Lawrence of Arabia, 1962

American Film Institute's Top 100 Films: No. 7

Academy Award for Best Picture, 1962

The truth is, I'm an ordinary man. You might've told me that, Dryden. - T.E. Lawrence

So far, this theatrical journey of mine has been quite enjoyable. Lawrence of Arabia is another one of the films I discovered I admired, and wished I had seen it prior to now. First and foremost, the score to the film was outstanding. Up until now, the music of the top films on the AFI list has been decent, but nothing I would consider outstanding. Maurice Jarre's scores helped tell the journey of the young British officer in a most convincing manner. As Lawrence and his band of men traveled across the Arabian desert by camel and horse, and the sweeping fight sequences, each scene was accompanied by a wonderful composition. So much so that at times it felt like you were there.

There were a couple things about the movie that I found particularly interesting. First of all, the many of the actors resembled the actual people they were portraying. Although O'Toole is nearly a foot taller and far more "pretty" than the actual Lawrence (especially those long eyelashes!) he nevertheless looked similar to the real person. The same applies to many of the other characters. I also enjoyed how historically accurate the film is. While something things have been changed - for instance it was reporter Lowell Thomas, then a man in his 20s who spent a few weeks with Lawrence rather than Jackson Bentely, the middle-aged reporter who traveled with the soldier through the greater part of his campaign. It was also interesting that there no women with speaking roles in the film. After doing a little research there is question as to whether or not Lawrence himself was a homosexual, which would explain his lack of female companions. At any rate, the film was beautiful - stellar acting, camerawork, music and a story based on real events.

4.5 stars out of 5

Gone With The Wind (1939)

American Film Institute's Top 100 Films: No. 6

Academy Award for Best Picture, 1940

I don't know nothing 'bout birthin' babies! - Prissy

Great balls of fire this movie is loooooong. Although it's always been one I've enjoyed, it certainly is one which one has to commit to. I have seen the screen version of Margaret Mitchell's epic Civil War novel a few times when I was younger, but never has an adult. 

After all these years, it has come to my attention the novel is not much unlike the typical senior high school of today. Minus the slaves and burning of Atlanta, the movie pretty much plays like a much extended version of Dawson's Creek. However, that doesn't made it necessarily unlikeable. Quite the opposite, it is pleasant movie to watch, especially now that I have the attention span and mindset to understand everything that's going on. 

The personalities of the characters are quite diverse, which makes for a fun movie. Scarlett O'Hara might be the most selfish character every played by a woman in the early days of films. I never realized until watching this movie as an adult just how much of a hussy she is.  However terrible a person Scarlett may be, she does grow to be a likable character. The scenes of her bossing everyone else around are humorous, and although not a nice person, she is a strong female character. Likewise, although Clark Gable's Rhett Butler is just as selfish, he does have an immense amount of charm, and he again does prove to have nobel attributes later in the film. For the life of me, I can't fathom what the attraction is to Ashley Wilkes - tall, lanky, and seemingly humorless, why he is such a desirable catch in Scarlett's eyes is beyond me. 

The cast of African Americans, including Hattie McDaniel who won an Oscar for best supporting actress, provided comic relief much of the time but not in a way that was degrading or hokey. A recommended watch, but make sure you have no other plans for the night.....or the next....

4 stars out of 5

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

American Film Institute's Top 100 Films: No. 5

Well, I can't make love to a bush! - Lina Lamont

As a big fan of musicals, the charm and innocence of this movie quickly caught my attention. Again, looking beyond the kind of hokey humor that comes with an older movie, I thought the film was fantastic. Perhaps not my favorite musical, but it did contain all the classical elements that make song-and-dance movies so fun.

The supporting characters again made me laugh throughout the show, especially Donald O'Connor as Cosmo and Jean Hagen as Lina. Debbie Reynolds I was not especially impressed with. Although she was only 19 at the time of filming, she seemed kind of a bland character. Although she started out with a bit of spunk, by the end of the movie she lost her draw.

The dance sequences were great fun, with the exception of the Broadway one, which was confusing and a bit difficult to follow. Interestingly enough, the songs used in the production were selected prior to the story being composed, so writers had to find ways to fit in the songs. This might explain why the Broadway number is so long and all over the place. Yet above it all was Gene Kelly and O'Connor's dancing. In my opinion all men should tap dance. Ok, not all.... but many. I don't think they realize how exciting it is to watch or how good they look doing it. Kelly's routine to the title song and O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh" were fast-paced and fun. Any guy that is willing to tap around in purple pants gets my vote!

3.5 stars out of 5

Casablanca (1942)

American Film Institute's Top 100 Movies: No. 3

Academy Award for Best Picture, 1942

We musn't underestimate American blundering. I was with them when they blundered into Berlin in 1918. - Captain Renault 

Aside from the slight cheesiness that generally accompanies older films, easily one of the best movies I've ever seen. Ingrid Bergman (Illsa) and Humphrey Bogart (Rick) play off each other, in my opinion, wonderfully. It was refreshing to watch a romance that was so sensual instead of sexual, like today's industry standard.

On that note, it truly was the actors in the film who made it so enjoyable. Although their chemistry was good, Bogart's acting did not seem to be out of this world. He was rigid and emotionless and while that was his character, it still seemed rather uptight. The secondary characters are what I found to be the most amusing. Claude Rains, who played Captain Renault was by far the most entertaining. Throughout the movie his snide little remarks made me laugh, and his constant scheming and (attempted) womanizing. In a way he reminded me of George Costanza of Seinfeld fame.

