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
Monday, October 5, 2009
2002
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*In the Bedroom
*Gosford Park
*Moulin Rouge!
*A Beautiful Mind
*The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
AND "MY" WINNER IS.. A Beautiful Mind
And "The" WINNER IS.. A Beautiful Mind
A Beautiful Mind(2001) directed by:Ron Howard
Main Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Ed Harris and Christopher Plummer
While attending Princeton University in the 1940's, John Nash (Crowe) struggles to make a worthwhile contribution to the world of mathematics. He finally has a breakthrough, that will eventually earn him a Nobel prize. After graduate school he turns to teaching, where he meets Alicia (Connelly) Whom he eventually marries. Meanwhile the government is asking for his help with breaking Soviet codes, which gets him involved in a terrifying cospiracy plot. Nash grows more and more paranoid until a discovery that turns his whole world upside down, and only Alicia can save him. Definitely worth checking out, I have this one in my collection, but if I didn't I would be making a special trip to buy it!
RATING: 10/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER- UP:
In the Bedroom (2001) directed by: Todd Field
Main Cast: Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, Nick Stahl, Marisa Tomei and William Mapother
Matt (Wilkinson) and Ruth (Spacek) have a college aged son named Frank (Stahl) who is dating an older , married woman named Natalie (Tomei). Natalie and her husband Richard (Mapother) are seperated and living apart but, when he finds out she is dating Frank the unthinkable happens, that will tear everyones world apart. This was a great movie, the only one so far where I needed a box of tissues. I highly recommend you check it out. I will be adding In the Bedroom to my DVD collection as soon as possible.
RATING: 10/10
HONORABLE MENTION:
Moulin Rouge! (2001) directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Main Cast: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent and Richard Roxburgh
It's Paris in 1899 Christian (McGregor) a young English poet comes to Paris to persue a career as a writer. However he soon meets a group of Bohemians who tell him he should write a musical show for them to be performed at the Moulin Rouge, the most famous underworld nightclub in Paris. The night they arrive at the Moulin Rouge Christian meets Satine (Kidman), the clubs star and a courtesan. He falls head- over- hills in love with her and though it takes a bit of convincing, she soon falls for him as well. Meanwhile the club's owner Harold Zidler (Broadbent), invest in a wealthy Duke (Roxburgh) to help pay for the club, however the Duke will only pay if Satine is his. The crazy love triangle takes some unusual twist and turns. Little does Satine know she has a deadly secret that could end everything. Terrific movie, definate for my collection!
RATING: 9/10
THE Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) directed by: Peter Jackson
Main Cast: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Rhys-Davies and Sean Bean
The ancient ring that had been thought lost, has been found and now it has been given to a small hobbitt named Frodo Baggins (Wood), When Gandalf (McKellen) discovers the ring, he soon realizes it is the ring created by the Dark Lord Sauron. Gandalf tells Frodo the ring must be destroyed by tossing it into the Cracks of Doom, that is the only wat to destroy it! So Frodo along with Gandalf, Legalos the elf (Bloom), Gimli the dwarf (Rhys-Davies), Aragon (Mortensen), Boromir (Bean), Pippin the hobbitt (Monaghan), Merry the hobbitt (Boyd) and his best friend Sam the hobbitt (Astin). The fellowship of the ring faces danger at every turn, their quest to destroy the ring is the only hope to destroy the dark lords reign! This was a very long movie, but a very enjoyable movie from beginning to end. I recommend you see it for yourself. It is already a part of my collection, and if it wasn't it would soon be!
RATING: 8/10
THE REST:
GOSFORD PARK (2001) directed by: Robert Altman
Main Cast: Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith
The McCordle's (Gambon & Thomas) are hosting a weekend murder mystery party, Mr. McCordle actually ends up being murdered, no one really seems to have cared for the man. Take the journey to find out who really killed him and why, when everyone had reason to want him dead. Not really my cup of tea, certainly don't think this one will make it in the collection.
RATING: 2/10
So all in all 2002 was a great year for me, only one movie out of five I really didn't care for. Alot of these movies I will definitely be viewing again, some hopefully soon!
Rating for 2002 as a whole: 9/10
Next up: 1953- which includes The Greatest Show on Earth, High Noon, Ivanhoe, Moulin Rouge and The Quiet Man
*In the Bedroom
*Gosford Park
*Moulin Rouge!
