Saturday 31 December 2011

Film 100 "The Godfather Part II" IMDB No. 3

I don't feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom. Just my enemies.


1974 Francis Ford Coppola
The epic saga continues as we see the Corleone family move into Cuba and Nevada during the 50's under the leadership of Micheal Corleone. We also get to see the early years of Vito Corleone in Sicily in the early 1900's to New York in the 1920's.
More bloodshed and betrayal as the business expands and the family implodes.
It's long, over 3 hours, but it doesn't seem it when watching the plot unfold.
It's just as good as the first one, with the noted absence of any sauce recipes but there is a disappearing cake that looks like it came from a Tom & Jerry cartoon. Al Pacino grows into the aging Micheal and Robert De Niro as the young Vito is worthy of his Acedemy Award for best supporting actor.
9/10

That's it. I have watched and blogged the IMDB Top 100 films.
The list was taken from 1st January 2011.
I have a new challenge for 2012, to watch the top 100 British movies, I will post the list soon.

Happy New Year.

Friday 30 December 2011

Film 99 "The Godfather" IMDB No. 2

A man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.


1972 Francis Ford Coppola
The story starts in the mid 40's following the fortunes and misfortunes of a New York mafia family as the power struggle for control of the emerging narcotics market takes place as the family head Don Vito Corleone finds his position as Godfather less respected by the other mafia bosses.
I'm amazed there is anyone left alive in America, after watching 99 of these 'top 100' it seems the common theme in the American films is murder and war, they should lighten up a bit, it doesn't have to be Disney or Death.
I couldn't help noticing in the garden death scene that the tomatoes needed watering and onions were missing from Calmenza's sauce recipe.
I can't believe I have never seen this before, it's a classic. Stand out performances by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. Last film is Godfather part 2 tonight, looking forward to how this story continues.
9/10

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Film 98 "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly" IMDB No. 4

When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.




1966 Sergio Leone
Blondie and Tuco have a fragile partnership, Tuco is a wanted outlaw, Blondie a gun slinger who takes him in and claims the bounty then, as Tuco is about to be hanged, rescues him. When Blondie decides to go his own way Tuco hunts him down. They come across a army wagon full of dead bodies with only one survivor, Bill Carson, he knows the location of a pile of gold but only tells one part of it to each of them, the partnership is back on to find the gold. Angel Eyes is a mean bounty hunter who knows of Bill Carsons gold but not where it is hidden. Blondie and Tuco are sought after men. It doesn't take long to work out who is the Good, the Bad or the Ugly.
I think this is only the second western in the top 100, there should be more like this. Although Treasure of the Sierra Madre was an unexpected treasure
This is great, it has everything a western needs. Guns, horses, hanging, betrayal, mistrust, hats, gold, dynamite and the added bonus of canons.
I can't claim to be an expert on the western genre, I haven't watched many, I'm not keen on the mistrust element and the way you could be shot so easily back then. But this is brilliantly filmed with great tension and a dash of humour.
It was also filmed in Almeria, Spain. Where my good friends Karen and Trevor live and I go walking each year so it was an added bonus to be watching the scenery to see if I had walked on that mountain or that path. If you ever go to Spain, visit Mini Hollywood in Almeria.
Gun slinging 9/10

Thursday 15 December 2011

Film 97 "Shawshank Redemption" IMDB No. 1

What is your malfunction, you fat barrel of monkey spunk?


1994 Frank Darabont
The story starts in 1947, Andy Dufresne is a young banker given 2 life sentences for murdering his wife and her lover and continues for the duration of his time in Shawshank Prison. He strikes up a friendship with 'Red', the go-to man, also serving a life sentence for murder. Andy's skills with money and the banking system get him involved with laundering for the Warden which gives him certain privileges.
There's the usual bunch of characters, bullying inmates, evil warden, pshycotic guard. There's an unexpected twist near the end but the ending itself is a bit tame.  I found the narration by Morgan annoying, maybe because it kept reminding me of an advert that is on telly, but really the film maker should have done more with the film itself so the constant talking over the top would be less necessary.
It's still a very watchable film but I don't think it is the best film ever.
I hadn't seen Shawshank before this challenge, and didn't want to leave till last just because the list said it was number 1. So I did watch it a couple of weeks ago with Jamie while the girls were watching XFactor, but we had been drinking all afternoon and carried on through the evening, by the end of the film we had almost finished a bottle of rum and more Stellas. Over the next few days I thought hard about the film but couldn't rememeber anything, I knew it was a prison film with Morgan Freeman and that was it. Watching it again I really hadn't seen it, none of it was familiar.
It's worth 8/10

Monday 12 December 2011

Film 96 "It's A Wonderful Life" IMDB No. 29

Youth, it's wasted on the young.


1946 Frank Capra
George Bailey had dreams of seeing the world, but when his father dies and his brother is in service, he has to take the helm of the family business, a community based building and loans company. This and many other local businesses are always under threat from the miserly Mr Potter. On christmas eve Georges uncle loses the company's $8000 deposit and George becomes desperate and thinks of ending his life. In steps Clarance, his guardian angel and shows him what life would be like if he had never been born.
A sentimental hopeful tale that shows the optimism and idealism of the American nation after the war where society would look after each other and had morals.
Despite this being an American christmas favourite it seems that American society went down the Pottersville route.
I first saw this in new York christmas 1997, I was holed up in a bedsit dive waiting for Kim to finish work having just found out we were going to be parents, don't remember too much about it other than it took four hours to show because of the adverts every ten minutes.
It was good to watch it yesterday afternoon after putting up the christmas tree and having a family roast with the inlaws.
Because it's christmas 8/10

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Film 95 "Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope" IMDB No. 14

Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?


