The story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks. I remember first seeing this film in college. I was taking a class on Filmmakers of the 50s and 60s. We were studying David Lean and we watched Lawrence of Arabia over 2 class periods over 2 … Continue reading 7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer’s client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother. One of the few true horror films on AFI’s 100 Greatest Films list is this Alfred Hitchcock classic. Released in theaters in 1960, I remember reading somewhere that, once the film began, you wouldn’t be … Continue reading 14. Psycho (1960)
A disillusioned college graduate finds himself torn between his older lover and her daughter. I find it very fitting that, as I sit down to write this post, it looks as if it may rain outside. I have only ever watched Mike Nichols’ The Graduate twice in my life: once as I was ending high school, going into college and the other in my junior year of … Continue reading 17. The Graduate (1967)
A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower. If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s this: I once watched The Sound of Music everyday for six months straight. Now, for clarification, this was years ago when I had first seen the film and did not own the motion picture soundtrack. This was long … Continue reading 40. The Sound of Music (1965)
Bored waitress Bonnie Parker falls in love with an ex-con named Clyde Barrow and together they start a violent crime spree through the country, stealing cars and robbing banks. Ladies, gentlemen, and non-binary, here we have one of the defining films of the Hollywood New Wave: 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde. Old Hollywood had no goddamn idea how to react when this film came out and … Continue reading 42. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
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)
Movie Musical Monday: Hairspray (2007) I wish that Disney, with all its recent musical live action versions of their animated films, would take a hint from 2007’s Hairspray, and cast properly with actors who can actually sing. The casting for this film is near perfect. Nearly every person, save for Christopher Walken, has a legitimate singing voice. And even then with Walken, the one song … Continue reading Movie Musical Monday: Hairspray (2007)
A mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action by attempting to liberate a presidential campaign worker and an underage prostitute. I don’t think I’ve ever been so engrossed in a film while simultaneously being incredibly uncomfortable in my entire life. And I’m sure that is exactly what … Continue reading 52. Taxi Driver (1976)
From the moment I saw the first trailer for Bad Times at the El Royale, I could tell that we would be in for something awesome. For your reference, I’m specifically talking about this trailer: Bad Times At The El Royale Trailer Bad Times at the El Royale is about seven strangers, who are all more than they appear who all just happen to arrive at … Continue reading Bad Times at the El Royale: The Best Film I’ve Seen This Year
Elia Kazan is, without a doubt in my mind, my favorite director of all time. He’s one that has influenced my own work in a vast amount of ways. So, let’s put aside for a moment the unfortunate fact that he is one of the few that named names as a witness for the House Committee on Un-American Activities, ending the careers of several people, … Continue reading A Brief Look: Elia Kazan
