Title: The Godfather
A.F.I. Ranking: 2
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall
Release Year: 1972
Brief Synopsis: The Corleones are a big and powerful Sicilian family. After Don Corleone, the head of the family, survives an assassination attempt, war breaks out on the streets between them and other powerful gangs that are trying to take charge of the streets. Meanwhile, one of Don’s sons, Michael Corleone, who is considered a war hero, is sucked back into the family business in a big way.
My Thoughts: I could say I don’t know how it took me so long to see such a legendary movie for the first time, but that would be a lie. I haven’t seen this movie because it isn’t even close to my type of movie, but I must say I loved this movie. Sure it was a movie about a street war, but it was even more a movie about family loyalty. All of the performances in this film were amazing, and acted as the start of many great careers. On the other end of that was Marlon Brando and his amazing, almost unrecognizable, performance. What I think is amazing about this film is that Coppola has the audience caring for and cheering for this family of harden criminals, that do some pretty horrible things. By the end of this movie you find yourself loving the Corleone boys, but then you’re thinking what a minute… That is just pure genius on the part of the writer and director. I think this is done because you see their family loyalty and you never see them perform crimes on innocent bystanders.
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
Rating: Top of the List!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
#94 Pulp Fiction
Title: Pulp Fiction
A.F.I. Ranking: 94
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis
Release Year: 1994
Brief Synopsis: It’s really hard to write a synopsis about this crazy movie that goes all over the place. This movie is a series of stories where the characters seem to get caught up in situations that just won’t go right. All of the stories are connected by Vincent Vega, a hit man who would rather be in Amsterdam eating a burger.
My Thoughts: I feel silly reviewing a movie that has become such a cult classic, and a movie that many wouldn’t believe I‘ve seen before. I feel even stranger writing a bad review for a movie that so many love, but I didn’t really enjoy this movie at all. Sure I smiled once in awhile at the cool lingo, but that was about it. Even though I didn’t enjoy this movie, I can appreciate why others would. The dialogue is quick and snappy and Travolta and Jackson are the essence of cool, but yeah whatever. I really don’t enjoy movies that jump all over the place, and have a bunch of crazy side stories for no apparent reason. This movie was less of a good story, and more of a showcase for a bunch of actors and directors to get together and show the world how cool they think they are.
“I love you Honey Bunny.”
Rating: What’s Up with This List!
A.F.I. Ranking: 94
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis
Release Year: 1994
Brief Synopsis: It’s really hard to write a synopsis about this crazy movie that goes all over the place. This movie is a series of stories where the characters seem to get caught up in situations that just won’t go right. All of the stories are connected by Vincent Vega, a hit man who would rather be in Amsterdam eating a burger.
My Thoughts: I feel silly reviewing a movie that has become such a cult classic, and a movie that many wouldn’t believe I‘ve seen before. I feel even stranger writing a bad review for a movie that so many love, but I didn’t really enjoy this movie at all. Sure I smiled once in awhile at the cool lingo, but that was about it. Even though I didn’t enjoy this movie, I can appreciate why others would. The dialogue is quick and snappy and Travolta and Jackson are the essence of cool, but yeah whatever. I really don’t enjoy movies that jump all over the place, and have a bunch of crazy side stories for no apparent reason. This movie was less of a good story, and more of a showcase for a bunch of actors and directors to get together and show the world how cool they think they are.
“I love you Honey Bunny.”
Rating: What’s Up with This List!
Friday, January 8, 2010
#46 It Happened One Night
Title: It Happened One Night
A.F.I. Ranking: 46
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert
Release Year: 1934
Brief Synopsis: Ellie Andrews jumps off her father’s ship and swims to shore when her rich, banker father threatens to have her recent marriage annulled. When Ellie gets to land, she hops on a train to New York to escape her father. While on the train she meets Peter Warne, a journalist who just got fired. Peter recognizes Ellie from the newspaper and agrees to keep her identity under wraps until she gets to New York if she agrees to give him exclusive access to her story in an effort to try to get his job back. Oh the craziness that ensues.
