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An error has ocurred. Please try again1. The IMDB rating is not necessarily a determining factor on whether a movie is considered a classic. I think that it may indicate how well a movie has aged or is appreciated today in some respects. 2. Historical relevance is another factor taken into consideration and how influential or important a film is. 3. Award wins and nominations are another factor but even Best Picture winners are no guarantee to make it on to this list and some in fact have been excluded because they haven't stood the test of time. 4. The overall lasting popularity of a movie is a large factor in determining a classic. If a movie has not been forgotten, people are still watching, and still it's relevant today there is a good chance that it will make this list. 5. Box office numbers are taken into consideration but only to strengthen the case of a likely candidate. 6. A film has to be at least 10 years old to be considered for this list.
I'm open to suggestions or input.
Reviews
Once a Thief (1965)
Fun 60s "neo noir" worth a watch.
Check out this movie for the uniqueness of it, from the cool cast to the quirky writing, especially is if you are a noir fan. There is a pretty standard plot for the genre but Van Heflin brings a lot of cred as the cop, Jack Palance is his usual menacing self and the legendary Ann Margaret plays a good sized role. Alain Delon plays an Italian guy even though he doesn't alter his French accent, which might seem a little distracting but to me it just adds to the quirkiness of this film. The black and white wide screen cinematography is great and pretty creative at times. Overall I give the movie a 7 out if 10.
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Actors and cinematographers in Ireland in search of the story.
This was an odd type of film that seemed to have a good concept, actors, beautiful setting but not much of a plot. The concept was to make the audience feel the loneliness and isolation of being In a stunning location in the middle of nowhere Ireland forced to be around the same people for better or worse. To that end it was effective but there really wasn't much of a story to go along with it. The film was slow paced but I never really got bored. That being said It felt like the movie was unfinished or the writers just gave up not knowing where to take it and it just ended. It seems to me that the The Banshees of Inisherin is a film that will mostly only be appreciated by Art film connoisseurs.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
The best quality of this film is ignoring every genre convention.
In general though I think the sum of its parts is greater than the whole. I do admire it's fearlessness and willingness to put on the screen anything that seems to pop into their head sort of like a stream of consciousness film making. At times it makes for a very entertaining watch but it relentlessly keeps you in sort of a confused state that sometimes I think is a bit too much. I recommend this film for its uniqueness and I think there will probably be other films that are inspired by this and try to imitate it in the future.
Ted Lasso: Beard After Hours (2021)
This episode was a pleasant surprise!
I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this episode because it was so different. I already liked coach beard to begin with because I think he's one of the most interesting characters on the show, learning even more about him made me like him even more.
Sometimes I think this series can get bogged down with trying to do too much with too many characters, some of which make for slow tedious and unfunny scenes every so often. Beard After Hours flowed really well like a self-contained film with some the most iconic imagery and brilliant cinematography in the series. Sometimes I think too much of the Ted Lasso character can be, dare I say annoying because of his excess of lame jokes, and it was good to take a break from that and develop other parts of the show.
I just wanted to step in and defend this episode giving it a 10 out of 10 because I don't think it deserves to be rated below 7.
The Green Knight (2021)
I think the professional critics are correct for the most part
After reading so many over-the-top negative user reviews I just had to throw in my two cents. I also haven't read any professional critic reviews because I don't want to be influenced in my own perceptions, although I did notice that they give the film high ratings.
What I think is happening is that people are expecting something totally different than what this movie is trying to do. I'm not really familiar with the source material that the movie is based on but I think people are allowed to have their own interpretations. There are no objective rules here, a lot of people just don't expect to go in to an artsy sword and sorcery movie with such a leisurely pace. I really enjoyed the pace and I think this movie is best viewed at home from a nice comfortable couch or a bed. Not that it will put you to sleep but you will be in the right mood to leave all stress behind as well as your sense of time.
This movie offers a very good experience immersing you in the world of stunning visuals, there is plenty of feeling of awe and wonder and magic. It feels like a lot of it is done in real time but I'm here for it. I think It's really refreshing when filmmakers have the patience to keep the camera rolling and let things play out. This movie is rewarding as long as you can let yourself relax and enjoy the experience.
