I love TV. In fact I have lately been really disinterested in watching movies at home. Seth and I will get new Netflix DVDs and they will sit for weeks before we watch them. There is just something so nice about TV shows and watching an episode of Mad Men, or Dexter before bed. Movies can be a big time commitment and honestly - all the good ones we tend to see in the theaters. But tonight I was once again convinced of the amazing power of a really great movie. I watched "The Graduate" and honestly I can't stop thinking about it. On my drive home from Britney and Sean's I tried calling a couple people so that I could just talk to them about the movie. It was so so good. I heard it was good but I had no idea. I decided that the movie was definitely in my top 10 - I just didn't know where. So my entire 20 minute drive home I contemplated my top movies. Finally I was excited to blog. Finally I felt inspired. I love movies so here is my top 10 list. Starting at the bottom.
10.
I'm not entirely sure if I can put into words why I loved this movie so much. It was a very unexpected love. What I think I loved about this movie was how perfectly simple the plot was. I love movies that don't feel overly saturated with dialogue. I loved the cast - stellar. Personally I think George Clooney will go down as one of the greats. Vera is one of my favorite actresses and Anna Kendrick - amazing. "Sometimes it feels like, no matter how much success I have, it's not gonna matter until I find the right guy. I could have made it work, he really fit the bill, you know. White collar, 6'1, college grad, loves dogs, likes funny movies, brown hair, kind eyes, works in finance but is outdoorsy. I always imagined he'd have a single syllable name like Matt or John or Dave. In a perfect world, he drives a 4 runner and the only thing he loves more than me is his golden lab. And a nice smile. What about you?" I loved that it had a "lesson" that it was trying to teach and threw a total spin at you at the end. I just loved it. I was riveted by this movie. That's the best way to describe it. Riveted. Definitely worth the top 10.
9.
This is a movie that I always knew I needed to see. I heard it was great. I just never really made it a priority to watch - until tonight. And I am so glad I did. It is a film made in 1967 so the fashion, the setting, the music - all perfect. I feel like it was so different from the other movies I have seen from the 60s. It was almost too artsy but I loved it. I loved the camera angels. I loved the subtle humor. I LOVED Dustin Hoffman. I loved the romance and the pacing. I loved that Simon and Garfunkel did the soundtrack. Over all the movie was amazing. Also according to Sean this movie created the "R" rating - which totally makes me laugh because it is so not "R" material. I am sure that for the 60s it was VERY risky. Oh man, so good. Have you seen it? NO - get off your butt and rent it. Trust me. In fact I am going to stop for a minute, get on Amazon and buy it. Right now. It's just that good. "Do you find me undesirable?" "Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. I think, I think you're the most attractive of all my parents' friends."
8.
This is the ultimate and maybe first real romantic comedy. You all have seen it. You know how good it is. I love that the main character is a really quite unattractive Billy Crystal. I love Meg Ryan's horrible hair and style. The dialogue in this movie is pure genius. The plot is pure genius and of course it ends perfectly. I love the whole "Can men and women just be friends" subplot. What's important is that it started a whole new genre. Really was there a great romantic comedy before this? I think not. Think of the orgasm diner scene, or the "too much pepper in my paprikash" scene. Think of the pictionary "baby fish mouth!" scene. Really just try not to smile and fall a little more in love when watching this movie.
7.
I had to throw one of the Lord of the Rings movies in there. I chose Return of the King because it includes all of the great characters that I love - including Eowyn who is one of the greatest female characters. I love that the final film includes the final battle of good vs. evil. This movie, the splendor and the magnitude of it really is amazing and I am SO GLAD it won best picture that year. I never thought in a million years that I would be a "fantasy novel" nerd. But here I am obsessed with Lord of the Rings. These movies were epic and I am so glad that I played a part in the release of all of them. I loved the midnight showings. I was so sad when it all ended. This is a movie I have watched so many times I could recite the entire thing. Well done Peter Jackson. I hope me kids like it as much as I do.
6.
This is a movie that Sean had to force me to watch. I remember seeing the previews and rolling my eyes. Ugh a movie about music in the 70s and the roadies that follow them around? Boring. Oh how wrong I was. This movie is genius and the perfect "coming of age" film. It was a perfect comedy with a bit of drama to make it good. You are graced with perfect scenes such as the "Tiny Dancer" scene on the bus. Or the scene where Kate Hudson glides around the floor on pieces of confetti while "The Wind" by Cat Stevens plays. This movie has so much heart and a killer cast. Trust me - doesn't look interesting? Watch it anyway. It will surprise you. It surprised me. "This song explains why I am leaving home to become a stewardess."
5.
