The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight In Paris
Moneyball
The Tree Of Life
War Horse

I’ve seen one!
And have never even heard of “The Tree Of Life”???
So at this point, I’m going with “The Artist” to win Best Picture.
Mainly because I haven’t seen the rest of them yet!!!

Click here to see the trailer… “The Artist” Official Trailer

Tonight I went to see the new movie “The Artist.”
It’s receiving rave reviews & nominations… despite the fact that it’s in black & white…
and in the style of a traditional silent film. It’s a classic “boy meets girl” story line.
Except they don’t talk. It’s a beautiful film that draws you in and enchants you along the way.
The storyline is witty, the timing is quick and some great cameo performances. As well as
some beautiful cinematography… especially the scene where the leading man is drinking
at a mirrored table, then it flips, tne he pours his drink on the table. So simple. So brilliant.
You quickly get accustomed to the orchestral soundtrack, the placards that tell you what
they’re saying, and the “mugging” for the camera. Let me just say, the dog steals the show!

Is it the Best Picture?… we’ll see. I have a lot more movies to see.
Once the Oscar nominations are released, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.
And a lot of popcorn to eat.

It is a documentary film that was a big hit at the Sundance Film Festival.
You might remember that I already have some “issues” with Facebook and the whole
social-networking thing. How people share information, reveal themselves & how so
much information can be found on the Internet with just a few clicks. Still not a fan.

I had only heard small snippets about this documentary film. It is definitely a film
you should go into not knowing anything about. So I won’t tell you either.
But I will tell you it deals with relationships on Facebook, the people you “friend”
and where it can go from there. Enough said.

Two thumbs up… you’ll be part of their adventure faster than you’d think.
The main character is very endearing and you want to see where this takes him.
With his brother & friend as his camera crew, you follow his journey very personally.
And I guarantee it will not be where you expect… a documentary with a twist!!!
And I would definitely suggest it for anyone who has teenage kids on Facebook
who might be sharing too much, posting too many pictures and “friending” too
many people without knowing them!

Let’s just preface this by saying that I really don’t like movies that rely completely on
computer graphics for their impact & appeal. So I was quite hesitant when “Avatar”
started making the rounds. I’m sure it’s beautiful. I’m sure it’s breathtaking.
I’m sure it’s cool and all… but c’mon, do I really need to see a creepy, glamorized,
blue-skinned version of “Clutch Cargo”? Flying creatures? Glowing landscapes? Nope.

But once the movie began raking in the money hand-over-fist, and everyone was talking
about Pandora and how wonderful it all was… I started to question if I was missing anything.
So I decided to check it out… in 3D.

Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised, but not completely won over. I’m glad I saw it.
The 3D effects were great. The colors were vibrant. The “cinematography?” was well done.
I think they did a fine job at creating a visual masterpiece… albeit a bit contrived.
Love story for the teenage girls. Chaos & destruction for the teenage boys.
Revering your elders for “the elders” out there. Family values. Spiritualism. Peace. Harmony.
Eco-friendly message for all those “green” people out there. Be yourself. Help Others.
Cheer for the good guys. Hate the bad guys. Let’s all love the Earth. Blah, blah, blah…
I felt a little manipulated during the movie – a little too preachy. But still enjoyable.

The colors were incredible. The 3D effects we breathtaking. The creativity never-ending.
I would recommend going to see it just because it’s a beautiful piece of film. And if you do…
I think you need to see it in 3D… otherwise, you’re missing some of the best parts!
Should it win the Oscar for Best Picture?… I sure hope not. But if it does…
it will be for the technological advances they made in the making of this film.

“Across The Universe” came out in 2007 with a creative take on the Vietnam War.
Director Julie Taymor is one my favorites… the most creative & innovative director of today.
She combined the classic hits of The Beatles with memorable plot, characters & visuals.
She’s also the one responsible for “The Lion King: The Musical”… also brilliant!!!

Imagine a mesmerizing soundtrack of all your favorite Beatles songs, worked into a
beautiful storyline that take our main characters Jude, Max & Lucy through the days
surrounding the Vietnam War. With visually stunning images and haunting renditions
of the classic Beatles songs, this movie musical is a brilliant piece of film on all levels.
I love it. And I would recommend it to everyone!

With Jude, Lucy and Max protesting the Vietnam War at a big rally,
before reality sets in and the war hits a little too close to home…

With Prudence, and her rendition of “I Want To Hold Your Hand”…

And my favorite scene… Jude’s take on “Strawberry Fields Forever”…

With special guest star cameos by such stars as Bono, Selma Hayek, Joe Cocker…

and of course… British comedian Eddie Izzard.

But as with any good Hollywood musical… in the end, “All You Need Is Love.”

With every scene well crafted. Every shot perfectly composed. It is a beautiful film.
Director Tarsem Singh does it once again with this visual masterpiece. So the plot
may not be the best ever, and I wasn’t a fan of the ending… but you’ve got to appreciate
the creativity & craftsmanship in this film. It’s visually stunning.

