In the Heat of the Night

Another day, another Best Picture winner. Also, I've never seen Sydney Poitier in anything, which is odd I know. Again I blame that on parenting. This movie won four Oscar's in 1967, going up against the Graduate mainly, and is considered Poitier's highest film. The best thing was watching this movie on TCM, and getting the five random tidbits of information beforehand about the film, so now I can rattle off some facts (George C. Scott was originally slated to play the Sheriff).

2 Sentences or Less: Really really good movie, and in terms of that year's Oscar I agree with it over the Graduate. The seminal movie I've watched about racial tensions in the '60s so far. 

Current Rank: Top 6 or 7... we're starting to get backfilled with great movies that are hard to rank.  

North by Northwest

Hitchcock... Cary Grant... Thrillers... Mount Rushmore... if this thing had any more twists and turns it'd be a labyrinth (a movie that is not on my list). I don't need to justify this.

2 Sentences or Less: This movie was amazing, the quintessential thriller. My favorite Hitchcock, but we'll see how Rope and others hold up.

Current Rank: Top five, no questions asked. 

Swingers

My 27th movie of the summer is one of those "have to see it before college" movies (along with PCU, which is being considered for later on). A young Vince Vaughn and a thin Jon Favreau are part of the cast, along with Ron Livingston (Office Space), and the chick who showed her stuff in Boogie Nights then became a famous actress (Heather Graham). 

2 Sentences or Less: I would compare it to a less slapstick, grown up version of Superbad, which is a compliment from an 18 year old boy. Not constant laughs, but the final joke is hilarious, and it actually had a good message too. 

Current Rank: On the comedy scale, it's higher than Slapshot, but probably not in the top 10. 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

I really don't have to justify this. Jack Nicholson, an unrecognizable Danny Devito, and the incomparable Scatman Coruthers. Five Oscars (all legitimate such as Picture, Actor, Actress, and Director), and the number nine ranking on the imdb top 250. 

2 Sentences or Less: This was a damn good film, and it was actually entertaining unlike some of the other "great" films that just make you think. I really really liked this movie. 

Current Rank (The full list!): 

1. American Beauty (Best Movie so Far)

2. Memento (Most Original Movie so Far)

3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Best Actor to Jack Nicholson)

4. City of God (Best Foreign Film so Far)

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Best Movie with Comedy so Far)

6. Platoon (Best War Movie so Far)

7. The Departed (Best Mafia Movie so Far)

8. Gangs of New York (Best Villain to Daniel Day-Lewis)

9. Full Metal Jacket (Best Kubrick Movie so Far)

10. Requiem for a Dream (Most Effective Movie so Far)

11. Taxi Driver (Most Disturbed goes to Travis Bickle)

12. The Big Chill (Biggest All-Star Cast so Far)

13. Big Lebowski (Best Movie to Watch While... Altered so Far)

14. The Natural (Best Sports Movie So Far)

15. Doubt (Catholics, Molestation, and you're sure it's not a documentary? Zing)

16. Rain Man (Hey, it was good, but I wouldn't watch it again)

17. No Country for Old Men (2nd Best Coen Brothers Film so Far)

18. Babel (Best Movie with 5 Languages in it so Far)

19. Slap Shot (Classic Comedy, Good Sports, Bad People)

20. The Machinist (If you want a movie with an unpredictable twist...)

21. Man on Wire (Fascinating Story)

22. Bonnie and Clyde (Best Him and Her Robbery Flick so Far)

23. The Graduate (2nd Best Dustin Hoffman Performance so Far)

24. Blow (2nd Best Drug Dealer Movie so Far) *First goes to City of God

25. Taken (Best Kick-Ass and Take Names Movie so Far)

26. Teen Wolf (Most Dated and Illogical Movie so Far)

Man On Wire

(If anyone follows this thing, I'm posting the movies from Thursday and Friday today, and will watch something today and hopefully get it up tonight)

I wanted a documentary, just for the hell of it, so I chose last years best documentary winner from the Oscars. I'd heard the filmmaking itself wasn't amazing, but the actual story was pretty cool. It also had movie-esque qualities with a lot of re-enactments and the soundtrack being essential. 

2 Sentences Or Less: A feat I had never heard of before, this was a great story about a man rigging a wire between the WTC. It was cool to learn about, but not a great movie by historical standards. 