*A Beautiful Mind
*The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
AND "MY" WINNER IS.. A Beautiful Mind
And "The" WINNER IS.. A Beautiful Mind
A Beautiful Mind(2001) directed by:Ron Howard
Main Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Ed Harris and Christopher Plummer
While attending Princeton University in the 1940's, John Nash (Crowe) struggles to make a worthwhile contribution to the world of mathematics. He finally has a breakthrough, that will eventually earn him a Nobel prize. After graduate school he turns to teaching, where he meets Alicia (Connelly) Whom he eventually marries. Meanwhile the government is asking for his help with breaking Soviet codes, which gets him involved in a terrifying cospiracy plot. Nash grows more and more paranoid until a discovery that turns his whole world upside down, and only Alicia can save him. Definitely worth checking out, I have this one in my collection, but if I didn't I would be making a special trip to buy it!
RATING: 10/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER- UP:
In the Bedroom (2001) directed by: Todd Field
Main Cast: Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, Nick Stahl, Marisa Tomei and William Mapother
Matt (Wilkinson) and Ruth (Spacek) have a college aged son named Frank (Stahl) who is dating an older , married woman named Natalie (Tomei). Natalie and her husband Richard (Mapother) are seperated and living apart but, when he finds out she is dating Frank the unthinkable happens, that will tear everyones world apart. This was a great movie, the only one so far where I needed a box of tissues. I highly recommend you check it out. I will be adding In the Bedroom to my DVD collection as soon as possible.
RATING: 10/10
HONORABLE MENTION:
Moulin Rouge! (2001) directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Main Cast: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent and Richard Roxburgh
It's Paris in 1899 Christian (McGregor) a young English poet comes to Paris to persue a career as a writer. However he soon meets a group of Bohemians who tell him he should write a musical show for them to be performed at the Moulin Rouge, the most famous underworld nightclub in Paris. The night they arrive at the Moulin Rouge Christian meets Satine (Kidman), the clubs star and a courtesan. He falls head- over- hills in love with her and though it takes a bit of convincing, she soon falls for him as well. Meanwhile the club's owner Harold Zidler (Broadbent), invest in a wealthy Duke (Roxburgh) to help pay for the club, however the Duke will only pay if Satine is his. The crazy love triangle takes some unusual twist and turns. Little does Satine know she has a deadly secret that could end everything. Terrific movie, definate for my collection!
RATING: 9/10
THE Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) directed by: Peter Jackson
Main Cast: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Rhys-Davies and Sean Bean
The ancient ring that had been thought lost, has been found and now it has been given to a small hobbitt named Frodo Baggins (Wood), When Gandalf (McKellen) discovers the ring, he soon realizes it is the ring created by the Dark Lord Sauron. Gandalf tells Frodo the ring must be destroyed by tossing it into the Cracks of Doom, that is the only wat to destroy it! So Frodo along with Gandalf, Legalos the elf (Bloom), Gimli the dwarf (Rhys-Davies), Aragon (Mortensen), Boromir (Bean), Pippin the hobbitt (Monaghan), Merry the hobbitt (Boyd) and his best friend Sam the hobbitt (Astin). The fellowship of the ring faces danger at every turn, their quest to destroy the ring is the only hope to destroy the dark lords reign! This was a very long movie, but a very enjoyable movie from beginning to end. I recommend you see it for yourself. It is already a part of my collection, and if it wasn't it would soon be!
RATING: 8/10
THE REST:
GOSFORD PARK (2001) directed by: Robert Altman
Main Cast: Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith
The McCordle's (Gambon & Thomas) are hosting a weekend murder mystery party, Mr. McCordle actually ends up being murdered, no one really seems to have cared for the man. Take the journey to find out who really killed him and why, when everyone had reason to want him dead. Not really my cup of tea, certainly don't think this one will make it in the collection.
RATING: 2/10
So all in all 2002 was a great year for me, only one movie out of five I really didn't care for. Alot of these movies I will definitely be viewing again, some hopefully soon!
