"Bad Words" Review

Regular readers of this site will know my oft-mentioned collection of five favorite actors. Those actors are Harrison Ford, Robert Downey Jr., Bruce Willis, Bryan Cranston, and last but not least, Jason Bateman. Previously, only Cranston had tried his hand at directing, and he absolutely excelled. Naturally, when I heard that Bateman would be stepping behind the camera, I was sold on the idea immediately. 

Bad Words chronicles the rise of a stubborn middle school dropout named Guy Trilby as he finds a loophole to enter a spelling bee, in which he makes his way to the National Championship. With almost the entire nation against him, Trilby enjoys every minute of the attention while at the same time, he befriends a young contestant, and grows a little along the way. 

The story subverts any discernible patterns and cuts through the bull. It almost anticipates what you think is going to happen, then pretty much says "Yeah, we thought you might think that, so we're gonna do this." It's a smart, raucous script with original jokes, and gags, no matter far they seem to take it. Frankly, i'm surprised there haven't been lobster gags like the ones in here before. 

Bateman is a natural in the director's chair, eliciting the humor out of every scene and getting his actors to showcase their entire ranges. He has made a film that is easily one of the funniest I've seen in a while, but also at the same time has a tremendous amount of heart hidden by the main character's misanthropic exterior. He chips away until we see the point, and when we do, it's glorious. But best of all, he makes us work for it. 

We've seen Bateman go against his clean cut, polite exterior before in The Change-Up, but he basically was playing a caricature of Ryan Reynolds. In his lead role of Guy Trilby, he crafts a new role he can call his own. As opposed to the appeasing Michael Bluth, here he is the foul mouthed, stubborn anti-hero that elicits laughter at every turn, and clicks with the inner voice that thinks what it would never say. Even the way the man shuts his eyes on the airplane is magnificently characterized to a specific role that he is crafting. This is easily the best Jason Bateman has every been. 

Kathryn Hahn (who you may recognize from her brief arc on Parks and Recreation) plays the reporter following Guy as he turns the spelling world upside down. As with the others in this film, she doesn't try to fill any stock, she gets her point across and has unique quirks that keep her from being just another busy-body journalist. 

Philip Baker Hall and Allison Janney in their roles as the spelling bee officials trying to get rid of Guy feel a little cliched at first, but they develop into something more that works to move the story along. 

From start to finish, Bad Words is a racy laugh riot with an outstanding performance by Jason Bateman, who also proves he can run the show too. Check it out. 

A-

"The Grand Budapest Hotel" Review

It takes talent to have your directorial style be instantly recognizable. Quentin Tarantino has conversational development mixed with over-the-top violence. Zack Snyder has slow motion shots with extreme close-ups. Darren Aronofsky (as I mentioned last night) has psychological torment. And as much as I dislike the man, I must admit Tim Burton has a unique perception of gothic darkness. When we come to Wes Anderson, we have a whimsical silliness, mixed with a horizontal cinematography, and the almost guaranteed inclusion of the legendary Bill Murray.

In The Grand Budapest Hotel, we are told a story within a story within another story about the titular location. The concierge Monsieur Gustave, who provides elderly female guests with "exceptional service" is framed with the murder of one of his frequent guests after he is mentioned in her will. With the assistance of his ever faithful lobby boy Zero, they seek to prove his innocence.

All one could expect from a Wes Anderson is present in this film. His normal troupe of actors, his unique visual style, his comprehensively worded dialogue. And as usual, it is all marvelous. It's not meant to be completely mentally stimulating, rather it's a classic murder mystery with that classic Wes Anderson touch. His characters are numerous, and while the majority of them aren't fleshed out, you still feel for them. They are simple, yet quirky, and magnificently diverse.

Amongst other things, it harkens back to a simpler time both in setting and style. The plot has threads that go around the entire spectrum of the film, but it doesn't feel overwhelming in the slightest.  The filmmaking methods of practical methods and painted mattes are well appreciated, and they remind one of the classics. Wes Anderson has a brilliant style, and it definitely distinguishes itself.

It's rather hard to talk about individual performances in this movie, as with the usual Wes fare, the actors all lose themselves in the aesthetic of the film. However, that is all a sign of great direction and it elicits excellent results. Ralph Fiennes, Jeff Goldblum, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Harvey Keitel, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, far too numerous to mention, all craft a wondrously cooperative ensemble which makes it difficult to discuss anyone individually.

