Sight and Sound Movie List: La Winters

Asterix and Cleopatra (1968, Rene Goscinny, Lee Payant, Albert Uderzo dirs.)

When I was a kid, my mom painstakingly taped movies off of the Disney Channel, then cut out the relevant movie info from Disney magazine and taped that to the cassette envelope, so I could always know what I was watching. When I was in middle school, I decided to tape every episode of X-Files possible and when I ran out of blank tapes, I started using the tapes she made me. I feel terrible about this even now. However, Asterix and Cleopatra was my favorite and it escaped the fate of the other tapes. It's so odd, part musical, part bizarre fake history, plus the most awesome sound effects.

Idiocracy (2006, Mike Judge)

One of my favorite comedies (along with Super Troopers), Idiocracy has stuck itself in the back of my mind. I suspect the world it shows may actually be the future (Extra big ass fries! Costco Law School….) so why not laugh at it before it's our reality?

Perfect Blue (1997, dir. Satoshi Kon)

Can I call this a horror movie? I guess so, as it's insanely creepy. Being unable to escape someone, plus having your life stolen, is a great combination.

Spirited Away (2001, dir. Hayao Miyazaki)

This is my favorite Miyazaki movie, with Ponyo as a close second. I love the way the movie treats the fantasy world as a living, breathing place with room for a human child as a servant. The crazy events seem commonplace to the characters.

The Fifth Element (1997, dir. Luc Besson)

So what if the plot makes no sense? I will be disappointed if the future does not include flying ramen stands.

The Rock/Face Off/Con Air (1996/1997/1997 dir. Michael Bay, John Woo, Simon West)

In middle school, my mom joined Columbia House for a month, got the five free movies, and then quit. The Rock was one of the ones I picked off the list, along with Con Air and Face/Off (plus Forrest Gump and that Sally Field movie where Kiefer Sutherland kills her daughter). Those three together (minus Forrest Gump and Sally Field, though I rewatched Eye for an Eye on Netflix and it's not half bad) are my personal action movie favorites, and I know them word for word. All of them also feature Nicolas Cage, who is at his grumpiest in Con Air. The Rock is the best of them, with completely overblown stunts, Sean Connery as old James Bond, and Ed Harris as the excellent, sympathetic antagonist (can't stand calling him a villain).

The Weather Man (2005, dir. Gore Verbinski)

Speaking of Nicolas Cage, this movie pairs him with Michael Caine as his father. Cage plays a disrespected, disheartened weather man trying to make it onto a big news show, while his much cooler father suffers from cancer. The movie documents Cage's mid-life crisis, which he attempts to fix with archery lessons.

The 10th Kingdom (2000, David Carson & Herbert Wise dirs.)

This TV mini-series was clearly meant to be some kind of trilogy, but I guess there isn't a market for long live-action modern day fairy tales. If you enjoy a cheesy fantasy movie, give it a shot. A girl named Virginia goes through a portal in Central Park into the 9 Kingdoms, where the evil queen commences to hunt her. Oh, and her father the plumber is there, and a cute werewolf, plus trolls and a beanstalk and Ann Margret as Cinderella.

The Omen (1976, dir. Richard Donner) 

I love a good horror movie, preferably non-torture porn. While Japanese horror creeps me out to an extent that I have trouble sleeping, supernatural horror just feels like a treat. The creepy child trope, also done well in Pet Sematary, is perfect here. Plus, the bombastic Satanic music is so overdone and excellent.

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011, dir. Sean Durkin)

This last one is not a comfort movie, but is one of my recent favorites. Elizabeth Olsen, younger sister of the Olsen twins, is great as a girl who leaves a commune/cult and attempts to fit in with her rich older sister and her husband. The swimming scene early in the movie shows just how hard it is for her remember social norms. When she becomes paranoid that the cult has followed her, the movie goes from awkward to creepy. Olsen is wonderful to watch, as is John Hawkes (from Winter's Bone and Deadwood) as the charismatic, unsettling cult leader.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994, dir. Frank Darabont)

Probably my actual favorite movie, and I'll watch it whenever it's on TNT. Also one of many Stephen King movies that I love, including Pet Sematary, The Shining, Storm of the Century, and Cujo.

Pan's Labyrinth (2006, dir. Guillermo del Toro)

In one of the best films I've gotten to see in theaters, Ivana Baquero as Ofelia is just haunting and great. And of course, parts are terrifying and definitely show up in my nightmares.