1977 George Lucas
The story starts at episode 4, I don't think I knew that when I was 10.
Luke Skywalker is a young man yet to discover his destiny, to fight with the Rebel force against the Empire trying to rule the universe. A swashbuckling space adventure with strange creatures and aliens and spaceships and lasers and strange powers like magic and, of course, light sabers. A sword made of light, that in the 70's make every boy put down his cowboy 6 shooter and run around the playground going 'vvooooommmm'.
I collected the cards that came out, and remeber swapping them in the playground and having far too many c3po's and not enough Darth Vaders. Watching it again the scenes remind me of each of the cards.
The only film I ever queued round the block to see, I think it was with Jon Foster and his mum.
Good to see it again.
8/10

Thursday 1 December 2011

Film 94 "Schindler's List" IMDB No. 7

Ja. Why is the top down? I'm fucking freezing.


1993 Steven Speilberg
Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a german businessman who's factory became a sanctury from persecution for the jews during WWII.
The subject matter is not an easy one, as I have said before, I don't like the Nazis, they scare me. Speilberg doesn't shy away from the brutality as you might expect but it isn't as in your face as other films in this Top 100 that I have seen.
Not sure if I liked it or not, not sure if I want to watch it again to find out. It just doesn't have enough ooomph.
6/10

Saturday 26 November 2011

Film 93 "Forrest Gump" IMDB No. 33

I'm sorry I ruined your New Year's Eve party, Lieutenant Dan. She tasted like cigarettes.


1994 Robert Zemekis
Literally the life story of a man who is 'different' and just happened to be at some of America's moments of history, told to people sitting next to him at a bus stop. I reckon I would have lasted about 1 minute before I made my excuses, chocolate or not.
It's a nice enough story, a bit too nice, with some sad moments and some funny bits. A good all round American family movie, oh and there is a love interest.
Don't make me watch it ever again.
5/10

Friday 25 November 2011

Film 92 "City Lights" IMDB No. 60

Can you see now?



1931 Charles Chaplin
A tramp falls in love with a beautiful blind girl. Her family is poor. The tramp has a wierd  on-and-off friendship with a wealthy man and uses his money to help her.
To me, it's like any other Chaplin movie I have seen, it rolls along to a formula with the same gags and same music and pretty much the same characters as the rest of them.
Not a fan.
2/10

Thursday 24 November 2011

Film 91 "Silence Of The Lambs" IMDB No. 27

I've no plans to call on you, Clarice. The world is more interesting with you in it.


1991 Jonathan Demme
Jody Foster plays Clarice Starling, a new FBI agent assigned to help find the serial killer who skins young women. To do this she asks for the help of a convicted serial killer Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter, played brilliantly by Anthony Hopkins.
A modern classic chiller bringing mutilation to the masses with a tense finale.
8/10

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Film 90 "The Matrix" IMDB No. 25

I know kung fu.


1999 Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Computer programmer by day, hacker by night, Thomas A Anderson has a decision to make when the authorities catch up with him, but they are not the only ones who have been followng his activities.
It turns out that the 'real world' isn't real and is a computer program called the Matrix. Well at least I think that is what this is about.
Neo as he is known is 'the one' who will change/save everything/everyone.
I had avoided this film for years, someone even lent me the VHS about 8 years ago and it's still on the shelf unwatched, I did eventually circum last year and watched it with the kids, they loved it. I have now seen it twice and maybe it grows on you, it seems quite dated now, some of the CGI tricks have been copied and improved so many times.
For some this is a classic, for me, it's ok. I just can't take Keano seriously because Bill and Ted keep coming to mind. Awesome!
7.5/10

Thursday 17 November 2011

Film 89 "Requiem For a Dream" IMDB No. 63

Harold, I'm gonna be on Television.


2000 Darren Aronofsky
Following the lives of four drug addicts, some prescription meds others herion and cocaine, and the spiral downwards and sideways and upside down all the time thinking it's under control.
It's a pretty good study of adiction and is sometimes painful to watch, but I didn't like it. I don't need to see this again.
6/10

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Film 88 "The Usual Suspects" IMDB No. 24

There's no way they'd line five felons in the same room, no way.


1995 Bryan Singer
A story of five random felons brought together for a line-up for a crime none of them comitted. While in custody they hatch a plan to get get revenge on the police. Their activities come to the attention of Keyser Soze, a notorious criminal mastermind, who legend would have it, is the devil incarnate. They are recruited by his right hand man Kobyashi (Pete Postlethwaite). All is not as it seems.
A brilliant film that keeps you gripped and guessing right to the end. Deffinately needs two viewings to take it all in.
8.5/10

Tuesday 8 November 2011

Film 87 "North By Northwest" IMDB No. 38

That wasn't very sporting, using real bullets.


1959 Alfred Hitchcock
Classic Hitchcock suspense thriller staring the the super cool Cary Grant.
New York advertising executive Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent by a gang of spies and is chased across America by both groups. Crammed with classic scenes and quotes. "Now you listen to me, I'm an advertising man, not a red herring. I've got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives and several bartenders that depend upon me, and I don't intend to disappoint them all by getting myself "slightly" killed"
The James Bond films of the 60s must have used this film as their template.
7/10

Saturday 29 October 2011

Film 86 "WALL - E" IMDB No. 47

Computer, define 'dancing.'


2008 Andrew Stanton
Several hundred years in the future man has filled earth with trash and has had to move into space leaving behind robots to tidy up the mess. Probes are sent from the mothership back to earth to find life.
The classic Disney money making machine does it again, cute robot characters that will sell loads of toys and a moral story for the parents to nod approvingly at and part with their cash.
There are some funny moments and it moves along at a pace that keeps you watching.
It's a kids film. 6/10

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Film 85 "Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind" IMDB No. 62

Hi, I'm Clementine, can I have a piece of chicken?


