, The Prestige or Batman Begins. It's hard to describe exactly how it works, as I don't think a word or phrase exists to describe it, but the way he crafts his films, really puts you in with the character. He has this way about him, and I wish there was a simple way to describe it so you could see what I'm trying to say. But in Memento, Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) has lost his short term memory, and can only remember things for 5-10 minutes at a time, unless he writes it down or takes a picture. What we're given is a gripping, edgy thriller that is told backwards, scene by scene, in 5-10 minute bursts, so we're right there with Leonard, not knowing what comes next. Or, not knowing what just happened. It's confusing, but the beginning is the end and the end is the beginning and if you have the collector's edition DVD, you can actually go through and watch it put into correct chronological order.
22) 12 Angry Men
Sidney Lumet (again) directs his masterpiece. It's also his feature film debut. But he comes out in force to make the film that set the standard for all courtroom dramas, and that's a bar that has yet to be topped. He pulls a Hitchcock and shoots the entire thing in the jury room, giving you that added sense of claustrophobia, heightening the tensions among the men, and subsequently the audience. Henry Fonda gives a stand-out performance as the compassionate Juror number 8, standing up to 11 other men and the bull dog of Lee J. Cobb's Juror number 3.
21) All the President's Men
The gold standard for political thrillers, Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman expertly portray Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they try to uncover the greatest presidential scandal in history. And of course it took Redford and Hoffman to make journalists interesting. It's a fascinating look into history, and it's a wonderfully compelling tale that is honestly the precursor to The X-Files. You want to sit on the edge of your seat with one of the finest films of the 70's? Look no further than All The President's Men.
So that's it.... 30-21. See you next week with 11-20.
-Brodie Mann
Bueno news for you all. We're closing in on the Top 20 Films. AND, I have no more last minute additions. So the math all adds up now. Good times had by all.
So here we go... 30-21.
30) 28 Days Later...
Danny Boyle fuses the perfect collaboration of horror film and social commentary. But he succeeds where most others have failed. It's relevant, poignant, meaningful and effective. Taking the old standard of the zombie movie, and equating it to modern times in two separate ways. One: by making it a pandemic, which is medically and scientifically possible. (In fact, Read this article for an in-depth analysis of how a zombie invasion could plausibly happen.) Two: Rage. We live in a wound up world, where there's air rage, road rage, phone rage, work rage, everything rage. It's perfect. And the scares are never cheap, and dialog never cheesy. And the climactic scene forces you to come to a disturbing realization. Watch the whole movie to get the full context... but this scene is just beautiful.
29) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Easily one of the most beautiful love stories ever told. It poses the question of fate and how it affects the lives of everyone around you. Yet also addresses the age old question, if you could erase your painful memories, would you? Jim Carrey gives the performance of his career, one that he had been gearing up for since The Truman Show, and is the perfect opposite for Kate Winslet in exceptionally bizarre form. Tom Wilkinson, Marc Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst and a post Lord of the Rings Elijah Wood keep us grounded in the real world while we're exploring the inner workings of Carrey's mind. Michel Gondry gives us a visual treat while working from Charlie Kaufman's mind-bending script.
28) Field of Dreams
One of a few films to make me cry, Field of Dreams is not just about baseball. It's about that special bond fathers and sons share through baseball. It's about the classic sense of the American Dream, paying homage to a simpler time, back when the American Dream meant something. Kevin Costner before he became the biggest movie star in the world gives a touching performance as a confused man, guided by a mysterious voice in a corn field, just wanting to reconnect with his father, who has unfortunately passed. Scott Ian of metal band Anthrax said it best: "If you don't cry after watching Field of Dreams, then you have ice in your veins."
27) Almost Famous
A sweet, endearing, sentimental look at when rock was good: mid-70's. Cameron Crowe's mostly-autobiographical look at a young man's tour with an up and coming rock band as a guest writer for Rolling Stone magazine. Billy Crudup scores as the enigmatic, charismatic frontman of Stillwater, and Kate Hudson makes us wonder, what the hell happened to her as she showed so much promise, but has done nothing but bubbly rom-coms for the past 8 years. Crowe's talent for honest writing shows through in his best script since 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High. And can this guy put together a soundtrack or what?
26) A Night at The Opera
I'm feeling particularly lazy today, so I'll just repost what I said yesterday BUT with a different clip: You can make a case for just about any one of their films. From Duck Soup to Animal Crackers to A Day at the Races, they're all classics. But my personal favourite is A Night at the Opera. It's got classic site gags, amazing physical comedy and some of the best one liners ever put to film. It's classic. I unfortunately have to use the same clip, as the poster of my first choice had his damn YouTube account suspended. Jerk.
25) Blazing Saddles
When asked to play The Waco Kid, John Wayne said this to Mel Brooks: "Naw, I can't do a movie like that but I'll be first in line to see it!" Thankfully he turned it down, because the teaming of Gene Wilder (as The Kid) and Cleavon Little is priceless, and is one of the greatest comedy duos in cinematic history. Meshing the sublime and the ridiculous, mostly ridiculous, Brooks' classic send up of the most beloved genre of the time will keep you laughing from start to finish, and it has great repeatability. DIFFERENT CLIP THAN YESTERDAY!
24) JFK
Oliver Stone takes a good, hard look at the JFK assassination and alleged conspiracy through the eyes of the only man ever to bring someone to trial in connection with the assassination, New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, grippingly played by Kevin Costner. Stone takes some artistic license, but one must keep in mind that while it heavily relies on facts, it is still a work of fiction. It's one of the more ambitious films ever made, with every detail painstakingly recreated, even if it never showed on screen for more than a matter of seconds. And at 3.5 hours, the director's cut is the version to watch. Good for the politically minded, and the conspiracy enthusiasts in us all. Not to mention the all star cast.
23) Memento
Christopher Nolan, is perhaps the most engaging filmmaker of the new millennium. Watch one of his films, be it Memento, The Prestige or Batman Begins. It's hard to describe exactly how it works, as I don't think a word or phrase exists to describe it, but the way he crafts his films, really puts you in with the character. He has this way about him, and I wish there was a simple way to describe it so you could see what I'm trying to say. But in Memento, Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) has lost his short term memory, and can only remember things for 5-10 minutes at a time, unless he writes it down or takes a picture. What we're given is a gripping, edgy thriller that is told backwards, scene by scene, in 5-10 minute bursts, so we're right there with Leonard, not knowing what comes next. Or, not knowing what just happened. It's confusing, but the beginning is the end and the end is the beginning and if you have the collector's edition DVD, you can actually go through and watch it put into correct chronological order.
22) 12 Angry Men
Sidney Lumet (again) directs his masterpiece. It's also his feature film debut. But he comes out in force to make the film that set the standard for all courtroom dramas, and that's a bar that has yet to be topped. He pulls a Hitchcock and shoots the entire thing in the jury room, giving you that added sense of claustrophobia, heightening the tensions among the men, and subsequently the audience. Henry Fonda gives a stand-out performance as the compassionate Juror number 8, standing up to 11 other men and the bull dog of Lee J. Cobb's Juror number 3.
21) All the President's Men
The gold standard for political thrillers, Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman expertly portray Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they try to uncover the greatest presidential scandal in history. And of course it took Redford and Hoffman to make journalists interesting. It's a fascinating look into history, and it's a wonderfully compelling tale that is honestly the precursor to The X-Files. You want to sit on the edge of your seat with one of the finest films of the 70's? Look no further than All The President's Men.
So that's it.... 30-21. See you next week with 11-20.
-Brodie Mann
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