A Quiet Place Part II (2020)
Parts 1 & 2 should have been combined
Parts 1 & 2 could have and maybe should have been made into a long film, or it would have been better suited as a TV miniseries because we basically have one continuous plot line split in two. Artistically they feel like the same film because nothing new is revealed we just we just have the same cat and mouse action going on spread over a longer period of time. It feels to me like the writers don't want to expand this universe because it would take too much work. They just took a simple idea and ran, and ran, and ran with it.
In the Heights (2021)
First exposure to Llin-Manuel Miranda
For someone not familiar with Llin-Manuel Miranda I decided to give this movie a try and I must admit that I'm not overly impressed. I get that he's trying to update the musical genre and make them appeal to a greater audience and can respect what he's trying to accomplish, In The Heights definitely has its moments but I don't think it works a lot of the time it can become very cringy. The story wasn't that interesting or unique to me. 5/10.
Nomadland (2020)
More of an experience than a story
This movie is done in a biographical/documentary sort of way so we see things through the eyes of a nomad played by Frances McDormand. We learn a lot about experiences of nomadic people and their culture and sometimes we forget we are seeing actors portraying characters because it captures a lot of mundane realism. We also learn from others who relate their experiences about having to to deal with day to aspects of life most people take for granted. This movie does feel a lot like fellow nominee for best picture "The Sound of Metal" in a lot of respects but I think Nomadland wasn't executed as well because it seemed a lot more apathetic. We get a sample of Life as a nomad but there is really no story progression to speak of which does leave an unsatisfying feeling. So watch this movie for the experience, just don't expect a particularly interesting plot.
Mank (2020)
Was disappointed and left wondering
I consider myself a film buff and have seen loads movies from the 30s and 40s so when I heard what this film was about I was anxious to see it.
The problem is, that what they chose to make the film about would appeal to a small percentage of people who are familiar with the people involved and the events that occurred during that time; and even then there is nothing really worth making a film about in my opinion. There is nothing really that interesting about anything going on in this movie and on top of that we are never really made to feel much sympathy for the characters either.
The acting is pretty good but there is not much of a story there. We are teased by being transported to a place In time were there are a million exciting and fascinating things going on in Hollywood but we are presented with some of the most mundane day to day to day events in the lives of some of the most interesting people during that time. Most interesting aspect of any character in the movie is Mankiewicz's alcoholism.
It seems like Fincher's overall intention was to make the film to pay tribute to his father but also make a film that would pay tribute to the era by technically giving it a great nostalgic feel. It's just too bad he didn't have a better story to work with.
I always wonder what particularly inspires someone to make a movie about such random real life events when there are so many epic and fascinating stories throughout history that get ignored.
The Seventh Cross (1944)
A rarely-seen and underappreciated classic.
The combination of incredibly believable acting from a great cast, an unyielding, tight script and solid direction make this movie an intense mesmerizing experience. I really couldn't look away from the screen. There is no wasteful dialogue it's pretty clear and straightforward. The narration is a very nice touch. The protagonist is a very sympathetic character and is easy to root for along with all of his very likeable friends and allies.
The Seventh Cross has so many great things going for it besides the story itself, which I might add is very inspirational in its portrayal of human bravery and kindness. There is also the beautiful film noir style cinematography in scenes inside dark shadows and brilliant camera angles which are not only artistic but necessary as well for maintaining the mood and intensity of the storytelling. It wouldn't even be a stretch to call this a film noir itself in my opinion.
But the thing I like the most about this movie is something I didn't realize until most of the way through and that was the fact that there was almost no scenes from a Nazi point of view. Most of the threat is implied and the danger not seen but still manages to be as thrilling and suspenseful as any other classic in the genre nonetheless.