And yes, that is indeed Lee Pace in the lead role… the storyteller who befriends one
of the cutest youngsters ever. Lee Pace… you know, from the gone-but-not-forgotten-
and I’m-still-holding-out-for-it-to-come-back favorite new series in the past couple years…
the cancelled far too quickly show I loved… “Pushing Daisies.”

So take my word for it… and go rent it today!!!  You’ll be glad you did.

So I kind of felt as though I needed to see the movie. After all the hype.
After all of the aftermath. After all of the news reports. Somehow I felt compelled.
I grew up with his music – and must admit I LOVE the video for “Thriller.”
It felt as though it might be some sort of closure to the whole fiasco
that was Michael Jackson.

Here we go… with a lot of buttered popcorn along the way…
The movie was actually better than I expected. And I’m glad I saw it on the big screen.
It was interesting to see some behind-the-scenes footage of the concert preparations.
It was interesting to see Michael being Michael – instead of how the media has
portrayed him. He was an artist trying to make the perfect concert.
Sadly… that will never happen now.

While not the best movie ever… it was very interesting & entertaining.
You know all of the songs, and will most likely sing-along as I did.
It reminded me that Michael Jackson was a great talent.
It humanized him as a performer, not a media freak.
And his nose didn’t look all that bad!!!

Just to give you a headstart, here’s the AFI Top 100 Movies of All Time…
at least, as of the 2007 list revision… and a few memorable movie lines!!!

