My Favorites of the Decade - the 1970's

The 1970's are often considered to be the best decade in film history. While I can't say I agree, that may be because I haven't seen anywhere near all the important, revered classics from this illustrious decade. 1975, as an individual year, certainly stands out to me and I've only seen a handful of releases, but four of them (listed below) rank among my Top 100 favorite films and two - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Chinatown - make my Top 10. I look forward to seeing more and more from 70's, so feel free to suggest some of your favorites!

Don't forget to check out Kyle's lists at his blog, Enter the Movies.

My Top 10 Favorite Films of the 1970's, in alphabetical order:

Year: 1979
Director: Ridley Scott

I finally got around to watching Alien last October during my October Challenge and now it ranks among My Favorite Horror Films. In the previous decade or so, I had attempted to watch Alien three separate times and could never get into it. While the first act is a bit slow, I now appreciate what it's doing - establishing the various characters and the setting - and the film really benefits from it. When the titular alien starts hunting and murdering the crew, things have much more of an impact since the audience has gotten to know these characters. Ridley Scott was able to create a masterpiece, blending the best of horror, science fiction, and drama to create a timeless, atmospheric, and scary film. I know some people take issue with how the full grown alien is "obviously" only a guy in a suit, but I must have been too wrapped up in the story and excitement, because it didn't bother me in the slightest. The greatness that is Alien gave movie goers one of the best heroines ever - Sigourney Weaver's Ripley, who just last week appeared on My Favorite Movie Heroes list - and kicked off an immensely interesting and increasingly infuriating franchise. If all the sequels had been even half as good as this film, the Alien franchise might be considered one of the best of all-time.

Year: 1975
Director: Stanley Kubrick

While it's best known as being a gorgeous film to marvel at - and I did place it at #1 on my Top 10 Most Beautiful Films list last year - Barry Lyndon is so much more. What surprised me most when I first watched Barry Lyndon was how funny, in a dark and biting fashion, the film was. Most of the humor comes from the narrator (Michael Hordern) as he follows the titular character through his misadventures. I found myself laughing out loud as he undercuts Barry at nearly every turn. I had "saved" this film as the last as I was working my way through Kubrick's filmography because I had repeatedly read how slow and boring it was, but I had quite the opposite reaction. I especially enjoyed the characters, plot, and wonderful score and my only real complaint is that the performances are average at best. While the 184 minute running time doesn't exactly fly by - there are a lot of long shots where you get to enjoy the beautiful cinematography, costumes, and set design - I was never bored and the film builds to such an emotional high point, that everything that comes before it pays off wonderfully. While many Kubrick films make me laugh, make me think, or frighten me, Barry Lyndon is the only film of his that has made me cry. If nothing else, I think this is a film that everyone should see at least once, but I know I'll revisit it several more times.

Year: 1974
Director: Roman Polanski

Chinatown is often heralded as having one of the best written screenplays of all-time. I can't argue against that claim. The plot, characters, and dialogue are practically flawless. It builds tension and suspense, but also manages to be funny and thought provoking. I also think it should be held up as one of the greatest films, period. There's not an aspect of the film that doesn't work. Roman Polanski is a legendary filmmaker and this is his best film. The acting, especially from Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway is top notch. John Huston, the iconic film director, turns in a menacing and nuanced performance as Nicholson's foil and Dunaway's father. The cinematography, score, editing, and production design are all award worthy. The film is set in Los Angeles in the 1930's and it seems as if it were actually filmed then, too. Everything from the set dressing to the wardrobe to the period specific vehicles are just perfect. Last year, I awarded Chinatown an honorable mention spot on my Top 10 Most Beautiful Films list, but you could easily make a case that it deserves to be in the main list.  Every time I watch Chinatown I love it a little bit more and it sits comfortably among my favorite films from any decade.

Year: 1975
Director: Sidney Lumet

Even if Dog Day Afternoon only had a handful of great performances going for it - last year I ranked Al Pacino and John Cazele on my lists for Favorite Lead Actor Performances and Favorite Supporting Actor Performances, respectively - it would be worth watching. But that's not the case. In addition to those two performances and several more, from the likes of Chris Sarandon and Charles Durning in particular, Dog Day Afternoon features a brilliant script, terrific direction, and a hot, claustrophobic atmosphere. Frank Pierson - who wrote Cool Hand Luke, a favorite of mine from the previous decade - won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, which was richly deserved. The story combines suspense, drama, and comedy to create a wholly unique hybrid of a film: a heist film with remarkably complex characters and a social conscience. Sidney Lumet is no stranger to different genres and handles the script and actors like few other directors could. In my opening paragraph to this post, I mentioned how tremendous 1975 was for cinema. In any year not containing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a film as great as Dog Day Afternoon would easily be my favorite of the year - that's how much I love it.

