Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Countdown to Vegas/The Next 10 Films on the countdown...
On Saturday, Jules and I are heading out to Las Vegas. She has a trade show and I'm tagging along for a mini-vacation. We're planning to go to the Hoover Dam and we'll also be seeing The Beatles' Love show which I'm really looking forward to to. I'm sure we'll also be doing a littlew gambling, as well. Jules will be there for a week while I'll be heading home next Tuesday. Anyway, we're looking forward to getting away for a few days and when Jules returns, she'll be starting her new job at Cincom.
Not much else in the news. The president will making his State of the Union address tonight which is why I'll be tuned in to ESPN or the Big Ten Network to watch Ohio State play Iowa in basketball. I went to the Dayton/Rhode Island game last night and the Flyers lost a heartbreaker on a 3 point basket in the final seconds - there weren't many happy folks at old, UD Arena last night. Which reminds me, I have to say for a basketball facility that is approaching 40 years old, the UD Arena has held up tremendously well. They did some renovations several years ago and they did a wonderful job. I used to go to many UD games when I was in high school and they've really done an outstanding job of preserving the arena.
Now on to the movie countdown but before I start, next Monday I will make my predicitons for this year's Academy Award nominations. Keep in mind there will be 10 films nominated for Best Picture this year; personally I'm not sure there are 10 films worthy of being nominated but that won't keep me from trying to predict which films they will be. Here are the next 10 films in my countdown...
90. The Sixth Sense (1999) - Bruce Willis plays a child psychiatrist trying to help a young boy with a very eerie problem; he see's dead people. I didn't think this film was overly scary but it does include a tremendous twist to the plot which took me entirely by surprise. A wonderfully crafted thriller by M. Night Shyamalan and Haley Joel Osment is tremendous as the tortured boy. Unfortunately for both Shyamalan and Osment, neither has come out with a movie since to rival 'The Sixth Sense' and in Haley Joel's case his sister (Emily) has gone on to far greater stardom playing Miley's Cyrus' side kick on Hannah Montana.
89. The Color Purple (1985) - Stephen Spielberg's film adaptation of Alice Walker's pulitzer winning novel of the same name. Set in the early 1900's, Whoopie Goldberg plays a black woman who suffers from a life-time of mental, physical and sexual abuse until she befriends a woman who provides her with the courage and confidence to fight back. I'm a sucker for tearjerker movies and this one delivers, not in a sad but triumphant way. I've often thought Whoopie Goldberg got the Best Supporting actress award for 'Ghost' as a payback for her not winning for her portrayal in The Color Purple. In my opinion, one of Spielberg's best movies.
88. Moonstruck (1987) - Romantic comedy starring Cher in her Academy Award winning role. This film features great supporting performances by Vincent Gardenia, Danny Aiello, Nicholas Cage and Olympia Dukakis who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Norman Jewison directed this cute and quirky little film that I thought should have won best picture over the tremendously boring, The Last Emperor.
87. Chicago (2002) - Renee Zellwegger and Catherine Zeta-Jones play the infamous Roxie and Velma in this screen adaptation of Bob Fosse's Broadway hit. Both actresses were great in their roles as the murderous vixens and Richard Gere proved he could sing and tap dance as the attention-seeking lawyer, Billy Finn. Some plays don't translate as well from stage to screen but I felt Chicago was far better on the big screen. Queen Latifah steals a couple scenes as the warden at the female penetentiary. One of my favorite musicals.
86. My Life As A Dog (1985) - This is one of only two foriegn language films on my list. By the Swedish director, Lasse Hallstrom (perhaps better known for directing the Academy Award nominated, The Cider House Rules) this film tells the story of a 12 year old boy who is sent to live with relatives when his mother becomes terminally ill. A cute, poignant story that puts a smile on your face.
85. Platoon (1986) - A story told from the viewpoint of a young grunt (Charlie Sheen) who has been sent off to Vietnam and the conflict between two of his superior, brilliantly played by Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe. This was a difficult movie to watch due to the excessive violence and continual reminders of how horrible war is. Plus it painfully illustrates how even the 'good guys' can crumble under the pressures of combat.
84. The Princess Bride (1987) - I was glad to see this on Riches list. A movie within a movie, Rob Reiner brings this fairly tale to beautiful life as a grandfather (Peter Falk) reads the story to his sick grandson (Fred Savage). The cast is perfect and create some of the funniest, fairy tale characters of all time. Probably my favorite Rob Reiner movie, he proves that making a movie that children and adults can equally enjoy is not....Inconceivable!
