"Every time you leave me for a minute, it's like goodbye. I like to believe it means you can't live without me."
***This is a VERY spoilery write-up. Don't read if you don't want to know how this movie ends!***
Plot: When George Eastman gets a job at his rich uncle's factory, he falls in love with a coworker, Alice Tripp. A forbidden romance ensues until George begins to ascend the societal ranks and meets the sophisticated Angela Vickers. George falls for Angela, only to then find out that Alice is pregnant. After a failed trip to an abortion clinic, a lovesick George plans to murder Alice by drowning her in a lake. He changes his mind at the last minute, but then Alice accidentally tips the boat over and George does not save her (she can't swim). Despite trying to cover his tracks, the cops link George to her death, and he goes on trial. Though there is no proof, he is convicted of Alice's murder, and the film fades to black as he walks to the electric chair.
My assumption is that this film made it onto the list due to its controversial subject matter. It was filmed in 1949 (released in 1951). Between a premarital affair and pregnancy, a trip to an abortion clinic, juggling two girls at once, and contemplated murder of a pregnant woman, this film was scandalous for its time to say the least. Throughout the whole thing, Lindsay Ray and I kept turning to each other and saying, "I can't believe this is happening in a movie this old!" That being said, I actually think it's a solid film that deserves to be on the list, controversial themes or not.
The performances by Montogomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, and Shelley Winters are all notable. The story was well-paced, and I never found my mind wandering. Director George Stevens and writers Michael Wilson and Harry Brown (all three won the Oscars for it, by the way) drew me in from the first scene, and I couldn't look away through the end. To be as old as it is, A Place in the Sun really had me on the edge of my seat, and I found myself anxiously awaiting the verdict on George's case.
Speaking of the verdict, one of the most ingenious twists in the film is that the viewer finds themselves rooting for George's innocence (at least I did). Despite the fact that he planned to kill her, my love of true justice hates that he gets convicted. He didn't actually kill her, so he should go free, right? But he thought about it, and he didn't save her when she fell in, so then he was guilty, right? That's the beauty of the film's finale. Even now, I'm still not sure how I feel. I love a movie that can do that. I'd definitely recommend this one to anybody who likes a good love triangle thriller.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
6 down, 117 to go....
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
120. Blade Runner
"I think, Sebastian; therefore, I am."
Plot: In 2019, "replicants," androids that resemble human beings, have been outlawed on Earth. Those that return to Earth from the outer colonies are hunted down and "retired" (killed?) by "blade runners." A retired blade runner, Rick Deckard, decides to come back to track down one last rogue group of replicants.
Woohoo! We've got some sci-fi on the list! And directed by Ridley Scott, a personal favorite, no less.
In the world of sci-fi, Blade Runner is a pretty big deal. As much as Star Wars taught us that sci-fi can be fun, Blade Runner taught us that it could be taken seriously as well. A pretty popular choice for film classes, it brings in religious, ethical, and Ancient Greek themes. It makes us question what truly defines humanity. Who is more human? Rachel, an android who falls in love, or Rick, a violent man who retires countless replicants?
This is the first movie on the list so far that deserves a special shout-out for costumes (Michael Kaplan and Charles Knode) and production design (Lawrence G. Paull). Both create the neo-noir (film noir style with modern elements) look and feel of the film. Jordan Cronenweth's dark, shadowy cinematography also is notable.
Harrison Ford gives a solid performance as the brooding Deckard, Daryl Hannah is delightfully creepy as Pris, and Sean Young is, well, fair as Rachel. But the real star of the show is Rutger Hauer as the replicant Roy Batty. Philip K. Dick, whose book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? provided the main plot for the film, described Hauer as "the perfect Batty--cold, Aryan, flawless." The man was absolutely terrifying. When I ask others what they think of the film, the most common answer I get is: "It was pretty boring, but that android guy was awesome." True story.
And speaking of boring, that's usually the #1 complaint about the film from both critics and audiences. I confess that when the roomie and I first tried to watch this at 9:00 one night, we both started falling asleep. It's slow. That's true, and it does hinder the re-watchability of it. But it adds to the noir style, and I really wouldn't change it.
