AFI's 100 Cheers

A classic Christmas movie, but the story isn't really about Christmas. A performance where Jimmy Stewart get to show some range. Through desperation his character considers ending his life, and then through desperation for his family and friends, the life he "lost," he learns an important lesson. Also, before The Graduate, plastics were still the wave of the future. And it looks forward to financial issues still with us today. Mr. Potter represents the bank that controls most of George Bailey's small town. Potter keeps the workers in his slums and tries to ruin the Building and Loan every chance he gets, since the Baileys are too free with giving houses to the poor. The bottom line for Potter is how to make a profit and be a good businessman, meaning a predatory businessman.

A movie I watched in school. Atticus deserves the AFI #1 movie hero honor. A great example of a classic book being translated well into a classic film.

Gut-wrenching! Inspiring!!

A boy ranger meets wised up Washington types and a political machine, he's Don Quixote, he's David against Goliath without a slingshot. I enjoyed this very much. Sure Stewart is so squeaky clean and sentimental, but he's the little guy you have to root for against corruption. You have to! People can't give up on ideals and making the world a better place. Wonderful supporting characters in Arthur, Mitchell, Rains, and Arnold too. Jean Arthur is incredibly attractive! She is intelligent and strong and Jefferson Smith would have never said what he needed to say in the Senate filibuster without her.

The "I'll be there" monologue near the end is awesome. Very inspiring after seeing the whole of the movie.

A little rough around the edges, but I guess that represents the cutters. Dave, his three friends and his parents are each unique characters. I thought it was VERY strange but also funny that Dave wants to become Italian, and works toward that goal with such conviction. His Italian bicycling idols turn out to be really nasty though. It's a coming of age story about losing innocence, maturing, standing up for yourself, and discovering your place in the world.

want to see this because it won best picture with the NYFC, best drama picture at the golden globes, and best picture with the LAFC

Another social issue movie of the 40's. A topic that continues to be an issue in society since, returning vets adjusting to home life. One performer stands out exceptionally- Harold Russel! He was not an actor, but a real vet, and you can tell his performance is pure truth. Even from WWII it was hard for the three main characters, as played by March, Andrews, and Russell, to overcome the inner conflict that has formed within each one. It's a battle with one's self having seen the things a soldier sees and remembering more innocent times, plus not knowing the reactions of those who stayed home. This movie ends romantically, the main characters find a way to adjust to civilian life without quite so much trouble as vets from later wars perhaps faced. But some strong forces that need overcome are portrayed. Awe inspiring.

Sweeping Lean! The acting is awesome. I love the battle of wills between the two top officers. POWs captured by the Japanese somewhere in Asia during WWII are ordered to build a bridge that will help the Japanese war effort. But then Alec Guinness decides to build his men's moral by taking on the building project and plans to leave the bridge as a monument to British resourcefulness and engineering skill. This movie has another charismatic performance from Holden too. After escaping, Holden must journey back toward the POW camp on a mission to destroy the bridge that the Japanese will use to transport supplies. You see two Allie forces working at opposite goals. Meanwhile, Hayakawa plays a Japanese General riddled with shame. And the ending is edge of your seat suspenseful without all the excessive special effects and stunts used in today's action dramas.

McMurphy puts himself in a mental institution thinking it'll be the easy life. He represents anti-establishment with nothing else apparently wrong, but it's a tragic irony that the powers that be in the hospital are more sadistic and cold-hearted than the world he came from. Or is it really so different?

nominated for best picture by NBR, at the golden globes, and at the oscars

I love Sidney Poitier. He plays a powerful character with pride and intelligence. And still he has prejudices that might be misleading to solving the case. The relationship between Poitier and Steiger is something to watch.

nominated for best picture at the oscars

Set in New England somewhere, but shot in Ohio, my home state. The story covers roughly the same time period as Driving Miss Daisy from the late 40's to the late 60's though the age makeup is even more subtle. This movie also shows a close bond develop between two people.