Year: 1975
Director: Steven Spielberg

The greatness of Jaws cannot be overstated. It's a summer action/adventure blockbuster, but it's also a compelling character drama. It's - at different points - suspenseful, scary, funny, frustrating (when dealing with the politicians and their inability to understand the gravity of the situation), and heart breaking. I've never considered it a "horror" movie like some people do, but it's certainly got some scenes that would qualify, like the opening which made my list of Favorite Opening Scenes and during the actual shark attack moments. My favorite scene was recently featured on the list of My Favorite Movie Speeches, Quint's terrifyingly tense monologue about his first encounter with sharks, but the whole film is filled with terrific individual moments that combine to make one of the best movies ever. While Steven Spielberg has had a lot of misses for me personally, he's got just as many hits. Jaws was his first of several masterpieces. A couple of years ago, I got to see this long-time favorite of mine on the big screen for the first time and it made the whole experience even better. Seeing the gorgeous visuals and hearing the iconic score in that setting made me appreciate them even more. Jaws is one of the many films that I can't wait to show my son when he gets a little older and I know he's going to love it just as much as I do.

Year: 1979
Director: Robert Benton

Like the best of films, Kramer vs. Kramer impresses me more and more with each viewing. When I first saw it, as a young man in college, I enjoyed it quite a bit. But it wasn't until I watched it again last year, when my son was about the same age as the child in the movie, that it vaulted up my list of favorite films. I can now emotionally connect with the story and Dustin Hoffman's conflicted father and several different scenes really get to me. If a movie can effect me emotionally, it's bound to get some bonus points from me. Besides the personal connection, Kramer vs. Kramer is simply a well made film on every level. The performances from Hoffman - who made my list of Favorite Lead Actor Performances - and Meryl Streep are fantastic, the characters are well defined and realistic, and the plot is intriguing. While the story is not exactly unique - I'm sure similar movies have been broadcast on the Lifetime channel over the years - every aspect of filmmaking is handed in such a way that the film is elevated to a much higher level. It may not be a flashy film, but when the performances are so good and the writing is so strong, I can't ask for much more.

Year: 1979
Director: Terry Jones

I first saw Life of Brian about 15 months ago and have seen it four times since then. With each viewing, I love it a bit more and it is steadily rising up through the ranks of my favorite films and I could probably safely place it in my Top 5 comedies at this point. Last year, after my second viewing, I wrote a full length review, so feel free to check that out for my in depth thoughts on this hilarious film.

Year: 1970
Director: Robert Altmann

M*A*S*H is another film where I've previously written a full length review, so that's available if you'd like to read my thoughts on the film. One personal bit of trivia I'd like to add, though, is that M*A*S*H was the last film my parents saw together in the theater. My dad laughed so loudly and so frequently that my mom grew embarrassed - which is odd, considering the whole audience was, presumably, laughing along - that she swore never to go to another movie with him. I wish I would have gotten around to seeing the film before my dad passed away as I would have enjoyed talking to him about the movie.

Year: 1976
Director: Sidney Lumet

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I briefly wrote about Network for My Favorite Movie Speeches list, where one of it's many wonderful speeches ranked at #4. Truth be told, Network could have easily earned three or four spots on that list if I hadn't decided to limit it to one entry per film. The writing and acting is so terrific throughout and there are so many standout moments in the film, that it's difficult to choose just one. The main cast - Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, and Robert Duvall - and supporting players - especially Ned Beatty and Beatrice Straight - are uniformly brilliant and combine to create one of the best acted films I have ever seen. Sidney Lumet's direction and skill working with actors is evident again, just as it was in Dog Day Afternoon and most of his films. The film itself turned out to be quite prophetic in its depiction of how the media would operate and that gives the story an extra little twist when you watch it now, 41 years later. I've seen Network a few times now and each viewing reveals a little bit more - I interpret a line differently or notice a tiny piece of a performance or background work that I had missed previously - which leads me to enjoy the film even more. Writing about it two times so close together has sparked my interest to watch it once more and I'm excited to see what jumps out at me now.

Year: 1975
Director: Milos Foreman

At this point, I've discussed One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest many times on this blog. It's popped up in seven or eight different posts and deserves every bit of praise I can heap onto it. Besides the stellar performances from Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, and Brad Dourif - which I detailed in my Favorite Lead Actor Performances, Favorite Lead Actress Performances, and Favorite Supporting Actor Performances lists - there are a multitude of reasons to love One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The rest of the cast - including Danny DeVito, William Redfield, Christopher Llyod, Sydney Lassick, Scatman Crothers, and Will Sampson - is excellent and all create memorable characters that wonderfully support the leads. Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman deservedly won the Best Screenplay Oscar and, in my opinion, greatly improved upon the source material. Every single technical aspect, from the direction and editing to the cinematography and production design, is sublime. A bit of trivia: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is one of only three films to win all five "major" Academy Awards - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

Well, there you have it! Do you love any of these movies? Hate any? Did I miss any of your favorites from the 70's? Let me know in the comments!

Up next, my list of Favorite Movie Villains!

My Favorite Movie Heroes

When I think of movie heroes, a bunch immediately come to mind. Some are iconic and known the world over and some are a bit more obscure. My initial list for this subject came in at almost forty entries and as I whittled them down to a more manageable selection, I realized that almost all of these are fairly obvious choices. That doesn't bother me too much since I haven't I had the chance to write about most of these movies or characters yet. 

Check out Kyle's blog at Enter the Movies, too, for his list! 

1. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)

-- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

-- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

-- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

-- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) 

As a kid and teen, the Indiana Jones series were some of my favorite movies and I watched the trilogy repeatedly, largely due to how much I adored Indy himself and Harrison Ford as an actor. I wanted to be Indy. My friends and I used to run around the park, pretending to be him. I wanted the whip, the pistol, the leather jacket, and especially the kick-ass fedora. Indy wasn't just a cool and tough action star, either. I loved how smart, funny, and human the character was, too. Indy got beat up and knocked down, but he kept getting back up. He was scared of stuff ("Snakes. Why does it always have to be snakes?") but kept pushing on, intent on completing his quest. Raiders of the Lost Ark is still among my favorite films and Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade would probably make my Top 250 if I made such a list. I enjoyed the latest entry, too, even though it's a very rough and flawed film - seeing Indy back on the big screen was more than enough for me. I'm even hopeful for the rumored fifth installment, now set for 2020. As long as Ford's capable, I'll be in line at the theater to see him don that fedora one last time. 

2. John McClane (Bruce Willis) 

-- Die Hard (1988)

-- Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)

-- Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

-- Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

Yes, I'm leaving the dreadful fifth installment - A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) - off this list, as I wasn't even able to finish the damn thing. The original Die Hard is probably my favorite action movie of all-time and a big part of its charm is the great character of John McClane, played beautifully by Bruce Willis. McClane is just a regular cop who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and it's this aspect that I love so much. He's not a superhero - though he gets vaguely superhero-ish by the fourth film. Willis wasn't a body builder like Stallone or Schwarzenegger, nor was he a martial arts master like Norris or Van Damme. He seemed like he could actually be a cop in real life. McClane used his smarts and guile to get the jump on the bad guys and I always appreciated that about him. He was tough (as the broken glass scene proved), there's no doubt, but he had vulnerabilities like a real person. Willis, especially back then, had charm to spare and made McClane seem like the perfect guy - cool, funny, smart, and able to get stuff done. 

3. Maximus (Russell Crowe) 

-- Gladiator (2000) 

Gladiator is a bit of a throwback to the epics of the 1950's and 1960's and Maximus always reminded me a lot of Spartacus, but I think both this film and its main character are much more developed and layered than those older films. Maximus' journey - from celebrated general to slave to gladiator - captivated me from the first time I saw the film, during its opening weekend in May of 2000. I went back to see it two more times that first week and loved it each time. Maximus is a damn near perfect movie hero and I was (and still am) intensely drawn to his character. Crowe is just as effective during the quiet emotional moments as he is during the action set pieces and over the course of the 150 minutes, he created a well rounded and instantly memorable hero. 

4. R.P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson)

-- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) 

McMurphy is a different sort of hero, but I think he qualifies nicely for this list. He's not an action hero like the first three entries here, but he does manage to save at least one of his fellow mental ward patients from a life of silence and solitude. McMurphy enacts change on the ward simply by being himself - brash, confident, charming, funny, vulgar, and mean-spirited. He doesn't care what anyone thinks about him or if he offends anyone with his behavior or language and that allows him to get through to the men trapped alongside him at the hospital. Stuck in a depressing environment with a controlling and vile nemesis like Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher - look for her on my list of Favorite Movie Villains), most people would have wilted and given in. But not McMurphy. He doubles down on his zaniness and, in the process, becomes something more. Nicholson has been my favorite actor pretty much since I seriously got into film and his portrayal as McMurphy is the shining example of his talents.

5. Will Kane (Gary Cooper)

-- High Noon (1952)

Being a lawman in an old west town pretty much guarantees you're going to be heroic, strong-willed, and trustworthy, but Will Kane has all of these traits, and more, to the extreme. As the US Marshal of Hadleyville, Kane has sworn an oath to protect the town, no matter what the threat is or when it comes - even if it comes to town on your wedding day when you've recently retired and are set to leave on your honeymoon. Kane spends most of the film preparing to fight a gang of outlaws, going around and trying to gather support. Very few of the townspeople will even speak to him and he has little luck finding anyone willing to volunteer to become a deputy. A lesser man would have left and not looked back. Simply proceeded with their retirement and new marriage to the most gorgeous woman in the state, but Kane isn't most men - he's too honorable, strong, resilient, and stubborn to give in. Cooper plays the man with a steely demeanor that perfectly suits the character, but something in his eyes gives away the underlying current of fear. Kane is a true hero and I think he'd be the kind of guy you'd want in your corner, fighting for you, no matter the time or place.

6. Han Solo (Harrison Ford)

-- Star Wars (1977)
-- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
-- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
-- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Another Harrison Ford role. What can I say? I really love the guy! While the Star Wars films aren't quite as good as the Indiana Jones series, they're still extremely entertaining and the main reason why is clearly Ford and his character, Han Solo. Han is arrogant, snide, sarcastic, and insanely cool. With his trusty blaster and first mate Chewbacca at his side, and the Millennium Falcon at his disposal, Han is nearly unstoppable. He's able to cruise the galaxy in search of schemes and treasures. While he spends much of the original film talking about how he's only out for himself and monetary gain, when the time comes he shows his true colors and saves the day, he steps up and does so - in dramatic fashion. Ford seems tailor made to play this character and is the highlight of each film. When he appeared for the first time in The Force Awakens, I got goosebumps. It was magnificent to see this beloved character - looking much older, but just as cool - back after all those years. Without his heavy involvement, I'm a bit worried about the future Star Wars films. It'll be impossible to replace this iconic character and the hole he'll leave may sink the franchise, for this one fan at least.