2004 Michel Gondry
Jim Carey, playing the straight guy and not covered in makeup (Joel), meets and falls in love with Clementine (Kate Winslet) with coloured hair. Clementine is a nutter, Joel doesn't know how to cope with her, Clementine has a procedure to remove Joel from her memory, when Joel finds out he gets it done too.
Lots of me wondering what was going on, when it gets to the end, still wasn't sure if the film started at the end or ends at the begining. I did know I wasn't going to get those 2 hours of my life back.
Complete twoddle.
2/10

Monday 17 October 2011

Fim 84 "Back To The Future" IMDB No. 72

1.21 Jiggawats? 1.21 jiggawatts? Great Scott!


1985 Robert Zemekis
Marty McFly is a time travelling teenager, transported from 1985 to 1955 in a Flux Capictor fuelled DeLorean car invented by Dr Brown. While in 1955 he has to make sure his mother and father meet and fall love or he won't be able to get back to the future. Full of 'will they - won't they?' 'will he - won't he?' moments and high jinx.
I watched it with the kids, probably the only film they have sat though with me until the end, they were on the edge of their seat at the end, they enjoyed it more that I did. I was 18 when this came out so it wasn't 'cool' for me to watch it or like it. it's watchable enough and moves along at a pace that keeps you interested. Not really my thing, just too American. It made a household name of Micheal J Fox.
7/10


Wednesday 12 October 2011

Film 83 "Up" IMDB No. 94

Whoa, that's gonna be like a billion transfers to get back to my house...


2009 Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Animated adventure from the Pixar studios. First we see the you Carl Fredrickson in awe of the famous adventurer Charles Muntz, we then have a quick run through of his life until his wife dies, the main part of the film starts here as he is trying to stay in his house despite the efforts of developers to evict him and send him to a retirement home. Being a balloon seller, the obvious solution is to fly himself and the whole house to Paradise Falls using thousands of balloons, inadvertently taking a young scout along for the ride.
Great production and animation, like most Disney films full to the brim with moral messages that the kids won't get but the parents can nod approvingly at and the occasional funny line. The best is "Squirrel!"

It's a kids film

6/10


On the positive side I am getting close to the end of this challenge, I can see the finishing line. So I'm going to now work up from the bottom of the list and save the top of the list for last, although I think I want to save 'It's a Wonderful Life' as the last film to watch at christmas. I sort of watched it in New York christmas 1997 in a dive hotel room after finding out we were going to be having a baby, it had adverts every ten minutes and the film lasted all day. I can't remember a thing about it, it'll be interesting to see if any of it comes back.

Sunday 9 October 2011

Film 82 "Some Like it Hot" IMDB No. 79

Story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop.


1959 Billy Wilder
Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis play 2 band musicians who witness a mob killing and have to leave town. They put on ladies clothes and get a job with Sweet Sue's band in Florida. On the train ride down they meet Sugar ( Marilyn Monroe) nipping burbon in the loo and strike up a friendship. Things get tricky when Joe (Tony Curtis) falls for Sugar and a rich elderly gentleman falls for Jerry (Jack Lemmon). Needless to say it all works out in the end.
Full of memorable famous scenes, the best of which has to be Marilyn singing the 'doo boo di doo' song. No wonder so many men wanted to shag her, she was well fit.
I didn't know there were 2 ends to a lollipop.
6/10

Friday 7 October 2011

Film 81 "Memento" IMDB No. 30

I've told you this before, haven't I?


2000 Christopher Nolan
Leonard (Guy Pearce from Neighbours) has short term memory loss, the last thing he can remember is his wife being killed. He investigates the murder by keeping notes and tattooing himself. The story is told backwards and forwards, which for me was at first confusing, then I realised what was happening and confusion turned into annoyance, because of the two storylines some of it overlaps and it seems like you're watching the same bits again.
Maybe I'll try it again, probably wont.
6/10

Wednesday 5 October 2011

Film 80 "The Great Dictator" IMDB No. 91

We've just discovered the most wonderful, the most marvelous poisinous gas. It will kill everybody.


1940 Charles Chaplin
A film that for me didn't know if it wanted to be a comedy satire or serious study of the situation in Europe during the Second World War.
As usual Chaplin stars writes directs produces and writes the theme tune, sings the theme tune..., kind of an early Denis Waterman. He plays a Power crazed dictator Hynkel and a poor jewish barber.
You can guess the rest, I did. Where were the funny bits? All the trailers feature this balloon scene, it's a fucking ballon, big deal.
I hope I don't have to watch too many more of his films, I don't like them.
2/10 for no funny dancing.

Tuesday 4 October 2011

Film 79 "Saving Private Ryan" IMDB No. 43

He better be worth it. He better go home and cure a disease, or invent a longer-lasting light bulb.


1998 Steven Spielberg
Set during the D-Day landings of June 1944. You wouldn't think that thousands of Allied Troups had been fighting a war for the last 5 years, this is all about the Americans, in fact, I don't remember seeing any other soldiers apart from them and Germans.
Anyway, Tom Hanks plays a group captain charged with finding a soldier called Private Ryan and bringing him home alive as all three of his brothers have been killed in action and the Chief Of Staff thinks their mum would like to have at least one of her sons return from war.
Despite the rubbish story and the over-americanisation, I found it quite good. It starts with a bloody great big beach fight, brilliantly filmed and atmospheric and carries you along right to the end.
7.5/10 

Sunday 2 October 2011

Film 78 "Rashomon" IMDB No. 81

A man has to make a woman his by his sword.


1950 Akira Kurosawa
Winner of best foreign film Oscar.
I'd never heard of it or read about it. So I like to watch them without finding anything out so I can be surprised and take it in with a clean head as it were.
A murder story is told from the view of three different people involved. It starts with two men sheltering from the worst film rain I have ever seen, the woodcutter says he has witnesed the most horrific thing ever. I think 'this is promising' and starts to tell the story, the same story is retold by the others. Yawn..
One if the characters is a 'bandit' but when it comes to sword fighting he can't even swing it in the direction of his assailant and keeps falling over. This is a feature of 50s and 60s Japaneese film making, lots of running about fast and falling over.
5/10

Saturday 1 October 2011

Film 77 "The Pianist" IMDB No. 54

20 zloty, that's all we have left, 20 zolty. What can I buy with 20 zloty? I am sick of cooking potatoes, potatoes, potatoes


2002 Roman Polanski
A talented Jewish pianist living in Warsaw with his family as the Germans invade and start the process that would become the hollocaust. His family is rounded up but he manages to evade the train and finds himself hiding in the ruins of the city right under the noses of the Nazis.
A hard subject to make an enjoyable film, and I found myself, as usual, holding my breath and being scared of the nasty nazis. But overall a very watchable film.
8/10

Friday 30 September 2011

Film 76 "Lawrence Of Arabia" IMDB No. 49

I say, Lawrence. You are a clown!


