Way back when, let’s say 1998, AFI (American Film Institute) put out a list of the best 100 movies of the last 100 years.  Jason and I worked our way through the list and ranked them to our own liking.  The original list is here.  Here’s how our top rankings came out…(notice how mine trended toward the romantic, well, except for that really bloody one)

AFI                                     Stacy                                Jason

1.Citizen Kane                 It’s a Wonderful Life      It’s a Wonderful Life

2.Casablanca                   Platoon                             Forest Gump

3.The Godfather             Gone with the Wind       Platoon

4.Gone with the Wind   The Philadelphia Story  Casablanca

5.Lawrence of Arabia    The Sound of Music        The Best Years of Our Lives

It’s thanks to working our way through the list (even rewatching ones we’d seen) that I discovered some old gems that I wouldn’t have discovered before, like Yankee Doodle Dandy that I posted about a few weeks ago.  So, if you are looking to broaden your horizons or want to do something fun with your mate or friend I recommend trying it.  We had a lot of fun discussing the movie and then arguing over where each of us ranked it on our list, there were quite a few that we did not see eye to eye on (King Kong I’m looking at you).

They put out a new best 100 movies list in 2008 and added 23 new films.  We’ve seen 11 of them already, so we decided to start working our way through a new list and we chose AFI’s 100 Cheers (America’s Most Inspiring Movies).  We’ll only watch them if one of us has not seen it so I don’t know how many that will be yet.  Here’s the link to their movies lists if you want to take the plunge.

Blogging from A-Z

Cast-James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Richard Whorf

Oscar winner for Best Lead Actor (Cagney), Best Music, Best Sound Recording

A biopic film of the renowned musical composer, playwright, actor, dancer and singer George M. Cohan, from his start in his family’s vaudeville act to his success on Broadway.  A true American success story.

Why I love it- I love musicals and I love Broadway so this movie is a perfect fit for me.  The choreography and music of the stage shows is based on the original Cohan productions and are showstoppers.  It feels like getting a behind the scenes looks at a way of life few get to experience and knowing Cohan was a real person makes it all that more enjoyable.

The music and story will make you feel proud to be an American without that theme seeming heavy-handed.  This is the story of America before and during the two World Wars and patriotism is inherent to the time.

This is the only movie I’ve ever seen James Cagney in and I’ve read it’s considered his best.  A few fun trivia facts for those who have seen the movie (or plan to), the woman who played his sister was really his sister and the woman who played his mother was actually 12 years younger than him.

This is on the AFI Best 100 movie list which is why I first saw it.  Both Jason and I were surprised at how much we liked it.  There’s singing and dancing, laugh-out-loud moments and tearful goodbyes.  The time in history makes this story of the American dream shine.

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KLqIUYrX5RVlEAtyP7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTBvZTdmNDc5BHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDVjE0MA–?p=yankee+doodle+dandy&vid=d026f2aac5c49361c96bae6112c45484&l=3%3A58&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.5010763184079488%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DnSBTrL3EK_c&tit=Yankee+Doodle+Dandy+Trailer+%281942%29&c=24&sigr=11anq3cds&age=0&&tt=b

Check out the rest of my 100 favorite movies.

Blogging from A-Z

This movie was so emotional and it broke my heart more than once.  Oskar Schell, a boy who has problems dealing with other people, loses his father in the attacks of 9/11.  Through a series of flashbacks we see the close relationship he had with his father and how his father worked hard to get Oskar to overcome his discomfort with strangers by planning a series of scavenger hunts around New York City.  After 9/11 his relationship with his mother deteriorates but he does become closer to his grandmother who lives across the street.  On the one year anniversary , Oskar finds a key and the name Black marked on an envelope in his Dad’s untouched closet.  So begins his quest to find the Black that can help him find what the key opens.

When I saw all of the reviews for this book and movie I thought that it would be too emotionally heart wrenching for me and I was right.  I knew Jason would like it, so we watched it over a few nights and we were blown away by the story and the actor who played Oskar.  Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock were great in their roles, but Oskar was the movie.  This was Thomas Horn’s first acting role and I am surprised that he wasn’t nominated for an Oscar.

The critic’s didn’t like this one very much although it did get nomitated for a Best Picture Oscar.  It makes an obvious attempt to play on your emotions, at times I found it hard to watch Oskar, but I think it is successful. Some movies that try to manipulate your emotions aren’t as smart or have the edge this one has.  It is a drama wrapped in tears and achievement.  When Oskar finally finds the Black who could help him I was devastated for him.