Likewise, Dooley Wilson who played Sam was a fun character. During his piano playing scenes his expressions were amusing. The flamboyant pickpocket whom we see at the beginning and then briefly again in the middle of the film also made me laugh. However, Peter Lorre, Ugaret, was by far my favorite character to watch. Not that his acting was especially wonderful, but the fact that he resembled Yoda, with the round head and big eyes. I kept expecting him to tell Rick to let the force be with him or something of the like. In the end, a great movie with comedy, love, action and even Nazis.

5 stars out of 5

The Godfather (1972)

American Film Institute's Top 100 Movies: No. 2

Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, 1973

Leave the gun, take the cannoli. - Peter Clemenza

Despite the wild reviews.... probably not my favorite movie. Overall, an intriguing, stimulatin plot. Not only did the actors do a good job, it was fun to see them looking so young - or with so much hair.

What I didn't like: Too slow. I understand the importance explaining everything carefully, because the list of characters in the movie seems to go on forever. However, the beginning just didn't have enough kick to it so it was hard to get into. It was also confusing keeping everyone straight - so many Italian names, so little time!

What I did like: As mentioned above, the actors. Marlon Brando was outstanding, I loved his muttering, bulldog-esque appearance. The scene where he's playing with the little boy in the orange patch was especially cute, seeing a mob boss acting so relaxed; I was intrigued to learn it was ad-libbed. Al Pacino gave a good performance and was convincing in his role, and James Caan as the older, protective brother was also well done. The use of oranges to symbolize death was also an interesting take, but after reading about it, it seems the oranges were initially only included in the scenes to add more color.

Also, for a movie about the Italian mob, there was a surprisingly low body count - 18 including the horse. Overall, a good movie, but I find the pop culture references to the film more entertaining.

3.5 stars out of 5

Citizen Kane (1941)

American Film Institute's No. 1 Movie of All Time

I always gagged on the silver spoon. Charles Foster Kane

It's easy to see why the American Film Institute chose this movie as number one on its list. The movie opens with the infamous "Rosebud" as Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) dies. The remainder of the movie newspaper reporters interview friends, enemies and associates of Kane to find out exactly what he meant, and the story is told in a series of flashbacks, eventually ending the same way it began with a panoramic shot of Kane's mansion.

A young Kane is taken from his parents home to go live with the wealthy Mr. Thatcher for a chance at a better life. After being thrown out of multiple colleges and coming into his extensive inheritance, Kane decides to take over the New York Inquirer, pushing the publication to eventually practice yellow journalism. While like many at first his intentions seemed solid, presenting to his readers a declaration of things he intends to do differently with his paper, his eventual desire for power overcomes him. His first marriage to the President's niece crumbles after his love affair with a young starlet, whom he marries and eventually leaves him.

Kane himself is based loosely off William Randolph Hearst, although later in life Welles claims the character was portrayed from Howard Hughes. At any rate, Hearst's fortunes and career in the publishing industry are indeed mimicked in the film. Having visited the Hearst Castle in California in 2001, I was amused that Kane also lived in a castle, not something seen ordinarily in the United States. Interestingly enough, Hearst himself had a few "Rosebuds" in his life - it has been documented that his mother, Phoebe Hearst, was nicknamed Rosebud by one of Hearst's close friends, who ironically was extremely close to the woman, almost as much as if not more than her own son, tying into the bittersweet reference of Rosebud in the film. Another reference by essayist Gore Vidal says Rosebud was a nickname used for mistress Marion Davies, or more specifically a particular part of her anatomy. :0

At the very end we realize Rosebud was the name of Kane's sled, as the toy goes up flames with other miscellaneous items of the millionaire's estate. My initial thought was all that..... over a SLED? However, it easy to see why Kane would have longed for his youth and more simple days. Although he may have died with money, he said throughout the movie he was a lonely man. Both his marriages failed him, and he fired his best friend, Jedediah Leland, who threw back in his face the declaration Kane had wrote, symbolizing not only his loss of friendship but respect.

Having not watched a lot of black and white films, this movie was especially entertaining. I enjoyed how throughout the production shadows were used to more or less mask the characters, which speaks to the actors use of body language to convey meaning. Welles was well deserving of the praise he earned (much later in his career) for this movie - although interestingly enough at the time of its release it was a box-office bust, making enough to cover movie costs but not enough to turn a profit. Overall, an enjoyable movie and the historical context, however real it may be, made it even more interesting. 

4.5 stars out of 5

The Calm Before The Storm

A few thoughts before I begin my journey...

I stopped at the library to pick up this week's movie selections after work. First and foremost I would like to thank the public library system because without them this quest simply wouldn't exist - I'm not about to pay $5 per movie times 160.

My first job was in the Orchard Park Public Library, and the smell of libraries always bring me back to life when I was 16 and everything was simple. Long story short, the smell of the video section disgusts me. I'm not sure what it is....I always dreaded emptying the video cart on account of the horrid smell. I'm not sure what the source is, since Blockbuster or similar video rental stores do not have the same scent. But needless to say, the smell grossed me out. The weekly trips I'll be taking to the library's video department are going to have to be made with haste on account of the smell.

As an aside, Nick Dean has requested I make daily posts on here to entertain him at work. While I can't promise a daily entry, I will from time to time be making other posts regarding movies (not on the list) I've seen, CDs I've purchased or books I read. Or maybe just a blurb on something entertaining from work...time shall tell.

But, here we go! Pizza in one hand, Coke in another, it's time to commence with Citizen Kane. Post to follow. Cheers!