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