Movies That You Should All Sit Down and Watch Because I Said So: Part Four

Ah, welcome, welcome! I hope you have enjoyed reading parts 1, 2, and 3 as much as I have enjoyed writing them. I love all these films and each time I try and pick the next ten I want to pass along to you guys I think long and hard, though some of my descriptions may be lax, do not take that as a sign that the film is any less of a piece of art compared to one which I give a long description. All these are movies you should watch not just because I told you too, but because they are pieces of cinematic history (mainly because I told you too and my opinion is the greatest one I know) and if you love movies you will appreciate each choice..

Now I may have mentioned in Part 2 that I was going to launch into the sports version of my list, but I figured two themed lists in a row would be lamer than a quadriplegics legs so I decided against it. I really do love you Spacejam and I swear we will be together soon, but another night.

Well, with all that said let us venture into this month’s ten films. 

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)- Alfred Hitchcock; Gaumont British Picture Corporation

While Hitchcock later remade The Man Who Knew Too Much (I will put it on a list one day) in 1956 with a far superior cast I decided to pick his original masterpiece simply because I love Peter Lorre and what he brings to the film. While the remake is a better film (I t was made with a extremely larger budget mainly because it was backed by a large Hollywood studio) it really missed Peter Lorre’s creepiness. The plot remains the same: a couple discovers an assassination attempt and in order for them to keep quiet their daughter is kidnapped which, with Hitchcok at the helm, is a wonderfully suspenseful thriller.

Ministry of Fear (1944)- Fritz Lang; Paramount Pictures

Fritz Lang is a master behind the camera and his mastery shines in this film. His direction over shadows the story and acting as a whole, but with him behind the camera he creates a wonderful Noir and gets the best out of the story. Ray Milland plays a man who had just been released from an asylum and manages to find himself caught up with a Nazi spy ring and murder, a lot of suspense keeps the story moving forward and your eyes glued to the screen. The ending is super Hollywood, which would be my only complaint. After a movie full of dark shadowy characters they ride off in the sunset planning a wedding? That was 1940’s Hollywood for you, maybe you will enjoy the ending, but everything before the car ride on a beautiful day is a film worth every minute you will invest. 

The Man With the Golden Arm (1955)- Otto Preminger; Otto Preminger Films, Carlyle Productions

Frank Sinatra plays a recovering heroin addict just released from a stint in prison, but the life he returns to is the same one he was trying to escape. His wheelchair bound wife, his reputation as the best card dealer in Chicago, and his addiction. He is an aspiring drummer, trying to make a clean break from drugs and his illegal life but he is sucked back into use. A scene where he tries once again to give up dope was powerful and unheard of in American cinema at the time and Sinatra played his part perfectly leading to his well deserved second Academy Award nomination. 

The Killing (1956)- Stanley Kubrick; Harris-Kubrick Productions

Stanley Kubrick’s second full length film the Killing, take an inside look at a group of crooks and their robbery of a race track. The plot involves many characters with different personalities each with their own dreams about what to do with the money. But would it be a classic tale of too many cooks in the kitchen? Or will it go off without a hitch? I know how it turns out, but I won’t tell you instead I recommend that if you are a fan of Film-Noir crime thrillers you sit down and enjoy the film and then we will talk about it.

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)- Sergio Leone; Rafran-San Marco Production, Paramount Pictures

This is my favorite Sergio Leone directed film. Yes, I know that means I find it better than the Man with No Name Trilogy and I will defend that opinion if you want to argue. Though, that doesn’t take away from those films which will all appear on my blog at some point in the future.

This film gave the blue eyed Henry Fonda a chance to play a villain and the performance he delivered was one that should go down as one of the best in the history of the western genre. Pair him with the always badass Charles Bronson and his harmonica backed by the always incredible score of Ennio Morricone you end up with the greatest western and one of the greatest movies of all time.

The Godfather: Part II (1974)- Francis Ford Coppola; Paramount Pictures, Coppola Company

Take the greatness of part one and add to it Robert De Niro playing a young Vito Corleone and you create the greatest sequel in motion picture history. As I did with the first Godfather in part one of this series, I don’t think this needs many words. I should not have to tell you to go and watch this American epic. You should have already watched it, but if not I will just let the 6 Academy Awards and 11 nominations speak for themselves. Just go watch De Niro in one of his greatest performances of his career. 

