So, this will be a list of my Top 23 Favorite Movies. Why 23? Because it is my 23rd birthday on Wednesday and this is one way for me to celebrate, by sharing the things I enjoy with people. Today, I'll talk about 10 movies, tomorrow I'll talk about 10 movies, and Wednesday it'll all end with just 3. This list is in no particular order. Also, this list includes an analysis of the perks and the downsides to each of the movie, as well as actors that really stood out in each film.
- The Prestige
Why is it a Favorite?: This movie gets better and better every time I watch it. There is so much mystery in this movie that keeps me guessing and the ending totally surprised me the first time I saw it. After knowing what the answer to the mystery is, it's great seeing all the clues along the way during a second or third viewing. Also, having the movie set at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries not only made for wonderful costume and location choices, but the whole 'Magic vs. Reality' thematic debate really benefited from the time period.
Downsides: I always feel like the movie slows down in the middle because the less exciting stuff is happening. Also, while it does add elements of drama to the movie, I always find it tough to sit through the destruction of the marriage of Christian Bale's character. Also also, it's another tale of seeking revenge and we already have enough movies about revenge.
Notable Performances: Even though Christian Bale's character is more of the antagonist, his performance stands out the most for being the craziest magician at the turn of the century, yet his passion for magic and strict adherence to the rules of being a magician are very appealing. Hugh Jackman does deserve a nod because while I was more annoyed by his character, he brought an element of class to the film and his acting abilities give weight to the devastation that his character goes through.
- The Big Lebowski
Why is it a Favorite?: This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. It's also one of the most quotable. Each scene just feels so random that nothing really seems to connect, yet everything in the plot fits together in the end. There are so many things going on with a variety of crazy characters, and yet I trust the Coen Brothers to make sense of it all.
Downsides: There is so much coarse language throughout. A couple of brief scenes of topless women. The Dude smokes a doobie on occasion. Also, John Turturro's character Jesus (pronounced the Spanish way) is a little too crazy and uncomfortable for my taste.
Notable Performances: Jeff Bridges IS The Dude, he is constantly entertaining. John Goodman's role as Walter Sobchak is his best performance in my opinion. Also, Philip Seymour Hoffman as nervously goofy assistant Brandt is very memorable and his interaction with the Dude is hilarious.
- Super 8
Why is it a Favorite?: It's so imaginative and nostalgic. The freedom, passion, and innocence of the kids makes this movies 'mint' (a reference to the movie). It's a throwback to classic alien and monster movies while still feeling new and fresh. Ultimately it's the kids that make this movie as great as it is. They're funny and they're authentic. Also, the kids are running around filming their own 8mm zombie movie. How cool is that?
Downsides: The adult actors kind of drag the movie for me. Joe's father, a police officer, tries to do his job as protector of the public and dad, and he annoys me as he mostly fails at both. Alice's father is an abusive alcoholic, which I feel is almost a stereotype by now. Both characters are redeemed at the end, but until then I don't enjoy them being onscreen. Also, the military is the main antagonist and is not redeemed at the end. Really? Why is it always the military as the bad guys?
Notable Performances: Like I said, it's the kids that make this movie. Joel Courtney as Joe Lamb, Ellie Fanning as Alice Dainard, and Riley Griffiths as Charles Kaznyk are the main characters and they are the main fun. Also Ryan Lee's performance as Joe's class clown friend Cary was very funny.
- Fiddler on the Roof
Why is it a Favorite?: It is a beautifully made movie. The locations are spectacular, the costumes are realistic, and the songs are given added power with the realistic background instead of a stage. The actors do a great job of telling the story. The music is very engaging. Even if I hadn't been in Fiddler on the Roof for my first high school theatre experience, I would still enjoy the movie. Even though it's nearly 3 hours long, this movie paces itself well so that the slow moments are dramatic and the fast moments are tense or funny, whatever the situation calls for.
Downsides: Sometimes the slow pace can lose my attention if there's not too much going on. I feel like a lot of the action, favorite songs, and the main plot of the story happen in the first act so that the second act is a little more dull to sit through. I feel like sometimes I have to be in a certain mood if I want to sit through all 3 hours of the movie.
