The Elephant Man

After a very long hiatus (in which I forgot this blog existed) I have had the chance to watch several new films I will be happy to critique. I loved writing Classic Films to See and it feels good to get back into it. For my first post, only The Elephant Man came to mind. It is one of the best films I have seen in this nearly 4 year break. It is the sort of David Lynch film I can actually handle. It is based on the true story of a man born horribly disfigured. Despite his outward appearance and misunderstood nature, he is a kind and intelligent soul. Anthony Hopkins plays a surgeon fascinated by his case, and attempts to give this man help and show him a little compassion. It's beautifully shot and is a real emotional ride.

Fatal Attraction

This thriller from the late 80s is definitely THE creepy stalker film. Glenn Close plays a woman on the prowl, luring Michael Douglas away from his fairly happy home for a "fatal" affair. It does not take long for Douglas to realize his mistake, but he just cannot seem to escape Close. Things get lethal pretty quickly. It is the kind of suspenseful scary movie that even people like me (who hate horror films) can enjoy. Everyone should at least see this one once.

Cape Fear

I always love Gregory Peck, and this film is one of the few scary movies I actually enjoy watching. Peck plays a lawyer with the unfortunate task of putting criminals behind bars. When one prisoner gets out of jail, he makes it his sick and twisted mission to stalk and torture Peck's whole family. They do all they can to escape, but this mastermind can find them almost anywhere. I have heard the 1991 remake is even scarier, but I will always have a special place in my heart for the original.

Stand By Me

After quite a long while, I am once again ready to devote energy to movie-reviewing. I want to apologize to the blogosphere for neglecting a great film like Stand By Me. I honestly cannot believe I had not already reviewed this one. It is one of my all-time favorite movies! This is a coming of age story about four boys on a somber adventure. It sounds like a kids' movie, but it actually rated R in America. One scene to watch out for is the famous train chase. This is an 80s classic with a little something for everyone.

Gran Torino

I realize this is actually a new release, but I believe it will one day be remembered as a classic. I just saw this film on a long plane home from Europe. It was absolutely incredible! I really did not know much about it beforehand, but I think it is proof of why Clint Eastwood is an amazing actor/director/artist. What a touching, gripping achievement in film.

Sabrina

While some have found it mildly disturbing that Audrey Hepburn is constantly paired with much older men, I think there is something refreshing about Sabrina. First of all, I am a sucker for William Holden. He has a charm that is all his own, and I have never seen another actor like him. I am not as big a fan of Humphrey Bogart as the rest of the world seems to be, but he does always do a spectacular job in his roles. This film is about a young girl who has always been madly in love with the popular son of a rich family for whom her father works. The older, more serious and calculating brother perceives Sabrina (Hepburn) as a problem, and formulates a plan to keep her from his younger, more impressionable brother. But things do not go as planned...

Brigadoon

After a quick weekend away to Scotland, I fondly remembered I had yet to mention Brigadoon in this blog. This movie is fairly ridiculous, but there are some really great dancing scenes. Gene Kelly always delivers in fine fashion. I would recommend this film to anyone that likes kilts and magic!

The Big Chill

The first time I saw this movie was in Vail, Colorado. I was 15 years old and on spring break with a friend and her family. In the condo where we were staying, this was one of two random videotapes haphazardly stacked on top of the old VCR. We decided to give it a try, and we were completely blown away! This is kind of like a Breakfast Club for adults. It's about old friends coming together in light of a death. It has a great soundtrack and some unforgettable scenes and characters.

The Shop Around the Corner

Some may not know that the modern day Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks film You've Got Mail is based on this Jimmy Stewart classic. The Shop Around the Corner is by no means Stewart's best film, but it is very sweet. If one is looking for a cute, predictable pick-me-up, this definitely does the trick.

L'Auberge Espagnole

This is probably my favorite of the meager number of French films I have seen in the US. It was popular when it first came out, and I wanted to give it fair recognition as it is a fantastic movie. This is the story of students all varying nationalities coming together and living in an apartment in Barcelona. They all speak different languages, but somehow they manage to cultivate strong friendships and loving bonds. This is a touching, hilarious film.