Now I have often referred to symbolism in my reviews, but I have to say I was bothered by some of the comments made in one of the special feature documentaries by a Christian discussion group. Everyone is free to interpret and add meaning to stories in any way they choose, but I think there are some mistakes that have been made. First the Warden says, "I believe in two things: discipline and the Bible." The prison in Mansfield where this was shot was built to be grand like a cathedral. This is what Shawshank represents: extreme discipline and scripture as a saving force drawing your eyes and mind to something higher. The discussion group talks about Andy being a Jesus figure, from coming out of the sewer pipe being a rebirth to the Mexican shore of the Pacific having no memory being heaven. Does the punishment fit the crime though? Sure Andy is able to quote a few lines from the Bible, but it is to distract the Warden away from his pin-up poster. And he has cut a hole in his bible to hide his rock hammer. The sewer pipe is a means of escape from the prison and I really don't think the Pacific as a place with no memory is an appropriate parallel to heaven. Andy represents Hope and Redemption, but those are not necessarily tied forever to religious interpretation. He is a very human character. Andy plays music for the prisoners to help them remember that there is life outside the bars and walls. He was innocent of the crime he was imprisoned for, but became a criminal in prison by laundering money for the Warden to get special favor from the guards. He likes movies and actresses with sex appeal. He builds a library, which helps educate the men. And notice a library in this time is a place to appreciate lots of different music and books, all knowledge and all salvation does not lie within the Bible.

Sure the prison can represent many different things, but it is explicitly an institution and often acts to squelch humanity's individuality and hope. Another really important quote from Andy is, "Get busy living, or get busy dying." Both Brooks and Red finally are released from prison and deal with it in very different ways. I really don't get how people equate getting out of the prison as being saved by God's grace or something. As I said, the prison is the institution where discipline and routine exist, where you know what the rules are and you may be an important person. Outside of prison you have to be self motivated. Life moves fast, there is lots of technology and fashion to keep up with, and plenty of reminders of your old life. Outside of the institution you have freedom. And some people can't handle that I guess. Inside the institution you have fear, near slave conditions, and a book that supposedly reveals the only way. That's what Red and Andy are escaping from. Red and Andy have a very human relationship, not romantic, but one where they are redeemed by each other.

I don't know much about the Coen Brothers to know if they claim Preston Sturges as a major influence on their work, but there seems to be a connection. They seem to be continuing the tradition of Hollywood outsiders making movies their own way, freely mixing comedy, drama, dark twisted moments, and a little romance. After all they made Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, the movie that never gets made in this film.

I think I've only seen one other Sturges film, The Great McGinty, and I noticed social issues seem to be a favorite theme. He pokes fun at the Hollywood machine. There is lots of great dialog, some of which I didn't appreciate till I saw the clips again in a special feature doc. There are quite a few laughs, but it turns at times to thoughtful drama and a touch of romance. Then it also deals with the darker side of society, the danger of giving charity to the poor too freely, the treatment of chain gang prisoners, and a particularly grisly death for the time when this movie was made. The movie cautions against taking the art and social power of moving pictures too seriously.

I've read all the books, and even though it takes liberties with a few things, I still love it. In this most well-known adaptation, the special effects for the time, the technicolor, the quotable lines, and the simple values of brain, heart, courage, and home are what make it great. It'll always be my favorite!

nominated for best picture by NBR and at oscars

I have seen this multiple times. I seriously don't think there is a single thing wrong with this movie. I understand that it may not be 100% accurate with every historical detail (though the filmmakers sure seem to come close). I'm all for making people aware of inaccuracies in historical pictures, because I think unrealistic, unauthentic, romantic portrayals of history can lead to bad movies and damage people's education, but sometimes I also think these criticisms are given too much influence. As a movie, as a work of art, this film is perfect in its message and execution. Powerful! I recently found out that Broderick's character Robert Gould Shaw was a Unitarian, which makes sense and adds even more meaning to the story for me. Emotional! There are several scenes that make me tear up every time. But it also makes me feel like fighting for social justice, like standing up proudly with character and strength of heart to better the world! "We are all MEN, aren't we?!"

More iconic lines and music. Love the shadowy film noir aesthetic of this film. "The problems of a few people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world."

won recognition as a best picture by NBR

The last great Spencer Tracy Katherine Hepburn pairing. And another performance from Sidney Poitier that I love. I have a scene from this movie saved to my favorites here; I don't remember it making such an impact when I watched the whole film, but it's a very important monologue given by Mr. Poitier that I think reveals a great truth about the generation gap.

