My Favorite Films: Patriotic Films

With the Fourth of July upon us, it's time to explore patriotic films! Go America!

1. Gettysburg (1993): The ultimate Civil War film in the sense of being both about the pivotal battle in the war, but also letting each side explain why they fought and what they were fighting for. It also highlights the bravery and sacrifice of the average men who have risen up to defend America in her various hours of need. This film, in many ways, lays out the competing views of what America is about.

2. How The West Was Won (1962): Call this, "How America Was Made," this film highlights the growth of America from a small group of ambitious eastern states to the country that would conquer a continent to the industrial powerhouse of today. Along the way, you meet idealists, opportunists, crooks, heroes, and people just looking for a better life. What I love about this film is how it focuses on the common man as the builder of America rather than showing America as a puzzle constructed by the rich and famous.

3. National Treasure (2004): This movie should have been Indiana Jones 4: America's Masonic History, but it wasn't. What it was instead is a film that takes a fascinating tour of the lesser known parts of American history and weaves them all together into a compelling story told by characters who love this country: the historian determined to prove his family were not traitors, the immigrant who rose to run the Smithsonian, and the watchful patriot who protects America. You can't watch this without feeling love for our country.

4. The Longest Day (1962): Focusing on D-Day, this is one of the better war films. What this film does so well is that it captures the can-do determination of every strata of American society as we prepare to put an end to Hitler's evil empire. These aren't braggarts, pessimists, cynics or cowards... they are what we have come to expect when Americans call themselves to duty.

5. Apollo 13 (1995): Not only does this film highlight the American achievement of lunar landings, something no one else has matched yet, but it shows the amazing creativity of Americans when squeezed into a corner and given only a few hours to save the lives of men we care about even if we've never met them. That ingenuity and that dedication without self-interest are cornerstones of what make Americans exceptional.

6. Sergeant York (1941): In some ways, this film could be dismissed as presenting an old fashioned view of Americans -- isolationist/live and let live, self-effacing, simple, and dedicated. Those aren't values that modern television worships. Yet, these values are on display every day all around us if you just stop to look. Sergeant York really does embody something deep within the American soul.

7. To Have And Have Not (1944): The reluctant hero looms large in this one. Bogart is the typical American in attitude and persona. He doesn't have the snazzy uniform of the Nazis. He doesn't have the backing of authority like the French who run the island. He's dismissed by the world as self-interested. But we know better. Bogart is a guy with a strong moral code who cannot stand by and let evil triumph over good, and he's willing to risk his own life to defend his beliefs even though no one would blame him for looking the other way.

8. Battle: Los Angeles (2011): More than any other war film, this one lays out why Americans stand and fight. We fight to protect our friends, our family, our homes and our country, and we know why we fight when we do. Deeply un-cynical, this film stands firmly on the side of the middle-American so many elitists simply cannot understand. These people love this country and they fight for each other, and to them, race and gender are meaningless, as all that matters is the content of a man's character.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Dance Movies

In light of Kit’s article on Friday, which more of you should read, here are my favorite “dancing” movies. That would be movies involving a lot of dancing.

1. Strictly Ballroom (1992): By far my favorite dance film, this is a romantic comedy about the absurd competitors in the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix ballroom tournament. Number after number in this one is incredible.

2. Footloose (1984): Kevin Bacon meets the American Taliban as he moves to a rural community that doesn’t allow dancing... or anything else that might be fun. Awesome soundtrack.

3. Shall We Dance (1997): This is the story of a Japanese salaryman who takes ballroom dancing lessons so he can learn the identity of a woman who has caught his imagination. This is one of those interesting films where you get to see cultural differences in action.

4. Grease (1978): Yes, it’s a musical, but it’s also all about the dances, and the dances here are a lot of fun. This is also a surprisingly dirty film for having such a wholesome reputation.

5. Dirty Dancing (1987): Daddy’s girl falls in love with the bad boy dance instructor at the summer dance camp. This is one of those opposites-attract type films and it works beautifully. There is incredible chemistry between Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze.

6. Singing In The Rain (1952): Gene Kelly leads this story of a group of actors who are caught in the transition from silent films to “talkies.” The dancing in this film is some of the most famous Hollywood has ever produced, in particular the titular song “Singing In The Rain.”

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock is easily one of the greatest film directors of all time. His films are technically fantastic, clever, compelling and entertaining. His characters are deep and layered. Interestingly though, I find that my favorite films of his are not the ones that always get cited. Here are my favorites.

1. Rope (1948): This is by far the most clever, sickest film Hitchcock has done. The story of two men who kill another man and then invite his family to have a dinner party with the body hidden in the room, this thing is perhaps the best written film I’ve ever seen. This is also one of those rare times where you see the director’s choices actually controlling the story, and Hitchcock proves to be a master at manipulating your tensions.

2. The Trouble With Harry (1955): This is easily the nicest Hitchcock film. It’s essentially a soft, but dark comedy about a group of people who find a body and all think they may have killed him.

3. North by Northwest (1959): This film should be in the debate for greatest film of all time. The acting, the direction, and the twisting plot are iconic and nearly perfect. This film also has the sexiest scene ever shot as Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint flirt on the train.

4. Lifeboat (1944): Made during WWII, or else I suspect the ending would be different, this is a highly political film as it is awash in capitalists, communists, and Nazis, and it all takes place on board a single lifeboat. This is another one that needs incredibly strong characters and dialog to work, and it has them.

5. Dial M For Murder (1954): Ray Milland deserves consideration as one of the most vile villains of all time in this film. The way he lets his wife go down for murder is sickening and Hitchcock manages to convey a tremendous amount of raw emotion to his audience in a film that is so sedate on the surface that it could be about an afternoon tea.

6. Topaz (1969): This is a deeply flawed film and perhaps what draws me to it is the potential it never achieves. Actually, what draws me to this film is that it is the only real attempt at making a true (i.e. real life) spy story during the Cold War and everything about it overflows with interest. It’s just too bad that the film ultimately feels like it lacks a climax.

7. The Birds (1963): Tippi Hedron and Rod Taylor have amazing chemistry in this suspense/horror film. The effects are amazing too, given the total lack of CGI and other similar effects. And while the premise may not be that scary in real life, the story feels real and this is a character film more than anything.

8. Turn Curtain (1966): This is another defective film. This one is about Paul Newman as the defector whose girlfriend Julie Andrews follows him to East Germany against his desires. But is he really a defector? The plot to this one feels a little too restrained to call this a great film, but the story has tension and solid characters. I suspect that if Hitchcock had dropped Andrews from the story, he might have made an all time classic here. As it is, he made an enjoyable film with an interesting plot and characters you like a good deal.

