BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*Anne of the Thousand Days
*Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
*Hello Dolly!
*Midnight Cowboy
*Z
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...Midnight Cowboy
AND 'MY' WINNER IS...Anne of the Thousand Days
Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) directed by: Charles Jarrott
Main Cast: Richard Burton, Genevieve Bujold, Irene Papas, Anthony Quayle, John Colicos
King Henry VIII (Burton) is married to Queen Katherine (Papas) who has a daughter but every son has been born dead, so Henry is seeking to divorce Katherine to marry Anne Boleyn (Bujold) whom he thinks will bear him a male heir. Anne also has a daughter Elizabeth, then becomes pregnant again and has a son, but he is born dead. Henry is determined to have a son and wants to divorce Anne to be with Jane, but Anne refuses to give Henry the divorce he seeks. What lengths will Henry go to for the male heir he desperately desires?
Anne of the Thousand Days was great! It was the best Henry VIII movie I have ever seen. ALthough it was almost two and a half hours I enjoyed it immensely. Genevieve Bujold was absolutely marvelous, she definitely made this movie! If it wasn't for he, I really don't think I would have liked it so well.
RATING: 10/10
THE ACADEMY'S PICK
Midnight Cowboy (1969) directed by: John Schlesinger
Main Cast: Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight
Joe Buck (Voight) comes to New York to seek his fortune. He meets Rico (Hoffman) who tries to help him make his fortune as a hustler. Neither one of them really know what they are doing, so they don't make much money. Rico becomes sick, so Joe agrees to take him to Florida. Will they make their fortune once they arrive in Florida?
Midnight Cowboy was a very good movie. I was thrown off by the flashbacks at first, but then they started to make sense. All in all it was pretty good.
RATING: 8/10
HONORABLE MENTION
Hello Dolly! (1969) directed by: Gene Kelly
Main Cast: Barbara Streisand, Walther Mathau, Michael Crawford, Marianne McAndrew, Danny Lockin, E.J. Peaker
Dolly Levi (Streisand) is a matchmaker who is in love with her client Vandergelder, so she sabotages his relationship and upcoming engagement to Miss Malloy (McAndrew) by sending his two store clerks, Cornelius and Barnaby to New York to meet Miss Malloy and her worker Minnie. Will Dolly succeed and have Horace Vandergelder to marry her?
Great movie! It is actually a musical and I have come to the conclusion that, I love musicals! Every one of them I have seen has put me in a great mood and had me singing all day.
RATING: 9/10
THE BEST OF THE REST
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) directed by: George Roy Hill
Main Cast: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katherine Ross
Butch Cassidy (Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Redford) lead the Hole-in-the-Wall gang on one too many train robberies, which leads to them being trailed by a special posse, they just can't lose. So Butch and Sundance, along with Sundance's girlfriend Etta (Ross) decide to flee to Bolivia where they thing they will be free of the posse, and can start over, but can they?
THis was a pretty good movie, it didn't really have to many bad parts. The only thing that really bugged me was the still pictures just thrown in at awkward times.
RATING: 8/10
Z (1969) directed by: Costa-Gavras
Main Cast: Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Charles Denner
A liberal politician is murdered in an attack during a peace demonstration. The right wing established figures in the military and the police try and hide, not only their parts in it, but try to cover up the murder as well. Will they be able to cover up the murder or will the truth come out?
Z is a combination of mystery & thriller that kept me wondering what would happen next. I loved the ending!
RATING: 7/10
1970 was a great year! I found a few great movies that I probably would have never seen if it wasn't for this project.
Rating for 1979 as a whole: 9/10
NEXT UP: 1988 - which includes: Broadcast News, Fatal Attraction, Hope and Glory, The Last Emperor and Moonstruck
November 21, 2009 6:19pm
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
1949
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*The Snake Pit
*The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
*Johnny Belinda
*Hamlet
*The Red Shoes
AND "MY" WINNER IS...Johnny Belinda
AND "THE" WINNER IS... Hamlet
Johnny Belinda (1948) directed by: Jean Negulesco
Main Cast: Jane Wyman, Lew Ayers, Charles Bickford, Agnes Moorehead and Stephen McNally
In the small fishing village of Cape Breton off the coast of Nova Scotia Dr. Robert Richardson has just moved to town. One night while helpingto birth a calf, he meets deaf/mute Belinda. Dr. Richardson gets permission from Belinda's father, Mr. McDonald to teach Belinda sign language, so she can communicate. One night while she is left home alone she is raped by Locky McCormick and becomes pregnant. Of course, the local gossip blames the doctor, so the McDonalds, as well as the doctor become pariah's and are unable to make a living. Will Belinda be able to care for her son, which she names Johnny?
This was a spectacular movie! I loved every minute of it, I definitely believe Jane Wyman deserves an Oscar for her role as Belinda. She did a remarkable job. I highly recommend you check this one out soon!
RATING: 10/10
THE ACADEMY'S PICK
Hamlet (1948) directed by: Laurence Olivier
Main Cast: Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Norman Woodland
Hamlet's father, the king, dies, so Hamlet's mother Gertrude marries his brother Claudius making Claudius the new king. The ghost of Hamlet's father appears to Hamlet and shows him that Claudius murdered him. How will Hamlet get revenge for his father, or will he even live to seek revenge?
This one was kind of hard to follow. The language is difficult to understand. I found myself bored a lot throughout the two and a half hours! Definitely not something I would recommend unless you are really into history.
RATING: 4/10
HONORABLE MENTION
The Snake Pit (1948) directed by: Anatole Litvak
Main Cast: Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn
Virginia Cunningham (de Havilland) finds herself in a state insane asylum, and can't remember how she got there. Virginia is being cared for by Dr. Kik (Genn) who is helping her to discover what caused her to have a nervous breakdown. Virginia has days where she knows what is going on, and days where she can't even remember her husband Robert (Stevens). Will Virginia ever be sane again, or will she spend the rest of her life in the institution?
This was a great movie, I went into it thinking it wouldn't really be that good. But I enjoyed it immensely! Highly recommend it, if you have the chance definitely check it out. Olivia de Havilland did an amazing job.
RATING: 10/10
THE BEST OF THE REST
The Red Shoes (1948) directed by: Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger
Main Cast: Marius Goring, Anton Walbrook, Moira Shearer
Boris Lermontov (Walbrook) is the most prominent ballet impressario in town. He hires Julian Craster (Goring) to compose a ballet for him. Craster composes The Red Shoes for which Lermontov wants Victoria Page (Shearer) to be the main star. The production is a big success and makes Victoria an instant star. Victoria and Julian fall in love, much to the dislike of Lermontov, he wants all of Victoria's concentration on her dancing. So Lermontov fires Julian which leaves Victoria to choose between the man she loves and her passion of dancing. Which choice will Victoria make?
