Quin GootMY TOP 20
March 18th 2008 13:13
Thought I'd put down my top 20 films in no particular order. Don't know why. Maybe it's boredom. Or maybe it's the misguided belief that someone else might care. No, it's boredom, definitely. Well here goes.
GOODFELLAS(ok, this is my no 1)
Just a brilliantly directed movie. Everything is flawless. The performances are spot on from De Niro, Pesci and Liotta(has never been able to equal it since). For my money though Paul Sorvino as Paulie is the standout. The first 15 minutes of young Henry coming up through the ranks is still my favourite part. The "whattaya mean I'm funny" scene, which incidently was directed by Joe Pesci. The camera trailing Lorraine Bracco and Ray Liotta into the club.There's to much to mention. Usually after watching this film I spend the next week telling everyone to forgetaboutit.
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
The most uplifting ending in movies I reckon. Great acting by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman(the best voice over man in the business). Just makes me want to crawl through a river of shit and come out inspired.
STATE OF GRACE
Not sure why this one sticks with me. Maybe it's the Irishness that courses through the film. Maybe it's the fact that two of my favourite actors are in it. Namely Gary Oldman and Sean Penn. Maybe it's the bleak, dark mood that never seems to go away. Maybe it's the tragedy. Maybe it's the shite I'm talkin.
AMERICAN BEAUTY
Just a really uncomfortable film to watch. Not without it's flaws(Wes Bentley anyone). I really liked Annette Benning in this. Kevin Spacey was good but she was better. I think the look of desperate housewives was very much influenced by this film. It made me want to have a midlife crisis at 24.
DIRTY DOZEN
Boys with guns shooting Nazi's. What more do you want. My Dad thinks everything before and after this film was shite. John Cassavetes and Donald Sutherland were too funny.
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
Scared the bollox of me so much that I haven't watched again. I don't even remember it that clearly. Not sure why it's here. I remember the scene where Clarice meets Lecter for the first time as a pretty electric scene. Plus where he cuts that guys face off to use as a disguise. Actually I don't know if I like this one after all.
OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOU
It proved to me that George Clooney was more than just a pretty face. I'm a big fan of the Coens. They don't make movies like anyone else. Man of constant sorrow is a favourite song of mine. Based on Homer Simpsons Odyssey or something like that.
TRAINSPOTTING
And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you have heroine. FUCK YEH!
Renton is one of cinema's great anti-heroes.Just so funny and horrible it's sometimes hard to decide if it's comedy, drama or even horror. Begby could kick the shite out of Hannibel Lecter any day.
PULP FICTION
To many great moments to list them all. Tarantino is a true talent. Has made a couple of so-so movies since then but this was close to perfect. This film resurrected Travolta's career so much he's been doing his best to fucking bury it again ever since. Took me years to stop calling a quarterpounder with cheese a royale with cheese.
APOCALYPSE NOW
Although I like the film, I think it's the legendry stories of the nightmare shoot that make it for me. Martin Sheen had a fucking heart attack for gods sake. Brando showed up fat, Hopper was so high he refused to act the scene's as they were in the script. Not to mention Coppola having a breakdown. It all seemed to carry into the film, giving it a feeling of complete mayhem. Marlon Brando showed that he was not only an astonishing actor but also completely insane.
JAWS
Fucking love it, love it, love it. I still remember my sister running out of our living room screaming when the head pops out from the sunken boat. A great trio of performances at the films centre. Robert Shaw's USS Indianapolis speech still gives me shivers. The best popcorn entertainment movie ever
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF
John Hughes wrote the script for this in six days in order to beat a writers strike. Where Breakfast Club showed teenagers to be angsty little shits, this showed them having a ball. Made us all wanna skip school. The thing was that Ferris was a bit of a wanker but we all liked him anyway. Alan ruck should have retired after this.
FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
Loved the book. Peter Jackson deserves huge credit for managing to film it. Great scenery, good acting, brilliant effects. For me the second two films fell away a bit. I mean by the end of Return of the King I just wanted Frodo and Sam to come out and admit they were lovers the whole time.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
I am Indiana Jones. Fuck you right, I am. The coolest character in films bar none. Nuff said.