Notable Performances: Topol is incredible as Tevye. Without Topol, this movie would not be as tremendously powerful as it is. Perhaps the only other actors' performances that really stand out to me over time are Molly Picon as the funny grandmotherly matchmaker Yente and Michael Glasser as the charming, politically-minded Perchik.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Why is it a Favorite?: This is the most impressive acting performance by the three main actors. Since most of the plot is discussed and resolved in Part 2, this movie gives time for strong character development and the actors deliver. The filmmakers also managed to make the weakest part of the book enjoyable. When I read the book, I didn't enjoy when Harry, Ron, and Hermoine had to go hide in the woods. I felt like it dragged on in for an eternity in the book and added little to the plot. Now, that part in the movie is shorter and adds so much drama.
Downsides: The scene with the snake was super creepy in the theaters, though thankfully it's much easier to stomach on DVD. The animated tale of the Three Brothers felt like something from Tim Burton and was so dark that while it was imaginative, it did not feel like something that belonged in the Harry Potter world established in the movies. Also, the filmmakers managed to turn Voldemort's Ministry of Magic into a modern Hitler's Nazi party, which is not really something I connected when I read the book.
Notable Performances: First, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley was just so awesome in this film. Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson as Harry and Hermoine were also of course wonderful. Bill Nighy's version of Minister Scrimgeour is different than what I had envisioned, and yet it stands out for being a good adaptation of the character. Also, the devastation of Jason Isaac's Lucius Malfoy is tremendous.
- Hot Fuzz
Why is it a Favorite?: This actors and filmmakers know that this is a comedy but treat the movie as a drama and that adds so much humor to the scenes. All of the jokes towards buddy cop movies, action capers, and mystery thrillers hit their mark. The air of mystery mixes well with the tension between Simon Pegg's Sergeant Angel and the villagers of Sanford. And the action scene in the last part of the film is such great fun.
Downsides: Even for an action comedy, the movie's attitude towards death is nonchalant. When Sergeant Angel investigates a murder (or accident as everyone else considers them), his reverence for the dead is more out of a sense of duty than genuine sadness. His search for the murderer is due to his adherence to the law instead of bringing true justice for the murder that occurs. Also, there's plenty of bloody action and coarse language throughout the movie.
Notable Performances: Obviously, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost stand out. Timothy Dalton as Simon Skinner was delightfully sinister. Jim Broadbent's straightforward Inspector is pleasant and yet mysterious. Also the cameo by David Bradley (Caretaker Mr. Filch in Harry Potter movies) was very entertaining.
- Hamlet (1996 version by Kenneth Branagh)
Why is it a Favorite?: The aesthetics of the movie are pleasing to behold, whether it's the snowy exterior shots, or it's the gleaming black and white interiors of the labyrinth-esque palace, or the bright and elegant costumes of early 20th century nobility. Branagh was actually the first to film the entirety of Shakespeare's Hamlet script, which is worth the 4 hour run time. There are some cameo appearances by Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, and Charlton Heston (my favorite cameo). Branagh's portrayal of Hamlet really demonstrates the double life where Hamlet walks a fine line between insanity and genius as Hamlet seeks revenge for his father's murder.
Downsides: It's 4 hours long so sometimes the movie drags on and on because of its slow pacing. Sometimes the actors speak so fast that it's hard to understand Shakespeare's dialogue. Also, Branagh includes footage of Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship in a sexual way that I do not consider necessary for the story and I generally try to skip those brief moments.
Notable Performances: As I said before, Charlton Heston's cameo performance as the lead actor of the traveling players was a highlight for me. Brian Blessed is creepy as the ghost of Hamlet's father. Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet is marvelous and powerful, especially during the monologues.
- The Last Samurai
Why is it a Favorite?: The samurai culture has interested me since childhood and this movie digs deep into that. The action scenes are tense and incredibly realistic (the final charge is especially emotional). The story of a man being haunted by his past and seeking redemption is well done here. Seeing the effects of modernization on this culture and a group of men willing to fight against odds to keep modernization at bay is a powerful experience.
