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[elmono311]

Just to clarify, when I said the beginning of his fine directing efforts, I meant his Oscar caliber movies. I knew he had directed stuff before Unforgiven. But lately he's just been pulling off one award-winning movie after another.

[elmono311]

Spoiler alert in case some people *cough*John*cough* are so worried about spoilers to older movies, among other things.

Franky, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
MGM
Cast: Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland
Director: Victor Fleming
238 minutes
1998 List: #4 | 2007 List: #6
Academy Awards
Best Actress - Vivien Leigh
Best Supporting Actress - Hattie McDaniel
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography, Color
Best Director - Victor Fleming
Best Film Editing
Best Picture
Best Writing, Screenplay
Technical Achievement Award - RD Musgrave (for pioneering the use of coordinated equipment)
Honorary Award - William Cameron Menzies (for outstanding achievement for use of color to enhance the dramatic mood)
Best Actor - Clark Gable (nomination)
Best Supporting Actress - Olivia de Havilland (nomination)
Best Special Effects (nomination)
Best Original Score (nomination)
Best Sound, Recording (nomination)

First I have to say Scarlett O'Hara is one of the most unlikeable characters in any movie I've seen, even more so because she was the main character. There was nothing redeeming about her. As for the movie itself, it was rather dull except at the end with the unexpected deaths of Bonnie and Melanie. I actually liked Melanie and was disappointed she died. The movie seemed like one long saga about a Southern woman pining over the same man for years and years and using marriages to other men for reasons other than love. I was annoyed with her wanting of Ashley Wilkes. Just leave the man alone, idiot. I figured going into it I wasn't going to like it, I must have gotten that feeling when my mom used to watch it a lot when I was a kid.

[disnut8]

I can't say I was surprised at the reaction to Gone With the Wind, one of my favorite films.  It's difficult for a guy to get into a movie where the main character is a strong willed, do-anything-to-get-what-she-wants person.  In the end, she realizes all she ever really needed was to leave the little girl crushes behind and become an adult.

After loving the film, I have read the book and I think it's necessary to do both to fully understand Scarlett.  She basically was revolting against the stereotypical Southern Belle way of life.  A Civil War feminist.  And by reading the book, you understand all about Scarlett's parents marriage and why her mother was the way she was.  None of that even gets mentioned in the movie.

Instead of doing a sequel to Gone With the Wind, there should have been a prequel of Gerald and Ellen O'Hara.  That would have been much better and it was already written.

[elmono311]

Shhh... don't say that! With Hollywood's obsession with prequels and reboots, they just might make one...

[elmono311]

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Paramount
Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson
Director: Billy Wilder
110 minutes
1998 List: #12 | 2007 List: #16
Academy Awards
Best Art/Set Direction, Black & White
Best Music, Dramatic or Comedy
Best Writing, Story and Screenplay
Best Actor - William Holden (nomination)
Best Supporting Actor - Erich von Stroheim (nomination)
Best Actress - Gloria Swanson (nomination)
Best Supporting Actress - Nancy Olson (nomination)
Best Cinematography, Black & White (nomination)
Best Director - Billy Wilder (nomination)
Best Film Editing (nomination)
Best Picture (nomination)

This was one interesting movie about a batshit insane silent-era movie star living in a world of talkies. And she was absolutely crazy crazy crazy. I really don't have much to say about this one. It was straight forward and shows how Hollywood stardom can get to certain people, how it can drive former stars to desperate measures. Thank goodness today we have people like Quentin Tarantino (for bringing back John Travolta) and Robert Rodriguez (for bringing back Mickey Rourke) to prevent such things from happening. However I have read and seen another movie, Singin' in the Rain, about how many silent film stars were put out of work from the talkies because their voices were not adequate for the roles. Anyways, it was a good flick but nothing really mind blowing to me. I suppose in the time it was made, it was probably a shock to Hollywood to see a movie made about Hollywood corruption.