1962 David Lean
Thomas Edward Lawrence is a young man serving in North Africa in 1916, he is asked to gather intelligence on the Arab tribes, initially for 6 weeks, he stays with them for two years and leads them on desert raids against the Turks, eventually leading them on a journey across the desert to capture a key Turkish stronghold.
Full of big scenes and big acting. Oh and it is a long one, I had the directors cut at 228 minutes on 2 discs with a 5 minute black screen at the begining of each half while an Overture plays. My telly doesn't like this, because nothing is on the screen it thinks it can turn itself off, my fault for installing an intelligent power bar.
Never seen it before, I might revisit it one day, but for now I'll keep onward and tick it off.
7/10

Thursday 29 September 2011

Film 75 "Resevoir Dogs" IMDB No. 66

Somebody's shoved a red-hot poker up our ass, and I want to know whose name is on the handle!


1992 Quentin Tarantino
A group of strangers are assembled for a diamond heist, they are given false names by the boss Joe. Mr Pink, Mr White, Mr Brown, Mr Orange, Mr Blue and Mr Blonde.
The robbery goes wrong and they suspect they have an undercover cop amongst them.
This film really put Tarantino on the map.
Sharp dialogue, witty and gruesome. Great soundtrack.
9/10

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Film 74 "Singin' In The Rain" IMDB No. 78

Lina. She can't act, she can't sing, she can't dance. A triple threat


1952 Stanley Donan, Gene Kelly
It's the late 20's a silent movie production company need to move with the times and make a 'talkie' but one of their main stars can't sing or dance.
There is too much singing and far too much tap dancing going on here. Literally every time Gene Kelly is on screen he has the urge to jump around and start tap dancing with a massive grin and big white teeth showing, I reckon Gene is to blame for the American obsession with big white perfect teeth.
I struggled to get through this, it's pretty much everything I hate in a film.
I will never watch it again.
2/10

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Film 73 "Life Is Beautiful" IMDB No. 71

Buon giorno, Principessa!


1997 Roberto Benigni
"La vita è bella"
Set in 1930's Italy Guido, a very jolly optimistic character heads to a city to find a job, on the way he bumps, literally, into Dora and falls in love and when he does it again in the town he knows they are meant to be together. They marry and have a son, all seems to be pefect until the Nazi occupation, they are sent to a concentration camp. Guido pretends to his son that their stay at the camp is a big elaborate game, and they have to score points for hiding and doing as the shouty men say, the first to a thousnad points wins a tank.
As with a lot of these films I haven't seen I don't read about them before I watch them so I can be surprised by what unfolds. At first I didn't think I was going to like this, Guido is just a bit annoying for me, but as the film went on, the story drew me in, by the end I was holding my breath. Nazis have always troubled me.
8/10

Monday 26 September 2011

Film 72 "The Treasure of The Sierra Madre" IMDB No. 70

Gold itself ain't good for nothing except making jewelry with and gold teeth.


1948 John Huston
Set in Tampico Mexico in 1925, Humphry Bogart plays Fred C Dobbs who is down on his luck and begging for change to get a meal, he hooks up with Bob Curtin and they get a job building on the promise of good wages. They find out after working for weeks with no money the foreman is known for not paying up. They come accross him in a bar and beat the money out of him. After meeting an old time prospector they decide they are going to invest the money they have and dig for gold.
I loved this film, brilliant acting and story. I had to watch it streamed online because the DVD is not available to rent, I want to own this, a classic if there ever was one.
Just found it on Play for £4 :)
9/10

Sunday 25 September 2011

Film 71 "Pulp Fiction" IMDB No. 5

Say 'what' again. Say 'what' again, I dare you, I double dare you motherfucker, say what one more Goddamn time!


1994 Quentin Tarantino
A film about 3 seemingly unrelated stories unfolds with a conversation in a coffee shop about the pros and cons of holding up liquor stores and banks.
The main characters thoughout are Vincent and Jules, two hitmen working for Marsellus Wallace. They are tasked with retrieving a briefcase containing something precious to Marsellus. The stories unfold and intertwine as the film unfolds.
Story #1: VINCENT VEGA AND MARSELLUS WALLACE'S WIFE
Vincent is asked to take Mia out to dinner while Marsellus is out of town. Mia has a $5 shake at Jack Rabbit Slims, after dinner Mia unwittingly OD's on Vincents heroin, what follows is probably one of the best bits of film ever.
Story #2: THE GOLD WATCH
Butch is a prize fighter asked to take a dive for cash by Marsellus, Butch agrees but plans to double cross Marcellus, more brutal and harrowing scenes after the fight.
Story #3: THE BONNIE SITUATION
After a 'miracle' while retieving the briefcase Vincent and Jules require the help of 'The Wolf' for a cleanup.

The acting and dialogue throughout are brilliant, I don't think there is a wasted line or scene in it. This was a groundbreaking movie when it was released, many have tried to match it, all have failed.
John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Uma Thurman all had a string of movies after starring in this.
I haven't watched the top 4 yet, I thought I would save them till last, but at number 5 I'm gonna give this a 10/10

Saturday 24 September 2011

Film 70 "Sunset Boulevard" IMDB No. 32

I'll be up there again, so help me!


1950 Billy Wilder
Norma Desmond is a former Hollywood silent screen idol, now a recluse living on Sunset Blvd with only her butler, former husband and director, Max for company. A small time writer, Joe Gillis, finds himself at her house and somehow she persuades him to stay and read a screenplay she has been working on. With Joe's help Norma dreams of a comeback, but times and attitudes towards her have changed.
Gloria Swanson plays the part of Norma brilliantly showing the frailties and paranoia of Hollywood fame that are probably still there to this day.
7/10

Friday 23 September 2011

Film 69 "Modern Times" IMDB No. 69

What's the use of trying?


