The best movie of all time
The other day while I was driving to a deposition I started thinking about what I would consider the best movie of all time. I tried to remember those lists that came out at the end of the 20th century for examples of what should be candidates. I have my own personal list of my favorite movies, but I wasn't sure if they were good movies, or had some "moral squint" as Orson Welles says in "A Man For All SEasons" [one of my favorites].
It is generally considered that the follwoing are the best movies:
1. Citizen Kane
2. gone With The wind
3. Casablanca
4.The Godfather
5. The Godfather Part II
6. The Best Years of Our Lives
7. Sunset boulevard
8. Midnight cowboy
9. Raging Bull
10. Its A Wonderful Life
You get the idea. My candidate is "Casablanca", because it shows people being noble in trying circumstances, and shows the transformation of a cynical man to a pragmatically idealistic one. It has some great lines and is inspiring. I used to consider the 2 Godfather movies to be the best, but the moral is so depressing--in his quest to save his family he kills most of them and loses the others. I guess we can learn what NOT to do.
I will always have a tender place in my heart for "The Apartment" and "A Man For All Seasons", but for sheer durability, I guess its "Casablanca". I will entertain other suggestions however, 'cause this really was off the top of my head.
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Movies
Hmmm....I feel sad, but the only movies Ive seen on this list are Gone With the Wind and Its a Wonderful Life.
Its kind of weird but I feel like any new movie wouldnt be considered for this list. Any suggestions?
More research
Your comment made me do soem more research. There is a site for the AMerican film Institute (AFI) which has been putting out varous lists of the 100 best movies in varioous categories for the last 6 or 7 years. Here is the link ""AFI Lists"". When I put up the post I was just going by memeory of what I could remember; I tried it ourt on Dan and Matt and they had a lot of other suggestions. since your comment I thought back on more recent movies Obviously "schindler's List" is a great film and inspiring, but I don't think I could watch it ever again. "ET" is a very uplifitng movie, which is clearly a classic. Kind of quirky, but I loved and would definitely watch again--"Election". The end of "American Beauty" redeemed that movie--when the lust object was finally honest and the lech finally saw her as a human being and refused to go through with the seduction, so he has a breakthrough and realizes that he loves his wife and daughter, and just in the nick of time, too. I found that very moving.
"The Matrix" was very mind-bending and thought-provoking. Patty and I were blown away by "Crash"==again, after we didn't like the first 45 minutes of it. But that movie is so recent, that its hard to know if it will stand the test of time. A beutifully-photographed movie is "Out of Africa", but the story didn't do much for me. "Forrest Gump" is on all the lists of the best 100 movies. Its now more than 30 years old, but I always loved "American Graffitti". "The Shawshank Redemption" was good too. I'm sure I'm missing a lot of good movies--part of the problem is how many movies does a person see; I see less and less, and my reaction is very dependent upon what my energy level is. I mean--I am very fond of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"--again, because I thought the end was the best portrayal of what mature love between two people is--they've just heard tapes of the other cruelly criticizing him/her and they love each other anyway, and they say they won't do it again and they both acknowledge that they probably will, but they go forward anyway, with both eyes open; That's the best example of forgiveness and love that I have ever seen in the movies. But that might mean nothing to someone else, who isn't 53 years old and married for 30 years.
So, I would love to see what other movies touched other people. In fact, apparently AFI is now voting on the 100 most inspiring movies and you can see the list of the 300 or so movies that its judges are considering, at the web-site.
Foreign Movies
That is a pretty good list of movies you have. I'm not sure if you guys have ever gotten into foreign movies at all but a have a couple I would suggest. "Hero"(Japanese) is a movie with some of the best photography I have ever seen in movies and "The princess and the warrior"(German) is an increadable movie. It is a complex love story which is very deep and deals a lot with people finding themselves and all that. I would suggest it to anybody (older people, mild adult themes) in the mood for that type of movies. It is one of my favorites.
Jeff--we saw "Hero" last night
The movie finally showed up in our Netflix queue (somehow a lot of Indian movies got in ahead of it; I don't know why that happened). Instead of joining the rest of America and going to see "Borat" last night, Tom and I watched "Hero" at home. I had to go look up what you originally wrote about it--yes, the photography was beautiful--the fight among the yellow falling leaves was breathtaking. Thanks for the recommendation--now we need more recommendations!
The Princess & The Warrior
Patty got this out of the Sch'dy library and we watched it Saturday night. Yes, Jeff, it is a very good movie; very thought-provoking. Who was Sissi's father? Were we supposed to be able to figure that out? I anticipated that the woman at the grave would have some later significance.
At times the movie reminded me of "13 Conversations About One Thing"--an American indie movie with some big-name stars--Matthew McConaghy, Alan Arkin, John Turturro, Amy Irving. The connectedness of things is a big theme and it is uplifting.