Current Rank: This one is right in the middle, but sure to move down once I get into the heavy hitters coming up (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next, Deer Hunter, and the 50s and 60s movies). I promise a full ranking is coming in the next post. 

Slap Shot

One of my main contributors to my list was amazed I had never seen this. It's considered the best hockey movie ever, and really the beginning of vulgar comedy in the mainstream (it was especially outrageous for 1977). Plus, my list of sports movies said it was in the top 5 (along with The Natural, Field of Dreams (already seen it), Raging Bull (going to see it), and Rocky (seen it). 

2 Sentences or Less: Was it consistent comedy? Eh, not really, but it did have good characters (Hansons), and a few memorable scenes worthy of pop culture reference. 

Current Rank: Bottom half of my list for sure, but not as an insult. If someone else gets this movie, I would say Hanson Brothers for Halloween next year. 

The Machinist

Another movie I had high hopes for. It was famous for Christian Bale's weight loss, and was advertised as a 'psychological thriller' about a man who had not slept for a year. Interesting premise, good actor, so I was excited. 

2 Sentences or Less: Pretty cool movie, and you have to watch it at night. Not superb acting, and a little predictable, but overall see it to say you saw it, and impress your friends because it's a cool movie. 

Current Rank: I'll give it top 10, probably about 8 out of 23. Although it'll probably go down once I really start comparing it to everything else. 

The Natural

I'm a sports fan, I work for a baseball team, and I once met Robert Duvall (true story). I don't know how I missed The Natural as a kid, but I'll blame it on parenting and give it a review.

2 Sentence or Less Review: It was hokey, and it had some plotholes, and obviously it wasn't necessarily "believable", yet I loved it. This is a great model for baseball movies, and I can see why it is a classic.

Current Rank: Top 15 for sure, the only problem is I don't have other sports movies to juxtapose, but I will soon.

Doubt

I know, I know, I'm watching recent movies and more just crossing off a to-do list than anything. But admit it, this was a good movie with good actors and could be a classic (especially for literary buffs) in the near-future. I feel justified. On to the review.

2 Sentence or Less Review: I love Phil Seymour-Hoff in general, and he was great in this movie. Basically a great book on screen with all the symbolism, ambiguity, and moral reasoning being put forth by this movie.

Current Rank: It's in the top half, if only because analysis is endless, and I enjoy analysis.

Babel

It's not a classic or anything, but it got nominated for some Oscars, and even won one (and who's not a sucker for the Best Original Score winner...). Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchet get some screentime, but it's more about random people in the world. Essentially the plot is four different stories with some loose links to one another, and all that jazz.

2 Sentence or Less Review: I watched this in two parts and didn't like it after part 1, but it grew on me after the second half of the movie. I would say it's comparable to Crash (in it's message, ideas, etc...) but not near as haughty, and with an international flavor, plus there is a Mexican Wedding (always a bonus).

(After 20, I have to really rank these suckers) (I also want to say that these are not necessarily ranked by how "great" they are, but by how much I enjoyed them, or at least how effective they were at getting their idea across)

Current Ranks:

1. American Beauty (Best Movie so Far)
2. Memento (Most Original Movie so Far)
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Best Movie with Comedy so Far)

4. City of God (Best Foreign Film so Far)
5. Platoon (Best War Movie so Far)
6. The Departed (Best Mafia Movie so Far)

7. Gangs of New York (Best Villain to Daniel Day-Lewis)
8. Full Metal Jacket (Best Kubrick Movie so Far)

9. Requiem for a Dream (Most Effective Movie so Far)
10. Taxi Driver (Most Disturbed goes to Travis Bickle)
11. The Big Chill (Biggest All-Star Cast so Far)
12. Big Lebowski (Best Movie to Watch While... Altered so Far)

13. No Country for Old Men (2nd Best Coen Brothers Film so Far)

14. Babel (Best Movie with 5 Languages in it so Far)
15. Bonnie and Clyde (Best Him and Her Robbery Flick so Far)
16. Rain Man (Best Dustin Hoffman Performance so Far)
17. The Graduate (2nd Best Dustin Hoffman Performance so Far)
18. Blow (2nd Best Drug Dealer Movie so Far) *First goes to City of God
19. Taken (Best Kick-Ass and Take Names Movie so Far)
20. Teen Wolf (Most Dated and Illogical Movie so Far)

No Country for Old Men

Another Best Picture winner, and another Coen Brothers movie. I watched this with someone else who was very smart, to make sure I understood everything. There was also the guy who plays Bush, Al Gore's Roomate, and a transgendered assassin (I know jokes about his hair have been beaten to death).