The Seventh Cross is high-level filmmaking and it's a shame that it doesn't get the recognition it deserves among contemporary classics considering Spencer Tracy, one of his generation's very best actors gives one of his greatest performances. This movie took me by surprise and I'm very happy to have discovered it 10/10
Juarez (1939)
An underappreciated film from 1939
Juarez has so much going for it in pretty much every category, the cast, the cinematography the music the writing, the acting. I learned something about history I wasn't familiar with. Brian Aherne gave a stellar performance as a noble king. I had no problems with the pacing here, the pacing of a movie like The Good Earth for example was far more tedious and struggled to maintain as much interest. This film holds its own when compared to many of the classics of the 1930s and it should be considered a classic in its own write.
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)
If you liked the first two you'll like this one
There's nothing revolutionary, but also no let downs or change ups like Alien 3 was to the Alien franchise. No you pretty much get what you pay for with this and that's more of the same over-the-top violence that you've grown to expect from a John Wick film. I don't understand all the one-star reviews as if people watched the first two and suddenly expected Shakespeare? Why would anyone suffer through all three films if they hated it so much? There are some very entertaining action sequences and that's what you get from a John Wick movie oh, nothing more nothing less.
Rocketman (2019)
Well crafted rock biography/musical
This movie will always be compared to Bohemian Rhapsody and I think it compares pretty well. The addition of the Hollywood musical element works and it's always great to hear the great tunes you grew up with scattered throughout the movie to help tell the story.
The one thing holding this movie back is the pacing and it feels like it's about a half hour too long. The leading performance is good but definitely not up to Rami Malek standards. Overall the acting could have been a bit more dynamic and less dry. I think they spent too much time on some things and not enough on others which makes the movie a little uneven. I do however like the style in which they chose to tell the story and themes that keep popping up tying the story together. 8/10
Ad Astra (2019)
None of this movie makes any sense whatsoever.
This movie feels like a strange dream where there are tons of random events for unknown reasons. All of the character's actions seem irrational most of the time and the protagonist seems to overcome astronomical odds against survival at every turn. Brad Pitt's character didn't seem to have much personality, and he seemed to be constantly wondering what he was doing in this film. He wasn't given much of a plot to work with, somewhat of a uninteresting drama that had nothing to do with being in space. There were some great set-pieces and visuals that gave you the sense of being there so to me it wasn't a total disaster just a bit of a mediocre sci-fi flick.
Judy (2019)
Great performance by Zellweger but so-so movie.
This movie was about a Hollywood tragedy, a sad story about a woman who was exploited her whole by the entertainment industry. Renee Zellweger really captures the spirit of Judy Garland and turns in a grande performance but the movie is pretty much all about her performance to the point of being overly ambitious when it comes to her musical numbers. As a performance piece by an actor it's impressive but it's distracting to the movie because it's not nearly the same level as Judy and it's hard to believe the audience was so enthusiastic for such an undistinguished singing voice.
I also think that Zellweger's makeup looked way too extreme to the point where she looked plastic. I can't imagine Judy Garland looking like that all the time but it definitely did not look good in the film. She looked well older than 47, the age that Judy lived before she passed.
I was hoping to see more of Judy's life depicted in the movie. To someone who didn't know much about Judy before seeing this film I don't think it would have made much sense. Also it acted as a teaser for someone like me who wanted to know more about the rest of her life. This is a decent film worth a watch for Renee Zellweger's Oscar performance. 6.5/10
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
Kind of a strange unexpected film
I was surprised to find out that this film wasn't about Mr. Rogers but instead it was about a man he came in contact with. It's also not based on any actual real life events but it was inspired a magazine article. It was an interesting idea and I think it worked but I could see people being disappointed if they were expecting a docudrama or a biography. It might make an interesting TV show concept where he could inspire someone new every week. I think this film would make Fred Rogers himself happy.
Knives Out (2019)
It's never boring but take a few steps back and it falls apart.
When I was watching this movie I enjoyed most of the dialogue the character interactions but then when it was all said and done I realized it didn't amount to much. There were way too many convenient plot devices that made it seem a little contrived. I think the whole thing fell apart at the end when to me it stopped being believable and turned a little silly.
