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.