I thought this would be a fun topic for today.
https://twitter.com/ira/status/1306128805568815105
Note that it’s not about your four favorite movies, or the four you think are the greatest of all time.
I’ll start, in alphabetical order.
- Battle Beyond The Stars. Intended as a “Magnificent Seven in outer space”, the screenplay was written by John Sayles, the score by James Horner and special effects designed by James Cameron. It’s Roger Corman’s finest hour. Bonus credit for casting Robert Vaughn again as one of the seven.
- Breaker Morant. I’ve posted about this flick before. It’s genuinely moving, with a superb cast. It’s not so much an anti-war movie as it is an anti-hypocrisy one.
- Layer Cake. I’m a sucker for a good Brit gangster movie. In this one, you get a pre-Bond Daniel Craig as somebody who’s looking to get out of the business, but not having an easy time of it.
- Local Hero. Pretty much a modern fairy tale. Burt Lancaster is a hoot. Plus, a score by Mark Knopfler.
Alrighty, then. Those are mine. What about yours?
Get The Picture 
So let’s get to the real topic at hand since this is the playpen after all
I have my ballot filled out. Voting republican for everything but will not vote for trump. Nor did I in ‘16. Debating whether to leave it blank like I did on ‘16 or vote for Biden (and I have never cast a ballot for a Democrat before).
I’m thinking if they get the Supreme Court justice through confirmation, I may vote for Biden. If not I may abstain.
That should make some heads explode on both sides around here
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Go ahead and join a long and distinguished list and vote Biden:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/18/politics/republicans-supporting-biden/index.html
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But i kind of like irritating people with Trump Derangement Syndrome
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When people start claiming his birth certificate is fake I’ll agree that tds exists. There is NOTHING out there like that.
Can you imagine a governor meeting trump on the tarmac and getting in his grill and wagging their finger in their face?
Me neither.
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Obama was a Chinese spy. His birth certificate was just part of the long con. Everybody in government is in on the cover-up.
That’s what a derangement syndrome looks like.
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POSUS is/was Putin’s butt buddy and they both enjoyed getting peed on by russian hookers – that was before Craig James killed them (the hookers).
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You say “derangement” and its personification manifests.
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Ooooh! And you didn’t even reply to my post directly. You’re an odd combination of psychotic rage and passive aggressiveness. Kudos.
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I knew this thread would go rogue but on the first post, 6 minutes after it’s posted? This has to be some kind of record.
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Biden won’t be in office for more than a year or two and then we will have Harris. She was on social media earlier this year raising money to bail out rioters from Minneapolis. True story.
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Oh, no, the horrors! True story: Your kind have fewer and fewer votes in this country, and you have to use your voter suppression tactics and the vagaries of the Electoral College to maintain any power at all. Won’t be long after 2020 that you’ll all be changing your tune. Or back under your rocks…whichever you prefer.
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Lol. For the record, I voted for Hillary last election. I hated her, but thought Trump was more dangerous. The problem with people like YOU is that you judge and label others in our country too quickly, and that is driving people like ME over to Trump’s side, no matter how dirty it feels.
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I’d give on that, but if you can’t see your way to not “hating” an eminently qualified former candidate and misrepresenting a fully vetted one by a clear centrist (Biden) who is quite aware of the potential of his own mortality while in office, well… I guess you’re already on the other side, frankly.
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Fully vetted? Yeah, I guess since the running mate had to be a woman of color she fit the bill. Or is she the candidate that the DNC really wanted all along, but could not get the votes for? Kamala’s numbers plunged after Tulsi Gabbard tore her a new one in the debates. Nobody wants her as president but that is the “choice” they are giving you.
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Vagaries? The Electoral College is one thing that’s this Country from becoming a dictatorship.
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Majority rule for every other fucking office in america is anti-democratic or something.
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Federalism is a mysterious system. I tried to find information, but nobody from the founding generation seemed to know what it meant. The electoral college must have been an accident.
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That’s hilarious. You know why they put it in, right? They really did not trust the people to vote “correctly.” And now we’re the only free-elections state in the world that uses something other than the popular vote to call a winner.
Let them eat cake, though, eh, PTC Dawg?
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The concept of Federalism is so difficult for people to grasp when they thirst for the tyranny of the majority (or what they wrongly believe is the majority).
Wanna see what it’s like when the majority always gets its way? Go live in California. You’d be one of the few people actually moving there this year.
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No one lives in our most populous state.
The Senate has plenty of federalism for all of us.
If we had 15 vermonts the right would be in a totally different place on this.
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Once again you manage to say some words and never actually address any salient point.
You’re the kind of saying something while saying absolutely nothing at all.
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Are you trying to be the personification of irony since derangement has already been taken?
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Growth rates are confusing. They’ll probably get to that in high school.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/05/california-population-growth-rate-hit-record-low-last-year-237146
Also, the concept of federalism begins and ends with the Senate. It was nothing but a cynical attempt to accommodate slavery. The 1619 project told me so.
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Some asshole named Publius seemed to think that direct democracy was a bad thing. But he probably never even read Marx.
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Is it too early to accuse whomever Trump nominates for SCOTUS of rape?
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I like a little Cake myself.
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Miller’s Crossing
…And Justice For All
Hunger
Midnight in Paris
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Please tell me … And Justice for All is a documentary about Metallica’s excellent, but low-end lacking, fourth album of which I am not aware. (I keed, I keed)
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I prefer Master of Puppets.
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Justice is the album that got me into Metallica, so I have a soft spot for it.But Puppets is a better album, for sure.