Good luck bugging Der Huber...




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Friday Playlist #16: Random Vaguely Bluegrass Themed Edition

Will The Circle Be Unbroken  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h0dpiM9c0k

Man of Constant Sorrow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08e9k-c91E8

I'll Fly Away http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdRdqp4N3Jw

Midnight Moonlight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrqGnA7xgCg

Thank God I'm a Country Boy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqb0em452CM

Bird on a Wire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rb1rse0fKs

God's Gonna Cut You Down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IStlBOX9F4o

I Shall Be Released http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqJJdiG61jo

After the Gold Rush http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tii--VSDCrc

Advanced Playlist:

Appalachian Spring: http://www.youtube.com/user/eleninamyers/videos?query=appalachian+spring

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Sight and Sound Movie List: The Manning

Having read all the wonderful contributions thus far, I've decided to throw my hat in the ring. It also may have something to do with being informed by Evan that "the list is life".

My current thesis is that everyone actually has two movies lists. The first being their actual favorite movies, and the second being the movies they claim are their favorites in order to seem more interesting. I'll start with the second.

(Editor's Note: Guilty as charged. He's probably right.)

"The Wine List" (in no particular order)

1. Lawrence of Arabia (David Lean, 1962).

I’m glad I waited to see this on the (very) big screen at the AFI in Silver Spring. This is the quintessential “epic” film: panoramic, lengthy, and breathtakingly beautiful. David Lean was a ridiculously talented director, also responsible for Dr. Zhivago (1965) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). I almost put the latter on this list simply for the amazing performance by Alec Guinness.

2. High Noon (Fred Zinnemann, 1952)

John Wayne said this was the most Un-American film he’d ever seen. It’s a Western that forgoes nearly all of that genre’s tropes about heroism, action and adventure in favor of a sober examination of duty, community and cowardice. Fun fact: Gary Cooper (the star) later sold out Zinnemann to the Joseph McCarthy and the HUAC.

3. Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro, 2006)

The brutality of the early Franco regime serves as the backdrop for this riveting tale of dark fantasy. At turns beautiful and gruesome, this film grabbed me by the brain in a very primal way.

4. The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky, 2008)

Mickey Rourke gives an amazing performance as a lonely, battered and broken hero. I cried a lot whilst sitting next to Der Schreiber.

5. Hable con Ella (Pedro Almodovar, 2002)

Okay, so this movie is really weird. And I probably enjoyed it more than I would have otherwise because I first saw it while living in Madrid in 2003. That being said, it’s an amazing example of a director crafting some extremely sympathetic characters.

6. City of God (Fernando Meirelles, 2002)

Just go watch it.

7. Nueve Reinas (Fabian Bielinsky, 2000)

This Argentine movie about two con-men straddles the line between wine and beer. I’ll defer to Roger Ebert on why it’s great: “Nine Queens is a con within a con within a con. There comes a time when we think we’ve come to the bottom, and then the floor gets pulled out again.”

"The Beer List" (in a particular order)

1. The Big Lebowski (Coen Brothers, 1998)

I can recite the whole thing from memory. I’ve won a costume contest by dressing as Walter Sobchak. There’s no way I can put anything else at the top of the beer list.

2. Star Wars (Lucas, 1977-1983)

La Menichelli being legitimately interested in watching these 3 movies with me was a significant moment in our relationship.

3. Field of Dreams (Robinson, 1989)

Ray. People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn into your driveway, not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door, as innocent as children, longing for the past. “Of course, we won’t mind if you look around,” you’ll say, “It’s only twenty dollars per person.”


And they’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it, for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk off to the bleachers and sit in their short sleeves on a perfect afternoon. And find they have reserved seats somewhere along the baselines where they sat when they were children. And cheer their heroes.


And they’ll watch the game, and it’ll be as they’d dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick; they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come, Ray.


The one constant through all the years Ray, has been baseball. America is ruled by it like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.

4. Blade Runner (Scott, 1982)

Ridley Scott is amazing. Over 20 years later and this film still holds up as one of the greatest works of science fiction in film.

5. Groundhog Day (Ramis, 1993)

When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn't imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter.

6. The Hunt for Red October (McTiernan, 1990)

Let them sing.

7. Ronin (Frankenheimer, 1998)

One of my favorite DeNiro movies, and hands down the best car chases from any film ever.