I do have two minor complaints: I was not a fan of Harrison Ford's narration (it was removed from later version of the film) or the soundtrack by Vangelis (who also did Chariots of Fire). The soundtrack was just too 80's for my taste.
Overall, I like the movie, and I'm glad that I've seen it. But, like I said, it's not one that I can watch over and over in a short period of time. In another five years or so, I'll give it another view. I have a feeling it'll be one of those where you find something new in it every time you see it. It's not for everyone, but if you don't mind slow pacing, I'd suggest giving it a try.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
5 down, 118 to go...
Plot: In 2019, "replicants," androids that resemble human beings, have been outlawed on Earth. Those that return to Earth from the outer colonies are hunted down and "retired" (killed?) by "blade runners." A retired blade runner, Rick Deckard, decides to come back to track down one last rogue group of replicants.
Woohoo! We've got some sci-fi on the list! And directed by Ridley Scott, a personal favorite, no less.
In the world of sci-fi, Blade Runner is a pretty big deal. As much as Star Wars taught us that sci-fi can be fun, Blade Runner taught us that it could be taken seriously as well. A pretty popular choice for film classes, it brings in religious, ethical, and Ancient Greek themes. It makes us question what truly defines humanity. Who is more human? Rachel, an android who falls in love, or Rick, a violent man who retires countless replicants?
This is the first movie on the list so far that deserves a special shout-out for costumes (Michael Kaplan and Charles Knode) and production design (Lawrence G. Paull). Both create the neo-noir (film noir style with modern elements) look and feel of the film. Jordan Cronenweth's dark, shadowy cinematography also is notable.
Harrison Ford gives a solid performance as the brooding Deckard, Daryl Hannah is delightfully creepy as Pris, and Sean Young is, well, fair as Rachel. But the real star of the show is Rutger Hauer as the replicant Roy Batty. Philip K. Dick, whose book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? provided the main plot for the film, described Hauer as "the perfect Batty--cold, Aryan, flawless." The man was absolutely terrifying. When I ask others what they think of the film, the most common answer I get is: "It was pretty boring, but that android guy was awesome." True story.
And speaking of boring, that's usually the #1 complaint about the film from both critics and audiences. I confess that when the roomie and I first tried to watch this at 9:00 one night, we both started falling asleep. It's slow. That's true, and it does hinder the re-watchability of it. But it adds to the noir style, and I really wouldn't change it.
I do have two minor complaints: I was not a fan of Harrison Ford's narration (it was removed from later version of the film) or the soundtrack by Vangelis (who also did Chariots of Fire). The soundtrack was just too 80's for my taste.
Overall, I like the movie, and I'm glad that I've seen it. But, like I said, it's not one that I can watch over and over in a short period of time. In another five years or so, I'll give it another view. I have a feeling it'll be one of those where you find something new in it every time you see it. It's not for everyone, but if you don't mind slow pacing, I'd suggest giving it a try.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
5 down, 118 to go...
121. Yankee Doodle Dandy
"My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you."
Plot: A biography of composer, playwright, singer, and dancer George M. Cohan, whose music fueled American patriotism during WWI, the depression, and into WWII.
One special note about this film is that it's the first James Cagney movie I've ever seen. I know he's known for playing mobsters, but he was phenomenal in this movie. His acting was on point, and that man could dance. Being the Broadway geek that I am, I hoped for a little bit more vocal-wise, but he was still great. He rightfully won the Oscar for best actor.
The movies gets off to a slow start, but after about 45min I found myself really enjoying it. All of the performances are solid, most of the characters are likable, and I even got a little choked up once or twice during the more serious scenes. But what really drives the film is the absolute shameless patriotism (and I mean that in a good way). This movie loves the USA in a way no modern movie could. We get to see the US in that wide-eyed, innocent way we do as kids, and it's wonderfully refreshing. All I hear all day is complaints about this president, that law, this amendment, etc. etc. Sometimes we forget how blessed we really are to live here. This film gives us a pleasant reminder. Overall, a very enjoyable watch, though I'm not certain it belongs on the Top 100 films ever list. Definitely worth a view if you stumble across it one day, though.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
4 down, 119 to go...