Rian Johnson is probably one of the most politically correct filmmakers in Hollywood right now and I think that greatly limits the effectiveness of his movies because of the rules he sets for himself. I think there were a lot of good opportunities squandered in Knives Out. There were some very interesting characters that were wasted in the favor of the story being focused on a very bland albeit pretty one. For me it just ultimately didn't deliver a satisfying experience, mostly entertaining but forgettable. 6/10
Gisaengchung (2019)
Glad this movie was recognized by the academy.
I don't watch many non-english language films but I think Parasite is worthy of worldwide recognition for being an exceptional film. Although I don't see it as a masterpiece I think there are a lot of high-level elements of filmmaking in this. The plot seems simple enough but there is a lot of depth in the writing and storytelling to warrant multiple viewings. The acting is great as well as the direction but I'm always feeling like I'm missing the full experience when subtitles don't convey the subtleties of the language and cultural references. But that just goes with the territory if you happen to be from a foreign country. 8/10
The Irishman (2019)
For Scorsese fans only
Although the film is Made well enough I think Scorsese's career has become almost synonymous with gangster pictures. There was a reason why film studios didn't want invest in this movie and that's because they know the public has already seen this stuff multiple times and aren't rushing back to see it again.
Having said that this movie has a lot of the same genius as Marty's other gangster pics as far as acting and cinematography but I really wasn't that engaged until about two hours into the movie. Those first two hours were about as interesting to me as watching a documentary on a subject I didn't care about. Unless you are a fan of gangster history it probably wouldn't be that interesting to the average person. There was really no reason to be sympathetic to any of the characters until the 3rd hour. I would recommend this only to Scorsese fans because the time invested in this movie is barely worth the reward for the average viewer.
1917 (2019)
Decent war movie but ultimately forgettable.
It felt like this film was trying too hard to be stylistic and artsy rather than involve the viewer emotionally. I really didn't care about the protagonist/s much because there was very little character development and a lot of potential opportunities were lost when they killed off Lance Corporal Blake. The movie was just basically about one man's survival from one scene to the next and the filmmakers weren't adept enough to create sympathy for the lone surviving protagonist in my opinion. It's difficult to develop a character that way but it can be done as with films like the Revenant, Castaway and Naked Prey. 1917 felt more like an excuse to show off cinematography and create set pieces rather than tell an interesting story. I'm giving this film a C+/B- because there were some good scenes and a lot of impressive work went into the historic recreation of battlefields
Joker (2019)
The trailer was as good as the movie.
If you've seen the brilliant trailer to this movie the rest of it is kind of a letdown because the parts you fill in with your imagination are probably greater then the actual movie. As a big fan of noir, I really wanted to love this movie but I think it was a victim of its own hype. I wish I had watched it without knowing anything about it so I could be pleasantly surprised.
Joaquin Phoenix is great actor and he turned in a very good performance but his character wasn't that interesting. This Joker didn't have the over the top craziness of Jack Nicholson's or the unpredictable creepiness of Heath Ledger's. It was obvious that the filmmakers were trying to make him more sympathetic and relatable but really just kind of made him boring.
Joker wasn't a bad movie but I don't think it had much to ad to what's already been done in comic book movies or noir. The Christopher Nolan Batman movies were superior. Although this movie tries to make some ironic and critical messages about society, classic noir did it much better without being ostentatious.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Endgame lacks the intangibles: the magic and the fun of infinity War.
They did such a great job with infinity War that Endgame wasn't able to deliver on the same level with the added pressure of being the grand finale. Part of the problem I think was that the story was developed to such a large-scale that was hard not to be so episodic, although it probably could have been done a lot better without losing the pacing with long, drawn out and sometimes awkward scenes.
Some of the scenes felt like the writers didn't know which direction to go with characters and the direction they chose was not quite right. Endgame lacked a lot of the slick and fun banter that made the characters shine in previous movies. The writers had their moments but a lot of it could be pretty cringe-worthy at times.
I get that everyone needed therapy after Infinity War but it felt a little too depressing for too long. All in all end game was a a good movie and it's evident that that Disney tried to put everything but the kitchen sink in this movie to please the fans which is appreciated. But I would have loved to have seen them spend more time crafting and polishing this into the Crown Jewel it's supposed to be rather than an uncut diamond.