Not one to be missed, The Grand Budapest Hotel is another Wes Anderson gem which boasts thoroughly engaging elements all around.

A-

"Noah" Review

It's been years since i've picked up a bible, and i've never really been one to study it intently. But I received my elementary education in St. Joseph's Catholic School in Kingston. Now while I don't know all the details of the story, Noah's Ark was always my favorite. I can't explain why, but I always enjoyed hearing the story from Sister Dorothy or Father Frank.

Noah, descendant of Seth, sees a vision in a dream that God plans to flood the Earth to cleanse it. After a visit to his grandfather Methuselah, Noah discovers that the lord wants him to build an ark to save his family, and all the beasts that wander the Earth. However, the descendants of Cain led by Tubal-Cain seek to fight Noah and take the ark.

The film is from Darren Aronofsky, the visionary director behind Black Swan, The Wrestler, and Reqiuem for a Dream. Needless to say, expectations were high. The man is well known for his psychological elements that create thought provoking situations. He also has a tendency to elicit visceral performances from his actors. Here, he does not disappoint. The methods that God has for communicating with Noah have that classic cerebral Aronofsky touch which show that the director is firmly putting his stamp on this film. Given the fact the man is adapting a portion of the most famous book ever written which doesn't allow much room for creativity, it's rather impressive.

As I mentioned, I don't know all the small details of the biblical Noah, just the basics. So be they original  I was surprised by the amount of subplots that helped to sustain interest in the picture. It also helped to round out characters which contribute to Noah's story. The story is fully fleshed out, and even if you know exactly how it ends, there are enough plot lines to follow that keep you guessing,

I must also point out the dark tone of the film, which I admittedly have mixed feelings about. On the negative side, it feels at times unnecessary and intense. But to it's credit, it helps to elegantly illustrate the savagery of mankind prior to the flood, and justify why God saw it necessary to flood the earth with a cleansing flood. So I kinda call this one a wash.

I've never really been too much of a Russell Crowe fan. I very much enjoyed him in Gladiator,  but found him detrimental to Les Miserables. In his performance as Noah, he is very flat at times, but irradiates a gritty exterior which apparently is only skin deep. You have to appreciate his subtleties, and he is certainly not phoning it in, but all in all he turns in a rather average performance.

Jennifer Connelly is very raw in her role as Noah's wife. Bound by her sense of loyalty, she finds her limits tested. And true to her character, she has a line, and when she speaks her mind, it is mesmerizing.

The always wonderful Emma Watson is magnificent in the role, Ila, Noah's adopted daughter and lover to his son Shem. Her character has several obstacles thrust in her path, and she overcomes them with beautiful energy and a wonderfully conflicted mindset.

We also have the talents of Logan Lerman and Ray Winstone who act as opposing forces to Noah. They create a conflict outside of Noah's inner turmoil and nature struggle. It establishes two interesting conundrums which leave you in the dark about where it is heading to maintain interest. And as a boon, both men are excellent in their roles.

It may be a little too dark at times, but Noah is another fantastic addition to Darren Aronofsky's filmography. Give it a look.

A-

"Cheap Thrills" Review

"How far would you go for the thing you care about most?" is an extremely common theme. It fueled the entire plot of Breaking Bad, it was pretty much the tagline of the last Star Trek movie. Hell, it's even the basis for the screenplay i've been writing for the past 6 years. However, in Cheap Thrills, never has that phrase ever been so much fun. 

Craig Daniels is a down on his luck writer who is fired from his auto mechanic job and receives an eviction notice on the same day. He heads to a bar where he catches up with his high school friend Vince. When he returns from the bathroom, they join a wealthy couple, Colin and Violet, who are out on the town for Violet's birthday. They begin completing a series of simple dares for money, but as the night goes on, the tasks grow darker, the stakes get higher, and an old friendship begins to crack. 

I literally just finished watching, so before I continue, give me a second to say: HOLY SHIT. 

This is easily one of the most intense and uneasy movies I have ever seen. That being said, Viewer Discretion Advised. It is an insanely dark movie which pushes the limits, yet the characterization is brilliant. Each of the four main players has a fully fleshed out personality, which keeps the movie going, yet unpredictable. And the humor, as dark as it may be, is transcendent and exquisite. 