This was a very good movie. It has a few slow spots, but most of it was very good.
RATING: 8/10
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) directed by: John Huston
Main Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, Bruce Bennett
Dobbs (Bogart) and Curtin (Holt) meet up in Mexico and go to work for a contractor, Pat McCormick, who takes them away to a remote site and tells them they will be paid when the job is finished. When they are finished, they return to town to find McCormick to get their wages. They meet up with an old prospector, who claims the hills are still full of gold and if they can get the cash, he will go with them. They eventually get the cash from McCormick, with a little "persuasion", and all three set off for the hills as good friends, but will they return that way?
This one was very average for me. It was the typical western. I was pretty bored through the whole movie.
RATING: 5/10
All in all 1949 was not that great of a year. It had a couple of good movies, but three not so good ones.
Rating for 1949 as a whole: 6/10
NEXT UP: 1970 - which includes: Midnight Cowboy, Z, Anne of the Thousand Days, Hello Dolly!, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
November 14, 2009 8:22pm
*The Snake Pit
*The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
*Johnny Belinda
*Hamlet
*The Red Shoes
AND "MY" WINNER IS...Johnny Belinda
AND "THE" WINNER IS... Hamlet
Johnny Belinda (1948) directed by: Jean Negulesco
Main Cast: Jane Wyman, Lew Ayers, Charles Bickford, Agnes Moorehead and Stephen McNally
In the small fishing village of Cape Breton off the coast of Nova Scotia Dr. Robert Richardson has just moved to town. One night while helpingto birth a calf, he meets deaf/mute Belinda. Dr. Richardson gets permission from Belinda's father, Mr. McDonald to teach Belinda sign language, so she can communicate. One night while she is left home alone she is raped by Locky McCormick and becomes pregnant. Of course, the local gossip blames the doctor, so the McDonalds, as well as the doctor become pariah's and are unable to make a living. Will Belinda be able to care for her son, which she names Johnny?
This was a spectacular movie! I loved every minute of it, I definitely believe Jane Wyman deserves an Oscar for her role as Belinda. She did a remarkable job. I highly recommend you check this one out soon!
RATING: 10/10
THE ACADEMY'S PICK
Hamlet (1948) directed by: Laurence Olivier
Main Cast: Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Norman Woodland
Hamlet's father, the king, dies, so Hamlet's mother Gertrude marries his brother Claudius making Claudius the new king. The ghost of Hamlet's father appears to Hamlet and shows him that Claudius murdered him. How will Hamlet get revenge for his father, or will he even live to seek revenge?
This one was kind of hard to follow. The language is difficult to understand. I found myself bored a lot throughout the two and a half hours! Definitely not something I would recommend unless you are really into history.
RATING: 4/10
HONORABLE MENTION
The Snake Pit (1948) directed by: Anatole Litvak
Main Cast: Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn
Virginia Cunningham (de Havilland) finds herself in a state insane asylum, and can't remember how she got there. Virginia is being cared for by Dr. Kik (Genn) who is helping her to discover what caused her to have a nervous breakdown. Virginia has days where she knows what is going on, and days where she can't even remember her husband Robert (Stevens). Will Virginia ever be sane again, or will she spend the rest of her life in the institution?
This was a great movie, I went into it thinking it wouldn't really be that good. But I enjoyed it immensely! Highly recommend it, if you have the chance definitely check it out. Olivia de Havilland did an amazing job.
RATING: 10/10
THE BEST OF THE REST
The Red Shoes (1948) directed by: Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger
Main Cast: Marius Goring, Anton Walbrook, Moira Shearer
Boris Lermontov (Walbrook) is the most prominent ballet impressario in town. He hires Julian Craster (Goring) to compose a ballet for him. Craster composes The Red Shoes for which Lermontov wants Victoria Page (Shearer) to be the main star. The production is a big success and makes Victoria an instant star. Victoria and Julian fall in love, much to the dislike of Lermontov, he wants all of Victoria's concentration on her dancing. So Lermontov fires Julian which leaves Victoria to choose between the man she loves and her passion of dancing. Which choice will Victoria make?
This was a very good movie. It has a few slow spots, but most of it was very good.
RATING: 8/10
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) directed by: John Huston
Main Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, Bruce Bennett
Dobbs (Bogart) and Curtin (Holt) meet up in Mexico and go to work for a contractor, Pat McCormick, who takes them away to a remote site and tells them they will be paid when the job is finished. When they are finished, they return to town to find McCormick to get their wages. They meet up with an old prospector, who claims the hills are still full of gold and if they can get the cash, he will go with them. They eventually get the cash from McCormick, with a little "persuasion", and all three set off for the hills as good friends, but will they return that way?
This one was very average for me. It was the typical western. I was pretty bored through the whole movie.
RATING: 5/10
All in all 1949 was not that great of a year. It had a couple of good movies, but three not so good ones.
Rating for 1949 as a whole: 6/10
NEXT UP: 1970 - which includes: Midnight Cowboy, Z, Anne of the Thousand Days, Hello Dolly!, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
November 14, 2009 8:22pm
Saturday, October 31, 2009
1959
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*The Defiant Ones
*Cat On a Hot Tin Roof
*Auntie Mame
*Gigi
*Seperate Tables
AND "MY" WINNER IS...The Defiant Ones
AND "THE" WINNER IS... Gigi
The Defiant Ones (1958) Directed by: Stanley Kramer
Main Cast: Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier
Joker Jackson (Curtis) and Noah Cullen (Poitier) are two convicts on a prison chain gang who hate each other. After a prison truck accident, they flee and are persued by the police. While they are chained together the two are dependent on each other. Once the chains are broken the two learn a whole new respect for each other. Will the two get away, or will they be caught?
I have never heard of this movie before, I must say I was extremely glad I got a chance enjoy it during my journey through this project. I very highly recommend this one! Will be a definate to add to my collection.
RATING: 9/10
THE ACADEMY'S PICK
Gigi (1958) Directed by: Vincente Minnelli
Main Cast: Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier and Hermione
Growing up in Paris Gigi (Caron) is being raised by her grandmama and Aunt. One day Gaston (Jourdan) a wealthy scion decides he wants to take care of Gigi, so he goes and discusses this with her Grandmama who agrees. Gaston realizes he has fallen in love with Gigi and wishes to marry her. Does Gigi feel the same way?
I am still not exactly sure why, but I hated this movie. I was so bored and just not interested at all. If I gave zeros in my rating this would definately be the one to get it! I can not believe this movie won Best Picture, I completely disagree with that decision!
RATING: 1/10
BEST OF THE REST
Auntie Mame (1958) Directed by: Morton DaCosta
Main Cast:Rosalind Russell, Fred Clark, Jan Handzlik and Roger Smith
Mame(Russell) is an unconventional party girl from the roaring 20's. When her brother suddenly dies she is forced to take in her nephew Patrick(Handzlik). Patrick's father has designated an executor to his will, that would protect Patrick from absorbing to much of Mame's rather unconventional perspectives. Will Mame and Patrick be able to bond inspite of these restrictions?
