Gone With the Wind (1939)

AFI Top 100:6

Academy Award Winner

Here was my dilemma: I had seen this movie as a kid and hated it. I mean HATED it...I kept wondering why everyone thought this was such a great film. I thought it was long, the characters were all annoying and the blatant racism was unappealing. But I had recently given Citizen Kane a second chance(which I also changed my mind about) and is three hours and forty four minutes really that long? Why yes, yes it is... but it is, as I just discovered, worth it.

Here we have a snapshot of what the south used to be. A time that seemed to emulate the medieval chivalry and propriety. And in that you can see the devastation that occurred when it was torn away by war. However the one qualm I have with it is its inexcusable ignorance to how the slaves were truly treated. There is no apology in this film for slavery which is frustrating but it is depicting the era through the lens of a southerner so if we except that fact and move forward we find one of the greatest cinematic experiences.

Vivien Leigh plays her role as the spoiled, selfish southern belle with great poise and talent. She is fantastically grating in everything she does.  Clark Gable offers the sleek, and devilishly elegant southern gentleman who seems both a realist and a secret hopeless romantic. In addition I find  Hattie McDaniel's performance of Mammy one of the most memorable and endearing.

Besides its acting feats, we also have a sweeping, beautiful score, and gorgeous shooting. The shooting is displayed by the famous silhouettes against the sunset, in addition to simple shots that let us in on small underlying emotions that make the film more real. In particular, I would like to point out the shot where Rhett Butler realizes that Bonnie is exactly like her mother. Its in London, and she talks about wanting to go home, we get a glimpse of his face and you can see the realization. This nuance is something that makes film an exciting experience.

Overall: I rescind any comments that this movie is a waste. It was an excellent and needed step in American Film and everyone should see it at some point, and if you disagree...well...Frankly my dear I don't give a damn.

Babel (2006)

Nominee

Alejandro González Iñárritu is a genius. Having just finished Amorres perros for my Spanish class and now watching this film, you see an obsession in what separates us and what can bring us together. In addition, there is an interest in domino effects, how one small act can lead to something earth shattering to someone else. He wants us all to recognize that we are connected to people we will never meet and our decisions effect their lives.

I went into this film sort of dubiously. I had read the back on put it back on the shelf at the library so many times, it just sounded like a different version of Crash (2005). In addition, my older brother told me that he thought the film was unbelievable in the sense that the people in this film seemed to have no sense of responsibility. However I feel that is a perfect example of what Iñárritu is attempting to show us. Our perception of cultures cannot be judged in the scope of out own social boundaries. Cultural necessities change based on what we do to survive. You would send your child out with a gun to protect the goats if that was the only thing you could do to survive. However I will agree that the inter connecting is a little contrived but I forgive it based on the way the film is able to show us raw human emotion. We may be separated by language, but we are united by emotion, one specified in this film as anguish.

The shots in this film were beautiful, this film relies on facial expression and it was captured with grace and honesty. To be frank the most disappointing portion of this film was Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Both have displayed more poignant characterization in the past and their scenes fell a little flat for me. The biggest problem with their plot line was we got a glimpse of their back story but it was not filled in enough so their reconciliation seemed empty to me.

Overall: A well done insightful film. Definitely worth the watch, and in my opinion should have won that year.

A Quote this film reminded me of: "Thou canst not stir a flower without troubling a star."

Master and Commander (2003)

Nominee

If good, realistic, epic entertainment is what you're looking for this film delivers. Here we have a Captain "Lucky" Jack who is willing to push on beyond the call of a mission to what he calls duty in pursuit of a French ship, the Acheron. They will go to what ever measures necessary to accomplish British naval Supremacy in the waters again.

This is the classic story that everyone loves. The passionate leader that will do anything for country and victory. The best friend who although he wants to support him will bring forth the ethical dilemma of what cost will be paid for passion. And a crew full of bit characters that bring forward the character of the HMS Surprise. There is nothing particularly original here. The shots in the film are all from a storytelling stand point and don't really provide us with any symbolism or new information, however I feel that often in action any attempts at symbolism will often fall flat and appear as cheesy or ridiculous. So in this case it was right decision. Here is a story that is engrossing enough to hold our attention with out any deep meaning. Its less of a moral lesson and more of a fun historical one.

The cast is good. As usual Russell Crowe provides his subtle rugged performance. The children really stood out for me, displaying the decorum which was expected of them in the time period although truly beyond their years. In addition, the score was fun because a lot of it was recognizable but it never over powered the movie as a whole.

Overall: This is fun! This movie was made to be both entertaining and an insightful history lesson. Now go watch!

