My late entry into the A 2 Z Movie W/O
Jun 17 '05
The Bottom Line These may not be the best but they are the first movies that came to mind.
This took a little while because there were some letters where a film name just wouldn't come up. Still didn't. Some came immediately and some I wanted to change when I thought of a film I thought was better. Even so I stayed with the ground rules of this W/O and went with my first thoughts of any film, good or bad.
A. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. These two first characters have so many fun movies that kids today haven't had the chance to see. It's well written comedy with a touch of slap stick that amuses from beginning to end. Funny guys.
B. The Birds. Though a bit dated this film is Hitchcock at his finest. One of my daughters can't even watch this film again. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was thought of at the very same time. I loved this buddy movie. My wedding song was taken from this movie. No it wasn't "Rain Drops..."
C. Chinatown. Jack Nicholson has always been a favorite of mine. This is an early film of his that also has Faye Dunaway who I could watch for hours. She doesn't even have to say a word. This Polanski film was a haunting drama that was masterfully directed.
D. Deliverance. No hesitation thinking of this one. Jon Voight was outstanding in his role and Burt Reynolds, who basically played Burt Reynolds, was perfect in this film as the outdoors man who was reduced to a bystander role while Voight morphed into a character who had to make some serious and terrifying decisions.
E. The Elephant Man. What an incredible movie this was about a deformed man with Prosteous Syndrom who is under the care of a doctor, Anthony Hopkins. The line, "I am not an animal. I am a human being! I...am...a man!" is well remembered. Anne Bancroft, who just recently died was also in this film.
F. Field of Dreams. This film had humour, drama, mystery and a bit of magic. Kevin Costner and Darth Vader drove this film to its uplifting and beautiful ending. I love this film.
G. Groundhog Day came to mind and like the film that repeats each day over and over, I can watch this film over and over too. Bill Murray, a cynical guy who is just looking out for number one gave a great performance going through varied emotions to finally become a man who does truly care for others and can see the brighter side of life.
H. Heidi. I don't recall much about this film, but it always comes to mind when I think of the New York Jets, "Heidi Game". I'm not so sure this story is really known out of the NY area but I'll never forget it.
It was a regular season game with the Jets up 32-29 over the Raiders with a bit more than a minute to play. Then the station went to a commercial break and never went back to the game. They started the movie Heidi. In that little time the Raiders took the lead and won 42-32 and we didn't have any idea as to what happened. Still now, this is known as the "Heidi Game".
I. It's a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart, the guy from a small town, learns how big a man he really is and how his kindness effected so many people. This holiday special is timeless and a must watch every Christmas season for me.
J. Jaws. This very early Spielberg film had the right mixture of realism and fear of a dreaded monster. The interplay between Roy Scheider, a very young Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw is one of the best of all time in my mind. There was something in each of these men that seemed to connect with me even though they were all so different.
"You're gonna need a bigger boat"
K. Karate Kid. Mr. Miyagi came to life in this film as the master who takes a simple kid with heart onto a journey to win using training methods that seemed a bit strange to the student. "Wipe on, Wipe off". This is a simple underdog film like a Rocky that is easy to watch while rooting for Ralph Macchio, the Karate Kid.
L. Lord of the Flies. The original of this film masterfully shows how even in kids there is an animal instinct just below the surface of the human. This was an excellent film but the reason I really think of it right away is because my son nearly made it as a lead in the, not as good as the original, remake of 1990. I remember taking him to Manhattan many times to read for the part and do test filming with the other actors. Eventually that role went to Balthazar Getty of the oil tycoon J. Paul Getty's family.
M. Midnight Cowboy. This is another Jon Voight film. This time he plays a naive cowboy "hustler" who teams up with, then up and coming, Dustin Hoffman who plays an unforgettable role of street-smart, sleazy and limping Ratso Rizzo. This unlikely duo hook up and take us through the dark streets of NYC in its bleak days. Though the film is bit dated, (it was rated X when it first came out, but would seem tame by todays standards) some of the scenes do show the reality of the sixties as I remember them. This film also showcases two guys who you know, after seeing them here, would be noted character actors.
N. The Nutty Professor. Here's Jerry Lewis alone at his best with face and body motions that even a Jim Carry can learn from. His natural ability to get a laugh shows in this film where he goes from nerd to cool guy and back again.
O. On the Waterfront. Marlon Brando is here as Terry Mallow and the perfect line showing his personality and feelings, "I coulda been a contender". This dockside film shows some of Brando's incredible acting and you have Rod Stieger in the film to boot.
P.Pinocchio and Pulp Fiction both came to my mind at the same time. I am not going to show any way in which they compare. Disney's Pinocchio is a must film for todays kids who no longer are taught to accept their own actions and mistakes. The film also has a favorite song of mine, "When You Wish Upon a Star"
Pulp Fiction is a Quenton Tarrentino film with John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson. These guys are unbelievably good in their roles in this dark movie that doesn't have any redeeming value that I can see but all the same is an amazing film.
Q.?????????????
R. Rain Man. Dustin Hoffman as Raymond picked up another Oscar in this film. I really thought that Tom Cruise's fine acting as Raymond's brother Charlie was overlooked. He too was excellent and I happen to enjoy a film where a character goes through changes as Cruise did in this one. Excellent story, acting and film.
S. The Sting. Robert Redford and Paul Newman got together in this film that was interesting to me in the way it shower grifters and how they work out their diverse scams. I loved the twists and turns this film took and Robert Shaw played the perfect "mark". The "Rag" music was also memorable.
T. Them. This is an old horror film that was made when I was about five years old, 1954. I didn't see it until a few years later but it was scary to see giant ants making their way into my world. In seeing it recently it's pretty lame but the idea of giant insects still scares me.
U. Unforgiven. This took me a while to think of. I had a problem with this letter. Clint Eastwood clearly made it evident to me that I could watch his films as well as watch him act. Eastwood has become an incredible film maker and this flick shows it. I also found it interesting that he changes the "cowboy" image that he has often played into a more real idea of who they really were.
V. Viva Las Vegas. OK so this isn't a great film and it doesn't have a great actor in it but it is still Elvis Presley! Add to him a very sexy Ann-Margret and you have a film that captures the eyes. Listening to Elvis songs through the film helps too.
W.Wait Until Dark. This movie, having to do with drugs and a blind gal, Audry Hepburn, who I'm not crazy about, had one of the best thriller endings in a film I have ever watched. You don't want to be alone in the dark as this film moves on. Man this one was really scary!
X ????
Y. Yankee Doodle Dandy and Young Frankenstein came into my mind together and I couldn't write about one without the other. I grew up watching "Million Dollar Movie" on one of our local stations and they showed the same flick over and over throughout the week. I remember watching James Cagney doing his singing and dancing in this flag waving and very entertaining film as a youngster. I wonder if kids would watch it today? Not...and that's too bad.
Young Frankenstein is one of the funniest films I have ever watched. Mel Brooks made a film with characters I'll never forget starring Marty Feldman, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, and Peter Bowl as the monster. Who remembers him singin' "At the Ritz"?
Z. Zorro. It came to mind but I don't recall much of it. Zulu was a good film worth watching.
Oh well, a poor ending but this was fun.
Thanks for the opportunity to relive some fine and not so fine films.
You too can join in by going to. romasuave's Random A 2 Z Movies
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