83. Animal House (1978) - Comparing Animal House to some of the current day movies like 'Super Bad', 'Old School', the 'American Pie' movies and even 'The Hangover' makes this 1978 classic seem rather tame. But make no mistake, Animal House was as funny as movies got back in the 70's and it set the stage for movies like the ones just mentioned. Animal Hose set the bar and provided lines and scenes that we still recite and talk about 30+ years later. "Thank you sir, may I have another!"
82. M*A*S*H (1970) - Before it became a painfully boring sitcom after the departures of McLean Stevenson (Henry Blake) and Wayne Rogers (Trapper John), M*A*S*H was an hysterical movie directed by Robert Altman. Starring Donald Southerland and Elliot Gould as Hawkeye and Trapper John; doctors living in the Hell of war and making it tolerable by making it untolerable for Hot Lips (Sally Kellerman) and Frank Burns (Robert Duvall). The only actor to appear in both the movie and the tv series was Gary Burghoff as Radar. The movie also includes one of the funniest football games ever filmed - great movie.
81. Billy Elliot (2000) - I originally saw this movie back in 2000 when it first came out and watched it again this past summer. It tells the story of a young boy whose father sends him off to boxing class only to have him stumble across a class of girls taking dance lessons. He soon discovers he'd rather dance than box which causes a tremendous dilemma for the widowed father who also happens to be dealing with his union being on strike. The language is a bit rough and at times it's difficult to understand the characters due to their heavy British accents, but I love this movie because it's about a father who shows the true love he has for his son by doing whatever it takes to help him achieve his dreams and build a better life for himself. More impressive is the fact that the characters seem real; you believe the father, you believe the son and nothing is sugar-coated . This is a tremendous movie that was adapted into a Broadway musical with songs written by Elton John.
Look for the #80 - #71 tomorrow evening...
Not much else in the news. The president will making his State of the Union address tonight which is why I'll be tuned in to ESPN or the Big Ten Network to watch Ohio State play Iowa in basketball. I went to the Dayton/Rhode Island game last night and the Flyers lost a heartbreaker on a 3 point basket in the final seconds - there weren't many happy folks at old, UD Arena last night. Which reminds me, I have to say for a basketball facility that is approaching 40 years old, the UD Arena has held up tremendously well. They did some renovations several years ago and they did a wonderful job. I used to go to many UD games when I was in high school and they've really done an outstanding job of preserving the arena.
Now on to the movie countdown but before I start, next Monday I will make my predicitons for this year's Academy Award nominations. Keep in mind there will be 10 films nominated for Best Picture this year; personally I'm not sure there are 10 films worthy of being nominated but that won't keep me from trying to predict which films they will be. Here are the next 10 films in my countdown...
90. The Sixth Sense (1999) - Bruce Willis plays a child psychiatrist trying to help a young boy with a very eerie problem; he see's dead people. I didn't think this film was overly scary but it does include a tremendous twist to the plot which took me entirely by surprise. A wonderfully crafted thriller by M. Night Shyamalan and Haley Joel Osment is tremendous as the tortured boy. Unfortunately for both Shyamalan and Osment, neither has come out with a movie since to rival 'The Sixth Sense' and in Haley Joel's case his sister (Emily) has gone on to far greater stardom playing Miley's Cyrus' side kick on Hannah Montana.
89. The Color Purple (1985) - Stephen Spielberg's film adaptation of Alice Walker's pulitzer winning novel of the same name. Set in the early 1900's, Whoopie Goldberg plays a black woman who suffers from a life-time of mental, physical and sexual abuse until she befriends a woman who provides her with the courage and confidence to fight back. I'm a sucker for tearjerker movies and this one delivers, not in a sad but triumphant way. I've often thought Whoopie Goldberg got the Best Supporting actress award for 'Ghost' as a payback for her not winning for her portrayal in The Color Purple. In my opinion, one of Spielberg's best movies.
88. Moonstruck (1987) - Romantic comedy starring Cher in her Academy Award winning role. This film features great supporting performances by Vincent Gardenia, Danny Aiello, Nicholas Cage and Olympia Dukakis who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Norman Jewison directed this cute and quirky little film that I thought should have won best picture over the tremendously boring, The Last Emperor.
