A New Series While Our Administrator is Away

Okay, Brian's gone for a couple weeks and we need something to keep this website going. So, this is what I'm thinking. Every couple of days, I'll list an actor, writer, or director and you tell me his/her best piece of work in their respective fields. Here's the first one-

Alfred Hitchcock

Unavailable Until July 8...Probably

Unless I've got internet access, I'm probably unavailable until July 8, because I'm going on vacation to Seattle, then Alaska. See you all then!

Unbloating the List...24 Days Later

After 24 days of trying to see more classic films, I'm about 1/6 of the way there. Here is my new Top 20-

1. Fargo
2. American Beauty
3. Waiting for Guffman
4. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
5. The Shawshank Redemption
6. The Godfather: Part II
7. The Silence of the Lambs
8. Rear Window
9. Pulp Fiction
10. 12 Angry Men
11. Little Miss Sunshine
12. Adaptation.
13. Goodfellas
14. The Godfather
15. Young Frankenstein
16. A Mighty Wind
17. Kill Bill: Volume I
18. Clue
19. Million Dollar Baby
20. The Wizard of Oz

Thoughts on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies 10th Anniversary Edition

The biggest news in the film business right now is, of course, last night's 100 Years...100 Movies redux from the American Film Insititute, arguably Hollywood's most respected organization. We'll do five things that were good, and five things that weren't so good (in no order).

GOOD

1. The Shawshank Redemption makes the list! After being snubbed last year, it's good to see my second favorite film of all time finally get its deserving spot on the list.

2. Morgan Freeman--my favorite actor--was the host! And what was even better was that they were constantly using the term "AFI", rather than American Film Institute. Glad that they didn't play second to the band.

3. To Kill a Mockingbird goes up to #25. I was hoping it would make the Top 10, but I knew that was kinda irrational. Still, I'm glad it's climbing the list.

4. Toy Story made the list! Enough said.

5. 12 Angry Men made the list. Glad to see one of the most controversial snubs on last decade's list finally get some recognition from AFI.

BAD

1. I know I said that these weren't in order, but seriously, VERTIGO IS THE NINTH BEST FILM OF ALL TIME?!?!? Vertigo? Really? Wow.

2. Fargo is off the list. Um...what? It's become a classic film, but it made the list in 1997. Odd.

3. My favorite film, Sunset Boulevard, goes down to #16.

4. The lack of new films. They advertised it like there would be 7 or 8...but 4? That's questionable.

5. The Sixth Sense makes #89. Don't get me wrong, Sixth Sense is a great thriller, but if they're only going to include four films from the last decade, The Sixth Sense is one of them? Heard of Brokeback Mountain??

What did you guys think? What was left off the list? What was ranked too high? Too low? Discuss!

Cool Hand Luke v. The Green Mile

Today I've put up two movies that I'm considering watching tonight. We've got "Cool Hand Luke" starring Paul Newman and "The Green Mile" with Michael Clarke Duncan and Tom Hanks.

Cool Hand Luke
or
The Green Mile

Great Movie Moments: Annie Hall

Here's a clip from Annie Hall, my 5th favorite film of all time. I watched it for a millionth time last night, and there was not a second that wasn't perfect. I know that sounds like gushing, but this clip should show you what I mean.

Unforgiven v. Mystic River

Clint versus Clint. Let's see who wins.

Unforgiven
or
Mystic River

The Graduate v. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Two classic comedies but both are completely different styles. Which do you prefer?

The Graduate
or
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Predictions: Round Two (Best Screenplays)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

1. The Savages
2. Lions for Lambs
3. Margot at the Wedding
4. The Bucket List
5. Cassandra's Dream

IN THE RUNNING

6. An American Crime
7. Knocked Up
8. Talk to Me
9. Eastern Promises
10. In the Valley of Elah

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

1. The Kite Runner
2. Charlie Wilson's War
3. There Will be Blood
4. No Country for Old Men
5. Atonement

IN THE RUNNING

6. Reservation Road
7. Sweeney Todd
8. The Other Boleyn Girl
9. Evening
10. Love in the Time of Cholera

Predictions: Round Two (Best Supporting Actress)

First off, how excited is everyone for the Tonys tonight? Go Christine Ebersole!!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1. Vanessa Redgrave-Atonement-This is by far the most confusing race so far. Vanessa Redgrave is overdue and has a great year ahead of her. We'll stick with her for now; after all, how can she give a bad performance?

