81. North By Northwest (1959)
This is the best film by Alfred Hitchcock, in my opinion. It has a great story and screenplay (by the brilliant Ernest Lehman) about the "everyman" who gets mistaken for someone else. Cary Grant is fantastic as the lead character, Roger Thorndike, who is mistaken for a spy. What ensues are the harrowing adventures he has while trying to clear his name and persona. Eva Marie Saint is marvelous as the woman being used by the villain (played by James Mason) to trap Thorndike. Hitchcock makes great use of the suspense in several classic moments including the famous Crop Duster scene and the final fight a top the heads of Mount Rushmore. Bernard Hermann's score is chilling in all the right places. It is a great film and, unfortunately, the only Hitchcock film on my list. Sorry! But it is a great one to have.
Next Post: #80
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The 100 Best Movies: #82
82. Going My Way (1944)
This one is a very personal choice for me. Let's put aside the schmaltzy and hokey qualities the film's plot has. And let's put aside the controversy the Catholic Church has been going through the past decade or so. I grew up Catholic (even though I am not anymore) and both my parents (and both grandmothers for that matter) were (and are) very proud of being Irish Catholic. This film was something my mother would put on anytime she felt she needed a pick-me-up. My mother LOVED this movie (this hits home for me since she passed away in 2003) and it is really a good film. The friendship between the more relaxed Father O'Malley (played by the legendary Bing Crosby) and the conservative, old-world Fathet Fitzgibbon (the delightful Barry Fitzgerald) is an Odd Couple-like relationship that is quite heartwarming. My absolute favorite scene is the one where O'Malley has his boys' choir sing for his friend, the opera singer (played by real Metropolitan Opera star Rise Stevens). The boys charm her with singing the jazzy "Swingin' On a Star," and then, to impress her, they sing "Ave Maria," in which she lends her beautiful soprano and joins them. Anyone who grew up listening to "Ave Maria" (as I did) will begin to sing along (as I do!). My mother's favorite scene, of course, was the scene in which O'Malley sings "Too-ra-Loo-ra-Loo-ra" to the old Fitzgibbon. It always made her cry. Its such a wonderful film and I am pleased to have it represented on my list in dedication to her. I miss you mom!
Next Post: #81
This one is a very personal choice for me. Let's put aside the schmaltzy and hokey qualities the film's plot has. And let's put aside the controversy the Catholic Church has been going through the past decade or so. I grew up Catholic (even though I am not anymore) and both my parents (and both grandmothers for that matter) were (and are) very proud of being Irish Catholic. This film was something my mother would put on anytime she felt she needed a pick-me-up. My mother LOVED this movie (this hits home for me since she passed away in 2003) and it is really a good film. The friendship between the more relaxed Father O'Malley (played by the legendary Bing Crosby) and the conservative, old-world Fathet Fitzgibbon (the delightful Barry Fitzgerald) is an Odd Couple-like relationship that is quite heartwarming. My absolute favorite scene is the one where O'Malley has his boys' choir sing for his friend, the opera singer (played by real Metropolitan Opera star Rise Stevens). The boys charm her with singing the jazzy "Swingin' On a Star," and then, to impress her, they sing "Ave Maria," in which she lends her beautiful soprano and joins them. Anyone who grew up listening to "Ave Maria" (as I did) will begin to sing along (as I do!). My mother's favorite scene, of course, was the scene in which O'Malley sings "Too-ra-Loo-ra-Loo-ra" to the old Fitzgibbon. It always made her cry. Its such a wonderful film and I am pleased to have it represented on my list in dedication to her. I miss you mom!