Salvador (1986)- Oliver Stone; Hemdale Films

Over shadowed by Stone’s Best Picture winning Platoon (it will show up on a list eventually) most people forget that Salvador was nominated for a couple awards at the 1987 awards as well. Obviously Platoon was the Stone film to actually take home awards but there was a reason this film’s screenplay and its star actor James Woods were nominated. James Woods plays Richard Boyle who is an American photojournalist that drives down to El Salvador at the start of that nation’s civil war between the military government (which was supported by the U.S.) and a group of left wing guerrilla groups knows as the FMLN. Going along with him for the ride was an out of work disc jockey Doctor Rock played by Jim Belushi.

Once down in El Salvador the apparent seriousness (which they underestimated) of the situation becomes clear to the pair of Americans. Stone portrays the violence and human rights violations that were occurring not only during the time period which was taking place but also the continuing atrocities that were occurring while the filming (on location in El Salvador while the civil war still raged on) occurred.

In my mind this is a far more powerful film than Platoon and deserves a place as one of the best films of the eighties. 

Up in the Air (2009)- Jason Reitman; Paramount Pictures

After a million posts using Anna Kendrick GIFs one of her movies finally appears!! She did a brilliant job and should have won the Academy award instead of fucking Mo’nique. Who does she think she is? Cher? Bitch go get a last name and give your award to Anna.

Along with Anna getting a nod from the academy so did George Clooney and Vera Farmiga whom were also both extremely deserving of the nomination.

The film came out at the right time as the economy was in a shit-hole and people were losing their jobs, so a movie about a company that has employees who fire people for pussy bosses was a perfect fit. Though the film is more than a look at the state of the economy, though the interviews with fired employees (a lot of whom were real people who got laid off and not actors) are heart wrenching (if you have a heart) the main focus of the film is a man trying to justify the  loneliness of his lifestyle. Reitman’s story makes you feel for each of the three characters at different times throughout the film, and he untimely weaves a beautiful tale of love, deception, and the struggle of everyday life.

The Ides of March (2011)- George Clooney; Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media Group

One of the best political themed films in recent times, Ryan Gosling delivers the best performance of his career (yes, better than his Academy Award nominated performance in Half Nelson) and Clooney shows why he is one of my favorite current actors. The two stars are surrounded by a powerful supporting cast with fantastic performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, and Marisa Tomei create a wonderful behind the scenes look at the American political landscape mixed with some Hollywood story lines.

Clooney is as fantastic behind the camera as he is in front of it and paired with cinematographer Phendon Papamichael (does a name get more Greek?) sets the tone for the backstabbing and misleading that takes place throughout the film. 

Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)- Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu; New Regency Pictures, M Productions, Le Gribsi, TSG Entertainment

I heard people mention that this film did not deserve to walk away with the Academy Award for best picture, but after watching it I think those people are just wrong. I think Birdman was fantastic in almost every aspect of film making. Each of the actors from Keaton to Watts provided some of the best performances of their respective careers. America’s sweetheart Emma Stone without question gave her best performance in her short career I hope this opens the door for her taking more serious roles, and matures her as an actor.

 Then there is the goofy Zach Galifinakis who I can’t stand most of the time (don’t get me started on the god awful Hangover films), but he gave his best performance since his Oscar worth rendition of Weird Wally in Below. That’s a joke. Below is a really dumb movie, but his character was credited as Weird Wally, so, I mean, it has that going for it. But, for real, I liked Galifinakis in his role in this movie.

In my humble (and always correct, I guess that makes it not humble at all . . . whatever) opinion, director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu did a flawless job behind the camera and absolutely deserved his Academy award and so did cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. 

Birdman is an all around great film that I will recommend to anyone.

Movies That You Should All Sit Down and Watch Because I Said So: Part One

I had a conversation the other day regarding movies and was asked, what would seem to be a simple question, "What is your favorite movie?"

With that I stumbled.