[elmono311]

They've committed a murder and it's not like taking a trolley ride together where they can get off at different stops. They're stuck with each other and they've got to ride all the way to the end of the line and it's a one-way trip and the last stop is the cemetery.
Double Indemnity (1944)
Paramount
Cast: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson
Director: Billy Wilder
107 minutes
1998 List: #38 | 2007 List: #29
Academy Awards
Best Actress - Barbara Stanwyck (nomination)
Best Cinematography, Black & White (nomination)
Best Director - Billy Wilder (nomination)
Best Music, Drama or Comedy (nomination)
Best Picture (nomination)
Best Sound, Recording (nomination)
Best Writing, Screenplay (nomination)

With this being my second Billy Wilder movie in a row, I'll have to say I liked this one better than Sunset Boulevard. It was a movie with twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Of course, I'm not the type to really notice something coming up unlike a certain other person who I live with. I get too involved in movies to really think like that, I'm more there for the ride. Anyways, it was interesting both of these Wilder movies opened similarly. They both start with the end and are told as one big flashback. I don't know if this is Billy Wilder's usual method or not but watching these two back-to-back wasn't a good idea since it brought me out of the beginning of the movie with the similar styles, even though the two movies were made six years apart. I liked the movie regardless, so don't think I'm knocking on it... and it was made before Sunset Boulevard anyways.

[elmono311]

I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!
Network (1976)
MGM
Cast: Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall
Director: Sidney Lumet
121 minutes
1998 List: #66 | 2007 List: #64
Academy Awards
Best Actor - Peter Finch (posthumunously)
Best Actress - Faye Dunaway
Best Supporting Actress - Beatrice Straight
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor - William Holden (nomination)
Best Supporting Actor - Ned Beatty (nomination)
Best Cinematography (nomination)
Best Director - Sidney Lumet (nomination)
Best Film Editing (nomination)
Best Picture (nomination)

This movie interested me because of the simple fact everything protrayed in this movie still happens today. Corporations control the media, ratings mean everything, fear of foreigners buying American companies (in this case the Arabs which is also still true today), and the country was going through a recession. The studio focused on in this film, UBS, reminded me of Fox as well, as in Fox became the rebel among the major networks and putting on controversial programming. SPOILER ALERT: The most apalling thing in this movie was the man headlining the #1 show in America was assassinated because the ratings for the show were low... yeah. At least that hasn't happened as far as I know. END SPOILER. The relationship between Max and Diana was completely unnecessary as far as I was concerned but maybe I was missing something. I found myself bored during those scenes. I was far more interested in the behind the scenes look at the struggle and backstabbing that took place at UBS. It was an interesting movie and one that's still relevant today.

[elmono311]

Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night.
All About Eve (1950)
20th Century Fox
Cast: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
138 minutes
1998 List: #16 | 2007 List: #28
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actor - George Sanders
Best Costume Design, Black & White
Best Director - Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Best Picture
Best Sound, Recording
Best Writing, Screenplay
Best Actress - Bette Davis (nomination)
Best Actress - Anne Baxter (nomination)
Best Supporting Actress - Celeste Holm (nomination)
Best Supporting Actress - Thelma Ritter (nomination)
Best Art/Set Direction, Black & White (nomination)
Best Cinematography, Black & White (nomination)
Best Film Editing (nomination)
Best Dramatic or Comedic Music (nomination)

Let me get this out of the way first: This is yet another movie I've seen recently where it's told as a flashback. They sure did like those kind of movies in the 40s and 50s (Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard). This time around, it wasn't directed by Billy Wilder considering Sunset Boulevard came out the same year. The movie is about a sneaky little woman taking the spotlight away from an aging theater star by pretty much lying through her teeth. It's an interesting journey but I honestly really didn't care for the movie. Oh well.

[elmono311]

Well, here's the movie that put me over halfway through the list, #62 out of 123...

Great principles don't get lost once they come to light. They're right here; you just have to see them again!
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Columbia
Cast: Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains
Director: Frank Capra
129 minutes
1998 List: #29 | 2007 List: #26
Academy Awards
Best Writing, Original Story
Best Actor - James Stewart (nomination)
Best Supporting Actor - Harry Carey (nomination)
Best Supporting Actor - Claude Rains (nomination)
Best Art Direction (nomination)
Best Director - Frank Capra (nomination)
Best Film Editing (nomination)
Best Music, Scoring (nomination)
Best Picture (nomination)
Best Sound, Recording (nomination)
Best Writing, Screenplay (nomination)

Frank Capra and James Stewart did it again. I was amazed by It's a Wonderful Life and once again I'm amazed with this movie directed by Capra and starring Stewart. It was a friggin great movie. James Stewart played a fish out of water in the US Senate to perfection and it's a shame Jean Arthur didn't get a nomination because I was totally engrossed with her performance as Mr. Smith's secretary. It's also an excellent movie to show kids about the inside workings of the legislative branch of the government (as well as the corruption that goes on inside the government). I can't say enough, this was an excellent movie and I'm becoming a James Stewart fan.