Since this is Autism Awareness Month I should note that Jason and I both thought Oskar had Asperger’s, a condition on the autism spectrum, so I did a little digging after the movie.  The author of the book, Jonathan Safran Foer, says that he did not think of Oskar that way when writing the book.  The director of the film, Stephen Daldry, says Oskar is “a special child who is somewhere on the autistic spectrum, trying to find his own logic – trying to make sense of something that literally doesn’t make sense to him.”  So I do wonder what those of you who read the book and saw the movie thought. Did you think Oskar was portrayed differently in both?  I am sure now that I’ve seen the movie that I am not going to read the book and I want to know what you think.

Blogging from A-Z.

I love Cary Grant.  No, really love him.  I’m sure that when you looked at my stack of unread books yesterday that you noticed this one. (yes, that’s it, bottom stacks, row 10, 2nd from the bottom ;))

A few fun facts about the suave Archibald Leach…He was born in Bristol, England in 1904.  When we was 12 his mother suffered a severe nervous breakdown and went to live in a nursing home. He ran away at 13 and joined Bob Pender’s Troupe, but his father found him and brought him home.  A year and half later he rejoined the troupe (with his father’s blessing) and travelled around England before the troupe headed to New York City in 1920. He worked as a stilt walker at Coney Island and as an audience plant with a mind-reading act before working on Broadway.  He appeared in a 10 minute short film as one of four sailors and the rest is history.  He headed to Hollywood, changed his name (thank you, Archie!), and completed seven films that first year.  He became a US citizen in 1942.  Married five times, divorced four and the father of one child.  He died in 1986 at the age of 82 of a stroke.

This is a great book for fans.  Lots of pictures and behind the scenes stories.  Here’s one from his very first short film

And one of the many pages of photos from film shoots and his personal life

This book is about his life and his films.  All 72 of them.  I’ve watched 17  and have decided to go on a Cary Grant Binge and see how long it takes me to see them all.  I’m thinking of a monthly post and I welcome anyone who wants to join in.  I can make it official with  Mr. Linky and everything if you want to join me.  And no, I don’t mean you have to watch all of his movies, but you want to watch his movies and post about them, let me know.  I may try to work my way through them in order but it will really depend on what I can get my hands on first.  His first movie was This is the Night (1932).  Here’s the list of his movies if you want to see how many you’ve watched.

I know a few of you read Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe and I loved the Cary Grant story!  I wouldn’t have complained about watching movies in bed with Cary 🙂

My favorite Cary Grant film is The Philadelphia Story (1940) but I pretty much love him in anything.  Do you have a favorite Cary movie?

Blogging from A-Z Challenge. I’m participating in the A-Z Challenge this month. I just decided to do it today so I hope I can organize myself enough to get through the alphabet.  There’s no telling what each new letter will bring around here so stay tuned 🙂

Gage will be 2 1/2 this month and his attention span is short, however, there is one thing that will keep him mostly engaged for a while.  It’s that big, green ogre we all know and love, Shrek.  I am not sure how many times we have seen the first and second movies and yet he never tires of them.  Shrek, Donkey and Cat (Puss) are his friends.  He doesn’t seem to care one way or the other about Fiona at this point.  As far as movies that can satisfy a toddler and parents at the same time this series is a good one, but I’m ready to branch out.  He saw and liked Ice Age, but Jason doesn’t care for it and I think a few viewings was enough for me.

I love the old Disney movies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and I am looking forward to sharing them with him.  But aside from Wall-E, Finding Nemo, and Ratatouille I am woefully behind in the animated movie department.  What are some of the new ones that Gage, Jason, and I might all love?  And when you see an animated movie do you ever see it because of who is narrating the characters?

Oh, and please don’t recommend Bambi.  That movie made me so upset as a kid that I’m not sure I ever even saw the whole thing.  I won’t do that to Gage.  At least until he’s a teenager 🙂

1998

Cast-Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Chris Elliott, Lee Evans

Directed by the Farrelly brothers, Bobby & Peter

Mary was the It girl in her Rhode Island high school and geeky Ted was lucky enough to catch her eye when he stood up for her mentally disabled brother.  They made a date for prom that ended in a hospital stay and then Mary disappeared.  It’s 13 years later and he hires Healy to find her for him.  Mary is in Florida, but Healy decides to throw Ted off the scent by lying to him and then moving to Florida to pursue her himself.

Why I love it- I saw this at the theater when it came out and I was scandalized.  This raunchy, perfect-for-teen-boys humor was not my thing at all.  I remember feeling embarrassed at some of the crude things I laughed at.  It was not in my comfort zone, and yet at its heart it was a love story between two characters that I loved and was rooting for the whole way.  It made me laugh and it satisfied my goofy heart.