It would be wrong of me to not include Harry Potter in this list. Do I think Harry Potter movies are "out of this world" amazing? No. Do I think they deserve a best picture award? No. However I love these movies. I was thinking this week that the world of Harry Potter has been a strong part of my life for 12 years now. 12. That is so crazy. I love the books far more than the movies but I do love the movies. I put the 6th movie on the list because I haven't seen the last one yet and I am sure it'll be the one that should be on the list. I can't wait to see the final show but I know I'll sit in the theater and cry when it ends. Not because of the movie but because Harry Potter will officially be over. Sad. No more book release parties. No more midnight movies. It'll be over. Yet I love them so much that they deserve a place in the top 5. I have watched the characters grow and the movies improve over the years. Again I hope beyond hope that my kids grow up and become obsessed with Harry Potter. I'll be the mom that will read each book with the kids before I let them watch the movie. How fun will that be? Here's hoping they love them as much as Seth & I do.
4.
Shakespeare in Love is on my list for so many reasons. First, it's a perfect period piece. Second, it's one of the most romantic shows I have ever seen. Third, it takes creative liberties with one of history's most famous men and makes a wonderful story. Fourth, the actors are perfect. Fifth, it makes me cry like a baby. Seriously how good is this movie? I don't need to say more other than Judi Dench won best supporting actress the year she was in this. Turns out she was only in the film for like 6 minutes or something? However she plays Queen Elizabeth so perfectly that she freaking deserves it. That's how you know you are an amazing actress. Judi Dench and her 6 minute portrayal of Elizabeth. This movie is beautiful. "How is it to end?" "As stories must when love's denied: with tears and a journey."
3.
I had to throw Johnny in here somewhere. What a fun and quirky movie. Again it has the most beautiful lesson - actually maybe one of the greatest lessons in a movie. It doesn't matter who you are, what you believe, what church you attend or how you worship. Being a good friend and a good person far surpasses all of that. This quote says it all "I'm not sure what the theme of my homily today ought to be. Do I want to speak of the miracle of Our Lord's divine transformation? Not really, no. I don't want to talk about His divinity. I'd rather talk about His humanity. I mean, you know, how He lived His life, here on Earth. His *kindness*, His *tolerance*... Listen, here's what I think. I think that we can't go around... measuring our goodness by what we don't do. By what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude. I think... we've got to measure goodness by what we *embrace*, what we create... and who we include." Oh and there's a bit of romance and possibly Johnny Depp in his hottest role. Hottest on-screen kiss in my opinion - and he plays the guitar. Hot all around. However it's not his hotness that makes this movie. The plot, the music, the characters make this movie. It's genius and happily in my top 3.
2.
I had a hard time deciding which movie would take the top position. After much personal debate I decided that "The Wizard of Oz" is good to be in the #2. Anyone that knows me well knows that I was obsessed (with a capital O) with this movie growing up. I watched it every day for years. I acted out the part. I had a green and yellow Fisher Price plastic basket that I put my favorite stuffed animal Toto in. Toto by the way was a stuffed dog with pink overalls and a sailer hat that said "San Francisco" on it. Hilarious. I knew and still know to this day every line of this movie. I was Dorothy for Halloween for more years that I can remember. This movie really is iconic. I loved that the recording I had of it was from TV and that I can even recite the commercials that played during it, "Raise your hand, raise your hand - if your SURE!" or "It's your favorite Campbells tomato - you eat all that soup and maybe you'll be ok." Oh it even had the infamous Michael Jackson Pepsi commercial. Dang I hope mom still has that tape. I love the scene where Dorothy slaps the Lion and he cries. My grandpa used to laugh so hard he cried in that scene. He used to call me every time it was on TV. I love that I have that special memory with him. This movie was my childhood. In a nutshell. I love it so much.
1.
There is so much that I adore about Funny Girl. It's the perfect Barbra Streisand movie. It's the perfect musical as well and I'd be ashamed if I didn't have one musical on my list. From the opening scene where she's in her dorky red, white and blue outfit to the final heart breaking scene where she sings "My Man" I am riveted. To this day if I walk onto a stage in an empty theater I have to resist the urge to start singing "I'm the greatest star". Barbara is comic gold in this movie - and so young. What a talent and what a story. "I've got 36 expressions - sweet as pie or tough as leather!" I love the plot of the poor ugly girl with talent - making it big and falling in love with the handsome Omar Sharif. The movie doesn't end happily but the tragedy of it makes it even better. The songs in this are all so good. My dad claims that the "People" scene was one of the greatest film scenes of all time - and that the movie audience broke into applause when she finished singing. How cute is that? In typical old movie fashion - it is long. Long but wonderful and officially my favorite movie of all time.