LOST IN TRANSLATION
Just a really sweet sort of sad film. I like the whole unconsummated romance thing that happens in this film. Bill Murrey has never been better. I love the bit at the end where he whispers in her ear and we have to decide what he's saying (do you know what they call a quarter pounder with cheese in France).
FINDING NEMO
Pixar do the amazing thing of making kids films for adults. My favourite animated film ever. Sydney Harbour and the Barrier Reef never looked so good. In my next life I'd like to come back as a doped out turtle.
ET
Spielberg is the master story teller. He's also the only director who's child characters don't end up being creepy and annoying. Still makes me cry. Can't wait to watch this with my daughter.
SCHINDLERS LIST
To me this truly was a horror movie. The little girls red coat standing out among the black and white dead is such a haunting image. Liam Neesen, Ralph Feinnes and Ben Kingsley were all brilliant. Spielbergs best film I think.
SEXY BEAST
I've never felt more uncomfortable watching a film. It just builds tension better than any other film I've seen. Ray Winstone, sort of playing against type, is great. Ben Kingsley is the most unstable character ever in film. But the real beast in this film is Ian McShane as Teddy Bass.
Great British film.
MY LEFT FOOT
The inspiring story of Christy Brown. Unbelievable acting by Daniel Day Lewis (that boy sure likes to get into character). Propably not a perfect film but for acting alone its hard to beat. Ray McAnally and Brenda Fricker are also great. My Dads second favourite film.
GOODFELLAS(ok, this is my no 1)
Just a brilliantly directed movie. Everything is flawless. The performances are spot on from De Niro, Pesci and Liotta(has never been able to equal it since). For my money though Paul Sorvino as Paulie is the standout. The first 15 minutes of young Henry coming up through the ranks is still my favourite part. The "whattaya mean I'm funny" scene, which incidently was directed by Joe Pesci. The camera trailing Lorraine Bracco and Ray Liotta into the club.There's to much to mention. Usually after watching this film I spend the next week telling everyone to forgetaboutit.
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
The most uplifting ending in movies I reckon. Great acting by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman(the best voice over man in the business). Just makes me want to crawl through a river of shit and come out inspired.
STATE OF GRACE
Not sure why this one sticks with me. Maybe it's the Irishness that courses through the film. Maybe it's the fact that two of my favourite actors are in it. Namely Gary Oldman and Sean Penn. Maybe it's the bleak, dark mood that never seems to go away. Maybe it's the tragedy. Maybe it's the shite I'm talkin.
AMERICAN BEAUTY
Just a really uncomfortable film to watch. Not without it's flaws(Wes Bentley anyone). I really liked Annette Benning in this. Kevin Spacey was good but she was better. I think the look of desperate housewives was very much influenced by this film. It made me want to have a midlife crisis at 24.
DIRTY DOZEN
Boys with guns shooting Nazi's. What more do you want. My Dad thinks everything before and after this film was shite. John Cassavetes and Donald Sutherland were too funny.
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
Scared the bollox of me so much that I haven't watched again. I don't even remember it that clearly. Not sure why it's here. I remember the scene where Clarice meets Lecter for the first time as a pretty electric scene. Plus where he cuts that guys face off to use as a disguise. Actually I don't know if I like this one after all.
OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOU
It proved to me that George Clooney was more than just a pretty face. I'm a big fan of the Coens. They don't make movies like anyone else. Man of constant sorrow is a favourite song of mine. Based on Homer Simpsons Odyssey or something like that.
TRAINSPOTTING
And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you have heroine. FUCK YEH!
Renton is one of cinema's great anti-heroes.Just so funny and horrible it's sometimes hard to decide if it's comedy, drama or even horror. Begby could kick the shite out of Hannibel Lecter any day.
PULP FICTION
To many great moments to list them all. Tarantino is a true talent. Has made a couple of so-so movies since then but this was close to perfect. This film resurrected Travolta's career so much he's been doing his best to fucking bury it again ever since. Took me years to stop calling a quarterpounder with cheese a royale with cheese.