9. Vertigo (1958): A tale of obsession, this is often listed by critics as Hitchcock’s greatest film. Others cite it as evidence of his own sick mental state. Personally, I see it as a beautifully shot, beautifully acted film that holds strong interest, but isn’t my favorite to watch.

10. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956): As with the others, this film has some flaws. Things happen too easily for the heroes. Some scenes are too drawn out. And Doris Day isn’t the greatest actress. That said, this one feels solid. The trip to Marrakesh is fascinating, even if it is all faked. Jimmy Stewart is compelling. And the way the mystery of the plot builds holds your interest.

11. Strangers On A Train (1951): This is a fascinating film. With homosexual undertones and an array of moral questions just beneath the surface, this one is about a man who stupidly agrees to exchange murders with another man he meets on a train.

12. Rear Window (1954): This is probably Hitchcock’s favorite film for the public and it is a very good film. It’s also one of Hitchcock’s most straight-forward “what you see is what you get” films.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Classics

Classics are well... classic. They are part of our film and cultural heritage and everyone should see them. Here is my list of my favorite classics, which I'm defining as pre-1961 because things kind of changed after that.

Note: This list won’t include any Hitchcock films, which need their own list.

1. Wizard of Oz (1939): Not only is this a great, great film, but it's the cultural granddaddy of them all - you almost can't watch a movie or television show today without seeing some reference to this film. This is a must see and I like to watch it at least once a year.

2. The Bogarts: I’m grouping these all at once so they don’t dominate the list. Here are my favorite Humphrey Bogart films in order:

The Maltese Falcon (1941): This film IS noir. Nothing else comes close. The story of a group of unsavory people who are seeking a fabled golden bird that has been stolen and re-stolen many times over the years and which just happens to fall into the lap of detective Sam Spade. With a great cast and all kinds of interesting undertones, this is a fantastic film.

The Big Sleep (1946): Another Bogart detective film, this one is much more complicated than anything else Bogart has done and it's full of great performances and tense moments... and a few errors.

The Have and Have Not (1944): This one is just fun as Boggie and a very young Bacall play a romantic cat and mouse in occupied Martinique.

The Caine Mutiny (1954): Probably Bogart's best performance as the tyrannical Commander Queeg who panics and must be replaced by his crew during a typhoon, only to have the court martial that follows not turn out the way the audience expected. This is an excellent, excellent film.

Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948): The only Western I've seen Bogart do, this one is truly memorable and has some amazing moments as the three friends search together for gold and then turn on each other once they strike it rich.

Key Largo (1948): Boggie a coward? It seems that way when he finds himself held prisoner in a hotel by Edward G. Robinson as a hurricane is about to strike, and Boggie won't stand up to defend the people he's trapped with.

Casablanca (1942): Often voted the best film ever, I truly enjoy this film, but honestly, it feels a little light compared to the other Bogart films.

2. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938): Starring Flynn as Robing Hood, Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marion, and some lesser-knowns like Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains and Alan Hale, this is THE Errol Flynn film. Both a rousing adventure, a romantic love story, and a showcase for Flynn's charm, this is another can't miss.

3. High Noon (1952): Gary Cooper plays Marshal Will Kane who has lost his nerve and learns that the people he's defended all these years are deeply ungrateful when it comes time to help him. This is a great character study and it's a powerful film when Cooper stands up in the end.

4. Forbidden Planet (1956): Leslie Nieslen in a serious role? Yep. This is probably the strongest science fiction entry in Hollywood's catalog until 2001, as Nielsen and crew find Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) and his daughter alone on a planet that once belonged to the Krell, before they destroyed themselves somehow.

5. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957): This is just an awesome movie all around. You have amazing cinematography from David Lean, a tremendous performance from Alex Guinness as the British commander who lets his pride overwhelm his judgement in a Japanese prison camp as the Japanese use the British prisoners to build a railroad, and strong supporting actors.

6. Gone With The Wind (1939): This film has proved so strong and so enduring that it's defined the antebellum American South for most people.

7. Spartacus (1960): Kirk Douglas stars as escaped slave-turned-general Spartacus as he battles Romans for the very survival of his army of slaves and romances Tony Curtis... uh, the girls. Anyway, this is one of Stanley Kubrick's best and you can't swing a crucified slave without hitting a famous actor. Highly recommend.

8. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946): Sappy, depressing and yet deeply heartwarming, this is one of Jimmy Stewart's best films as he contemplates what the world would be like without him around.

9. His Girl Friday (1940): Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell in an unforgettable romantic comedy.

10. Ben-Hur (1959): Staring Charlton Heston, this is the story of Juda Ben-Hur, and it's truly epic. Pry my chariot from my cold dead hands.

And of course, don't forget things like the Marx Brothers or war films that may have already appeared on other lists like Sergent York or All Quiet On the Western Front.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: War Films

War is hell... photogenic, exciting hell. In honor of Memorial Day, here are my favorite war films.

1. The Great Escape (1963): This is easily my favorite war film. Not only does this film highly a vast array of tough guys from the era, but it lets each be himself within the story rather than just giving them cameos. Even better, it doesn’t make the Germans out as monsters or incompetents. That gives the good guys some strong characters to play off of, and it makes the challenge feel more authentic.

2. Zulu (1964): Love this film! Again, this is a film which respects both sides and shows the amazing bravery of both. Also, despite being written by Marxists, this film comes across as very fair in presenting the issues of the day.

3. Bridge on the River Kwai (1957): Alec Guinness is amazing in this. He plays the stiff-upper-lip British commander who works hard to keep his men from falling apart into a rabble in a Japanese prison camp and soon he starts to cross the line into becoming a collaborator, even as he humiliates his Japanese captors.

4. Gettysburg (1993): No CGI and yet, you get to see tens of thousand of soldiers fighting the most important battle in US history, and you get to hear both sides presented fairly and in detail. A truly thoughtful film.

5. Das Boot (1981): This is the definitive submarine film and it’s positively gripping to watch the horrors these guys go through.

6. The Dirty Dozen (1967): What a great idea combined with fantastic execution. I never get tired of watching this one.

7. Where Eagles Dare (1969): This is an awesome a spy thriller that involves two incredibly compelling actors – Eastwood and Richard Burton. A very smart and entertaining story.

8. Breaker Morant (1980): A strong morality tale that just happens to be true, this film shows you how the Boer War was fought and how Britain tried to wash its hands of its tactics by blaming commanders.