Next Post: #81
Friday, July 9, 2010
The 100 Best Movies: #83
83. Tootsie (1982)
This is a hilarious and touching film that makes fun of something I loved to make fun of as a kid (and still do!): Daytime Soap Operas (dun dun dun!). Co-written by the late Larry Gelbart and directed by the late Sydney Pollack, the film tells the story of temperamental actor Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman, who plays temperamental all too well) who is frustratingly not getting hired for jobs on stage, film or even TV. When his friend (the delightful Teri Garr) gets turned down for a part on a soap opera, Michael decides to do the unthinkable: dress as a woman, audition for the part himself (or rather herself) and he GETS IT! (or rather she gets it!). Of course, Michael's alter-ego (Dorothy Michaels) becomes a sensation and, of course, there is plenty of humor in the man-dressed-as-woman plot. But the plot takes a turn when Michael (as Dorothy) becomes infatuated with his co-star (played to Oscar-winning perfection by Jessica Lange). It goes from a typical man-in-drag comedy to man-in-drag-BUT-in-love comedy. The film's comedic wit and charming cast make it a delightful movie to watch. Note: Another great film with a similar storyline (but in reverse) and from the same year is Blake Edwards' Victor/Victoria. It's not on the list, but because it's also from 1982 and its plot is in the same vein, I thought I'd mention it. I guess 1982 was a year for gender bending!
Next Post: #82
This is a hilarious and touching film that makes fun of something I loved to make fun of as a kid (and still do!): Daytime Soap Operas (dun dun dun!). Co-written by the late Larry Gelbart and directed by the late Sydney Pollack, the film tells the story of temperamental actor Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman, who plays temperamental all too well) who is frustratingly not getting hired for jobs on stage, film or even TV. When his friend (the delightful Teri Garr) gets turned down for a part on a soap opera, Michael decides to do the unthinkable: dress as a woman, audition for the part himself (or rather herself) and he GETS IT! (or rather she gets it!). Of course, Michael's alter-ego (Dorothy Michaels) becomes a sensation and, of course, there is plenty of humor in the man-dressed-as-woman plot. But the plot takes a turn when Michael (as Dorothy) becomes infatuated with his co-star (played to Oscar-winning perfection by Jessica Lange). It goes from a typical man-in-drag comedy to man-in-drag-BUT-in-love comedy. The film's comedic wit and charming cast make it a delightful movie to watch. Note: Another great film with a similar storyline (but in reverse) and from the same year is Blake Edwards' Victor/Victoria. It's not on the list, but because it's also from 1982 and its plot is in the same vein, I thought I'd mention it. I guess 1982 was a year for gender bending!
Next Post: #82
The 100 Best Movies: #84
84. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
It's the Disney movie that technically isn't a Disney movie. In the 1980's, the Walt Disney Company seemed to be going down without stopping. After a crew of animators left in the late 1970's (including Don Bluth), the Disney films began to lose their edge and even worse: began to lose money (see The Black Cauldron). To make some kind of profit in the decade, they started subsidiary companies like Buena Vista Television (an offshoot from their Buena Vista Studios) which produced shows like the NBC hit The Golden Girls and Touchstone Pictures which was to produce family friendly (yet with a more adult tone) films. One of those new films to be produced by Touchstone (with the help of Steven Spielberg) was this one based (quite loosely) on the satiric book Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, which spoofed detective stories and cartoon characters.
The film is a delightful comedic mixture of animation and live action and director Robert Zemeckis gives this blend a great nostalgic feel to it. Not only does it mix animation and live action, but it mixes genres like film noir, comedy, adventure and mystery. It tells the story of Hollywood Private Investigator Eddie Valliant (played to perfection by Bob Hoskins) and how (in a Hollywood where cartoons walk amongst humans) the studio's biggest star, Roger Rabbit, is having marital troubles. When the prominent Marvin Acme (the delightful Stubby Kaye) is killed, presumably by a "Toon," Roger Rabbit becomes the main suspect because of Acme's relationship with Roger's wife, Jessica (quite possibly the sexiest character ever drawn). The mixture works so well that the film is enjoyable for people of all ages. The cartoons provide the necessary comedic relief (for both adults and kids) and the story is a great throwback to Sam Spade-style classics. The movie (which was a huge departure from the novel) was a massive box-office success and, in a way, helped to save the Disney Company from failure (the advances in VHS sales and the Animated Musical also helped but that's another blog altogether).
