My Favorite Films (Part 10)

Please refer to http://goo.gl/Oe7tO5, which explains the criteria for this series and don't forget to check out Kyle's blog for his lists, too!

46. Titanic 

Year: 1997
Director: James Cameron

Titanic seems to be a polarizing film these days. Cited by some as one of the greatest movies ever made and by others as cliched and over hyped. I count myself firmly in the former camp and have loved Titanic since I first saw it in the theaters in 1997. As a 15 year old boy, I wasn't exactly the target demographic and I wasn't well versed in cinema, but that didn't stop me from appreciating the beautiful cinematography, wonderful score, and amazing set and costume design. The two lead performances from Leonardo DiCaprio (now one of my favorite actors) and Kate Winslet were nearly perfect for a film like this. The supporting cast had definite standouts (Bernard Hill, Victor Garber, Gloria Stuart, and Kathy Bates) and a couple (Billy Zane and Frances Fisher) who could have used less screen time. James Cameron is no stranger to making fantastic films (The Terminator, The Abyss, T2: Judgement Day) but I think Titanic is by far his greatest achievement. The epic scale of his production is almost hard to comprehend and the attention to detail in recreating the fabled ship is second to none. Of course, Titanic isn't perfect, and it's one considerable flaw is Cameron's screenplay. It's a bit weak in certain areas, most notably the dialogue. This type of flaw is usually a deal breaker for me (I generally gravitate to character/dialogue heavy films), but considering everything else that Titanic does so exceptionally well, it's a flaw I can forgive.

47. Toy Story 3

Year: 2010
Director: Lee Unkrich

I've written about Toy Story 3 once before, when it topped my list of Favorite Animated Films. It's a wonderful film and the perfect ending to my favorite film series.

48. True Romance

Year: 1993
Director: Tony Scott

One of the best action/crime/drama/dark comedies of the 1990's, True Romance is a late addition to this list. It originally didn't make the cut, but after a different film fell off I decided to replace it with this Tony Scott directed and Quentin Tarantino penned flick. True Romance is one of the rare films that succeeds despite featuring two bland lead performances (from generally poor actors Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette) because of the fantastic screenplay, excellent direction, crackling soundtrack, and magnificent supporting performances. Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper shine (and share the best scene in the film) and show why they had such prolific careers - the two are absolutely magnetic. Gary Oldman chews up so much scenery and seems to be having such a blast as a white gangster who is extremely drawn to African American culture, that it's hard not to smile at his character even while he does and says terrible things. Samuel L. Jackson, Bronson Pinchot, Michael Rapaport, Saul Rubinek, James Gandolfini, Brad Pitt, and Val Kilmer add to the film's appeal. Each actor is nearly perfect in their role, whether it be substantial or tiny. Tony Scott certainly had a flair for directing action/drama hybrids (I also really love Crimson Tide and Man on Fire), but thanks to Tarantino's script and the great cast, True Romance is by far my favorite work of his.

49. Wag the Dog

Year: 1997
Director: Barry Levinson

I'm not generally into politics or political films, but there are a handful of exceptions. Wag the Dog is the best and most entertaining of those exceptions and it's probably due to the mixing of behind the scenes Hollywood and behind the scenes Washington politics with hilarious satire that draws me in so well. Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro are flawless as a film producer and political spin-doctor, respectively, who team up to create a fake war to divert attention during a presidential election scandal. The two have an amazing amount of chemistry, which shouldn't be surprising considering they're two of the finest American actors of the last 50 years. Hoffman's Stanley Motss has always struck me as a Robert Evans inspired character, which is just fine by me - Evans is one of the most interesting Hollywood figures that I know. The supporting cast is almost as good and features wonderful little performances from Denis Leary, Willie Nelson, William H. Macy, John Michael Higgins, Craig T. Nelson (in an uncredited role) and Woody Harrelson. Wag the Dog is the type of film that relies heavily on the writing and acting, and is not much to look at otherwise. This isn't to say the technical aspects like direction, editing, and cinematography are lacking, but they're just not the highlight like they are in some films. The only sub par aspect of the whole film is Anne Heche, who unfortunately has the third largest role and just doesn't offer much of anything noteworthy. With a better actress in her role, Wag the Dog could be even better, but it's a small quibble with an otherwise glorious film.

50. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Year: 1971
Director: Mel Stuart

 

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is one of my few childhood favorites that still endures to this day. In fact, I probably appreciate the film more now that I did when I first saw it because now I can see just how magnificent Gene Wilder truly was as the titular character, an eccentric and devious candy factory owner. Wilder's performance mixes deadpan sarcasm, physical humor, and nonverbal communication (his facial reactions are priceless) with an eerie undercurrent of malevolence to create one of the most interesting, funny, and memorable film characters I've seen. He narrowly missed a spot on my Favorite Lead Actor Performances list from last year and was a hard one for me to cut. The rest of the film doesn't match Wilder's performance, but it's still (mostly) a blast from start to finish. There are great songs (The Candy Man, I've Got a Golden Ticket, Pure Imagination, and all the Oompa Loompa tunes), fun supporting characters (most notably Grandpa Joe, Violet Beauregarde, Mr. Slugworth, and Mike Teevee), and an engaging and thoughtful main character in Charlie, played quite well by Peter Ostrum in his only film role. The one part that's a certifiable dud (and that I usually fast forward through now) is when Charlie's mom sings the dreadful ballad Cheer Up Charlie. This is a film that I'm sure I'll enjoy for the rest of my life and I'm really looking forward to watching with my son one day soon.