2 Sentence or Less Review: It was confusing at points, and the randomness doesn't help, but I can see why it won Best Picture. You can't say it was bad, so it has to be good. 

Current Rank: Probably not as high as I want it to be. I SHOULD like this movie, but for some reason I don't love it. Legit rankings coming next post.

Gangs of New York

This was a graduation present from my school librarian, who was outrageously offended when I told her I never saw this. I was scared away by the 167 minute tag (part of the reason I'm putting off Deer Hunter), but I knew I should watch it. Leo Dicaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Cameron Diaz are all stars in this film.

2 Sentence or Less Review: A good man movie with lots of violence and women, but the three hour time does take away a little of it. It could have been done in two hours, and it could have done with Leo and Cameron's terrible attempts at accents.

Current Rank: Somewhere above Blow, somewhere below Full Metal Jacket. There's just a lot of minor things that detract from an otherwise cool movie. 

Requiem for a Dream

Everyone told me that when I watched this movie, it would affect me for a few days, or at least it would change my perception on drugs. Everything online said the same thing, with fanboys saying they would not even touch a drop of wine after this. It was supposed to be big.

2 Sentence or Less Review: Just because I don't "like" a movie doesn't mean it isn't good. It will make you somewhat queasy with visionary directing and it's harsh story, and it really could affect you if it's personal.

Current Rank: I'll put it somewhere around 7 out of 16, I think it's a good movie, but I need more time to decide on it.

Cidade de Deus (City of God)

First foreign film I watched was recommended to me by my very smart English teacher. I was told it would be "heavy" and it would be 'gangsta'. I was not disappointed.

2 Sentence or Less Review: Holy crap was this a good movie, as far as subject, though, action, inspiration, ideas, acting, the whole nine yards. The foreign subtitles don't detract from the movie at all, and the slums of Rio are depicted well.

(Note: I'm now just going to do a list ever 5 or 10, but I'll give a general ranking)

Current Rank: Definitely top 5, I just need a day to digest it.

American Beauty

Another Best Picture winner that I've actually seen bits and pieces of. My sister owned it and said I had to watch it, as well as everyone else who had seen it. 

2 Sentence or Less Review: Wow. American Beauty may be the best I've watched so far, there was no wasted frame, space, or line, and I should watch it again just to look for more symbolism and nuance.

Current Rank:

1. American Beauty

2. Memento

3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (My first three movies all start with the ending...)

4. Platoon 

5. The Departed 

6. Full Metal Jacket (The next three show Violence is good)

7. Taxi Driver 

8. The Big Chill 

9. Big Lebowski (No link between these)

10. Bonnie and Clyde

11. Rain Man 

12. The Graduate (Dustin Hoffman in two of them...)

13. Blow 

14. Taken 

15. Teen Wolf (Great actors in odd roles)

Bonnie and Clyde

(Again sorry for not watching movies, graduation week has been hectic)

One of my teachers gave me the movie Bonnie and Clyde as a gift after hearing about my list. I was excited, because this movie basically has a reputation for opening the violence/sex floodgates of Hollywood.

2 Sentence or Less Review: This was solid, although not as much violence or action as I had expected. Although it's not too hot on me yet, I feel like I could watch it again, and it might grow on me.

Current Rank: 

1. Memento 

2. Eternal Sunshine 

3. Platoon 

4. The Departed 

5. Full Metal Jacket 

6. Taxi Driver 

7. The Big Chill 

8. Big Lebowski 

9. Bonnie and Clyde

10. Rain Man 

11. The Graduate 

12. Blow 

13. Taken 

14. Teen Wolf 

Full Metal Jacket

(Sorry to not update daily, I was on vacation but managed to watch three movies I'd never seen while at the beach)

The art teacher at my school whom I watched this with said that this was his favorite war movie (with the possible exception of Deer Hunter). The man is a movie buff, and I would trust his word. I'm also a huge Kubrick fan, I liked A Clockwork Orange when I watched it a long time ago, and this was supposed to be one of the great movies of all time.

2 Sentence or Less Review: The movie is split into two separate parts with only two common characters, and I found the first (boot camp) to be powerful, and the second to be interesting. Compared to Platoon which showed the jaded soldiers, Full Metal Jacket shows more how/why the army makes these soldiers the way they are.