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Audible bass guitar does make a difference
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No Country for Old Men (no one I personally know likes it– too dark and amoral– but I love it, one of my recent favorites)
Shoplifters
Roma
Aguirre, Wrath of God
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No Country is one of the best movies ever, period.
Sure its dark but it has to be to make the point.
How do you tell the audience that the control you pretend you have over the world is illusory if you don’t make it dark?
Roma is a beautifully made movie.
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Roma is a profound movie as well, but a fear that an appreciation of Mexican life and 20th C. politics are required to fully understand it. Which is part of the reason I suspect others I know don’t like it as much (I’ve been to Mexico many times and CDMX is one of my favorite places in the world). The film is a love letter and a deconstruction at the same time.
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Ive been interested in going. Worry a bit about safety. Is that overblown?
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Totally. Depends 100% on what part of the country you’re in. If you want to go to a large city, like Guadalajara or Mexico City, it’s a lot like going to a city in the US…there are places tourists shouldn’t go, but it’s like anywhere else that way.
The violence you hear about in the news is in the rural areas in certain states– the cartels can buy off the police because they can match their numbers. They can’t do that in the cities. And there are some states, like Puebla and Oaxaca, where they just have no presence. Use the US travel guide for guidance, and zoom in on the map. You’ll see Mexico City has the same warning level as Paris. And having been to both, I agree.
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Thanks for the info.
Btw: we made a bet in 2016 and I think you lost but I can’t find the particulars.
I think it was whether UGA or UF would have more NFL players in 2020 off if their respective 2016 teams. UF still has more, by a good bit.
Do you recall this?
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I don’t but I would not be surprised if I lost! I’ll buy you a quesadilla in Mexico City to settle it. LOL. (It’ll be about 30 pesos…$1.75)
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9th 999
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In other words… Roma manages to encapsulate the immense beauty and immense tragedy that is Mexico (culture, politics, devastation, loss) while being also personal. It’s an amazing achievement.
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Aguirre, Wrath of God.
Holy smokes, I did not expect to see this one come up.
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You’ve got two there I would’ve listed, Morant and Layer Cake. Rule 303 runs in my head at random times out of nowhere, so that movie left a mark when I saw it years ago.
My four:
Rio Bravo – just a fun movie but also, like, three days long. Not sure how many others sit that long through a John Wayne movie.
Grandma’s Boy – lesser known flick featuring guys from the Adam Sandler franchise of movies. Can watch this over and over again.
Pow Wow Highway – not sure anyone else in my circle has even heard of this.
The Rundown – great The Rock film with awesome fight sequences.
Fun topic for today…thank you Senator for the diversion!
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The weed dealer in Grandma’s Boy is hilarious.
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Point Break, the one from the 90’s- I have a friend that calls this the worst movie ever I’ll admit, Reeves’ acting isn’t oscar-worthy, But it’s entertaining as hell. At least to me, it is.
Pushing Tin- John Cusack/Billy Bob Thornton movie about air traffic controllers and the shit that happens when one bangs another’s wife. At one time I wanted to go into that field, so I guess that’s part of the allure. But Angelina Jolie shows a nipple, so there’s that.
She’s Having a Baby- I guess fatherhood has made me a softy, I doubt I would have GAS about this movie otherwise. The use of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” over the montage of the baby’s birth is one of the best uses of a song in movie history, IMO.
I don’t have a fourth, All the other movies I love are pretty much universally adored.
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The first four off the top for me.
Quigley Down Under
Man on Fire
Under Siege
Escape from New York
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Beautiful Girls – movie about a guy who goes home for his class reunion, his friends who are still there, and their women. I just always liked it. Matt Dillon uses a very mean expression in it that I have used for years (only in certain company) – “You have been eating retard sandwiches again!”
Primer – time travel movie made on a shoe string budget. I love it, but it bores most and confuses the hell out of anyone who watches it with me. I have yet to find someone who likes it but me.
Return of the Living Dead – I know it is a cult classic, but I have seen it at least 100 times, which seems excessive.
The Bench Warmers – actually my daughter might like this dumb movie more than I do. We watched it a dozen times together.
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Primer is an absolutely awesome movie. Everyone I’ve told to watch it (albeit not many) has enjoyed it, also.
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I got nothing on the Playpen today. I’ll mention a couple of movies I thought I would hate but watched and liked because I live in a house full of women:
1) Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightley version) – thought it would be stuffy like Masterpiece Theater but was funny and well made. Ms. Knightley is quite the sight.
2) 13 Going on 30 – it was hilarious for someone who grew up in the 80s and Jennifer Garner is definitely easy on the eyes.
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Why Mr. ee, I believe you have a type.
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Yeah. Double e bears watching.
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The dude who played Darcy in P&P definitely outkicked his coverage.
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Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow.
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.
Jennifer Aniston as Rachel.
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Yes sir, Got Jr. I know double e’s type. Horny hetero. To paraphrase Bud (Harry Dean Stanton) in Repo Man, he’s aaaaaaaallllllright!
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ha!
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Well, He’s certainly not wrong.
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So I have to ask – what was your reaction when Jennifer Aniston wore the Leia “gold bikini” from Return of the Jedi? Probably the same as mine.
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Very nice but she doesn’t rock it like Ms. Fisher (RIP) did. Of course, I’ve always thought it was totally unrealistic that Rachel would be into Ross (who to me seems like he would fit in perfectly at the NATS).
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Really all told my type is the girl next door … Knightley played that role in P&P quite well. Jennifer Garner is that type. Meg Ryan. Jennifer Aniston early in her career.
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Not the girl next door by any stretch, but Demi Moore in “Striptease” is a treat for the eye. Not to mention I am a huge Hiassen fan and loved the book. Burt Reynolds is great as the lecherous politician as well.