A Goofy Movie

This is probably my favorite animated Disney classic. I spent years looking for a copy of the soundtrack. Of course the new millennium brought easy access to any and every song in existence, so now my dream has long since come true. This movie has humor, family quirks, young love, everything we look for in a Disney film. I still maintain that the last song, "I2I" by the fictional singer, Powerline, is one of my favorites of all-time.

The Shining

I am not a fan of scary movies, but this film is an absolute classic. Barely anything happens at all and yet you are captivated for hours. It has one of the most intense scores of all time. I remember being so tense after it ended that we all had to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's as a family just to snap out of it. I have only seen this movie once, and it was years and years ago, but I can still remember the effect it had on me and my sisters.

Batman Begins/The Dark Knight

I am one of those very rare individuals who prefers Batman Begins over The Dark Knight. Sure I went at midnight like half the country the day the latter was released in America, and sure I had been nearly salivating in anticipation, but I still stand true to the original. Christian Bale's portrayal of Bruce Wayne's transformation really struck me in a way no other "super-hero" flick ever has. There is something so special about this particular series of films. The somber, lingering mist is a change from any other Batman we have every seen. I will be shocked to learn someone has not seen these films yet. They are fantastic and will definitely stand the test of time.

Face/Off

I am sure by normal standards this film can hardly be considered a classic, but I absolutely love it! I actually just saw it for the first time over the weekend. I remember everyone talking about it back in elementary and middle school, but I never ended up seeing it. I even watched it dubbed in French and it was still fantastic. Typically American, completely implausible plot, awesome stunts, and twists and turns around every corner. I do not want to give away too much of the plot, but I urge everyone to go out and rent this one immediately. Nicholas Cage and John Travolta do a fabulous job!

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

I realize I have no business talking about this film on this blog, but I totally love it! Joss Whedon's contribution during the writer's strike was this 43 minutes film about a supervillain's quest to get into the Evil League of Evil. Neil Patrick Harris plays Dr. Horrible, a villain with a soft spot for a pretty woman at the laundromat. I do not want to give anything anyway, so suffice it to say it is a musical and NPH's involvement is enough of a reason to see it.

Funny Face

This Audrey Hepburn/Fred Astaire musical is not as well known as some of their other (separate) projects but is still worth seeing. Hepburn plays a young retail worker in a bookstore. Astaire is a photographer that sees something special in her. She soon becomes the new face of fashion despite the fact that her look is "funny." Half of the film takes place in beautiful Paris. There is one particularly famous scene where Hepburn dances in a seedy bar to prove a point.

Desk Set

Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy made quite a few films together, and this one is by no means the most famous. I, however, enjoyed it more than some of the pair's better known projects. Tracy is a kind of no-nonsense actor, and I think he really balances out Hepburn's energetic wit well. The two work off of each other beautifully, and the nature of their humor is really refreshing. Gig Young is also a great source of comic relief in this picture. The premise centers on an office where machines are replacing obsolete desk workers. Hepburn fights to save her and her friends' jobs while Tracy attempts to bring their business into the future. Naturally, confusion and hilarity ensues. It is a light, pleasant comedy that I would love to see again.

Star Wars (Original Trilogy)

While my personal favorite is Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope, the entire (original) Star Wars series is completely amazing and totally classic. I am a huge fan of trilogies: Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones (before they ruined it by making a fourth), X-Men...Anything that can be construed as epic and contains a certain level of mysticism has my approval. From the score to the characters to the action and the story, the Star Wars series is one of the best ever made. I remember watching the films as a kid and falling in love with all three. There is something so exciting, yet unsettling about this story. Everyone should at least give New Hope a chance for sure.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

When my 9th grade government teacher announced we would be watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in class, there was such joy in his eyes that I was instantly intrigued. This Frank Capra classic presents Jimmy Stewart in his signature role. A unique twist of the David and Goliath archetype, Capra's tale of Jefferson Smith (Stewart) and the power of one voice is timeless. It is one that every American absolutely must see.

My Cousin Vinny

This is a fairly unexpected classic. Ralph Macchio plays a kid wrongfully accused of murder. Unable to afford a decent attorney, he turns to his loyal cousin, Vinny (Joe Pesci) for help. Vinny has just recently passed the bar, and is happy to help out a family member in need. But he has several big bumps to overcome along the way to the truth. Marisa Tomei's role as Mona Lisa Vito is particularly memorable. She even won an Oscar for it!