9. The Guns of Navarone (1961): Another film written by a communist, this one ends up as a surprisingly rousing call to arms to defend freedom.

10. Kelly’s Heroes (1970): A fun heist film about some guys who learn about a cache of gold bars behind enemy lines and they set out to get that gold by moving the lines.

11. The Longest Day (1962): Packed with stars, this gives you a huge overview of the D-Day landing.

12. Platoon (1986): This is the definitive Vietnam film and it’s truly impressively done.

13. Stalag 17 (1953): What an excellent film about a man wrongly accused of being a traitor.

14. All Quiet On The Western Front (1930): Based on an amazing book, this film captures the feel of what WWI was really like for long-suffering ground troops.

15. Stalingrad (1992): A fascinating film which does an excellent job of showing the horror of the fight to the death that was Stalingrad. Just seeing the size of the unit shrink throughout the film is shocking.

16. Sergeant York (1941): This film is kind of a last hurrah of the “innocent American.” It’s also an excellent feel good film as this humble hero does his duty in an amazing way.

17. Tora Tora Tora (1970): Easily the best Pearl Harbor film, this one presents both side quite fairly.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Heist Films

Perhaps it's my past as a professional bank robber, but heist films are some of my favorite films. As so often happens, there are many more excellent films than can fit on this list, but here are my favorite Eleven... Andrew's Eleven.

1. The Usual Suspects (1995): This is one of my favorite films, and it also happens to be a heist film. With a truly brave screenplay that could have completely turned audiences off as you know almost nothing when the film ends, massive doses of ambiguity throughout, great actors giving great portrayals and a talented director at his best, this one is not to be missed. Here's an interesting thought too, what if Keyser Soze is Satan and the film is actually supernatural?

2. Ronin (1998): This is easily the best spy film ever made. It's also a fantastic heist film. Written by David Mamet and staring an awesome cast with amazing chemistry, this film twists and turns its way through the backstreets of France in a tight story that is just packed with fantastic moments. If you haven't seen this, you need to.

3. Reservoir Dogs (1992): Coming right before Pulp Fiction, this film kind of gets lost by general audiences, but it shouldn't. This is a gripping, gritty film about a simple robbery gone wrong which introduces many of the hallmarks that will become Tarantino's style, and it does so without the excesses he develops later. I highly recommend this one. It's possibly his best film.

4. The Sting (1973): This one is a classic. In fact, this is the granddaddy of all modern heist films and their good and bad traits can be drawn back to this film. And while this film unfortunately loses a lot once you know the story, this film is absolutely worth seeing, even if only to see Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Robert Shaw at their best.

5. Ocean’s Thirteen (2007): I’m sure this is a sin, but I like this best of the three newer films and the original. This one is the most stylized and that is what works best for the setup: Danny Ocean and his crew of all-knowing hip expert criminals conspire to rob a casino owned by the venomous-yet-charismatic Al Pacino. This is great fun as an experience film if you just take it at face value and don't let reality intrude.

6. Ocean’s 11 (1960): This is a fantastic film and, as a fan of old films, this is one of the best the 1960s had to offer. Starring the Rat Pack at their peak as they conspire to take down a group of casinos all at once, this film is fun, hip and makes you wish you could have been there. That said, the film does lack the kinds of twists and turns we have come to expect from modern twist films.

7. Ocean’s Eleven (2002)/Ocean’s Twelve (2004): Between Eleven and Twelve, it's hard to say which I like better. Both have pros and both have cons. Both are equally self-indulgent and both are equally unbelievable. Still, both are very entertaining as fantasy and for the relationships between the characters. Essentially, these are buddy films in ultra-rich environments as the good guys take down arrogant villains who absolutely deserve it... kind of a feel good film.

8. Out of Sight (1998): Written by Elmore Leonard, who also wrote Justified, this film is about a US Marshal who chases a bank robber she's falling for hard. Starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez back when they were both top sex symbols, this is a good one.

9. A Fish Called Wanda (1988): This is the first pure comedy on the list, and it's a good one. Great characters, great dialog and a great sense of humor add this one to the list: "I looked at the clock... because I was saying to myself... It's five to seven, where could he be going with that sawed off shotgun?"

10. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974): Robert Shaw is back and this time he's holding hostages in the New York subway system. This is one of those films that just works in every way and it definitely rises above the rest.

11. Kelly’s Heroes (1970): What a great idea! A group of disgruntled soldiers learns of a bank vault full of gold behind enemy lines and they decide to go get it. Before you know it, they've got half the army working with them right under the general's nose and even the Germans end up getting into the game. This is a truly fun film.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Fantasy Films

People often connect fantasy with science fiction because they are idiots. Fantasy is something completely different and good fantasy is pretty rare. Let’s see what we can do to identify some...

1. Conan the Barbarian (1982): This movie is brilliant. It's a solid action film that has an amazing Zen to it. The film flows like the sound of one hand clapping and then driving a sword through you. It is a deep film, packed with philosophy, drama and the things that ignite characters on film: an orphaned warrior lost in the world, friendship, love, a father's love for his daughter, a King who is helpless to act against a more popular foe, a villain who seems to have grown as a person to the point of near enlightenment only to discover that he grew crooked and his villainy is many times worse, etc. It is a film you can watch when you want some rousing action. It is a film you can watch when you want a thoughtful film. It is a film you can watch when you want to explore by proxy the relationships in your life. It is amazingly beautifully shot. And it has the best soundtrack of any film... ever. In fact, you can close your eyes and just listen to the score and fall in love with this film. Awesome. It’s clear how this made Arnold into a star. The sequel and Red Sonya are entertaining too, though they are very different.

2. Army of Darkness (1992): What can I say? This film is awesome. A great story, a great actor and fantastically quotable dialog!

3. Dragonslayer (1981): A darker version of fantasy films, this story of an apprentice magician who kills a dragon is interesting and complex, and unlike many fantasy films, it involves an actual plot.

4. Krull (1983): This movie has an amazing cast before they were famous and a great story as it mixes science fiction with fantasy.

5. The Lord of the Rings (1978): This quasi-animated film which covers only the first of the three books was an incredible adaptation of the books. This version is so much better than Jackson’s version in a great many ways.

6. The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003): While I am not a fan of these films from a lost-potential perspective, they are well done, if lifeless, fantasy.

7. Harry Potter (2001, 2002, 2005): The first two films (and kind of the fourth) really captured the spirit of Harry Potter perfectly. A mix of wonder, exploration and good verses evil, these are great films. The others are dull and dark and monotone.