I thought this one needed to be just a little bit longer. What was there was great, but it just left me with the desire for more.
RATING: 8/10
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) Directed by: Richard Brooks
Main Cast: Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor and Burl Ives
Alcoholic ex-football star Brick Pollitt (Newman) can't forgive himself for the death of his best friend Skipper. All the while he is ignoring his wife Maggie (Taylor) whom he believes had an affair with Skipper. At the same time Brick is also dealing with the illness of his father Big Daddy(Ives). Will Brick ever be able to forgive himself for turning his back on Skipper when he needed him most? Will he be able to mend his relationship with Maggie, and Big Daddy before it is to late?
I really enjoyed this movie the only problem was it did drag from time to time. Also there was some VERY serious overacting!
RATING: 8/10
THE REST
Seperate Tables (1958) Directed by: Delbert Mann
Main Cast: Deborah Kerr, Rita Hayworth, David Niven, Wendy Hiller and Burt Lancaster
The movie takes place at the seaside Beauregard Hotel in Bournemoth. Where all the guest have their meals at seperate tables. John Malcolm (Lancaster) is an alcoholic that is engaged to the hotel owner Pat (Hiller) His life is turned upside down when his ex-wife Ann (Hayworth) shows up after she hears he is engaged. Ann wants him back, but John sees nothing positive that can result from them being together. There is the dominating, highly opininated Mrs. Railton-Bell, her sex-less meek daughter Sybil. Finally we have Major Angus Pollock (Niven), whom Sybil has fallen in love with, but her mother warns her to stay away from the Major. Which turns out to be warranted when they read about the Major being arrested. Will this make a difference to Sybil?
Seperate Tables was kind of average for me. It had its good parts and bad parts. The good unfortunately was not enough to deserve a higher rating.
RATING: 5/10
1959 started off as being good then took a major nosedive and I ended up being highly disapointed.
1959 as a whole: 6/10
NEXT UP: 1949; which included - Hamlet, Johnny Belinda, The Red Shoes, The Snake Pit and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
October 31, 2009 7:01pm
*The Defiant Ones
*Cat On a Hot Tin Roof
*Auntie Mame
*Gigi
*Seperate Tables
AND "MY" WINNER IS...The Defiant Ones
AND "THE" WINNER IS... Gigi
The Defiant Ones (1958) Directed by: Stanley Kramer
Main Cast: Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier
Joker Jackson (Curtis) and Noah Cullen (Poitier) are two convicts on a prison chain gang who hate each other. After a prison truck accident, they flee and are persued by the police. While they are chained together the two are dependent on each other. Once the chains are broken the two learn a whole new respect for each other. Will the two get away, or will they be caught?
I have never heard of this movie before, I must say I was extremely glad I got a chance enjoy it during my journey through this project. I very highly recommend this one! Will be a definate to add to my collection.
RATING: 9/10
THE ACADEMY'S PICK
Gigi (1958) Directed by: Vincente Minnelli
Main Cast: Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier and Hermione
Growing up in Paris Gigi (Caron) is being raised by her grandmama and Aunt. One day Gaston (Jourdan) a wealthy scion decides he wants to take care of Gigi, so he goes and discusses this with her Grandmama who agrees. Gaston realizes he has fallen in love with Gigi and wishes to marry her. Does Gigi feel the same way?
I am still not exactly sure why, but I hated this movie. I was so bored and just not interested at all. If I gave zeros in my rating this would definately be the one to get it! I can not believe this movie won Best Picture, I completely disagree with that decision!
RATING: 1/10
BEST OF THE REST
Auntie Mame (1958) Directed by: Morton DaCosta
Main Cast:Rosalind Russell, Fred Clark, Jan Handzlik and Roger Smith
Mame(Russell) is an unconventional party girl from the roaring 20's. When her brother suddenly dies she is forced to take in her nephew Patrick(Handzlik). Patrick's father has designated an executor to his will, that would protect Patrick from absorbing to much of Mame's rather unconventional perspectives. Will Mame and Patrick be able to bond inspite of these restrictions?
I thought this one needed to be just a little bit longer. What was there was great, but it just left me with the desire for more.
RATING: 8/10
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) Directed by: Richard Brooks
Main Cast: Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor and Burl Ives
Alcoholic ex-football star Brick Pollitt (Newman) can't forgive himself for the death of his best friend Skipper. All the while he is ignoring his wife Maggie (Taylor) whom he believes had an affair with Skipper. At the same time Brick is also dealing with the illness of his father Big Daddy(Ives). Will Brick ever be able to forgive himself for turning his back on Skipper when he needed him most? Will he be able to mend his relationship with Maggie, and Big Daddy before it is to late?
I really enjoyed this movie the only problem was it did drag from time to time. Also there was some VERY serious overacting!
RATING: 8/10
THE REST
Seperate Tables (1958) Directed by: Delbert Mann
Main Cast: Deborah Kerr, Rita Hayworth, David Niven, Wendy Hiller and Burt Lancaster
The movie takes place at the seaside Beauregard Hotel in Bournemoth. Where all the guest have their meals at seperate tables. John Malcolm (Lancaster) is an alcoholic that is engaged to the hotel owner Pat (Hiller) His life is turned upside down when his ex-wife Ann (Hayworth) shows up after she hears he is engaged. Ann wants him back, but John sees nothing positive that can result from them being together. There is the dominating, highly opininated Mrs. Railton-Bell, her sex-less meek daughter Sybil. Finally we have Major Angus Pollock (Niven), whom Sybil has fallen in love with, but her mother warns her to stay away from the Major. Which turns out to be warranted when they read about the Major being arrested. Will this make a difference to Sybil?
Seperate Tables was kind of average for me. It had its good parts and bad parts. The good unfortunately was not enough to deserve a higher rating.
RATING: 5/10
1959 started off as being good then took a major nosedive and I ended up being highly disapointed.
1959 as a whole: 6/10
NEXT UP: 1949; which included - Hamlet, Johnny Belinda, The Red Shoes, The Snake Pit and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
October 31, 2009 7:01pm
Saturday, October 24, 2009
1991
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*The Godfather: Part III
*Goodfellas
*Awakenings
*Ghost
*Dances With Wolves
AND "MY" WINNER IS... Awakenings
AND "THE" WINNER IS...Dances With Wolves
Awakenings (1990) directed by: Penny Marshall
Main Cast: Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, John Heard and Ruth Nelson
Dr. Sayer (Williams) finds himself with a ward full of comatose patients. The patients have all been comatose for years, and after much research Dr. Sayer discovers a link between them, when they were all younger they suffered from encephalitis. Dr. Sayer has discovered a new drug called l-dopa which he thinks may help the patients. He is given permission to try the new drug on one patient, so Dr. Sayer chooses Leonard Lewis (De Niro) after a few treatments the medication works and Leonard wakes up. Eventually Dr. Sayer is given permission to try the drug with all the other patients as well. Will the medication continue to work or will they all return to the catatonic state they were in before the miracle drug?