Current Rank: 

1. Memento (It was just freaking awesome)

2. Eternal Sunshine (Heartwarming really)

3. Platoon (Different from Full Metal Jacket)

4. The Departed (It was tighhht)

5. Full Metal Jacket (Deserves a second viewing if I get a chance)

6. Taxi Driver (Makes you think)

7. The Big Chill (Good to watch with friends)

8. Big Lebowski ("The Dude"!)

9. Rain Man (Not a bad movie at all, but I doubt I'd watch it again)

10. The Graduate (Meh)

11. Blow (Cool film)

12. Taken (Solid action)

13. Teen Wolf (Charming in an odd way) 

The Departed

The movie that people were the most offended I haven't seen. When I said "I never saw 'The Departed'" I had a swarm of four girls and four guys on me yelling. It won best picture a couple of years ago as well as having a star studded cast. This will probably be a seminal movie of my generation.

2 Sentence or Less Review: The stars don't distract from the plot, which can be confusing at times due to the story-line. Overall it was a good film, and I can see why it won best picture.

Current Rank: (I know they fluctuate a lot, but at 25, 50, 75, and 100, I'll give definitive lists with a lot of thought, not just impulse)

1. Memento

2. Eternal Sunshine

3. Platoon

4. The Big Chill

5. The Departed

6. Taxi Driver

7. Rain Man

8. The Big Lebowski

9. The Graduate

10. Blow

11. Taken

12. Teen Wolf

Taken

I watched Taken because everyone else was, and it was on my list, and honestly, I really wanted to see it in theaters last year. My best friend is a movie buff and said he really liked it, and it's rare now to find a pure action film that has a good plot and good actors.

2 Sentence or Less Review: Liam Neeson is an odd choice but actually works well in the action flick. It's short, sweet, and focuses on the action, but I would definitely watch it again.

Current Rank:

1. Memento (Great movie)

2. Eternal Sunshine (Great sappy movie)

3. Platoon (Great gritty movie)

4. The Big Chill (Good buddy movie)

5. Taxi Driver (Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood)

6. Big Lebowski (Quotable as hell)

7. Rain Man (Good emotional movie)

8. The Graduate (Good film school movie)

9. Blow (A cool movie)

10. Taken (Not a bad movie, just not a classic)

11. Teen Wolf (A bad movie and a classic)

Taxi Driver

Of all the movies on my list, this was in the top 5 of my excitement. Not that I enjoy movies about disturbed taxi drivers, or taxi movies in general (although Collateral was solid), but I've always heard this was good. Supposedly this put De Niro into a new class by himself, and was of course the movie that made Hinkley shoot Reagan. Needless to say, there were expectations.

2 Sentence or Less Review: This certainly deserves multiple viewings, just because it makes you think about everything so much. Fascinating to look at a killer and a loner in their perspective, not from the yuppie POV.

Current Rank:

1. Memento (Pretty freaking smart)

2. Taxi Driver (I think this is as high as it will get, but it just has me thinking so much)

3. Eternal Sunshine (It is a really good movie)

4. Platoon (Ditto)

5. The Big Chill (Everyone loves it and so do I)

6. Rain Man (Had an epiphany that the relationship in this movie was fascinating)

7. The Big Lebowski (So quotable)

8. The Graduate (See it just to say you saw it)

9. Blow (Don't see it on Cocaine)

10. Teen Wolf (Don't see it)

Rain Man

It won Best Picture in 1989, and it stars two of the biggest stars in movies. I remember seeing bits and pieces of this as a kid and not really liking, so I decided to rewatch it after every single person told me they've seen it ten times. Really, it was a perplexing movie.

2 Sentence or Less Review: Obviously Dustin Hoffman ranks up in the best performances of all time for his role as Raymond, but other acting, directing, film elements in general were not stunning by any stretch. I liked the Ray and Charlie relationship, but this felt a little long and convoluted. 