8. The Hobbit (1977): I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better adaptation of a book than this, and this is the gold standard for The Hobbit on film. Not only does this stay true to the books, but it captures the spirit, the feel, and the images the book presents. The new Peter Jackson version is crap.

9. Dragonheart (1986): Who knew you could come up with a sort of heist film involving a dragon? This is a good one.

10. Dungeons and Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God (2005): Yes, a made-for-television movie makes my list. Why? Because this film really captured the feel of what Dungeons and Dragons is about, unlike all the big budget efforts preceding it, which all failed so miserably.

I don’t know if The Mummy or Labyrinth are fantasy or not, but they should probably be on the list. I would also add Jet Li’s Hero, though people probably don’t connect that with fantasy, which is normally European-based.

A couple of omissions though: I used to love The Dark Crystal, but it hasn’t stood up over time, Willow wore on me fast too, and I found the Narnia series to be workmanlike and dull.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Science Fiction

Science fiction is an interesting genre because it has no specific boundaries. Thus, anything strange gets tossed into the genre. There is also a split between the more hardcore “science” science fiction and the more fun “fantasy” science fiction and horror science fiction. I don’t care about any of that though. I like it all. Here is my attempt to list only my top ten favorites... though I could list 100 easily, but where’s the challenge in that?

** I’ve excluded things like Star Wars, Star Trek and Aliens, which could easily dominate the list.

1. Fifth Element (1997): This is a unique science fiction film, being both a comedy, very clever, and a positive portrayal of the future. In fact, this stands out as one of the rare non-dystopian futures on film... and it’s got the best bad guys: fully emotive aliens!

2. Blade Runner (1982): This film became the standard for dystopian fiction. Add in some fascinating twists and turns and an amazing epiphany at the end and you have a great film.

3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): This film really captures the rising tide of the UFO conspiracy theory that swept the nation in the 1970s. It’s also deliberate Spielberg at his best.

4. Dune (1984): Dune is one of the most influential science fiction books of all time, but the attempts to make it into a movie have all failed. The public hated this one, but it has become a cult favorite. Dune stands out for presenting a truly unique universe unlike anything else on film – there should be hundreds of films like this, but there aren’t. I personally prefer the Alan Smithee version.

5. Outland (1981): Sean Connery kicking ass in space. Even more interestingly, this is one of the few films to show the “near” future in that mankind is still very much like we are today as we just start to reach out into the solar system rather than being all over the galaxy. The caustic relationship between Connery and Lazarus is worth the price of admission alone.

6. The Matrix (1999): This is probably the smartest movie ever made and it takes almost a course in philosophy and religion to understand it. Putting that aside, however, it has an amazing twist, incredibly innovative camera work, and a truly strong story.

7. Pitch Black (2000): This was Riddick at his best, as the anti-quasi-hero needing to save an interesting collection of castaways from blood thirsty creatures who only come out when it gets dark.

8. The Black Hole (1979): Love it. Used to have the action figures! This is just one of those films that stands out for being so unique in the genre and for being packed with the kinds of moments you take away from science fiction films. Again, there should be hundreds of films like this and there just aren’t.

9. Dark City (1998): This is the kind of film that blows your mind and it’s packed with things you just haven’t seen before in science fiction. Add in a really cool 1940’s film noir style, a strong cast and truly well-written dialog, and this is a definite winner.

10. Forbidden Planet (1956): This is one of the few older science films that feels grownup to me. And in that, this is one heck of a smart film, digging deep into the human psyche and in how it reveals information about the Krell in bits and by supposition, which paints a surprisingly realist picture of a people you never see or meet.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Comedies (non-1980's)

Last week, we were shocked to find how the 1980’s dominate comedy. This week we remind ourselves that others eras did comedy too. Here are my favorite non-1980’s comedies. Filling this list with comedies I enjoy was actually a lot harder.

1. Silver Streak (1976): Gene Wilder at his best, along with popular side kick Richard Pryor, this is a strong romantic comedy about a man who keeps getting thrown off a train that he needs to be on.

2. A Night At The Opera (1935): More than any other of their films, A Night At The Opera highlights the wide talent abilities of the brothers as well as their comedic genius. Combining both verbal humor with slapstick, this film works on so many levels.

3. Hot Shots (1991): The heir to the Airplane! franchise, this film ripped a huge hole in all the action tropes of the 1980s and it’s just hilarious.

4. The Muppet Movie (1979): The Muppets have a miserable history with films in that almost all of them suck pretty badly. This is the one time they really captured the essence of the Muppets and what we love about them.

5. Office Space (1999): Dude, this film speaks to my generation.

6. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997): Not only are this and the sequel the perfect parodies of the James Bond franchise, but they gave us unforgettable characters like Mini-Me and an amazing amount of quotable dialog.

7. Not Another Teen Movie (2001): Yet another parody film, this one actually rises head and shoulders above the rest. This film is not only hilarious, but it hits its targets perfectly.

8. Duck Soup (1933): Like Night At The Opera, this film lets the Marx Brothers roam free and do what they do best. Ultimately though, this is Groucho’s show as he drives an insane, but also insanely funny plot.

9. Blazing Saddles (1974): This film is hilarious on so many levels. Not only does it parody all the western tropes, but it does so while poking fun at Hollywood and delving heavily into the issue of race in a way others haven’t been willing. Those things raise this film just slightly above Young Frankenstein in my book.

10. Animal House (1978): Not only is this the film that started the entire college movie genre, but it actually does it better than all the copies to come. That’s pretty impressive. Also, it’s full of iconic moments.

11. Rat Race (2001): This is a fun movie that doesn’t pretend to be anything more than that. Well written, well acted, funny and entertaining, I find this to be a good deal more enjoyable that the film it’s copying: “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” which I find to be too dry and too reliant on having a famous cast.

12. Scott Pilgrim v. The World (2010): This is definitely a niche film, but it’s really amazingly funny if you’re in that niche.

13. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944): A dark comedy by Frank Capra, Cary Grant learns on his wedding day that his aunts are insane.

14. Those Magnificent Men And Their Flying Machines (1965): This is one of those comedies that relies on a large group of comedians to come play out various national stereotypes under the guise of engaging in an airplane race. Good fun and clever at times, this is a bit of a nostalgia trip.

15. Africa Screams (1949): I list this one because it’s the one I remember the most, but honestly, all of Abbott and Costello’s films kind of run together. That said, they had their moments!

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Comedy Films From The 1980’s

I was going to do comedies but as I thought through my list, I realized that the 1980’s dominate this list, so I’m breaking out the 1980’s. What an amazing period for comedy! This list could be triple its current length.