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Sight and Sound Movie List: The Treff/Liang

Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999, Michael Patrick Jann)

This mockumentary on the beauty pageant world is so full of satire that it is hard to believe Christopher Guest was not involved.  An unfortunate victim of bad marketing (selling itself as a teen thriller, which it is not in any way), it never gained a huge following.  Nonetheless, this movie will make you laugh so hard you will fall over. I promise.

Gaslight (1944, George Cukor)

I've been told that as a younger woman, my Grandmom looked a lot like Ingrid Bergman, and I've loved her movies as long as I can remember.  This movie is thrilling in a wonderfully understated way, and the casting of romantic hero Charles Boyer as the potentially sinister Gregory Anton was a stroke of genius.

Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-3, Peter Jackson)

I'm cheating and including the trilogy as one entry on this list.  The expansive story receives loving and respectful treatment from Peter Jackson, and is accessible to hardcore fans and the uninitiated alike.  Besides, it's impossible not to cheer at the screen when Eowyn throws the Witch King of Agmar's prophesy back in his face.

Laura (1944, Otto Preminger)

I’m a sucker for film noir, and this one tops the list. The movie both relies on and plays with the genre’s most famous tropes in a refreshing way.  Dana A ndrews’ Mark McPherson also feels more accessible and human than the more aloof Philip Marlowe.

MirrorMask (2005, Dave McKean)

I know this will be a controversial choice, but I promise my love for this movie goes beyond the big names in the credits.  The visuals are stunning and unique, with Dave McKean's hand clear in every scene.  The story may be a bit abstract and philosophical for some, but fans of Neil Gaiman's more retrospective writing will appreciate it.

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006, Guillermo del Toro)

It was a tough choice between this and Hellboy, but Pan’s Labyrinth’s depth, combined with its beautiful visuals, overcome my natural preference for lighter fare.  It is also the perfect vehicle for Doug Jones to show off his amazing ability to defy both physics and biology.

Pride and Prejudice (BBC Version) (1995, Sue Birtwistle, Julie Scott, & Michael Wearing Producers)

This is my one chick flick concession.  The story is timeless, and the intentionally long play time allows the director to cover plot points that are omitted in other versions.  Jennifer Ehle’s Elizabeth Bennet is deliciously sassy, while Colin Firth in period dress is the perfect eye candy.

The Princess Bride (1987, Rob Reiner)

Yes, I realize this is a cop-out.  But there are very few movies I can watch on loop, and this is one of them. Besides, I know I’m not the only one who can recite the “to the pain” speech from memory.

Some Like it Hot (1959, Billy Wilder)

I think this is probably the funniest movie of all time.  The dialogue absolutely sparkles, and Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis play their roles with just enough camp to be funny without going over the top. 

Spirited Away (2001, Hayao Miyazaki)

I knew from the start that a Miyazaki film would be on this list; the challenge was figuring out which one to go with.  I chose Spirited Away because it strikes the best balance between the beautiful worlds of Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle, and the wide-eyed innocence of Ponyo. 

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Sight and Sound Movie List: Il Barone

Chungking Express (1994, Kar Wai Wong) – This film, probably more than any other I’ve seen, reinforces why I love movies so much. Its stylistic flourishes evoke the best of filmmakers like Godard, and the two different romantic stories in the film unfold at an exhilarating pace.



The Battle of Algiers (1966, Gillo Pontecorvo) – It’s hard to believe you aren’t watching an actual documentary when seeing this film. It’s gritty, visceral, and difficult to watch at times, but looking in the eyes of the characters, you feel like this is real. I think it is the best movie about terrorism, its roots, and its consequences that has ever been made.



The Conformist (1970, Bernardo Bertolucci) – This is a strange and surreal journey into Fascist Italy prior to World War II. Beautiful cinematography captures Bertolucci’s interpretation of the era, and the protagonist, Clerici, may be one of the most fascinating (and pitiful) character studies out there.



Barton Fink (1991, Joel Coen) – A farcical, yet honest look at the creative process and what is described as “the life of the mind.” I also think this is the Coen Brothers’ best homage to a particular era, as sometimes their attention to details outweighs the value of the film itself.



Apocalypse Now (1979, Francis Ford Coppola) – Most likely my favorite war movie of all time (and based on one of my favorite novels), it utilizes the Vietnam War as the perfect backdrop for looking at the process of how one is driven to madness. It contains a number of unforgettable scenes and images that are difficult to shake.