Well, that's it! All finished with the ten part series! I hope to have inspired at least one person to check out a film or two and I hope to read some comments down below. Do you like any of these films? Hate any of them? Let me know, please!

Coming up next Friday: The Most Beautiful Films I've Seen!

 

My Favorite Western Films

Over the last few months I've actively tried to watch more westerns (especially those considered classics) in anticipation of making this list and three of these ten were seen because of this goal. I'm happy to have found them and will continue to expand my knowledge base for this rich and varied genre as time goes on. 

Don't forget to check out Kyle's blog for his list, too!

 

 

1. Maverick

I've previously written about Maverick in Part 6 of My Favorite Films. It was a childhood favorite of mine and continues to entertain me to this day.

2. High Noon

I've previously written a full length review of High Noon.

3. Stagecoach

Check out my full length review of Stagecoach.

4. The Hateful Eight

Yet another film where I've already written a full length review.

5. Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is one of My Favorite Directors and is responsible for two films on this list. His first foray into the western genre was Django Unchained, the story of a slave-turned bounty hounter and his mission to rescue his wife from a sadistic landowner. Jamie Foxx is very good as Django, but his costars are definitely the highlight of the film, for me. Christoph Walz won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as Dr. King Schultz, a verbose, intelligent bounty hunter who takes Django under his wing. Schultz is one of those perfect Tarantino characters - fast talking, charismatic, and overwhelmingly appealing, even as he's (deservedly) killing people - and Walz seems born to play him. Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson play the main villains - the landowner, Candy, and his chief house slave, Stephen - and both actors are truly sublime. DiCaprio gets to chew some scenery (especially in the dinner scene when Candy brandishes a skull and hammer) and Jackson plays almost two seperate roles, depending on who Stephen is talking to at the moment. As with nearly all of Tarantino's films, Django Unchained features excellent writing, a great soundtrack, and lots of over the top violence. If the film didn't feature a horrible performance from Tarantino and was maybe ten or fifteen minutes shorter, it would probably challenge Maverick as my favorite western.

6. The Revenant 

The Revenant is the newest entry on my list, narrowly edging out The Hateful Eight, and I just saw it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The majesty of the visuals and the intensity of the performances are still fresh in my mind. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu obviously has an eye for visuals, you just have to watch Birdman (a film I really like) or 21 Grams (which I very much disliked, at least at the time), but he truly outdid himself with The Revenant. In a couple weeks, I'll be publishing my Top 10 list of Most Beautiful Films and this one will definitely rank near the top. It's possibly the most beautiful film I've ever had the pleasure of seeing in the cinema and was an experience I won't soon forget. Leonardo DiCaprio (two spots in a row!) is marvelous as Hugh Glass, a frontiersman left for dead after a bear attack, and rightfully deserved all the awards he won earlier this year. The level of intensity and emotion he was able to convey, often without words, was astounding. Tom Hardy, who I generally like despite most of his filmography, is nearly as impressive as the callous and racist fur trapper who leaves Glass behind. Adding to the brilliant visuals and great performances is a fantastic and moving score. I will have to see how The Revenant holds up at home with multiple viewings, but it has the possibility of joining my Top 100 list of favorite films.

7. Unforgiven 

Clint Eastwood built his career on playing quiet, introspective types in westerns, but his greatest achievement in the genre came quite late in his career. Unforgiven is a powerful film and excels in many areas - from the direction (Eastwood's best), cinematography, editing, and performances (for the most part) - plus it has one of the best lines I've ever heard: Eastwood's William Munny to Gene Hackman's Little Bill, "That's right. I've killed women and children. I've killed just about everything that walks or crawled at one time or another. And I'm here to kill you, Little Bill, for what you did to Ned." It's just such a magnificent little speech and Eastwood delivers it perfectly. Both Eastwood and Hackman shine, but Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris, and Saul Rubinek are excellent, too. The only weak spot in the cast is Jaimz Woolvett, who just can't keep up with his much more seasoned co-stars. What really holds Unforgiven back for me, though, is the ending. After more than two hours of general greatness, the film ends with a title card explaining what happened after the story concluded. This has always felt tacked on, clumsy, and completely unnecessary to me. It's a shame to end such an otherwise spectacular film in such a poor manner.

8. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 

John Wayne and James Stewart being directed by John Ford. What more could you want in a western? This was one of the first films I watched on my recent quest and was thoroughly entertained - a perfect way to start a new endeavor. Of the dozen or so Wayne films I've seen, I think he gives his best performance here, as Tom Doniphon. Tom's a rough and rugged man (no surprise there) but he's also charming, funny, and a bit reserved. Wayne plays the role very well. Stewart is excellent (also no surprise) as Ransom Stoddard, a role he seems born to play. The rest of the main cast - Vera Miles, Andy Devine (nearly as charming here as he was in Stagecoach), John Carradine, Edmond O'Brien, and Lee Marvin (a tremendous villain) - are all up to the task of supporting these two giants of cinema. Like all the Ford films I've seen, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is wonderfully made and features some beautiful cinematography. I really enjoyed the bookends nature of the story, as well, with the bulk of the film being a story told by Ransom later in life. I'll close with a little bit of trivia: this is the film where John Wayne repeated calls a character "Pilgrim" in that famous drawl of his. The affectation would be present in most Wayne impersonations from here on out.

9. Open Range

Open Range isn't at the same level as my previous choices, but there are so many fantastic elements, performances, and moments that I didn't hesitate to include it in this list. Kevin Costner put a lot of work into the film - starring, directing, and producing - and gives one of his best performances as Charley, as ex-gunfighter turned rancher who is drawn back into a violent lifestyle. Robert Duvall is nearly perfect as his employer and friend, Boss Spearman. Duvall is one of cinema's greatest actors and shows that his talents haven't eroded with age, but that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has seen his work in the last 10 or 15 years. Besides Costner and Duvall, the cast is chock full of really great performances from Michael Gambon, Diego Luna, Kim Coates, and Michael Jeter (one of my favorite character actors, in his last on screen role). Annette Bening is the lone weak spot in the cast, but even then she's not bad or anything. I just found her character (and subplot with Costner) to be less interesting and an unneeded distraction from the rest of the film. Open Range features my favorite shootout from any western, a 15 minute or so battle with about a dozen combatants and done in a mostly realistic fashion. Open Range is a bit of a throwback to the westerns of the 1940's and 50's - a simple story, effectively and emotionally told, with lots of little and quiet moments and beautiful scenery.

10. Tombstone 

Tombstone is the first western that I can vividly recall seeing in the movie theater and for a long time I considered it one of my favorite films, of any genre. As I grew up, I became a little more discerning and now see it for what it really is: a very uneven film with lots of fantastic aspects and quite a few failings. Thankfully, the positives outweigh the negatives. The very best part of the film, no doubt about it, is the magnificent performance from Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. Kilmer is absolutely perfect in the role, playing up Holliday's penchant for booze, gambling, and women, but also mixing in a lot of heart and compassion. The rest of the expansive cast is a mixed bag, ranging from great (Sam Elliot, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn) to okay (Kurt Russell, Stephen Lang, Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Rooker, Charlton Heston) to pretty bad (Dana Delany, Jason Priestley, Bill Paxton, Billy Zane). The direction and writing aren't anything special, but the soundtrack and cinematography are both wonderful. Tombstone also contains some of the best action scenes of any western I've seen, even if they're not all entirely realistic. The shootout at the OK Corral is probably the best of the bunch, but there are several other thrilling and memorable scenes. Tombstone will probably always hold a special place in my memory, regardless of how many westerns I see.

Honorable Mention: Deadwood

It's not a fair fight to compare a series that lasted 36 hours to a two or three hour long film, but I couldn't write about westerns without mentioning what I consider to be the greatest western story ever told, HBO's Deadwood. A perfectly blended mix of drama, action, suspense, and comedy, Deadwood featured amazing characters, some of the finest television acting I've seen (especially from Ian McShane, Brad Dourif, and William Sanderson), and the elaborate and extravagantly foul dialogue for which it become widely known. McShane's character, saloon owner Al Swearengen, is probably my favorite TV character of all-time and is always the first thing to come to mind when I think of Deadwood. Another fantastic aspect of the show are the intricate storylines that weave from episode to episode and season to season. Deadwood is a show that encourages and rewards multiple viewings. If you like westerns and don't mind a few curse words every minute, I strongly recommend giving Deadwood a shot - I don't think you'll be disappointed.



Well, there's my list. I know I'm missing some classics. A lot of those I simply I haven't seen yet, but some - most notably The Searchers - I've seen and didn't care for. I'd love any suggestions since I do plan on watching a bunch more westerns from here on out.


Next Friday's list: Part 10 (the final installment!) of My Favorite Films.

My Favorite Films (Part 9)

Please refer to http://goo.gl/Oe7tO5, which explains the criteria for this series and don't forget to check out Kyle's blog for his lists, too!

41. The Shawshank Redemption

Year: 1994
Director: Frank Darabont

The Shawshank Redemption isn't simply one of my favorite films, it is my absolute favorite. I saw it for the first time during the summer of 2000, instantly fell in love with it, and from that moment on I've considered it my favorite. Everything about the film just feels perfect to me, but the writing - from the plot (with one of the best "twists" I've yet to see) to the characters and dialogue - is by far its most impressive aspect. Andy (Tim Robbins) and Red (Morgan Freeman) have one of the best and most inspiring relationships that I've seen on film. It's rare to see a friendship between two adult men on screen and I've always loved this aspect of The Shawshank Redemption. All the side characters get their moment to shine, but Warden Norton (played with a perfect amount of vileness by Bob Gunton) and Brooks (the wonderful James Whitmore) shine especially bright. Two aspects that I've grown to appreciate more and more over the years are the cinematography (by Roger Deakins, one of the best in the business) and score (composed by Thomas Newman, who has provided the music for many of my favorite films). The two combine, along with the marvelous direction of Frank Darabont, to create a timeless, magnificent film that never fails to engage me. I'm happy to be among the millions of fans who discovered The Shawshank Redemption years after its initial release.

