Top Ten Movie Countdown...Part Deux

Well the time is here to round up another ten of my top movies. I purposefully did NOT go back and review my submission for Alex's last blogfest on this subject. So there my be a couple dupes but you will only know that if you are of the Poirot or Marple mentality. Let's say you're not and leave it at that.

I will tell you this, I know right now my #1 movie will NOT change so be that as it may for better or worse.

Right. Let's go then.

#10 - True Grit

The Jeff Bridges version not John Wayne. I love all the Coen brothers movies and this one was no exception. All-star cast and a scene stealing young lady bent on revenge. The writing and action are great and Bridges should have won Best Actor. Nominated for 10 Academy awards and winning ZERO??? When does that happen. Academy bastards! Great movie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#9 - Pulp Fiction

 

Another all-star cast and a coup for Tarantino. This movie was so far out there when it first came out many people couldn't follow it. I loved it from the first viewing. Weird huh? Anyway, the movie has produced numerous quotes that I use from time to time, favorite being, "Zed is dead, baby...Zed is dead." Don't ask me how or when I use it but just trust me it is always appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

#8 - There Will Be Blood

 

A lot of people I know who saw this movie said it was slow and boring. Pfft, what do they know. This film to me was a stunning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis who deserves every acting award he wins. His portrayal of an oil tycoon in the making, was just fantastic. His vicious and mainly manipulating ways of getting what he wanted while trying (so it appears) to reconcile with his supposed son and scamming fake brother made the movie. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

 

 

 

#7 - Heathers

 

Set in my home state of Ohio, the dark cult classic has been a favorite of my for some time. The litmus test for that is how often I quote from the movie. This one is frequently, probably daily or so. Staring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder, this hilarious story of high school cliques and what today would be called bullying is just the ticket for me. If you have never seen I strongly advise at least one viewing before you die...maybe two if you don't get it the first time. Soon you will be humming the catchy refrain from the movie's hit song, "Teenage Suicide, Don't Do It" by Big Fun. I am laughing now as I type this.

 

 

#6 - Seven

 

I liked this movie a lot based on the fact that it would be theoretically and even actually, impossible for Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey to make a bad movie together. Besides most of the film being a disgusting revelation of a serial killer acting out the seven deadly sins...it is the way and the why and then the justification at the end that is just so good. These are three of my favorite actors and I would watch them paint a box through the wrong end of binoculars...and pay for it. Poor Gwyneth.

 

 

 

#5 - The Exorcist

 

 This movie scared the shit out of me. I only ever saw it one time...the year it came out...at a drive in. Holy hell, nothing like that had ever been on the screen before. The film rating society debated over whether to rate it X or not for a while. This was the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture (losing to The Sting). It is always in the top 2 or 3 scariest movies moments when those things are voted on. And as much as it gives me pause to do so...I give you the picture that still freaks me out today. But just a small one.

#4 - 2001: A Space Odyssey

This was a movie that depending on when you saw it ran either 160 minutes or 140 minutes. It was a film way out there but then again that was sort of the trip Kubrick was on back in the day. Clockwork Orange seems to seal the deal on that thought. 2001 was the first movie I saw in an "altered state". If you have seen it then you know why it is necessary to do this once in your life. It was intense and surreal to the extreme. Some parts of it still to this day make no sense to me. But if anyone ever says, "open the pod bay door, HAL"...you will know they are one. But if they say, "I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that"...well, then you have no hope. For super cool bonus points, what was the song that HAL broke into as Dave slowly removed his "brain"?




#3 - Bad Santa

Billy Bob Thornton and Tony Cox are a hilarious conman team and drunken comedic thieves. Billy Bob plays Santa and Cox is his elf. Bernie Mac is his normally funny self (RIP Bernie). Heather Graham is the "naughty" girl in the film and Cloris Leachman is great in an uncredited role as Granny. Favorite line from this movie, "that's some lip you got on you, midget." If you are not adverse to some raw language this movie crediting the Coen Bros as "executive producers" will split your sides. WARNING: DO NOT attempt to eat popcorn while watching this film...it will result in the Heimlich maneuver being applied! One of my favorite Christmas films.








#2 - The Big Lebowski

This one made the list last time and will always be on my Top Ten list...fighting hard to overcome my nostalgia and reach number 1. This movie is as hilarious as it gets. Bridges as the Dude is the only one who could play this role. Casting by the Coen's is probably second only to their scripting as pure genius in all their movies. The lines and quotes from this movie are priceless and endless. Go watch it right now if you have never seen. It will cure what ails ya.











#1 - Where The Buffalo Roam

Argue it all you will, Murray's portrayal of the gonzo journalist Hunter Thompson is the best bar none. I give Depp his props as an actor, but Murray owns Thompson. It hit home like a 30-lb sledge hammer going through a concrete wall, when I saw the bio-documentary on Hunter S. Thompson. The look, voice, mannerisms...of HST, well you could have closed your eyes and it WAS Murray. Very eerie.

If you have never seen this movie and are any kind of fan of the late "king of gonzo" you owe it to yourself to wrap your head around this.

This movie will always be my number one.





And there you have it, the current Top Ten Movies as rated by this here blogger. I hope you take time and view some you have not seen. I will be stopping by your sites throughout this week to check out my fellow blogger's lists.

Oh yeah...Honorable Mention

Oh Brother Where Art Thou