The Virgin Spring (1960, Ingmar Bergman) – The gold standard for the ultimate “revenge movie.” Max Von Sydow’s performance as a tortured father of a girl who is raped and murdered is just one of many highlights of this film. It’s still powerful today; I can only imagine the responses it elicited back in 1960.



Dead Man (1995, Jim Jarmusch) – I believe that the majority of Westerns fall into the “romantic” or “violent” portrayals of the Old West. But I like Dead Man’s portrayal; that the Old West was a bizarre era in history filled with strange people. I like the spiritual journey that unfolds in the film, and Neil Young’s instrumental soundtrack is perfect for the setting.



Blade Runner (1982, Ridley Scott) – Neo-noir at its finest, and I think, one of the best science fiction films of all time. The score by Vangelis fits in perfectly, and Rutger Hauer’s speech to Harrison Ford at the end of the film remains one of my favorite scenes of any film.



8 ½ (1963, Federico Fellini) – It’s probably best to watch this film a couple of times, because the first viewing might seem like an irreverent blur. It’s not just a “movie about making a movie,” but deals with issues that many men struggle with. The “harem” scene is one of the most accurate portrayals of what a strange dream is like (at least in my weird mind).



Reprise (2006, Joachim Trier) – This film is most famously known as a story about what being a struggling young writer is like, but the study of the relationship between the two friends is what makes this movie so good in my mind. It captures the best and worst of what it is like to live through our early and mid-20s.




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Sight and Sound Movie List - El Aguirre

I was working to come up with a top-ten list of my favorite films and what I found was that several films on the list were related in one way or another. They could be connected by an actor or director, common theme, or via homage. I realized that my appreciation of each film could be enhanced by the other. So, I restructured my approach and I give you:

Ten movies you should watch back to back!

1. Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein

Blazing Saddles tells the story of Bart, the first black sheriff in the old west. What looks like a screwball comedy is actually a startling intelligent satire of American racism and ignorance during the civil rights era. Released at a time when many lead parts for black actors were in exploitation films this movie’s lead dared to be smart rather than tough. Watch out for the third act when the whole movie goes off the rails in ways that could never be expected or ever come close to being matched.

Young Frankenstein, filmed in glorious black and white, was the sarcastic send up too the dozens of classic monster movies. The grandson of the original Dr. Frankenstein battles the negative perceptions of his family’s experiments. He does so while also struggling with his own acceptance of his family history. Gene
Wilder stars as the doctor in what is the best performance of his career.

Why watch them back to back:

These two were the easiest to pick for this list because they are also tied for my all time favorite movies. Both released in 1974, these comedies represent two of the three collaborations between director/producer Mel Brooks and actor Gene Wilder, the other being the original 1968 version of The Producers. They
represent the some of the strongest work from both men’s body of work. They will both make you laugh until you cry.

2. Chinatown and Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Chinatown (1974) is the first of two detective films starring Jack Nicholson as J.J. Gittes, a film noir style privet investigator working in LA during the 1930s. JJ is hired to investigate a cheating husband and finds himself caught up in a plot that could change the face of LA forever. A great script and brilliant direction by Roman
Polanski (one of his last before fleeing the USA in 1978) cemented this as one of the best detective stories ever put on film. It has also been credited for making Jack Nicholson a major star.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1989) tells the story of Eddie Valiant, a Hollywood detective in a world where cartoon characters are living breathing people (or rabbits, or ducks, or what ever the hell else) just trying to make a living like anyone else. Often confused as a children’s movie because of the presence of cartoons as major characters, this movie is anything but. Sex, murder and infidelity are major themes wrapped around a plot that could change the face of LA forever (see what I did there?). It is dark and at times terrifying (Christopher Lloyd murders a cute anthropomorphic cartoon shoe. Why? Just because he is a jerk, that's why.) With smarter writing and higher production value that might be expected from a film with such a goofy premise, it remains a popular film twenty years after its release.

Why watch them back to back?

Chinatown and Roger Rabbit are so thematically and visually similar that the latter could have been a sequel to the former. Chinatown played such a major influence on the production of Roger Rabbit that to properly appreciate it you need to familiarize yourself with the source material. You will gain a much deeper appreciation and understanding for the silly cartoons that you laughed at as a kid.