It has an almost Shakespearian plot structure. The main character is thrust through the worst day of his life, which destroys almost all of his moral fibers, causes him to betray one of his best friends, and dance to the tune of two wealthy individuals who merely seek entertainment at the expense of others. There's not a single moment where you should know what is going to happen next, there are twists at every turn, and when we reach the conclusion it is so rich and rewarding. But what separates this from the boredom of Shakespeare is how viscerally real absolutely everything feels. 

Pat Healy is absolutely brilliant in his role of Craig. I would almost go as far to compare him to Bryan Cranston. He takes this character from a place of somewhat depression to the darkest places imaginable. He exhibits a wide array of character development with a 90 minute span, and underplays his characters darker nature to create a protagonist we surely root for, but at the end, question why we did. 

Ethan Embry is equally magnificent as Vince. On the surface, his character is not as well to do as Craig. However, as time goes on, we see the poetic nature of his reasoning. His character is a good man at the center, but the rough exterior that Embry establishes is a natural shell for someone of his type. 

I have always enjoyed the work of David Koechner. But this is easily his finest performance to date. His role as the sociopathic rich man who funds the entire adventure is an essential component to the film. He so richly tones down his normal personality to someone who is quietly calculating his next moves for his acquired puppets. He's almost maniacal, but it's understated masterfully. 

Sara Paxton is the quietest of the cast, but also one of the most dangerous. Behind her cell phone poised exterior, lies the brain of a mastermind. It's clear that her Violet is pulling as many of the strings as Koechner's Colin. But she is very dangerous because is she is not nearly as open as he is. It's an excellent femme fatale. 

Cheap Thrills is by far the best movie I've seen so far this year. It's hard to watch at times, but it has top notch acting and storytelling throughout. It's in theaters now, and also available on Demand or iTunes. 

A

"Divergent" Review

When we come to Divergent, we find yet another example for the book-to-film debate. Bear in mind, my argument isn't meant to advocate illiteracy in any form. I believe reading is an excellent hobby. Everyone should learn to read, and have books that they love. My personal favorites is Still Me by Christopher Reeve or Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. But getting back on track, my personal belief is that someone should not have to read the source material in order to fully understand a movie. If you want to include little nods to the book such as the S.Q.U.I.D. program in Watchmen, that's fine. But if you expect your entire audience to have read the book, you're only making half a movie. That unfortunately, is the end result of Divergent. 

In the the dystopian future, about 100 years after an apparent apocalyptic war, society has been split into five factions. Upon coming of age, teenagers are tested to see which faction their personality is best suited for, and then must chose which to join for life. Beatrice Prior finds her test results mean she is Divergent, not belonging to any of the factions. When she chooses the Dauntless faction, the leadership is determined to test her limits. Meanwhile, something is brewing within the powers that be. 

By it's very definition, the word Divergent means to be different. Ironically, the film is magnificently derivative. Comparisons to The Hunger Games are inevitable, and fully justified. The very premise is almost mirrored. A young woman living in a dystopian, divided, post war society is forced to make a decision and then fight for survival. Not only does it reek of The Hunger Games, it is derivative of Rudy, Mulan, Elysium, Avatar, even a splash of Pacific Rim, frankly so many that I lost track while watching. There's nothing completely original here. 

Setting aside the complete lack of an independent tone, the characters (sans Beatrice) are remarkably flat. They aren't fleshed out whatsoever, giving us no reason to emotionally invest in what happens. Nor is there any reason to expect satisfying payoff. No one really tries to convince us that these are more than stock characters ripped out of a personality test results sheet. 

The plot itself is also very flimsy. I don't mean in terms of lacking a coherent story, I mean that it takes its sweet time getting to any sort of next step. It's painstakingly drawn out to the point of exhaustion. The interesting aspects of the story such as the actual "Divergent" plot thread aren't revisited until towards the end of the second act, leaving very little reason to hang on. I don't know if that is how the book is played out, but as I've pointed out, I shouldn't have to. 

Shailene Woodley, as I said in my review of The Descendants about 2 years ago, has some fantastic acting chops. For the most part, she carries any remote sense of interest in the story. Almost to the level of Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss, her character of Beatrice is a strong willed, fully developed woman. She is completely immersed in the world of her character which makes her carry more weight than anyone else in the film. 