Next Post: #83
It's the Disney movie that technically isn't a Disney movie. In the 1980's, the Walt Disney Company seemed to be going down without stopping. After a crew of animators left in the late 1970's (including Don Bluth), the Disney films began to lose their edge and even worse: began to lose money (see The Black Cauldron). To make some kind of profit in the decade, they started subsidiary companies like Buena Vista Television (an offshoot from their Buena Vista Studios) which produced shows like the NBC hit The Golden Girls and Touchstone Pictures which was to produce family friendly (yet with a more adult tone) films. One of those new films to be produced by Touchstone (with the help of Steven Spielberg) was this one based (quite loosely) on the satiric book Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, which spoofed detective stories and cartoon characters.
The film is a delightful comedic mixture of animation and live action and director Robert Zemeckis gives this blend a great nostalgic feel to it. Not only does it mix animation and live action, but it mixes genres like film noir, comedy, adventure and mystery. It tells the story of Hollywood Private Investigator Eddie Valliant (played to perfection by Bob Hoskins) and how (in a Hollywood where cartoons walk amongst humans) the studio's biggest star, Roger Rabbit, is having marital troubles. When the prominent Marvin Acme (the delightful Stubby Kaye) is killed, presumably by a "Toon," Roger Rabbit becomes the main suspect because of Acme's relationship with Roger's wife, Jessica (quite possibly the sexiest character ever drawn). The mixture works so well that the film is enjoyable for people of all ages. The cartoons provide the necessary comedic relief (for both adults and kids) and the story is a great throwback to Sam Spade-style classics. The movie (which was a huge departure from the novel) was a massive box-office success and, in a way, helped to save the Disney Company from failure (the advances in VHS sales and the Animated Musical also helped but that's another blog altogether).
Next Post: #83
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The 100 Best Movies: #85
85. Spider-Man (2002)
One of the better films to come out of the onslaught of comic book movies in the last decade, Marvel Comics' classic hero gets the big screen treatment to full effect. Tobey Maguire is a perfect Peter Parker (say that three times fast!) and a thrilling Spider-Man. What is honestly great about this movie though, aside from the intense action sequences and high-flying adventures, is the way in which they treat the hero's origins. Other comic book movies either gloss over the origin or give it a cinematic difference from the rest of the film that sometimes doesn't make sense. Here, the origins are the crux of the story and, in many ways, its heart. One cannot forget the words of Uncle Ben (touchingly played by Oscar-winner Cliff Robertson), "With great power, comes great responsibility." Plus it has what is considered to be the most romantic (and, over the past few years, most parodied) kisses in a comic book film. It was followed by a fairly decent sequel (which was followed by a very ho-hum sequel) and SONY Entertainment is looking to revamp the franchise in the coming months (casting a fresh-faced newcomer in the lead). This first film is worth a look for its character development, action scenes and sheer AWESOMENESS!!!
Next Post: #84
One of the better films to come out of the onslaught of comic book movies in the last decade, Marvel Comics' classic hero gets the big screen treatment to full effect. Tobey Maguire is a perfect Peter Parker (say that three times fast!) and a thrilling Spider-Man. What is honestly great about this movie though, aside from the intense action sequences and high-flying adventures, is the way in which they treat the hero's origins. Other comic book movies either gloss over the origin or give it a cinematic difference from the rest of the film that sometimes doesn't make sense. Here, the origins are the crux of the story and, in many ways, its heart. One cannot forget the words of Uncle Ben (touchingly played by Oscar-winner Cliff Robertson), "With great power, comes great responsibility." Plus it has what is considered to be the most romantic (and, over the past few years, most parodied) kisses in a comic book film. It was followed by a fairly decent sequel (which was followed by a very ho-hum sequel) and SONY Entertainment is looking to revamp the franchise in the coming months (casting a fresh-faced newcomer in the lead). This first film is worth a look for its character development, action scenes and sheer AWESOMENESS!!!
Next Post: #84
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