Awakenings is a truly great movie, I can not think of a single thing bad to say about it! It just gives you this rush of emotions when you are watching it, and then when you realize it is all based on a true story, you just become overwhelmed with emotion, definately a tear jerker for me. I would say this is a must see!
RATING: 10/10
The Academy's Pick
Dances With Wolves (1990) directed by: Kevin Costner
Main Cast: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene and Rodney A. Grant
Having been sent to a remote outpost in the wilderness of the Dakota terretory during the American Civil War, Lieutenant John Dunbar (Costner) encounters, and eventually is accepted into the Sioux tribe. He becomes known as "Dances With Wolves" to them and as time passes he becomes enamoured by the beautiful "Stands With a Fist" (McDonnell). Not soon after, the frontier becomes the frontier no more and as the troops come to take over the land, John must decide which side to fight for. Will he betray the tribe that has become his family, or will he betray his country?
Dances With Wolves was a very good movie, I enjoyed it alot more than I had expected to. My only complaint would have to be that the length, coming in at three hours was a little unneccessary.
RATING: 9/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER- UP:
Ghost (1990) directed by: Jerry Zucker
Main Cast: Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Goldwyn and Rick Aviles
Sam (Swayze) and Molly (Moore) live in Manhattan, Sam has a high power job at the bank. His friend Carl (Goldwyn) also works at the bank. Sam holds the passwords to some of the bank's major accounts. One night while coming home from the play, Sam and Molly are robbed at gun point by Willie Lopez (Aviles). Sam and Willie struggle over the gun and Sam is shot. Willie takes off and Sam chases him, but Willie gets away, so Sam returns to make sure Molly is ok. Only to find her devastated holding him in her arms. It is then that Sam realizes he is a ghost. Later Willie breaks into Sam and Molly's apartment in search of something, Sam scares Willie off, then follows him to his home. Sam overhears a call between Willie and someone else, Sam wants Molly to turn Willie in, but he has no way to communicate with her. So he enlist the help of Oda Mae Brown (Goldberg) a spiritualist who can hear him, but not see him. Sam convinces Oda Mae to go talk to Molly, but Molly refuses to believe her, and Carl tells Molly to have nothing to do with Oda Mae. Sam follows Carl to Willie's apartment and is shocked to discover Carl is the one who hired Willie to rob him. Carl wanted Willie to steal the account passcodes from Sam, so Carl could carry out a drug money laundering scam. So now Sam and Oda Mae must protect Molly from Carl and Willie who believe the passcodes are still in Molly's apartment, and will stop at nothing to get them. Will Molly be saved or will she meet the same fate as Sam?
I will admit I had a struggle choosing between Awakenings and Ghost for my favorite of the year. It has been a very long time since I have watched this movie, I forgot how much I love it! The story is a true story of love from beginning to end. The way Sam fights from the other side to protect the love of his life. I would recommend this one very highly and say it is certainly a must see. It also made me realize what a great loss the world suffered when Patrick Swayze died.
RATING: 10/10
HONORABLE MENTION
Goodfellas (1990) directed by: Martin Scorsese
Main Cast: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino
This film views the mob lives of Henry Hill (Liotta), Tommy Devito (Pesci), and Jimmy Conway (De Niro) who brought the two together, and runs some of the biggest highjacks and burglaries the town has ever seen. After serving an extended jail sentence, Henry must sneak around the back of the local mob boss, Paul Cicero (Sorvino) to live the life he has always dreamed of. In the end the friends end up in the fight of their lives and must do anything they can to stay alive and save each other. Will they all make it out alive?
I must say I have seen this movie before and I will admit I did enjoy it alot more this time. Still would not qualify as one of my favorites by a long shot, as I am not really into all the mafia, gang genre of movies. But all in all it wasn't to bad.
RATING: 6/10
THE REST
The Godfather: Part III (1990) directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Main Cast: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia, Talia Shire, Joe Mantegna and Sofia Coppola
Don Michael Corleone (Pacino) is trying to legitamize his crime family's interest and remove himself from the violent underworld, but is kept back by the ambitions of the young. While he attempts to link the Corleone's finances with the Vatican, Michael must deal with machinations of a hungrier gangster seeking to upset mafioso order and a young protege's love affair with his daughter, will Michael succeed?
I must say I know this is a very popular movie, but again the gang/mafia genre comes into play, I just can't seem to enjoy this type of movie. I really didn't care for it, although I will admit it was better than the others but still not to my liking.
RATING: 4/10
1991 well I definately did rediscover a great movie I had forgotten, found a few new ones to enjoy, and had a few bombs along the way.
Rating for 1991 as a whole: 8/10
Next Up: 1959- which includes Auntie Mame, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Defiant Ones, Gigi and The Seperate Tables
Saturday October 24, 2009 11:39 am
*The Godfather: Part III
*Goodfellas
*Awakenings
*Ghost
*Dances With Wolves
AND "MY" WINNER IS... Awakenings
AND "THE" WINNER IS...Dances With Wolves
Awakenings (1990) directed by: Penny Marshall
Main Cast: Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, John Heard and Ruth Nelson
Dr. Sayer (Williams) finds himself with a ward full of comatose patients. The patients have all been comatose for years, and after much research Dr. Sayer discovers a link between them, when they were all younger they suffered from encephalitis. Dr. Sayer has discovered a new drug called l-dopa which he thinks may help the patients. He is given permission to try the new drug on one patient, so Dr. Sayer chooses Leonard Lewis (De Niro) after a few treatments the medication works and Leonard wakes up. Eventually Dr. Sayer is given permission to try the drug with all the other patients as well. Will the medication continue to work or will they all return to the catatonic state they were in before the miracle drug?
Awakenings is a truly great movie, I can not think of a single thing bad to say about it! It just gives you this rush of emotions when you are watching it, and then when you realize it is all based on a true story, you just become overwhelmed with emotion, definately a tear jerker for me. I would say this is a must see!
RATING: 10/10
The Academy's Pick
Dances With Wolves (1990) directed by: Kevin Costner
Main Cast: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene and Rodney A. Grant
Having been sent to a remote outpost in the wilderness of the Dakota terretory during the American Civil War, Lieutenant John Dunbar (Costner) encounters, and eventually is accepted into the Sioux tribe. He becomes known as "Dances With Wolves" to them and as time passes he becomes enamoured by the beautiful "Stands With a Fist" (McDonnell). Not soon after, the frontier becomes the frontier no more and as the troops come to take over the land, John must decide which side to fight for. Will he betray the tribe that has become his family, or will he betray his country?