1936 Charles Chaplin
Chaplin plays a bumbling idiot who can't it seems even walk properly, I blame the stupidly big trousers and oversized shoes. He can't hold a job down and ends up on the streets where a series of events leads him to be living with a young lady.
This was Chaplins last 'silent' movie. I don't understand how he managed to make so many films doing basically the same thing in all of them.
The only good bit is the dancing in the cafe.
4/10 for the dancing.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Film 68 "The Sting" IMDB No. 98

I checked the place first. There were no dicks in there.


1973 George Roy Hill
Paul Newman and Robert Redford play a couple of Grifters with a plan to get revenge on a mob boss, who killed a good friend of theirs, by setting up a 'fake' bookie joint and taking him to the cleaners.
A fast paced story with twists and turns aplenty along the way. Great characters acted well, you can almost tell they had fun making it.
8/10

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Film 67 "2001: A Space Odyssey" IMDB No. 87

Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over.


1968 Stanley Kubrick
Back when men were monkeys a black monolith is found on earth, later in their evolution another is found on the moon. A story though time as man tries to reach the moon with the aid of a super computer HAL.
What a pile of shit this is, the result of what happens when the richest Hollywood directors have access to the best special effects and cocaine available. They would have been better off spending more on the monkey costumes.
Highlight was seeing Rigsby (Leonard Rossiter) on a space station with the worst Russian accent I have ever heard, a more interesting film would be how on earth he got the part
3/10

Monday 19 September 2011

Film 66 "The Lord of The Rings. The Return of The King" IMDB No. 12

Clever Hobbits, to climb so high!


2003 Peter Jackson
Final part of the trilogy, as Frodo and Sam get closer to Doom Mountain, where Frodo must destroy the ring, the rest of the Fellowship try to distract Sauron.
Big budget battle scenes and a heart warming finale.
It's over 3 hours long but I didn't notice, the time just disappears into an afternoon of fantasy adventure.
Not sure which of the these is my favourite, I may have to watch them again.
8.5/10

Sunday 4 September 2011

Film 65 "The Lord of The Rings. The Two Towers" IMDB No. 31

Stupid, fat hobit


2002 Peter Jackson
The adventure continues for the hobbits as Frodo tries to return the ring to the mountain from where it was created while the rest of Middle Earth battles against the evil forces of Sauron.
Brilliant battle scenes in this one, I made sure I had enough time to watch this and the next one right after each other, on previous occasions I have watched all three in a row. The family are out and the surround sound is up and the sub-woofer set to rumble.
Nearly 3 hours of fantasy greatness.
Not the first and not the last time I have/will watch this
8/10

Saturday 3 September 2011

Film 64 "Double Indemnity" IMDB No. 53

Mr. Keyes, I'm a Medford man - Medford, Oregon. Up in Medford, we take our time making up our minds.


1944 Billy Wilder
Set in the 1930's an insurance salesman, Walter Neff  falls for a woman and thinks they can get away with murdering her husband for the money. They would if it wasn't for his insurance analyst friend Barton Keyes who has a knack for sniffing out a fraudulent claim.
Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff is super cool
Classic 7/10

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Film 63 "Leon" IMDB No. 35

I was just in your kitchen. I didn't see no god damned pig.


1994 Luc Besson
Inspite of the crap over voice on the trailer, this is a really good movie.
Leon is a hitman who finds a heart when he crosses paths with Mathilda a 12 year old with a troubled life.
Gary Oldman is great as the lunatic cop.
7.5/10

Monday 29 August 2011

Film 62 "The Maltese Falcon" IMDB No. 99

When you're slapped, you'll take it and like it.


1941 John Huston
Humphry Bogart is Sam Spade a private detective caught up in the search for a black bird statue.
Brilliant crime thriller, absolute classic. I couldn't help notice Sam's never ending pouch of magical tobacco that rolled perfect ciggies every time like they had just come out of a packet, which probably took my mind off the story a bit.
What a shame the days of men acting like Bogart are gone.
I need to watch it again but after watching the trailer I remembered how good this film is.
I am giving it a 9/10

Saturday 27 August 2011

Film 61 "Gladiator" IMDB No. 96

Those giraffes you sold me, they won't mate. They just walk around, eating, and not mating. You sold me... queer giraffes. I want my money back.


2000 Ridley Scott
Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a Roman General loved and respected by his armies and the aging Emperor. On his death bed the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his successor over his son, Commodus.
Obviously Commodus is a bit pissed off about this and kills Maximus' family but fails to kill Maximus who ends up being a slave and taken to Rome to fight in the gladiator arenas.
A tale of love and revenge and friendship and betrayal and death. Good bloody fight scenes.
Multi award winning big sword fighting red blood spilling epic.
Definate watcher 8/10

Friday 26 August 2011

Film 60 "Paths of Glory" IMDB No. 52

Hello there, soldier. Ready to kill more Germans?


1957 Stanley Kubrik
Set in the trenches of northern France during WW1 Colonel Dax (Kirk
Douglas) is given an impossible mission by his commander to take a
German stronghold. During the assault almost all that advanced are
killed, realising it is futile to carry on the remaining men retreat.
The glory seeking General takes this as cowardice and mutiny and
decides to make an example of them.
The film's tagline was 'Now the screen blasts open the bombshell story
of a Colonel who led his regiment into hell and back - while their
maddened General waited for them - with a firing squad!'
An unexpected gem 8.5/10

Film 59 "Taxi Driver" IMDB No. 41

I think someone should just take this city and just... just flush it down the fuckin' toilet.


1976 Martin Scorsese
Travis Bickle (Robert deNiro) is a slightly mad insomniac Vietnam Vet living in New York and gets a job as a taxi driver, he takes the work no-one else likes, going to the less savoury parts of town inhabited by the pimps and pushers. Here he crosses paths with a very young hooker Iris (Jody Foster) and her pimp/boyfriend Matthew (Harvey Keitel) sporting one of the best pimp outfits every to grace the big screen.
Travis thinks it is his duty to clean the streets starting with the politians, one in particular Senator Palantine. He attends a rally and starts a chat with the secret agent who in the 70s were unable to spot a lunatic in a raincoat stuffed with guns, he doesn't go through with it but then turns his attention to the lowlifes in the hoods. Good shoot out at the end.
The film keeps you on edge you never really know what he is going to do until he does it.
70s classic 8/10

Saturday 6 August 2011

Film 58 "The Third Man" IMDB No. 65

Is that what you say to people after death? "Goodness, that's awkward"?