3. Metropolis and The Terminator

Metropolis is an early example of science fiction on screen. From German director Fritz Lang and produced in 1927, Metropolis is about a future dystopia called Metropolis, where the wealth and excess luxuries of the rich are built on the backs of the poor, who are forced to live and work underground. The main plot revolves around two star-crossed lovers who are separated by their classes. The story also involves a mad scientist who uses the female of the pair to bring to life his greatest creation, a life like robot that wreaks havoc on the city. Visually striking, this silent era classic is still influencing the sci-fi genre to this day.

James Cameron’s The Terminator (1984) was the first major hit for the director who would go on to make some of the most successful movies of all time. This sci-fi action movie remains one of the gold standards that all other sci-fi action movies are compared to. You have probably seen this one (if not, why? What is your deal?) but if not, it is about a man sent back in time to protect the mother of a resistance fighter who will one day save the human race from an army of sentient machines. The main villain is a robot Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the role that made his career.

Why watch them back to back?

Because even though these movies are separated by decades they both showcase man’s tenuous relationship with technology. Both Lang and Cameron create worlds where a reliance on technology results in disaster. Both feature machines that look like people and try to overthrow society. Also, after watching a slow moving pre-WWII German film like Metropolis you may need some fast paced action to get you moving again. Unless you really love slow moving pre-WWII German films, in which case I recommend throwing on M, Lang’s 1931 film staring Peter Lorre.

4. Plan 9 from Outer Space and Ed Wood

Plan 9 (1959) is often called the worst movie ever made. With good reason. The plot makes little sense; aliens invade the Earth using a weapon that resurrects three dead people, and sometimes they fly around LA to just sort of let people know they are there. Thats pretty much the whole plan. You can see string on all of the flying saucers. One of the leads has an accent so thick you can’t understand a word he says. And, oh yeah, Bella Lugosi, who stars in the film, died before it even started production and was cut into the movie using old footage and a stand in who covered his face with a cape. Despite all of this, the movie is just a lot of fun. Its utter ridiculousness and camp make it the king of all late night B-movies.

Plan 9 has become such a favorite among fans of B-movies that the story of how it came to be is the plot of Tim Burton’s 1994 film Ed Wood. Staring Johnny Depp as the titular character (long before the pairing between the director and actor started going stale) Ed Wood tells the story of how a very unlikely group of
strange people came together to produce some of the worst movies ever made. Ed, a recently uncloseted transvestite with a dream of being a big name director, is inherently likable and has an inspiring enthusiasm for his work, no matter how bad he may be at it.

Why watch them back to back?

After watching Plan 9 I knew I loved it, but had a hard time putting my finger on why. Then I watched Ed Wood and knew. Because despite how quite terrible Plan 9 truly is, it certainly has heart. Burton explores the strange and comical relationships that lead to the creation of Wood’s most well known work. The
friendship formed between Wood and Lugosi also served as a parallel for Burton’s own relationship with Vincent Price at the end of his life. Like the relationship between Ed Wood and his friends these films really make each other make more sense.

5. Dead Alive (Brain Dead) and Lord of the Rings

Dead Alive is the schlockiest movie I have ever had the pleasure to devote 104 minutes of my life to. The 1992 gross-out comedy-horror zombie movie from New Zealand boasts one of the highest body counts ever put to film. Complete with a zombie sex scene resulting in a zombie baby (not the weirdest part, by far)
this one can hardly be explained, but should not be missed.

Lord of the Rings... you have seen/ heard of this series and there is no reason I should explain it to you. But here we go anyway. Lord of the Rings (2001-3) is one of the biggest film series ever made in pretty much every conceivable category. Adapted from JRR Tolkien’s epic fantasy series, Lord of the Rings made crazy
money and you probably own the DVD. Good choice, nerd.

Why watch them back to back?

Peter Jackson directed both of these. Yeah, five years after wrapping on Dead Alive, a gratuitously violent and disgusting low budget work ($3 million), Jackson started preproduction on one of the most ambitious and expensive ($280+ million) film projects of the late 20th/ early 21st century. You want to see versatility in a director, look no further than these two (ok, I mean four) projects. Put the two next to each other and outside the facts that they were both filmed in New Zealand and were helmed by Jackson, but are both brilliant in their own right.Well... actually Frodo does sort of look like the the zombie baby... hmmm....