7. T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) 

-- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

As a film character, T.E. Lawrence is a bit of a mystery. As the audience, we don't get to know too much about the man. For some people, that's a negative, but it didn't bother me. A little mystery in regards to his motivations makes him more interesting, I think. There's no doubt that Lawrence is a great hero, though. He takes dangerous risks to not only complete his mission but also to help the tribal people in their war against the Turks. He becomes their leader, known for his fearlessness and intelligence, and they adopt him as one of their own. O'Toole's performance is remarkably compelling - it's hard to take your eyes off him when he's onscreen - and he showed great chemistry with his costars, which made Lawrence's relationships with them completely believable. O'Toole is also adept at conveying Lawrence's inner turmoil at the level of violence inherent in war as well as his struggles with being loyal to his native Britain or his newfound Arab friends. It's a terrific performance of an iconic character in an epic film.

8. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)

-- Alien (1979)
-- Aliens (1986)
-- Alien 3 (1992)
-- Alien: Resurrection (1997)

Ripley changed quite a bit as the Alien series went on and these changes weren't always for the better. She made my list mostly because of the first two films and probably would have been even higher if not for the God awful Alien: Resurrection which is not only a terrible film but also features odd changes to her character and the only lackluster performance from Weaver in the whole series. In the original film, Ripley starts out as just a regular crew member. You can tell that her character will be special, and by the end, she's shown how tough and capable she is, but for the most part, she's more of a survivor than a hero. By the second film, she's in outright hero mode and it's a joy to watch. She's stronger, braver, and smarter than all her male counterpoints and does everything it takes to keep a lost little girl safe from the horrendous alien creatures. By the end, when she utters her iconic "Get away from her, you bitch" to the alien queen, she's transformed into a prototypical action movie hero. It's a great moment and certainly deserving of its status to this day.

9. Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer)

-- Tombstone (1993)

While Doc Holliday doesn't necessary seem like your typical hero - he's a gambling, alcoholic robber, after all - there's no doubt in my mind that Wyatt Earp wouldn't have stood a chance against the gang of outlaws in Tombstone without his trusty friend at his side. Throughout the film, Doc is slowly dying from Tuberculosis, but that doesn't keep him from doing what's right time and time again. I will admit that a lot of my love for this character comes from the utterly magnificent performance that Kilmer delivered. His version of Holliday may not be historically accurate - I'm only guessing here, I haven't done any research on the matter - but that doesn't make it any less interesting or thrilling. Kilmer gives him a sly wit, easy charm, and menacing look, all the while looking scarily near death. Tombstone used to be among my favorite films when I was in my teens, but the film as a whole doesn't hold up to my adult sensibilities. Kilmer's performance and Holliday's character do, though. They're just as wonderful for me today as they were when I first saw them in the theater when I was 11.

10. Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) 

-- Erin Brockovich (2000)

I'm no great fan of Julia Roberts - I urge you to check out my review of her in My Best Friend's Wedding if you haven't already - but I can't deny how fantastic she is as the real life advocate, Erin Brockovich. It's the role of a lifetime and Roberts doesn't miss a beat. Erin sacrifices a lot - time with her family, a burgeoning relationship with a man whom she could have loved, and her physical and mental health - to pursue a legal case because she believed in what she was doing and desperately wanted to help the families who had suffered. She works practically all day, every day, tirelessly sacrificing for the cause. It's a real life story of perseverance and triumph over huge corporate greed and those who would work just as hard to cover it all up. I'm a sucker for a great ending and Erin Brockovich doesn't disappoint. When Erin is handed her bonus check and is amazed to see the huge amount, a broad smile always crosses my face. Erin's able to help the families get their closure and cash settlements and, in the process, make more money than she ever dreamed possible. She's a hero to them and to her own family, who will never have to worry about money again.

Honorable Mentions:

* Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) in Fargo *

* Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) in Schindler's List *

* Captain America (Chris Evans) in the MCU series *

* Batman (Michael Keaton) in Batman and Batman Returns *

* Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) in Hotel Rwanda *

There's my list! What do you guys think? Which of your favorite heroes did I forget? Do you think any of my choices don't belong? Let me know in the comments below! 

Up next in the series, My Favorite Films of the 1970's.

My Favorites of the Decade - the 1960's

The 1960's were a very important and historic decade for films. Some of my favorite directors - including Martin Scorsese, Roman Polanski, and Robert Altman - were just getting their start and many, many classic films were released. It was somewhat difficult to pare down my list to just ten entries, but in the end, these films represent what I love most of about motion pictures: excitement, thrills, humor, and emotional drama. 

Don't forget to check out Kyle's lists at his blog, Enter the Movies.  