I’d have to add that one to my list, I’ll watch it whenever it’s on.
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Demi in Ghost definitely has the girl next door vibe going.
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True Dat! That one is a fave of the Missus.
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Breaking Away – A charming movie that never overdoes the drama
The Sting – It’s just so well crafted
Jeremiah Johnson – I read somewhere that Robert Redford had less than 35 lines
Babe – “I tried it with the chickens, it didn’t work”
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Jeremiah Johnson is a great choice. I’ll also add Outlaw Josey Wales.
I rewatched JJ last year for the first time in forever. Still a great movie.
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I know it isn’t a list of our favorites, but my #1 just happens to also be my favorite movie of all time:
In the Bedroom (2001)
An exploration of grief. And how it effects people when it’s suppressed. Title doesn’t suggest what you might think. Earned five Oscar nominations (no wins) including Best Actress (Sissy Spacek), Best Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Best Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei), and Best Picture. I think I’ve watched it about 20 times. It gets better with each viewing. The fact that it was actor Todd Fields’ directorial debut is ludicrous. But when I discuss it with others they find it disturbing that I love it so much. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a move that seemed more “real” or which sucked me and held my attention (and rattled my emotions) like this movie. It’s perfect. Also, soundtrack by Thomas Newman will haunt your dreams and waking moments.
Others movies I enjoy more than anyone else I know would be:
Raising Arizona (1987)
A Coen Bros Film
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Frances McDormand
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Danny Elfman, Catherine O’Hara, Chris Sarandon
Score: Danny Elfman
Batman (1989)
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger
Score: Danny Elfman
Honorable mentions: No Country for Old Men, Houseguest, Road to Perdition
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Surely No Country is in greatest/favorite category. It is for me…
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Raising Arizona is a classic. Holly Hunter is perfect in that flick.
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“TURN TO THE RIGHT!!!”
“You’re a flower, you are….”
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In the Bedroom is one of those films that falls under ‘Great, but never watching it again’ for me. I agree it was very well-made, but good God it’s devastating.
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Devastating is a perfect word. Over-used in reviews for books and films, but it’s 100% accurate here. Wikipedia notes that David Edelstein of Slate Magazine wrote in his review of the movie that it is the “best movie of the last several years” and described it “the most evocative, the most mysterious, the most inconsolably devastating” film.
I love watching it though. It’s a perfect film, in that every aspect works perfectly in concert to accomplish what it sets out to do.
I still sit in unbelief when the credits roll. I’ve never seen anything else quite like it, and doubt I ever will.
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Good stuff on here – thanks Bluto!
Vertigo
2001
Dr. Strangelove
Contact
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2001 is the perfect one. It’s my all time favorite movie, and I think one of the great movies made, yet most people don’t like it.
The Shining is another one. Greatest horror movie ever made.
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Dazed And Confused
Slingblade
The Apostle
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (live version) and/or A Charlie Brown Christmas
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”I think the Corman name means action, humor and some titillation.”
Nothing wrong with that. Breaker Morant is very popular in my circle of assholes.
My four:
The Apostle
Repo Man
Enemy Mine
Platoon Leader
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I love Repo Man.
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Three is all I need…
Smokey and the Bandit
Star Wars
Animal House
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Those really ARE personal choices!
You forgot Caddyshack.
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I’ve got three great, critically acclaimed movies and one absolutely terrible one on my list. But that AC/DC soundtrack is just on fire…
Cool Hand Luke
The Deer Hunter
A Bridge Too Far
Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive – well done sir.
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Stephen King said he was coked out of his mind during that movie. After watching Maximum Overdrive many times I think he wasn’t the onlyest one.
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The qualifier for this post is tough, movies we like more than any other person. It also has the potential to get embarrassing because it’s not necessarily the best of movies. The way I chose mine was by the quantity I watched them more than any person I know. So here goes…
Apollo 13 – Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris and Kevin Bacon all in one drama with a historical back drop. I bet I’ve watched this movie 7 times. The dramatic expressions of the actors/actresses’ faces drew me. Sometimes a look tells more than words. I felt every emotion.
Jaws – the release of this movie was good timing…maybe a little too early. Computer graphics had not yet changed the production of movies but with a shark it wasn’t needed. Life-like sharks are not as complicated as other monsters. It’s the only movie I’ve watched more than Apollo 13. It was my first rated R movie in a theater and I’ll never forget the music. To this day I still quote many of the lines. The funny thing about this making was they tried to impress us with the size of a Great White as though it was abnormally huge; when today there are actual live footages of 20ft + sharks.
Ground Hog Day – I’m not a romantic but this movie was fun. I’m a Bill Murray fan and I’m a little sweet on Andie MacDowell. Elliot and Tobolwsky add to the goofy-ness of the movie. It’s a lighthearted and fun movie…not to mention the life lesson of kindness.
I could only come up with three so I hope it doesn’t disqualify me from the post. I’ll try to think of another later.
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A couple of lines:
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I could watch Apollo 13 over and over. Great movie, and very close to the real story. I’ve heard Gene Kranz talk about it and he said the only embellishment was him losing his temper in mission control asking for the reentry plan. I’ve also listened to the NASA transcripts and much of the movie dialog is taken straight from the transcripts.
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Thanks for the info Russ, I wondered about the accuracy. This makes it all the better.
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He never said “Houston, we have a problem”. What was actually said was: “Okay Houston, we’ve had a problem here”. Kinda funny that in a movie praised for accuracy gets the most famous quote wrong.
