A former San Francisco police detective juggles wrestling with his personal demons and becoming obsessed with the hauntingly beautiful woman he has been hired to trail, who may be deeply disturbed. Confession time: I have never seen Vertigo in one sitting, in its entirety. I have seen many scenes, and I knew an awful lot about the film. For example: did you know that Vertigo was one of the … Continue reading 9. Vertigo (1958)
Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire’s world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader. I don’t think I’ve ever watched this film from the angle of evaluating it, cinematically. Now, I’ve watched it a number of times, of course, because I … Continue reading 13. Star Wars (1977)
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 screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return. Sunset Blvd marks Billy Wilder’s fourth appearance on the American Film Institute’s “100 Greatest Films” list, and rightfully so. I’ve argued repeatedly that there are too many Western’s on this list, but I would also argue that there’s never enough Billy Wilder. That man, time and time again, … Continue reading 16. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
An ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of the syndicate’s victims. I tell you what, we just don’t get the same cattiness from filmmakers like we did in the 50s and 60s. Elia Kazan made On the Waterfront as a direct response … Continue reading 19. On the Waterfront (1954)
A hapless New York City advertising executive is mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies and is pursued across the country while he looks for a way to survive. Do you enjoy dialogue heavy Hitchcock films? Because, if you do, this one’s for you. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I love this film, but I am fond of it. Honestly, this … Continue reading 55. North by Northwest (1959)