Apart from her, nearly every single other performance falls flat. Including Theo James, Kate Winslet, Maggie Q, Miles Teller, etc. They feel nearly emotionless, reading a script for money, no investment in the story. It is almost as if they signed on for the film because they wanted a franchise. 

There are however, two small exceptions. 

Jai Courtney, while also flat and nearly emotionless, fits his character beautifully. The stern ruthlessness that he exhibits upon his recruits feels natural. I'm not sure if it's good acting or good casting, but something about his character just feels right. Also Ray Stevenson, who normally plays dark, brooding "Punishers", blends his type into something different. Despite his short amount of screen time, the multi-faced complexities we see carry a remarkable amount of weight. 

To sum it up, Divergent squanders an impressive cast, and tells a story that reeks of stolen plots from other movies. I'm sure fans of the book will be appeased, as will action fans, but otherwise steer clear and wait for the Redbox. 

C

"Muppets Most Wanted" Review

I may not have grown up with the Muppets in their original form, but I like most children of the 1990s grew up watching reruns of Muppet Babies. Over time, i've come to understand most of the mythology and who the characters are. So I know what the Muppets are supposed to feel like. The Muppets in 2011 had the right tone, the right story, and an excellent balance of old and new to reintroduce the characters to a modern audience. So how does the sequel fare?

Muppets Most Wanted begins LITERALLY right where the last movie left off. Hot off their comeback show, the Muppets are approached by Dominic Badguy who offers to take them on a world tour. Little do the Muppets know, he is really the sidekick to Constantine, the world's number one criminal, most dangerous frog, and who happens to look a lot like Kermit.

One would think an adult would appreciate the Muppets merely for nostalgic purposes, but really, it's because they are timeless. They resort to the gags that we've seen time and time again, and anywhere else it would feel like lazy writing. But when the Muppets do it, it feels natural because they are a classic staple that they themselves have used so many times before. It's blending old sight gags and new complex jokes that keep adults interested both because they are funny, and because it's the Muppets. And who can hate the Muppets.

Of course the story is nothing spectacular. It's just a classic caper tale mixed with Muppet hijinks, celebrity cameos, and EXTREMELY clever songs. It has just enough of those to keep you happy. And they get away with it because once again they are the Muppets, and at their core, they are all about the classics. Plus the dialogue is so snappy and smart, it engages the mind with all the cute references. It might not be as entertaining as the first one, but as this film itself outright says, sequels normally aren't.

Where I must debit the film just a tad, is the same problem that I had with the previous film.  It mainly focuses on a handful of the Muppets, particularly Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear Sam the Eagle and newcomer Walter. It doesn't really give too much to do for the secondary Muppets. I myself am a pretty big fan of Gonzo, I would have enjoyed seeing a little bit more of him. If I had to put it in a word, it would be balance.

I myself am no good at puppetry. But through my time at SUNY New Paltz, I have met people who are. One in particular, my friend Spencer Cohen, may be the biggest Muppet fan I have ever met. He also happens to be exceptional at the craft. So in addition to giving him a shout out here, I want to say that I know that it is something difficult to master.

That is why I must give praise to the puppeteers behind the characters. When you watch Muppets Most Wanted, you never really feel like you're looking at hands operating pieces of felt, you feel like you're looking at living characters who just happen to be in a movie. The Muppets are bigger than just characters, they literally transcend the screen, thanks to the efforts of puppeteers such as Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, and so many more.

While it may not fulfill all you want, nor exceed expectations, Muppets Most Wanted is a thoroughly entertaining film with clever songs, gags, cameos, and fun for all ages.

B+

"Need for Speed" Review

There are two things that are very hard to accomplish that Need for Speed tries to do. Making a great street racing movie and making a great movie based on a Video Game. The Fast and the Furious series has a hit and miss relationship with decent filmmaking, but it pretty much has the genre cornered. As for movies based on Video Games, there hasn't really been a great one made yet, but the best ones have been Mortal Kombat and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. So with two tricky fields to conquer, how does Need for Speed fare? 

Tobey Marshall is a former street racer who is wrongly convicted for involuntary manslaughter. When he gets out of the slammer, he and his crew set out to get justice from the one who framed him by challenging him to a high profile street race. 

