It's Just Like High Fidelity, Only With Five More

Dearest Jonathan wants to know about our Top Ten Movies.

Twist my arm.

1. Casablanca I can't add anything remotely interesting to the discussion regarding this film. It simply is the best movie ever made and if you have issues with that, well, you're a nutter. Sorry, but you'll just have to live with your diagnosis.

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark How can you not love this movie? It is, yet again, proof that Lucas can come up with the story, but it's best left to the professionals, namely Lawrence Kasdan and Stephen Spielberg, to tell it. And boy can they tell a good story!

3. Rear Window Back when I was in eighth grade, this was one of five Hitchcock films---Rope, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Trouble with Harry and Vertigo---- that were re-released to movie theaters. This was the first Hitchcock film I ever saw and it will always be my favorite. I still want to be Grace Kelly when I grow up (and, more importantly, I want her clothes from that movie!).

This, of course, says nothing about how wonderful this film is in its own right.

4. Godfather II: You'll have noticed that The Godfather wasn't on this list. My, what sharp little eyes you've got. There's a reason and I can give it to you in one word, two syllables: De Niro.

5. The English Patient: I love this book and I love this movie. Although, it's not because of my well documented Colin Firth crush. No, I love this movie because of Ralph Fiennes eyes, Juliette Binoche's smile and Naveen Andrew's calm ("Comma.") I love the book because Ondaatje's one of the true masters of bringing a memory to life. You can smell a scene when he's done with it, and he's never tiresome in his description---which is a problem I have with much of literary fiction. Anthony Minghella brought this book to life---and it's wonderful.

6. It Happened One Night: If you've ever wondered what it is about Clark Gable that, once upon a time, drove women mad, this is the film to watch. Trust me on this one.

7. Grand Illusion: Most people won't be familiar with this movie, because not only is it old, but it's foreign. It's a masterwork of director Jean Renoir and it's well worth seeing.

8. Bridge Over the River Kwai and

9. Lawrence of Arabia

Oh, dear. I had a hard time narrowing it down which David Lean films are my favorites, because, quite frankly, I love this man's movies. First and foremost, I love how they look. I love how you get a sense of magisterial scope with Lean's films, but how the background never seems too unwieldy for the character's to manage, even when it is. All that breathtaking scenery that the characters seem impervious to, it's like it's a reminder to look around and see what sort of magisterial scope there is to your own surroundings. Second, these two films had the most memorable acting jobs. Alec Guinness especially, in Bridge Over the River Kwai was incredible, as was Peter O'Toole in Lawrence: they held up to the scenery.

I could go on, but I think we can move along.

10. L.A. Confidential: What's not to like about this movie? The story is incredible. The acting is phenomenal, particularly from Kim Basinger. Who knew? Surely 9 1/2 Weeks never tipped anyone off to her talents. Russell Crowe's Bud White strains at the leash; Guy Pearce's Ed Exley is so icily ambitious and controlled until he isn't, but James Cromwell's Dudley Smith, well, he takes the cake with that Irish accent and his casual acceptance of corruption.

Ahhhh....now that's a movie.

Posted by Kathy at December 21, 2005 12:01 AM | TrackBack