1. Ghostbusters (1984): This is probably the top comedy film of all time. It does everything right, from having a great story to great characters to great dialog to great jokes.

2. Clue (1985): Vastly underappreciated at the time, this cult classic is both hilarious and one of the most clever comedies out there.

3. Airplane! (1980): This is one of the few movies that will have you laughing out loud from the opening frame until the ending and somehow it never gets old. This film is a real tour de force of screwball and verbal comedy.

4. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988): This is one of those rare films that just surprises you with how much you enjoy it as it twists and turns. It also combines the great Michael Caine with Steve Martin in the perfect role for him.

5. Trading Places (1983): This film feels like it captures everything you need to know about the 1980s and it’s just hilarious.

6. Police Academy (1984): I saw this last week again actually and I’m just amazed how well this film holds up. It’s characters are perfect, it’s situations are hilarious, and it’s jokes are hilarious.

7. Strange Brew (1983): What can I say except that this movie is all kinds of awesome. Seriously, a plan to take over the world from a brewery. Fantastic!

8. Naked Gun (1988): This film was like Airplane! with a plot and Leslie Nielson is perfect in this.

9. The Blues Brothers (1980): Great actors, iconic moments, amazingly quotable dialog and excellent music. What more can you ask for?

10. Coming to America (1988): Eddie Murphy was huge in the 1980s, but this was the one time he played a character with heart and it really pays off.

11. Fletch (1985): Chevy Chase at his best, as reporter Fletch, causing havoc as he solves an incredibly convoluted plot.

12. Spies Like Us (1985): This one kind of came out of the blue and it was just hilarious. Even today, with the Soviets no longer a threat, this film still feels somehow topical and funny. Chase and Akyroyd show real chemistry together.

13. Beverly Hills Cop (1984): Super well written story staring Eddie Murphy at his peak.

14. A Fish Called Wanda (1988): A sort of follow up to the Monty Python films, this was one of those films that won you over with some truly original characters and some hilarious twists.

15. Weekend At Bernie’s (1989): Movies like this never work, and yet this one works perfectly and it's got an amazing ironic-comedic feel.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Disaster Films

In honor of the latest LA earthquake and that Noah thing (cause... effect... cause), let’s talk about disaster films. Here are my favorites:

1. Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea (1961): This is one of those films I can watch over and over and over. When the Van Allen belt, which surrounds the Earth, catches on fire, the planet starts to bake. The experimental submarine Seaview must launch a missile to detach the Van Allen belt from the Earth, but it seems that everyone wants to stop them. Staring Walter Pidgeon, Barbara Eden and Kane from Buck Rogers, this is a fun film.

2. The Last Voyage (1960): This is probably the best shipwreck movie ever. Staring George Sanders and Robert Stack, this is the story of the SS Claridon, which begins to sink when one of her boilers explodes. Awesome effects (because they really sank the ship) and solid drama combine to blow the doors off Titanic.

3. Airport (1970): I know they claim they used Zero Hour, but this film IS the serious version of Airplane and it’s a really good film too. Basically, anything that can go wrong will go wrong on this snowy night at the Airport Burt Lancaster operates... with help from an all-star cast.

4. The Crazies (2010): A remake of a George Romero film, this one stars Timothy Olyphant as a local sheriff who finds his whole town going crazy because a military plane crashed while carrying some bad stuff.

5. The Poseidon Adventure (1972): What a cool idea! A rogue wave knocks a cruise ship completely upside-down. Now the survivors must race to the bottom of the ship, which is now the top, to survive.

6. The Core (2003): Imagine if you will, that Stanley Tucci stopped the Earth’s magnetic core from spinning and now Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Delroy Lindo, and Bruce Greenwood need to save us by setting off nuclear bombs. It’s an entertaining if entirely stupid film.

7. Knowing (2009): This film scores on two points in a big way. First, the way Nicholas Cage discovers what is going on is very smart, especially for a modern film. Secondly, the effects in the minor catastrophes throughout are impressive.

8. Outbreak (1995): I hate the “evil military” aspect of this film, but the virus stuff is top notch as Dustin Hoffman roams far and wide to try to stop a killer virus on the loose in the US of A.

And if you want a refresher of others you’ve seen and long since forgotten, here’s a pretty decent list: LINK.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Foreign Films

I look for three things in a foreign film: (1) a film that gives me a feel of having been to a foreign country, (2) a film that gives me something Hollywood never could or would, i.e. the "stranger" the better, and (3) a film that holds my interesting throughout. With that in mind, here goes:

** this list does not include Anglo-countries.

1. Hero (2002): A love story pretending to be a martial arts film, this Jet Li film boasts amazing scenery and imagery, strong characters and a strong story. Watch this on a big screen.

2. Diva (1981): This is a fascinating film about an obsessed French mailman who steals a dress from a washed up Opera singer and then returns it to her while he finds himself being chased by the mob and corrupt cops. Of all the films on the list, this one feels the most foreign and it's kind of the most interesting... in an odd sort of way.

3. Tampopo (1985): Done in the style of a spaghetti western, this film involves a truck driver who comes to town and teaches a woman to make the best noodle restaurant in the area. This is another one of those films where you get real cultural differences and a surprisingly funny and heartwarming film. By and large, this film is very accessible, though there is a narrator (a hedonistic gangster and his girlfriend) who feels very out of place.

4. Ikiru (1952): Akira Kurosawa is perhaps the greatest director of all time and this is his most touching film. This is the story of a lowly bureaucrat who learns he is dying. He decides to do what he can to get a playground created against the wishes of "the system." His funeral is infuriating. The film quality is really poor because this was filmed in low quality black and white in post-war Japan, but this one is absolutely worth seeing.

5. Das Boot (1981): Starting life as a miniseries, this was recut into an unmatched film about the realities of submarine war. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starring Jurgen Prochnow, you can't help but feel the pride, joy and ultimately horror these men experience as they struggle to survive impossible odds. If you ever want to imagine how it would feel to die at the bottom of the ocean, this is the film for you.

6. High and Low (1963): I could fill this list with Kurosawa films, but I'm refraining. Apart from Ikiru, this is my other personal favorite. Toshiro Mifune, one of the best actors ever, plays a shoe company CEO who learns his son has been kidnapped. Things change for the worse when he learns that it was actually the son of his employee who was kidnapped and everyone still wants him to pay a ransom that will bankrupt his company.