Rating for 2002 as a whole: 9/10
Next up: 1953- which includes The Greatest Show on Earth, High Noon, Ivanhoe, Moulin Rouge and The Quiet Man
Thursday, October 1, 2009
2000
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*Erin Brockovich
*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
*Gladiator
*Chocolat
*Traffic
AND 'MY' WINNER IS...(TIE) Gladiator and Chocolat
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...Gladiator
Gladiator (2000) directed by: Ridley Scott
Main Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed and Richard Harris
We have Rome, The Emperors, The Gladiators, sound good? Well didn't to me at first anyway. The Emperor dies and his son becomes the ruler, Maximus(Crowe) is a General who's son and wife are brutally murdered leaving him to seek revenge. Maximus is captured and becomes a slave who must fight in battle for the new emperors amusement. The battle scenes are great! This one is already part of my collection.
Rating: 10/10
Chocolat (2000) directed by: Lasse Hallstrom
Main Cast: Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, Lena Olin and Johnny Depp
Vianne (Binoche) a single mother with a six year old daughter they move to a small french town, where she opens a chocolate shop. The mayor is against Vianne from the very beginning, but most of the townspeople warm up to her quickly, she teaches the people about acceptance when a group of river drifters visit the town. Very good moral to this story, I loved it! If it was not in my collection I would definately be adding it!
Rating: 10/10
BEST OF THE REST
Runner- up:
Erin Brockovich (2000) directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Main Cast: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney and Aaron Eckhart
Erin Brockovich (Roberts) is a struggling, single, out of work mother of three, who convinces local attorney Ed Masry (Finney) to hire her. While filing cases one day Erin stumbles across a case that peaks her interest. Erin is determined to help the small town of Hinkley fight the PG&E Company for making over two hundred of them sick. Definately worth watching, I am very proud to say this one is already a part of my collection.
Rating: 9/10
HONORABLE MENTION
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) directed by: Ang Lee
Main Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang
Jen Yu is a prominent woman who is promised to marry a man she doesn't love. Yu Shu Lien is in love with Li Mu Bai but cannot be with him because she was to marry his brother who was killed, and if she lets her love be known it is a disgrace to her dead fiance. Jen Yu wants to be a warrior but women are not permitted to be warriors. So she must fight under disguise. Great action movie, althought some of the action scenes are so unbelievable. We have actors running up the sides of buildings, leaping across roofs come on I mean really!? Defiantely worth seeing, but not sure about adding it to my collection.
Rating: 6/10
THE REST
Traffic (2000) directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Main Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle and Erika Christensen
Traffic and Erin Brockovich having both been directed by Steven Soderbergh totally surprised me, because I really enjoyed Erin Brockovich but must say I was extremely disappointed with Traffic. Traffic brings you four different stories of the war against drugs. It ends up all four stories are connected in one way or another. The plot did absolutely nothing to quench my enjoyment and I found nothing of enjoyment in this film. I just really hated this movie in every way! Certainly not something that will ever be part of my DVD collection!
Rating: 1/10
So I must say 2000 ended bringing me some new gems which I really enjoyed! Only one movie I vow to never watch again in my lifetime! All in all a pretty decent year!
Rating for 2000 as a whole: 7/10
NEXT UP: 2002- A Beautiful Mind, Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge!
*Erin Brockovich
*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
*Gladiator
*Chocolat
*Traffic
AND 'MY' WINNER IS...(TIE) Gladiator and Chocolat
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...Gladiator
Gladiator (2000) directed by: Ridley Scott
Main Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed and Richard Harris
We have Rome, The Emperors, The Gladiators, sound good? Well didn't to me at first anyway. The Emperor dies and his son becomes the ruler, Maximus(Crowe) is a General who's son and wife are brutally murdered leaving him to seek revenge. Maximus is captured and becomes a slave who must fight in battle for the new emperors amusement. The battle scenes are great! This one is already part of my collection.
Rating: 10/10
Chocolat (2000) directed by: Lasse Hallstrom
Main Cast: Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, Lena Olin and Johnny Depp
Vianne (Binoche) a single mother with a six year old daughter they move to a small french town, where she opens a chocolate shop. The mayor is against Vianne from the very beginning, but most of the townspeople warm up to her quickly, she teaches the people about acceptance when a group of river drifters visit the town. Very good moral to this story, I loved it! If it was not in my collection I would definately be adding it!