Downsides: This movie shines a light on negative moments in both U.S. and Japanese history, which are tough to stomach. Like I said earlier, the violence is graphically real, and can be tough to sit through at times. Also, part of this movie revolves around the politics of the times, which while they are relevant to the story can get boring for those of us less politically minded and more action oriented.
Notable Performances: Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe both delivered powerhouse performances as the lead roles of Captain Nathan Algren and Katsumoto respectively. Billy Connolly's short appearance as Captain Algren's military comrade is enjoyable as is Timothy Spall's role as the guide, translator, and witness to the main events Simon Graham. The supporting samurai Ujio and Nobutada, played by Japanese actors Hiroyuki Sanada and Shin Koyamada respectively, add some humor as well as emotional weight to the film.
- Stagecoach
Why is it a Favorite?: The characters are diverse and yet all are enjoyable archetypes of classic western figures (an alcoholic doctor, a southern gentleman, a thieving banker, the classy lady, the woman with questionable morals, etc.). This is the film that made John Wayne a star and his role is a classic example of the cowboy roles he was known for. The chase scene at the end with the Apache horsemen was dramatic and well-choreographed. It's a great adventure, road-trip movie and a go-to black and white film for a nostalgic look at the old days of filmmaking.
Downsides: Not all of the characters get the kind of character development they deserve. Since a lot of the characters are archetypes, you may feel like you have seen these kinds of characters so many times before and be bored with them. Also, there is little sense of tension, it never feels like these characters are in great danger, even though they are traveling through 'wild and dangerous Indian territory'.
Notable Performances: There are only two that really stand out to me since I haven't seen the film in awhile. John Wayne as the Ringo Kidd is a young John Wayne perfecting his signature cowboy style. Thomas Mitchell as the alcoholic doctor is hilariously goofy.
- Pulp Fiction
Why is it a Favorite?: It is the best and most essential Quentin Tarantino film to watch. The storyline is split up and jumbled, yet the story is told in such a great way that I did not mind going back and forth in time. The dialogue is simple yet extraordinary at the same time. Two gangsters talk about the difference between food joints in the US and Europe, two bank theives theorize why no one robs restaurants, a gang leader tells a boxer to throw the big fight. All of these conversational scenes have some power behind them and even some humor. There's great songs that pop up throughout the movie and also some quotable lines.
Downsides: This movie contains plenty of coarse language, violence and blood, sexual content, and drugs. A woman overdoses and nearly dies. Two men are held hostage and beaten. The story line in the middle focused on Bruce Willis is also the slow weak point of the film. Also, Bruce Willis' lover, Fabienne, is an incredibly annoying character and almost unnecessary.
Notable Performances: Samuel L. Jackson as philosophical gangster Jules. Uma Thurman as alluring and funny Mrs. Mia Wallace. John Travolta as troubled druggie gangster Vincent. Even Christopher Walken has a memorable cameo as Captain Koons.
Notable Performances: As I said before, Charlton Heston's cameo performance as the lead actor of the traveling players was a highlight for me. Brian Blessed is creepy as the ghost of Hamlet's father. Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet is marvelous and powerful, especially during the monologues.
Downsides: This movie shines a light on negative moments in both U.S. and Japanese history, which are tough to stomach. Like I said earlier, the violence is graphically real, and can be tough to sit through at times. Also, part of this movie revolves around the politics of the times, which while they are relevant to the story can get boring for those of us less politically minded and more action oriented.
Notable Performances: Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe both delivered powerhouse performances as the lead roles of Captain Nathan Algren and Katsumoto respectively. Billy Connolly's short appearance as Captain Algren's military comrade is enjoyable as is Timothy Spall's role as the guide, translator, and witness to the main events Simon Graham. The supporting samurai Ujio and Nobutada, played by Japanese actors Hiroyuki Sanada and Shin Koyamada respectively, add some humor as well as emotional weight to the film.
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