Films 41 - 50

John Ford and John Wayne took a chance on this picture straying from their usual western spectacular. They switched focus and locale to shoot a love story in the Emerald Isle. I’m glad they decided to stray. This is a great film, with a great cast in a beautiful place.

What greatest films since the revolution would be complete without this very apt choice. Director Sergei Eisenstein was a true commie, serving in the red army and drawing upon this in his own work. Potemkin stand as his greatest accomplishment, and serves as a brilliant example of truly revolutionary filmmaking.

For those of you waiting in eager anticipation for the "Welles" picture, here it is. No, I did not pick Citizen Kane. Although I think Kane is an excellent film, I do not think it is Welles’ best. Only Welles could cast Charlton Heston as a Mexican police chief and get away with it. This film is also notable for its 15 minute opening non-cut tracking shot.

Peckinpah = Violence. That has been the old film school adage for a while now. I’m don’t disagree with it, however I would like to note that this film although placated with mass quantities of violence, there is heart to it as well. Watch William Holden, this is his tour de force.

I found this picture to be just this side of disturbing. That is to say that although it deals with topics that should curl your blood, it also does it such a way that you don’t feel like you need a shower afterwards. In my opinion, the best drug film yet. Gets the point across, but doesn’t leave you without hope.

Sid Note: Very disturbing, I thought.  Great performances by Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle.

Sometimes I think I watch this movie just to hear Peter O’toole say "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest." This is a great film, pitting O’toole versus Burton and it works so well.

While we’re on Richard Burtons. Lets look at another great Burton Classic. This is Burton and Taylor at their best. One of my favorite films to watch as Burton and Taylor launch WWWIII on each other while a diminutive George Segal and Sandy Dennis watch on.

This is probably the most original film produced in the last 10 years. I really don’t have a concise comment to make regarding this other than just watch it, the left side of your brain will thank you later.

Sid Note: Check out Ron Pearlman as a big French guy!  From the same group who brought us the innovative Delicatessen.  Amazing effects, from the French nonetheless.  And what a fantastically dark world they've created!

As some of you may or may not know, I am a huge 40-70’s "B" movie fan. Particularly if it involves Vincent Price. Price in my opinion is one of the most underrated actors of all time. He could make the impossible seem plausible. If that isn’t talent than I don’t know what is.

Sid Note: Vincent Price is amazing, and what a body of work, over 100 films.

When I first heard they were making a Batman movie, visions of Burt Ward and Adam West began to float through my head – bunched leotards and felt boots are not a pretty image. But I was blown away by Tim Burton’s vision. He made comic book movies truly cool – and consequently gave a huge gift to all those nerds out there like myself who spent their allowance every week on armfuls of DC comics.