Rating: 10/10
BEST OF THE REST
Runner- up:
Erin Brockovich (2000) directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Main Cast: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney and Aaron Eckhart
Erin Brockovich (Roberts) is a struggling, single, out of work mother of three, who convinces local attorney Ed Masry (Finney) to hire her. While filing cases one day Erin stumbles across a case that peaks her interest. Erin is determined to help the small town of Hinkley fight the PG&E Company for making over two hundred of them sick. Definately worth watching, I am very proud to say this one is already a part of my collection.
Rating: 9/10
HONORABLE MENTION
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) directed by: Ang Lee
Main Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang
Jen Yu is a prominent woman who is promised to marry a man she doesn't love. Yu Shu Lien is in love with Li Mu Bai but cannot be with him because she was to marry his brother who was killed, and if she lets her love be known it is a disgrace to her dead fiance. Jen Yu wants to be a warrior but women are not permitted to be warriors. So she must fight under disguise. Great action movie, althought some of the action scenes are so unbelievable. We have actors running up the sides of buildings, leaping across roofs come on I mean really!? Defiantely worth seeing, but not sure about adding it to my collection.
Rating: 6/10
THE REST
Traffic (2000) directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Main Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle and Erika Christensen
Traffic and Erin Brockovich having both been directed by Steven Soderbergh totally surprised me, because I really enjoyed Erin Brockovich but must say I was extremely disappointed with Traffic. Traffic brings you four different stories of the war against drugs. It ends up all four stories are connected in one way or another. The plot did absolutely nothing to quench my enjoyment and I found nothing of enjoyment in this film. I just really hated this movie in every way! Certainly not something that will ever be part of my DVD collection!
Rating: 1/10
So I must say 2000 ended bringing me some new gems which I really enjoyed! Only one movie I vow to never watch again in my lifetime! All in all a pretty decent year!
Rating for 2000 as a whole: 7/10
NEXT UP: 2002- A Beautiful Mind, Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
1967
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
*A Man for All Seasons
*Alfie
*The Sand Pebbles
*The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming
AND 'MY' WINNER IS...The Sand Pebbles
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...A Man for All Seasons
The Sand Pebbles (1966) directed by: Robert Wise
Main Cast: Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna, Candice Bergen and Mako
Went into this movie not expecting to like it. I must say I was extremely surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I had never seen a Steve McQueen movie and now I can't wait to see more. Steve McQueen plays Jake Holman, a navy engineer on a battleship in Shanghai. I am going to be making a special trip to the DVD store as soon as possible for this gem.
RATING: 9/10
THE ACADEMY'S PICK
A Man for All Seasons (1966) directed by: Fred Zinnemann
Main Cast: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw and Orson Welles
This one was really not an easy task for me. Cardinals, Kings, Consulates, Queens...anyone bored yet? I sure was! The acting by Paul Scofield, I admit, was superb, but the time period in which the movie was set, just turned me off. This one will certainly not make it into my collection anytime soon, if ever.
RATING: 3/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER-UP:
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) directed by: Mike Nichols
Main Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal and Sandy Dennis
This whole movie is based around a middle aged married couple, Martha (Taylor) and George (Burton). Martha is a crazy drunk who is never seen without a drink in her hand. She is constantly yelling at and belittling George. They both seem to hate each other and I do believe they both are a little crazy at points. An entertaining movie that kept me wanting more and wondering what would happen next. Not sure if I would add it to my collection, that's something I'll have to contemplate.
RATING: 8/10
HONORABLE MENTION
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) directed by: Norman Jewison
Main Cast: Carl Reiner, Eva Mare Saint, Alan Arkin and John Phillip Law
A Russian submarine with a captain that had never seen America, is trying to get a closer look, when suddenly they go aground and are stuck. Nine of the soldiers come inland in search of a boat to free the submarine. Sound like trouble?I recommend you check it out. Not one I will be rushing out to buy, but one that I'd certainly watch on TV if I came across it.
RATING: 6/10
THE REST
Alfie (1966) directed by: Lewis Gilbert
Main Cast: Michael Caine, Shelley Winters and Millicent Martin
Alfie (Caine) is a womanizer who is seeing so many different women that it is hard to keep track. He doesn't care if they are married or not, as long as they give him what he wants. Alfie thinks his life is great until he meets Annie, then he starts to really care for her. Time for Alfie to decide between the life he loves and the woman he's falling in love with. Pretty average movie for me. Not something I will be buying.