2. Scarlett Johansson-The Other Boleyn Girl-She's a talented girl, and this is a good role for her.

3. Ellen Page-An American Crime-Seems like a very baity role for the young actress. Let's see what happens.

4. Julia Roberts-Charlie Wilson's War-She's not overdue for a second Oscar, contrary to popular belief, but another nomination would benefit her.

5. Evan Rachel Wood-In Bloom-The project sounds pretty good and she was snubbed for Thirteen. But, she has Across the Univese this year, also, and if that's a success, it could split votes.

IN THE RUNNING

6. Natalie Portman/Rachel Weisz-My Blueberry Nights-The film sounds great, and one of the ladies will probably be nominated (most likely Weisz). But for now, we'll keep them out.

7. Nicole Kidman-His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass-Doesn't sound baity to me, but she has a lot of buzz right now.

8. Cate Blanchett-I'm Not There-I still think the project will bomb.

9. Kiera Knightley-Silk-An Oscar-friendly role, but the premise sounds shaky.

10. Emily Blunt-Charlie Wilson's War-Roberts is taking all the buzz.

And, just to remind everyone why she's not here, HELENA BONHAM CARTER IN SWEENEY TODD IS A LEADING ROLE! Sorry, I just have to say that every once in a while.

The Birds v. Vertigo

I have a Hitchcock v. Hitchcock today. I've heard positive and negative things about both. Some people I know have said 'The Birds' is outdated and some say its amazing. I have a few people that tell me 'Vertigo' is fantastic and I have a couple of friends who say it is laughable. So, here's today's match up-

The Birds
v.
Vertigo

Predictions: Round Two (Best Supporting Actor)

GRR! My friends went to see Knocked Up without me! Now I'll have to sneak in alone.

Well, I'll occupy myself with these new predix.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1. Tom Wilkinson-Michael Clayton-I think he'll turn out to be the best part of the film, and he's been snubbed countless times. He's certainly due.

2. Javier Bardem-No Country For Old Men-The fact that he has all the buzz right now is both a strength and a weakness.

3. Ed Sanders-Sweeney Todd-Tobias is a fantastic character, and if he pulls it off, he'll be the newcomer of the year.

4. Philip Seymour Hoffman-Charlie Wilson's War-He's making great post-Oscar choices (this, The Savages, Doubt), and with such a great year ahead of him, he has to get nominated somewhere. The question is: is this the right film?

5. Mark Ruffalo-Reservation Road-Not exactly due, and his role looks pretty small. Still, the buzz is there.

IN THE RUNNING

6. Clive Owen-The Golden Age-I still have a bad feeling about this project, but there's no denying that Clive is a great actor.

7. Philip Bosco-The Savages-I'm going to be including this great-looking film in my next batch of predictions, but I don't think he'll get the nod.

8. Shaun Tomb-The Kite Runner-The film doesn't look acting-based, so I'll keep the stars of The Kite Runner out of these predix.

9. Geoffrey Rush-The Golden Age-See Clive Owen.

10 (tie). Sacha Baron Cohen-Sweeney Todd-He's horribly miscast in a tiny role. Luckily, the theory of him being nominated has (mostly) drifted away. Now if only that could happen with predicting Bonham Carter in Supporting...

10. Alan Rickman-Sweeney Todd-I essentially just wanted to ramble when I was talking about Cohen, but I think Rickman has a legitimate chance. But the role isn't quite as meaty as some of the other strong male supporting roles in the musical.

