74-50

Just so y'all know: Sin City came in at 77, and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is at 376.

74. 12 Monkeys (1995) D: Terry Gilliam

This is awfully high for someone who previously complained about Bruce Willis' hungover acting style. Well, can't do much about that. Its not like he acts "bad", in fact he's quite good. Its just that I'd prefer if he also pepper in a few stylistically different roles as well. That said, I have (with E-town) an affinity for dystopic visions of the future. Here we find humans forced underground by a deadly virus. The issues with Time Travel are handled adequetly, covered mostly by the statement "you can't change the past...its already happened." The ending is a bit of a twist, though somewhat more predictable for mature film goers. Fortunately I had a bit of naievete in me when I first saw 12 Monkeys, so I fell for the ruse.

Performance to Savor: Brad Pitt
Memorable Moment: None

73. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003) D: Quentin Tarantino

I had been anticipating this movie for several years before it came out, and Q's decision to split it in two at first seemed an example of studio greediness, but now I see that it was also the correct artistic decision. Unfortunately, my first viewing of the film was less than ideal. I saw it in Hungary, and so the film had Hungarian subtitles. Not a problem. Until everyone started speaking Japanese. Of course, the Hungarian subtitles continue. So my choice is to try to listen in Japanese or read in Hungarian. This continued for a frustratingly long time. As we'll see, I connected a bit better with Vol. II. I also appreciated the subtle to not-so-subtle references, however, this movie simply made me yearn for a more wholly original Tarantino flick. Also, I don't know why everyone raves about Uma Thurman. I thought she was average at best.

Peformance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: "It was a Hanzoi sword!"

72. Hero (2004) D: Yimou Zhang

A movie in the vein of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (I have a feeling whichever I saw first would be rated higher...though I can't prove it.), without being saddled by the need to show a more feminist martial arts movie. I feel here that Zhang, much more than Ang Lee, lets his characters behave naturally, despite their incredible physical powers. Gorgeous cinematography.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: Swordfight on water

71. Amelie (2001) D: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Sometimes I begrudgingly see a movie which I had no intention of seeing, based soley on Grace's recommendation. Examples include: Gone With the Wind, Thelma & Louise, and Amelie. Maybe I shouldn't be so hesitant...these are some great movies. Especially Amelie which completely blew me away with its wit and charm. We are presented with a nervous and shy protagonist, but dammit if she isn't so darn cute! Her heart is made of pure gold, and Jeunet's visual style is perfectly suited to tell the story of a whimsical matchmaker with an active imagination.

Performance to Savor: Audrey Tautou
Memorable Moment: The photo booth repair man

70. Snatch (2001) D: Guy Ritchie

In a lot of ways, this is mostly just a remake of "Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels", which means that under normal circumstances I would dock heavily for loss of originality. More important to my list though, is gut instinct. Sure the stories were similar, but I found them both to be very intriguing, and populated by fascinating characters. My experience with English gangster movies is thus far quite limited, and so any feelings of triteness I might have had towards Snatch are still buried.

Performance to Savor: Vinnie Jones
Memorable Moment: Imposter

69. Monty Python and the Life of Brian (1979) D: Terry Jones

Satire and spoof are most effective when the audience is keenly aware of the source material. Would Animal Farm be as memorable if you knew nothing of Russian history? As a PK (preacher's kid), I know the story of Jesus backwards and forwards, which makes this spoof all the more hilarious. I get a lot of the high-brow jokes which pass over some heads, but also love the low-brow elements as well. It essence this really is the only thing which seperates this movie from Holy Grail and Meaning of Life. Also, I've seen more often as once a year my dad and all of his pastor buddies will get together to drink scotch and watch this movie.

Performance to Savor: Graham Chapman
Memorable Moment: The bright side of life

68. The Mission (1986) D: Roland Joffe

Whoa! Two straight religious-themed movies! I was made to watch The Mission as part of my confirmation training, and the viewing of which was the first time my dad was able to quiet a group of rowdy middle-schoolers. The story is so somber and compelling, enhanced by amazing visuals and dynamic acting, that none of us could avoid being affected in some way. Remarkably, this movie is in no way pro-Church or anti-Church; it smartly leaves any moral lessons left to the reader. Certainly both stances could be held. My personal take is that it is clearly a condemnation of war (obviously), and an encouragement to eschew the rigid formalities of worship en masse and to pursue a personal relationship with whatever it is that you call God.

Performance to Savor: Jeremy Irons
Memorable Moment: Shot with the cross

67. Clerks (1994) D: Kevin Smith

I should probably mention that Smith is currently in the process of making Clerks 2: The Passion of the Clerks, which hopefully won't ruin my affinity for the original. Little more than a play on screen, Clerks stands uniquely in my mind as a movie which has a lot to eloquently say, about very little, about nothing. In many ways Clerks is an R-rated version of Seinfeld. From discussions of contractors on the Death Star to necro-nasty encounters in the bathroom, our characters routinely talk about, act towards, and respond to mundane everyday-ness. Certainly they are more well-spoken and persuasive (Randall) than most, but I think what makes this movie so appealing is the way in which it mirrors our own lives. And there's a lot of dick-and-fart jokes.

Performance to Savor: Jeff Anderson
Memorable Moment: Bad service at the video store

66. Animal House (1978) D: John Landis

This is the highest ranking comedy (that isn't a kids movie) on my list. Take that for what its worth. The thing I like most about this film (displayed best by Otter) is that throughout their adventures, our lovable losers consistantly act confident and classy. Well, maybe only Otter acts like that. Really no plot to speak of, but...who cares? This movie is a classic. John Belushi is gold, Neidermeyer is villainous villainy, Flounder, Donald Sutherland, Peter Reigert, Kevin Bacon, arg. I'm not smart enough to analyze the movie very well. Here's my best: It's funny!

Performance to Savor: John Belushi
Memorable Moment: Breaking the guitar

65. Top Gun (1986) D: Tony Scott

I actually considered docking this a few points because this was the movie that gave Jerry Bruckheimer the confidence to invade Hollywood. But, that wouldn't be fair to Tony Scott and what he accomplished. (Trivia: Tony Scott is Ridley Scott's brother, and they both started out making commercials in England). Perfect 80s movie. Stuffed with machismo, babes, melodrama, and bad music. The sheer wattage given off by Tom Cruise is palpable, though is chemistry with Kelly McGillis is questionable. I'm sitting here trying to think of something more to say, but everytime I think "Top Gun" to myself, I smile, shake my head a little, and chuckle.