APOCALYPSE NOW
Although I like the film, I think it's the legendry stories of the nightmare shoot that make it for me. Martin Sheen had a fucking heart attack for gods sake. Brando showed up fat, Hopper was so high he refused to act the scene's as they were in the script. Not to mention Coppola having a breakdown. It all seemed to carry into the film, giving it a feeling of complete mayhem. Marlon Brando showed that he was not only an astonishing actor but also completely insane.
JAWS
Fucking love it, love it, love it. I still remember my sister running out of our living room screaming when the head pops out from the sunken boat. A great trio of performances at the films centre. Robert Shaw's USS Indianapolis speech still gives me shivers. The best popcorn entertainment movie ever
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF
John Hughes wrote the script for this in six days in order to beat a writers strike. Where Breakfast Club showed teenagers to be angsty little shits, this showed them having a ball. Made us all wanna skip school. The thing was that Ferris was a bit of a wanker but we all liked him anyway. Alan ruck should have retired after this.
FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
Loved the book. Peter Jackson deserves huge credit for managing to film it. Great scenery, good acting, brilliant effects. For me the second two films fell away a bit. I mean by the end of Return of the King I just wanted Frodo and Sam to come out and admit they were lovers the whole time.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
I am Indiana Jones. Fuck you right, I am. The coolest character in films bar none. Nuff said.
LOST IN TRANSLATION
Just a really sweet sort of sad film. I like the whole unconsummated romance thing that happens in this film. Bill Murrey has never been better. I love the bit at the end where he whispers in her ear and we have to decide what he's saying (do you know what they call a quarter pounder with cheese in France).
FINDING NEMO
Pixar do the amazing thing of making kids films for adults. My favourite animated film ever. Sydney Harbour and the Barrier Reef never looked so good. In my next life I'd like to come back as a doped out turtle.
ET
Spielberg is the master story teller. He's also the only director who's child characters don't end up being creepy and annoying. Still makes me cry. Can't wait to watch this with my daughter.
SCHINDLERS LIST
To me this truly was a horror movie. The little girls red coat standing out among the black and white dead is such a haunting image. Liam Neesen, Ralph Feinnes and Ben Kingsley were all brilliant. Spielbergs best film I think.
SEXY BEAST
I've never felt more uncomfortable watching a film. It just builds tension better than any other film I've seen. Ray Winstone, sort of playing against type, is great. Ben Kingsley is the most unstable character ever in film. But the real beast in this film is Ian McShane as Teddy Bass.
Great British film.
MY LEFT FOOT
The inspiring story of Christy Brown. Unbelievable acting by Daniel Day Lewis (that boy sure likes to get into character). Propably not a perfect film but for acting alone its hard to beat. Ray McAnally and Brenda Fricker are also great. My Dads second favourite film.
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Comment by Harry
Sydney Diary
Personals
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Zoo Parent
I've not seen State of Grace, or Sexy Beast. I'll definitely have to check them out based on the other movies you liked.
Great post.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
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Fat Cult
Techbreak
Henry breaks these rules, and suffers for it. Ah, satisfying...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Some Gold in there Stephen: Goodfellas, Sexy Beast, State of Grace, Dirty Dozen Apocalypse Now etc....
Though I found Shawshank Redemption to be frustrating in its overly sentimental and soft approach. Prefered Virgin Suicides to Lost in Translation...never got into ET....Schindler's List left me feeling like I had seen a sanatised Oprah version of the story....Finding Nemo wasn't bad but I'm more of an Iron Giant, Incredibles and Monster House guy.
If your interested I did my "A - Z of Film Favourites"[ which you can read by clicking HERE
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
I admit when I saw the 1st 2 picks I was like - same old list every time...
But its really varied - Finding Nemo & Ferris Bueller for instance! Thankyou for not being boring.
Personally I'm a huge fan of O'Brother and very pleased it actually made this list. One of my all time favorites.
- Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
www.backtotheeighties.net