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Sight and Sound Movie List - L'Olsen

Tasha’s Top Tens aka T3

So I am cheating like everyone else and making “two” lists, one with a theme and one with overall favorites. And by favorites, I mean that, I am in no way postulating these are the greatest films ever made, leave those lists to the snotheads over at AFI. These are simply movies I love, ones that made me stop and think for a moment, ones that I couldn’t get out of my head for weeks for whichever reason.

“Regular” Top Ten:

1. Marie Antoinette: (2006, dir. Sofia Coppola) I don’t care what you think of Sofia Coppola; she got it right with this one. It is the first portrayal of royalty in which the fact that they were young and clueless is made apparent. Also I will add that I know just enough history to appreciate her telling of this story, but not so much that I was disappointed. And the music is perfect.

2. The Departed: (2006, dir. Martin Scorsese) It’s just awesome. Amazing performances by all- even Mark Wahlberg.

3. State and Main: (2000, dir. David Mamet) Movie crew descends on small town.

4. Saved!: (2004, dir. Brian Dannelly) Teenage pregnancy in conservative Christian high school. It is BJ (before Juno).

5. The Royal Tenenbaums:  (2001, dir. Wes Anderson) I don’t care what you think of Wes Anderson now, Royal Tenenbaum saved his family from a sinking ship and it was perfect.

6. Hudsucker Proxy:  (1994, dir. Joel Coen) For the kids. I hear this is the great divider in Cohen Brother
movies. I fall on the pro-side.

7. Michael Clayton: (2007, dir. Joel Gilroy) Flawed lawyer, corporate scandal and Tom Wilkinson’s
monologue at the beginning. Tilda Swinton’s performance is stellar.

8. Sneakers: (1992, dir. Phil Alden Robinson) Dan Aykroyd, Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, and Ben Kinsley.

9. I’ve Loved For You So Long: (2008, dir. Philippe Claudel)  French. A woman goes to live with her sister after being released from prison for murder.

10. LA Story: (1991, dir. Mick Jackson) This list would not be complete without Steve Martin- yes I know he happens to appear in some terrible movies but this isn’t one of them. Also as a child of the 90’s growing up in L.A. it has a special resonance.

Honorable Mentions: Volver, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and Eurotrip

Movies about Love that Don’t Suck:


There hasn’t been much mention about movies focused on relationships I’m going to go ahead and be gender biased and say it’s because these lists are all by dudes. To help fill the gap here are my top movies about relationships.

(Editor's Note: These lists are mostly by dudes but not all. There are some chicks among these lists, and will be more, though one or two of them seem to have dude-ish tastes in movies. More chicks were offered, but they politely declined - unlike men who've one and all either been eager to contribute or ignored my requests.)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: (2004, dir. Michel Gondry) Ever since this one came out there has been someone in your life where you ask yourself, “Would I be better off if I just never remembered them?”

Timer: (2009, dir. Jac Schaeffer)The ability to have a timer installed tells each individual the exact day they
will meet their soul mate- havoc ensues.

Keeping the Faith: (2000 dir. Edward Norton) “So a preist and a rabbi walk into a bar…”

Wristcutters: A Love Story: (2006, dir. Goran Dukic) ... because sometimes you find love in purgatory, and sometimes purgatory looks exactly like the desert between Phoenix and L.A. and sometimes Tom Waitts hangs out there.

Moonstruck: (1987, dir. Norman Jewison) This movie is an amazing conundrum- great performances by Cher and Nicholas Cage (one of those two wrongs make a right situations) and wonderful family interactions. Plus Opera.

Mostly Martha: (2001, dir. Sandra Nettlebeck) German. An uptight chef gets custody of her niece after the sudden death of her sister - not to be confused with the fluff of the American remake “No Reservations”

High Fidelity: (1999, dir. Stephen Frears) Music. Love. If you never made a mix tape before this movie, you certainly did afterwards. Also Jack Black before he got obnoxious.

The Last Mistress: (2007, dir. Catherine Breillat) Obsessive Love in France made by French people.

So I Married An Axe Murderer: (1993, dir. Thomas Schlamme) I don’t like Austin Powers. This is Mike Myers at his best.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: (1993, dir. Henry Selick) Amazing film. I watched it every day for a year when I was 11. I used it as a comparison for my final paper in Professor Middents class.

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Sight and Sound Movie List - Der Mazur

Wow, this was hard. I've watched a lot of movies, and had a lot of VERY STRONG opinions on movies, but I actually don't like to rank movies into top 10 lists because my opinions will change the more I watch a movie. Working my way through the AFI's Top 100 list, makes me even less inclined to come up with a "best" or "favorites" list. And while this list will contain 10 movies that I love, it's necessarily in ranked order.