7. Lola rennt (Run Lola Run) (1998): Starting Franka Potente as Lola, this film involves Lola receiving a call from her boyfriend, who is desperate for cash and is about to rob a grocery store to get it. She runs to stop him. She fails. So the film resets and she tries again. With each pass, we see alternate histories for the characters presented in a series of snapshots. This is a fascinating and bizarre film. Unfortunately, there are some serious mistranslations in the film that might confuse you (it's best to speak German), but it's still well worth seeing.

8. Jean de Florette (1986): Gérard Depardieu plays a likable man who moves his family to the country only to have a rotten neighbor sabotage his efforts at farming. Yeah, that doesn't sound like much, but the film really works.

9. My Sassy Girl (2001): You know how in every rom-com the heroine will be a bitch (in a very safe and cliche manner) and drive away the male love interest, only to have him return when he realizes that he does love her and that he accepts her the way she is? Aw. Oh course, we also learn that the heroine is not really a bitch because no American starlet would accept such a part as they all want to be "America's sweetheart," so her bitchiness is written off as a mistake or misunderstanding. Well, not here. What I love about My Sassy Girl is that for once, the heroine really is being a bitch and she's trying hard to drive away this guy. He just won't leave and they fall for each other. The ending is heartbreaking too.

10. La Femme Nikita (1990): It's hard to say if this should be included because, while it is French, director Luc Besson would soon make it big in America and this film feels very Hollywood. This idea was also imported here for a film and a television series. Still, the original is quite good.


Honorable mention to Black and White in Color, in which a bunch of bumbling colonialists decide they need to go to war since Europe has gone to war, to all the Japanese horror films that got copied and became The Grudge, The Ring, and Dark Water, and the Korean The Wishing Stairs, which is a horror story in a girls school but strangely ends up as a solid lesbian romance movie. Yeah, weird. You can't go wrong with Godzilla either.

I do wish I liked Lost in Translation better.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Superhero Films

Truth, justice and the American way, that’s what superheroes are about... except when they aren’t. I do love me some good superhero films though when they are well done. Here are my favorites:

1. Hellboy (2004): How can you not love Hellboy? This is just a great character with a great sense of humor and a great supporting team. This and the sequel are films I always enjoy.

2. Superman (1978): This film did everything right. This is also the best origin film ever because it doesn’t feel like an origin film. This film stands alone in feel and quality.

3. X2: X-Men United (2003): This is easily my favorite X-Men film. This one is well shot, smart and packed with great actions and great character interaction.

4. Batman (1989): This was the first “dark” superhero movie and really changed the expectations. The real gem in this film was Jack Nicholson as the Joker.

5. Scott Pilgrim v. The World (2010): Yeah, I count this as a superhero film. This thing is just amazingly clever.

6. Batman (1966): Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb. This was the film version of the series and it played like a long episode. It was all kinds of fun.

7. Kick-Ass (2010): A fun twist on the idea of the superhero.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Courtroom Dramas

As a lawyer, I find it rare that I enjoy a legal drama. Most legal dramas are so unrealistic as to be truly annoying. But there are some gems. Here they are:

1. Presumed Innocent (1990): This movie has the most realistic trial and trial procedures ever. It also has a fascinating story that weaves local politics, obsession, and revenge, and you have no idea what really happened until the end. Harrison Ford plays against type here as the pathetic, obsessed adulterer and possible murder, and Raul Julia plays Sandy Stern, the guy who made me want to be a lawyer.

2. Breaker Morant (1980): Based on a true story, this is an amazing courtroom drama about Britain trying to use a handful of scapegoats to cover up what it did during the Boer War. Well acted, gripping and emotionally frustrating, this is a strong film. It will make you angry.

3. The Caine Mutiny (1954): Another military courtroom drama, this one involves a court martial for mutiny, but who was really to blame for what happened? This one has an amazing performance by Humphrey Bogart as the insecure Lt. Cmdr. Queeg and one hell of a speech by José Ferrer.

4. My Cousin Vinny (1992): A surprisingly accurate courtroom comedy, this one involves the unlicensed Joe Pesci travelling to deep Alabama to defend his young cousin who was driving the wrong car at the wrong time in the wrong place.

5. Sergeant Rutledge (1960): No film that I’ve seen handles race and justice better than this John Ford film in which Woody Strode stands accused of a heinous crime and his race interferes with his ability to defend himself. Complex all around with amazing nuance, I highly recommend this one.

6. Anatomy of a Murder (1959): Directed by Otto Preminger and starring James Stewart, Ben Gazzara and the mayor from Jaws, this is a complicated film that deals with some really troubling subjects and results in an uncomfortable but excellent film.

7. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962): Lawyer Atticus Finch defends a black man accused of raping a white woman in the South. This was a gripping book and the film does it justice.

Note the lack of Grisham films. Also, note the lack of 12 Angry (Straw)Men, which smears our justice system and manipulates the audience so openly that this film should be considered propaganda.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Cop Films

There’s never a cop film around when you need one. Anyway, here are my favorite cop films:

1. Dirty Harry (1971): The first three in the series are fantastic films: Dirty Harry (1971), Magnum Force (1973) and The Enforcer (1976). Perfectly shot, well acted with compelling characters, and a strongly conservative message, these film speak to the eternal struggle of stopping idiots from surrendering the public to thugs and terrorists and gave us super-cop Harry Callahan.

2. L.A. Confidential (1997): The definitive 1950’s L.A. cop film, this one was perfect... perfect sets, perfect props, perfect costumes, perfect script. It’s just a joy to watch this one twist and turn as the characters each play their own angles.

3. The Gauntlet (1977): This should have been the fourth Dirty Harry but it wasn’t. This is the tale of a washed up, drunken cop who must transport a supposedly meaningless eye witness from Las Vegas to Phoenix. The only problem, everyone wants them dead.

4. Cop Land (1997): A forgotten movie with a stellar cast that is anything but a normal cop movie, this tale of corruption in New Jersey/New York City contains some amazing performances and a really unpredictable plot.

5. Lethal Weapons (1992): The original (1987) and the sequel (1989) are both excellent films which did the formula for the cop film so well that every cop film to follow copied these films. Plus. they’re really enjoyable with great chemistry.

6. The French Connection (1971): You know, I can’t tell you why I like this one. Popeye Doyle is an ass. NYC looks like it had been hit by the apocalypse. The plot isn’t all that amazing. Still, this is an interesting and oddly compelling film.