Performance to Savor: Tom Cruise
Memorable Moment: Goose dies

64. Rocky (1976) D: John G. Avildsen

This was one of those movies that I'd always put off seeing, mostly because I had no interest in it. I'm not a huge fan of Sly, and I'm certainly no boxing afficianado. But, if you read ESPN.com long enough, you'll hear this movie mentioned again and again. Eventually enough was enough, and I finally sat down and watched the thing. Boy, had I been wrong. This is a great movie. Not only is the screenplay (by Sly) smart and unpatronizing, his performance as The Italian Stallion is captivating. Any scene that he isn't in is boring by comparison. That's how good he is. This isn't just a great sports movie...its a great movie, period.

Performance to Savor: Sylvester Stallone
Memorable Moment: Running up the steps

63. Commando (1985) D: Mark L. Lester

My dirtiest pleasure. Probably the highest ranking movie on my list which isn't considered a good movie by anyone's standards. More than the Terminators, this is, to me, the definitive Arnold Movie. He single handedly battles an entire compound of soldiers! That's like 300-to-1. How does he do it? And there are countless moments which E-town and I constantly recount. Jumping out of a plane, ripping the seat out of a car, crashing in to a pole with no seatbelt, breaking in to an ammo store, the list goes on...I just can't deny how much I love this movie.

Performance to Savor: Vernon Wells
Memorable Moment: Jumping from the airplane

62. Total Recall (1990) D: Paul Verhoeven

This was my first glimpse into the difference between an R-rated movie and a PG-13 movie. We don't really notice it now, but think about the first time you saw an R-rated movie. All the violence and sex is actually quite amazing. This wasn't the first R movie I watched start to finish, but I saw a few scenes at my Grandma's house before my mom came running in and demanded that I change the channel. I had a hard time deciding between this and Commando. They have similar rewatchabilities and Arnold Factors, but ultimately, the story of Total Recall is significantly better. A suprising amount of thinking goes on for this Arnold Movie.

Performance to Savor: Michael Ironside
Memorable Moment: Body as a shield

61. The Last of the Mohicans (1992) D: Michael Mann

At this point, I defer to E-town.

Performance to Savor: Daniel Day-Lewis
Memorable Moment: Scalping

60. Saving Private Ryan (1998) D: Steven Spielberg

Thankfully I have never been to war and I can't imagine the horrors therein. As far as cinema goes, this appears to be as close to battle-time conditions as we've seen. From the soldiers puking on the boats to the begging for life to the paralyzing fear, this is a realistic (insert Brian comment about how this wasn't realistic) war... full of hero's and cowards. I can't attest to its historical accuracy, but as far as movies go, this is near the top of a long list of great war movies.

Performance to Savor: Tom Hanks
Memorable Moment: Afraid to help mate

59. The Passion of the Christ (2004) D: Mel Gibson

Another religious movie! Zealot! Zealot! As far as politics go, I'm tired of hearing people complain that this movie is propaganda and simple proseltyzing by Mel Gibson, that he had no right to shove this down our throats. Well, you didn't have to see it, and second, as far as that logic goes, the same could be said about Michael Moore. I certainly wouldn't classify myself as a conservative, however one wants to define that word, but I do *gulp* admire those who have the conviction to stand up and speak loudly for their beliefs. My only hope is that those whose convictions fall more in line with my own would find their own loud voice. Anyway....regardless of ones religious or political views, I doubt if you can deny the incredible filmmaking on display here. The Passion of the Christ (and for those of you who are wondering passion is derived from a greek word for suffering), is a very powerful story which is in this movie, finally captured on screen.

Performance to Savor: Jim Caviezel
Memorable Moment: Beaten by Romans

58. Unforgiven (1992) D: Clint Eastwood

Eastwood near the top of his game. Like Mystic River our main characters are deeply flawed and are mired in moral ambiguity. Munny's motivations are certainly understandable, but his actions boder on disturbing. Eastwood excels at directing scripts wherein there is no true good guy, and no true bad guy, for each is capable of things which seem contrary to their nature. What's on screen, though sensationalized, is identifiable with the grey areas of our world.

Performance to Savor: Clint Eastwood
Memorable Moment: None

57. Toy Story 2 (1999) D: John Lasseter

Like a breath of fresh air, Toy Story 2 enters the list after a string of violent and dark movies. A relatively high ranked sequel, I can't hide my unabashed joy at all that Pixar turns out. Toy Story was the first CG movie that really got it, and Toy Story 2 simply builds on that confidence. We don't need any lengthy exposition, we can jump right in to the story. And its not just fluff. Our characters are given real existential dilemnas which they must deal with in order to understand themselves. Great stuff, as usual, from the folks at Pixar.

Performance to Savor: Tim Allen
Memorable Moment: None

56. Home Alone (1990) D: Chris Columbus

A relic from my childhood movie experiences, this movie continues to entertain. I'll watch maybe once a year, and each time I'm amazed at how well it holds up. It has no extravagent special effects or extreme displays of technology, so it won't be dated any time soon. And what kid didn't dream of this scenario? Though I doubt any would be as organized and resourceful as young Kevin McAllister.

Performance to Savor: Macauley Culkin
Memorable Moment: None

55. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) D: Wes Anderson

I would like to think that I am a Wes Anderson fan though I've only seen The Royal Tenenbaums, despite all of the good things I've heard about Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, and The Life Aquatic. Any directors (or actors, or whoever) do that to anybody? I feel like he's a great director, but its all heresay. I've only seen one of his movies. But, oh boy, was it a good one.

Performance to Savor: Gene Hackman
Memorable Moment: None

54. Jaws (1975) D: Steven Spielberg

The granddaddy of all blockbuster movies. For what its worth, to still be ranked this high after 30 years speaks highly of quality. I admit that T-Biggs is a bit skewed toward newer movies, which is why I plan to revise and edit as the years go on. None the less, Jaws showed movie studios that summer was the time to release movies, it showed directors the proper way to deal with a monster effectively, it showed producers how to maximize budget, it showed writers that action and horror don't have to equal dumb, and it showed audiences how powerful filmmaking can truly be.

Performance to Savor: Robert Shaw
Memorable Moment: Swimming at night

53. Requiem for a Dream (2000) D: Darren Aranofsky

THE movie of my freshman year in college. I will forever assosciate this film with the living experience of first being away from home, living on Doty 3, negotiating collegiate life, finding a girlfriend, making new friends...everything. I had the soundtrack on my computer, which probably added to the doom and gloom of Doty. Aranofsky's flair accentuates the highs and inevitable lows of prolonged drug use, and its multitude of forms. From heroin to diet pills, all ages are susceptible. Dark, painful, disturbing, and not necessarily for the faint of heart, Requiem is the cinematic experience of an overdose...though without the side effects.