For starters I'm the most indecisive person of all time.  I'm extremely incapable of making a decision and I love a lot of movies, so the combination isn't a good one. So, for me to pick a favorite would be like congress agreeing on something.

I  think my final response was something like "uhhhhhhh, I mean, uhhhhhh, I don't really have one."

A look of confusion over came my friend. She had her favorite movie, everyone at the table had their favorite movie. And there I sat, perplexed about how someone could just pick one movie. I love the art of cinema, the art of acting,  and being a writer I adore flawless script writing: hoping one day to be able to do the same. Nothing makes a good movie great like the perfect fitting musical score, or the right lighting for the mood of a scene. Or the right actor for a role, or the proper director to lead the film.

Maybe it is these things that caused another good friend of mine to call me a "movie snob" (she also called me a music snob, maybe she is just jelly? You jelly AF? I know you is!). I'm not a snob. Just because I hate the movie Step Brothers and everything that Will Farrell does. The guy isn't even funny in the slightest I just wish I could go to his house and punch him in the face. He even almost ruined Wedding Crashers with his horrible cameo. Thankfully the rest of the cast and film was funny enough to save it.

Sorry, tangent over.

Not having an answer for my friend at dinner she then asked "what movie, if it is on, would you stop to watch every time."

To this I didn't really have an answer because, once again, there was so many. So, I did what any other human being incapable of decision making would do. I just started naming movies until the table got tired of hearing me list names and we moved on from the conversation, or they made fun of me. I don't know which it was. I'm sure it was some sort of combination of the two things.

Which brings me, finally, to the topic of today's blog. "Movies That You Should All Sit Down and Watch Because I Said So: Part One."

Maybe I should shorten the title? We will see what I put in the title bar before I post this. Anyway here we go, the first ten in which may or may not being a monthly post. It depends how I feel. These are in order of year of release and not in order of my favorite or top ten or nonsense like that, because as you know that would not be possible for me.


M (1931)- Fritz Lang; Nero-Film AG

This is, in my mind, is Fritz Lang's masterpiece. Peter Lorre plays a child murderer in modern Berlin being hunted by both police and the criminal underworld. Lorre's performance is still one of my favorite performances by an actor in motion picture history. The lighting used in this film, credit to cinematographer Fritz Arno Wagner, set the mood perfectly in each scene and was far more advanced than any american films of the time. All around a brilliant film.

Casablanca (1941)- Michael Curtiz; Warner Brothers

Humphery Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, and the always creepy Peter Lorre: what else would you need? I don't even think I have to say anything else, but I will. The film depicts a love triangle in French Morocco, which though unoccupied was part of  the Nazi puppet French government. Bogart must decide his future, and the fate of most are in his hands.

The Third Man (1949)- Carol Reed; Carol Reed's Production, London Film Productions

The greatest Film-Noir I have ever seen. 

Cinematographer Robert Krasker (who won an Academy Award for his work) sets the mood as Carol Reed shows us a man (Joseph Cotten) arriving in Vienna following WWII on an invite from his friend (Orson Welles), who he finds was killed in an accident shortly before his arrival. He investigates his "third man" theory. Writing to much will give away the film and I'm not about to do that. Just go watch it. Also, if any of you find the non blu-ray DVD for sale please let me know, it is out of print and virtually impossible to find. Other wise I will have to go buy a blu-ray player just for this film it is that good.

Diabolique (1955)- Henri-Georges Clouzot; Filmsonor

A spectacular suspense film about a woman and her husband's mistress plotting and executing the mans murder with enough twists and turns that would have made Hitchcock jealous. The lovely Vera Clouzot (husband of Director Henri-Georges) puts in an award worthy performance as the timid, scared wife with a weak heart (something parallel to her real life). A film for all who love a good twist, superb acting, or who appreciate the art of lighting.

The Seventh Seal (1957)- Ingmar Bergman; Svensk Filmindustri

The third Foreign Language and fourth non-american film so far (The Third Man coming to us from the UK). European directors had more freedoms artistically then in Hollywood whose directors were limited by the brilliant (sarcastic) Motion Picture Code.