There is something about Ben Stiller that I find charming and usually funny.  He has this awkward, neurotic way about him that I always seem to respond to in a positive way.  He was perfect in this role.  I’m not sure how many actors could have pulled off the iconic zipper scene with such intensity.  Even as I was cringing I was laughing out loud.  For me, the Farrelly brothers almost always go too far, but in this movie, it is Ben Stiller and the luminous Cameron Diaz that  keep the movie centered.

The two scenes with the dog, Puffy, being abused by Mary’s boyfriends are so outrageous that they are only funny because Puffy somehow manages to live another day.  And I love the reveal at the end.  It makes the movie end on a fun note for me.  I’ve seen this movie countless times and it always makes me laugh.

As of this year this is the 5th highest grossing romantic comedy of all-time and Cameron Diaz was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Mary. Irreverent, tasteless, and very funny.

The rest of my Top 100 List.

State of the Union Cast-Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Van Johnson, Angela Lansbury.  Directed by Frank Capra

I said I was going to review seven more political movies before election day and I’m not sure I’ll make it, so  I want to be sure I showcase my favorites at the very least.

Grant Matthews is a self-made man with no interest in politics.  At least until an attractive woman with visions of glory in her sights convinces him and the bigwigs of the Republican party that he could be the next President of the United States.  Now, he just needs to convince his estranged wife to go along with the campaign.

Why You Should See It– This movie was released in 1948 and it’s starkly honest look at the world of Washington politics is just as relevant today as when it was released.  When I saw this the first time a few years ago I was struck by how modern it was and what that says about politics.  The names (and genders and races) may change but the ugliness of it all stays the same.  In this political season I think it’s a good idea to remember how these candidates get made.  This is not a movie without hope and I highly recommend it for anyone remotely interested in politics.

Why I Love It–

I really like Katherine Hepburn.  In my teens and 20’s it was the other Hepburn I loved, but with age I’ve grown to appreciate Katherine.  She is smart and funny and quick as a whip.  I loved that she played the victimized wife in this one, it suited her.  She was Spencer Tracy’s conscience and he needed it.  He was a flawed man, but he had two women in love with him, both trying to get him to the White House.  If not for Hepburn, his ambition would have ruined the character completely.

Van Johnson, as the campaign sidekick was perfect comedic relief.  He was right up there with Hepburn on the likeability scale.

For a political junkie like me (as an Ohio voter I am having a total blast actually answering the phone for some of the pollsters and then having fun with them.  Today alone we received 8 political calls, completely ridiculous) this movie is great.  I warn you that there is a lot of talking.  I was worried that this would turn of my apolitical husband, but it didn’t and he claims he really liked it.  The money and influence that it takes a person to even become a candidate is crazy.  I don’t know if I believe that any candidate can get elected with his integrity intact and that’s a sad state of affairs.  A few fun quotes

Mary: Oh, that’s silly. No woman could ever run for President. She’d have to admit she’s over 35. (LOL!)

Kay: But there is one question on his mind you better have the answer to.
Jim: What’s that?
Kay: He’s beginning to wonder if there is any difference between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
Jim: Now that’s a fine question for a presidential candidate to ask. There’s all the difference in the world. They’re in and we’re out!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how ironic I found the Hepburn-Spencer roles.  In their private life they had a 26 year affair (he was married) and in this movie Hepburn played his somewhat abandoned wife.  She stepped into the part days before shooting because Claudette Cobert pulled out and Hepburn knew the script because she had been running lines with Tracy already.

When I listened to Rob Lowe’s memoir, Stories I Only Tell My Friends, last month I was particularly entertained by his memories of making his first big movie, a movie that would launch the careers of many.  I am an 80’s movie lover, but I never read the book by S.E. Hinton or watched the movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola and I thought while the book was still fresh in my mind that I should watch it.

The most obvious place to start is the all-star cast.  They were mostly unknown – Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, C Thomas Howell and this movie made them stars.  I was particularly impressed with Patrick Swayze, even if he didn’t have a large role.  If you want to see these guys and gal as babes you should check it out.  Diane Lane looked and sounded so different to me.

The movie was okay bordering on cheesy (mainly the cheese came from the music).  A few scenes made no sense to me.  There was an abandoned church where two of them had hidden for a week, they leave for a few hours and return to find that it’s on fire and there are children in there.  Made no sense and the movie sort of lost me from there.  The movie itself, set in 1950’s Oklahoma, pits the greasers and the socs against one another, and even though there was a lot of blood there wasn’t much depth.

I do think this is more of a guy movie and probably one teens would enjoy more.  For me, the best part was knowing the behind the scenes stories from Rob Lowe.

So, have you seen it?  Am I being to hard on it?