A Few of My Favorite Things: Patti’s All-Time Favorite Movies
Nov 24 '05
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I thought for a long time about doing this list, and I usually pushed it to the side. With all the films I’ve viewed in my lifetime, it’s hard to pick ones that are my favorites. Usually I end up with a list in my head that consists of a lot of movies I’ve recently seen, rather than a comprehensive list of films I’ve seen through the years.
However, as I’m reflecting on the past year and all that’s gone on, it’s a good time to finally has out a list. I think more than a few people will be surprised by some of the selection.
#10 - Glory
• Released 1989
• Directed by Edward Zwick
• Written by Robert Gould Shaw, Lincoln Kirstein, Peter Burchard, & Kevin Jarre
• Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman
One of the most inspiring films about the Civil War. Matthew Broderick portrays Robert Gould Shaw, a Massachusetts-born Army Captain with a silver spoon in his mouth who leads the first volunteer African-American company of soldiers for the Union Army.
The cinematography is beautiful, the score is wonderful, and the story is top-notch. The story moves along nicely, not getting too bogged down in the history of the men at the focus of the film. At the same time, Glory manages to make each of them human and help us care about them. This makes the ending of the film even sadder, while at the same time inevitable.
#9 - A Bronx Tale
• Released 1993
• Directed by Robert DeNiro
• Written by Chazz Palminieri
• Starring Robert DeNiro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato, Francis Capra
In the shadow of movies like The Godfather and Goodfellas comes a movie about the relationship between a small-time mobster and a boy with whom he shares a father-son-like relationship. The only problem is the boy already has a father who is more righteous than the mobster and wants to steer his son from that life.
The acting is great. Lillo Brancato gave such a tremendous performance I have always wondered why he hasn’t gone further. DeNiro is on a different side of the mob scene and handles it well as a bus driver in the Bronx. The “characters” who surround the mobster often seem to almost steal the film, but provide a much-needed break from the various issues about to come to a head in the Bronx in the 1960’s, including racism and the violent mob-world.
#8 - Caddyshack
• Released 1980
• Directed by Harold Ramis
• Written by Brian Doyle-Murray, Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney
• Starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O’Keefe, Bill Murray
Easily one of the funniest movies of all time, it has something for everyone and every age. From the intense rivalry at the country club between the straight-laced member versus the upstart who’s shaking things up to a dancing gopher who antagonizes the groundskeeper.
The dialog is great and the timing is awesome. Ted Knight deserves real recognition for his work here which is often lost in the shadow of the other, bigger-name actors. For people who don’t “get” Rodney Dangerfield they need to see this. Overall, the film is one which will still make me laugh 25 years after I first saw it.
#7 - Men in Black
• Released 1997
• Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
• Written by Lowell Cunningham, Ed Solomon
• Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D’Onofrio, Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub
Another comedy, this one more modern which also combines science fiction in a hilarious tale. Tommy Lee Jones is the straight-laced agent “J” to Will Smith’s wise-cracking agent “J”. These two chase aliens all around New York City and put a new spin on the typical cop-buddy flick.
D’Onofrio and Shalhoub almost steal the show from the two agents. Jones and Smith are best when they are interacting with the aliens in scenes such as when “K” goes to get himself a cup of coffee and “J” looks on in amazement at what “K” perceives as “normal”.
This is a fun film I can watch over and over again. My kids really like this, perhaps because of the fact that their dance recitals took place right beside those “space-ships” in Flushing Meadow Park.
#6 - Gone With the Wind
• Released 1939
• Directed by Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood
• Written by Margaret Mitchell, Sidney Howard, Ben Hecht, David O. Selznick, Jo Swerling, John Van Druten
• Starring Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Hattie McDaniel
One of the greatest love stories ever made set against the backdrop of the Civil War. Scarlett O’Hara is a headstrong woman who’s in love with someone she can’t have while being pursued by the dashing scoundrel Rhett Butler.
The acting is great. There’s not one miss as they all have captured the essence of the characters. The first few times I saw this I found myself wanting to scream at the screen when Melanie was being so trustful of Scarlett, and a friend which she didn’t appreciate until it is too late. The actors did a fine job making the characters come to life as well as drawing me into the time period.
The cinematography is beautiful, especially considering the time period and what they were working with. I managed to see this a few years ago in Radio City Music Hall, and there’s nothing to match seeing it on a large screen. Still, with the digital restoration viewing it on a large screen television is nice.
