My Favorite Movies

The greatest little movie that nobody has ever seen. It's hard to imagine a movie being any more perfect than this one.

Peckinpah's most underated film.

It's easy to see why Paul Thomas Anderson considers Magnolia to be his masterpiece. It's certainly nothing short of that. A brilliant screenplay with a vast array of characters, supported by a superb emsemble of cast members.

One of the greatest courtroom dramas. It's Fonda at his best and Sidney Lumet's masterpiece.

A gritty look at the darker side of life. Keitel delivers a magnificent, soul-bearing performance that will haunt you long after you see this film. It often seems that Ferrara went all out on this one, by doing things "you're not supposed to do" in movies to secure his NC-17 rating. It's not an easy movie to sit through, but well worth it in the long run. The fact that this movie is being "reinvisioned" with Nicholas Cage, of all people, is enough to make anybody ill. It certainly does me.

No doubt one of the greatest westerns of all time and Leone's masterpiece with Morricone providing his greatest score. Fonda is absolutely amazing, giving the performance of his career. Robards also turns in a fine performance as everybody's favorite good/bad guy with a heart of gold. The movie however belongs to Fonda and the other cast members allow him to carry it.

This movie is just so great on many levels. It's one of those rare films that shows life beyond the battlefield. There are three story lines, interwoven, with three different points of view.

What else can be said about this movie? All time classic -bar none. A film that sealed Vivian Lieigh and Clark Gable in film immortality. An amazing script with some of the most quoted lines in all of film, and an amazing supporting cast-including a best supporting actress win by Hattie McDaniel.

Paul Auster's well-crafted screenplay centers around a Brooklyn cigar shop, in which its owner, Auggie Wren, encounters just about every colorful character under the sun: the washed up writer, Paul Benjamin, a young teen who may or may not make it to his seventeenth birthday, Rasheed, and Ruby McNutt, Auggie's old flame who has quite a secret to share. The highlights of the film include wonderful performances from a stellar, near perfect ensemble cast: Harvey Keitel, William Hurt, Stockard Channing, Harold Perrineau, and Forest Whitaker. How could you go wrong? Well, you can't when you've got Auster's witty script and Wayne Wang's subtle direction. The movie is undoubtedly funny, but it has moments of true humanity in its finest form. You simply want to know these people. They may be dysfunctional, but aren't we all just a little bit screwed up? Another great moment from the film (without giving too much away) is Auggie's Christmas story... perhaps the best ever told and with Tom Waits "Innocent When You Dream" playing underneath, no less.

I knew this movie would be wonderful, but I had no idea just HOW wonderful. Not only is it a masterpiece, but it is a cinematic achievement. Daniel Day-Lewis's performance is absolute perfection, proving why he is the front runner at the Oscars. The supporting cast does a fine job; most notably Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor, and Ciaran Hinds, but the movie is all about Daniel. Without a doubt, PTA is one of the best film makers working today. His reoccurring theme of family struggles is once again prevalent in this movie. Robert Elswit's cinematography is stunning, capturing the vastness of the open countryside. And who could forget Jonny Greenwood's haunting score. While Magnolia is still my favorite, PTA really outdid himself with this one.

This was a very dark film for WWII America, however very essential. William Wellman does a wonderful job with this character study of people's actions and the consequences as a direct result of their actions.

The film's tagline, " A rather kinky tale of survival" is a pretty accurate description. Honestly, I think it's the only way that I can describe it. Directed and adapted by L.Q. Jones, a Peckinpah regular, it tells the story of Vic and his telepathic dog, Blood; though the fact that the dog is smarter than Don Johnson really isn't that hard to believe... but alas I digress. It follows Vic and Blood as they attempt to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Blood assists Vic in survival by helping him find the necessities in life: food and sex,wherever he can get either of them (very much like some people I know today). Anyway, it is a woman (of all things) that lures Vic into this secret underground world where the people are way too happy and wear too much clown make-up. Oddly enough, Jason Robards turns in a bizarre performance as the people's leader who wants to use Vic for his own sinister reasons. This black comedy is certainly well worth a look.... even if it's just to see Robards in clown make-up.

It's ironic that Peter Seller's favorite film is also his least known. I highly recommend this 1979 Hal Asby political satire.

"I'm a big, bright, shining star..."
This is the movie that put P.T. Anderson on the map. And why shouldn't it? Its freakin brilliant.

My favorite Tracy-Hepburn collaboration. An absolute joy to watch.

This is like a little slice of perfection. Tracy and March are in top form here (how did either of them not win an Oscar?!?), with an excellant supporting cast featuring Florence Eldridge and Gene Kelley.

Anything with these dudes has got to be freaking halarious. And it was.

One of my all-time favorite Spacey films. This movie is an absolute guilty pleasure.

Oddly enough, this was my favorite movie when I was a kid, and to me it's McQueen's best performance. Hoffman is superb (as usual) as the poor, defenseless Louis. This isn't really an unlifting movie, so I wouldn't recommend it on a rainy day.