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.
6 comments:
I dunno if i can reach 10, but here are some of my favs.
Troy - Excellent movie. Was never a fan of Brad Pitt and am still not, but i loved his performance in Troy. Loved his cocky-ness and disregard to authority ie King Agamemnon. wish i could spit out some of the same lines he said to my managers here. Fight scenes were brilliant... especially the fight scene with Pitt and Eric Bana. Sword fighting at its best. I must say i have watched this movie about 20 times.
Braveheart - from the synopsis i read at the back of the VHS tape, i really thought this movie would be shite. the usual rebellion against an unjust ruler. how original. my sister rented it coz she studied in Edinburgh (is the spelling correct?) and visited Fort William so of course she wanted to check it out. So i thought what the heck...and then after watching, i was totally mesmerized by the movie. I nearly broke down in tears towards the end of the movie where he was tortured and he shouted FREEDOM!!!
13th Warrior - Awesome movie.. based on the famous Beowulf story but done in a more realistic fashion. loved the way Anotnoio Banderas learnt the foreign language by just listening and then it was all in English as we understand it. DVDs are hard to find, i am looking for one for my collection as well but can't seem to find it.
Fight Club - Most common comments i heard form others who have watched it “he is just a guy with a dual personality” yes, but its much deeper. its about who we want to be and to what lengths are we willing to go to change and be that person. for him, he was tired of being a corporate suck up who is in a vicious cycle of debt and desire for material things. get more money, spend more..get a promotion and pay raise... spend even more money. Sound familiar right? i think most of us live our lives like this. was a wake up call for me on how we are constantly chasing the carrot like a donkey. I know i am still chasing it right now, but i want to change it soon if i can.
Pulp Fiction - Excellent movie. was my first ever Quentin Tarantino movie... loved the way all the different parts which didn't seem to fit at first... finally made absolute sense at the end. Brilliant stuff.
Highlander - Share the same sentiments as you. I thought the storyline was just so original and it was perfectly done...looks like a cheesy movie today, but when i first saw it, it was state of the art. The sequels were just horrid. i have the 4 in 1 DVD which has all 4 highlander movies. Yes.. there was 4, the last one was with someone called Duncan McLeod from the highlander series i think.
Usual Suspects - Blew me away... at the end, the whole thing and all the characters were just made up... well at least that is my take on what the ending was about as opinions differ on what really happened.
and Keiser Sossay... the story of how he killed his family... scary stuff man.
great great choices....many on my favourite list as well.
and i forgot another one..Unbreakable....also a great movie
Is that the one with Bruce Willis and directed by M Night Shyamalan? Never really saw that. think i have only caught bits and pieces of it on Astro.
yup thats the one its slow in its pace but its got great story, accepting who you are and how that can save relationships, good vs evil..etc...best scene is the hanging of the cape..
Hmm some truly classic movies you guys have listed. I've some comments before giving my 10.
1. HIghlander has some classic music as well. Queen's- Who Wants to live Forever - still strikes a certain memory cord of ye olde MC days.
2. Gary Oldman actually says 'See Me, See Me Now!'
My top 10 choice, just to be different, will be the non-commercial non-big budget movies.
1. Sixth Sense - He's blood la, how not to mention him. But this movie deserves the nod simply because it immediately captivated the world and literally brought Bruce Willis back from the Hollywood Dead. 2 things about the movie, the incredible twist in the end and the line ...'I see dead people'.
2. Reservoir Dogs - This movie truly connected music with movies. Now every time I listen to 'Stuck in the Middle With You' I think of this movie or when I think of this movie I think of the song. If you cant remember - its the ear cutting scene. Classic!! Of course he brought the whole idea to another level with Pulp Fiction, including his choppy scene order.
3. Irreversible - Speaking of choppy scene order, this french film was a directorial genius. The back to front order was intelligently done in that not only did it keep the audience clueless but it also kept the storyline intact. Oh and the rape scene was so disturbing I had to pause it for a second.
4. Memento - Another ingenious movie that was made all the better with Guy Pearce acting. That guy is truly underrated la.
5. What's Eating Gilbert Grape - I must say after watching Benny & Joon, I told myself I have to watch Johnny Depps next movie. And this was it. What more it launched a certain Leonardo di Caprio into the limelight. Classic scene was getting the mother out of the house.
6. Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - Vinnie Jones acting !!! The turn about of events and the unfolding of the ensuing adventure is a classic hollywood template. But this was done with british flair and humour. Best quote of the movie also sums it up ... "Its been emotional".
7. Scent of a Woman - Gabrielle Anwar ... need I say more. Ask anybody about this movie and you get the reaction ... Hoo Ha! Al Pacino's best performance to date. He turned the ending from a cliched hollywood ending to a memorable scene with his delivery of the speech.
8. Good Will Hunting - Robin Williams is actually a serious actor. He plays serious better than a comedian. The story revolving around the male relationships is a perfect capture of how men really behave. We all have that slight emotional sensitivity, but we show it with just a look into a friends eyes and tap on the shoulder. Enough said cos its understood.
9. Young Guns - How not to mention a cowboy flick. Especially one with so many characters that leaves you wanting to play act just about any one of them.
10. Rain Man - Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. That scene in Heat at the cafe with both Al Pacino and De Niro, well this movie is like that but not just one scene - an entire movie. And this movie made people realise he's not just a pretty face.
Some honorary mentiones ....
1. Goodfellas - Joe Pesci just rocks here
2. Night on Earth - If you thought Babel was original, this was actually the 1st movie that had 5 different stories with characters from around the globe made into one movie.
3. A Few Good Men - for the line "You Cant Handle The Truth!"
4. Meet Joe Black - The part where Joe Black reveals his true identity and how he credits Bill Parish can also be taken as a credit to Sir Anthony Hopkins entire acting career.
hmmm...some excellent choices...see me, see me now...oh yeah...and the light ...dont forget the light.
tapping you on the shoulder...its been emotional
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