1939 Carol Reid
Just because a film has Orson Wells in it doesn't make it any good. This film has the most annoying tune running all the way through it, I think it's been used for a kids show during the 70s I can't remember which one.
Holly Martins goes to post war Vienna after being invited by his friend Harry Limes, on arrival he learns that Harry is dead, or is he? He spends the rest of the film trying to get to the bottom of it.
6/10

Film 57 "Psycho" IMDB No. 23

You mean the old woman I saw tonight wasn't Mrs. Bates?

This trailer is almost as good as the film itself.

1960 Alfred Hitchcock
Everyone must know the 'shower scene' I haven't seen the film before but a lot of it is already in there because it is so famous, lines scenes quotes places.
A young lady steels £40,000 from her employer, she drives to California to see her boyfriend and stops on the way at the Bates Motel, the rest is history.
8/10

Thursday 28 July 2011

Film 56 "Inglorious Basterds" IMDB No. 89

Bingo! How fun! But, I digress. Where were we?



2009 Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino's usual fare of telling different parts of the same overall story from different perspectives at different times reaching a crashendo finish.
When I was young I found it uncomfortable  watching German war films I couldn't understand how souless and unforgiving the Nazis were.
Set in WW2 occupied france we first meet Colonel Hans Landa a cold hearted Jew hunter, from the off he gave me the willies, he finds and kills a jewish family under the floorboards of a dairy farmhouse, except the young Shosanna Dreyfus escapes. We catch up with her as she becomes the owner of a small picture house in Paris and a meeting with a german soldier/actor results in him arranging an illustrious premier at her cinema with the promise of all the Nazi leaders attending.
News of this event reaches the 'Basterds', a group of Jewish-American guerilla soldiers led by the ruthless Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) who likes scalping nazis, they don't take prisoners, if one has to survive he makes sure that they can be clearly identified as a nazi, that bit made me cringe.
I could write loads about this one, but you have to watch it, I'm not giving anymore away.
Thoroughly enjoyed (if that's the right word) it.
9/10

Film 55 "A Clockwork Orange" IMDB No. 55

Hey dad, there's a strange fella sittin' on the sofa munchy-wunching lomticks of toast.

 (not an official trailer)

1971 Stanley Kubrick
Set in a future England Alex is a youth that likes a bit of the 'ultra-violent' and merrily goes around duffing people up and having a bit of the old 'in out'. One day he gets caught and sent to prison charged with murder, he hears of a new therapy that will have him released in a short time rather than serving his full sentence. The therapy it turns out is not tested thoroughly and has adverse reactions.
Its a weird kind of jolly jaunt from Kubricks imagination, plenty to keep watching to the end.
It's apparently a classsic from it's time that was banned on release, it all looks a bit tame these days.
I like the way the narator talks.
7.5/10

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Film 54 "Gran Turino" IMDB No. 95

Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone.


2008 Client Eastwood
Walt Kowalski is a recently widowed grumpy retired middle america ex-Korean retired vet. He used to work for Ford and built the '72 Gran Turino that sits in his garage. The neighbourhood he lives in has changed, once a modern suburbia for working class americans, now full of Hmong immigrants. Clint plays Walt perfectly, a racist old biggot that doesn't believe in god and harks for the old days.
Walt's neighbour has problems with local gang members and Walt takes him under his wing, eventually.
I won't give away the ending, but I enjoyed this film a lot.
8/10

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Film 53 "Bicycle Thieves" IMDB No. 88

I mind my own business, I bother nobody, and what do I get? Trouble.


1948 Vittorio De Sica
Story of a young father in post war Italy, he gets a job hanging posters, but must have a bicycle. His bike is in the pawn brokers so they sell their bed sheets to get it back and he starts his job.
The bicylce gets stolen, a lot of the remaining film is Ricci attempting to retrieve the bicycle.
It's a classic and critically acclaimed, I found the music score really annoying, it is basically the same tune over and over at different tempos, you can't get away with that these days.
6/10

Saturday 16 July 2011

Film 52 "Black Swan" IMDB No. 51

He picked me, mommy! I'm the new swan queen!


2010 Darren Aronofsky
A story about a ballet dancer that doesn't eat anything and hallucinates all the time. It could be about something else but all I could think all the way through was "Eat Something!"
Don't make me watch it again.
4/10

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Film 51 "12 Angry Men" IMDB No. 8

It's also possible for a lawyer to be just plain stupid, isn't it? I mean it's possible.


1957 Sidney Lumet
It's a classic. 12 members of a jury retired to consider the verdict, 11 say he's guilty, 1 says he's not.
The whole film is set in the room, as it was in the play. It looks like a foregone conclusion, a young hispanic american accused of murder, but Juror 8 doesn't think so and starts the conversations that expose their prejudices and preconceptions about the trial, the accused, and each other.
If you haven't seen it, like I hadn't, it's worth a watch. Terminator it aint.
7.5/10

Saturday 9 July 2011

Film 50 "Amadeus" IMDB No. 83

That was God laughing at me. Through that obscene giggle..


1984 Milos Forman
The story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as seen and told through flashbacks by Antonio Salieri.
Salieri had the power and politic as the court composer to Austrian Emperor, and he used this to keep Mozart down because of his jealousy of Mozarts genious.
Can't say I particularly looking forward to this one, but it's watchable, it hasn't been done in the Hollywood style which is a good thing.
On to the next film
7/10

Film 49 "Apocalypse Now" IMDB No. 36

Charlie don't surf


1979 Francis Ford Coppola
During the Vietnam war US Army Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is given a mission that doesn't exist, to take out a renegade Colonel Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando) who is believed to have gone mad but still in control of a loyal group of men. The film follows Willard from Siagon up the river into Cambodia.
Now this is a real war film, Coppola captures the soldiers perspective, with the aid of brilliant acting, perfectly. They don't know what they are doing there except doing as they are told, for the most part scared young men wanting to be home.
Loads of classic scenes that have gone down in film history, I love the start with 'The End' by The Doors as the music. It's a long film, the version I watched is 3 1/2 hours, but you you don't notice it.
I'm not a war film fan but this is a proper classic that should be higher on the list.
8/10

Friday 1 July 2011

Film 48 "To Kill a Mockingbird" IMDB No. 56

Jem is up in a tree, he said he won't come down until you agree to play football with the Methodists.