42. Sideways

Year: 2004
Director: Alexander Payne

Alexander Payne is one of My Favorite Directors and I believe Sideways is not only his best film, but one of the best films of this century. It's a perfect combination of comedy (often times on the very dark end of the spectrum) and drama, with several heart-wrenching moments. Paul Giamatti is quite possibly the greatest actor of his generation and turns in his very best performance here as Miles, a depressed wannabe novelist and snobbish wine connoisseur. Giamatti nails every single moment, capturing the tortured lows and fleeting highs of Miles' character. Thomas Haden Church plays Jack, Miles' best friend, and together they go on a combination road trip/bachelor party in advance of Jack's upcoming wedding. Church is excellent as the goofy, narcissistic Jack - who is almost a polar opposite of Miles. Church received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but Giamatti was snubbed for Best Actor. The other two main cast members, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh, are also in terrific form. It's just an overall marvelously acted, written, and directed film. There's not a flaw to be seen, in my mind.

43. The Sixth Sense

Year: 1999
Director: M. Night Shyamalan

The Sixth Sense is a film that took me by complete surprise. I wasn't very excited about it coming out (in August of 1999 I was more interested in Mystery Men which debuted on the same day as The Sixth Sense and turned out to be a disappointment) and can't remember the trailer at all. That was maybe the perfect way to experience a movie like this - no expectations, no knowledge or "spoilers" about the plot - and it paid off wonderfully. From the first moments on, I was hooked.  Just last week, I wrote about how much I love Toni Collette's performance as part of My Favorite Supporting Actress Performances, but the entire main cast is phenomenal. Bruce Willis, who once was my favorite action star, gives one of his best performances and the brilliant Haley Joel Osment took the movie world by storm with his exceptional work as Cole, a young man who can see and interact with ghosts. Shyamalan, who has turned into a joke at this point, was THE director to watch out for after the success of The Sixth Sense. He pulled double duty here, writing and directing, and was nominated for an Oscar in both categories. Even though a lot of people say The Sixth Sense relied too heavily on the twist, I never thought that was the case. I enjoyed the film just as much the second time, when I was trying to see if everything actually made sense, and I've continued to love the film over the years. 

44. Stranger Than Fiction

Year: 2006
Director: Marc Forster

For most people I talk to, Stranger Than Fiction is a film they haven't seen or even heard of. I am constantly championing it, though, as I think it's got a wide reaching appeal. Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, a slightly OCD IRS agent who is desperately lonely in life. One day, he starts to hear a woman's voice seemingly narrating his daily life. That woman turns out to be Karen Eiffel, played by Emma Thompson. Last week, I wrote about how much I love Thompson's performance when I listed it among Favorite Supporting Actress Performances, but Ferrell is almost as good. He's always been funny, but he shows his talent for drama as Harold. Maggie Gyllenhaal turns in a very surprising performance, for me at least. I've never been a fan of her's, but she really shines as the love interest of Harold's and, as a really unexpected bonus, she's incredibly sexy in the role. Queen Latifah and the always exceptional Dustin Hoffman round out the main cast. Stranger Than Fiction is a wonderful mix of fantasy, romance, comedy, and drama - it truly has something for everyone - and it's a somewhat rare example of a film that handles all these different aspects equally well.

45. Thank You for Smoking 

Year: 2005
Director: Jason Reitman

I've written about my love of Thank You for Smoking in the past, as part of My Favorite Comedy Films, so I won't take up any more space here. I strongly encourage anyone who hasn't seen it to check it out, though!

Well, there's part nine of this ten part series. I hope to have inspired at least one person to check out a film or two and I hope to read some comments down below. Do you like any of these films? Hate any of them? Let me know, please!

Coming up next Friday: My Favorite Westerns!

My Favorite Documentary Films

I love documentaries and will watch almost any type of doc, as long as the subject is somewhat interesting.

I had a preliminary list of about 20 titles and worked to narrow it down. A few that were difficult to cut, but eventually fell by the wayside: Waiting for 'Superman', Fahrenheit 9/11, Super Size Me, and Encounters at the End of the World. 

Don't forget to check out Kyle's blog for his list, too! 

1. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

I wrote about this wonderful and emotional doc once before, in Part 3 of my Favorite Films series. I recommend anyone and everyone to give it a shot - I watched it for the first time about 8 years ago and it has stayed with me ever since.

