Sunday, December 2, 2012

Six From Six Different Decades

It's getting harder to find movies to watch, but over the past few months I have been able to find them where I can.  Six more movies has moved me up to 420, my goal is to be at 425 by the end of the year and I think I'll make it.

A Touch Of Class (1973) - A romantic comedy of that era.  Starring George Segal and Glenda Jackson about an American businessman who is married but meets a divorced English woman and they decide to have an affair.  After a disaster of a trip to Spain and everything that could go wrong, they somehow decide to keep the affair going back in England.  A silly comedy of errors and a predictable ending but something that you would expect to see in the early 70's.

I am now at four out of five for the year and so far The Sting was still the best.  While it was impressive to see the Exorcist nominated and since I just watched it again recently reminding me what a real horror film it is, it wouldn't win.

Lost Horizon (1937) - The great Capra masterpiece.  The film that cost an incredible amount for it's time.  The story of a man and a group of people he has saved taken to Shangri-La and how they learn to live in utopia.  Everyone except for his brother whom he leaves with and after realizes what he gave up, fights to get back.  The best part is that they found lost footage, the audio at least, and put it back into the film with still shots.  A rare film to see but so good that it's worth it.

I have now seen all ten movies from 1937 and the part I dread the most about years from this era, trying to pick the best film.  It was very hard, but I'll go with the academy on this one and agree that The Life Of Emile Zola was the best film.  The problem is that at least five others would be second best including Captain Courageous, The Good Earth, Lost Horizon, Dead End, and A Star Is Born could all have possibly won as well.  The remaining are all tied for third.  Proving again that the late 30's to the early 40's was a great time for Hollywood.

Precious (2009) - To be honest I didn't expect this film to be good.  I was wrong it was very good.  A very depressing tale about an sexually, emotionally and physically abused teenager trying to better herself.  The acting was very well done and the screenplay a bit sappy at times, still was done very well and told a good story.  I would consider it a modern day Sybil.

Now seeing nine out of ten my mind still hasn't changed, A Serious Man was still the best film, The Hurt Locker has fallen lower.  Precious was a much better film, it was a better acted film, better told story, better edited than The Hurt Locker.  And even after I see the last film I am confident that my opinion will not change.

Moneyball (2011) - The semi true story about the Oakland A's rise with no money back in 2002.  Brad Pitt is a great actor and carries the film.  If you are a baseball fan you will enjoy it.  If you are a Seattle Mariner fan like me, you will have to relive the nightmare of that lousy 20 game winning streak that knocked Seattle out of first place.

Almost half way through this year, five more to go.  Moneyball is up there, not as good as The Artist or Midnight in Paris but third for now.

Coal Miners Daughter (1980) - The life story of Loretta Lynn wonderfully acted by Sissy Spacek who truly earned the best actress award for her acting.  A typical bio-pic showing how she became a musician and her climb to fame and the trials and tribulations she faced.  An enjoyable film even if you can't stand county music.

I am now in the majority of this year and I am thoroughly confused.  The remaining nine years of this decade were some of the worst films ever made to be nominated for best picture.  But so far of the three I have seen from 1980, all are really great films.  I am still troubled by Ordinary People beating Raging Bull, but it was better.  While Coal Miners Daughter was not better than Ordinary People, if was made anywhere from 1981 to 1989 it would have won best picture.  But it came out in 1980 and right now sits in third place.

Anne Of The Thousand Days (1969) - A biographical film about Anne Boleyn.  Very similar to A Man For All Seasons, but this covers a bigger time frame.  And not as good.  The acting was respectable, Richard Burton is Richard Burton, you get your money's worth.  He plays a decent Henry VIII but nowhere near as good as Charles Laughton.  Genevive Bujold was good as Anne Boleyn but the film was long and felt longer.

This now wraps up the 40th year where I have seen every film.  And without blinking an eye, Midnight Cowboy was the best film.  Not so much that it was such a good film, more to do with the competition.  Anne of The Thousand Days falls securely into second.  Hello Dolly is third, a good musical but still not a great film.  Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid is more hype than movie and is only saved from last because Z was nominated.  I have no idea why they nominated such a boring and meaningless film, but it is last for the year and the decade.