RATING: 5/10
1967 at the Oscars certainly paled in comparison to 1983, but still gave me The Sand Pebbles and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, two movies I won't soon forget and two movies that will soon grace my DVD shelf, so for that I can't complain.
Rating for 1967 as a whole: 5/10
NEXT UP: 2001 - which includes Chocolat, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Erin Brockovich, Gladiator and Traffic
September 26. 2009 11:02pm
*Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
*A Man for All Seasons
*Alfie
*The Sand Pebbles
*The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming
AND 'MY' WINNER IS...The Sand Pebbles
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...A Man for All Seasons
The Sand Pebbles (1966) directed by: Robert Wise
Main Cast: Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna, Candice Bergen and Mako
Went into this movie not expecting to like it. I must say I was extremely surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I had never seen a Steve McQueen movie and now I can't wait to see more. Steve McQueen plays Jake Holman, a navy engineer on a battleship in Shanghai. I am going to be making a special trip to the DVD store as soon as possible for this gem.
RATING: 9/10
THE ACADEMY'S PICK
A Man for All Seasons (1966) directed by: Fred Zinnemann
Main Cast: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw and Orson Welles
This one was really not an easy task for me. Cardinals, Kings, Consulates, Queens...anyone bored yet? I sure was! The acting by Paul Scofield, I admit, was superb, but the time period in which the movie was set, just turned me off. This one will certainly not make it into my collection anytime soon, if ever.
RATING: 3/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER-UP:
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) directed by: Mike Nichols
Main Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal and Sandy Dennis
This whole movie is based around a middle aged married couple, Martha (Taylor) and George (Burton). Martha is a crazy drunk who is never seen without a drink in her hand. She is constantly yelling at and belittling George. They both seem to hate each other and I do believe they both are a little crazy at points. An entertaining movie that kept me wanting more and wondering what would happen next. Not sure if I would add it to my collection, that's something I'll have to contemplate.
RATING: 8/10
HONORABLE MENTION
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) directed by: Norman Jewison
Main Cast: Carl Reiner, Eva Mare Saint, Alan Arkin and John Phillip Law
A Russian submarine with a captain that had never seen America, is trying to get a closer look, when suddenly they go aground and are stuck. Nine of the soldiers come inland in search of a boat to free the submarine. Sound like trouble?I recommend you check it out. Not one I will be rushing out to buy, but one that I'd certainly watch on TV if I came across it.
RATING: 6/10
THE REST
Alfie (1966) directed by: Lewis Gilbert
Main Cast: Michael Caine, Shelley Winters and Millicent Martin
Alfie (Caine) is a womanizer who is seeing so many different women that it is hard to keep track. He doesn't care if they are married or not, as long as they give him what he wants. Alfie thinks his life is great until he meets Annie, then he starts to really care for her. Time for Alfie to decide between the life he loves and the woman he's falling in love with. Pretty average movie for me. Not something I will be buying.
RATING: 5/10
1967 at the Oscars certainly paled in comparison to 1983, but still gave me The Sand Pebbles and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, two movies I won't soon forget and two movies that will soon grace my DVD shelf, so for that I can't complain.
Rating for 1967 as a whole: 5/10
NEXT UP: 2001 - which includes Chocolat, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Erin Brockovich, Gladiator and Traffic
September 26. 2009 11:02pm
Sunday, September 20, 2009
1983
BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
*Tootsie
*The Verdict
*E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial
*Gandhi
*Missing
AND 'MY' WINNER IS...Gandhi
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...Gandhi
Gandhi (1982) directed by: Richard Attenborough
Main Cast: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen and Martin Sheen
I must say that I went into this one really dreading it. First off it is over three hours and secondly I am not much of a biopic fan. Well, for starters, I was unsure of what Gandhi had actually even done. I mean, of course, I had heard his name, but never really knew what he accomplished. Now after watching this movie I must say that I was totally shocked I absolutely loved it!! Gandhi was a truly amazing man, who deserves all the respect and admiration that he has gotten. This movie is a definite must see and will certainly be one of my favorites from now on. I do not own this movie, but that will definitely have to be rectified.