Dances With Wolves was a very good movie, I enjoyed it alot more than I had expected to. My only complaint would have to be that the length, coming in at three hours was a little unneccessary.
RATING: 9/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER- UP:
Ghost (1990) directed by: Jerry Zucker
Main Cast: Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Goldwyn and Rick Aviles
Sam (Swayze) and Molly (Moore) live in Manhattan, Sam has a high power job at the bank. His friend Carl (Goldwyn) also works at the bank. Sam holds the passwords to some of the bank's major accounts. One night while coming home from the play, Sam and Molly are robbed at gun point by Willie Lopez (Aviles). Sam and Willie struggle over the gun and Sam is shot. Willie takes off and Sam chases him, but Willie gets away, so Sam returns to make sure Molly is ok. Only to find her devastated holding him in her arms. It is then that Sam realizes he is a ghost. Later Willie breaks into Sam and Molly's apartment in search of something, Sam scares Willie off, then follows him to his home. Sam overhears a call between Willie and someone else, Sam wants Molly to turn Willie in, but he has no way to communicate with her. So he enlist the help of Oda Mae Brown (Goldberg) a spiritualist who can hear him, but not see him. Sam convinces Oda Mae to go talk to Molly, but Molly refuses to believe her, and Carl tells Molly to have nothing to do with Oda Mae. Sam follows Carl to Willie's apartment and is shocked to discover Carl is the one who hired Willie to rob him. Carl wanted Willie to steal the account passcodes from Sam, so Carl could carry out a drug money laundering scam. So now Sam and Oda Mae must protect Molly from Carl and Willie who believe the passcodes are still in Molly's apartment, and will stop at nothing to get them. Will Molly be saved or will she meet the same fate as Sam?
I will admit I had a struggle choosing between Awakenings and Ghost for my favorite of the year. It has been a very long time since I have watched this movie, I forgot how much I love it! The story is a true story of love from beginning to end. The way Sam fights from the other side to protect the love of his life. I would recommend this one very highly and say it is certainly a must see. It also made me realize what a great loss the world suffered when Patrick Swayze died.
RATING: 10/10
HONORABLE MENTION
Goodfellas (1990) directed by: Martin Scorsese
Main Cast: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino
This film views the mob lives of Henry Hill (Liotta), Tommy Devito (Pesci), and Jimmy Conway (De Niro) who brought the two together, and runs some of the biggest highjacks and burglaries the town has ever seen. After serving an extended jail sentence, Henry must sneak around the back of the local mob boss, Paul Cicero (Sorvino) to live the life he has always dreamed of. In the end the friends end up in the fight of their lives and must do anything they can to stay alive and save each other. Will they all make it out alive?
I must say I have seen this movie before and I will admit I did enjoy it alot more this time. Still would not qualify as one of my favorites by a long shot, as I am not really into all the mafia, gang genre of movies. But all in all it wasn't to bad.
RATING: 6/10
THE REST
The Godfather: Part III (1990) directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Main Cast: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia, Talia Shire, Joe Mantegna and Sofia Coppola
Don Michael Corleone (Pacino) is trying to legitamize his crime family's interest and remove himself from the violent underworld, but is kept back by the ambitions of the young. While he attempts to link the Corleone's finances with the Vatican, Michael must deal with machinations of a hungrier gangster seeking to upset mafioso order and a young protege's love affair with his daughter, will Michael succeed?
I must say I know this is a very popular movie, but again the gang/mafia genre comes into play, I just can't seem to enjoy this type of movie. I really didn't care for it, although I will admit it was better than the others but still not to my liking.
RATING: 4/10
1991 well I definately did rediscover a great movie I had forgotten, found a few new ones to enjoy, and had a few bombs along the way.
Rating for 1991 as a whole: 8/10
Next Up: 1959- which includes Auntie Mame, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Defiant Ones, Gigi and The Seperate Tables
Saturday October 24, 2009 11:39 am
Sunday, October 18, 2009
1965
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*Mary Poppins
*Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
*My Fair Lady
*Becket
*Alexis Zorbas
AND "MY" WINNER IS... My Fair Lady
AND "THE" WINNER IS... My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady (1964) directed by: George Cukor
Main Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White and Jeremy Brett
Professor Higgins (Harrison) takes a bet from Colonel Pickering (White) that he can't transform unrefined, dirty cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Hepburn) into a lady, and fool everyone into thinking she really is one! Well he does it with much success and young Freddy Eynsford-Hill (Brett) falls madly in love with her. When Higgins takes all the credit and forgets to acknowledge her efforts, Eliza angrily leaves him for Freddy. Higgins finally realizes he has grown accustomed to her face, and can't live without her, but is it to late? Great movie, it is adapted from a Broadway musical, you just can't help but sing along! Audrey Hepburn is amazing! I couldn't help but go around the house the rest of the day singing the songs, that was when I realized how much I really loved this movie!
RATING: 10/10
BEST OF THE REST
Mary Poppins (1964) directed by: Robert Stevenson
Main Cast: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber
Mr & Mrs. Banks (Tomlinson & Johns) are an upper class English couple with two children Jane(Dotrice) and Michael (Garber) who keep chasing away nannies with their unruly behavior. Until Mary Poppins (Andrews) comes along and with her magical powers teaches the family to enjoy life. Mary Poppins is a musical that combines live scenes with animated scenes. It is a delight for fans of all ages. You will be singing along in no time.
RATING: 8/10
HONORABLE MENTION
Alexis Zorbas (1964) directed by: Mihalis Kakogiannis
Main Cast: Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates
An Aimless Englishman named Basil (Bates) discovers he has a small inheritance on a Greek Island. His joyless existance is disrupted when he meets and hires Zorba (Quinn), a middle aged Greek man who has a lust for life. Will Zorba teach Basil how to truly enjoy life before it is to late? This one was kind of average for me, it dragged in some spots. I really didn't see a point in it being nearly two and a half hours long.
RATING: 5/10
THE REST
Becket( 1964) directed by: Peter Glenville
Main Cast:Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole and John Gielgud
King Henry II (O'Toole) is having trouble with the church, so when the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, Henry decides to appoint his drinking buddy and good friend Becket (Burton)who is technically a deacon,to the post. Unfortunately Henry's idea backfires and Becket takes the job very seriously. Henry and Becket quarrel over Becket's beliefs causing Becket to resign his position. Therfore leaving Henry feeling feeling alone and deserted. Will Henry forgive Becket for the desertion or will he ask for his death? All I can say was I was extremely bored and uninterested. the costumes were very nice, but that was about all I can give you.