Performance to Savor: Marlon Wayons
Memorable Moment: On the pier

52. Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004) D: Quentin Tarantio

If the Kill Bill movies were released as a single film, as originally planned, I would hope that the end result was mostly elements from KB2. In my opinion QT shows more depth, and requires much more of his actors. Sure the House of Blue Leaves was an unforgettable cinematic experience, but in a lot of ways it clogged the movie; prevented our characters from interacting and dispensing information as to their motivations and backgrounds. In KB2 all of our questions are answered, and stylistically as well. Bill doesn't get quite enough screen time, and his back story is kind of lame, but David Carradine nails what he's given. They coulda picked a less annoying kid for the daughter. Excellent forshadowing as to how Bill is Killed.

Performance to Savor: Gordon Liu
Memorable Moment: Training with Pei Mei

51. 28 Days Later (2003) D: Danny Boyle

My goal for this movie is to see it on a TV. Thus far I've only seen it on E-town's computer monitor. In a van. But, what I saw was undeniably brilliant filmmaking. There has been/will be a glut of zombie movie in recent/coming years, but this is yet the best. Some minor social commentary regarding the nature of humanity, but its wisely kept at bay. As with any zombie movie, there are only so many options to consider as far as plot goes, and we're given the standard package. Where this movie excels, however, is the inclusion of small details. Cillian Murphy's visit to his parents, the army guys capturing a zombie, etc...

Performance To Savor: Brenden Gleeson
Memorable Moment: Zombie on a chain

50. Spider-Man 2 (2004) D: Sam Raimi

Allow me to preface this by stating that I loved this movie. Clearly. Therefore, I am simply going to list the things I didn't like about the movie. Should be a short list.

MJ discovers that Peter Parker is Spider-Man way too soon.
Our villains are so far results of botched medical procedures. Have some different motivations, like Magneto.

That's pretty much it. I loved the music...operatic and grandiose. The special effects were top-notch. Less intusive than the original. Comic book adaptations naturally lend themselves to sequels, so the "rehashed" factor is kept to a minimum. Looking forward to Spidey 3!

Performance to Savor: Alfred Molina
Memorable Moment: Battle on Subway

Depressing Blog

Don't read this if you don't like depressing blogs. Seriously. Just letting you know. No T-Biggs today.

Alright you asked for it.










You have no one to blame but yourself.





Anyway. I'm feeling pretty bad right now. There really isn't one exact thing that is the cause of it. I'm just in a slump. As you may or may not know from Grace's blog, I'm supposed to house-sit/baby-sit for these super rich people that I normally just tutor for. So last night I had to stay up until midnight waiting for Michael (that's the kid I tutor, but now I'm baby sitting) to get home from God knows where. Oh yeah, I know where. At Murphey's. Playing poker. On the corner of Goodrich and Prior. So, I'm tired, because I didn't get much sleep, and I had a fairly busy day yesterday setting up and attending the "Tropical Meltdown", which is my dept.'s annual party celebrating student success. It was fun. I'm tired right now. So tired, I didn't even go to the gym. And I'm fairly religious about going during my lunch break during the week, so that should tell you how tired I am. But I'm not even that tired. I've been this tired before and worked out. I'm just mentally strapped. I can't really see myself lifting weights or running or anything in any meaningful way. I can't visualize it happening. And, as we all know, mental strength is a huge chunk of the pie. And I don't have any. I also let Grace down with her camera (lost the batteries), which isn't a big deal...just have to pick up more batteries. But, it was her camera and her batteries, and I needed to be more careful. My bad. So, I'm thinking about that. And, I have to go back to the Mansion tonight...and tomorrow night, and I'm just totally out of my groove. Fuck man. I get out of my groove way to easily. That's not cool. Too many "ands".

99-75

So, I finally saw Napoleon Dynamite. I wasn't disappointed, and I found the movie to be refreshing and hilarious. Didn't crack the top 100 though. Comes in at 112. Right behind True Lies and ahead of Big Fish. We'll see how well the movie ages. Could move up the list if it starts attains "classic" status. Anyway. Had courtside seats to the T-Wolves game. They lost. It was fun though, as I talked to Dan Barreiro, shook Mad Dog's hand, and got a head nod from Ndudi Ebi.

99. Aladdin (1992) D: Ron Clements

I know Robin Williams is played out and annoying, but remember when he was at the top of the comedy game? Well, maybe not the top, but his performance as the Genie is legendary. Spectacular animation on display, coupled with a story everyone thinks about (3 wishes), and we have a Disney classic.

Performance to Savor: Robin Williams
Memorable Moment: Chase on the carpet

98. Speed (1994) D: Jan De Bont

A great action thriller with a clever set up. Docked several spots because of the unsure and repetitive ending. Nothing here is top notch (effects, acting, directing) except the music, which fits the mood perfectly. I always end up watching this on TNT.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: Subway beheading

97. The Natural (1984) D: Barry Levinson

A loving look at a bygone baseball era, when men wore suits and hats to baseball games, and reporters said things like, "Hey, see! Whaddya know? Whaddya say? See?!" Hobbs numbers are mythical, but as Bonds is proving, not impossible.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: Homerun in to the light fixture

96. The Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) D: Gore Verbinski

Can't believe that the guy who made "Mousehunt" also made a movie ranked this high...but here it is. Pirates is a near perfect combination of humor, FX, and um...derring-do? For the longest time, pirate movies have been a curse in Hollywood, so success is met with much acclaim. Everyone is cast perfectly, except Orlando Bloom who's got to start showing me something else.

Performance to Savor: Johnny Depp
Memorable Moment: None

95. Rounders (1998) D: John Dahl

The Sports Guy would probably not agree with this pick. Too low for him. I'm not a fan of poker, and I don't gamble, but this movie isn't just about poker. Its about friendship, loyalty, and following your dreams. Mike McD has a great girlfriend who doesn't share his dreams. What to do? An excellent look at a man torn between a world of legitmacy and security, and a world of his passions.

Performance to Savor: Edward Norton
Memorable Moment: Teddy's Tell

94. Monty Python and the Meaning of Life (1983) D: Terry Gilliam

Nothing more than a series of gags, Python's take on life usuallys boils down to oxymoronic combinations of attitude and setting. For example, a straight laced professor teaching sex ed...by having sex with his wife. Or a troupe of soldiers questioning the literal meaning of their commander's orders. Quirky and smart...never short on laughs.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: The Machine that goes "ping"

93. Psycho (1960) D: Alfred Hitchcock

To label this as the most shocking/scary/frightening/disturbing movie of all time (as many critics/magazines do) is to divorce oneself from the social context in which one first sees it. Surely when it was first released it terrified audiences, but the gore and infamy of the shower scene fall away when later generations encounter the material. What remains is an excellently plotted mystery, inhabited by memorable characters, but no real protagonist.

