Recently i realised that my conversations keep revolving around my expectations that the crisis we are about to face in 2009 will be worse than the Asian crisis in 1998. And i kept asking the question - if i lost my job, can i get thru 2009. And more importantly i asked all my friends and family the same question.
I am sure that i will come back to this topic in time to come. BUT, for now, i am tired of the bad news or in spreading bad news. So i am asking a whole set of different questions?
CAN you name your top ten Movies?
Someone asked me this question and i was genuinely stumped. So as i lay here with my usual bout of insomnia (i have mastered the knack of typing while lying down)...i have looked to answer this question.
In no particular order -
1. The Godfather trilogy - WHY? coz no other movie has so many scenes that are classic and timeless. From, Michael Corleone telling the Sicilian father - Would you rather gain a son or your daughter lose a father? OR being hit by the thunderbolt and the wedding night scene....or in two when he shuts the door on Kay (no lines but potrays michaels fall from grace or when he kisses fredo and says i know it was you..i know it was you. TO Robert De Nero with one finger wagging calmly or the classic - every time i try to get out, they pull me back in. . 1 was Michael's loss of innocence, 2 was his fall from grace and 3 was his fight for redemption. Definitely one of the best trilogies of all time. (3 was not great but it rounded the stories well and brought it full circle). The greatest ensemble cast of all time.
2. HEAT for the most amazing cafe scene with Robert De Nero and AL Pacino. I can never remember the actual dialogue but they sizzled.
3. True Romance, Tarantino's best script ever (written with Avery something). From the touching roof top scene with Patricia Arquette and Christian Slater...to Brad Pitt's stoner cameo to the most brutal fight scene between Patricia Arquette and James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) in his malicious best and the best - Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper in a glorious scene where dennis hopper gets tortured and disses Sicilians with Walken getting more angry. This movie would make my top 5 any day.
4. The Highlander - only the 1. Please destroy the sequels. The Highlander had a touch of low budget but had a great fantasy story - mysticism, mystery, a great villain (the best in my mind). And two lines stand out - there can be only one AND its better to burn out than to fade away.
5. Last of the Mohicans - ok i have to admit Madeline Stowe in this movie was hot BUT who could not love the heroes and their sacrifices. Daniel Day Lewis running to save Madeline and viciously fighting his way thru with two axes. Uncas laying his hand on his father before he gives chase to save the sister. He dying at the hands of the Indian mohawk (another great character) or the Sister jumping to join Uncas. Uncas father with his huge axe running, diving and killing the Mohawk in 3 swings. I am a fan of the book and although they took great liberties in the movie - the sense of the time and the heroes were well potrayed. Another great movie and i swear the best date movie of all time.
6. Bram Stoker's Dracula. I know this is an odd choice but i watched this movie when Winona was the light (remember the light, P). I found it sexy and the final redemption touching. Dont forget Monica Belucci's cameo...damn. Best scene - Dracula in blue Lennon rimmed sunglasses looking at Winona - Look at me, Look at me.
7. Leon - another great cast of characters from the deranged cop, the immaculate assassin, the above her age revenge filled kid...everything worked and the ending superb.
8. The Field of Dreams - who can forget If y0u build it, they will come. A most unassuming and surprising movie but one where you could not help smiling and feeling good after the movie.
9. The Untouchables - the train scene was De Palma's greatest movie masterpiece and of course robert deniro's famous - Fark you and your Family.... or sean connery's massacre and death scene. A great movie with one of the best scores ever.
10. SevEN - the bravest movie of all time where there is no happy ending and introduced the amazing kevin spacey with freeman and pitt playing their roles perfectly. The head in the box was just so damn classic. And the ending line one of the best in movie history - "Dante wrote, the world is a beautiful place and worth fighting for - freeman overtone...i believe in the second part.