RATING: 2/10
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Main Cast: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott and Sterling Hayden
U.S. Air Force General Jack Ripper (Hayden) goes completely insane and sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. He suspects that the communist are conspiring to pollute the "precious bodily fluids" of the American people. The U.S. President meets with his advisors, where the Soviet Ambassador tells him that if the U.S.S.R. is hit by nuclear weapons it will trigger a "Doomsday Machine" which will destroy all plant and animal life on earth. Will the bombers be stopped in time, or will General Jack Ripper succeed in destroying the world? I only can say I was bored, not interested at all. I know alot of people rave about how great this movie is, so I tried to find some enjoyment in it, but with no success!
RATING: 2/10
1965 definately had its ups and downs, unfortunately more downs then ups!
Rating for 1965 as a whole: 5/10
Next up: 1991- Awakenings, Dances with Wolves, Ghost, The Godfather: Part III and Goodfellas
October 18,2009 7:31pm
*Mary Poppins
*Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
*My Fair Lady
*Becket
*Alexis Zorbas
AND "MY" WINNER IS... My Fair Lady
AND "THE" WINNER IS... My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady (1964) directed by: George Cukor
Main Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White and Jeremy Brett
Professor Higgins (Harrison) takes a bet from Colonel Pickering (White) that he can't transform unrefined, dirty cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Hepburn) into a lady, and fool everyone into thinking she really is one! Well he does it with much success and young Freddy Eynsford-Hill (Brett) falls madly in love with her. When Higgins takes all the credit and forgets to acknowledge her efforts, Eliza angrily leaves him for Freddy. Higgins finally realizes he has grown accustomed to her face, and can't live without her, but is it to late? Great movie, it is adapted from a Broadway musical, you just can't help but sing along! Audrey Hepburn is amazing! I couldn't help but go around the house the rest of the day singing the songs, that was when I realized how much I really loved this movie!
RATING: 10/10
BEST OF THE REST
Mary Poppins (1964) directed by: Robert Stevenson
Main Cast: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber
Mr & Mrs. Banks (Tomlinson & Johns) are an upper class English couple with two children Jane(Dotrice) and Michael (Garber) who keep chasing away nannies with their unruly behavior. Until Mary Poppins (Andrews) comes along and with her magical powers teaches the family to enjoy life. Mary Poppins is a musical that combines live scenes with animated scenes. It is a delight for fans of all ages. You will be singing along in no time.
RATING: 8/10
HONORABLE MENTION
Alexis Zorbas (1964) directed by: Mihalis Kakogiannis
Main Cast: Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates
An Aimless Englishman named Basil (Bates) discovers he has a small inheritance on a Greek Island. His joyless existance is disrupted when he meets and hires Zorba (Quinn), a middle aged Greek man who has a lust for life. Will Zorba teach Basil how to truly enjoy life before it is to late? This one was kind of average for me, it dragged in some spots. I really didn't see a point in it being nearly two and a half hours long.
RATING: 5/10
THE REST
Becket( 1964) directed by: Peter Glenville
Main Cast:Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole and John Gielgud
King Henry II (O'Toole) is having trouble with the church, so when the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, Henry decides to appoint his drinking buddy and good friend Becket (Burton)who is technically a deacon,to the post. Unfortunately Henry's idea backfires and Becket takes the job very seriously. Henry and Becket quarrel over Becket's beliefs causing Becket to resign his position. Therfore leaving Henry feeling feeling alone and deserted. Will Henry forgive Becket for the desertion or will he ask for his death? All I can say was I was extremely bored and uninterested. the costumes were very nice, but that was about all I can give you.
RATING: 2/10
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Main Cast: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott and Sterling Hayden
U.S. Air Force General Jack Ripper (Hayden) goes completely insane and sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. He suspects that the communist are conspiring to pollute the "precious bodily fluids" of the American people. The U.S. President meets with his advisors, where the Soviet Ambassador tells him that if the U.S.S.R. is hit by nuclear weapons it will trigger a "Doomsday Machine" which will destroy all plant and animal life on earth. Will the bombers be stopped in time, or will General Jack Ripper succeed in destroying the world? I only can say I was bored, not interested at all. I know alot of people rave about how great this movie is, so I tried to find some enjoyment in it, but with no success!
RATING: 2/10
1965 definately had its ups and downs, unfortunately more downs then ups!
Rating for 1965 as a whole: 5/10
Next up: 1991- Awakenings, Dances with Wolves, Ghost, The Godfather: Part III and Goodfellas
October 18,2009 7:31pm
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
1999
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*Life is Beautiful
*Shakespeare in Love
*Saving Private Ryan
*Elizabeth
*The Thin Red Line
AND "MY" WINNER IS...(TIE) Life is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love
AND "THE" WINNER IS...Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love (1998) directed by: John Madden
Main Cast: Joseph Fiennes, Judi Dench and Gwyneth Paltrow
William Shakespeare(Fiennes) is writing a comedy play to revive the closed Rose Theater. Viola (Paltrow) is an upper class woman who has been promised to marry a man she doesn't love. Viola has a great love for the theater, and dreams of one day being an actress. She tries out for Shakespeare's play disguised as a man, because women are not allowed to preform on stage. William discovers the truth about Viola and they fall in love. All the while William is still writing his play, which has now become a love story now to be called Romeo & Juliet. Will, Shakespeare and Viola be together or does she marry the man she had been promised to? I highly recommend this movie, I can honestly say there was nothing I disliked about it!
RATING: 10/10
Life is Beautiful (1997) directed by: Roberto Benigni
Main Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi and Giorgio Cantarini
A carefree Jewish bookkeeper Guido (Benigni) courts and eventually marries Dora ( Braschi) they have a son named Joshua (Cantarini), one day while Guido and Joshua were preparing for his fifth birthday party, they are captured by the Germans and sent to the train to go to a concentration camp. Dora comes home to discover this and begs the soldiers to place her on the train as well. Guido and Joshua are kept together for the ride to the camp, during the journey Guido is telling Joshua they are going on a trip for his birthday. Once they get were they are going they are will be playing a game, where the first prize is a real tank. Will the family survive the camp and be reunited? This movie is foreign and does contain subtitles, but I absolutely loved it! Truly a great story from beginning to end. Very highly recommended, It was also one of those box of tissue movies!
RATING: 10/10
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998) directed by: Steven Spielberg
Main Cast: Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns and Matt Damon
U.S. Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall learns there are four Ryan brothers in the war and three have been killed. Mrs. Ryan is to recieve the telegram about all three on the same day. So he sends orders down that the last remaining Ryan boy be found and send home. So Captain Miller (Hanks) is to take eight of his men on a special assignment, to find James Francis Ryan (Damon) and get him home safely. Will they succeed? This movie has a lot of blood and is the movie I needed a box of tissues for. I have seen this movie a lot of times and love it everytime I watch it. I would definitely say if you have never seen it, watch it as soon as you get a chance.