Performance to Savor: Anthony Perkins
Memorable Moment: Shower

92. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) D: Steven Spielberg

The Bearded One takes a lesson out of his own book, and utilizes it to perfection. As with Jaws, Spielberg decides to withold the supernatual/extraordinary until the end of the movie, effectively building fantastic tension. The questionable mental stability of our lead, as well as the sense of global threat, government cover up, and a link with the galaxy, all contribute to a well crafted motion picture.

Performance to Savor: Richard Dreyfuss
Memorable Moment: Mashed potatoes

91. The Wizard of Oz (1939) D: Victor Fleming

Do y'all remember how scary this movie was? Flying monkeys, melting witches, tornados, houses...how did anyone get through it? What else can I say that hasn't already been said about one of American Cinema's masterpieces?

Performance to Savor: Margaret Hamilton
Memorable Moment: "I'm melting!"

90. The Ten Commandments (1956) D: Cecille B. DeMille

The only person who knew who voiced the Burning Bush was DeMille...and he's dead! So that's a mystery that will never be solved. Say what you want about the Bible, but it certainly doesn't lack in the epic department. DeMille did an admirable job of transferring the sweeping nature of the story on to the big screen without making it seem hoky or cheap.

Performance to Savor: Yul Brynner
Memorable Moment: Parting of the Red Sea

89. Good Will Hunting (1997) D: Gus Van Sant

Hey, its about a tough mathematician. Whaddya want from me?

Performance to Savor: Matt Damon
Memorable Moment: Proof on the blackboard

88. There's Something About Mary (1998) D: Farrelly Brothers

Dumb and Dumber was the first, and Something was the last. That is, movies made by the Farrelly's where the "gross-out" elements fit into the story without feeling forced, or inserted for shock value alone. Definitely a modern classic, with only a few dated elements, and should turn out to be a movie classic, in the comedy genre or otherwise. That last sentence was terrible.
Performance to Savor: Matt Dillon
Memorable Moment: Zipped up

87. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) D: Alfonso Cuaron

The only of the three Potters to be a good stand alone movie. That is, the first two had some serious flaws, but were largely forgiven because of the general affinity for the source material. The feeling with this movie is that Cuaron committed himself to making a good movie rather than just a good Harry Potter Movie. The result is fantastic. Hogwarts and environs are well realized, and I feel that Michael Gambon gets Dumbldore much more than Richard Harris.

Performance to Savor: Emma Watson
Memorable Moment: Hippogriff flight

86. Spellbound (1945) D: Alfred Hitchcock

I'm probably one of the few people in the world who has this ranked higher than Psycho. Certainly Psycho is fairly innovative in that its main character is a misanthropic murder, yet Spellbound offers a unique and imaginative dream sequence by Salvador Dali. Whatever...both movies are classics, and I like Spellbound more.

Performance to Savor: Ingrid Bergman
Memorable Moment: None

85. Fargo (1996) D: Joel Coen

The Coens took potentially dangerous material (alienating the entire midwest by mocking their accent, attitudes, and lifestyles) and churned out an amusing, loving, and disturbing tale. The characters (other than Peter Stormare's) are every day people that you and I both know. By placing these people in remarkable situations, the Coens afford us the oppurtunity to examine how we might respond in similar circumstances.

Performance to Savor: Peter Stormare
Memorable Moment: Wood chipper

84. Apocalypse Now (1979) D: Francis Ford Coppola

Take it away E.

Performance to Savor: Marlon Brando
Memorable Moment: Napalm

83. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) D: Jim Sharman

This is one of those love-it-or-hate-it movies. Senior year in high school a group of the "smart" kids took a trip to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival. We had a couple of hotel rooms, and incidentally we rented this. I think I was the only one who liked it. Imagine how $immz responded. Then, there were the cowboys, and the farmer...and the Bible Boy. In all, not exactly a crowd to watch a mind-bending musical about Transvestites from Transexual Transylvania.

Performance to Savor: Tim Curry
Memorable Moment: Meat Loaf

82. Shrek 2 (2004) D: Andrew Adamson

A true marvel of computer animation. Stuffed with cameos (literary and otherwise), dazzling sets, and pop-culture references, this movie is about as "for the whole family" as it gets. My only concern is tied to its appeal. Like its predecessor, it relies heavily on current events for its gags. This reduces its rewatchability and thus, its timelessness. I expect both Shrek movies to slowly move down the list as the years pass.

Performance to Savor: Antonio Banderas
Memorable Moment: None

81. Gone With The Wind (1939) D: Victor Fleming

Until recently, this was one of those movies that I'd always planned on seeing, but never planned to see. I'd always say "I'll see it sometime". Of course, its a 3 1/2 hour epic, so I can't really just stumble upon it. Fortunately its Grace's favorite movie and she has a copy. One weekend I decided to just do it. I didn't really know what to expect. Obviously it has as much acclaim as any movie ever...but its old, and about high society during the Civil War. So how much is it gonna resonate with me? Well, I loved it. It is truly an epic movie in every sense of the word. Costumes, sets, acting...and the music. Shit, I'm still whistling the damn music. What suprised me the most was the context of the "Frankly Scarlet..." line. It came when I least expected it, and signified something I did not see coming. Another suprise: Scarlett O'Hara is one of modern cinemas lasting heroins, but not for the reasons I expected. I found her to be entirely unlikable. Sure, she's a survivor, but she's mostly a bitch. Anyway, this movie offered a lot to me which I was wholly unprepared for, which is really the best thing that could've happened.

Performance to Savor: Vivien Leigh
Memorable Moment: "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn."

80. Boogie Nights (1997) D: Paul W.S. Anderson

A far far better film than "Magnolia" where P.A felt the need to bang us over the head with his subtle messages. Here, the characters steal the show, and they are allowed to breathe. We are unsuprised that the porn industry corrupts young Dirk, but we are made to feel bad about it anyway. We are given a world inhabited by loathsome, greedy, shady, druggy, and alltogether amoral shucksters, but are allowed to see their human side. That they, along with everyone, have dreams, and they, like everyone, often see those dreams crushed.

Performance to Savor: Julianne Moore
Memorable Moment: Unzipped

79. Thelma and Louise (1991) D: Ridley Scott

So, I watched another of Grace's all time classics, and clearly, I loved it. Classic buddy road trip gone wrong trip with a little twist: They're women. That shouldn't be a twist, but...it is. Things begin to spiral out of control, and eventually, they are wanted murderers. What's unfortunate is that had these main characters been male, this would've been a run of the mill flick. However, Scott takes this oppurtunity to point out several ills of our society, the most obvious of which is our treatment of women. Beyond all that, this is a fantastically fun pic, featuring the virile young body of Brad Pitt.

