Films 31 - 40

I drove people crazy for weeks after viewing this for this time asking them "Why’d they have Thursby shadowed?" I’m not sure if there will ever be anyone as cool as Bogart. Many people are cool but that are not Phillip Barlowe cool.

When Comrade Dunlap previewed my 64 greatest films for the first he said he was surprised that he didn’t see Casablanca (which I love). In retrospect, I guess I’m really surprised too but, the things is ….Treasure really ushered Boggie into the limelight, and also signaled a changing of the guard in a way for the cinema as a young John Huston directs his aging father Walter Huston as the rough around the edges old prospector.

A more apt title for this movie would have been Steve McQueen vs. The Nazis. This is one of the best war movies ever made. It has heart, daring and some great action. McQueen leads the all-star cast as an expert prisoner-breaker.

I can’t say enough about this movie. It has two of my favorite actors in it, Montgomery Clift and Burt Lancaster not to mention a stellar supporting cast of Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, Ernest Borgnine and Donna Reed (as a call girl nonetheless – what would the Beav say?).

Another Kubrick classic and in my opinion probably the greatest ant-war movie ever made. This film features a great ensemble cast with Matthew Modine and Vincent D’onofrio as the stand out young actors making their mark. M-I-C-K-E-Y….

Sid Note: Matthew Modine is underrated.  Go rent "Vision Quest" and you'll see his talent was developed even at a young age (1985).  Also note a young Linda Fiorentino!

John Cusak has always been one of those actors who stands out to me. In this one where he plays a freelance hit-man returning to his high school reunion he is at his cynical, witty best. This film is also a gem to me because it is the first movie Comrade Alex and Stacey "the red" saw together.

Sid Note: Don't drag Stacey into your seedy commie underworld.  I love Gross Ponte Blank.  Dan Akroyd is great as a competing hit man from the old school.  Not to mention Minnie Driver with her best Yankee accent, well done.

I think this should be a must view for everyone who lives in the United States. Michael Moore has done his best work in this documentary exposing the "culture of guns and violence" in this movie. If there was ever a film that could make this a better country, Bowling for Columbine is it.

Sid Note: Hippie

Navin, Johnson R – Average run of the mill son of a bitch. If you can watch this movie without cracking hysterical you must be some sort of automaton – that hates these cans!

The first, and probably the best of the mockumentary genre. There are so many memorable moments in this movie you need to watch it another five or six times to get the full effect. A true comedic classic.

Sid Note:  Right on, Comrade.  Not to mention the music is very good.

I chose this film for one very specific reason. Realism. Despite the fact that I was completely engrossed in this movie, it occurred to me that it was more than likely the most technically accurate war film I had ever seen. Of particular note is the performance of Barry Pepper. I thought he was probably the best character there.

Sid Note: I think this is the greatest war movie ever made, as far as making you feel like you're right in the middle of things.  I think is also is capable of showing anyone that war sucks, and people shouldn't be put in that situation unless 100% unavoidable.