You already know that The Godfather, and the 1978 Dawn of the Dead, and Taxi Driver are good movies, so putting any of them on a list would be pointless. With that in mind, this list is more of a "Top 10 Movies I Love, that Don't Normally Appear on Top 10 Lists," or if you prefer, the "Top 10 Under-Appreciated Movies." Obviously, if any of these movies showed up on anyone else's lists on this blog, I make no apologies for not having read their list, instead, I applaud their exquisite taste in cinema.

Honorable Mentions: 

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1989, dir. Robert Zemeckis) - Sparked my love of film noir, and still the best use of live action and animation together. Suck on THAT Space Jam. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqTMk6RSssw

Blazing Saddles (1974, dir. Mel Brooks) - My favorite Western. The campfire scene gets funnier the older I get, the crazy anachronisms and 4th wall breaking works, unlike in some other movies, and for some reason I even love the crazy ending. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upvZdVK913I

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, dir. Steven Spielberg) - I like this one better than Raiders of the Lost Ark. The interactions between Ford and Connery are hilarious, and Dr. Schneider was way hotter than Marion… even if she was a Nazi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMeesE4Nlhg

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988, dir. David Zucker) - One of the great period comedies. Yeah, it's dated but the jokes are still funny. It has a special place on my list because my grandfather's brother played Enrico Pallazzo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJEmtLxkEoI

Army of Darkness (1992, dir. Sam Raimi) - Perhaps the best example of a B movie that's so GOOD it's good. Slapstick comedy, great practical special effects, and endlessly quotable. This is why nerds love Bruce Campbell. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeLUi_20Nrg

The List:

10. Ocean's 11 (1960, dir. Lewis Milestone - Not to be confused with the George Clooney "Ocean's Eleven" this movie features the Rat Pack robbing 5 casino's simultaneously. Spoilers: they lose the money, leading to an iconic ending shot of the gang walking away dejected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6L8ansZhk0

9. Tampopo (1985, dir. Juzo Itami) - The first Ken Watanabe movie I ever saw. A satirical look at Japanese culture and foodies made in 1985. You'll never watch Anthony Bordain, or the Food Network the same way again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WrkdTrrwew

8. Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008, dir. Darren Lynn Bousman) - If you like Rocky Horror, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or rock and roll and musical theater, you'll like Repo! Paris Hilton plays a stupid spoiled whore drug addict. It's the role she was born to play!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7AjlT406_s

7. Monty Python's Meaning of Life (1983, dir. Terry Jones) - I always thought the Pythons worked better in vignettes than in a standard three act structure. The ending of Holy Grail never really worked for me, and Life of Brian can get really slow in the middle. Not every sketch is perfect, but I think it all works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DA2MKuI6fs

6. Grave of the Fireflies (1988, dir. Hotaru no Haka) - An amazing Japanese animated movie about 2 orphans living in Kobe at the end of World War II. I know World War II movies are kinda a cliche, but watch it anyway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxv9ghINEhs

5. Oldboy (2003, dir. Chan-wook Park) - A Korean "revenge fantasy" about a businessman who gets kidnapped and held captive only to be released 15 years with no explanation. Badass action, stunning camera work. If you liked Kill Bill or any Stephen Chow movie, you should like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gex2NXTuL4

4. MIrrorMask (2005, dir. Dave McKean) - A Neil Gaiman screenplay that I'm betting was made so Dave McKean could do the visuals. The soundtrack is another strong point, and it includes the creepiest version of "Close to You" I've ever heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EU8Cs1Jchw 

3. The Iron Giant (1999, dir. Brad Bird)- A clever movie, full of subtle relationships. A boy and his dog story, except the dog is a 50 foot alien robot. Vin Diesel's best role ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKJOugkhtUY

2. Pan's Labyrinth (2006, dir. Guillermo del Toro) - Like MirrorMask, this movie is all about amazing visuals. Del Toro sets a fantasy adventure against the backdrop of 1944 Fascist Spain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EAajopEdVs

1. The Secret of NIMH (1982, dir. Don Bluth) - Don Bluth (who did American Tale and Land Before Time) made this movie about mice trying to escape danger. It's dark visually and thematically, and despite being a "children's movie" it never treats the audience like dumb kids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aZA4qB85r4

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