2. Young@Heart 

Some documentaries are about serious issues and hard hitting topics, but most of my favorites are not. Young@Heart is a perfect example of how a simple subject - an elderly chorus who perform rock covers - can be covered in such a way to make an entertaining and emotional film. The cast of characters followed by the filmmakers are interesting, engaging, and memorable. These old timers aren't content to just sit around the house - or the nursing home - and wait for their time to be over, instead they devote as much energy as possible practicing and performing their music for their adoring fans. Part of the charm of Young@Heart is the great music - including covers of tunes from Hendrix, Bowie, The Ramones, Coldplay, James Brown, Sonic Youth, and Bob Dylan - but most of my enjoyment stemmed from getting to know these exceptional elders of society. Since Young@Heart only has 3,500 ratings on IMDb, it appears not many people have seen this wonderful little film. I'm happy to be one of them, as it's one of the best viewing experiences I've had. Of course, since many of them are well into advanced age and already not in the best of health, there are some sad moments. I'm not ashamed to admit I cry every time I watch the film and if you can watch Fred Knittle's rendition of "Fix You" without bawling, then you're a stronger person than I.

3. The Kid Stays in the Picture

Robert Evans was many things. Writer. Actor. Producer. Womanizer. Drug addict. He's most famous for running Paramount studios in the 70's and producing some of the most acclaimed films of that era - Chinatown, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and Marathon Man are among his credits - but I think his best talent was being a storyteller. If you've ever heard him in an interview, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, there are lots of great examples on YouTube. His autobiography book, The Kid Stays in the Picture, is one of my favorite biographies (and I read a lot of them) and the film adapted from that book is nearly as impressive. Evans narrates his life story - or, more aptly, the highlights as no 90 minute film could cover his impressive life in its entirety - as pictures from his archives seem to float through the screen. Still pictures are used in such a way that they appear to be almost video-like in quality. It's a technique I've seen used since in other documentaries, but I first saw it expertly used in The Kid Stays in the Picture. Evans' story is one of hard work, determination, genius, ego, excess, greed, infidelity, and staying power. He worked his way up from "half-assed" actor to executive, saw his career go down the toilet, and then experienced a revival late in life, which I was pleased to see.

4. Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life

Werner Herzog is an amazingly interesting man and I could listen to his smooth, rhythmic voice for hours. I've only seen a handful of his films - all documentaries, though I'd like to dive into his fiction work, too - but they have all been unique, inspiring works. Into the Abyss is the best of the bunch. The film profiles Michael Perry, a death row inmate in Texas who was convicted with killing one woman and suspected of two more murders. This film is different than most docs of this nature, in that Herzog doesn't really dwell on Perry's guilt or innocence or even the details of the murders or the trial - those aspects seem unimportant to Herzog. He'd rather discuss the people involved, their backstories, and the social context that may have played a part in how everything came to happen. This film actually started as a larger piece, profiling five death row inmates, but Herzog decided to focus only on Perry. The rest of those stories were presented as television miniseries (consisting of four, 50 minute episodes) entitled On Death Row. I'd highly recommend watching that, as well.

 

5. The Cove

The Cove is an extremely effective documentary. Effective in the sense that it's nearly impossible to not be drawn in, upset over what you see, and then demand that some changes occur to remedy the problem. The basic premise, that tens of thousands of dolphins are killed in Japan each year, is bad enough - you don't even need to be animal lover to see that - but the various subplots, including the dangerous levels of mercury in the dolphin meat which is consumed throughout Japan and the government aiding and helping to cover up the crimes, are disturbing, too. Because the cove where the slaughter takes place is guarded and shielded from view, there are sequences of spy-like maneuvers being done, trying to capture as much video evidence as possible. The results are both thrilling and sickening. The filmmakers and onscreen activists are obviously deeply invested in their fight against this unnecessary slaughter and their emotions rubbed off on me, as well. By the end of the film, I was a crying mess and I was immensely thankful that I don't eat anything coming from Japan's waters.

 

6. Fuck

Fuck is not a documentary for people easily offended by "vulgar" language. Thankfully, I am not one of those people and thoroughly loved this film about freedom of speech and censorship. The word "fuck" is easily my favorite curse word - like Sam Donaldson says in the film, it's just so damned versatile and rolls off the tongue - but that's not the only reason this doc ranks among my favorites. It contains great interviews with interesting people, like Billy Connelly, John Waters, Kevin Smith, Alanis Morissette, Hunter S. Thompson (in his last recorded interview before his suicide), Ice-T, Drew Carey, and even Pat Boone. In addition to celebrities, scholarly types are also interviewed and give their take on the word and its influence and cultural relevance. There are also some really good animated sequences and a lot of fun music - most of the tracks utilize the titular word in some way. Fuck talks about important issues, but does so in a fun and entertaining way.

7. Side by Side

The process of making movies is always changing. From silent to talkies, from black and white to color, from practical effects to CGI. One of the most recent drastic changes is the advent of digital filmmaking, which has slowly grown over the last 20 years to overtake photo-chemical film as the standard. This documentary, produced by and starring Keanu Reeves of all people, examines the histories and techniques of both methods. Reeves interviews all sorts of people connected to filmmaking, from actors and directors to cinematographers and engineers, to get their thoughts and feelings about the subject. Some are staunch supporters of film and avoid all digital intermediaries. Others love the flexibility (both artistically and financially) of digital and vow never to return to film. It's an interesting discussion and I loved learning about the history and processes involved with each method.