87. Chicago (2002) - Renee Zellwegger and Catherine Zeta-Jones play the infamous Roxie and Velma in this screen adaptation of Bob Fosse's Broadway hit. Both actresses were great in their roles as the murderous vixens and Richard Gere proved he could sing and tap dance as the attention-seeking lawyer, Billy Finn. Some plays don't translate as well from stage to screen but I felt Chicago was far better on the big screen. Queen Latifah steals a couple scenes as the warden at the female penetentiary. One of my favorite musicals.
86. My Life As A Dog (1985) - This is one of only two foriegn language films on my list. By the Swedish director, Lasse Hallstrom (perhaps better known for directing the Academy Award nominated, The Cider House Rules) this film tells the story of a 12 year old boy who is sent to live with relatives when his mother becomes terminally ill. A cute, poignant story that puts a smile on your face.
85. Platoon (1986) - A story told from the viewpoint of a young grunt (Charlie Sheen) who has been sent off to Vietnam and the conflict between two of his superior, brilliantly played by Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe. This was a difficult movie to watch due to the excessive violence and continual reminders of how horrible war is. Plus it painfully illustrates how even the 'good guys' can crumble under the pressures of combat.
84. The Princess Bride (1987) - I was glad to see this on Riches list. A movie within a movie, Rob Reiner brings this fairly tale to beautiful life as a grandfather (Peter Falk) reads the story to his sick grandson (Fred Savage). The cast is perfect and create some of the funniest, fairy tale characters of all time. Probably my favorite Rob Reiner movie, he proves that making a movie that children and adults can equally enjoy is not....Inconceivable!
83. Animal House (1978) - Comparing Animal House to some of the current day movies like 'Super Bad', 'Old School', the 'American Pie' movies and even 'The Hangover' makes this 1978 classic seem rather tame. But make no mistake, Animal House was as funny as movies got back in the 70's and it set the stage for movies like the ones just mentioned. Animal Hose set the bar and provided lines and scenes that we still recite and talk about 30+ years later. "Thank you sir, may I have another!"
82. M*A*S*H (1970) - Before it became a painfully boring sitcom after the departures of McLean Stevenson (Henry Blake) and Wayne Rogers (Trapper John), M*A*S*H was an hysterical movie directed by Robert Altman. Starring Donald Southerland and Elliot Gould as Hawkeye and Trapper John; doctors living in the Hell of war and making it tolerable by making it untolerable for Hot Lips (Sally Kellerman) and Frank Burns (Robert Duvall). The only actor to appear in both the movie and the tv series was Gary Burghoff as Radar. The movie also includes one of the funniest football games ever filmed - great movie.
81. Billy Elliot (2000) - I originally saw this movie back in 2000 when it first came out and watched it again this past summer. It tells the story of a young boy whose father sends him off to boxing class only to have him stumble across a class of girls taking dance lessons. He soon discovers he'd rather dance than box which causes a tremendous dilemma for the widowed father who also happens to be dealing with his union being on strike. The language is a bit rough and at times it's difficult to understand the characters due to their heavy British accents, but I love this movie because it's about a father who shows the true love he has for his son by doing whatever it takes to help him achieve his dreams and build a better life for himself. More impressive is the fact that the characters seem real; you believe the father, you believe the son and nothing is sugar-coated . This is a tremendous movie that was adapted into a Broadway musical with songs written by Elton John.
Look for the #80 - #71 tomorrow evening...
# posted by Vince Hopkins @ 2:33 PM 
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Just a little comment about my list. I just saw Inglourious Basterds last night and it would be somewhere on the middle of the list. But in respect to the countdown, I'm just going to omit it.
90-81:
#90 Braveheart (1995) - An Academy Award winning movie about the life of William Wallace. Mel Gibson delivers a convincing performance and revenging the death of his fallen love. Action filled with a good story.
#89 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) - When this movie first came out, it was quoted almost as much as Borat was. Recently, however, it seems to be a bit forgotten, which is too bad because it is incredibly hilarious. Mike Myers is trop dead funny as both the protagonist, Austin Powers, and the antagonist, Dr. Evil.
#88 Spider-man (2002) - A nice call by Uncle Rich, we had this movie in damn near the same spot. The first installment is the best because you see the realization of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) that he is no longer a brainy nerd, but a kick-ass superhero. The villain is also top of the line with WIllem Dafoe as the Green Goblin.
#87 Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) - The action starts off almost immediatley in the finale of the Star Wars trilogy (the new three don't count). The battle scenes on Jabba's cruiser is great and the epic lightsaber duel in front of the emperor is legend. Great finish to a great saga
#86 The Big Lebowski (1998) - I never wanted to see this movie because it seemed to be such a cult film but after watching it I realized what I had been missing out. Jeff Bridges plays "The Dude": a slacker from LA who is an avid bowler, pays for 1/2 cartons of milk with checks, and wants redemption for his rug. The Dude's best friend Walter, played by John Goodman, steals the movie however. When he chews out a kid named Larry, he is at his best.