[disnut8]

I'm becoming a James Stewart fan.

It's not on the list but watch Harvey sometime.  Only James Stewart can make talking to an invisible rabbit seem normal.

[elmono311]

Come on, hit me. Harder. Harder.
Raging Bull (1980)
United Artists
Cast: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci
Director: Martin Scorsese
129 minutes
1998 List: #24 | 2007 List: #4
Academy Awards
Best Actor - Robert De Niro
Best Film Editing
Best Supporting Actor - Joe Pesci (nomination)
Best Supporting Actress - Cathy Moriarty (nomination)
Best Cinematography (nomination)
Best Director - Martin Scorsese (nomination)
Best Picture (nomination)
Best Sound (nomination)

This was a very engaging movie about the rise and fall of boxer Jake La Motta. The three principal actors did very well, especially Joe Pesci. He is a surprisingly good actor despite what naysayers say. I still can't believe it took Scorsese until 2006 with The Departed to finally win his first Best Director Oscar. The choice of black & white for this film was very well done. It's just a good movie all around but I actually prefer Rocky and Million Dollar Baby over this boxing movie.

[LostArtofRolando]

I saw this movie years ago.  Excellent... I think De Niro started the whole extra step of getting into a role by gaining all that weight.  He actually became a fatass to become the washed up wasted La Motta at the end.  Obviously there had to be a break in shooting at some point, since he's definitely in fighting weight for most of the movie.

[elmono311]

Yeah, that was in the trivia section of IMDb. Not only did De Niro gain weight but Pesci lost weight during that time, which says a lot since his scenes after losing weight amounted to about five minutes of screentime.

[disnut8]

Double Indemnity (1944)
Paramount
Cast: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson
Director: Billy Wilder
107 minutes
1998 List: #38 | 2007 List: #29

I just watched this one yesterday.  And Sunset Boulevard is also recorded so Turner Classic Movies must have had a Billy Wilder festival going on or something.  Anyway, I liked this movie too even though I knew there was some sort of twist to it.  However, I didn't like Barbara Stanwyck at all.  I was surprised when the announcer said she received an Academy Award nomination for the role.  She barely moved her mouth!  Maybe it's just the actress.

[elmono311]

Hey, don't knock masturbation - it's sex with someone I love!
Annie Hall (1977)
United Artists
Cast: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton
Director: Woody Allen
93 minutes
1998 List: #31 | 2007 List: #35
Academy Awards
Best Actress - Diane Keaton
Best Director - Woody Allen
Best Picture
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor - Woody Allen (nomination)

This was the first Woody Allen movie I've ever seen (not including Antz) and I wasn't too thrilled with it. Sure, the whole breaking of the fourth wall from time to time was pretty cool but the story was just blah. It didn't grab me at all. One thing to say, though: At one point in the movie the characters are talking and subtitles appear on the screen. Without bothering to read the subtitles, I went to turn them off only to see they were still there. I finally noticed the subtitles did not match what the characters were saying and was actually what they were thinking while they were talking. So if you watch this on DVD, keep that in mind.

[disnut8]

It takes a pretty smart man to know when to back away.
High Noon (1952)

Rich and I just watched this one (see what happens when Rich finally gets sick - he doesn't mind watching recorded movies).  I agree with the review but wanted to add one thing about the film.

It was done in just about real time.  Minute by minutes.  It's just a few minutes over the actual time frame of the events in the movie due to some last editing.  So when you see five minutes coming off the clock in the movie, it's really five minutes of you watching it.