My Top 10 Favorite Films of the 1960's, in alphabetical order: 

Year: 1968 
Director: Stanley Kubrick

Another decade, another Kubrick film making my list. Spoiler alert - it won't be the last one, either. 2001: A Space Odyssey is such a well known, revered, and influential classic that I can't really add anything to the discussion. I don't think it's a perfect film - the "Stargate" sequence goes on far, far too long for my tastes and the performances aren't very impressive - but it's pure cinematic genius in a lot of areas. HAL, the on-board computer system which eventually attempts to take control of the ship in the second half of the film, is one of the greatest villains of all-time. The haunting red "eye" is used very effectively throughout to convey an all watching menace and the voice acting from Douglas Rain is tremendous. I love Kubrick's use of music, long takes, and how he doesn't spell everything out for the audience and each time I watch 2001, I find something new to appreciate.

Year: 1967

Director: Stuart Rosenberg 

Paul Newman was simply one of the coolest Hollywood stars of the 1960's (or any decade) and he may have been at the pinnacle of his coolness here as the titular character in Cool Hand Luke. Luke is a brash, brazen, and cocky guy and Newman is perfect in the role. The supporting cast - especially George Kennedy and Strother Martin - excellent, as well, and the script provides them all with meaningful characters to play. The movie is full of iconic scenes, but my favorite is definitely the egg eating challenge when Luke bets that he can eat 50 hard boiled eggs in one hour. It's a surprisingly tense, funny, and nauseating scene. Cool Hand Luke fits a lot of different stuff into its two-hour running time. At different moments it's suspenseful, funny, sad, sexy, and even has a pretty thrilling chase scene. It's got a little something for everyone! 

Year: 1964
Director: Stanley Kubrick

See, I told you there would be more Kubrick films featured in this series. I've written about Dr. Strangelove so many times on this blog - in My Favorite Supporting Actor Performances (George C. Scott), My Favorite Comedy Films, My Favorite Films (Top 50 series), My Favorite Lead Actor Performances (Peter Sellers), and Kubrick himself was featured in My Favorite Directors - that I'm not sure I need to add much here. I will note that I saw Dr. Strangelove in the cinema for the first time last fall and had a blast. The big screen and adoring audience, who laughed heartily at every joke, made the experience even better. The movie has steadily risen up the ranks of my favorites and now sits comfortably in my Top 10 and the Top 5 isn't out of the question. It's just a masterful film in every way.

Year: 1961

Director: Robert Rossen

Can you tell that I love Paul Newman? I'm not sure what his most famous movie or character is - he was in so many classics and played so many iconic characters, it's hard to narrow it down - but The Hustler and Fast Eddie Felson are probably close to the top for most people. I used to love playing pool and I think watching this movie when I was a teen helped push me in that direction. It just made the whole game seem exciting, albeit dangerous if played with the wrong people. I could never have hustled anybody - I probably lost two-thirds of my games - but it was great to imagine that I had Newman or Gleason's skills. All four main actors (Newman, Gleason, Piper Laurie and George C. Scott) were all Oscar nominated, and for good reason. Besides the captivating pool playing scenes, the film offers a vivid romance story and a lot of heart - it's much more than a "sports" movie. 

Year: 1962

Director: David Lean

One of the newest-to-me movies to join my list of favorite films, Lawrence of Arabia is an achievement in practically every regard. Superb direction, cinematography, score, and editing add to the terrific writing and performances from the main cast. You can read my full-length review for more of my thoughts, but one thing is clear - if you haven't seen it, get to it quickly!  

Year: 1962

Director: John Ford 

John Wayne and James Stewart being directed by John Ford. What more could you want in a western? 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, 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.

Year: 1968
Director: George Romero

The film that really kicked off the zombie sub-genre (you're welcome, The Walking Dead!), George Romero's classic, low-budget independent film combines legitimate horror with an undercurrent of political satire. There are a lot of reasons to love Night of the Living Dead, among them the impressive acting (mostly from amateurs making their film debuts) and the claustrophobic atmosphere, but the main reason I love the film is how it shows that anyone can make a great film, as long as they're dedicated and love what they're doing. George Romero took his passion, translated it to the screen and created a career for himself, an entire sub-genre of horror films, and a film that has entertained millions of people for almost 50 years. Very impressive, indeed.

Year: 1968

Director: Gene Saks

The Odd Couple is a hilarious and, at times, surprisingly dark comedy that really caught me off guard when I first saw it last year. While I've been a fan of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau for years (I have fond memories of my family going to see Grumpy Old Men and my dad and grandmother loving it even more than I did), I was never in a rush to see The Odd Couple. I wish I would have seen it much earlier, as I was laughing throughout. The premise, which has been done to death at this stage and wasn't even new back then, works fantastically well here because Lemmon and Matthau are just so damn good together. There are a ton of quotable lines and exchanges, but one of my favorites is a brilliant piece of broad and physical comedy while Felix (Lemmon) sits in a restaurant and continually tries to clear his sinuses, much to the chagrin of Oscar (Matthau) and the rest of the establishment's patrons. As the scene goes on, it gets funnier and funnier. I've watched this particular scene several times on its own and it never fails to make me laugh out loud. 

Year: 1960

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Since it's arguably Alfred Hitchcock's most famous film, Psycho doesn't really need an introduction. It's stood the test of time, spawned the slasher sub-genre, and still entertains people to this day, almost 60 years later. Not even a God awful remake (the Gus Van Sant disaster from 1998) could tarnish its reputation, and that's saying a lot!