Performance to Savor: Geena Davis
Memorable Moment: Cliff

78. Being John Malcovich (1999) D: Spike Jonze

Probably the most unique movie I will ever see. Sure there are weirder movies. Sure that are more pyschadelic movies. But, Charlie Kaufman plays it straight, and matter of factly presents us with a situation that is beyond bizarre. There are no explanations, just examanations of how resourcefulness can be applied to manipulate any situation for one's own personal gain. However, there may be serious consequences.

Performance to Savor: Cameron Diaz
Memorable Moment: Malcovich Malcovich Malcovich Malcovich

77. Harold and Maude (1972) D: Hal Ashby

Dark humor at its finest. Meet Harold, a rich young man completely unhappy with life, and hell bent on thinking of exotic new ways to fake his own death. Meet Maude, a free spirited geriatric with more to offer than women 1/4 her age. Naturally, these two make a perfect pair.

Performance to Savor: Ruth Gordon
Memorable Moment: Ring in lake

76. The Big Lebowski (1998) D: Joel Coen

I imagine that every single one of the people who read this blog have seen this movie. I also imagine that they all hold it in some regard. Therefore, no explanation of why I like it is necessary. You already know, man. That was a lazy-ass comment on my part.

Performance to Savor: John Turturro
Memorable Moment: Ashes in face

75. South Park: Bigger, Longer , and Uncut (1999) D: Trey Parker

South Park the TV Show completely boggles my mind. On the one hand, of the episodes I've seen, its one of the best written shows ever. They are clever, hilarious, and smart, with the appropriate levels of vulgarity and scatology. On the other hand, I never seek them out. I never try to watch the show. Even when I know a new show is on, and it just started, I still flip around. I don't know why this is. I would claim that I'm a fan of the show. But I don't really watch it. Who knows.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: None

124-100

Getting towards the long awaited end. After today, all that will be left is the Top 100. Enjoy!

124. Sling Blade (1996) D: Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob portrays a retarded redneck. Not much of a stretch. Just kidding. I had never heard of him before this movie, and he entered my consciousness with a bang. A spectacular performance. Even here, as a dim-witted yokel, he just exudes charisma.

Performance to Savor: Billy Bob Thornton
Memorable Moment: None

123. 12 Angry Men (1957) D: Sidney Lumet

I'm not even sure if it was originally released as a play or a movie, but either contexts work. I know that I saw it as a play, and was fascinated. Hollywood should look to this film when struggling with the over-abundance of visceral stimulation on screen. All you need is good acting and writing. The character's in this movie don't even have names. The story is a compelling one, with thinly veiled condemnations of racism, classism, and group-think.

Performance to Savor: Lee J. Cobb
Memorable Moment: None

122. Adaptation (2002) D: Spike Jonze

I had pretty much given up hope for Nic Cage. I was convinced he had resigned himself to making terrible action movies and mindless romantic comedies. Then out comes Adaptation, where he reminds us of the excellent actor he could be. As close to an indescribable story/genre as there is, but a good one.

Performance to Savor: Chris Cooper
Memorable Moment: Door is open

121. Mystic River (2003) D: Clint Eastwood

I was flat-out determined not to like this movie. Its release coincided with The Return of the King, and I didn't want there to be any challengers for my affection at this time. I wanted to soley devote my cinematic energy into the One Ring. Even after seeing Mystic, I resisted its appeal. Denied its strength. Once ROTK had been out for awhile, and won all of its awards, I revisted Mystic, and much to my (non) suprise, it has an undeniable magnetism. All of Clint's tough-guy stuff is thrown in, with excellent performances particularly from Sean Penn and Tim Robbins.

Performance to Savor: Tim Robbins
Memorable Moment: None

120. The Fugitive (1993) D: Andrew Davis

Harrison Ford plays a hero...but a scared, frightened, and weakened one. A nice twist on the cock-sure rogues he had personified. He says maybe 20 words in the entire movie, but we are able to read him like a book. An example of subtlty the likes of which is rare in many action movies.

Performance to Savor: Harrison Fork
Memorable Moment: Jumping off dam

119. American History X (1998) D: Tony Kaye

I can't really think of anything to say because I keep thinking of that guy and the curb.

Performance to Savor: Edward Norton
Memorable Moment: Curb

118. Men in Black (1997) D: Barry Sonnenfeld

A sense of fun permeates the film, propagated by Agents Smith and Jones. A worth summer blockbuster in a field of mindless drivel.

Performance to Savor: Tommy Lee Jones
Memorable Moment: None

117. Kinsey (2004) D: Bill Condon

If you haven't seen this movie yet: DO SO! Condon paints a fairly loving portrait of Dr. Kinsey, whose research in to the sexual habits of Americans revolunized they way we talk about sex. Fortunately, there are elements of weakness, though they mostly weave among Kinsey's assosciates and family. John Lithgow reminds us he used to be a good actor before he was an alien.

Performance to Savor : Peter Sarsgaard
Memorable Moment: Meeting with the sexaholic

116. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) D: Kerry Conran

I understand why audiences didn't flock to this...though I don't agree with it. The public isn't quite ready to accept a live action movie filmed entirely against blue-screen. In fact, I'd wager that if that wasn't known about this flick, it would've made more money. Silly, I know, but we've all agreed that the American public is quite silly.

Performance to Savor: Jude Law
Memorable Moment: Robots in NYC

115. Collateral (2004) D: Michael Mann

I didn't have much of a desire to see this, as I felt the premise didn't lead itself to a quality feature-length motion picture. Boy, was I wrong. Mann uses digital photography brilliantly, and he makes LA glow. Tom Cruise overacts a bit, but he's solid as the hit man. But, this is the Jamie Foxx show. His understated confidence throughout the flick makes all the difference in the world.

Performance to Savor: Jamie Foxx
Memorable Moment: None

114. Beauty and the Beast (1991) D: Gary Trousdale

I think this was the first time animators used computers to enhance their project...though there really was no need. Truly a classic.

Performance to Savor: Robby Benson
Memorable Moment: Beast saves Belle in the snow

113. L.A. Confidential (1997) D: Curtis Hanson

A great modern noir, augmented by nice performances by all involved. The cast really gets into the time period and setting, which adds to the versimilitude. Russell Crowe sets out on his path to stardom

Performance to Savor: Russell Crowe
Memorable Moment: None

112. Big Fish (2003) D: Tim Burton

In the end, Tim Burton's best movie wasn't the one that was the darkest, the creepiest, the atmospheriest, the spookiest, the weirdest, the star-studdiest, the adapted comic bookiest...it was just simply, the best.