There was some dutch movie a few years ago, that they remade into an american movie--I think it was "The Vanishing" or "Vanished" which this movie also reminded me of. Don't see the American re-make--see the foreign original version.
Amelie
Another foreign favorite
Sequel?
Amelie was a good movie. I think a sequel to it recently came out, but I can't remember the name. Anyone know?
We liked Hero also
But I had to leave the room for some of the fighting scenes (too graphic).
My mission
Alright! It is now my mission to get those 2 movies, plus see "V for Vendetta", as suggested by Dan. College is where I was introduced to foreign films--not many were shown in fulton, NY in those days. So I saw all the "classic" foreign movies--"Grand Illusion", "Rules of the Game", "The 400 Blows", "Jules et Jim", "Belle du Jour", "Roshomon", 18 hundred Bergman movies, 14 hundred Fellini movies, only a few dozen Truffaut movies. I had heard of "hero", but I forgot about it. Something to look forwrd to.
Francois Truffaut
I saw The 400 Blows, and Jules et Jim. I have The Wild Child, and The Man who loved Women, from the library. He was ahead of his time. Thanks for the blogs.
Babbett's Feast
I'll try a short review on this film. I really enjoyed it. This was a great danish film whose plot evolved around the preparation of a meal, but the background was about many life issues and love. The setting is in a small impoverished coastal village. Two old spinster sisters take in a french jew during WWII who earns her keep by serving has the house cook. The french woman, who was actually a chief from one of the leading restaurants in Paris at the time, also helps the sisters in their ministry to other elderly village residents by cooking meals from them. For fear of being found by the Nazis she keeps a low profile, cooking modest but tasty meals. In the end, an occassion to cook a larger meal allows the french woman to show off her real talents as a creative chief and celebrate the two sisters generosity.
We saw it; we liked it; let's eat
Patty got "Babette's Feast" out of the library yesterday and we watched it last night. The movie was very positive and heart-warming, funny, too. I want quail in sarcophagus and turtle soup; please no ale-bread. Thanks for reminding us of this movie we had always intended to see, but never got around to.
Babbett's Feast
You brought it to D. Rd. where I viewed it with you. It was memorable to me.
Another vote in favor
I don't want to ruin this for anyone, but after I ordered some DVDs off the Internet a few years ago, I started getting, rather erratically, a publication from "facets" a rare movie sales house. In any event, in their efforts to interest people in movies they often categorize movies under themes, lists etc. Once they published the Vatican's list of best films--"Babette's Feast" was on it. I'm not sure what I did with the list, so I don't recall many of the others, but I do remember it had more Polish movies than one might normally expect, and the usual "religiously themed" movies from Hollywood, were not on the list. (But I do think "A Man For All Seasons" made the list).
Shawshank Redemption!
Definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. I would consider that one a classic.
My problem, and why I don't get to see great movies, is that when I'm in the mood to go to a movie, I'm usually in a light-hearted mood and will choose cheesy romantic comedies or crummy but hilarious comedies...not really the makings of a classic. Though there's something to be said for comedians (I think that kind of acting can be harder than straight drama), they don't really receive the same accolades as other actors.
I'm still trying to think of another great movie that's more recent...
comedies
Did you like "40 Year Old Virgin"? I haven't seen it yet, but some old fart blogs seemed to think it was pretty good. And "Something About Mary" wil always make me laugh, even when I am alone and just remembering scenes--like in the dentists's chair on Monday during a filling, I recalled the little dog in that movie all in a cast and started shaking with laughter, so the dentist asked me if he was hurting me; With all the stuff in my mouth I couldn't tell him I was laughing, especially about a memory of a movie! I just nodded and mumbled "No".
V for Vendetta
I saw this movie Sunday evening. it was intense at some parts, but i loved the ending.
you should consider seeing it Kara if you get the chance, but probably only if youre not in a light-hearted mood.
:)
That movie is on my list to see. I just need to find the time and someone else to see it with me. But you're right. I expect it's not exactly chill.
Lets look for them on Cable.
Since thiese are old classics I never see them offered on Cable. If they are ever on, lets pass it, on so we can see them again, or for the first time. I vote for Gone With The Wind as number one.
Judge Embeds a Puzzle in ‘Da Vinci Code’ Ruling
According to this article , the recent Da Vinci Code ruling on Dan Brown's book is itself an interesting puzzle. There is still time for you crossword and sudoku afficiendos to solve the mystery before the movie comes out. See attached English High Court decision.
The Smithy Code
This is what I have so far...
I searched the decision for letters and I found
Jaeiextotpacreamqwfkadpmqzvn
No idea yet what it means...I'm still thinking about it...
The Code Has Been Cracked
Reports are that lawyers in London lost thousands of billable hours yesterday, trying to crack the code. But you can stop now because at least one of them has succeeded in cracking the Smithy Code.
Yeah but they had help mind you
from the judge!!!