I wanted this movie to be good. I played the video game, I knew who most of the actors were, the trailer stunts looked impressive. Unfortunately, the end product is a paint by numbers piece with almost nothing original. The plot is fairly contrived from previous street racing films, and even major cinema pieces. I did laugh somewhat extensively at an American Graffiti reference, but otherwise there is almost nothing to the story that hasn't been seen before. 

The characters, even the ones performed well, aren't developed beyond stock tropes. They remain flat, with generic friend attributes that don't give the film any sort of emotional depth, nor is there really much payoff at the end because we don't really feel much for the characters aside from Tobey Marshall. 

There was such an inherent focus on the stunts which I do have to admit was rather impressive. The stunts are well choreographed and executed brilliantly, so for that reason, the film succeeds a little bit.  I also appreciate that the stunts were filmed practically rather than without special effects. However, the entire thing feels like a 2 hour commercial for the Shelby Mustang. 

The only other positive aspect of the film aside from the stunts is the lead performance of the brilliant Aaron Paul. While his character simply isn't as interesting as his performance of Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, he has a wider emotional range than anyone else in this film. Amongst all else, he feels like the only actor in this film who isn't phoning it in. Impressive given this film also features Michael Keaton. 

Other than the lead performance of Aaron Paul and the impressive driving stunts, this film is one to miss. 

C

"Mr. Peabody & Sherman" Review

I have a certain nostalgia for The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. When I was a young boy staying home sick from St Joseph's School, my mom rented a VHS of the show from Alice in Videoland. I thought it was absolutely hilarious seeing this show about a moose and his flying squirrel pal and all the segments including Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties, Fractured Fairly Tales, and of course Peabody's Improbable History. Before I start my review, just take a quick look at how much silly fun Rocky and Bullwinkle were.

Getting back on track, Mr Peabody & Sherman is based on the Peabody segments of the show. Mr Peabody is the world's smartest being, despite the fact that he is a dog. He obtains special permission from the courts to adopt a human boy named Sherman. Together, they have travels back in time to the important parts of history using Mr. Peabody's time travel invention: the WABAC. When Sherman tries to show-off to his classmate Penny, he causes trouble that could unravel the very fabric of time.

The film is clearly targeted toward a younger demographic, as it rightfully should. However, there is just enough substance and maturity to keep adults invested. (A particular gag involving Bill Clinton had me falling out of my seat.) The historical aspects of the film serve to educate in an entertaining matter, without going to heavy into "school mode." It has a unique visual style as to sight gags, and humor emerges from the history if you know enough about it to understand. I was also very impressed by the conflict that is created when the characters debate the logic of a dog being a father to a child. It's surprisingly deep and thought provoking, yet it may be a little much for children to pick up on.

The film does suffer some in the third act. Even with the accepting of the premise, some of the time travel logic is rather confusing. I found myself trying to put some of the pieces together, and it took me a little bit out of the experience. Eventually, I just went with it. The logic is rather sloppy, but seeing as it's a children's movie, I'll give it a Mulligan.

Out of the entire cast of Modern Family, Ty Burrell is easily my favorite and one of the stronger performers. He is wondrously goofy, yet likable in his role of Phil Dunphy. As Mr. Peabody, his recognizable voice crafts a magnificently cool and intelligent character that lights up the screen. Burrell modernizes Peabody in way that makes him interesting, and does nothing to ruin the classic character. He does Peabody great justice.

It's a good movie, but not great. It certainly honors the legacy of The Rocky and Bullwinkle show, but the film deters a little too much towards the end.

B-

Andrew Woltman's 25 Favorite Movies

I have been asked the same question at least once a month since the day I started talking about movies on KHSTV back in 2008. Six years, the same question, but I don't think I've ever given a simple answer. "Andrew, What is your favorite movie?" I have never really answered that question, because it has somewhat of a fluid answer. It really depends on the time and on my mood. At one particular moment it could be one movie, a week later it could be another. There is ONE that has been rather consistent, but there are many that I would say I come back to more often than others. In fact, there's about 25.

Now before I begin my list, I want to flat out list of my favorite movies, NOT the greatest movies ever made. There are some on here that most would stare at and scratch their head. Just because I list a movie does not mean that if I was to write a review on it, it would receive an A. It isn't a list of critically acclaimed movies, it's simply an unapologetic list of movies I love to watch more often than others. 

Aside from the first one, the list is not in any particular order. (I should also point out that Harrison Ford is in 6 of these movies). 