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If you really want to geek out, check out Apollo in real time (https://apolloinrealtime.org/13/). You can follow along in real time (and skip ahead/back as desired) and listen to all the loops during the mission. Some of the most interesting conversations occur between flight controller and their backroom help. You can also listen to the Flight Director loops, the Cap Comm and crew, and see all the instrumentation. The website is a geek’s dream and you can easily fall down the rabbit hole following these flights.
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Thanks Russ, I’m gonna try to check it out, but it sounds like a big time commitment.
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Man on Fire (just an amazing portrayal of the frailty of the guardian archetype) and tonight I’ll probably pour a whiskey or seven and watch it. Again…
Ocean’s 11 (the original: Rat Pack Swagger and they DON’T get the money at the end. Really dislike the re-make, except for the extra batteries scene)
Open Range (Duvall’s “Sage in the Saddle” really captures how to come to grips with the world changing around him)
Dolphin Tail (openly mocked by friends over this. And. Don’t. Dayum. Care.)
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Soup For One – 1982 Saul Rubinek, Marcia Strassman, Gerit Graham, Funny quest for the perfect woman.
Local Hero – What the Senator said.
Inherit The Wind – Spencer Tracey and Gene Kelly are awesome.
Animal House – A movie a believe couldn’t be made in this day.
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“I believe”..
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Animal House and Caddyshack are two classics that wouldn’t be made today. Or wouldn’t play as well.
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Caddyshack came out when I was an undergrad. We went to see it at the old Classic Triple downtown. I was laughing out loud throughout the movie and my buzzkill girlfriend finally leaned over and shushed me. Apparently I was pretty much the only one doing that. Not many folks were getting it. I think it’s done much better as a tv staple.
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Time Limit (1957)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Seven Days in May (1964)
Seconds (1966)
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I like your choices. I suspect you have a little age on you. I do, and cannot help but suggest that some of the younger folks on here check them out. Recently watched a remake of Manchurian with Denzel in the lead, because, well, Denzel. As a movie, though, not quite as good as the original. A few more from the Wayback Machine:
Dr. Zhivago. Yes, very long. They don’t make movies like it anymore. Omar Sharif and Julie Christie (yes, I have a type) are the stars, but Sir Alec Guinness and Rod Steiger give the best performances, imo.
Similar to Zhivago is Lawrence of Arabia, both are David Lean productions. From the same time vault is A Man for All Seasons; the original play and the movie screenplay were both written by Robert Bolt who was just a great writer. I believe he is also responsible for the screenplays of Zhivago and Lawrence, but don’t hold me to that. Cast of A Man for All Seasons is ridiculously well known in general, except for Paul Scofield in the lead, but he is spectaular in an understated way. Finally, from the Wayback Machine: Far From the Madding Crowd; Julie Christie, Alan Bates, etc.
I have heard that there is a 2015 remake with Carey Mulligan which I will have to check out, but for a bonus pick with Carey in it, I highly recommend Mudbound which is just a stunning picture on many levels.
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Zhivago is a great movie, and I finally got around to reading the book. Excellent, and highly recommended.
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Here’s my 4
Dr. Detroit…I had a thing for the Nanny back then…plus love me some James Brown…
They Live…one of the best lines ever…you know it, bubble gum, kicking ass…enough said
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean…huge cast, a lot of wacky western humor, also another movie centered around prostitution…hmmm might be a pattern here
Dr. Strangelove or …. Peter Sellers was great, but George C Scott stole the show for me…Buck Turgeson “he’ll see the big board!” Love those camera angles
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The Women (1939), Arsenic and Old Lace (Cary Grant, 1944), Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Strangelove, Being There.
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Smokey & the Bandit
Urban Cowboy
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My favorite line from Smokey & the Bandit …
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That is a shitty movie without Jackie Gleason.
“When I get home I’m gonna punch your momma right in the mouth.”
“For some reason or another, you sounded taller on radio.”
“Nice ass.”
I could go on….
Jackie and the scene where Snow Man drives over the bikes is all I need to see.
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Jackie Gleason is hilarious in that movie. I remember going to see it as a kid. Probably the first movie I saw in the theater with that much foul language.
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Its the first “adult” movie I remember seeing at the theaters.
It was this one or Jaws.
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I’ll admit I would still love to own a 1977 black Trans Am with the T-tops and everything.
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Jerry Reed added to the movie as well. Few know his accomplishments as a singer and guitar player. I saw him in concert once and as he was leaving the staged looked up and pointed at the seats over the exit…I was the only person in the area at the time, so I claim he was pointing at me. Great memory.
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Good to see my 4 not listed yet, so here we go:
“Singles” – I’ve probably watched this movie more than any other. Smart, funny script, great direction and an absolutely killer soundtrack. Cameron Crowe at the top of his game. Yeah, it’s a rom-com at its heart but done way differently than most, IMO: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105415/
“Clerks” – classic slacker movie of the early/mid 90s with a solid soundtrack. Believe this was Kevin Smith’s first movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109445/
“The Brothers McMullen” – continuing a trend of cheaply made independent movies from the 90s, I used to watch this movie over and over again. Ed Burns’ first movie – wrote & directed by him and also played the main character: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112585/
“The Untouchables” – incredible cast (Costner and Connery along with Andy Garcia in what I think was his first ever big movie), incredible direction, and great action. One of those classic movies that seems to get overlooked a lot historically, IMO: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094226/
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Love The Untouchables:
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Ditto on The Untouchables. Love the scene and line as Connery is dying, “what…are…you…prepared…to do?”, in that distinctive voice. Good stuff.
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The Untouchables & Old Forrester 1920 is a great pairing
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Nice list 🔥
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Hudson Hawk – Bruce Willis plays a singing cat burglar. He and his partner (Danny Aiello) sing songs while stealing stuff to keep track of time and stay in sync. The plot is a bit silly but it cracks me up.