8. Life Itself

I love Roger Ebert. I have for quite a long time, ever since discovering his television program At the Movies in the early 90's. His onscreen relationship with Gene Siskel was a joy to watch and I always appreciated his insight into films, even if I didn't particularly agree with him. I read his memoir, on which Life Itself is based, and it is one of the best books of its kind. It's funny, inspirational, informative, and heartbreaking and the film matches it and, at times, exceeds it. Ebert was very ill for the last part of his life and the doc does a great job at conveying his attitudes about life, death, and (most importantly) love. This film is practically a love story, between Ebert and his longtime wife, Chaz, but also tells the story of his upbringing, early career, rise to prominence, and personal life. This is not a white washed retelling of Ebert's life. He insisted that they show his whole life, warts and all, so we get to see him at his best and worst. The ending, filmed as he was struggling through surgery after surgery, includes his death and was a hard thing to handle. When Ebert died in April of 2013, it felt as though a member of my own family had passed. I had been watching him and reading his work for so long. Watching Life Itself during the summer of 2014, it felt as though he had died all over again.

9. This Film Is Not Yet Rated 

Yet another movie related documentary, but what can I say? I love movies, so it just stands to reason some of my favorite docs would cover my favorite hobby. This Film is Not Yet Rated is about the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), it's effects on American film productions, and censorship. The film covers a lot of topics, but focuses its energy on the makeup of the MPAA board and how they make their decisions about rating certain films. The aspect that intrigued me the most is how the board members are anonymous and have to have no specific qualifications to serve. Kirby Dick, the film's director, had several run-ins with the MPAA during the rating process and those interactions are included in the doc, providing an interesting first hand look at how screwed up this process really can be. This Film is Not Yet Rated features some great interviews with people like Maria Bello, Wayne Kramer, Kimberly Pierce, Kevin Smith, John Waters, Matt Stone, and Darren Aronofsky. All of these individuals have had previous issues with the MPAA and some have really enlightening stories to tell. I think it's a must watch for any film fan interested in how movies are rated, marketed, and distributed. 

 10. I Am Santa Claus

This is easily the least popular film on this list, I'm sure, but that doesn't detract from it's quality. I am Santa Claus is a fascinating look at the lives of four different men who are professional Santas during the holidays and how they spend the rest of their year. One is a real estate agent, another works at a sex club, another is a BBQ chef, and the last is retired. Mick Foley, the retired professional wrestler/actor/writer, has always been obsessed with Santa and wants to see if he has what it takes to don the suit and entertain families. The men profiled in I Am Santa Claus are not perfect - one of them is quite far from that standard, in fact - but they are all interesting and dynamic people with some great stories to tell. The film - directed, filmed, produced, and edited by Tommy Avallone - is at times hilarious and heartwarming. I'd highly recommend it at any time of the year!

HM: Making a Murderer

This is the first time I've included an "Honorable Mention" spot on any of these lists, but I have good reason. Since Making a Murderer is technically a series and not a film, I didn't think it was fair to rank it among the rest. It had 10 hours to develop its story and make an impact, so it's not really a fair fight. But I couldn't discuss my favorite documentaries without mentioning it, either. No film since Dear Zachary has had such an emotional impact on me like Making a Murderer did. It's been over six weeks since I finished watching it, but I still think about the cases of Steven Avery and Brandon Dassey every day. And I still am angry and disturbed by what I saw happen to them. By default, all documentaries are biased in some regard and Making a Murderer is probably a little more biased than most, but that doesn't detract from its powerful message or the excellent technical skills which made this beautiful, engaging, thought provoking, and haunting film. If it was in direct competition with the others on this list, it would rank at #2. 

There's my list! Are any of these among your favorites? Do you have any docs to recommend to me? I'm always on the lookout for something new. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave comments!

Next week's list: Part 7 of my Favorite Films.

Favorite Supporting Actress Performances

Another difficult list to narrow down, but not quite as tough as my Favorite Supporting Actor Performances. Here, I started with about 25 possibilities, but I'm pretty happy with these ten choices. 

Don't forget to check out Kyle's blog for his list, too!

1. Mo'Nique in Precious

Very few actresses have surprised me as much as Mo'Nique did with her riveting, brutal, and complicated turn as Mary, the abusive mother in Precious. I've only seen the film once, about six years ago, but many scenes and moments are ingrained into my memory thanks to this powerful performance. Mo'Nique (along with director Lee Daniels and screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher) created a totally believable and human character. Mary is more often than not intimidating and downright scary, but she also has moments of genuine weakness and fear and remorse. Mo'Nique handles all of the different material wonderfully and I think she completely deserved her Best Supporting Actress Oscar win, in addition to all the other accolades that she collected for this performance.

2. Toni Collette in The Sixth Sense

For about a year following its release, The Sixth Sense was my absolute favorite film. There were many reasons for this admiration and Toni Collette's performance as Lynn Sear was a big one. As a single parent, Lynn already has her work cut out for her, but considering her child also sees ghosts, she's in an unusual situation. I've liked or loved Collette in just about everything I've seen her in, but she's never been better than her work here. Right off the bat, the Australian actress effects a perfect Philadelphia accent, but that's not anywhere near as impressive as the emotional highs and lows that come. One of my all-time favorite scenes, and the highlight of Collette's performance in this film, is near the end, when her son finally tells her the truth about his grandma's bumblebee pendant. The range, from disbelief to shock to crying from joy, that Collette displays is mesmerizing. I'm tearing up a bit just thinking about it and that's a testament to a great performance.