1.  Citizen Kane – “Rosebud.”
2.  The Godfather - “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
3.  Casablanca – “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
4.  Raging Bull – “I got these small hands. I got little girl’s hands.”
5.  Singin’ In The Rain – “Lina. She can’t act. She can’t sing. She can’t dance. A triple threat.”
6.  Gone With The Wind - “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
7.  Lawrence of Arabia - “The best of them won’t come for money; they’ll come for me.”
8.  Schindler’s List – “You’re giving them hope. You shouldn’t do that. ‘That’s’ cruel.”
9.  Vertigo - “Anyone could become obsessed with the past with a background like that.”
10.  The Wizard of Oz - “There’s no place like home.”
11.  City Lights - “Tomorrow the birds will sing.”
12.  The Searchers - “Figure a man’s only good for one oath at a time.”
13.  Star Wars – “May the force be with you.”
14.  Psycho – “We all go a little made sometimes.”
15.  2001: A Space Odyssey – “Open the pod bay doors, HAL.”
16.  Sunset Boulevard – “I’m ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille.”
17.  The Graduate – “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me.”
18.  The General - silent title page… “Heroes of the day”
19.  On The Waterfront – “Do it to him before he does it to you.”
20.  It’s A Wonderful Life - “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”
21.  Chinatown – “You’re dumber than you think I think you are.”
22.  Some Like It Hot – “Real diamonds! They must be worth their weight in gold!”
23.  The Grapes of Wrath – “Sure don’t look none too prosperous.”
24.  ET – The Extra-Terrestrial – “ET phone home.”
25.  To Kill A Mockingbird - “There goes the meanest man that ever took a breath of life.”
26.  Mr. Smith Goes to Washington – “Mr. President, will the Senator yield?”
27.  High Noon - “I knew you had guts, but never figured you for brains.”
28.  All About Eve - “Fasten your seat belts – it’s going to be a bumpy night.”
29.  Double Indemnity – “Do I laugh now, or wait ’til it gets funny?”
30.  Apocalypse Now – “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
31.  The Maltese Falcon - “Say, what’s on your mind besides your hat?”
32.  The Godfather, Part II – “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”
33.  One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest – “Rules? Piss on your fucking rules!”
34.  Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs - “Whistle while you work.”
35.  Annie Hall – “Hey, don’t knock masturbation. It’s sex with someone I love.”
36. The Bridge Over The River Kwai – insert catchy whistling tune here…
37.  The Best Years Of Our Life – “If you wrote that once, you wrote it a hundred times.”
38.  The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre – “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges.”
39.  Dr. Strangelove - “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the War Room!”
40.  The Sound Of Music – “There’s nothing wrong with the children. Only the governesses.”
41.  King Kong - “Those chains ore made of chrome steel.”
42.  Bonnie And Clyde - “Next time, I’ll aim a little lower.”
43.  Midnight Cowboy - “I only get carsick on boats.”
44.  The Philadelphia Story - “You’re far and away your favorite person in the world.”
45.  Shane - “A gun is as good or bad as the man using it.”
46.  It Happened One Night – “Believe you me, you bore me to distraction.”
47.  A Streetcar Named Desire – “Stella!!!”
48.  Rear Window – “Nothing has caused the human race so much trouble as intelligence.”
49.  Intolerance - “Such a wonderful king. If only he thought as we do.”
50.  The Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Rings – “Nobody tosses a dwarf.”
51.  West Side Story - “When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way.”
52. Taxi Driver – “You talkin’ to me? Well, I’m the only one here.”
53.  The Deer Hunter - “You’re so full of shit, you’re gonna float away.”
54.  M*A*S*H – “Oh Frank. My lips are hot. Kiss my hot lips.”
55.  North By Northwest - “You’re the smartest girl I’ve ever spent the night with on a train.”
56.  Jaws - “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
57.  Rocky – “Your gonna eat lightnin’ and you’re gonna crap thunder.”
58.  The Gold Rush – cue the classic silent film piano music soundtrack…
59.  Nashville – “He wouldn’t bathe, so we all had to pee in his bed to get him discharged.”
60.  Duck Soup – “I got a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it.”
61.  Sullivan’s Travels - “There’s a lot to be said for making people laugh.”
62.  American Graffiti - “Your car is uglier than I am. That didn’t come out right.”
63.  Cabaret – “What good is sitting alone in your room. Come hear the music play.”
64.  Network - “I’m as mad as hell… and I’m not going to take it any more!”
65.  The African Queen – “There ain’t nothing so complicated as the inside of a torpedo.”
66.  Raiders Of The Lost Ark – “It’s not the years, honey. It’s the mileage.”
67.  Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? – “You can’t afford to waste good liquor.”
68.  Unforgiven – “You ain’t ugly like me, it’s just that we both got scars.”
69.  Tootsie – “I don’t believe in Hell. I believe in ‘unemployment’, not Hell.”
70.  A Clockwork Orange - “Initiative comes to thems that wait.”
71.  Saving Private Ryan – “It’s like finding a needle in a stack of needles.”
72. The Shawshank Redemption – “Hope is a dangerous thing. It can drive a man insane.”
73.  Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid – “I’m not crazy. I’m just colorful.”
74.  The Silence Of The Lambs - “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.”
75.  In The Heat Of The Night – “They call me Mister Tibbs!”
76.  Forrest Gump – “Life was like a box of chocolates.”
77.  All The President’s Men - “When you’ve got ‘em by the balls, hearts & minds will follow.”
78.   Modern Times – “Buck up – never say die. We’ll get along.”
79.  The Wild Bunch – “I’ll hold ‘em here ’til Hell freezes over or you say different.”
80.  The Apartment – “That’s the way it crumbles… cookie-wise.”
81.  Spartacus – “Good luck, and may fortune smile upon… most of us.”
82.  Sunrise - “Don’t be afraid of me.”
83.  Titanic – “I’m the king of the world.”
84.  Easy Rider – “If God did not exist it would be necessary to invent him.”
85.  A Night At The Opera – “You know the old saying. Two’s company, five’s a crowd.”
86.  Platoon – “Excuses are like assholes, Taylor. Everybody’s got one.”
87.  12 Angry Men – “Look, you voted guilty. Which side are you on?”
88.  Bringing Up Baby – “A man wrestling a leopard in a pond, he’s in no position to run.”
89.  The Sixth Sense – “I see dead people.”
90.  Swing Time - “No one could teach you to dance in a million years.”
91.  Sophie’s Choice – “I longed desperately to escape, to pack my bags & flee, but I did not.”
92. Goodfellas – “Funny like a clown? I amuse you?”
93. The French Connection – “You wanna play ‘hide the salami’ with this old lady?”
94.  Pulp Fiction – “That’s 30 minutes away. I’ll be there in 10.”
95.  The Last Picture Show - “Chicken fry me a steak and try to use meat this time.”
96.  Do The Right Thing – “Take your pizza and get the fuck back to Africa.”
97.  Blade Runner – “Nothing is worse than having an itch you can never scratch.”
98.  Yankee Doodle Dandy - “It’ll be great as long as those critics don’t eat off my leg.”
99.  Toy Story - “To infinity and beyond!”
100.  Ben-Hur – “You’re either for me, or against me.”

So there’s the list…  which one is your favorite?

My stumbling block was film #82 – “Sunrise” from 1927.
It just wasn’t available anywhere. Not on Netflix. Not on Amazon. Not anywhere.
But then suddenly… after about 6 months of searching… Netflix finally got it!
So I watched “Sunrise” and officially finished the list. A surprisingly entertaining,
black & white silent film – about a man trying to “off” his wife and hide the body
out in the lake… only to find he can’t and falls back in love with her! Needless to say,
the mistress isn’t too thrilled with the renewed marriage romance. Not bad
once you get used to the subtitles.

All in all, it was a great project. I would highly recommend watching “the list”
to anyone who enjoys the movies. I think it is important to have a well-rounded knowledge
of history & pop culture… and I am now a lot better in the Movies & Film categories
when we watch “Jeopardy” or play Trivial Pursuit. It was also great to hear some
of the famous movie lines now in the actual context of the film…
lines you’ve always heard, but never really knew where they came from.
“Here’s looking at you kid.”

FYI…  I still don’t agree with “Citizen Kane” being number one!..   it’s a sled!!!