American Gangster

well, for those of you who didn't get a look yet, here is the trailer for one of the most anticipated films of the award season, with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe going head-to-head as a drug lord and a cop in the 70's

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/americangangster.html;_ylt=AgMif0W0.2n1ef19Tu9R5WlfVXcA

You be the judge if it will go a long way...

TOP 20 All-Time

Here's my top 20 films of all-time... I hope you agree with most of them

20. The Shining
19. The Big Lebowski
18. The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari
17. Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb
16. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
15. Forrest Gump
14. Grindhouse
13. The Departed
12. Schindler's List
11. Alien
10. 12 Angry Men
9. Jaws
8. The Silence Of The Lambs
7. Citizen Kane
6. Spartacus
5. The Shawshank Redemption
4. The Godfather
3. Pulp Fiction
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
1. Casablanca

Mean Streets v. Taxi Driver

Thanks to the person who suggested 'Virginia Woolf?'. Here is my next one, both are Scorsese-

Mean Streets
or
Taxi Driver

Chinatown v. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

As I've said before, I'm trying to get some classics I haven't seen into my Top 100 of all time list and I need some help. Here's how I'm going to attempt to get help-

I'm going to put up two classics that I want to see and you leave a comment as to which one I should buy and why. You can say neither are worth buying or they are worth renting, but not buying, whatever. Just leave a comment as to which one is better and why I should get it.

So here is my one for today-

Chinatown
or
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Top 20 so far

Brian asked me to post my top 50. I'll post my top 20.

1. Fargo
2. American Beauty
3. Waiting for Guffman
4. The Shawshank Redemption
5. The Godfather: Part II
6. Rear Window
7. The Silence of the Lambs
8. The Godfather
8. Little Miss Sunshine
10. Adaptation.
11. Pulp Fiction
12. Young Frankenstein
13. A Mighty Wind
14. Kill Bill: Volume I
15. Clue
16. Million Dollar Baby
17. The Wizard of Oz
18. The Bad Seed
19. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
20. The Incredibles

Kill Bill: Volume I in Review

I would like to give an in-depth review of "Kill Bill, Volume I", but the word "brilliant" would be used too much. So I'll leave it at this: if I don't see Volume II soon, I think I will die.

Unbloating the List

After compiling a Top 50 list for all the movies I've seen...I realized that I don't know film as well as I thought I did. My list was full of movies from the last ten years. There were only 3 or 4 films that I would deem as "classic" or older movies. This isn't because I don't like classics, it is because I haven't seen them. So, the only movies I will buy on DVD now are classics and older films. So far I have bought Dr. Strangelove, The Graduate, and Rear Window. I've been desperately trying to find Network and North by Northwest. But anyway, I was hoping some of you could give me some suggestions for older or classic films. That would be greatly appreciated. This new system of buying DVDs has worked, Rear Window has become my 7th favorite movie of all time. Anything with Jimmy Stewart is great. His "aww shucks" voice is always fun to listen to. This reminds me, I was also going to get Vertigo. I'm trying to get into more Alfred Hitchcock. I'm thinking about watching Dr. Strangelove tonight. I haven't decided yet. I was going to watch A Clockwork Orange last weekend but the guy I was going to watch it with watched it before I went over to his house. Oh well. Lastly, is The Shining worth seeing? Some people say its a classic horror and some others say it is just stupid. I'm curious on that. I'll go ahead and stop writing now. I'd love some suggestions for films to watch.

My Predicted Top 10 List

I thought it might be interesting if I made a *predicted* Top 10 of 2007 list now, and see if it looks similar at the end of the year. Sort of a how-well-do-I-know-myself? kind of thing.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Away From Her, Margot at the Wedding, Hairspray, Reservation Road

10. The Simpsons Movie (hopefully)
9. Atonement
8. The Namesake
7. The Other Boleyn Girl
6. Charlie Wilson's War
5. My Blueberry Nights
4. The Kite Runner
3. Waitress
2. Sweeney Todd
1. The Savages

Let's see how this works out...