Performance to Savor: Albert Finney
Memorable Moment: The Giant's cave

111. True Lies (1994) D: James Cameron

When Jamie Lee Curties drops the machine gun down the stairs, and it proceeds to accurately shoot every bad guy in the area, this is James Cameron winking at the audience and telling us to lighten up a little bit. The movie is proposterous and rediculous, and completely entertaining. I loved the middle chapter where Arnold uses his espionage talents to follow his wife.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: Gun falling down stairs

110. Happiness (1998) D: Todd Solondz

How clever is Todd Solondz? He makes us sympathize with a child molester. You figure it out.

Performance to Savor: Dylan Baker
Memorable Moment: Masturbation on balcony

109. Run Lola Run (1998) D: Tom Tykwer

About as high a concept as a high concept film gets. Woman needs $100,000 and has 20 minutes to do so. Tykwer directs with reckless abandon, but I can't see any other way to tell this story.

Performance to Savor: Franka Potente
Memorable Moment: None

108. Whale Rider (2003) D: Niki Caro

Absorbing tale of a young maori girl, born to a loving but always-travelling father and an "old ways" grandfather. Excellent look at the role of modern womanism/feminism in the face of traditional tribal values.

Performance to Savor: Keisha Castle-Hughes
Memorable Moment: Beached whale

107. Do the Right Thing (1989) D: Spike Lee

Lee's best movie, easily...though I'm not exactly an expert. I got nothin' else.

Performance to Savor: Spike Lee
Memorable Moment: None

106. The Birds (1963) D: Alfred Hitchcock

Terrifying because the birds lack motivation. There is no reason for them to be behaving the way they are. We have no way to fight them, and the best we can do is just run. Excellent ending which doesn't resolve the necessary ambiguities.

Performance to Savor: Tippi Hedren
Memorable Moment: Driving through the stilled birds

105. The Swiss Family Robinson (1960) D: Ken Annakin

Every child's dream. Stranded on a mysterious jungle island. Build enormous elaborate tree houses. Fight pirates. Ride Ostriches on the beach. Befriend tigers. Except, oh yeah, the parent's are here too. Shit.

Performance to Savor: Janet Munro
Memorable Moment: Pirate attack

104. Trainspotting (1996) D: Danny Boyle

The movie which launched two careers...though Ewan's star is a bit brighter right now than Boyle's. Doesn't matter, hilarious movie, with easily the most disgusting toilet in the world.

Performance to Savor: Ewan McGregor
Memorable Moment: Dirty sheets

103. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) D: Terry Gilliam

Classic Python. The swallows. Your favorite color. The rabbit. Sir Robin. The coconuts. The trojon horse.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: The Knight who refuses to lose

102. Cast Away (2000) D: Robert Zemeckis

I had a hard time putting this movie so high. But, every time a kept trying to drop it, something didn't sit well with me. Sure the beginning and end are standard and boring. But think about what these filmmakers did: No lighting, no music, no sound effects, no extras, no supporting characters...nothing. For more than an hour its just us and Hanks. Remarkable.

Performance to Savor: Tom Hanks
Memorable Moment: Wilson floats away

101. The Rock (1996) D: Michael Bay

Whoa. I dunno about this. Fuck it.

Performance to Savor: Ed Harris
Memorable Moment: None

100. City of Lost Children (1995) D: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Take it away Matty.

Performance to Savor: Judith Vittet
Memorable Moment: None

149-125

Bangers fall. Life over. Psyche.

149. Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) D: Robert Rodriguez

This movie was fairly panned by "critics" who "know" what they "are" talking "about". I really couldn't disagree more. Rodriguez was the artistic force behind every filmmaking element (editing, directing, music, etc...) and his enthusiasm comes through the celluloid. Completely over the top in every way, but a whole hell of a lot of fun.

Performance to Savor: Johnny Depp
Memorable Moment: Knee blow-out

148. Chasing Amy (1997) D: Kevin Smith

Smith's most grown up movie. Well, it deals with grown-up themes at least. He still relies on dick and fart jokes, but they are well integrated in to the story. An interesting denoument refreshens a tale that was about to go stale.

Performance to Savor: Joey Lauren Adams
Memorable Moment: On the swings

147. Full Metal Jacket (1987) D: Stanley Kubrick

Without this movie, 2 Live Crew would be without one of its biggest hits. Essentially two seperate flicks thrown in to one narrative, the first half is one of the most memorable experiences I've had at a movie. Former real life army-man R. Lee Ermey chews apart every scene and spits it out on Private Pyle.

Performance to Savor: R. Lee Ermey
Memorable Moment: Private Pyle in the bathroom

146. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) D: Henry Selick

I saw this when I was eleven or twelve, and I remember thinking that "This is gonna be stupid. Its a kids movie. I'm grown up now". Y'know how young men are. Anyway, I found that kids movies aren't stupid because they lack explosions and boobs, and that story and a unique artistic vision are enough to carry a movie.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: None

145. White Men Can't Jump (1992) D: Ron Shelton

Vastly entertaining tale of street-ballers struggling to make money. The chemistry between Woody and Wesley is second to none. The writing and delivery is crisp, with realistic basketball scenes and rediculous painter's hats.

Performance to Savor: Wesley Snipes
Memorable Moment: None

144. Big (1988) D: Penny Marshall

Tom Hanks fulfills the fantasy of every young male in the country. What would it be like if I could do anything I wanted? Of course, we are fed lessons about responsibility vs. priviledge, but its a fun ride.

Performance to Savor: Tom Hanks
Memorable Moment: Nervous boob

143. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1989) D: Robert Zemeckis

Revolutionary special effects and a workable combination of noir and cartoon make this a classic worth revisiting. Jessica Rabbit remains one of the sexiest characters of all time, despite her so called "non-existence". Jake(s), she's WAY hotter than Peach.

Performance to Savor: Jessica Rabbit
Memorable Moment: None

142. Paths of Glory (1957) D: Stanley Kubrick

I saw this movie in Hungary in a converted elementary school. The building was delapidated, and a perfect setting for this (as usual) exploration of the futility of war. Here, we find the ranking officer sacrificing his men for the sake of his reputation, with only Kirk Douglas to stand in the way. I particulary liked it because the end is probably not what Hollywood wanted it to be.