When I was young I would only pay attention to the parts with the kids. The nuns at the beginning and the nazis at the end were too much for me, too serious, too adult for me to understand.

I've just seen the movie again after many many years and there was so much I wasn't aware of before. There is beautiful scenery and architecture, catchy songs of course, the charming and disarming Julie Andrews, and a surprisingly strong message about climbing every mountain until you find your dream. A seasonal inspiration!

A lesson in truth and justice! People like to think that truth is one sided, that it is easy to see, and that a few simple "facts" should undoubtedly lead to certain outcomes. In reality, if people are willing to admit it, the answer to a question is more often, "I don't know." There is room to suppose another option, another interpretation of the "facts" may be possible. Lots of people like to think they're serving justice, but this movie shows some things that get in the way: weaker personalities who maybe haven't developed their own opinion yet go along with the louder members of the group early on as to not be singled out, lawyers may not always represent their clients to the best of their ability, people are in such a rush, resent having to spend time serving jury duty, and may be willing to spend less time coming to a well-informed decision because of something as simple as uncomfortable weather conditions. There are more hindrances to justice, the big three to hold out till the end are: bigoted prejudice, stoic righteousness, and personal revenge agendas. I know America's court system does not always work so well, the system can get it wrong, and juries probably do not regularly make a total turn around in their decision like in this hit stage play. Still I have more faith in our justice system with men and women like you and me sorting through the truth and deciding what is just for the accused, rather than appealing to some justice from God. Why is it that those big three things standing in the way of truth and justice in this movie are most often associated with people claiming it is not for us to decide because God's justice will be served later, or that God's will must be served now because His law is not the same as man's law. I believe laws are made by man, have been developed over time to keep society civil, will continue to be changed occasionally, hopefully for the better, and that our laws can serve truth and justice.

Each character is uniquely fleshed out and played. It is well paced, nearly in real time. A film everyone should see, deserving of its classic status.

The use of color and the grandness of scale of this movie, particularly in filming the lavish interiors, is still amazing. I can hardly imagine what the original audiences must have thought in '39. I have heard some people say they do not like the main characters, so they cannot enjoy the movie. The main characters are flawed, but I found them intriguing to watch and still very much enjoyed the movie.

Henry Fonda is so crotchety and grumbly and yet so adorable, like an old hounddog. Katherine Hepburn is so strong and caring. I wasn't as impressed by Jane's performance in this one. But overall, the movie fills you with a sense of peace and love of life and acceptance of death and old age when it comes.

want to see this because it won best picture with the NBR and was nominated for best picture at the golden globes and oscars

nominated for best picture by NBR and at the oscars

The words raw and desperate come to mind. An early performance from another one of my favorite actors Sidney Poitier.

I don't want to be a soldier. I don't want to go to war. I would seriously consider dodging the draft if there still was one. I identified with Gary Cooper's character. Yet, the movie's message is strongly supporting war and a soldier's work. Somehow I still enjoyed the film, and can appreciate it for the things it does well.

Costner as John Dunbar, a Union Civil War officer, is suicidal. He'd rather lose his life than lose his foot, but miraculously he survives to be sent to the outermost western post that the army has on the frontier. His sense of purpose in life has been renewed.

The green and brown and yellow of the rolling hills and rare blue of a stream below and the blue and pink and orange with white puffs of clouds above is an epic setting! The frontier is a grand place to tell this story of two cultures.

It is about a man who becomes physically separated from anyone else of his race. And seeds have been planted in his mind that many of his race are crass and foul. He has a loyal horse and a wolf who hangs around without vicious intent as his only company. He perseveres in cleaning up the fort and keeps a journal of memories with some sketches. It is important to notice that his first instinct is not to shoot or attach something he does not understand unless for protection, but to be curious and observe and try to communicate. Maybe he does this because he understands he is a small person in this big frontier and yet he shares a connection with everything.