RATING: 10/10
THE BEST OF THE REST
Elizabeth (1998) directed by: Shekhar Kapur
Main Cast: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Kathy Burke and Joseph Fiennes
Catholic Queen Mary (Burke) dies and the succession goes to Elizabeth (Blanchett), the Protestant half sister that Mary was not prepared to execute. The new Queen finds herself surrounded by advisors, some supportive, but most plotting her removal by any means necessary. Elizabeth is also under pressure to marry and produce an heir, but her lover, Lord Robert Dudley (Fiennes) is not considered suitable. Elizabeth realizes she has some decisions to make, most important being who should rule England. This was a fairly decent movie, not really the genre I usually prefer, but fairly interesting.
RATING: 7/10
The Thin Red Line (1998) directed by: Terrence Malick
Main Cast: James Caviezel, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Elias Koteas and George Clooney
In 1943, the first major U.S. offensive of World War II, is drawing to a close on the South Pacific Island of Guadalcanal. The U.S. Army arrives with full troops and equipment. The troops in the division include, a war weary sergeant, a power hungry colonel, a private who has only known desertion and AWOL, and a company commander who is doubting his abilities as a leader. You have this one going back and forth between the war and the soldiers past memories. It is a little hard to follow unless you really pay attention and it drags in some parts.
RATING: 6/10
For 1999 as a whole, I was very pleased. I saw three great movies and the other two were really not extremely bad. So it was a pretty good year.
Rating for 1999 as a whole: 9/10
NEXT UP: 1965 - Alexis Zorbas, Becket, Dr. Stangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady
October 14, 2009 6:10pm
*Life is Beautiful
*Shakespeare in Love
*Saving Private Ryan
*Elizabeth
*The Thin Red Line
AND "MY" WINNER IS...(TIE) Life is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love
AND "THE" WINNER IS...Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love (1998) directed by: John Madden
Main Cast: Joseph Fiennes, Judi Dench and Gwyneth Paltrow
William Shakespeare(Fiennes) is writing a comedy play to revive the closed Rose Theater. Viola (Paltrow) is an upper class woman who has been promised to marry a man she doesn't love. Viola has a great love for the theater, and dreams of one day being an actress. She tries out for Shakespeare's play disguised as a man, because women are not allowed to preform on stage. William discovers the truth about Viola and they fall in love. All the while William is still writing his play, which has now become a love story now to be called Romeo & Juliet. Will, Shakespeare and Viola be together or does she marry the man she had been promised to? I highly recommend this movie, I can honestly say there was nothing I disliked about it!
RATING: 10/10
Life is Beautiful (1997) directed by: Roberto Benigni
Main Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi and Giorgio Cantarini
A carefree Jewish bookkeeper Guido (Benigni) courts and eventually marries Dora ( Braschi) they have a son named Joshua (Cantarini), one day while Guido and Joshua were preparing for his fifth birthday party, they are captured by the Germans and sent to the train to go to a concentration camp. Dora comes home to discover this and begs the soldiers to place her on the train as well. Guido and Joshua are kept together for the ride to the camp, during the journey Guido is telling Joshua they are going on a trip for his birthday. Once they get were they are going they are will be playing a game, where the first prize is a real tank. Will the family survive the camp and be reunited? This movie is foreign and does contain subtitles, but I absolutely loved it! Truly a great story from beginning to end. Very highly recommended, It was also one of those box of tissue movies!
RATING: 10/10
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998) directed by: Steven Spielberg
Main Cast: Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns and Matt Damon
U.S. Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall learns there are four Ryan brothers in the war and three have been killed. Mrs. Ryan is to recieve the telegram about all three on the same day. So he sends orders down that the last remaining Ryan boy be found and send home. So Captain Miller (Hanks) is to take eight of his men on a special assignment, to find James Francis Ryan (Damon) and get him home safely. Will they succeed? This movie has a lot of blood and is the movie I needed a box of tissues for. I have seen this movie a lot of times and love it everytime I watch it. I would definitely say if you have never seen it, watch it as soon as you get a chance.
RATING: 10/10
THE BEST OF THE REST
Elizabeth (1998) directed by: Shekhar Kapur
Main Cast: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Kathy Burke and Joseph Fiennes
Catholic Queen Mary (Burke) dies and the succession goes to Elizabeth (Blanchett), the Protestant half sister that Mary was not prepared to execute. The new Queen finds herself surrounded by advisors, some supportive, but most plotting her removal by any means necessary. Elizabeth is also under pressure to marry and produce an heir, but her lover, Lord Robert Dudley (Fiennes) is not considered suitable. Elizabeth realizes she has some decisions to make, most important being who should rule England. This was a fairly decent movie, not really the genre I usually prefer, but fairly interesting.
RATING: 7/10
The Thin Red Line (1998) directed by: Terrence Malick
Main Cast: James Caviezel, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Elias Koteas and George Clooney
In 1943, the first major U.S. offensive of World War II, is drawing to a close on the South Pacific Island of Guadalcanal. The U.S. Army arrives with full troops and equipment. The troops in the division include, a war weary sergeant, a power hungry colonel, a private who has only known desertion and AWOL, and a company commander who is doubting his abilities as a leader. You have this one going back and forth between the war and the soldiers past memories. It is a little hard to follow unless you really pay attention and it drags in some parts.
RATING: 6/10
For 1999 as a whole, I was very pleased. I saw three great movies and the other two were really not extremely bad. So it was a pretty good year.
Rating for 1999 as a whole: 9/10
NEXT UP: 1965 - Alexis Zorbas, Becket, Dr. Stangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady
October 14, 2009 6:10pm
Saturday, October 10, 2009
1953
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*High Noon
*The Greatest Show On Earth
*Moulin Rouge
*Ivanhoe
*The Quiet Man
AND "MY" WINNER IS... High Noon
AND "THE" WINNER IS... The Greatest Show on Earth
High Noon (1952) directed by: Fred Zinnemann
Main Cast: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Ian McDonald and Lloyd Bridges
On the day of his wedding and retirement from being the town Marshall, Will Kane (Cooper) recieves a telegram that Frank Miller (McDonald), a man he sent to prison years before is coming back to town on the noon train seeking to extract his revenge. Once Will recieves the telegram he decides he must stay and face Miller. Will tries to round up a posse, but all the town people are either to scared of Frank or are his friends. Deputy Marshall Harvey (Bridges) says he will only fight Miller if he can be Marshall upon Kane's retirement, but someone has already been hired to replace Kane. So Harvey refuses to help Kane as well. Kane finds himself all alone to face Miller and his gang. Great music in this western, great movie, I highly recommend you see this one! I shall be making a trip to the DVD shop for this one!