Raiders of the Lost Ark- I've already written a review on this one, so i'll be brief. This cinematic masterpiece is a fantastic blend of action, adventure, and historical fiction. It features my favorite performance by pretty much my favorite actor: Harrison Ford. The bold, dashing hero is so iconic and wonderful, the music is iconic, and everything about the movie is why it's the one that changed my life. 

Escape from Alcatraz- Clint Eastwood has always been renowned for his westerns and Dirty Harry films, but for me, my favorite performance of his was this 1979 prison piece. As noted prison escapee Frank Morris, he steals the show with his brooding performance that makes you hope his character does the impossible despite the fact that he is a convicted felon. Even the ending leaves you in shivers with it's ambiguity. 

Batman- I know exactly the two things you're probably thinking. 1. "I thought you hated Tim Burton?" and 2. "Why this instead of The Dark Knight?" You are right on both accounts. I have not liked any of the movies Tim Burton has made since the sequel to this film. And yes, The Dark Knight is analytically the better film. However, Burton's time with the caped crusader was a thoroughly entertaining story with a terrific performances by Michael Keaton as Batman and Jack Nicholson as the Joker. It's both funny and silly, while at the same instilling the dark, tortured tone that seemed to be missing from previous incarnations of the character. In essence, it's a classic.

American Graffiti- Before George Lucas made his first voyage in space, he made this cult classic. It boasts an impressive soundtrack, breakthrough roles for some of the actors, and a visual style that can't be denied. It was indirectly responsible for the TV show "Happy Days," boasts one of Ron Howard's more entertaining performances before his acting retirement, and it helped introduce the world to a young Harrison Ford. All in all, it's pure fun. 

Modern Times- At a time when nearly all of filmmaking had turned to talking pictures, Charlie Chaplin was still cranking out silent ones. This one is a hilariously relevant look at factory modernization following the industrial revolution, and a touching human look at the effects of the Great Depression. It features some of the funniest visual gags in history, and serves as a brilliant swan song to the little Tramp.

Space Jam- Speaking critically, this is the most questionable choice on the list. It's a very silly movie, but the Looney Tunes are silly by their very nature. It stays true to the antics established by the classic cartoons while bringing the beloved characters into the modern world. And surprisingly, Michael Jordan delivers a brilliant performance as himself. This one is truly a childhood staple. 

Caddyshack- Quite simply one of the funniest movies ever made, featuring some of the finest work by Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, Chevy Chase, and an animatronic gopher. When old and new money mix, the hilarity ensues causing a clash of the classes. The hijinks that go on through the entire movie are timeless, and never cease to elicit laughter, even after the 20th viewing. 

Wall Street- Before The Wolf of Wall Street, there was...Wall Street. A marvelous rise and fall story that showcases the pantheon of greed and excess. Michael Douglas is spectacular as one of cinema's most compelling villains. One that lives in his lair atop the New York skyline, wearing his expensive suit, and puffing his cigar. 

Toy Story- A cinematic revolution disguised as a simple children's movie. Not only did it introduce us to feature length digital animation, it captured our hearts with it's compelling protagonists, it's unforgettable ensemble characters, and it's unmovable lessons on dealing with change that also helped form my childhood. 

Insomnia- There is so much to this movie that helps it stand out to me amongst the rest of Christopher Nolan's other work (But aside, the man has never made a bad movie). It's a tense psychological thriller with stirring themes of conflicted morality and compromise. It also includes a magnificent performance by Robin Williams who creates (at least to me) one of his most memorable characters simply by being one of his most normal and his darkest. 

Apocalypse Now- Given the amount of production problems involved with this film, it's a wonder it ever got finished. Released a mere 4 years after the end of the Vietnam War, it's profoundly deep with it's questions of morality and if the end justifies the means. Marlon Brando's Colonel Kurtz is deeply rounded and magnificently poetic. And give Martin Sheen a round of applause, because not only did he deliver, the man had a damn heart attack on the set, and went back to finish filming. 

The Jolson Story- Before being put on the communist blacklist, Larry Parks lit up the screen as Al Jolson in this biographical classic from 1946. The meteoric rise of Jolson is captured from start to finish with his songs brought to life in all their glory. It is on the list for many reasons, but most of all because of how uplifting it is. 

