Popcorn, soda, making out in the dark…. That’s what I think about theaters, most Movies now days are basically all about the short term experience. But There are those jewels of the big screen that one would describe as a “MOMENT” in ones life… Its those kind of movies that make their way into your memories and into your psyche….
So here goes my list of the 10 greatest Movies:
- The Godfather: I, II, III
(Technically they should be 3 different movies, but hey this is MY list) .. Do I need to say more about this greatest trilogy ever, Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppolla, brought the Corleone family into our living rooms, The aura and mystery behind the Italian mafia – La-Cosa Nostra… Marlon Brando plays The Godfather Vito Corleone, ( Also Played by an enigmatic Robert Deniro, in the flash back scenes) Al Pacino – Plays Michael Corleone The epicenter of the Corleone Family surrounded by brothers Freddo and Sonny( James Caan)…..The movies take us through the betrayals, wars and the triumphs of one of the most famous even though fictitious families of the USof A.
- ScarFace:
Al Pacino… “sayyy elo’ to my little friend” “ju are a cakaroach, I kill you lika cakaroach”… one of the most quotable movies for the macho types….
Pacino as Tony Montana played a very believable Cuban drug lord rags to riches story… potrays the rize and fall of Tony from a cuban exile in Miami to one of the biggest cocainista’s of the gold coast….
- TaxiDriver:
Robert Deniro: Scene: barely lit room in the attic of a Brooklyn shackle house .. a cracked floor mirror, in front of the mirror an unkempt D’niro.. 44magnum in holster, suddenly D’Niro pulls it out the gun and points to his distorted reflection in the mirror…and then….one of the most famous lines in cinematic history.
You talking to me??? Are you talking to me??? You talking to me?.. The taxidriver is about the life of a loner in 70’s New York.. you wants to win the heart of lady by any means possible… the rest you have to watch…
- Goodfellas:
Robert Deniro – Ray liotta – Joe Pesci…. About a mafia crew making their way through the underworld …. A modern gangster feast, it’s the brasher cruder, and lot more violent life of the underlings in the mafia hierarchy.
- The Longest day:
John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, Richard Burton, Sean Connery …all-star cast enlists for this epic recreation of the Allied invasion of Normandy… The original and still one of the best portrayals of the D-day Invasion .. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN( in my top 15 list) … in original format..
6.Citizen Kane:
Orson Welles’s piece’d’resistance .. arguably touted as the greatest American movie ever… he interweaves the life of then uber powerfull publishing magnate W.R Hearst into his story Powerful newspaper owner Charles Foster Kane… Hearst tried with all his clout and money to stop the RKO studio’s from releasing this movie.
- Roshomon ;
Japanese The Great Akira Kurusawa strikes again: The story is simple--at first. A man and his wife are travelling through a dangerous part of the country. Shortly after they enter a forest, a thief, who has been following them, attacks and robs them, and rapes the wife. The husband is subsequently murdered. The thief is soon apprehended and a trial is held. To the astonishment of the court, all three of the participants (the husband is called back from the dead by a medium) claim to be murderer. As each tells his or her version of the events, it becomes clear that each is motivated by shame, and is willing to confess to murder or suicide rather than accept dishonor. Each claims to have lived up to the noble purpose of his/her role in life, and to have fulfilled the demands of humanity under the circumstances. An unexpected witness finally reveals the truth. The importance of this statement should be considered in reference to its date and time: shortly after the end of World War II..
8.Lawrence Of Arabia:
Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Omar Sharif… who’s who of yesteryears cinema about the life of T.h Lawrence and his epic adventures of trying to unify northern Arab clans…. The real star Is the cinematography, the desert - is so magnificently captured in all its endless immensity that you’ll find sand between your toes when you take your socks off. This flick is huge in all its cinematic glory
- The Pianist:
My newest addition to the list.. Adrian Brody masterfully plays Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who evades capture by the nazi’s and survives against all odds from the capture of Poland by the Germans till the end of the war.
- A River Runs Through It:
Brad Pitt , Craig Sheaffer.. directed by Robert Redford…A poignant story based in picturesque Montana about the 2 sones of a pastor played by Tom Skerritt… its about growing up.. difference between siblings.. about like in a small town .. all woven around the river that’s flows through their lives and times they spent on its banks fly fishing.
There are quite movies that are noteworthy in my collection
Ran – Seven Samurai and Kagemusha : All Akira kurasawa movies… ( yeah I’m into Japanese flicks)
Like water for chocolate
English patient ( should be #11)
Shawshank Redemption
Usual Suspects ( 12) go kaizer sozie…