Plot: A biography of composer, playwright, singer, and dancer George M. Cohan, whose music fueled American patriotism during WWI, the depression, and into WWII.
One special note about this film is that it's the first James Cagney movie I've ever seen. I know he's known for playing mobsters, but he was phenomenal in this movie. His acting was on point, and that man could dance. Being the Broadway geek that I am, I hoped for a little bit more vocal-wise, but he was still great. He rightfully won the Oscar for best actor.
The movies gets off to a slow start, but after about 45min I found myself really enjoying it. All of the performances are solid, most of the characters are likable, and I even got a little choked up once or twice during the more serious scenes. But what really drives the film is the absolute shameless patriotism (and I mean that in a good way). This movie loves the USA in a way no modern movie could. We get to see the US in that wide-eyed, innocent way we do as kids, and it's wonderfully refreshing. All I hear all day is complaints about this president, that law, this amendment, etc. etc. Sometimes we forget how blessed we really are to live here. This film gives us a pleasant reminder. Overall, a very enjoyable watch, though I'm not certain it belongs on the Top 100 films ever list. Definitely worth a view if you stumble across it one day, though.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
4 down, 119 to go...
122. Toy Story
"You are a child's PLAY THING!"
Plot: When a young boy named Andy leaves the room, his toys come to life. When Andy gets a new action figure, Buzz Lightyear, most of the other toys are thrilled. Except for Woody, Andy's favorite toy, who is afraid he will be replaced.
I should probably provide some backstory before I begin the review... I'd seen Toy Story a couple times when I was younger. I liked it, but I didn't really think it was worth all the praise it got. So years passed, and Pixar kept churning out more and more CGI films while Disney 2Ds were on the decline (not in quality, but in popularity... Mulan and Tarzan, two of the last, are two of the best). Now, being the Disney-obsessed child that I am, I began to resent Pixar just a smidge. Okay, more than a smidge. But I've seen the light and mended my ways, and I decided to re-watch Toy Story as if I'd never seen it before.
My childhood self was an IDIOT.
Toy story is not only heartwarming and fun, but it's absolutely hilarious. The Oscar-nominated screenplay by Joss Whedon (LOVE), Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow had me in stitches. I literally went into a 5-minute-long laughing fit during the scene with the aliens in the claw machine.
I also have to mention the fact that this was, of course, the first full-length CGI film ever made. We take them for granted nowadays, but it was groundbreaking back in '95.
A great script, completely new visual format, wonderful voice cast (Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, and John Ratzenberger to name a few), and overall great idea for a story. It hits on all cylinders and has appeal for both kids and adults. Shame on me the first time around for not realizing how great it is.
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
3 down, 120 to go...
Plot: When a young boy named Andy leaves the room, his toys come to life. When Andy gets a new action figure, Buzz Lightyear, most of the other toys are thrilled. Except for Woody, Andy's favorite toy, who is afraid he will be replaced.
I should probably provide some backstory before I begin the review... I'd seen Toy Story a couple times when I was younger. I liked it, but I didn't really think it was worth all the praise it got. So years passed, and Pixar kept churning out more and more CGI films while Disney 2Ds were on the decline (not in quality, but in popularity... Mulan and Tarzan, two of the last, are two of the best). Now, being the Disney-obsessed child that I am, I began to resent Pixar just a smidge. Okay, more than a smidge. But I've seen the light and mended my ways, and I decided to re-watch Toy Story as if I'd never seen it before.
My childhood self was an IDIOT.
Toy story is not only heartwarming and fun, but it's absolutely hilarious. The Oscar-nominated screenplay by Joss Whedon (LOVE), Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow had me in stitches. I literally went into a 5-minute-long laughing fit during the scene with the aliens in the claw machine.
I also have to mention the fact that this was, of course, the first full-length CGI film ever made. We take them for granted nowadays, but it was groundbreaking back in '95.
A great script, completely new visual format, wonderful voice cast (Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, and John Ratzenberger to name a few), and overall great idea for a story. It hits on all cylinders and has appeal for both kids and adults. Shame on me the first time around for not realizing how great it is.
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
3 down, 120 to go...
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