61 on 2007 list

Sullivan’s Travels is a movie I have been meaning to see for years, and I am happy it ended up being the final movie for this goal. A film about moviemaking, Sullivan’s Travels pokes fun at Hollywood and its attempts to reach an audience. The main character, a director, wants to make something more than a simple comedy picture, he wants to make a movie for the poor people.

John Sullivan, a famous movie director, decides he wants to make a movie about human suffering so he decides to figure out suffering for himself by going on the road as a tramp. The studio sees this as a great publicity stunt and decide to follow him on the journey. Try as he may to get on the road, he ends up back in Hollywood or wherever his crew decides to follow. Along the way, he meets “The Girl,” played by Veronica Lake. She is a failing actress who ends up tagging along with him. This journey brings humor, sadness, drama and laughter.

Great scenes include Sullivan trapped in a movie theater with noisy kids and loud eaters, a funny car chase, a mixed audience enjoying the funny antics of Pluto and many more. It has great dialogue with plenty of one-liners. After all, humor is universal. Whether you are rich or poor, a funny movie will still bring you laughter.

Sullivan’s Travels is a worthy addition to this list and is indeed one of the greatest movies I have seen. I highly urge you to experience Sullivan’s Travels.

52 on 1998 list

A powerful movie about war and relationships. It takes place in Hawaii and centers around a soldier, Pvt. Prewitt, who is harassed by his officer because he won’t box on their team. At the same time, the officer’s wife becomes involved with his sergeant and Prewitt becomes involved with a “prostitute” at a gentleman’s club. I’m not a big fan of adultery for personal reasons and it is always hard for me to see it portrayed on screen as a good thing, but this movie handles it well. All of these troubled relationships reach their peak at the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Evidently the book was too racy and did not paint the army in a good light, so the movie had to be toned down for audiences at the time. However, I think it does a good job at tackling the issues it presents. I have not read the book, but I am interested after seeing this.

82 on 2007 list

This was one of the hardest movies to find to watch, but I am glad I made the effort. It was a very good movie, worthy of a spot on the top 100 movie list. It has a simple plot, a farmer is tempted by a city woman to leave/kill his wife but realizes how much he loves his wife, but it is very well done with minimal title cards.
Things worth noting. When the city woman suggests he drown his wife, the title card that says “she could be drowned” has a great effect. The word drowned falls down towards the bottom of the screen. Very cool for a silent movie. The special effects were great, such as the city scenes. As the man and his wife go to the city, images dominate the screen around them. These include people dancing, bands playing and the city in movement.
Once again, I will link to Roger Ebert. His review is well written and is able to say so much about Sunrise than I ever could.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040411/REVIEWS08/404110301/1023

Sunrise is a film everyone should be required to watch.

49 on 2007 list

D. W. Griffith’s Intolerance has been touted as a masterpiece of film worthy of the same recognition of Michelango’s art and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony (as noted on Wikipedia). I did not receive that impression in my viewing. The film was good and lavishly filmed, the Babylonion walls and battles were especially impressive, but it seemed way to preachy and forced. From what I understand, Griffith made it to apologize for A Birth of a Nation, but it seemed like the theme of intolerance was pushed to hard at the viewer. Besides that one little complaint, it was a very impressive movie.

57 on 1998 list

Brilliant movie. The zither score, the mysterious third man, the black and white cinematography, and, of course, Orson Welles as Harry Lime. The shot of his face being exposed by the sudden light is one of the most famous character entrance shots. The chase through the Vienna sewers are tense and exciting. A classic in every sense.
Also worth noting, I watched it on the new Criterion Blu-ray disc. It is Criterion’s first Blu-ray and it is spectacular. The detail in the black and white cinematography is crystal clear.

10 on 1998 list and 5 on 2007 list

I love, love, love this movie. It is so happy and fun. It’s funny, romantic, colorful and all around wonderful. It’s been called the greatest musical ever made, and I agree. It is a musical with an interesting story, the switch from silent film to talkies, and fun music. My favorites are Make ‘em Laugh and Singin’ in the Rain. Just watch this movie – now!

91 on 2007 list

First off, I am not a fan of Meryl Streep. I don’t think I’ve seen one movie of hers in which I like her. I don’t know why, something about her and her acting irks me. With that said, she absolutely blew me away in this movie. She plays Sophie, a Polish immigrant, with ease. Sophie endured some terrible tragedies and sadness in her life, and Streep effectively showcases these emotions without effort. It is a performance worthy of the Academy Award she won.
This is a terribly sad movie. It is not one to watch over and over but it is a movie one should see. However, I don’t think it should have been on the list.

75 on 2007 list

A powerful movie on race set in Mississippi. Poiter is fantastic as Virgil Tibbs, “They call me Mister Tibbs!” The scenes between him and Rod Steiger, the racist police chief, are intense and riveting. Only thing negative I have to say is the fact that the ending feels rushed and quickly put together. Otherwise a great film.

95 on 2007 list

Shows life in a 1950’s Texas town. What was most surprising to me is the fact that it was filmed in the 70’s in black and white. By doing that, Bogdanovich was able to show the viewer the 50s. Jeff Bridges was excellent in a way pre-Dude performance. Cybill Shepard was also excellent portraying a girl who bounced from man to man.
This movie is really just a character study, and I found myself not really caring for anybody. It portrayed small town life well, but in the end, I just didn’t care for any of the characters. While it was a good movie, I don’t think it was a worthy inclusion to the list.

Ok, doing some after film research and again read Ebert’s review. I think he shows why the film is important and is able to verbalize what the movie means. I still didn’t think it was that great, but I can now see why it was included. Please read his review.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040704/REVIEWS08/407040301/1023

32 on both 1998 and 2007 list

A brilliant film, longer than the first yet able to draw the viewer in for the whole ride. It centers on Michael Corleone and his attempts to keep his power while his everything around him spirals down, but is intercut with the story of Vito Corleone and his rise in New York. Pacino and De Niro are fantastic.

Again, I will link to Ebert’s recent review. I think it is very well written and worth a read.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081002/REVIEWS08/810020300/1023