50 Films of 2011: Conclusion

Well, it's all over.

I first started this list to get myself to watch some of the great films I have neglected to see. With the list it forced me to sit down and watch these movies - I knew I would like, if not love, most of them, but for some reason I just never found the time - or never selected these particularly films to check out.

Well, it worked. I was able to watch 50 films that I have been wanting to see, and I did it in a pretty great time frame.

Most of the films were good if not great, but I did manage to have a few less than mediocre films or stinkers.

I liked doing this so much that I have decided this is the perfect way to catch up on many films I have not seen yet. So, I think I am going to make this my new common practice. After each conclusion of a 50 list - I will go back into my list (and get suggestions) for a new 50 list. Which will allow me to catch up on so many films I have missed over the years.

So, here are some of my favorites from the films that I have watched during this original 50 list.

Top 10 Characters

(10) Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford)

Ford stars as Richard Kimble in The Fugitive. He is wrongfully accused of murdering his wife, and accidentally is allowed to escape from custody. During his time on the run he must prove his innocence by finding the man with one arm.

(9) The Geek (Anthony Michael Hall)

On this 50 list I watched both Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles. Thanks to characters like Anthony Michael Hall's The Geek, Sixteen Candles blew the other out of the water. He was such a great nerd, but came off with a lot of self-esteem (even if he really didn't have any). His inclusion (along with Long Duk Dong) is one of the many reasons Sixteen Candles is far superior to Pretty in Pink.

(8) Ivy Walker (Bryce Dallas Howard)

Again, I feel that The Village takes a lot of heat for being a horrible movie. But, I feel it is just the build up that M. Night Shyamalan's films seem to take ever since Sixth Sense. One of the great performances of the film came from Howard, who portrayed Ivy. She braved the treacherous jungle to go into town and find medication for her boyfriend, all while being blind.

(7) Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal)

As I said before, Gyllenhaal has never jumped off of the screen in anything that I have seen him in before. But, as the titular character in Donnie Darko he did just that. A great performance that I feel he really encompassed all around.

(6) The Bride (Uma Thurman)

Tons of great characters in the Kill Bill series, but the best character is probably the main one. Uma Thurman stars as The Bride who spends the entire length of the two films out for revenge for the murder of her fiance, her unborn baby and the attempted murder on herself.

(5) Teardrop (John Hawkes)

Hawkes stars as Teardrop, the uncle of Jennifer Lawrence's Ree in Winter's Bone. Teardrop is sort of the anti-hero's hero. He doesn't want to get involved in his niece's attempt to track down her father, but his paternal instincts end up getting the best of him.

(4) Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick)

Kendrick needs way more roles like this one as Natalie Keener in Up in the Air. For some reason since this film she has been in small roles in Twilight and Scot Pilgrim. She plays perfectly against a much more seasoned actor in George Clooney, but it was her performance that truly stood out to me.

(3) Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson)

Again, Pulp Fiction has a ton of great characters in it, but it was what Samuel L. Jackson did as Jules Winnfield in his little screen time that truly made the film and his character memorable. He is a hitman with a heart that wants out, and his dialogue (mostly with John Travolta's Vincent) that makes the character standout.

(2) Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer)

I liked Tombstone, but I didn't love it. However, Val Kilmer's portrayal as Doc Holliday made me enjoy the film even more than I would have without him. I watched a lot of Kilmer's films during this list, and he is definitely underused as an actor. He really knocked this character out of the park.

(1) Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt)/Col. Hans Landa (Cristoph Waltz)

I just watched Inglourious Basterds, but I don't think that is the reason for marking them the best. They were both so good in their roles that I couldn't really separate them. Waltz is new to me, but he was so evil and likable at the same time in this role. Where Pitt continues to impress as a Jewish-soldier from Tennessee.

Top 10 Films

(10) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

(9) The Fugitive

(8) Frozen River

(7) Walk the Line

(6) Winter's Bone

(5) Up in the Air

(4) The Social Network

(3) Inception

(2) Inglourious Basterds

(1) Pulp Fiction

23/50: The Social Network

I remember when I graduated college in 2004 and my sister came home for the summer or a break or something and had this amazing Facebook website - the first time I had ever seen it. And, for some reason I was unable to join this prestigious site. I am not sure the reason, but it was either that my former college was not on Facebook or my college email was no longer functioning.

So, I was a bit peeved that my sister was on this glorious site that kept her in touch with high school and college friends. And, I was still only able to do so on the phone or AIM.

Needless to say, I was very happy when Facebook finally dropped the only college format and allowed everyone to join their site - and I have been a member and avid use ever since.

But, a movie about the creation of this site? How could that be interesting at all?

Well, apparently it was tons interesting, because not only was it nominated for an Oscar for best picture, but I absolutely loved it.

For one, I had no idea about the main reason behind this website and just how much legal drama went on with it. Just so we can stalk that one girl we saw at summer camp in 1995 and really have never talked to since.

The opening scene with Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and Erica Albright (Rooney Mara) was breathtaking. I found myself literally doing all I could to follow this conversation between Ivy League geniuses.

From there I was hooked and then the actual computer stuff began, starting with LiveJournal, which my wife and I used to use back in the day - which was very nostalgic for us.

The way Facebook finally got truly going is great, and to see just how many people were involved and affected from it was amazing. The one thing I never knew, however, was that the Napster guy Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) was so involved - even though he wasn't really. "Drop the The" is not really what made the site take off.

Another siting, Joseph Mazzello, of Jurassic Park fame has a bit part as Dustin Moskovitz, one of Zuckerberg's roommates.

I won't go into a bunch of the legal mumbo-jumbo because that is what the film is truly about, but the entire film is very entertaining and extremely smart. Nice to see how something we use everyday, and basically take for granted, came to be so big.

Grade:

Tuesday's With Movies: 1/11/11

OK, since I missed last week's Tuesday's With Movies and this week only has a few I have decided to include last week's films as well. Enjoy!

1/11/11
The Social Network: As I explained in my rant yesterday this is one of those magical films that will not be coming to me for at least another month. However, it is released country wide today on DVD and it is one of the films I really want to see. I have heard great things all around about this film - from the film itself to the actors in the film. So, as soon as I get the chance I will be checking this one out.




Piranha 3D: As I have stated in the past I am definitely not a horror movie guy. I can get by on some great thrillers, but gore just is way over the top in my book. I don't see the necessity of seeing people killed and tortured. So, I will probably be skipping this one.






Alpha & Omega: One I had not heard of until I was looking for movies to add to my Netflix queue. I am sure it isn't a great flick, but it's a cartoon and I am sure my 4-year old will love it. So, I will probably be checking it out sometime in the near future.







1/4/11
Machete: OK, I am not sure the extent of what is shown in this film, but I am pretty interested in seeing this despite what I said in my Piranha 3D post. I have a feeling there will be a little gore in this film, but I am not sure. Either way, I am intrigued and I will definitely see it - once Netflix allows me.





Dinner for Schmucks: Already have seen it and I will have a small review up by the end of the week in my Quick Shots as I attempt to get caught up quickly.









Camille/Howl: Two films that I have never heard of, but star James Franco. Doubt I will be checking them out until I know a little more about them.


Case 39/The Last Exorcism: Two films that have horror written all over them that I will not be checking out.