1962 Robert Mulligan
Set in the 1930s depression in the southern states of America. A lawer, Atticus Finch takes the case of a black man accused of raping a white woman. You can guess what happens, I reckon most american law dramas of the 80s and 90s follow this format.
This is the classic original, brilliantly acted and directed.
7/10

Thursday 30 June 2011

Film 47 "Amelie" IMDB No. 45

The fool looks at a finger that points at the sky.


2001 Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Amelie as a young girl didn't get much contact with people due her mother dying when she was young and her father mistakingly thinking she has a heart condition, this leads her to have a fantastical imagination. As a young woman she moves to the city and goes about helping people without them knowing.
Very watchable charming film. God I must have been in a good mood when I saw it, it could just as easily be an annoying french film. It is a film for girls.
7/10

Film 46 "M" IMDB No. 58

That is a nice ball you have.


1931 Fritz Lang
Someone is killing children in the city and the police are determined to catch them so they swarm the streets. The regular criminals are not happy about this so they plot to catch the killer before the police do. Tense and dramatic even a bit scary, much better than a lot of the stuff they make these days, it is a classic, I bet in 1931 it scared the pants of them.
8/10

Film 45 "Raging Bull" IMDB No. 76

You punch like you take it up the ass


1980 Martin Scorsese
Biographic picture of the life of American Boxer Jake LaMotta through the 50s and 60s in New york.
Robert deNiro is great as emotionally unstable Jake who's temper in the ring made him a champion but destroyed his family. The fight scenes are good and Scorsese catures the 50s New york scene really well. All shot in black and white.
I first saw this when I was about 17 and thought it was brilliant then and have thought of it as one of my favourite films without ever watching it again. I think it's still up there but I have another 50 or so films to watch yet. Cathy Moriaty as Vicki LaMottta is great.
If you haven't seen it, then do.
8.5/10

Wednesday 29 June 2011

Film 44 "The Green Mile" IMDB No. 85

I'm smellin' me some cornbread.


1999 Frank Darabont
Another one I had no idea what to expect, I paid no attention when it came out and haven't thought to watch it since, I have always tried to stay clear of Hollywood 'blockbusters' especially ones with Tom Hanks in. I was quite surprised the film carried me along without offending me too much.
It is set in the death row wing of a penatentiary in the 1930s and follows the events that happen when a giant man called John Cofy 'like the drink only spelt different' arrives on the wing to face the death penalty. We soon work out that he has a gift of healing and didn't comit the crime he is accused of.
I'm glad I've seen it, but I won't be setting the recorder if it's on telly. Too much Hanks and God and Miracles.
7/10

Film 43 "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to stop worrying and love the bomb" IMDB No. 34

I can swear to you there is nothing wrong with my bodily fluids


1964 Stanley Kubrick
A mad paranoid Brigadier General sets in motion a plan to launch a nuclear strike against the Russians and breaks communications with his superiors. The B52 has the go codes no-one knows the stop codes the BG gets more madder as the superiors try to sort it all out.
Fantastic plot and characters, Peter Sellers shows his talents playing several parts. The star of the film for me was Sterling Heyden as General Jack D. Ripper. He's funny, he's scary.
This is a definate watch againer
8/10

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Film 42 "Cinema Paradiso" IMDB No. 77

I don't want to hear you anymore, I want to hear about you.


1988 Giuseppe Tornatore
Story of a boy growing up in a Sicilian village told as flashbacks from the now famous film director.
The young boy called Toto has a fascination  for films, he tries all the tricks to get into the local film house the projectionist Alfredo eventually lets him help out.
For the most part it set in the 20's and 30's when the cinema was the focal point of the village, the scenes inside the theater are great and the acting of the young boy is especially good.
I would say this is a bit of a girls film, but watchable and enjoyable enough.
7/10

Friday 3 June 2011

Film 41 "Vertigo" IMDB No. 44

Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere.


1958 Alfred Hitchcock
Set in San Francisco, a retired police detective is asked by an old college friend to keep an eye on his wife who he thinks is going mad obsesed with a dead ancestor.
The retired detective, Scottie, obviously never worked undercover, it is some of the worst following I have seen in any film. He follows her a lot and becomes obsessed with her.
There is the usual Hitchcock twist and turn or two and a dramatic ending.
I didn't like this as much as Rear Window, probably because it's just a bit too lovey dovey.
I almost forgot, Scottie is scared of heights, so he can't follow her everywhere.
I may return to it one day.
6.5/10

Monday 30 May 2011

Film 40 "Lord of the Rings. The Fellowship of the Ring" IMDB No.19

Nobody tosses a dwarf.


2001 Peter Jackson
A fantasy tale of Hobbits and Dwarfs and Elves and Man and Wizards and Dark Lords to name but a few. There is a lot going on here a lot to take in. The version I watched was about 3 hours long and tells a lot of the history behind the story and sets up a lot of what is to come in the next installments and it carries you along at a good pace. i didn't think I would like this, it's from a kids book after all, but I did enjoy it a lot. The scenery and sets are amazing, fighting action scenes are good, the surround sound was really rumbling.
The story goes a bit like this.
An ancient ring has powers that makes it want to return to its owner, this is given to a little hobbit, when the goodies find out he has it they join forces to beat the baddies. The ring has to be destroyed by casting into a mountain deep in enemy territory, the hobbit says he will destroy it. A group of the goodies say they will help him.
I want to watch the next one
8.5/10

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Film 39 "Alien" IMDB No. 46

We ain't outta here in ten minutes, we won't need no rocket to fly through space.