My Thoughts: This is a sweet, funny, romantic movie. Gable is charming and funny in his role. I read that nobody wanted to do this movie, but then Louis B. Mayer who had Gable under contract at MGM loaned Gable to Columbia Pictures because the two were feuding and Mayer thought Gable needed to spend some time doing a movie where he would be stuck on a bus for weeks, but Gable got the last laugh when he won an Academy Award for his performance.
“Don't fall out of any windows!”
Rating: List Worthy!
A.F.I. Ranking: 46
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert
Release Year: 1934
Brief Synopsis: Ellie Andrews jumps off her father’s ship and swims to shore when her rich, banker father threatens to have her recent marriage annulled. When Ellie gets to land, she hops on a train to New York to escape her father. While on the train she meets Peter Warne, a journalist who just got fired. Peter recognizes Ellie from the newspaper and agrees to keep her identity under wraps until she gets to New York if she agrees to give him exclusive access to her story in an effort to try to get his job back. Oh the craziness that ensues.
My Thoughts: This is a sweet, funny, romantic movie. Gable is charming and funny in his role. I read that nobody wanted to do this movie, but then Louis B. Mayer who had Gable under contract at MGM loaned Gable to Columbia Pictures because the two were feuding and Mayer thought Gable needed to spend some time doing a movie where he would be stuck on a bus for weeks, but Gable got the last laugh when he won an Academy Award for his performance.
“Don't fall out of any windows!”
Rating: List Worthy!
Friday, January 1, 2010
#18 The General
Title: The General
A.F.I. Ranking: 18
Director: Clyde Bruckman and Buster Keaton
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Charles Henry Smith
Release Year: 1926
Brief Synopsis: When Johnnie Gray tries to enlist to fight for the Confederates during the American Civil War, he is rejected b because it is thought he would be of more use at his regular job as an engineer on a locomotive. Annabelle, his girlfriend, doesn’t believe that he tried to enlist and dumps him because she thinks he is a coward. A year later Johnnie’s locomotive is hijacked with his girl inside, so he sets off to rescue both his train and girl and in the process uncovers some useful information from the hijackers.
My Thoughts: I came into this movie knowing I would not like it, but I was wrong. I loved it! The reason why I didn’t think I would like it is because I have tried to watch old silent films before and have gotten bored twenty minutes in and turned them off. I didn’t take my eyes off of the screen the whole time this movie was playing. It is non-stop action the entire time. Buster Keaton’s character is such a goofball that you can’t help but love him. Although Keaton is great the best thing about this movie for me was the score. The music was so great, that twice I turned it up. It is hard pounding music to go with the crazy train chases that you wouldn’t expect to hear in a 1920s film. What made this movie interesting for me was afterwards I did some reading and found out that Buster Keaton did all of his own stunts, amazing when you see some of the crazy things he does jumping on and off of moving trains. This is nothing that I am sure would happen with the stars of today. The best compliment I can give this movie is that half way through I completely forgot the characters weren’t talking.
“After a nice, quiet, refreshing night's rest…”
Rating: Top of the List!
A.F.I. Ranking: 18
Director: Clyde Bruckman and Buster Keaton
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Charles Henry Smith
Release Year: 1926
Brief Synopsis: When Johnnie Gray tries to enlist to fight for the Confederates during the American Civil War, he is rejected b because it is thought he would be of more use at his regular job as an engineer on a locomotive. Annabelle, his girlfriend, doesn’t believe that he tried to enlist and dumps him because she thinks he is a coward. A year later Johnnie’s locomotive is hijacked with his girl inside, so he sets off to rescue both his train and girl and in the process uncovers some useful information from the hijackers.
My Thoughts: I came into this movie knowing I would not like it, but I was wrong. I loved it! The reason why I didn’t think I would like it is because I have tried to watch old silent films before and have gotten bored twenty minutes in and turned them off. I didn’t take my eyes off of the screen the whole time this movie was playing. It is non-stop action the entire time. Buster Keaton’s character is such a goofball that you can’t help but love him. Although Keaton is great the best thing about this movie for me was the score. The music was so great, that twice I turned it up. It is hard pounding music to go with the crazy train chases that you wouldn’t expect to hear in a 1920s film. What made this movie interesting for me was afterwards I did some reading and found out that Buster Keaton did all of his own stunts, amazing when you see some of the crazy things he does jumping on and off of moving trains. This is nothing that I am sure would happen with the stars of today. The best compliment I can give this movie is that half way through I completely forgot the characters weren’t talking.