#85 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - I love Jack Nicholson. He is a great actor who can play just about any role. In this Academy Award winner, he plays psycho R.P. McMurphy who has been commited to a mental hospital ran by Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), one of the best movie villains ever.
#84 The Mighty Ducks (1992) - My list will be littered with childhood favorites that might seem odd but I view them and love them for their nostalgia. The Mighty Ducks is a feel good flick where Gordon Bombay (Amelio Estevez) is forced to coach a hockey team due to a drunken incident. Adventures ensue.
#83 Batman Begins (2005) - The first of the new Batman movies was very entertaining. It became overshadowed after Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker but it is still great. It tells the story of how the caped crusader came to protect the streets of Gotham.
#82 Finding Nemo (2003 - One of Pixar's staples. An adventurous story of a single parent losing his only son. Ellen DeGeneres is classic as the forgetful Dory.
#81 Rocketman (1997) - I doubt either of you know this movie and I promise you that it is more likely to end up on a Bottom 100 list before a Top 100 list. This being said, I find this to be great comedy. Its about how quirky scientist Fred Randall (Harland Williams) gets the opportunity to be on the NASA team that lands on Mars. He gets into all kinds of antics due to his oddball nature but in the end, proves to be a goodhearted brainiac that saves the day.
90-81:
#90 Braveheart (1995) - An Academy Award winning movie about the life of William Wallace. Mel Gibson delivers a convincing performance and revenging the death of his fallen love. Action filled with a good story.
#89 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) - When this movie first came out, it was quoted almost as much as Borat was. Recently, however, it seems to be a bit forgotten, which is too bad because it is incredibly hilarious. Mike Myers is trop dead funny as both the protagonist, Austin Powers, and the antagonist, Dr. Evil.
#88 Spider-man (2002) - A nice call by Uncle Rich, we had this movie in damn near the same spot. The first installment is the best because you see the realization of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) that he is no longer a brainy nerd, but a kick-ass superhero. The villain is also top of the line with WIllem Dafoe as the Green Goblin.
#87 Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) - The action starts off almost immediatley in the finale of the Star Wars trilogy (the new three don't count). The battle scenes on Jabba's cruiser is great and the epic lightsaber duel in front of the emperor is legend. Great finish to a great saga
#86 The Big Lebowski (1998) - I never wanted to see this movie because it seemed to be such a cult film but after watching it I realized what I had been missing out. Jeff Bridges plays "The Dude": a slacker from LA who is an avid bowler, pays for 1/2 cartons of milk with checks, and wants redemption for his rug. The Dude's best friend Walter, played by John Goodman, steals the movie however. When he chews out a kid named Larry, he is at his best.
#85 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - I love Jack Nicholson. He is a great actor who can play just about any role. In this Academy Award winner, he plays psycho R.P. McMurphy who has been commited to a mental hospital ran by Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), one of the best movie villains ever.
#84 The Mighty Ducks (1992) - My list will be littered with childhood favorites that might seem odd but I view them and love them for their nostalgia. The Mighty Ducks is a feel good flick where Gordon Bombay (Amelio Estevez) is forced to coach a hockey team due to a drunken incident. Adventures ensue.
#83 Batman Begins (2005) - The first of the new Batman movies was very entertaining. It became overshadowed after Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker but it is still great. It tells the story of how the caped crusader came to protect the streets of Gotham.
#82 Finding Nemo (2003 - One of Pixar's staples. An adventurous story of a single parent losing his only son. Ellen DeGeneres is classic as the forgetful Dory.
#81 Rocketman (1997) - I doubt either of you know this movie and I promise you that it is more likely to end up on a Bottom 100 list before a Top 100 list. This being said, I find this to be great comedy. Its about how quirky scientist Fred Randall (Harland Williams) gets the opportunity to be on the NASA team that lands on Mars. He gets into all kinds of antics due to his oddball nature but in the end, proves to be a goodhearted brainiac that saves the day.
Binks - you know I'm a big fan of the original Austin Powers but it didn't quite make my cut. I remember when we saw the Mighty Ducks - that one was pretty good (along with Angels in the Outfield) and I've got a similar movie on my list. I didn't quite get the appeal to The Big Lebowski but a couple of your other movies will appear on my list later on.
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