Current Rank:

1. Eternal Sunshine (We'll put it back on top today)

2. Memento (Probably better than Sunshine, but no one reads this anyways)

3. Platoon (A solid number 3)

4. The Big Chill (Just a good movie)

5. The Big Lebowski (I liked it better than Rain Man, worse than Big Chill. Duh)

6. Rain Man (We'll stick this here, it kind of makes sense)

7. The Graduate (Dustin Hoffman adds up to 13)

8. Blow (Everyone else really really likes this movie)

9. Teen Wolf (Everyone else really really laughs at this movie)

Memento

This was on the top recommended films of a lot of people, as well as the number 29 film on the imdb database top 250 (although I credit that less and less looking at some of the movies on it). It's directed by Chris Nolan who did the Dark Knight and Batman Begins, so that was intriguing, but also my sister's boyfriend told me this a "filmmaking experience." Needless to say it was pretty awesome.

2 Sentence or Less Review: This movie was pretty freaking brilliant. I didn't find it too confusing, and it had one of the better endings of any movie I've ever watched.

Current Rank:
1. Memento (At least for now, it was pretty cool)
2. Eternal Sunshine (Still a great movie)
3. Platoon (Maybe should be higher, but not sure)
4. The Big Chill
5. The Big Lebowski
6. The Graduate (Other people from my generation agree, it didn't resonate)
7. Blow (Johnny Depp in the rear...)
8. Teen Wolf (I mean, you couldn't expect less)

Teen Wolf

C'monnnnn, you know you've seen this movie. Seriously, it gets referenced more than you think, and is the standard in "popular movies with illogical plot holes that seriously detracted from the film." This was a typical blockbuster of the 1980s, and I felt bad for Blow on the rankings list.

2 Sentence or Less Review: Watch it to make fun of it with your friends, but don't forget (if you're older) that you did love this movie at some point in your life. I choose Pamela over Boof by the way, she's just hotter.

Current Rank:

1. Eternal Sunshine (Re-watchable and great)

2. Platoon (Un-watchable and great)

3. The Big Chill (Re-Watchable with friends for comparison purposes)

4. The Big Lebowski (Watchable when in an altered state)

5. The Graduate (Watchable only a few times in my opinion)

6. Blow (Watchable to impress your friends with your cool)

7. Teen Wolf (Watchable for the unintentional comedy gold)

Platoon

Obviously this was a change of pace from the other movies I've watched, but as I said, I watch them in the order I get them. I've never been huge on Oliver Stone (although Any Given Sunday is on the list), and I've never been huge on Vietnam movies. The main reason I popped it in was because it did win Best Picture, and I need something to compare with Full Metal Jacket and the Deer Hunter when I get to those.

2 Sentence or Less Review: Charlie Sheen's character was good, and portrayed everything gritty and wrong about Vietnam, even if Sheen himself isn't the best actor. It's raw, painful to watch, and necessary viewing for anyone who thinks war should be glorified.

Current Rank:

1. Eternal Sunshine (I just really liked it, and as you can see, things can change)
2. Platoon (Probably had the most effect of any movie on me so far)
3. The Big Chill (I think this debate is coming to a close)
4. The Graduate
5. Big Lebowski (Which is closing in on the Graduate as I find it more and more quotable)
6. Blow (Sidenote: A young Johnny Depp is actually in Platoon, but pretty unrecognizable)

The Big Lebowski

My friend Russell has seen 30 movies in his life. 29 of them are Superbad. The other is The Big Lebowski. I've heard this film was vulgar, wrong, and hilarious. I'm very hot and cold with Coen Brothers movies, so their most mainstream film would be a good test.

2 Sentence or Less Review: It was quirky and funny and certainly quotable, but I think you have to be in the right mood. Not a movie for all occasions.

Current Rank:

1. Eternal Sunshine

2. Big Chill (It just keeps fluctuating)

3. The Graduate

4. The Big Lebowski (In a few days, it could easily stay ahead of other comedies)

5. Blow

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The smartest man my age that I ever met told me this was his favorite movie. This, along with the fact that all the reviews are positive and that I'd never seen a Gondry film meant it was a must watch. I was apprehensive though because I typically don't like a non-goofy Jim Carrey (see Truman Show).

2 Sentence or Less Review: This is a beautiful love story, but is also a smart and mind-bending trip. This is now my go-to movie with girls, in the sense that I'll watch it with them and if they a) ask what is going on too much, or b) don't like it, then that's a deal-breaker (yes it was that good).

Current Rank: 

1. Eternal Sunshine (I just really liked it, and as you'll see, it may change tomorrow)

2. The Graduate (Although it is not as re-watchable as The Big Chill, I recognize now it is more classic)

3. The Big Chill (Still a great buddy film)

4. Blow (It's not a bad movie, but will probably be on the bottom of this list for a while)