RATING: 9/10
THE ACADEMY'S PICK
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
Main Cast: Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Dorthy Lamour and Jimmy Stewart
Circus Manager Brad (Heston) wants to ensure a full profitable season for his circus staff, so he hires The Great Sebastian (Wilde) who only works center rings. Which means Brad's girlfriend and acrobat Holly ( Hutton) will be booted from center ring, after working three years to gain the prestigious spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a very dangerous game of one- upmanship duel in the ring, while Sebastian persues Holly romantically on the ground. There is also Buttons the clown (Stewart) and his secret past, and the rackateers who are trying to move in on the gaming concessions. Not really that great of a movie for me, it was to long and drawn out. There were some decent parts, but not enough to keep me interested. The best part was the great costumes.
RATING: 6/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER- UP:
Ivanhoe (1952) directed by: Richard Thorpe
Main Cast: Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine, Finlay Currie and George Sanders
Upon his return from the crusades in the Holy Land, Ivanhoe (Robert Taylor) learns that King Richard the Lionheart is imprisioned in Austria. Ivanhoe discovers the ransom for King Richard is 150,000 marks of Silver. Once back in England Ivanhoe joins forces with Robin of Locksley to try to raise the ransom, all the while trying to re-establish the relationship with his father, who had disowned him years before. This one starts off kind of slow, then picks up about half way through. If you can stick it out through the first half, it is definitely worth it!
RATING: 7/10
HONORABLE MENTION
The Quiet Man (1952) directed by: John Ford
Main Cast: John Wayne and Maureen O' Hara
Sean Thorton ( Wayne) a boxer decides to retire and return to Ireland and reclaim his homestead which is owned by the widow Tillane (Mildred Natwick) Mrs. Tillane sells Thorton the cottage but when he goes to claim it he finds Mary Kate (O' Hara) there cleaning it, as a good christian act. Thorton and Mary Kate fall in love quickly but it turns out her brother wanted the cottage and is upset that Thorton got it. He refuses to let his sister marry Thorton , and Mary Kate must have his approval since her father is deceased. Will they ever get the approval to be married? I can say this one was a little to drawn out for me.
RATING: 6/10
MOULIN ROUGE (1952) directed by: John Huston
Main Cast: Jose Ferrer, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Colette Marchand
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (Ferrer) frequently visits the Moulin Rouge where he drinks cognac and sketches the dancers and singers, Henri's legs were badly deformed in an accident as a child, leaving him in tremendous pain, which he copes with by drinking. Henri is trying to deal with his alcoholism, his painting career and his very unhappy love life, all while coping with his family name and position. Will he ever make it to be a famous painter or will the alcohol lead to his demise.
RATING: 4/10
For 1953 as a whole I would have to say it ended up being a pretty good year for me. There were some letdowns, but there were also some definite surprises.
RATING for 1953 as a whole: 6/10
NEXT UP: 1999 - which includes Elizabeth, Life is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love and The Thin Red Line
October 10, 2009 5:19pm
*High Noon
*The Greatest Show On Earth
*Moulin Rouge
*Ivanhoe
*The Quiet Man
AND "MY" WINNER IS... High Noon
AND "THE" WINNER IS... The Greatest Show on Earth
High Noon (1952) directed by: Fred Zinnemann
Main Cast: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Ian McDonald and Lloyd Bridges
On the day of his wedding and retirement from being the town Marshall, Will Kane (Cooper) recieves a telegram that Frank Miller (McDonald), a man he sent to prison years before is coming back to town on the noon train seeking to extract his revenge. Once Will recieves the telegram he decides he must stay and face Miller. Will tries to round up a posse, but all the town people are either to scared of Frank or are his friends. Deputy Marshall Harvey (Bridges) says he will only fight Miller if he can be Marshall upon Kane's retirement, but someone has already been hired to replace Kane. So Harvey refuses to help Kane as well. Kane finds himself all alone to face Miller and his gang. Great music in this western, great movie, I highly recommend you see this one! I shall be making a trip to the DVD shop for this one!
RATING: 9/10
THE ACADEMY'S PICK
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
Main Cast: Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Dorthy Lamour and Jimmy Stewart
Circus Manager Brad (Heston) wants to ensure a full profitable season for his circus staff, so he hires The Great Sebastian (Wilde) who only works center rings. Which means Brad's girlfriend and acrobat Holly ( Hutton) will be booted from center ring, after working three years to gain the prestigious spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a very dangerous game of one- upmanship duel in the ring, while Sebastian persues Holly romantically on the ground. There is also Buttons the clown (Stewart) and his secret past, and the rackateers who are trying to move in on the gaming concessions. Not really that great of a movie for me, it was to long and drawn out. There were some decent parts, but not enough to keep me interested. The best part was the great costumes.
RATING: 6/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER- UP:
Ivanhoe (1952) directed by: Richard Thorpe
Main Cast: Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine, Finlay Currie and George Sanders
Upon his return from the crusades in the Holy Land, Ivanhoe (Robert Taylor) learns that King Richard the Lionheart is imprisioned in Austria. Ivanhoe discovers the ransom for King Richard is 150,000 marks of Silver. Once back in England Ivanhoe joins forces with Robin of Locksley to try to raise the ransom, all the while trying to re-establish the relationship with his father, who had disowned him years before. This one starts off kind of slow, then picks up about half way through. If you can stick it out through the first half, it is definitely worth it!
RATING: 7/10
HONORABLE MENTION
The Quiet Man (1952) directed by: John Ford
Main Cast: John Wayne and Maureen O' Hara
Sean Thorton ( Wayne) a boxer decides to retire and return to Ireland and reclaim his homestead which is owned by the widow Tillane (Mildred Natwick) Mrs. Tillane sells Thorton the cottage but when he goes to claim it he finds Mary Kate (O' Hara) there cleaning it, as a good christian act. Thorton and Mary Kate fall in love quickly but it turns out her brother wanted the cottage and is upset that Thorton got it. He refuses to let his sister marry Thorton , and Mary Kate must have his approval since her father is deceased. Will they ever get the approval to be married? I can say this one was a little to drawn out for me.
RATING: 6/10
MOULIN ROUGE (1952) directed by: John Huston
Main Cast: Jose Ferrer, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Colette Marchand
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (Ferrer) frequently visits the Moulin Rouge where he drinks cognac and sketches the dancers and singers, Henri's legs were badly deformed in an accident as a child, leaving him in tremendous pain, which he copes with by drinking. Henri is trying to deal with his alcoholism, his painting career and his very unhappy love life, all while coping with his family name and position. Will he ever make it to be a famous painter or will the alcohol lead to his demise.
RATING: 4/10
For 1953 as a whole I would have to say it ended up being a pretty good year for me. There were some letdowns, but there were also some definite surprises.
RATING for 1953 as a whole: 6/10
NEXT UP: 1999 - which includes Elizabeth, Life is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love and The Thin Red Line
October 10, 2009 5:19pm
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