[elmono311]

Interesting, didn't notice that

[elmono311]

Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Warner Brothers
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt
Director: John Huston
126 minutes
1998 List: #30 | 2007 List: #38
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actor - Walter Huston
Best Director - John Huston
Best Writing, Screenplay - John Huston
Best Picture (nomination)

First, let me get this off my chest. This is the third Humphrey Bogart movie I've seen while doing this list and I still don't like him. His voice annoys me... a lot. Another thing: I came into this movie thinking it would be something like an adventure movie in the style of Indiana Jones or something. Instead I got a movie about gold prospectors in Mexico in which one of them develops a huge case of paranoia. The movie was pretty dull until the last half hour when it finally became interesting. I almost wrote off the entire movie as a bust at the end when the gold was lost but the movie made up for it by starting new lives for the two surviving characters. Blah. The only saving grace of this movie was Walter Huston's wonderful performance as an expert gold prospector. He played the role of the old prospector to how I would imagine a man who is used to being alone on his journeys out to find gold.

NOTE: The quote I chose for this entry is for my dad, who has a knack of saying "We don't need no stinkin' badges." I know he didn't get it from here but it's the first thing I thought of when I heard it in this movie.

[disnut8]

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
Sunset Boulevard (1950)

I just saw this one yesterday and agree with the review.  In looking at the trivia for the movie, I found some interesting things.

Cecil B. DeMille and Hedda Harper played themselves in speaking roles in this film (DeMille had a very instrumental part in the movie).  The three old people Norma Desmond played bridge with were actually real silent film stars (including Buster Keaton).  And Erich von Stroheim, who played the butler Max, was a real silent film director who directed Swanson in the movie she played in her theatre at the mansion.  When Max indicated that there were three great silent film directors and mentioned D.W. Griffith, C.B. DeMille, and a third one, he was actually referred to himself as the third director.

[elmono311]

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Paramount
Cast: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
200 minutes
1998 List: #32 | 2007 List: #32
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actor - Robert De Niro
Best Art/Set Direction
Best Director - Francis Ford Coppola
Best Original Dramatic Score
Best Picture
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Actor - Al Pacino (nomination)
Best Supporting Actor - Michael V. Gazzo (nomination)
Best Supporting Actor - Lee Strasberg (nomination)
Best Supporting Actress - Talia Shire (nomination)
Best Costume Design (nomination)

Alright, here we go. I liked this one better than the first Godfather, but in my opinion it's not the greatest movie ever made. It's a good movie, it just didn't fancy my interests. Although the Vito Corleone sequences kicked rad ass and they should have made a movie with just him rising to the top of the mob scene. I would have definately rated the movie higher if it was just that. I really didn't care for the Michael Corleone stuff until maybe the final 30 to 60 minutes of the movie. There. It's finished. I know there's a third one but there's no pressing need for me to see it.

[disnut8]

Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night.
All About Eve (1950)

I just saw this movie yesterday and I thought it was an OK movie as well.  I was under the impression (wrongly) that there would be more back-stabbing and Eve would be an out-and-out villain and that Margo would be a total loon.  Instead, both parts were very reserved.  I did find myself really enjoying the characters of Karen Richards (Margo's best friend and the writer's wife) and the columnist (the name escapes me but he was played by George Sanders who won an Oscar for the part).

A good piece of trivia.  This movie and Titanic are the record holders for the most Academy Award nominations - 14.

[elmono311]

What's the record for winning every category a movie was nominated for? I know The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won all 11 categories it was nominated.

[disnut8]

What's the record for winning every category a movie was nominated for? I know The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won all 11 categories it was nominated.

As usual, wiki as the answer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_receiving_six_or_more_Academy_Awards

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King does hold the record for 11 noms and 11 wins.  However, Gigi and The Last Emperor have 9 noms and 9 wins.

Also interesting with the Lord of the Rings trilogy - The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the most successful film series at the Academy Awards, with 17 wins out of 30 nominations (it failed to win only one category it was nominated for, Best Supporting Actor for Ian McKellan).  That's from the wiki list of Academy Award records under "miscellaneous".

[elmono311]

I still think Sean Astin was screwed over by not being nominated in Return of the King.

[disnut8]

I still think Sean Astin was screwed over by not being nominated in Return of the King.

I think his work in Goonies screwed him.  At least Josh Brolin finally has a nomination.