“After a nice, quiet, refreshing night's rest…”
Rating: Top of the List!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
#50 The Fellowship of The Ring
Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
A.F.I. Ranking: 50
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Ian McKellan, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys Davies, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan
Release Year: 2001
Brief Synopsis: Frodo, a sweet innocent Hobbit, inherits a magical ring from his uncle. When it is discovered to be the ring to rule all rings, the ring of Lord Sauron, Frodo and his friends set out on an epic quest to destroy the ring in the only place it can be destroyed, the fires of Mount Doom. This is the first movie in the trilogy.
My Thoughts: This movie was not yet released when AFI first released their list, but when AFI did a tenth anniversary edition of this list, it was a few years after this movie had been released and made it to number 50 on this list. It is amazing that this movie was considered a classic, so soon after it was made. I read the books before I saw the movie, and I apologize to any Tolkien fans reading this, but this is one of the very few, perhaps only, times where I will say the movie is better than the book. Peter Jackson did a great job at brining these books to life. He took out the hundreds of pages in the book where they are just walking through a grassy field, and filled in the pieces with a great cast who brought humor to a rather dull (sorry) book. My one complaint of this movie is one that a lot of people say, but having read the books I understand. It is so long! The story is told in three movies, each of which is over three hours long. When it is all said and done you feel like you, yourself went to Mordor and back.
When I watched this movie today, I felt a little old. It took me back to 2001 when I was in college, working at a book store, living at home, and would spend the summers going to the movies with my younger sister. Who knew I would ever long for 2001 like I do for the 1980s. God I am old!!!
“Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.”
Rating: List Worthy!
A.F.I. Ranking: 50
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Ian McKellan, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys Davies, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan
Release Year: 2001
Brief Synopsis: Frodo, a sweet innocent Hobbit, inherits a magical ring from his uncle. When it is discovered to be the ring to rule all rings, the ring of Lord Sauron, Frodo and his friends set out on an epic quest to destroy the ring in the only place it can be destroyed, the fires of Mount Doom. This is the first movie in the trilogy.
My Thoughts: This movie was not yet released when AFI first released their list, but when AFI did a tenth anniversary edition of this list, it was a few years after this movie had been released and made it to number 50 on this list. It is amazing that this movie was considered a classic, so soon after it was made. I read the books before I saw the movie, and I apologize to any Tolkien fans reading this, but this is one of the very few, perhaps only, times where I will say the movie is better than the book. Peter Jackson did a great job at brining these books to life. He took out the hundreds of pages in the book where they are just walking through a grassy field, and filled in the pieces with a great cast who brought humor to a rather dull (sorry) book. My one complaint of this movie is one that a lot of people say, but having read the books I understand. It is so long! The story is told in three movies, each of which is over three hours long. When it is all said and done you feel like you, yourself went to Mordor and back.
When I watched this movie today, I felt a little old. It took me back to 2001 when I was in college, working at a book store, living at home, and would spend the summers going to the movies with my younger sister. Who knew I would ever long for 2001 like I do for the 1980s. God I am old!!!
“Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.”
Rating: List Worthy!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
#39 Dr. Strangelove
Title: Dr. Strangelove
A.F.I. Ranking: 39
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Peter Sellars, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, Peter Bull
Release Year: 1964
Brief Synopsis: General Jack D. Ripper activates “Code R” which sends plans armed with nuclear bombs to Russian targets without just cause. Meanwhile, the US President, Merkin Muffley, is trying to find a way to stop the attack, or at least minimize the damage.
My Thoughts: While watching this movie two thoughts crossed my mind. One, I wonder how different this AFI list would have been if the committee was made up entirely of women. Two, I bet I would be laughing at this movie a lot more if I were smarter…lol When you read that synopsis you don’t think, “This is Sally’s type of movie.” You also don’t think comedy. I enjoyed this movie, which at times (many times) has you laughing at things that you can’t believe you are laughing at. Peter Sellers, who plays three of the main roles in this film, is supposed to be the big star of the movie, but who made this movie for me was George C. Scott. He gave a great comedic performance. At the time, I am sure this movie raised a lot of controversy, but now, over forty years later, it is just fun to watch.
