10. Fantasia (Norman Ferguson et al)
I often get odd looks whenever I declare Fantasia my favorite Disney film. There is no central plot, just several pieces of beautiful animation with great classical music. Walt Disney really look a risk when he made this his third feature length film. It probably failed for a few reasons; it was very costly, the war in Europe, and its sound design. Theaters had to replace their current sound systems in order to present Fantasia in its intended form. The animation, needless to say is gorgeous, especially the finale; showcasing "Night on Bald Mountain" and the "Ave Maria." The most interesting thing I've discovered about Fantasia is that Disney intended it to be an ongoing film series with new segments every time. That did not happen until Fantasia 2000.
9. Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro)
What del Toro does here is remarkable; crafting a beautiful fairy tale while using it in conjunction with the grim and cynical story in Franco's Spain. A visual treat that not only uses CGI, but practical effects, sets, and costumes. Both the Pale Man and the Faun are played by Doug Jones in creature makeup/costumes. Like many great fairy tales, it has a young girl (Ivana Baquero) encountering strange creatures; however, despite their frightening nature, these monsters are not nearly as horrifying as those who exist in the real world. With many themes and beautiful imagery, Pan's Labyrinth is probably my favorite film from the 21st century so far, and del Toro's best work to date
8. Jurassic Park (Steven Spielberg)
My favorite Spielberg film isn't Raiders of the Lost Ark or Schindler's List or even Jaws (they're all masterpieces). I've watched this film probably over 100 times and it never ceases to amaze me. The effects still look amazing, even when compared to films that have taken Sandra Bullock to space or Sigourney Weaver as a blue cat person. The cast is really solid; no one here is a massive star (with the exception of Samuel L. Jackson, but this was before Pulp Fiction) with actors like Sam Neil and Laura Dern; however, Jeff Goldblum really steals the show here as Ian Malcom, with witty remarks but also comments on the ethics of running a park with dinosaurs. I got to see it on the big screen last year, and I genuinely wish there were more movies like Jurassic Park.
7. The Red Shoes (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger)
You would presume that with the plot description I have provided that this is a love story between an aging impresario and a young dancer. And that is why I love this movie, because it isn't. There is a love story; between the dancer (Moira Shearer) and a young composer (Marius Goring), but the impresario is not in love with her in the traditional sense; he is in love with her talent. The impresario Boris Lermontov is played by Anton Walbrook, and he helps create a fascinating character who only wishes to see his assembled cast and crew work to the best of their abilities and not dabble in human emotion. The 17 minute dance scene is the stuff of legend, and beautifully captures the emotions of the young dancer.
6. The Phantom of the Opera (Rubert Julian et al)
This and The Red Shoes would make a suitable double feature. In this case, the Phantom (Lon Chaney) is in love with our leading lady (Mary Philbin). The cast in this film is not very good. I like Arthur Edmund Carewe as the creepy Inspector Ledoux (Persian in the novel), but the real heavyweight of the film is Lon Chaney. Of course as many of you know, he is my favorite male actor of all time. His ability to transform into pitiful tragic villains is almost unparalleled, and his work is still a sight to behold. The "death's head" makeup is so iconic, and is still a bit creepy. Whenever I show my friends a picture of the makeup, they go, "how the hell did he do that?" That is a damn good makeup job if someone asks that question. The scene where he sits atop the opera house and swears revenge in his glorious Red Death costume is my favorite moment in the film, and one of Chaney's best scenes. I also love the sets in this movie; Chaney's lair is one of those movie sets that I'll always remember. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a good print of this film. I would say the 1929 version over the 1925, because it is better paced.
5. City Lights (Charles Chaplin)
A silent film in 1931. Pretty neat, right? By that point in time, sound film became the way movies did business, and silent films were a novelty of the past. Chaplin stood firm and produced one of his finest films; a beautiful love story with comedic scenes. I consider this film to be the most gentleman like the Tramp ever was, with cleaner clothes and a more refined mustache. His chemistry with the blind flower girl is interesting, especially because he did not get along with the actress who played her, Virginia Cherrill. The scenes where Chaplin interacts with Harry Myers' drunk millionaire are comedy gold. I watched this film on the big screen last year, and people howled with laughter at the scene where the now sobered millionaire discovers the Tramp sleeping in his bed. And that last shot. I can't do it justice, so see the film.
4. Modern Times (Charles Chaplin)
This film has some of the greatest gags of all time; the assembly line, the feeding machine, and Chaplin showing off his skating ability. The film doesn't necessarily follow a three act structure, but doesn't feel completely aimless either. The Factory Worker meets the Gamin (Paulette Goddard) and they try to survive together throughout the film. The two make a great pairing, and their chemistry is simply precious. Another interesting tidbit is that this film uses sound, but is very selective about what and when it uses sound effects. The film's themes of capitalism and survival provide a solid backbone for great gags, like the Factory Worker being mistaken for a communist. Both socially relevant and very funny, Modern Times proves to be one of Chaplin's finest outings.
3. King Kong (Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Shoessack )
Aside from Disney films and The Wizard of Oz, this was the first classic film I ever watched, and it helped begin my fascination with older films. Willis O'Brien and his team of special effects artists created some of the screen's greatest scenes. The fight between Kong and the Allosaurus is perhaps my favorite one-on-one battle in any movie, and the ending atop the Empire State Building is iconic. The music track by Max Steiner and the sound design by Murray Spivack are pretty remarkable achievements, at a time when Hollywood was learning to speak. My YouTube series, Silent Film Saturday and this blog wouldn't exist if it weren't for a big ape getting shot at by airplanes for some blonde.
2. Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa)
A 3 1/2 hour Japanese film? You're probably thinking, "Joey, you lost me here. I can't do this." I'm here to tel you that you can. Kurosawa makes the characters easy to understand, and even he farmers are great characters, not merely sitting on the sidelines as the samurai story progresses. Takashi Shimura of Ikiru and Godzilla fame gives an excellent performance as Kambei, the old leader who doesn't think too highly of himself, while Toshiro Mifune as Kikuchiyo steals the show at first as a strange wild card, but ultimately becomes the most developed character in the film. What I love about the action scenes is the sheer brutality of them. These guys are fighting in the mud and rain, and Kurosawa makes none of it look glorious. The "Samurai Theme" and the other music by Fumio Hayasaka is great, and I'll leave a link with some of the film's music below, because you should check it out.
I still love going to Rick's. This movie was made as a B-film and went on to become one of the most famous movies ever made. Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine is a classic archetype, the hero who was never on the winning side, and has become a neutral party in a world where Nazis exists. Ingrid Bergman is absolutely stunning and I can't say I've ever seen a person more beautifully photographed in a movie. For me, Claude Rains as the comical Captain Louis Renault steals the show, Rick's friend who happens to work for the Nazis. One of his finest moments:
The script is filled with other great lines; six of them appear on the AFI's 100 Greatest Quotes list, making it the most represented film. IN addition, Casablanca is populated with many great actors: Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Conrad Veidt, Dooley Wilson, and Paul Henreid as the noble Victor Laszlo. Because of its memorable characters and immortal themes, Casablanca is my favorite movie of all-time.
What are some of your favorites?
-Joey DeAngelis
No comments:
Post a Comment