1979 Ridley Scott
The crew of a deep space mining ship get woken from hypersleep when the ship's computer interprets a signal from a planet as an  SOS. You know what's going to happen, it's going to kick off with an Alien, it's all there in title of the film, it wasn't an SOS it was a warning.
It starts pretty slowly as the crew prepare to investigate, like a classic horror film it just keeps building the tension. There's plenty of gorey action and the ending made me hold my breath.
I last saw this when I was a teenager and probably didn't realise how good it was then, this was like watching it for the first time.
Brilliant 8/10

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Film 38 "Downfall" IMDB No. 93

What do you expect from a teetotal, non-smoking vegetarian?


2004 Oliver Hirschbiegel
Set in Berlin in 1945, it tells the story of the end of The Second World War as told by Hitler's private secretary Traudl Junge. Let me say there isn't any fun or humour in this film, it's pretty grim. If this were about The Brits loosing I reckon there would be a bit of humour, the Germans were a weird bunch, in the face of defeat instead of having a cup of tea and thinking 'at least it's over now' they preferred to kill themselves. There is a lot of guns in mouths and super quick poison capsules going on.
Still the sets are brilliant and the acting takes you there and you really get the feel for what was going on at the time in that environment.
Great to see a war film from a different perspective, albeit without the happy ending.
8/10

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Film 37 "Terminator 2 Judgement Day" IMDB No. 42

You just can't go around killing people.


1991 James Cameron
It's like buses, another James Cameron film, not intentionly I didn't know he directed this, I'm not that sad, but I do now, so now I am.
Another Terminator is sent back to 'terminate' John Connor, who is going to save the world (if he survives)
The twist is that the terminator that was sent back in the original Terminator 1 to kill his mum Sarah is actually the goody and the baddy is the one that looks the goody. You don't work this out until about 10 minutes into the film.
Lots of guns and shooting and blowing things up and suffering injuries that would kill people but because they are future robots they survive until the end, it does end eventually.
7/10

Film 36 "Aliens" IMDB No. 61

Not bad for a human


1986 James Cameron
Follow up to the original 1979 Alien, finds Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) being rescued from her drifting spacecraft some 50 odd years  after she escaped the alien lifeform. Surely she wouldn't go back knowing what she has been through, but go back she does and it all happens again.
I wasn't too woried about watching these in order, because I thought I'd remember the first one, it's a classic. What I didn't realise was it was about 30 years ago I watched Alien and don't recall watching Aliens at all, so it was all like watching a new film. I reckon the CGI and special effects hold up even by todays standards, the scenes and backdrops are awesome, the acting, in some parts, is very 80's.
Not too scary, but it is very tense.
8/10

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Film 35 "Braveheart" IMDB No. 90

It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom.(or a wig)


1995 Mel Gibson
Freedom fighter William Wallace gives it the big 'un against the Brits in 14th century Scotland.
Once I got over Mel and his massive hair I was able to settle into it. It's got all the usual battles, friendships, love and hate, good and evil, all with really nice teeth.
I have now seen it and don't have to do it again
7/10

Film 34 "American History X" IMDS No. 40

I'm the most dangerous man in this prison. You know why? 'Cause I control the underwear.


1998 Tony Kaye
Derek Vinyard is a former neo-nazi skinhead released from prison in Los Angeles after serving time for killing 2 black guys that tried to steal his truck. Prison changed his racist views and we get flashbacks to his prison time throughout the film as he tries to stop his younger brother Danny heading down the same path as he did in his youth.
There's a lot of violence and it doesn't give the subject too much of the Hollywood treatment, it's pretty true to the tale and much of what goes on keeps it's edge.
I think this is one to watch again.
Easy 8/10

Saturday 7 May 2011

Film 33 "L.A. Confidential" IMDB No. 67

You say "fuck" a lot.


1997 Curtis Hanson
Set in 1950's Los Angeles Police Department, following three different kinds of officers trying unravel a murder each in their own way. A story of corruption, drugs, prostitution, murder and annoying Hollywood reporters.
An early film for Russell Crow fans.
I watched about an hour and a half of this until I realised I had seen it before. I don't have to watch it again.
7/10

Film 32 "Rear Window" IMDB No. 21

You'd think the rain would've cooled things down. All it did was make the heat wet.


1954 Alfred Hitchcock
This is a classic, why have I never watched any of the classic ones before?
Jeff Jeffries (great name) is an action photographer who is forced to stay at home after breaking his leg, all he has to do is look out of the rear window of his appartment in New York observing the lives of all the people in the neighbouring appartments. After a time he becomes convinced that one of the neighbours has killed their wife but not being able to leave his appartment he can't prove it, so he enlists the help of his nurse and girlfriend.
If you haven't seen it, you should, it's a perfect rainy afternoon film. They don't make them like this anymore.
7/10

Monday 25 April 2011

Film 31 "American Beauty" IMDB No. 39

Pass the asparagus

1999 Sam Mendes
Story about living the middle class American dream. Kevin Spacey plays Lester Burnham as he works through a mid-life crisis.
Can't say I was particularly looking forward to seeing this, it's the kind of film I avoid. This is perfectly watchable and the ending is pretty good, but I just didn't care about any of it, it didn't get me.
I haven't watched half as much as I should this month because the weather has been smashing, on the plus side, the allotment is looking great.
I need to move on and start watching a few that I know I am going to enjoy.
Anyway, not for me. 7/10

Saturday 9 April 2011

Film 30 "Toy Story 3" IMDB No. 26

Estoy rodeado por criaturas extrañas y desconozco sus intenciónes. ¿¡Quién anda ahí? ¿Amigo? O enemigo?


2010 Lee Unkrich
When my kids were smaller they watched Toy Story on a loop for about a year, then 2 came out and they watched that too maybe a hundred times or was it a thousand? Anyway. I am familiar with the characters and the story so far.
Now Andy, the toys owner, is all grown up and off to college so he puts most of the toys in a bag to go in the loft, somehow this bag ends up at a daycare centre run by a strawberry bear called Lotso. Woody hatches a plan to rescue them.
It's a good story and there's lots of new characters, Ken is great, and the animation is brilliant.
Buzz gets reset to spanish. Lots of very clever touches throughout.
You can tell a few of the scenes were designed for 3D but most of the time its just good fun to watch.
8/10