Lucky Number Slevin – saw it in theaters on a whim. I went in with really no expectations of where the story was going to go and loved it. This plus Charlie’s Angels game me huge crush on Lucy Liu.
The American President – if you’re a fan of Aaron Sorkin’s writing, you probably enjoy this film.
I feel like I had a 4th one in mind when I started typing but I got distracted by work and now I’m drawing a blank.
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Ah, I just thought of a 4th one.
In the Valley of Elah – a great film with Tommy Lee Jones in the lead. He plays a father investigating the death of his son who had just returned from a tour in the Middle East. I actually like him better in this than No Country for Old Men.
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In the Valley of Elah is a great movie.
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First comment with the WordPress login. Used to post very occasionally as “budro.” Anyway:
1. “The Last Days of Disco”
2. Cronenberg’s “The Fly”
3. “Barton Fink”
4. “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”
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Barton Fink was excellent.
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A Christmas Story
MASH
Master and Commander
A Man For All Seasons
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The Last Starfighter
Ikiru
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Outsiders
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The Bridge on the River Kwai
(Leon) The Professional
Hate
Sneakers
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The Bridge on the River Kwai & The Professional (while totally in different categories) are two of my favorite movies!
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I sent out this tweet last week when I saw my favorite film and pop culture critic post his. It was definitely a fun tweet.
What are the four movies you you’re pretty sure you like more than anyone else you know:
The Beastmaster – The 1982 sword and sorcery film that was always on TBS and HBO in the 80’s. Starring Marc Singer as a man who can talk to animals and see through their eyes, the beautiful Tanya Roberts (that waterfall scene… and in a PG movie!), John Amos, an insane Rip Torn, and two cute ferrets, The Beastmaster is an amazing movie that is much better than its B-movie reputation. The score is fantastic; one of the best in the genre. Is it a bit cheesy? Sure, but in the best way possible.
Field of Dreams – No one loves Field of Dreams more than me. James Earl Jones’s monologue still hits me in the heart every time. When you watch the behind the scenes stuff, it’s amazing because he thought it would be the first thing cut from the film. Burt Lancaster’s last big role. I know it’s about ghosts of past baseball players walking out of a corn field, but to me, it’s Ray Liotta, a right-handed Italian from New Jersey playing an illiterate South Carolinian southpaw, that is the biggest stretch in the entire movie. But even then, he’s fantastic, too. The ultimate male weepy. I dare you to try not to cry at the end of the movie.
Defending Your Life: I believe I spoke about this film earlier in the week, or maybe for last week’s playpen, can’t remember. Anyway, I love this Albert Brooks movie. It’s my favorite of all his work. It’s beautifully human. The idea that we can improve ourselves even after we die is an amazingly hopeful idea. This is a movie made by a man who thinks he’s a cynic, but hopes he can become an idealist. Also, more Rip Torn!
Man of Steel: I know there are some people who don’t like this movie, but they’re wrong. This is the greatest superhero movie ever made. It’s an honest approach to what it must feel like to be the only alien on the planet and they only person you know of with fantastic abilities beyond mortal men. It’s the best representation of what humanity would actually do if confronted by someone from another world with such power. Humans are not perfect, and I appreciate how Kevin Costner plays Jonathan Kent here. I know that’s a big sticking point for so many people. He plays him human, as a flawed human being, not a bon mot dispensing perfect example of a man to be held to an impossible standard before dying, as so many comic book father figures are. His only mission in life is to protect his son, which is something I imagine all fathers feel once they become fathers. He’s scared because he knows the government would take Clark away from him and Martha, he’s scared because he doesn’t know why Clark was sent to earth, but he hopes it’s for something great. Now contrast that with Russell Crowe’s performance as a man who sends his son to earth to be a God, to lead humanity into a better future. So you have this push and pull between these two fathers, and both act understandably. I’ve had arguments with one friend for days about why Jonathan would sacrifice his own life to keep his son’s secret, to keep him safe, and why it was the ultimate act of a loving father. Far more arguments about that then why Superman would kill Zod. Oh boy, that part of the movie. So many people have this idea that “Superman never kills.” That’s bullshit. Superman has killed plenty of times in the comics (including killing Zod). Also, in Superman II, the sainted Christopher Reeves Superman not only kills Zod, he sadistically crushes every bone in Zod’s hand before throwing a mortal, powerless Zod down a bottomless pit. He then doesn’t do anything to save Non’s life, and then he smirks as Lois Lane kills Ursa. Now contrast that with Man of Steel. In Superman II, the three Kryptonian criminals have no powers. They could go to jail! There was no moral reason for Superman to kill them or allow them to die! In Man of Steel though, Zod is not only growing stronger, but as a genetically perfected super-soldier, there is nothing Clark, in his first day as Superman who literally just threw the first punch of his entire life earlier in the day, would be able to stop Zod. And Zod just told Clark that he would kill every single human being on the planet and was at that moment trying to vaporize a family of four with heat vision. So what the hell was Superman supposed to do??? There’s no Green Lantern Corps to fly out of the sky deus ex machina-style to stop Zod. There’s only Superman. And when he kills Zod, does he laugh about it like Chris Reeves’s Superman? No, it devastates him. Great movie. Great score that rivals John Williams Superman score. I just wish Zack Snyder didn’t follow up this amazing film with the absolutely terrible Batman v Superman, which was absolute garbage. I have some hope his cut of Justice League will be decent though, because Wonder Woman (which he wrote) and Aquaman were a lot of fun.