Smokey and the Bandit- Fun for the sake of fun. That's the extent of this movie. But at it's core, it's a Southern Adventure film with that rousing spirit of rebellion and self-accomplishment that you root for in Burt Reynold's Bandit. Even Jackie Gleason's Sheriff Buford T. Justice gains your sympathy because of the actor's commitment. And to this date, I have yet to see a car (besides the Batmobile) that I have wanted more than that Black Trans Am. VROOM. 

Die Hard- Bruce Willis alone vs Alan Rickman and a team of international bandits. That alone should sell you. But what is so compelling is that John McClane could be anyone. He doesn't want to be there, but he doesn't have a choice. He is the everyman hero that we can all relate to. Best of all, it's an intelligent story (right down to Hans' master plan) especially for an action movie. 

Star Wars- It's Star Wars. Do I need to explain why? It changed everything. This magnificent Space Opera created a franchise that lasts to this day. Aside from the specifics that many sic-fi sites discuss at length, it has a brilliant story about Luke Skywalker becoming who he is meant to be, and it's a classic tale of good vs. evil. 

The Fugitive- How often does the movie remake of a TV show actually make people FORGET that there was a TV show? It's wrongly convicted innocence against the law, a classic hunter/chased story where you can root for either side. On one side, you have Dr Richard Kimble who wants nothing besides finding the one armed man who murdered his wife. On the other, you have Deputy Samuel Gerard who is merely upholding his duty despite whether he believes Kimble is innocent or not. And to be honest, I would pay to hear Tommy Lee Jones scream the phone book at me.

Superman: The Movie- Richard Donner's 1978 film featured an all star supporting cast including Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman, but the best thing to come out was the discovery of a real life Superman in the form of Christopher Reeve. The idea of fulfilling one's destiny and living to their potential is fully present in yet another uplifting picture which kickstarted the superhero genre. 

Planet of the Apes- Before the string of forgettable sequels, remake, and TV shows, (setting aside the fantastic reboot series) there was the original sci-fi classic. A dystopian future where the arrival of Charlton Heston's astronaut turns a simian society upside down with ideas that he is their missing link. It's a ripe for parody reversal of the Darwin Evolution controversies and the Scopes Monkey Trial. 

Pulp Fiction- Arguably Quentin Tarantino's best film, Pulp Fiction takes an all star cast and an intelligent story and jumbles it into an endless quotable and subversive conversation piece. The idea of non linear story-telling was not entirely new at the time, but Tarantino completely mixes up the formula into something impressively creative. Not to mention that this launched Samuel L. Jackson's career. 

Airplane!- One of the few spoof movies to NOT suck. Airplane is full of wacky gags and jokes that never grow old. It's ridiculous, but what's more ridiculous. The overall silly nature of the jokes, or the fact it took until 1980 for someone to come up with them? Surely, I would call this one of the best comedies ever made. But don't call me Shirley. 

The Gold Rush- Another memorable Chaplin classic. What the man does so well is incorporate hilarious sight gags into political commentary. This time, his trip to the Yukon is an insightful look into appearances and greed. But what more, it's yet another case where Chaplin captures our heart without saying a word. The man was full of heart, and this is another glimmering, hilarious tale. 

Back to the Future- A Science Fiction Comedy with more emphasis on the comedy. Michael J. Fox captivates as Marty McFly in this high spirited film which engages you completely. He has excellent chemistry with Christopher Lloyd, and he flawlessly nails the role of the awkward teenager. It's a wild, and memorable adventure through time. 

The Avengers- For this, I must tip my hat to collaborative effort of Joss Whedon and Kevin Feige. This movie could have gone many different ways, but luckily it was the best it could be. The sheer amount of ego in every one of the heroes threatens to overwhelm, but the geniuses at the helm of the picture strike a great balance. Every actor brings it all to the table, and the end result is magnificent. 

The Fighter- This is my go to movie when I need to get pumped up. It's all about conquering your demons. Be it a drug addiction, a lack of confidence, or a massive control problem, every single person in this movie feels real. It shows you that no problem can not be overcome with the right people by your side. Plus, this is easily my favorite Christian Bale performance. 

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back- The essential sequel that some say exceeds the original. It took the beloved characters from the original and took them to their lowest points. When it boils down to it, the story is about moving forward. Personally I believe that this contains the best romance story of all time. It widens the scope of the Star Wars universe, while at the same time telling a self-contained story. You have to love it. And the twist ending is possibly the greatest of all time.