RATING: 10/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER-UP:
Tootsie (1982) directed by: Sydney Pollack
Main Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr and Bill Murray
I had heard a lot of mixed reactions from a lot of different people regarding Tootsie. They say you either love it or you hate it. So I was very excited to give Tootsie a try. Just the thought of Dustin Hoffman (who I think is an amazing actor) cross-dressing as a woman to gain a role in a soap opera sounded priceless to me. Well I was NOT disapointed. Tootsie was a great movie that I would watch again anytime and I must say that if I didn't already own it, I'd be making a trip to my local DVD shop to buy it. If you have never seen it, it comes with the highest of recomendations.
RATING: 10/10
HONORABLE MENTION
Missing (1982) directed by: Costa-Gavras
Main Cast: Sissy Spacek and Jack Lemmon
I had never actually heard of this movie until I started this mission of mine. Missing is based on a true story about the disapearance of Charlie Horman while living in Chile with his wife. The movie shows her struggle, alongside his father (Jack Lemmon) to find out the truth surrounding his ominous vanishing and the quest to find out what actually happened to him, while constantly getting more of a runaround than help. I will definitely be adding this one to my DVD shelf.
RATING: 10/10
THE REST
E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial (1982) directed by: Steven Spielberg
Main Cast: Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore
Well I remember I must've enjoyed this movie as a child, because I will never forget my E.T. stuffed dolls. However, about a year ago, my husband and I revisited this movie again and for some reason or another I really don't remember liking it that time around. But after having rewatched it for my new found mission, I must say I truly do think it is an excellent movie. The only reason it's included in "The Rest" catergory is because of the moment in the film when the mother first meets E.T. and she is running out of the house with the family and the men in space suits are swarming in, even through the windows. Sorry kinda creepy! Great movie though all in all, truly a must see!
The Verdict (1982) directed by: Sidney Lumet
Main Cast: Paul Newman, Jack Warden, James Mason and Charlotte Rampling
Paul Newman, of who I am a huge fan of, playing a down and out, drunk lawyer who pulls all the punches, even resorting to crashing funerals in search of clients, sounded great to me. The Verdict started off really slow and it took a while to get interesting, but once it got to the courtroom part of the movie, it became a little more exciting and pulled me in a bit deeper. All in all I would say kind of average, but not highly recomended.
So there you have it, 1983 at the Oscars. To sum it up 1983 was a great year for film, with many great directors on showcase. I got lucky with picking this particular year to kick off my mission.
RATING FOR 1983 as a whole: 9/10
NEXT UP: 1967 - which includes Alfie, A Man for All Seasons, The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming, The Sand Pebbles and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
September 20, 2009 9:41pm
*Tootsie
*The Verdict
*E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial
*Gandhi
*Missing
AND 'MY' WINNER IS...Gandhi
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...Gandhi
Gandhi (1982) directed by: Richard Attenborough
Main Cast: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen and Martin Sheen
I must say that I went into this one really dreading it. First off it is over three hours and secondly I am not much of a biopic fan. Well, for starters, I was unsure of what Gandhi had actually even done. I mean, of course, I had heard his name, but never really knew what he accomplished. Now after watching this movie I must say that I was totally shocked I absolutely loved it!! Gandhi was a truly amazing man, who deserves all the respect and admiration that he has gotten. This movie is a definite must see and will certainly be one of my favorites from now on. I do not own this movie, but that will definitely have to be rectified.
RATING: 10/10
BEST OF THE REST
RUNNER-UP:
Tootsie (1982) directed by: Sydney Pollack
Main Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr and Bill Murray
I had heard a lot of mixed reactions from a lot of different people regarding Tootsie. They say you either love it or you hate it. So I was very excited to give Tootsie a try. Just the thought of Dustin Hoffman (who I think is an amazing actor) cross-dressing as a woman to gain a role in a soap opera sounded priceless to me. Well I was NOT disapointed. Tootsie was a great movie that I would watch again anytime and I must say that if I didn't already own it, I'd be making a trip to my local DVD shop to buy it. If you have never seen it, it comes with the highest of recomendations.