Performance to Savor: Kirk Douglas
Memorable Moment: Firing squad

141. Three Kings (1999) D: David O. Russell

I heart Three Kings. Beautifully shot in the scorching Iraqi desert, Russell provides an interesting take on the nature of capitalism in the context of war and oppression. Neither side is painted as particulary good or evil, but each with their own self-serving (though flexible) agenda.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: None

140. Philadelphia (1993) D: Jonathan Demme

Is that the guy from "Bachelor Party"? Is this movie automatically good because it tackles a "serious" issue? Of course not. Hanks and Denzel are at the top of their game (though D could lose the crappy mustache). Sure he won an Oscar, but Demme maybe could have lost some of the black and white characterizations.

Performance to Savor: Tom Hanks
Memorable Moment: None

139. The Professional (1994) D: Luc Besson

The best movie that Natalie Portman has been in. At least until Revenge of the Sith, but that at least has the benefit of a back story. This movie is so incredible in its pairing of a skinny little girl with a seasoned, grumpy hit man. Truly, its a love story without feeling dirty. We're given sexual chemistry without feeling cheap. All of the death and violence stuff is second only to the exploration of a man searching for some sort of connection with a world he left long ago.

Performance to Savor: Natalie Portman
Memorable Moment: Girl in the eyehole

138. Footloose (1984) D: Herbert Ross

Matty, I don't know how they learned to dance. How melodramatic is this movie? Kevin Bacon dancing in the warehouse is one of the most unintentionally comical scenes in the history of film.

Performance to Savor: Kevin Bacon
Memorable Moment: There is a time for dance

137. Minority Report (2002) D: Steven Spielberg

After seperate megastar careers, Cruise and Speilberg finally come together, and the result is outstanding. Supported by a fantastic story by Phillip K. Dick, we are treated to a summer blockbuster which dares to question the nature of fate v. free will. Ballsy, sure, but handled well.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: fate or choice?

136. The Bourne Identity (2002) D: Doug Liman

Matt Damon proves that he is the star, and Ben Ass-lick can go monkeyfuck himself. Sorry, some residual resentment built up there. As I mentioned with The Bourne Supremacy, this spy movie got back to the basics of the genre: stealth, secret bank accounts, and vicious assassins. Not a great adaptation of the book...which is good, because the novel had a lot to improve upon.

Performance to Savor: Matt Damon
Memorable Moment: In the water

135. Heat (1995) D: Michael Mann

Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in the same movie. 'Nuff said.

Performance to Savor: Robert De Niro
Memorable Moment: Meeting in the diner

134. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) D: George Clooney

The Charlie Kaufman movie that everyone seems to over look. Though its based on a true story, its still has Kaufman's unique sense of mind-fuck-itude. An impressibe directorial debut from Clooney.

Performance to Savor: Sam Rockwell
Memorable Moment: None

133. Dead Poet's Society (1989) D: Peter Weir

Sappy. Sentimental. Whatever. Robin Williams gives a bravado performance, and I am made to like a bunch of preppy private school east-coasters. There is some movie magic at work here.

Performance to Savor: Robin Williams
Memorable Moment: None

132. Ocean's Eleven (2001) D: Steven Soderbergh

When its obvious that the cast and crew had a blast making a movie, entertainment will spill out of the screen. I'm somewhat partial to intricate heist tales as well...though told with an element of humor.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: None

131. Catch Me If You Can (2002) D: Steven Spielberg

Much like Ocean's Eleven, we are on the side of the criminals here. Even more amazing is that this is based on a true story. Truly fascinating to see the level of genius required to succeed at impersonation and forgery.

Performance to Savor: Christopher Walken
Memorable Moment: None

130. Matchstick Men (2003) D: Ridley Scott

Would've been much higher if not for the awful, awful end. And I'm not talking about the end y'all didn't see coming. I'm talking about the terrible piece that is so obviously tacked on. Y'know, "one year later..." blach.

Performance to Savor: Sam Rockwell
Memorable Moment: On the rooftop

129. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) D: Terry Gilliam

No plot. Cheaply shot. A bevy of unnecessary cameos. Made me feel stoned afterwards.

Great.

Performance to Savor: Benicio Del Toro
Memorable Moment: None

128. Apollo 13 (1995) D: Ron Howard

I was hoping Tom Hanks would win an academy award for his performance...not because I thought it was good, but because that would've made it an unprecedented 3-in-a-row (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia). A great and inspirational story of the "Most Succesful Failure in NASA's History".

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: Earth in the window

127. The Little Mermaid (1989) D: Ron Clements

Part of an unbelievable run for Disney animation (Aladdin, Beauty and Beast). No significant breakthroughs in animation, but they weren't necessary. The songs are memorable, as is the simple story.

Performance to Savor: Samuel E. Wright
Memorable Moment: Kiss the girl

126. A Little Princess (1995) D: Alfonso Cuaron

Magical. This story of a little girl, who is told WWII has orphaned her, yet still holds hope of seeing her father, is simply magical. The sets, costumes, imagination. Cuaron also made the best of the Harry Potter movies...coming up.

Performance to Savor: Liesel Matthews
Memorable Moment: None

125. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) D: Keenan Ivory Wayans

One of the first memories I have of Macalester (other than vomiting my brains out) is Brian recommending this movie. We rented it and watched in the Doty 3 lounge, on the no-sex furniture. Not ideal viewing conditions, but a hilarious movie nonetheless.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: Cheap Pete

174-150

Hello.

174. Jabberwocky (1977) D: Terry Gilliam

Perhaps forgotten and overlooked by history due to its apparent similarity with "The Holy Grail". Still classic Monty Python gags, replete with crude animation and historical accuracy.

Performance to Savor: Eric Idle
Memorable Moment: None

173. Donnie Brasco (1997) D: Mike Newell

Typically I'm not really in to gangster movies (no, I've never seen and of the Godfathers.) But, I thoroughly enjoyed this flick, buoyed significantly by the charisma of the two leads.

Performance to Savor: Al Pacino
Memorable Moment: None

172. Airplane! (1980) D: Jim Abrahams

Classis movie which, after Blazing Saddles, sets the standard for spoof movies.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: Jive-talkin'

171. Titanic (1997) D: James Cameron

I could probably like this movie more if I didn't hold ill will toward it for winning the Best Picture Oscar, and James Cameron for his vain-glorious acceptance speech ("I'm the King of the world!"...whatever, dude.) But, a remarkable bout of filmmaking, cliches and all.

Performance to Savor: Billy Zane
Memorable Moment: None

170. Amadeus (1984) D: Milos Forman

Solid biography of a Mozart, characterized by Tom Hulce's goofball clown impersonation of the composing genius.

Performance to Savor: F. Murray Abraham
Memorable Moment: Composing in bed

169. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) D: Robert Mulligan

Along with "Of Mice and Men", in ninth grade I was "forced" to read the book and watch the movie. Incidentally, both turned out to be great stories, some of my favorites.