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Great man of steel review. I feel like almost every character in that movie was portrayed with the right amount of depth, and the moral conflicts throughout the movie just draw one in. I found my self emotionally invested when school boys were picking on the young Clark, and once again Kevin Costner masterfully portrayed the bind Jonathan Clark was in as a mortal raising a superhero. Then i found myself sympathizing with the commitment Zod had to try and save his species even though it ultimately manifested in destruction. Add in the intense action scenes and special effects and you have quite the experience. Definitely one of the most underrated flicks out there.
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Thank you! I am extremely passionate about Man of Steel and I will argue against anyone’s poorly-reasoned thoughts about this film.
Most of those poorly-reasoned thoughts revolve around Jonathan’s sacrifice and Superman killing Zod.
I got into a major argument with noted comic book creator Mark Millar on twitter over this film in 2013. He kept coming back to, “Superman doesn’t kill,” which is just wrong in every way. It’s an idea that everyone has as a society, like how the Berenstain Bears are spelled Berenstein, that isn’t true. I finally posted the YouTube clip of Superman killing a powerless Zod, letting Non die, and smirking when Lois killed Ursa. He didn’t have anything to say after that. Every once in awhile I’ll still see him on twitter trash Man of Steel, but I know and he knows he doesn’t have a leg on which he can stand.
It’s a beautiful film that ends on such a hopeful note, which is why BvS was such a bummer.
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I thought about including Man of Steel on my list as well, glad to see I’m not the only one who enjoyed it. I think a lot of people poke fun at the scene where Costner’s character sacrifices himself but I’m 100% in agreement with you that it’s “the ultimate act of a loving father.”
I may lose some credibility here, but I’ll confess that I enjoy Batman vs. Superman more than most people too. I’m not defending it as a perfect movie by any stretch, but I enjoyed it, especially the “Ultimate Edition” version or whatever the director’s cut is called. That version fills in a few plot holes, and gives Lois something useful to do, but unfortunately it doesn’t make Lex Luthor any less annoying. I’m trying not to get too hopeful about the Snyder Cut of Justice League, but I expect it to be better than the theatrical version.
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My problem with BvS was on its own, it’s not bad. But as a sequel to Man of Steel, it’s a completely terrible fit.
It’s a film rushed by Warner Brothers. There should have been a Man of Steel 2 before BvS. We leave Man of Steel on such a hopeful note, and then BvS starts with everyone disliking Superman and not trusting him.
If we got a Man of Steel 2, where maybe Brainiac follows Kal-El from earth and destroys a major city, and people are then justifiably scared of Superman and what other death from above will come simply because he’s living on earth, THAT would make sense.
Instead, Warner Brothers interfered and pushed a BvS movie and it just didn’t make sense.
And yes, Snyder and Eisenberg’s take on Lex Luthor was absolutely garbage, and that also hurts the film.
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Now I feel like I need to watch it again; I just thought it was cool he could fly.
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Man of Steel was good, but being an old fart I will always compare them to Superman I & II with Christopher Reeve, both of which I loved.
I would like to point out, however, the tie-in of Man of Steel with one of my movie choices above, “Singles” – in an early scene in MoS they play a GREAT Chris Cornell tune (“Seasons”) that was also on the “Singles” soundtrack. Perfect matching of song and scene in MoS.
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Who’s your favorite Lois Lane (TV or movie)?
Mine? The girl next door. Teri Hatcher.
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Oh yeah, I was so in love with Teri Hatcher. That show hit when I was 13. So, you know, as a hormonal 8th grader, the shapely Teri Hatcher (They’re real, and they’re spectacular!) was about as good as it could ever get.
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Can’t resist
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Star Wars Episode I: Not nearly as bad as everyone says it is, especially after the release of the Disney abominations.
Lord of the Rings: There are no movies better than these. Period.
Inside Out: A quiet Ace in Pixar’s hand.
The Wolf of Wall Street: I’m the exact opposite of Jordan Belfort but I couldn’t stop watching. Leo aced his role as usual.
Goodfellas: My favorite gangster movie.
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So you don’t do blow off of hooker’s asses?
Interesting life choices….
I’m kidding of course.
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My daughters saw Inside Out at midnight on the release date on a Disney cruise ship. They cried their eyes out and loved every minute of it.
My favorite Pixar is still Toy Story 2. I still laugh out loud whenever I watch it with the jokes that are totally aimed at the adults in the room.
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These are all movies everyone loves. I think some people don’t really understand the the purpose of, “Four movies you like better than anyone you know.”
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The key phrase is “better than anyone you know.” I know those are popular films, but I don’t know anyone who likes them as much as I do.
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Okay, that’s a fair point.
Although I will say, try to find some other film-loving friends! Hah!
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Fast Times at Ridgemont High
LA Story
Young Guns
Coming to America
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LA Story is a great movie. So underrated.
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Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1978 version with Donald Sutherland.
The Godfather, Part 3–I understand, the movie overall was pretty mediocre, but Michael’s Confession was an awesome scene.
Two movies with really cool, strange endings: Runaway Train with John Voight, and Intersection with Richard Gere (come to think of it, Body Snatchers had a great ending as well)
BONUS: Movie I didn’t like that everyone else liked–Caddyshack
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As a golfer, I love Caddyshack. As a movie fan, Caddyshack isn’t all that.
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I thought Runaway Train was great. Ran across it on TV the other night and caught a violent scene. I was trying to convince my wife it was a good movie but she wasn’t having it. Hard to jump into the middle of a movie like that.
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Excalibur – Soundtrack by Wagner. Who can resist?
Hope and Glory – ok, I’m a John Boorman fan.
Fandango – just watch the damn thing.