3. Emma Thompson in Stranger Than Fiction 

Emma Thompson is one of the best actresses working and I had several performances to pick from while making this list. In the end, I chose her work in one of my favorite films (you can read more about the film next week, in Part 9 of our ongoing series of lists), Stranger Than Fiction. Thompson's character, Karen Eiffel, is a reclusive novelist who is struggling to meet the deadline for her new book. Eiffel is a manic, possibly suicidal, perfectionist who chain smokes when she's got writer's block - and she's blocked a lot at the beginning of the film. Thompson hits all the right notes, both comedic and dramatic, and immediately pulled me into her subplot. In addition to her wonderful onscreen performance, Thompson also narrates the film as Eiffel. I've always been a sucker for British accents and Thompson's voice is perfectly suited for narration.

4. Cate Blanchett in Notes on a Scandal

I've written about Notes on a Scandal three times now (previously in My Favorite Films series and in My Favorite Lead Actress Performances entry) and Blanchett is widely recognized as one of the best actresses of her generation. There's not much more to say, other than if you haven't seen Notes on a Scandal yet, I'd highly recommend you do so. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

5. Joan Allen in Pleasantville

Joan Allen is almost always captivating on screen and her performance as Betty Parker, a standard 50's sitcom housewife in Pleasantville, is a great example of her massive amount of talent. Betty starts out as a cliche of all those old TV tropes - cooking, cleaning, meeting her husband at the door with a drink as he returns home from work - but grows into a unique and layed character as the film progresses. Betty learns to love and express herself, even if it means hurting her husbands feelings. Her transformation is inspiring, funny, and heartfelt and Allen captures all of these emotions and more, creating a remarkable and highly memorable character in the process.

6. Marisa Tomei in In the Bedroom

I think Marisa Tomei is an underrated actress, despite winning an Academy Award (for My Cousin Vinny, an award many people don't think she deserved) and having a career than has spanned 30+ years. My favorite work of hers is as Natalie Strout in the emotional drama, In the Bedroom. This film stars two fantastic actors in the lead roles - Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek - but Tomei more than holds her own. Natalie has to handle immense and multifaceted grief - the loss of a lover, survivor's guilt, and the pressure of living alongside her lover's devastated parents - and Tomei captures all of the heartache, pain, and remorse just perfectly. It's a lovely, understated performance in a film filled with fantastic performances.

7. Shelley Duvall in The Shining 

 

I haven't seen many films with Shelley Duvall (besides The Shining, I've only seen Annie Hall from her filmography, but I don't remember her in it), but her role in The Shining is so pitch perfect and memorable that I'll never forget her. As Wendy Torrance, the wife of The Overlook Hotel's new winter caretaker, Duvall gets to play an energetic and excited spouse and a loving mother who is driven to near madness by her husband's shocking behavior and the spirits lurking at their new home. Duvall's depiction of a woman teetering on the edge of sane and crazy is masterful. I don't think I've ever seen another performer convey genuine terror as well as she does here. I've watched The Shining close to ten times, but it wasn't until a year or two ago that I recognized Duvall's performance as masterful. Before that, I had considered it too over the top. Now I realize how wrong I was.

8. Shohreh Aghdashloo in House of Sand and Fog

I've written about House of Sand and Fog once before on this blog, as one of My Favorite Films. In that write-up I mostly focused on Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly's performances, but Shohreh Aghdashloo is almost as good, in a much smaller role. She plays Nadi, the wife of Kingsley's exiled Iranian colonel, now living in California and embroiled in a bitter dispute over their new house. Nadi is at times a strong and confident woman, but she also has moments of confusion, fear, and weakness. She has to adapt to America as a new and very different home. Aghdashloo is able to convey many of these emotions with just the look in her eyes or in a few, soft spoken words. When Nadi does come unglued, Aghdashloo seizes those moments, as well, converting her acting style to match. She more than holds her own with Kingsley and Connelly (and the rest of the capable cast) and rightly deserved her Academy Award nomination. It's a pity she didn't win, though.

9. Alison Lohman in Matchstick Men

Alison Lohman is an actress who I expected big things from after seeing her deftly play a fourteen year old girl when she herself was a 22 or 23 (depending on when the film, released in 2003, was shot) woman. Her mannerisms, way of speaking, and overall "vibe" were just perfect and I never would have guessed the actress's actual age. The film, a nearly perfect little caper/heist flick from director Ridley Scott, also featured Nicolas Cage's best performance and a spectacular turn from Sam Rockwell, but I almost always think of Lohman's work first when anyone brings up Matchstick Men. She really shined and stole every scene she shared with the older, more experienced stars. She's funny and sarcastic, but also sweet and vulnerable. Lohman worked consistently until 2009, when she took a break from acting, but with two projects last year, it looks like she might be coming back. I hope she does and I hope she gets the opportunity to top Matchstick Men, but that's a pretty tall order.