I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1933)

Nominee

When I first picked this movie up I thought I was in for it. I mean you should never judge a book by its cover but look at this cover!! We have a ridiculous facial expression accompanied by one of the longest titles ever in Christmas tree colors...I thought I was in for an hour and a half of 1930's over dramatized facial expressions and painful dialogue.

What I found was surprisingly not that bad, in fact not bad at all. This still of course is quite dated in some ways. The scene transitions are definitely some of the first attempts at suggestion the passage of time for all they are are pages of a calendar falling away. In addition some of the acting is still juvenile but surprisingly enough Paul Muni, who plays the main character is actually quite persuasive. I was worried because I had seen him in The Life of Emilie Zola, and his performance in that certainly dragged.

In addition, this film is interesting to watch because it is trying to display fault in a standing social system and it pleasantly succeeds. The closing moment sealed the deal for me as you realize from his final words that the chain gang which was supposed to reform men created the exact opposite effect.

Overall: It was good for its time and I think in someways a hidden gem of the period. The only qualms I had were the datedness of some of the acting, and the lack of any music...but I am a big soundtrack fan so I think mostr people would not have a big problem with that. However for a film junky it was kinda fun to watch their 1930 attempts at things we have refined more over the ages. I would not include it on my must sees but it is definately worth the watch!

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

AFI Top 100: 98

Nominee

I remember watching this for the first time when I was a little kid. At that time I thought the musical numbers were the best part and found the dialogue boring as hell. So when my sister got it for my Dad for father's day I was looking forward to the musical numbers with the glamorous costumes and the classic vaudeville dancing. And in this department it certainly provided, but I realized in my seasoned almost twenty years that the sharpness and human insight in the script was heart warming, humorous, and entertaining.

This movie is truly a classic American film. Not only does it pay testament to one of the most important American icons, George M. Cohan. It shows us the acting versatility of James Cagney, usually a player of the tough gangster archetype, we see him now showing his roots. He won an Oscar for his efforts and he deserved.

Overall: This is true classic American entertainment at its finest. You will find yourself singing Cohan songs, doing Cagney impressions, and just feeling happy in general. I recommend this film to anyone. Period

So in conclusion: "My Father thanks you. My Mother thanks you. My Sister thanks you. And I thank you."

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Nominee

Okay, I feel kinda silly starting with this one but it is what I watched last night...Here we have Tom Cruise...Tom Cruise...tom cruise...TOM CRUISE!!!!...I don't really think he can act and for some odd reason I don't care...okay we all know the reason...and I am not usually this shallow but come on HE IS HOT...anyway then we have Renee Zellweger which usually when she opens her mouth to speak to me it sounds like nails on a chalk board but in this movie her voice is not as grating and then there is some cute kid who I recognize only from some ad in the 90's for a movie about a kid dracula...or something like that I never saw it I just remember the TV Spot...Anyway
Jerry Maguire is about a man who works for a sports agency gets disenchanted by the way its run and one night drunkenly writes a mission statement, (not a memo), about how impersonal the buisness is. He then gets fired but then proceeds to begin his own company with one client, Tidwell, one partner, Dorothy Boyd, and one gold fish...Guess what after much trouble finding his connection to both...EVERYTHING WORKS OUT!!! Tidwell gets the giant contract and single mother Dorothy was had at hello... and we get a little glimpse that the company will grow. yay!!!

This is a romantic comedy...its cute...it makes you laugh...you get that warm cuddly feeling inside...but honestly why is this nominated for best picture. Its great fun, and if you think that good movies are made by straight up entertainment its there but it does not offer what I expect from a GREAT movie...I was not swept away by an interesting score...I was not enlightened into plot motifs by any insinuations from shooting angles...I saw no orginality besides the fact that it is a chick flick that is over 2 hours long...especially when it was up as the same year as Fargo...I expected a little more

Overall: Enjoyable. Should it have been nominated for best picture? No. Bright side: I got to look at Tom Cruise and be charmed by cute little kids...I only suggest this movie if you already know you like this sort of thing.

Thats a wrap

The Quest

Watching Movies. Which movies? The best ones...all of them...I don't even remember anymore when all this began but I decided in one of my fits of inspiration to watch all the top 100 AFI films...I then added all the best picture films, which when I completed both of those...I decided the next most interesting thing would be the nominees for best picture...all of them...what can I say I love film. I have always loved art and I feel that film is the product of putting music, visual art, and theater in a blender and making the most delicious milkshake ever. So guess what... "I DRANK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!"...yup bad reference, I put it there deal with it as you please.

So now for the mission of this blog: Voice Opinions! I will give mine...I want to hear yours...I am pretty hard hitting, but I can be persuaded, I like nothing more than a good debate :)

Last thing: My Progress
Original AFI List: 100/100
Updated AFI List:100/100
Best Picture Films: 89/89...and counting of course
Nominees: 322/448