RATING: 10/10
HONORABLE MENTION
Missing (1982) directed by: Costa-Gavras
Main Cast: Sissy Spacek and Jack Lemmon
I had never actually heard of this movie until I started this mission of mine. Missing is based on a true story about the disapearance of Charlie Horman while living in Chile with his wife. The movie shows her struggle, alongside his father (Jack Lemmon) to find out the truth surrounding his ominous vanishing and the quest to find out what actually happened to him, while constantly getting more of a runaround than help. I will definitely be adding this one to my DVD shelf.
RATING: 10/10
THE REST
E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial (1982) directed by: Steven Spielberg
Main Cast: Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore
Well I remember I must've enjoyed this movie as a child, because I will never forget my E.T. stuffed dolls. However, about a year ago, my husband and I revisited this movie again and for some reason or another I really don't remember liking it that time around. But after having rewatched it for my new found mission, I must say I truly do think it is an excellent movie. The only reason it's included in "The Rest" catergory is because of the moment in the film when the mother first meets E.T. and she is running out of the house with the family and the men in space suits are swarming in, even through the windows. Sorry kinda creepy! Great movie though all in all, truly a must see!
The Verdict (1982) directed by: Sidney Lumet
Main Cast: Paul Newman, Jack Warden, James Mason and Charlotte Rampling
Paul Newman, of who I am a huge fan of, playing a down and out, drunk lawyer who pulls all the punches, even resorting to crashing funerals in search of clients, sounded great to me. The Verdict started off really slow and it took a while to get interesting, but once it got to the courtroom part of the movie, it became a little more exciting and pulled me in a bit deeper. All in all I would say kind of average, but not highly recomended.
So there you have it, 1983 at the Oscars. To sum it up 1983 was a great year for film, with many great directors on showcase. I got lucky with picking this particular year to kick off my mission.
RATING FOR 1983 as a whole: 9/10
NEXT UP: 1967 - which includes Alfie, A Man for All Seasons, The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming, The Sand Pebbles and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
September 20, 2009 9:41pm
Friday, September 18, 2009
Introduction
Recently, my husband decided to take on the mission of watching every movie in the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" book. After contemplating whether or not I wanted to join him on his journey through cinema, I decided that I really didn't think the path that he was taking, was suited for me. So I decided to take a path of my own, a path, that has lead me on a very exciting mission.
What is my mission, you ask:
After hearing that the academy, that is the Academy of Motion Pictures (aka the Oscars) have decided to nominate ten Best Picture nominees in 2010, instead of the standard five, it got me to thinking about all of the films that have had the honor of "Best Picture Nominee" bestowed upon them. So I've decided to undertake the mission of watching them all. That is, all the nominees and of course, the winners. But there's a twist, in the way that I'm going to pursue my mission.
While I had some free time on my hands, I got out my stationary kit and found myself some paper, scissors and an ink pen. I wrote down every year that there has been an Academy Awards ceremony. From there, I put all of the slips of paper into an old pretzel jar and decided that from there, I would randomly pick a year, watch all of the films that were nominated in that particular year and then blog about them.
In conclusion, this will give me a chance to give my own spin on what should've happened at the Oscars on any given year. I'll be able to give you a year, the films that were nominated and tell you what won, what should've won and what I thought of the rest.
I hope that you will find my blog informative, and hopefully it'll gear you up for the 2010 ceremony and leave movie fans craving for my opinions.
What is my mission, you ask:
After hearing that the academy, that is the Academy of Motion Pictures (aka the Oscars) have decided to nominate ten Best Picture nominees in 2010, instead of the standard five, it got me to thinking about all of the films that have had the honor of "Best Picture Nominee" bestowed upon them. So I've decided to undertake the mission of watching them all. That is, all the nominees and of course, the winners. But there's a twist, in the way that I'm going to pursue my mission.
While I had some free time on my hands, I got out my stationary kit and found myself some paper, scissors and an ink pen. I wrote down every year that there has been an Academy Awards ceremony. From there, I put all of the slips of paper into an old pretzel jar and decided that from there, I would randomly pick a year, watch all of the films that were nominated in that particular year and then blog about them.
In conclusion, this will give me a chance to give my own spin on what should've happened at the Oscars on any given year. I'll be able to give you a year, the films that were nominated and tell you what won, what should've won and what I thought of the rest.
I hope that you will find my blog informative, and hopefully it'll gear you up for the 2010 ceremony and leave movie fans craving for my opinions.
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