We're getting closer to my favorite all-time movie. But today we're doing #19 - 11.
The previous post with the movies are;
So, here we go on the penultimate countdown blog:
19: On the Waterfront (1954)
A movie about corruption in
the longshoremen's unions. Very well made and shows how the unions kept
control. Someone threatens to go to the authorities, and a load
"accidentally" falls on him. Has the classic scene with Marlon Brando:
"I coulda been a contender." A very good movie that you should watch.
Available on YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video (all paid).
18: The Lives of Others (2006)
You probably haven't heard of
this movie. Made in Germany about life in the Communist East Germany (German
Democratic Republic),
this is a powerful film. A writer wants to write about what's happening, but of
course, the government won't even allow him to have a typewriter. So, one is
smuggled in for him and he has to hide it when he's not using it. Lots of
little subplots (a singer is being raped regularly by a party official). This
builds and builds to a powerful climax. I should watch this again soon. Available
on YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video (all paid).
17: Citizen Kane (1941)
Considered by some as the
best movie ever made. It's a little slow by modern standards, but it is still
very good. Orson Wells wrote and stared in this picture, based on the life of
newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. Contains the classic exchange
between Kane and his wife: "The people will think…" "What I tell
them to think." Wells does a great job of both playing Kane and directing.
Look for a young Agnes Moorehead (Bewitched) as Kane's mother.
"Rosebud." Available on YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video
(all paid).
16: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
This movie is huge. Desert
vistas and big battles scenes. The story is about an Englishman who helps out
the Arabs during World War I to unite and fight the Turks. The train wreak
scene is worth the price of admission. Peter O'Toole plays Lawrence. I need to
watch this again. Available on Sling TV.
15: The Godfather (1972)
14: The Godfather Part 2 (1974)
I've decided to treat these
two Godfather movies as one (they pretty much are one movie). These are among
the best films ever made, if not the best. The story of the Corleone
mafia family from the 1910s to the 1960s. Al Pacino plays Michael who is
determined to stay out of the family business, but then is sucked into it by
his need for revenge. Watching his
descent into crime and callousness is fascinating and heartbreaking. You have
to watch these movies at least once in your life. Available on Paramount+
13: Lord of the Rings: The Two
Towers (2002)
I thought about treating the
Lord of the Rings movies as one movie, but decided not to. The Two Towers is
the weakest of the three LOTR films. (I thought the book was the weakest of the
three books, too.) Huge battle sequences (with a lot of CGI but you don't care because
it's done so well), but also the story of Frodo and Sam as they try to get to
Mordor to destroy the ring with Gollum in tow (sometimes literally). The
extended version is a little better, but still, this movie runs a bit slow even
for the massive battle at Helms Deep. The movie strays a bit from Tolkien, too,
which isn't good. Available on Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
12: Toy Story (1995)
Speaking of CGI: this as the
first completely computer animated feature film. Quite an accomplishment. But
in addition, it has a great storyline with an evil next-door kid (Sid; and we
all knew a Sid growing up), a competition between toys for the affections of
the child who plays with them, and a fun climax. This was Pixar's first movie
and one of its best. Available on Disney+
11: The Incredibles (2004)
When I was a kid there was an
animated show called "Jonny Quest." It could never be made today due
to being politically incorrect. But The Incredibles reminds me of it so much.
This is Pixar's first film where people die (bad guys, mostly). People with
superpowers are in hiding after being sued and banned for the damage they cause
while saving people. But Mr. Incredible (aka, Bob Parr) is tired of it and when
an invitation comes to be super again, he grabs at it. That's when the
adventure starts. Available on Disney+
Coming up next week, my top 10 favorite movies.
What do you think of my list? Let me know in the comments below.
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