Coming from Sweden, Bergman's The Seventh Seal a knight during the black plague searches for answers regarding human existence as he plays Death in a game of chess to buy himself more time to find the answers he seeks. A plot that his been copied in TV and movies since the films release. Powered by Max von Sydow as the knight and Bengt Ekerot as the chilling and iconic Grim Reaper this film will keep you thinking and watching as it moves along as it tries to delve into our existence.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)- Stanley Kubrick; Columbia Pictures, Hawk Films

The first and only comedy on today's edition (there will be plenty of comedies on forthcoming editions). Led by the always zany Peter Sellers this film takes a satirical look at the cold war and the threat of nuclear war. A general (Sterling Hayden) perceives a false threat from the USSR and sets planes carrying nuclear bombs to attack soviet targets while politicians as well as high ranking military men try to stop it from escalating. With a supporting cast coming from a lot of fantastic actors, most memorably from George C. Scott, this film will keep you laughing from beginning to end while looking at the absurdity of those who are in charge of the worlds fate. There may not be fighting in the war room, but there are laughs aplenty. 

The Godfather (1972)- Francis Ford Coppola; Paramount, Alfran Productions

I don't think The Godfather needs any words written about it because it is a film that most people have already seen, or are aware of. Brando's Oscar winning performance along with Al Pacino, James Caan, and Robert Duvall (whom were all nominated for best supporting actor, losing to Joel Grey in Cabaret) navigating their way through the Mario Puzo and Coppola's Academy Award Winning screenplay (based off of Puzo's acclaimed novel). A story about family, loyalty, and respect set to the background of the Italian-American mafia. 

Taxi Driver (1976)- Martin Scorsese; Columbia Pictures, Bill/Phillips, Italo/Judeo Productions 

Robert DeNiro plays Travis Bickle, a Vietnam vet trying to return to normalcy in New York City. He suffers from insomnia and gets work as a late night cabby. These are the hours when the city is showing its worse. Bickle takes it upon himself to do something about the scum ridden city. DeNiro brings the brilliant script of Paul Schader to life, guided by the genius of Scorsese's camera and the fantastic supporting cast comprised of  Cybill Shepard, Peter Boyle, Albert Brooks, Harvey Keitel, and a young Jodie Foster. Scorsese does a wonderful job, but the script is so powerful and the acting superb that he could have just turned on and pointed the camera in the right direction and let the story unfold.

Road To Perdition (2002)- Sam Mendes; Dreamworks

Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, in his final on screen role, fuel this beautifully directed film by Mendes. Hanks plays Michael Sullivan a hit-man for an Irish-American mafia that is headed by John Rooney (Newman). When Michael Sullivan's son witnesses his father and the younger Rooney (Daniel Craig) killing a man a chain reaction begins as Sullivan and his son must flee and make their way to Perdition, while avoiding a hit-man (Jude Law) sent after them. The film is well done and provides one of my favorite scenes of all time, telling you which one will give away some of the film so I will refrain. After you watch it then we can discuss it. Though I will tell you that the Thomas Newman's musical score is beyond brilliant and makes the film that much better.

There Will Be Blood (2007); Paul Thomas Anderson; Paramount Vantage, Miramax, Ghoulardi Film Company

Paul Thomas Anderson took the first few pages from Upton Sinclair's novel Oil! and ran with them taking creative freedom to bring us this modern day classic. Oil! (though I'm not quite done reading it just yet) is more focused on the political and socioeconomically side of the oil boom that occurred in California during the early 1900's and the class warfare that was being waged, whereas Anderson's screenplay is focused on a story of a man, his son, and their relationship. Which makes for better cinema than the original source material. Daniel Day-Lewis gives the best performance of his career (obviously in my humble opinion) as Daniel Plainview a wealthy independent oil man, who battles with the big oil conglomerates along with a vengeful Evangelical Eli Sunday (played fantastically by Paul Dano) all the while trying to do right for himself and his son. Anderson delivers a cinematic masterpiece in every sense of the word and it should have won the Academy Award for Best Picture, but it was beat out by No Country for Old Men. Though No Country is a great film it is no where near the level of There Will Be Blood.

*All production credits came from IMDB.com