10. Ruth Gordon in Rosemary's Baby 

Rosemary's Baby is a film that always puts me on edge whenever I watch it. I know how things will play out, but I still get anxious and nervous. It's a masterful film all around, but one of my favorite aspects is the wonderful performance from Ruth Gordon, as Minnie, Rosemary's seemingly sweet and caring neighbor. As anyone who has seen the film knows, Minnie turns out to be a lot more sinister than sweet, but Gordon manages to play the role so convincingly that I'm forced to like her throughout, even though I know how she'll turn out. That's a pretty impressive feat. I've never seen Gordon in anything else (no, not even Harold and Maude) and I think I'd like to keep it that way so that she can always stay Minnie to me.

Well, there's my list. What are some of your favorites? Do you love any of mine? Or absolutely hate any of them? Thanks for reading and I look forward to any and all comments!

Next week's list: Part 9 of my Favorite Films.

 

My Favorite Films (Part 8)

Please refer to http://goo.gl/Oe7tO5, which explains the criteria for this series and don't forget to check out Kyle's blog for his lists, too!

36. Rear Window

Year: 1954
Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Rear Window is a nearly perfect film. James Stewart and Grace Kelly are flawless and have excellent chemistry together. Thelma Ritter adds a nice bit of comedic relief and Raymond Burr makes for a great villain, in the small role he has. Alfred Hitchcock made several films that rank among my Top 100 - in addition to this, there's North by Northwest and Psycho - but I think Rear Window is markedly better than both of those. His direction has never been better as he creates a sense of tension, suspense, and dread just from looking out an apartment window. Even with such a limited scope, Rear Window manages to be more exciting than most action movies and the credit should go not only to Hitch, but to his screenwriter, John Michael Hayes. The wonderful score from Franz Waxman compliments everything nicely. Like the best of films, Rear Window is enjoyable no matter if you're seeing it for the first or fiftieth time.

37. Road to Perdition

Year: 2002
Director: Sam Mendes

Road to Perdition is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. If for no other reason, this film is worth watching for the cinematography alone. Thankfully, there are plenty of other great aspects. One that always springs to mind after the cinematography is the marvelous score, from Thomas Newman. All the main performances - from Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, and Tyler Hoechlin - and supporting performances - including Stanley Tucci, Daniel Craig, Ciaran Hinds, Dylan Baker, and the underused Jennifer Jason Leigh - are all very good. Newman is probably the highlight and has some magnificent scenes in one of his final onscreen roles. The plot, characters, and dialogue are all well written and create an interesting, engaging film. Road to Perdition is essentially a character drama, but it has moments of action, comedy, and a resonating emotional core. Sam Mendes isn't a director I love, but he really knocks it out of the park here. 

38. The Royal Tenenbaums

Year: 2001
Director: Wes Anderson

I recently wrote about The Royal Tenenbaums in my Favorite Comedy Films list, so I won't repeat myself here.

39. Saving Private Ryan 

Year: 1998
Director: Stephen Spielberg

There are only a handful of films that I love as much as Saving Private Ryan. It has everything that I look for in a film: fantastic writing (especially the characters and plot), wonderful acting (Tom Hanks, once again, shines, but the whole cast is great), a moving score, excellent direction, editing, and cinematography, plus it's an undeniably emotional film. It makes me cry, laugh, and sit on the edge of my seat with tension and suspense. Saving Private Ryan is Stephen Spielberg's most accomplished and detailed film, which is really saying something considering the number of truly remarkable films the man has created. I know a lot of people praise Saving Private Ryan for the opening battle - the landing at Normandy beach - but I think that's just the first of many fantastic moments (both big and small) that make this such a wonderful film.

40. Se7en

Year: 1995
Director: David Fincher

Se7en is a grisly, dark, and depressing film, but one that I have no problem watching again and again. Maybe that says something about me, but I'd rather concentrate on how great this film is. From a technical standpoint, it's flawless. David Fincher is one of my Favorite Directors and this is his best film, just edging out Zodiac and The Social Network for me. Fincher (and everyone else working behind the scenes) does everything just perfectly. I love the moody score (especially during the opening credits, which rank among my Favorite Opening Credit Scenes), the dark cinematography, and the editing. Andrew Walker wrote an amazing script, filled with shocking moments and twists and turns in the plot. Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey are terrific in their polar opposite roles. Brad Pitt is good, for the most part, but his work at the end really dampens what would have been an otherwise perfect scene. He overacts and looks even sillier while performing his histrionics next to Freeman and Spacey. Anyone who has seen the film knows what I mean. Other than that scene, Pitt is very serviceable, but I've always felt that with a better actor in that role, Se7en could have been a Top 10 film, instead of "just" a Top 50 one.

Well, there's part eight of this ten part series. I hope to have inspired at least one person to check out a film or two and I hope to read some comments down below. Do you like any of these films? Hate any of them? Let me know, please!

Coming up next Friday: My Favorite Supporting Actress Performances.