A naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process. Alright, alright, we are once again looking at the Hollywood New Wave, and I am pumped about it. This was the first time I have ever watched Midnight Cowboy, and I knew only the following: It was originally rated X, making it the only … Continue reading 43. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
When a rich woman’s ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself. I love a good black and white, 20th century romantic comedy. I especially love it when that black and white, 20th century romantic comedy stars Jimmy Stewart. Lucky for me, The Philadelphia Story is exactly that. Directed by George Cukor, The … Continue reading 44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
A weary gunfighter attempts to settle down with a homestead family, but a smoldering settler/rancher conflict forces him to act. Somebody please tell me why there are nearly ten Westerns on AFI’s 10th Anniversary Top 100 list? That is completely unnecessary. Have two, maybe three, and make sure they are all different and celebrated for different things. Because if I have to watch one more … Continue reading 45. Shane (1953)
A spoiled heiress running away from her family is helped by a man who is actually a reporter in need of a story. Out of 100 films on the AFI list, only 8 of them are pre-code films. And, out of those 8 films, only one of them is a romantic comedy that greatly alludes to sex throughout the film: It Happened One Night. Honestly, … Continue reading 46. It Happened One Night (1934)
Disturbed Blanche DuBois moves in with her sister in New Orleans and is tormented by her brutish brother-in-law while her reality crumbles around her. If there’s one thing to know about me through all this, it’s that Elia Kazan is, hands down, one of my favorite directors of all time. From On The Waterfront to Baby Doll to A Face in the Crowd to this … Continue reading 47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window is the mother of all suspense films, in my opinion. It has everything you could ever need in a suspense film. It has drama, murder, and great chemistry between the two leads. Rear Window stars Jimmy Stewart as wheelchair bound photographer … Continue reading 48. Rear Window (1954)
I have made the decision to not watch this film. I understand why it is on this list, however I cannot bring myself to watch it. And that’s not just because it’s a three hour and seventeen-minute silent film. Intolerance was DW Griffith’s response to the backlash he received about his film Birth of a Nation, a film that is terribly racist and needs to … Continue reading 49. Intolerance (1916)
I was recently rewatching Raiders of the Lost Ark for fun. I have loved the film since I was a child. It’s one that was shown to me on one of the movie nights my family and I would have when I was growing up. It wasn’t until I was older, however, that I realized two things about this so-called hero: 1. He is, or … Continue reading Indiana Jones and the Problematic “Hero”
A meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron. The truth? I’ve never seen this film all the way through. I’ve caught parts here and there. I even went to see this film in the theater when it came out in 2001. My grandparents thought it … Continue reading 50. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy. Ok, I’m going to be completely honest: I do not like West Side Story. It is my least favorite movie musical, possibly of all time (right up there with Annie). But, seeing as the film comes in at number 51 on this list, I had … Continue reading 51. West Side Story (1961)