“You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company.”
Rating: List Worthy!
A.F.I. Ranking: 39
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Peter Sellars, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, Peter Bull
Release Year: 1964
Brief Synopsis: General Jack D. Ripper activates “Code R” which sends plans armed with nuclear bombs to Russian targets without just cause. Meanwhile, the US President, Merkin Muffley, is trying to find a way to stop the attack, or at least minimize the damage.
My Thoughts: While watching this movie two thoughts crossed my mind. One, I wonder how different this AFI list would have been if the committee was made up entirely of women. Two, I bet I would be laughing at this movie a lot more if I were smarter…lol When you read that synopsis you don’t think, “This is Sally’s type of movie.” You also don’t think comedy. I enjoyed this movie, which at times (many times) has you laughing at things that you can’t believe you are laughing at. Peter Sellers, who plays three of the main roles in this film, is supposed to be the big star of the movie, but who made this movie for me was George C. Scott. He gave a great comedic performance. At the time, I am sure this movie raised a lot of controversy, but now, over forty years later, it is just fun to watch.
“You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company.”
Rating: List Worthy!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
#77 All the President's Men
A.F.I. Ranking: 77
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Starring: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Robards, Hal Holbrook
Release Year: 1976
Brief Synopsis: Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward are reporters at the bottom of the food chain at The Washington Post when they are sent to investigate a burglary at the National Democratic Headquarters. Little did they know that this would lead them to spend the next two years uncovering the biggest political controversy in American history that would eventually lead to the resignation of President Nixon.
My Thoughts: I first saw this movie in my freshmen journalism class and immediately decided I wanted to be a journalist (as many did after seeing this film). I’ve long since grown out of that dream, but have not grown out of my love for this movie. I really enjoy movies that teach its audience something about history, and that is precisely what this movie does. What makes this movie so interesting is its dimensions. It is a movie that teaches its audience about what happened behind the scenes of the Watergate scandal, but this movie really isn’t about Watergate. It is about what newspaper reporters Woodward and Bernstein went thorough to get the story, and that is what makes it such an interesting film. Hoffman and Redford give outstanding performances in this. They are so likable that when they face an upset in this movie you feel it right along with them, and when they succeed you cheer for them.
These days I rarely so get so wrapped up in the lives of characters in films, which is why in my opinion their haven’t been many great films to come out in the past couple of years. Definitely check out All the President’s Men if you haven’t seen it (and get the two disc version to watch the cool special features.
“If you're gonna do it, do it right. If you're gonna hype it, hype it with the facts. I don't mind what you did. I mind the way you did it.”
Rating: Top of the List!
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Starring: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Robards, Hal Holbrook
Release Year: 1976
Brief Synopsis: Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward are reporters at the bottom of the food chain at The Washington Post when they are sent to investigate a burglary at the National Democratic Headquarters. Little did they know that this would lead them to spend the next two years uncovering the biggest political controversy in American history that would eventually lead to the resignation of President Nixon.
My Thoughts: I first saw this movie in my freshmen journalism class and immediately decided I wanted to be a journalist (as many did after seeing this film). I’ve long since grown out of that dream, but have not grown out of my love for this movie. I really enjoy movies that teach its audience something about history, and that is precisely what this movie does. What makes this movie so interesting is its dimensions. It is a movie that teaches its audience about what happened behind the scenes of the Watergate scandal, but this movie really isn’t about Watergate. It is about what newspaper reporters Woodward and Bernstein went thorough to get the story, and that is what makes it such an interesting film. Hoffman and Redford give outstanding performances in this. They are so likable that when they face an upset in this movie you feel it right along with them, and when they succeed you cheer for them.
These days I rarely so get so wrapped up in the lives of characters in films, which is why in my opinion their haven’t been many great films to come out in the past couple of years. Definitely check out All the President’s Men if you haven’t seen it (and get the two disc version to watch the cool special features.
“If you're gonna do it, do it right. If you're gonna hype it, hype it with the facts. I don't mind what you did. I mind the way you did it.”
Rating: Top of the List!
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