Year: 1968

Director: Roman Polanski

I guess since this is the fourth film from 1968 on this list, it's safe to say that's my favorite year of the decade. Rosemary's Baby is my favorite film of my favorite year in the 60's and one of My Favorite Horror Films. Paranoia and fear are at the heart of the film and those feelings have the ability to leap from the screen and infect the viewer. Even though I've seen it several times, every time I watch Rosemary's Baby, I feel an immense sense of tension and despair. There's no logical reason for it - I know what happens to poor Rosemary - but I can't help it. That's a sign of an effective horror film, it can circumvent your logical brain and still make you feel what the protagonist is going through. Mia Farrow gives the performance of her lifetime, but Ruth Gordon - who came in at #10 in the list of My Favorite Supporting Actress Performances - almost steals the show from her. Polanski's direction and the set/production design are first rate, as well. Just a fabulous film all around. 

Well, there you have it! Do you love any of these movies? Hate any? Did I miss any of your favorites from the 60's? Let me know in the comments!

Up next, my list of Favorite Movie Heroes!

My Favorite Movie Speeches

A really good speech is one of my favorite little things in a movie. Part of the reason is how they most often highlight the screenwriting and the performance of the person delivering the speech and those two aspects are what interest me most when watching movies. 

While there's no hard and fast guideline for how I chose these ten entries, one thing I kept in the back of my mind is the length of the piece. Two of my absolute favorite speeches are the "My name is Maximus" part from Gladiator and the Mike Wallace diatribe in The Insider, but they each last less than a minute. All my other choices came in at more than two minutes, so I decided to omit Gladiator and The Insider from this list. Consider them honorable mentions! 

Since a lot of these moments reveal important plot points or even show the ending of the film, I feel like I have to stress - there be SPOILERS ahead! 

Don't forget to check out Kyle's list on his blog, Enter the Movies! Which list do you prefer?

1. JFK

JFK is a tremendous film for all sorts of reasons, even if it doesn't tell the "truth" of what actually happened to the president, but one of the very best parts of the whole film is this four-minute speech. Donald Sutherland's character, simply known as "X", lays bare his version of what happened: the far-reaching conspiracy that not only allowed JFK to be assassinated but then worked to cover it up afterward. Sutherland's performance in this scene is so beautifully done that I think he may be the MVP of the entire film, and that's high praise considering some of the other performances. He delivers each word and each mannerism with such detail that he creates a perfect little character. Oliver Stone and Zachary Sklar combined to write magnificent lines for Sutherland to perform and then the editing and music help to tie everything together in the end. It's just perfect, in my mind.

2. Any Given Sunday

The sports movie genre is a great place to find examples of really good speeches. A few more almost made this list - including Kurt Russell in Miracle, Kevin Costner in Bull Durham, and Will Patton or Denzel Washington in Remember the Titans - but my absolute favorite is Al Pacino's fiery and motivational speech in Oliver Stone's football epic Any Given Sunday. Pacino has long been ridiculed (undeservedly so in most cases, I think) for playing characters who too easily go over-the-top, but his passion and intensity here, as a head coach trying to pump his players up during halftime of an important game, is undeniably effective. I know for a fact that at least one (and I'm sure many, many more) high school football coach in my area has used this speech to motivate his own players and I understand why: the whole thing, from Pacino's performance to the writing to the music to the other characters' reactions, is just so well done. While Any Given Sunday, as a whole, is uneven and frustrating, this speech is superb.

3. Magnolia

Jason Robards delivers an absolutely wonderful performance as Earl Partridge in Magnolia and the highlight of it is this nine-minute testament of pure emotion. Robards made my list of Favorite Supporting Actor Performances based primarily on this section of the film, something I've rewatched several times. Partridge, dying of cancer and bedridden, confides in an aide - telling the aide all about his history of lying, adultery, and mistakes. It's a sermon on regret and lost love and missed opportunities and... life and death. Besides the incredible content of the speech and Robards' performance, I love how director Paul Thomas Anderson plays it over other scenes with the various, somewhat related characters. 

4. Network

There's no shortage of great speeches in Network, that's for sure. I could have chosen one of two or three other options and been almost as pleased. Almost. This particular speech isn't the much more famous and oft-cited "I'm as mad as Hell!" segment, which is great and deserving of its praise, but rather a different one that I rarely read about. Peter Finch's character, the erstwhile "mad" Howard Beale, has already quit his news anchor position and been rewarded with his very own show. The speech he unfurls at the audience is nothing short of an assault on them, but they eat it up and cheer him on. The points he makes about the power of media in society seem like they could have been written today, not 40 years ago. While the entire film seems quite prescient, this one particular scene struck me as scarily so. Finch received the Best Actor Academy Award for his performance in Network and screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky won for Best Screenplay and both were very, very deserving of those awards. This speech is just a small glimpse into their brilliance, but what a glorious little glimpse.