7. Bullitt (1968): Starring the always fantastic Steve McQueen, this film contains the greatest car chase ever. It’s never been topped.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Romance Films

With Valentine's Day upon us, let's talk about romantic films. Finding a good romantic film is nearly impossible because they're so damn formulaic. They are even worse than action films in that regard. Indeed, you can set your watch by the various required plot points in these film. Blech. Because of this, I've actually done my best to look for romance movies overseas because the American stuff is so hopeless. Anyway, here goes:

1. Strictly Ballroom (1992): Yes, this is the ugly duckling story done in a bizarre way, but this is also the most romantic film I've encountered. The dancing is amazing. The characters are wonderful. The sense of humor is awesome. And the romance is strong and believable. I'm really shocked this film didn't lead to a bigger career for the male lead Paul Mercurio.

2. My Sassy Girl (2001): Check out the original Korean Version, not the fetid Hollywood remake. What makes this film so interesting to me is that it feels genuine for once. You know how in every rom-com the heroine will be a bitch (in a very safe and cliche manner) and drive away the male love interest at some point, only to have him return when he realizes that he does love her and that he accepts her the way she is? Aw. Oh course, we also learn that the heroine is not really a bitch because no American starlet would accept such a part as they all want to be "America's sweetheart," so her bitchiness is written off as a mistake or misunderstanding. Well, not here. What I love about My Sassy Girl is that for once, the heroine really is being a bitch and she's trying hard to drive away this guy. But he's a good guy who insists on trying to help her with her issues and they fall for each other. The ending is heartbreaking too.

3. Pride and Prejudice (1995): This is a miniseries, but hell, I make the rules. This is the original from which so much of the formula comes and it's also just an amazing romance. In particular, this is a romance for real people... people who feel awkward and who think of love as something deep and genuine, not something you find in a one-night stand. This one is both a real tear jerker and a very uplifting story. The adaptation Clueless fits here as well.

4. Hero (2002): Yep. This is ostensibly a martial arts film, but it's really a romance in disguise. It's also a BIG romance in the sense of being about true love and sacrifice rather than just some couple finding each other. Beautifully shot and wonderfully told, this is one of the stronger romances I've ever encountered.

5. WALL-E (2008): Yeah, surprising. Can you have a romance between two robots where one of them can't even speak? Well, yes, you can and it makes this a truly beautiful film.

6. Shakespeare In Love (1998): Normally, Gwyneth Paltrow leaves me cold, but this story of a love that cannot happen is extremely touching.

7. Grease (1978): The classic tale of two lovers who want each other but are kept apart by peer pressure and an inability to understand each other. Will it all work out? Of course, it will... in the final act!

8. Out of Sight (1998): From a book by Elmore Leonard, this was a stylized romance between Jennifer Lopez, a cop, and George Clooney, a criminal, back when both were still sex symbols. This one is well written and fun to watch and they have real chemistry.

I would like to add The Princess Bride to list, but I think the male relations really are the key in that one.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Westerns

I know that many of you don't like westerns. To that, I can only call you dirty commies and refuse to ever speak to you again. As for the rest of you, the good Americans among us, I could probably give you a Top 500 here, including anything by Gene Autry or Audie Murphy or John Wayne or Glenn Ford or Randolph Scott. But I'm going to keep this to the ten I turn to most often. Head 'em up!

1. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966): The ultimate Spaghetti Western and in many ways the ultimate Western. You've got three men, Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach playing cat and mouse as they pursue a buried treasure in a grave. In the process, you have iconic moments, a twisting game of revenge complete with last second reprieves, beautifully staged gun fights, and one of the greatest scores ever in a film. I can watch this one every day.

2. The Magnificent Seven (1960): This film is just fantastic. A remake of Seven Samurai (another excellent film), you got seven big named action stars teaming up to take on Mexican bandit Eli Wallach. What makes this film so great is that it explores each character, including Wallach, and you come to like (or pity) them all, including Wallach. Add in snappy dialog, scene stealing Steve McQueen, and a booming soundtrack and this is easily the best classic Western you will ever find.

3. The Wild Bunch (1969): If the The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly was a story about antiheroes, then The Wild Bunch is simply the story of villains. One group of villains robs a bank. Another group of villains is hired to stop them. They chase them to Mexico where they encounter villainous Mexican soldiers. Directed by Sam Peckinpah, this is "tough guy" Western at its peak. It's brutal, it's bloody, and it's packed full of action and, of all things, philosophy.

4. Silverado (1985): This is a great redemption story done with tremendous ability. Interesting characters with strong relationships, great actors, some great situations, some likeable villains, and a plot that pulls you in and keeps you going from start to finish, I highly recommend this film.

5. High Plains Drifter (1973): This one's really fascinating. This is the story of a man with no name, Clint Eastwood, who may well be an avenging angel come back to town to punish the townsfolk for hiring killers to get rid of their sheriff and then watching as these killers whip him to death. Interestingly, this was remade by Eastwood in the 1980s as Pale Rider, and while Pale Rider was a good film which I enjoy very much, it completely lacks the spirit which made this film so special. This film feels like a glimpse into hell at times.

6. Dodge City (1939): If there's such a thing as a cliché Western, this is it. Errol Flynn needs to clean up Dodge City to make it safe for the good people who live there and in the process, he fights cattle barons and gunslingers. But this cliché is done right!

7. Blazing Saddles (1974): Funniest... western... ever.

8. Unforgiven (1992): This film pissed me off originally. The first time through, it felt like Eastwood was repudiating his Spaghetti Western days. But over time, I've come to see this as a film that wants to be a more serious, realistic Western, but at the same time lets us know that The Man With No Name lives in Eastwood's spirit and he'll come shoot every last one of you if you give him cause.

9. The Quick and the Dead (1995): I'll admit it, I like this one. This film was meant to deconstruct Westerns and essentially mock them. But it's got an amazing cast and it soft-pedaled the satire a little too much to achieve its purpose of sending a nasty message about Westerns. Thus, what was meant to be smug and condescending actually turns out to be a heavily-clichéd but fun Western... a serious version of Rustler's Rhapsody mixed with Bloodsport and I enjoy it.

10. High Noon (1952): This is a very uncomfortable Western because everyone is made out as a coward, a hypocrite or a monster. Nevertheless, the story is made with undeniable quality and in the end you feel satisfied when the Marshall saves the day and then walks away from the townsfolk he once thought were decent people. In a way, this is a revenge fantasy where Cooper proves everybody wrong and then shames them by leaving them to wallow in the own cowardice and avarice.