Dunbar meets Kicking Bird (Greene), a holy-man, and Wind In His Hair (Grant), a warrior of the Sioux people. He finds Kicking Bird's inquisitiveness easy to identify with. Wind In His Hair's first instinct is always anger and so they do not grow as close as quickly. He eventually meets the wise chief Ten Bears who listens to all the opinions of the lead men in the tribe before making a decision. The Sioux people are efficient in moving camps, not wasteful of anything, have a strong family and community structure as illustrated with Kicking Bird's wife and children in particular, and become good friends to Lt. Dunbar. Dunbar also meets Stands With A Fist, a white woman who when she was very young was the only survivor of a Pawnee attack on her family's farm. She was found by Kicking Bird and has been living with the Sioux for some twenty years. She becomes a translator to help with communications. Of course a romance forms and Dunbar/Dances With Wolves is married to Stands With A Fist. Dances With Wolves participates in a Buffalo hunt and in protecting the tribe from an attack by the warring Pawnee. Dances With Wolves is ready to leave the fort and live with his new wife and the Sioux people, but he has one more encounter with some US soldiers. He has changed allegiances and to the soldiers that brands him a traitor. They don't understand life on the frontier in the same way he now does. It's about a man who learns a new life and gets a new name.

I thought all the performances were wonderful. The Sioux's ritual chants were deep and connected to the world. John Barry's score was soaring and triumphant. "The only word that comes to mind is harmony."

nominated for best picture by NBR and at the oscars

want to see this because it won best picture at the oscars

Yet another iconic character from Dustin Hoffman. He hasn't done anything as big since, but I'm not going to hold it against him. And this was back when Tom Cruise was likable, when you could see him as a truly talented actor.

nominated for best picture at the golden globes

nominated for best picture by NBR

want to see this because it was nominated for best picture at the oscars

nominated for best picture by NBR, at the golden globes, and at the oscars

nominated for best picture by NBR

Wonderful performances and characters who are developed as real people! A strong bond is formed between two people of different backgrounds, but perhaps their differences aren't so great. The progression through the lives of the main characters and through the history and styles of the South are very well done and subtly take you on a ride you'll be glad to have taken.

want to see this because it won best comedy or musical picture at the golden globes and best picture with the NSFC

TRADITION! Well actually the movie is about changing, bending, breaking traditions. The Fiddler on the roof as described by Tevye in the opening of the movie is symbolic for existentialism. It is a metaphor for the challenge of balancing your life and knowing your place in the world. Traditional religious rituals and customs give the community where Tevye's family lives the supposed comfort to get through the balancing act. However, Tevye's three oldest daughters challenge tradition in their romantic lives and the "outside" world is entering into a time a extreme turmoil. The ways of the older generation clash with those of the younger generation. And through it all Tevye is really pretty progressive for a man in his society.

The story is serious and humorous. The film is shot beautifully. The songs are great, some more catchy than others. Tevye's constant dialog with his "best friend," God is thought provoking and often funny.

Since it is based on the book Tevye's Daughters, it is appropriate that his daughter's romantic awakenings be the main concern of the plot. The oldest daughter challenges tradition a little by pledging her love to a man of her choice, but he is a (soft-spoken) tailor from the same village and they still have a customary wedding. The middle daughter bends tradition by falling for a progressive teacher and budding revolutionary. I love that in the existential crisis he claims humankind must take much more responsibility for balancing on the roof and that traditions are not going to keep us safe up there. The youngest of the three daughters of marrying age meets another intelligent reader, but he is a Russian Kazakh and Christian. This is breaking the tradition entirely by having a marriage of two faiths. It is because the relationships of the three daughters and the father-daughter relationships are so well rendered that this story is more than a Jewish story.

Watched this in high school English. Pacino's character is a great hero. He is the straight cop fighting against the corruption that surrounds him.

want to see this because it won best comedy or musical picture at the golden globes and was nominated for best picture at the oscars

That gangster James Cagney can sing and dance!! I enjoyed this biopic very much especially for Cagney's against type performance. He is very talented.

nominated for best picture at the golden globes

want to see this because it won best picture at the oscars and best drama picture at the golden globes

want to see this because it was nominated for best picture at the oscars