5. Jaws 

Jaws is a thrilling, exciting adventure film with some intense and memorable moments. Quint - the grizzled, blunt, and heroic shark expert - is responsible for one of those moments in this monologue where he tells the story of being aboard the USS Indianapolis when it was torpedoed and sank into shark infested waters.  Robert Shaw is magnificent in the role and this is the high point of his performance. He delivers each word of his speech in such an interesting fashion. At the outset, Quint is buzzed and slightly slurring his words, but as he goes, his words seem to sober him up. By the time he gets to the point describing the sharks' eyes - "lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eyes" - and how the screams of the men filled the night, I'm always completely absorbed. The camera cuts away only a couple of times, to show the reaction of his two listeners, but those are solid cuts - the look on Hooper and Brody's faces tells us that they've never heard anything so horrific or mesmerizing. It's a feeling that we, as the audience, can relate to.

6. The American President

Michael Douglas is an underrated actor, in my opinion - a man who has given some truly wonderful performances over the years. His portrayal of President Andrew Shepherd in Rob Reiner's political romantic dramedy isn't his best, but it's damn good. Shepherd is probably my favorite fictional president - oh, God, how I wish he was our real president now - and Douglas is a perfect fit as a politician. He can talk, charm, or bully (depending on the situation or need) his way out of any situation and this speech, near the end of the film, is a great example of what happens when a political rival tries to smear him and his new girlfriend. Douglas lets fly with gorgeously crafted lines written by Aaron Sorkin and the end result never fails to make me smile. It's a passionate, endearing, and powerful speech that addresses the important issues - just as relevant today as they were in the mid 90's - and what type of character is needed to lead. I'd vote for Shepherd in any election. 

7. Good Will Hunting

This is another speech from an actor/character who appeared on My Favorite Supporting Actor Performances list, and it may be the best scene of one of my favorite films. Robin Williams won an Oscar for his role as Sean Maguire and I'm sure this scene, where his therapist character pours his heart out to - and finally breaks through to - his patient, was a big reason why. It's full of raw emotion, both in the words and how Williams delivers them. Maguire is able to get through Will's tough exterior because he speaks so elegantly, yet plainly; so reassuringly, yet forcefully. There's a lot of nuance to the performance, something Williams never got enough credit for in most of his dramatic roles. A nice touch from director Gus Van Sant is how the scene is filmed. It starts with both characters in the frame, but as Maguire really gets into his speech, the camera focusses entirely on him. It's not until near the end that the camera finally goes back to Will and we the audience can see that Maguire's words have affected him the same way they've affected us. Brilliant work here. 

8. The Shawshank Redemption

It'd be hard to have a list of great movie speeches and not include something from Morgan Freeman, quite possibly the greatest speaker in recent film history. The Shawshank Redemption has been my favorite movie since the first time I saw it, nearly 20 years ago. Freeman, and his character Red, are among the several major reasons why. He imbues the character with such depth, intelligence, and charm that it's hard not to like him, despite the fact that he's a convicted murderer. In this scene, Red comes to the parole board and finally tells them what he really thinks, after having tried telling them what he thinks they want to hear during all his other meetings, and it pays off. The board hears the genuine regret and compassion in his voice, sees the look of sadness in his eyes, and grants him his parole. It's a quiet speech - especially compared to most of the ones on my list - but it's still full of emotion, and it's a perfect ending to Red's time at the prison, considering everything we've seen and heard that's happened there.

9. Glengarry Glen Ross

Glengarry Glen Ross is a horribly titled film filled with spectacular performances and razor-sharp writing. David Mamet, a singular talent in Hollywood who has unfortunately disappeared in recent years, adapted his own hit play and wrote a new, special part specifically for Alec Baldwin: Blake, a corporate "motivator" who is brought in to whip the salesmen into shape. Baldwin takes the role and completely destroys in his one scene, chewing up the other characters and spitting them out. Blake is intense, crude, vile, and funny and, in the process, almost steals the whole film. It is by far the most famous part of the film, which is a bit of a shame considering how great the whole thing is, but I understand why. Few scenes are as powerful or memorable.

10. Independence Day

The second US president on my list would represent a "guilty pleasure" for me if I believed in such things. I know Independence Day isn't a great film, but it is a lot of fun and Bill Pullman, as President Whitmore, is a big part of that fun. His speech to his troops just before their battle against the invading alien force is nothing short of exhilarating, even if it does come off as a little exaggerated or cheesy. Unlike the rest of my picks for this list, this scene doesn't include great writing or anything more than an average performance, but it's still deserving of the list. As Whitmore is pumping up his troops, the background music swells along with the intensity in his voice and we see the surrounding group react to his words. It all works together to make a memorable and inspiring scene - one that I first loved as a 14-year-old and one that I still love as a grown man. Even if I should probably know better. 

There are lots of other movie speeches that could have made this list - I've already mentioned a handful of them - but I'm pleased with the ten I've chosen here. Ask me again in six months or a year, though, and the list could change significantly. 

What are some of your favorites? Do you love or hate any of my choices? Do you think I forgot any "obvious" ones? Let me know in the comments below! 

Up next, my Favorite Films of the 1960's!

My Favorites of the Decade - the 1950's

Along with Kyle at Enter the Movies, I'm going to be doing a series of lists highlighting my favorite films from each decade interspersed with various other lists. I'm hoping this series will allow me to feature some films that I haven't had the opportunity to discuss yet, but I'm sure a lot of them will have been mentioned in my Top 50 series or in other lists I've already published.