Knightriders – King Arthur on motorcycles – young Ed Harris was badass.
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Love, love, love Excalibur!
When I was like, a 9 year old kid who’d kill to see a boob, I loved how early 80’s movies could be rated PG and still have boobs.
Kids today will never have what 80’s kids had. They have the internet and boobs on demand. It’s too easy.
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All we had was the shower scene in Dressed to Kill.
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Don’t forget the scene at the end of Just One of the Guys.
Joyce Hyser, super-underrated 80’s hottie with a rack to die for.
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I would’ve thought that Reservoir Dogs would’ve been at the top of your list.
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It’s up there! Fury and The Big Red One are keepers too.
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Dame Helen Mirren and Cherie Lunghi both mostly nekkid! Liam Neeson in his debut. Can’t go wrong.
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The movie thing is tough. I guess I can pick a few.
Watchmen. I love comic book movies and that one is just a great story, plus the book is actually good. I saw that it was on Time’s Top 100 Novels list, so I read it. Once I got past the “looking at pictures” phase and into the flow, it was a great story. And the movie does an excellent job of capturing that.
My Fair Lady (or Breakfast at Tiffany’s – take your pick). Audrey Hepburn was a beautiful woman and I loved watching her in just about anything. Those are two of her best.
Breaker Morant was a great movie.
I could watch Office Space anytime it’s on.
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Blue Velvet
Our Kind of Traitor
Pink Flamingos
Octopussy
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“What kind of beer do you like?”
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Films that I like more than most other people…..
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, the Euro version not the Hollywood remake. The Euro version gives you more of chasing a mystery down the rabbit hole detective feel.
Blown Away – Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones as a mad Irish Bomber set in Boston around the 4th of July.
Russia House – Connery Spy Movie. I’ve always liked quirky spy movies
PCU – I liked David Spade and it was just before I went off to College. Piven was funny as well. Funny movie released at the right time.
Singles is great too.
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Police Academy 4: Citizens On Patrol
Dragonslayer
King Kong (1976)
Napoleon Dynamite
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Sideways – “Are you chewing gum?”
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Lost In America
A Fish Called Wanda
Absence of Malice
Amadeus
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Repo Man
Raising Arizona
Brazil
Fandango
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I could probably come up with four if I thought about it but two that quickly come to mind
Office space – funny and a little depressing the longer you stay in corporate America. Some awesome quotes.
Midway – love WW2 history and I thought this movie was great, historically accurate and well cast, although I never thought woody harrelson and Nick Jonas would play roles and play them well in a WW2 movie. The complete opposite of pearl harbor which was flat out awful, sorry.
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Some people like these, but in my friend group, no one would want to watch them:
A River Runs Through It
Jojo Rabbit
Superbad
The Squid and the Whale
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Rounders
Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
The Departed
Chasing Amy
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Chasing Amy is an amazing film. Kevin Smith’s best, for sure. Fantastic dialogue, and even if it is a bit unbelievable, I think it gets a bad rap because woke morons hate it because they think it’s about a guy who “turns” a lesbian, when Alyssa is obviously bisexual.
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I didn’t think about Rounders. Good call!
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The Departed: Mark Wahlberg in the last scene?
Bird on a wire: Goldie Hawn looking great, Mel Gibson when he was still cool.
The Kingdom: Great action flick. Jennifer Garner as a badass? (Looking at you, ee) In a word, Hot.
The Hot Spot: Don Johnson not being a good guy, Virginia Madsen and Jennifer Connelly? What’s not to like?
Bonus flick: “Crazy in Alabama”. Read the book first.
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I’ve been a Jennifer Garner fan since Alias.
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I’ve been a Jennifer Connelly fan since The Hot Spot.
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Children of Men
Elizabethtown
Sicario
A Ghost Story
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M – Fritz Lang’s first talkie and Peter Lorre is outstanding;
Find Me Guilty – Based on the largest prosecution in US history and a lot of the dialogue is taken from the trial transcript. Even though it stars Vin Diesel, it’s surprisingly good;
Standing in the Shadow of Motown – If you like music, you should watch this documentary;
Steel Magnolias – I can’t explain why I enjoy this move, and it’s not even one of my favorites, but I’m certain that none of my friends like it as much as I do.
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The Final Countdown
Dune
Battle Los Angeles
The Grand Budapest Hotel
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I am a sci-fi nut. So my “you liked that?!” runs in that direction. In order top to bottom:
Edge of Tomorrow: classic case of “meh” expectations crushed by fantastic execution. Fantastic.
Minority Report: see above. Loved it.
The Big Short: Not sci-fi. Best movie on this list, but this seems more a “not enough people saw it” entry.
Chronicles of Riddick – botched on a couple of levels, unfortunately, and the “let’s all run faster than the rotational speed of this planet to stay out of the sun” scene was deep sigh moment. But the “what happens when a death cult gains power” frame and a lot of very good ideas make it very rewatchable for me. I don’t think this one even made it to theaters. The “direct to pay per view” walk of shame.
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You had “meh” expectations of a Steven Spielberg movie at the height of his Spielbergian powers?
You might have been the only one. In the entire world.
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It followed A.I., which had me cringing. And it starred Tom Cruise, which at the time, for me, was a large negative. So, yeah, expectations were lowered.
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I forgot to mention “Edge of Tomorrow” (aka “Live Die Repeat”). I watch it every time it’s on. I remember a review when it first came out. It said if you like Tom Cruise, he saves the day. And if you don’t like Tom Cruise, he dies repeatedly.
I’m also a fan of all his “Mission Impossible” flicks. Cruise is a very good action movie actor.
