I was tagged by Mike over at Chew Toys to complete a little survey on films. Here is my response:
Total Number of Films Owned: About 30.
Last Film Bought: Marc Forster's Finding Neverland. The noteworthy performances of Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet (she's amazing), Julie Christy, Dustin Hoffman, Radha Mitchell, and a group of brilliant child actors, especially Freddie Highmore as Peter, highlight a truly thoughtful and moving script.
Last Film Watched: At the theaters, the last film I watched was Robert Rodriguez’ fantastic film Sin City.
While I was recovering from my operation, I watched the following films on DVD:
The Final Cut (with Robin Williams, Mira Sorvino, and Jim Caviziel)– Intriguing concept and story of a memory cutter (someone who edits the memories of deceased people and prepares a Re-memory film for the funeral, memorial) who learns that he himself has the implant that captures every moment of your life. His very life is on the line when he wins the contract to edit the memories of the controversial CEO of EyeTech, the company who makes and installs the implants.
Finding Neverland
Pride & Prejudice (The A&E version, directed by Simon Langton; starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett.) This is a phenomenal production and a delight to watch. Clocking in at just over six hours, this is the best adaptation of Jane Austin’s incredible work. Oh, and by the way, there is another adaptation hitting the cineplex this fall. Do you think it can even remotely come close to this version?
Napoleon Dynamite. In this my third watching of this film, I’ve definitely been able to unplug the personal reflection machine inside of me and watch this for the pure fun of it. You see, I saw so much of Napoleon in my high school self that it was most torturous to watch the first time. Nonetheless, Napoleon is an amazing little film that might easily be one of the most influential films in recent memory. I can’t tell you how many teens and kids have taken on the lingo from the film, spewing out lines. Teens dress up and do their hair like the characters for parties. In fact, there are Napoleon Dynamite parties.
You’ve probably seen the Napoleon line of clothing that is on the racks at Hot Topic.
In this watching, I greatly enjoyed Napoleon’s antics– the way he gazes out of that ugly mop of a hair-do to the way he dresses; from his passive-aggressive replies and mannerisms to his chicken-liver attempts at courage. Napoleon has come to be the Everyman of teen angst.
If you have not yet seen this film, here is my plug. Get past how the characters look and you’ll find an oddly endearing and meaningful Everyman’s-type tale that has heart and a decent message, one about coping with the pain of growing up, trying to capitalize on opportunities, and developing future dreams by going after them now. As Napoleon said to Pedro (when Pedro confided in him that he didn’t know what to say in his campaign speech to the student body): "Just tell 'em you'll make their wildest dreams come true."
Beauty and the Beast. Alright. I admit. All the kids at the beach house were watching this and I crashed their party. This is a classic. No doubt about it.
Five Favorite Films That I Watch Frequently or That Mean A Lot To Me:
The Princess Bride
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Dr. Strangelove
Oh Brother Where Art Thou?
Shrek and Shrek 2
The Incredibles
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Whale Rider
Russian Ark
Northfork
Love Actually
Among my favorites otherwise:
This is a very long list and one of these days I’ll get around to posting all of my favorite films. So for this post, I’ll just list the films that come immediately to mind:
Anything from last year’s top ten lists: here, here, and here.
Dr. Strangelove
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Gosford Park
Oh Brother Where Art Thou?
Fargo
Sin City
Lost In Translation
Magnolia
The Hours
Eyes Wide Shut
Apocalypse Now (Redux)
Star Wars
American Beauty
Being John Malcovich
The Three Kings
Gladiator
The Insider
Road to Perdition
Schindler’s List
Shakespeare in Love
Elizabeth
Hamlet (Kenneth Brannagh)
Howard’s End
The Remains of the Day
A Room With A View
Ghandi
The Silence of the Lambs
Ordinary People
Adaptation
Spirited Away
Waking Life
Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2
Pulp Fiction
Alien
Aliens
The English Patient
Cold Mountain
Saving Private Ryan
The Thin Red Line
Thelma & Louise
The Blair Witch Project
Das Boot (Germany)
Nosferatu (Germany)
Moulin Rouge
Romeo + Juliet
Miraculously, I want to see, and have not seen: Revenge of the Sith, Robots, Kingdom of Heaven, Crash, The Sea Inside, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Madagascar, The Bridge on the San Luis Rey,
Movie you would most like to see again if you could find it: Cradle Song (Spain). J and I saw this beautiful film at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Jose Luis Garci, Cradle Song is a story about a convent who finds a newborn left on their steps. They raise her, only to have to say goodbye when she falls in love and chooses to marry her handsome suitor. I echo the analysis written by Christian Gaines, writing in the Sundance film festival guide-- the strength of the film "lies in the consistent beauty Garci has created inside of the convent. The nuns go about their daily routines and observe strict rules, yet their personalities remain irrepressible. This is a film of breathtaking images. Light not only transforms the convent into an enchanting labyrinth of chambers with golden highlights but also signifies the freedom beyond the leaded windows. Like a good fairy tale, Cradle Song transports us to a serene world of truth, beauty, and innocence."
I want you to know that both J and I were bawling at the end. Having been invited in to see the relationship build between the nuns and Teressa, we felt as torn as the nuns when Teressa parted. Very powerful film, indeed.
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