To start it out, here are my Top 10 Favorite Films of the 1950's, in alphabetical order:

Year: 1957
Director: Sidney Lumet

12 Angry Men has been one of my favorite films since I first saw it in high school, during my speech class. I think it's a perfect mix of drama, suspense, and humor. The cast - anchored by Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, and E.G. Marshall -  may be one of the best ensembles in film history. Lumet, who is becoming one of my most beloved filmmakers, shot out of the gate with this, his first feature film, and shows masterful control in such a constrained space. There's not a wasted frame within the 90 minute run time, which goes to show just how strong the screenplay and editing work was. Each and every moment enhances the characters, furthers the plot, or adds to the atmosphere. 12 Angry Men may very well be a perfect film. 

Year: 1951
Director: Billy Wilder

You wouldn't know it from the terrible looking poster above - seriously, this is the best one I could find and it certainly wouldn't have enticed me to watch the film - but Ace in the Hole is an excellent film. I'd classify it as a dark comedy/drama and it features probably my favorite performance from the iconic Kirk Douglas as a newspaper reporter who goes to great lengths, including making several immoral decisions, to keep a story evolving and to further his career. Billy Wilder, a director whom I more respect than admire, has never been better. He manages to make a darkly funny morality play which resonates more now than ever and straddles the line between "laugh out loud funny" and "deathly serious". 

Year: 1959
Director: Otto Preminger

I've long been a fan of courtroom dramas and Anatomy of a Murder is quite possibly the best of the genre. The film was terribly controversial upon its release - mostly for its frank discussion of rape and other "bad" language - and is still somewhat jarring when viewed today. I watched it a few years ago without knowing about its reputation and was surprised by the content of the more than 50-year-old film. James Stewart is mesmerizing in the lead role, but his supporting cast is almost as good. One notable cast member is left off the poster: George C. Scott, who had only appeared in one film prior to Anatomy of a Murder, had a juicy role as the attorney opposing James Stewart. He received a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination and practically stole each and every scene he was in from his more seasoned co-stars. If you like courtroom dramas, I'd highly recommend giving this one a shot - you're not going to be disappointed. 

Year: 1952
Director: Vincente Minnelli

I generally enjoy movies about the movie business and The Bad and the Beautiful is no exception. Even though it "borrows" a lot of things from Citizen Kane and veers into melodrama a couple of times, The Bad and the Beautiful is a fun, entertaining, and skillfully made film. It won five Academy Awards - and holds the distinction of winning the most awards without a Best Picture nomination - but I had never heard of it until listening to an interview with Martin Scorsese where he mentioned it as an influence on him. Kirk Douglas is superb as a ruthless and conniving movie producer who manipulates people around him in order to achieve success. I think the film provides a very interesting peek into the movie business of "classic" Hollywood. It's something I've wanted to rewatch for a while and now I have even more interest in revisiting it. 

Year: 1958
Director: Richard Brooks

I was in a bit of a Paul Newman phase recently and watched as many of his films as I could find and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was easily the best of the bunch. The writing, acting, cinematography, and production design (especially the costumes and sets) are all top notch. Check out my full-length review for more of my thoughts! 

Year: 1952
Director: Fred Zinneman

High Noon isn't just one of my favorite films of the 1950's, but one of My Favorite Westerns and in the running to make my Top 100. I wrote a full-length review last year that goes into detail about everything I loved about the film. Other than some really shoddy music, I can't think of any real flaws - High Noon is just a great film and deserves its classic reputation. 

Year: 1959
Director: Alfred Hitchcock

The Master of Suspense's most fun movie is a twisty-turny adventure romp that doesn't always make sense - it's the kind of film that doesn't stand up to a whole lot of close examination - but is always entertaining. Cary Grant is his usual suave self and he has fantastic chemistry with the beautiful Eva Marie Saint. Their back and forth repartee is one of my favorite aspects of the movie. Of course, the action set pieces are wonderful, too - especially the iconic crop duster and Mount Rushmore scenes. North by Northwest isn't even my first or second favorite Hitchcock, which just goes to show you how talented the man was. 

Year: 1957
Director: Stanley Kubrick

The first of what will be several Kubrick films in this series, Paths of Glory is a film that I love a tiny bit more with each viewing. It's the tense, suspenseful, and ultimately heartbreaking story of a platoon of soldiers in WWI France and how high-ranking officers use capital punishment as a way to "motivate" their troops. Kirk Douglas stars and delivers another powerhouse performance, but he's also surrounded by a great supporting cast - George Macready, Ralph Meeker, Joe Turkel, and Timothy Carey are all highly memorable and impressive in their various roles. The black and white cinematography, music, editing, and production design are all first-rate. A lot of people consider Paths of Glory Kubrick's first masterpiece and I can't entirely disagree.

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. Hitchcock's 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.

Year: 1952

Director: Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly

Musicals are easily my least favorite genre, but every once in a while I come across one that I really love. Singin' in the Rain was one of those times - it's just a tremendous film in nearly every way, from the musical numbers to the acting to all the technical aspects. You can read my full-length review for my in-depth thoughts.  

Well, there you have it! Do you love any of these movies? Hate any? Did I miss any of your favorites from the 50's? Let me know in the comments!

Up next, my list of Favorite Movie Speeches!