Let me also give a shout out to Sergeant Rutledge. This is a really well done film that handles race and racism in the US better than any film I've seen in Hollywood. It's also a fantastic legal drama.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Sports Films

With the Superbowl upon us today, I thought I would list my favorite sports movies. Ironically, this is a genre that to me is defined more by its failure than its successes. Sports is tailor-made for drama and film, and yet so many sports films just don't seem to get what draws people to sports. In any event, here goes.

1. Major League (1989): One of the problems with serious sports films is that they focus only on the ugly, cynical side of sports. They may or may not have that one moment of triumph at the end, but they skip all the other things that make us love sports. Major League is a comedy and it chooses instead to focus on all of that. And the end result is the definitive baseball movie. Seriously. This comedy has it all: the whacky hijinx that surround sports teams, the good and bad characters, the tropes we really believe, the ugly underbelly that we sometimes read about as well as the childlike joy of playing sports, bad owners, crazy fans, fair weather fans, loyal fans, the start of brilliant careers, the end of other careers, and all the amazing lows and the unbelievable highs that only sports can bring. It's all here.

2. The Longest Yard (1974): That this ranks as a sports film really shows you how poorly Hollywood does sports. This is really a prison movie with a sports subplot. That said, it's a hell of a film. This film takes all the tension and drama of a prison movie and lets that tension be released in a brutal football game between the guards and the convicts, with Burt Reynolds as their quarterback. Solid fun here.

3. The Bad News Bears (1976): This is a fascinating film. This is a "losers do well film," which has become the standard format for sports films, but this is the first film I can recall doing that. What really makes this film work for me though, is the sense of nostalgia it brings for the 1970s. This was an era where people weren't rule bound or litigious, didn't obsess about safety and self-esteem, and weren't afraid to let their kids be kids. And while the Bears are a multi-ethnic team to make a point and their star is a girl, this film was not making a politically correct point... it was making comedic points. That's so refreshing in our demographically-regulated world.

4. All The Right Moves (1983): This is a depressing film, but it's compelling. It's the first film that really made me realize that Tom Cruise can act. It also felt very real to me in terms of the high school football experience.

5. Rocky (1976): This is one of the best sports films around, even though I don't like boxing. Rocky's character and his struggle to prove himself is truly inspiring and there is just enough of a glimpse into the boxing world (without smothering us) that it feels like you are getting some insight from the film too.

6. Friday Night Lights (2004): This is the definitive high school football "exposé film." This film is highly derivative, but it derived well. I can't say I love this one, but I do find that I watch it periodically and I enjoy it.

7. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004): First of all, I love dodgeball... damn you sick f***s who got it banned from schools. What I love about this film though is both that it's so ridiculous, yet it perfectly parodies other sports films, and Rip Torn, who delivers some of the best lines of all time.

8. Real Steel (2011): Yeah, how sad that a movie about fake robot boxing makes the list... what does this say about other sports film? Anyway, this is a highly manipulative film that really lands every blow it attempts. What makes this film work ultimately is the touching father-son story, where the roles are reversed and the son is the more responsible one. It's hard not to cheer during this film.

9. Slapshot (1977): Yeah, I like this one. This is a dark comedy that's a lot more dark than comedy, but it's satisfying. The story involves a failing minor league hockey team captained by Paul Newman who decides to inject a little chaos into things when he realizes the team is falling apart. It's an interesting film with some compelling characters and moments.

Others I Like: There are other sports films I like, but not enough to really recommend. Days of Thunder was a decent movie, but forgettable. Bull Durham was good, but feels overshadowed to me by Major League. I do love Field of Dreams and The Blind Side, but neither really includes any sports. Here's one I like though, Heaven Can Wait, a 1970s comedy that is well worth the time... and has a great theme song. I also sort of recommend North Dallas Forty as a fascinating, but unsatisfying film -- it needed more. I despise Any Given Sunday, however, as nothing more than a glitzy rip off of North Dallas Forty, with nothing new to say.

Thoughts?

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My Favorite Films: Musicals

Today, I’m going to start something different – we’ll come back to the debates in a few weeks. For quite some time now, people have been asking me to list my favorite movies. So that is what I’m going to do. These aren’t necessarily the most significant or the best movies by any stretch. They are just the films I enjoy the most in each genre. So read along and see if you agree, and then tell us your favorites too.

Let’s start with musicals because I’ve been talking musicals all week with one of our readers.

1. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973): Ironically, I didn’t like this one the first time I saw it. But something about it compelled me to watch it again and I was hooked. This film features a fantastic 70’s rock soundtrack, some true subtlety of message, and the most kick ass tasseled jumpsuit EVER! Moreover, the track “Could We Start Again Please” is one of those rare songs were you can honestly feel the emotion behind the song.

2. Grease: (1978) Grease is the word baby. This is an awesome musical that combines 1950s style music with a hint of the 1970s (two strong musical eras). The songs work both as straight forward “wholesome” songs for kids and Mormons, and yet have a well-hidden, extremely dirty undercurrent for everyone else. The story is very relatable to anyone who has dated, and it’s just all around strong.

3. Cabaret (1972): The film surrounding the music in this one is interesting. It provides an interesting look into swinging Berlin in the 1930s just as the Nazis are starting their rise up, and one of the pro-Nazi songs (“Tomorrow Belongs To Me”) gives an incredible mix of beauty, strength and creepy. Beyond that, the songs seem to walk through the various sexual perversions, but they are very funny and entertaining and I would love to have seen this club in real life. Plus, there are some shots of German beer here that just make my mouth water.

4. Xanadu (1980): Ok, shoot me. This one tanked in theaters, but I really enjoyed the whole idea as a kid and I thought the music was super strong. Over the years, my appreciation of the film has only grown. ELO’s work in particular is amazing – some of their best. Gene Kelly can still dance like a mad man, and I love the mix of old and modern in the scene where they present the clashing visions of the club. Interestingly, I read recently that this film has had a recent revival among gays. Huh.

5. Sound of Music (1965): Great songs, great story and Julie Andrews is adorable. What more can you want? I watch this one every year.

6. The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (1982): Texas has a whorehouse in it, God have mercy on our souls. Man, watching Charles Durning dance a little sidestep still makes me smile. And Burt and Dolly were just so right for each other.

7. South Park (1999): Yeah, strange. It took me a while to realize not only that this was a musical, but it just happens to be one of the strongest musicals in years. “Blame Canada” in particular is a truly classic musical song. And of course, who doesn’t bust a gut at the “Uncle F***er” Song.

8. Moulin Rouge! (2001): This one cheats and that bothers me, but still I enjoy the constant medleys of hit lyrics. The couple original songs are good too and the versions of Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” and The Police’s “Roxanne” are awesome.

Thoughts?

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