#5 - Lost In Translation
• Released 2003
• Directed by Sofia Coppola
• Written by Sofia Coppola
• Starring Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray
Bill Murray is an aging movie star shooting a commercial when he meets up with a young newlywed still trying to figure out exactly what she wants in life. They connect on a deep level; one more intimate than sex could ever be.
One of the few recent films that have really moved me, Lost In Translation hit me at a time in my life when I was in almost the same place as Bill Murray. The first time I viewed it I cried at the end as it affected me that much. I think most people who have had or are having a mid-life crisis will relate to this film as I did. I can’t speak for the younger “soul searching” group, but for me it has become one of the most memorable films of my life.
#4 - A League of Their Own
• Released 1992
• Directed by Penny Marshall
• Written by Kim Wilson, Kelly Candaele, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
• Starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty, Rosie O’Donnell, John Lovitz, David Strathairn
During World War II, a league of women baseball players is formed to fill the void left behind when the men go off to war. It’s also the story of two sisters, one who must emerge from the shadow of her older sister and find her own place while the older sister must learn to let go.
There’s humor, drama, and baseball all rolled into one film. The acting is great. Tom Hanks is wonderful as the alcoholic manager who takes the job because he has to and tries to drink himself stupid to avoid what he considers an embarrassment. For the most part he does, but when he emerges from his alcohol-induced-coma he discovers that women can play baseball.
The story of what these women face during World War II not knowing if their husbands are coming home as well as the prospect of their being dismissed outright once the men return is also handled here quite well. It’s another film I can watch over and over again.
#3 - The Breakfast Club
• Released 1985
• Directed by John Hughes
• Written by John Hughes
• Starring Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Paul Gleason
Five very different high school students are sent to detention on a Saturday and discover their differences and similarities beyond the preconceived notions they’ve already made about each other. It’s wonderfully acted as the students set out to behave but soon grow bored and are pushing the buttons of their stuffed-shirt principal.
This is a movie which transcends the generations as it’s also become a favorite of my fifteen year-old daughter. The acting is great as each actor seems to pick up on the nuances that I remember of the kids we put into the same “categories” depicted here. No matter what high school was like for you, I can pretty much guarantee you’ll identify with one of the students in the film.
#2 - Limbo
• Released 1999
• Directed by John Sayles
• Written by John Sayles
• Starring Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, David Strathairn, Vanessa Martinez, Kris Kristofferson
This is a slice of life film of sorts about the people in a small Alaskan town. The three main players all have their demons they are trying to overcome. Just when it seems life is taking an upturn for all of them, fate strikes a blow and leaves them stranded on a remote island with little hope of rescue as the season grows colder.
The story is simple and complicated at the same time. Sayles throws in a wide cast of minor characters who are colorful and interact with the three main characters. The performances are wonderful and drew me into the characters, all with their flaws but also basically good-hearted. Sayles evokes terrific performances from the actors, all of whom he’s worked with before. Of note is the fact that Mastrantonio does all of her own singing in the film.
This was another film which affected me deeply and I’ve watched it about once a month since first viewing it. Some people might not be crazy about the ending, since many people like the story wrapped up nice and neat and Sayles doesn’t do that.
#1 - Star Wars
• Released 1977
• Directed by George Lucas
• Written by George Lucas
• Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earl Jones
The first time I saw this film was at the $1.50 movie theater about a mile from my home. I went to see it the next six nights in a row. The movie just blew me away and changed everything for me. It changed what I liked in movies and marked my real evolution from “kiddie” films to something deeper (although some may argue it’s still a “kiddie” film).
Lucas did the best he could with what he had in 1977 and it was pretty fantastic. The battle between good and evil is set in outer space as the evil Empire tries to crush an upstart rebellion. At the heart of the conflict is Princess Leia as she tries to smuggle the plans which could save them all to where they can do the most good. Along the way there are a wide variety of characters, creatures, and druids who enter the picture.
Star Wars was unique in it’s time - there had really never been anything like it before. The cast were all virtual unknowns, with the exception of Guinness. The music was scored by John Williams and gave this “space opera” it’s moods and tone. There’s many a time I hear a few certain chords and automatically think it’s the Star Wars theme coming on.
Star Wars penetrated pop-culture in a way I don’t think any movie ever had or any movie has since. It’s something I can enjoy now with my kids, but yet I see more to the film than they do. I wish Lucas had left the film viewable on DVD as it originally played in theaters.
© 2005 Patti Aliventi
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Member: Patti Aliventi
Location: Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
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