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Paths Of Glory
Diner
The Fisher King
12 Monkeys
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Okay, now I’m going to do kids movies that I love and could watch all the time.
Ratatouille – great story
The Incredibles (1 and 2)
Kung Fu Panda
and many others. I’m glad our daughter came along when there were good animated movies. I had to sit through the Lion King a few times and I couldn’t take it anymore. Toy Story, Madagascar, Cars and others came along to save me.
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The lemurs in “Madagascar” crack me up to this day.
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Good list (love The Incredibles – both) although I still love The Lion King. Take away my man card but I’ll admit I like The Princess and The Frog (I love Tiana and her story), Tangled and the original Frozen. The Lion King and Frozen on stage are great productions.
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Frozen left me cold. (Sorry). It was okay, but I didn’t enjoy nearly as much as the others I mentioned. I was actually looking forward to the live action “Mulan” but I’m not going to a theater anytime in the next year or so.
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Moana is the best thing Disney’s done in years. Before that it was Wreck It Ralph, which feels like it should’ve been a PIXAR movie. Before that it was Tangled. Before you, you have to go back to The Lion King.
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Moana is awesome! I forgot that one, Corch. Great call. Shiny!
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Well, you know what I have to post in response to your thank you, right?
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Mulan was released directly on Disney+, but you have to pay extra for it.
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I have 3 daughters under the age of 14. Clearly I am an expert in evaluating animated movies, so here are my top 4:
Secret Life of Pets 2 – complete genius. Very re-watchable, very quotable movie. Way better than the first one.
Toy Story 3 – edgy, emotional, and hilarious.
Finding Dory – legit “LOL” moments throughout, better than Finding Nemo.
Frozen – this one has it all. You can’t be a dad of girls and not have this one on your list.
Honorable mention – Big Hero 6 & Ratatouille.
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Better than Finding Nemo? Them’s fightin’ words, 93!
The group of characters in the fish tank in Nemo are downright hilarious. Dory was an excellent sequel, but …
Toy Story 3 – “Nice ascot.”
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I know, I know . . . sometimes a movie just hits at the right moment and something about “FD” was better than “FN”. But “FN” is a classic for sure.
Toy Story 3 is an absolute gem.
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Here’s what I think when I think of Frozen:
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Going old school here, but the original Mary Poppins is still epic. Julie Andrews is still the triple threat. Another Disney stage production that is absolutely fantastic!
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Johnny Dangerously
Vanishing Point (1971)
Race With The Devil
Under The Cherry Moon
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Oh man, when I was a kid I absolutely LOVED Johnny Dangerously! The entire cast from Keaton to Henner to Boyle were all great, but it was Joe Piscopo who stole the movie.
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https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiisOPU3f_rAhUTXM0KHRl5CzcQwqsBMAF6BAgJEAk&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Ddv8tVxk6Nj4&usg=AOvVaw1DxC72HpS2xhIOP6tVBsO8
My favorite congressional testimony
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“My father put me on a hook once . . . . ONCE.”
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Bunch of fargin iceholes.
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I think most of my choices would be pretty popular with folks, but I may like them more than most. Let’s put it this way, if they are on, I watch them, over and over. Only thing that would prevent that is a UGA football game on tv.
Pale Rider- Eastwood is awesome in the final gunfight
Princess Bride- Why you keep saying that word, I do not think it means what you think it means
Batman- any with Christian Bale, dark and moody
Saving Private Ryan- fabulous movie overall.
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Anecdotitis is spreading. Stay safe.
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Midnight Run (Robert Deniro)
Gross Pointe Blanc (spelling might be wrong) (John Cusak)
Year of the Dragon (Mickey Rourke)
Nobody’s Fool (Paul Newman)
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No meetings.
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Titanic
Pearl Harbor
Armageddon
Avatar
These are the four movies for some reason I watch every time they are on or I can’t sleep at night and go downstairs to the couch.
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This thread from a mathematician who obviously isn’t putting enough stock into the anecdotes. 0.3% of C19 deaths were under 25. THAT’S NOT ZERO PEOPLE!
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The thread was in reference to films…..
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F For Fake – the last theatrical release for Orson Welles while he was alive, and one his best. YouTube “video essay” style pic on lies and forgery 4 decades before YouTube, with editing that digital film wouldn’t make easy for 3 decades.
Southland Tales – fresh off Donnie Darko, Richard Kelly made a beautiful mess of a satire, with SNL players in dramatic roles, and the Rock playing Jesus/the AntiChrist.
Transformers the Movie – a kids movie with an all-star cast, and front-to-back 80s action movie dialogue. Mix in a hair metal soundtrack and you’ve got a great distillate of my youth.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me – I was vaguely aware of Twin Peaks the show in college, but this movie, seen largely out of context for the series, was my intro. Now, having rewatched the first two seasons, plus The Return, I love it’s weird mix of drama and surreal horror even more.
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To Live and Die in LA – Friedkin car chase
Thunderheart – corrupt government. Who woulda thunk
Bodies Rest and Motion – usually not ,y thing but Eric Stoltz is a funny dude
From Dusk Till Dawn – Tito and Tarantula and rest of soundtrack
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Here’s my 5. I tried to choose ones that maybe folks haven’t seen. All of these, IMO, are incredible.
In the Cut (2003) – Meg Ryan, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Fracture (2007) – Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling
Transsiberian (2008) – Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley
Deja Vu (2006) – Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Jim Caviezel
The Proposition (2005) – Ray Winstone, Guy Pearce, Emily Watson
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PCU
Drop Dead Fred
Point Break
Under Siege
Others: Waynes World, Requiem for a Dream, The Strangers, The Program
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