Performance to Savor: Atticus Finch
Memorable Moment: None

168. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) D: Mel Stuart

Creepy and unforgettable, a less than ideal adaptation of Roald Dahl's vision (see: James and the Giant Peach), but a more engaging flick all-around. Good cast, great sets. Here's hoping Tim Burton and Mr. Depp only improve on this classic.

Performance to Savor: Gene Wilder
Memorable Moment: Boat ride

167. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) D: John Hughes

This movie is the reason that Grace wants to do Matthew Broderick.

Performance to Savor: Matthew Broderick
Memorable Moment: Car crash

166. The Bourne Supremacy (2004) D: Paul Greengrass

Similar in title only to Robert Ludlow's novel. Which is a good thing. The book was boring, with wooden dialogue and tired pacing. The movie on the other hand, was frenetic, but controlled, with believable action and good acting.

Performance to Savor: Matt Damon
Memorable Moment: With the orphan

165. High Fidelity (2000) D: Stephen Frears

Matt-- you comment for me.

Performance to Savor: John Cusack
Memorable Moment: None

164. Brazil (1985) D: Terry Gilliam

Classic Gilliam. A bleak look at a "Big Brother-y" society, where automation and over-population rule. Dark. One viewing is not enough.

Performance to Savor: Robert DeNiro
Memorable Moment: None


163. Backdraft (1991) D: Ron Howard

The first R-rated movie that I saw. I stayed the night at a friends house, and we stayed up late and watched this without either of our parent's knowing. Very illicit. I wasn't exactly shocked by what was on screen, but I was very intrigued. When I first started thinking about my favorite movies...this was up there.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: On top of the fire engine

162. North by Northwest (1959) D: Alfred Hitchcock

Hitchcock at the top of his game in this classic tale of espionage.

Performance to Savor: Cary Grant
Memorable Moment: Bi-plane

161. The Terminator (1984) D: James Cameron

The role that Arnie was born to play. The less human the character, the better. Remarkably surpassed by its sequel, but this is still the movie that spawned a legend.

Performance to Savor: Arnold Scwarzenegger
Memorable Moment: None

160. Happy Gilmore (1996) D: Dennis Dugan

I didn't even really care for this when it came out. Just another dumb comedy. But then, I met Simmz, and we watched it again. And again. And again, and again, and again....I must've seen this more than any other movie. Eventually, it started to wear on me, and now....its hilarious.

Performance to Savor: Carl Weathers
Memorable Moment: Bob Barker

159. Dumb and Dumber (1994) D: Peter Farrelly

Probably the hardest that I've ever laughed at a theater. I was with a friend who had a great laugh, which made the whole thing funnier. Yeah, its dumb...but dammit, its supposed to be. Love it.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: Snowball fight

158. A Simple Plan (1998) D: Sam Raimi

Enormous suprise. Grace was in Oregon, and me her and Kit wanted to watch a movie...we couldn't really decide, so I suggested this because I'd heard good things. Wow. Bill Paxton actually didn't act like an enormous cock. Raimi masterfully builds tension only using the prospect of riches as a devisive tool among friends. Taut, well-writted, well-acted.

Performance to Savor: Billy Bob Thornton
Memorable Moment: Fratricide

157. Edward Scissorhands (1990) D: Tim Burton

The first PG-13 movie that I was officially allowed to watch. My mom was out of town, so my dad and I rented this. We both knew that mom wouldn't be too happy, so we silently agreed not to tell her. One of the first instances when I knew that my parents weren't perfect, and I could use this to my advantage.

Performance to Savor: Johnny Depp

Memorable Moment: None

156. Hannibal (2001) D: Ridley Scott

As much as I wished that Jodie Foster would've reprised her role as Clarice, Julianne Moore filled her shoes nicely, and Clarice isn't what drew me to this franchise. More on Hannibal Lecter later. The end scene is probably the first time at a movie that I couldn't believe what I was seeing on the screen.

Performance to Savor: Anthony Hopkins

Memorable Moment: Dinner

155. Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) D: Brad Silberling

I saw this recently with Grace at the dollar theater. I had been meaning to see it sooner, but, not everyone shares my love of kid's movies. Even if you don't, you should definitely check this out. The production design and cinematography create the appropriate ambiguity for the tale. We could be in Victorian England, or modern New England...there are car phones, but the sheriff is referred to as the constable. Anyway, Jim Carrey is given a juicy role, which he of course sinks his teeth into. My only complaint, actually, are the kids. Perfect looking. Not great acting. Wasn't a big deal, the story was interesting, though the end was somewhat obvious.

Performance to Savor: Jim Carrey

Memorable Moment: None

154. Die Hard (1988) D: John McTeirnen

And thus, Bruce Willis was typecast for the rest of his life. Sure, he always acts hungover and tired...but here, it was at least new. Great action flick of the 80s, highlighted by explosions, big hair, bearded suits, business men, and crazy germans. Subsequent movies were compared to this, and often referred to as "Die Hard in a (fill in the blank)"

Performance to Savor: Bruce Willis

Memorable Moment: Walking on broken glass

153. The Matrix Reloaded (2003) D: The Wachowski Brothers

After "LOTR: ROTK" this was my most anticipated movie of 2003. I loved The Matrix, and I was positively ecstatic to see where the series was to go. You know what? Fuck it. I loved this movie...I was about to talk about the importance placed on SFX over acting and plot...but who cares. I thought it was bloody cool, and I want to see it again.

Performance to Savor: Hugo Weaving

Memorable Moment: Semi-crash

152. Finding Nemo (2003) D: Andrew Stanton

Suprisingly, I didn't love this as much as I thought I was going to. Or as much as everyone else did. Possibly one of the only times when a "kids" movie is liked more by my peers, than me. I don't know what it is...but I just wasn't feeling it. Of course, it was an unbelievable movie that I will watch over and over and over....so its really all relative.

Performance to Savor: Ellen Degeneres

Memorable Moment: None

151. Holes (2003) D: Andrew Davis

Based on the book by Louis Sachar, which is such an easy read I finished it in 4 hours. The movie doesn't quite have the same sense of allegory and overall completeness, but its close. An excellent movie for the whole family, with a feel-good story, and an appropriate amount of tragedy to go with the comedy.

Performance to Savor: Shea LeBouf

Memorable Moment: None

150. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) D: Frank Oz

A fun little con-(wo)man flick, with an enormous twist at the end. Steve Martin and Michael Caine have excellent chemistry as two grifters who make a wager over a target. Its fun watching the crime unfold.

Performance to Savor: Michael Caine

Memorable Moment: Peeing at the table

Good bye.