This post is a little long, but it is my top 5 favorite movies. I will probably do longer articles on each of these in the future; this is just to give you guys an outline of my taste.
- Apocalypse Now
In the 1970’s, Francis Ford Coppola made 3 of the best movies of all time, The Godfather and its sequel, as well as Apocalypse Now. It may seem cliche to include something by Coppola, but there is a reason why so many people like his films. They’re masterpieces. Apocalypse Now is the story of an army officer in the Vietnam war who is assigned a mission to kill Colonel Kurtz, a rouge officer. It is an extremely long movie, but none of it seems tacked on. From the opening scene of Captain Willard trashing his hotel room to the almost surreal final scenes in Kurtz’s camp, the film keeps you interested. All of the characters are extremely well played, but one in particular is probably the single best performance I have seen in any movie. That honor belongs to Marlon Brando, as he plays the powerful and enigmatic Kurtz. I have no doubt all of these elements create the best film of all time.
- Blue Valentine
The director, Derek Cianfrance spent years trying to get this film made. He had quite a bit of time to think out every detail and it shows. This is actually two movies, filmed months apart. One is the beginning of a relationship, the other the end. The narrative switches back and forth between two time periods, one shot with film, the other with digital photography. This creates a nice contrast, with the past looking warm, as if to say it was a better time. The present feels cold, a shell of what it was. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams make an excellent couple, with many chances for them to improvise. It works wonderfully. This is one of the few movies that has moved me to tears, and left me feeling a little bummed out for a few days. Blue Valentine is an emotional journey well worth taking
- The Departed
Martin Scorsese is the greatest director of all time. I consider that a fact, not up for debate. His filmography spans over 40 years, with some more than a few contenders for greatest film of all time. The departed has come relatively late in his career, having come out in 2006. It is a story of betrayal and double crosses, with what I consider the best ensemble cast ever to grace the silver screen. Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Martin Sheen, and Mark Wahlberg all give the performance of a lifetime. The basic plot is Matt Damon is a mole in the Massachusetts State Police for the Irish Mob headed by an almost satanic Jack Nicholson. DiCaprio conversely plays a mole in the mob for the state police. They find out about each other and from there it’s a game of cat and mouse to see who gets caught first. The ending is completely unexpected and expertly handled, making The Departed the pinnacle of Scorsese’s long career. This is of course assuming he doesn’t pull of something even more amazing.
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This is an odd film to say the least. It is loosely based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Brad Pitt (as well as a number of other actors) stars as the titular character. Button was born old, and gets younger as time goes on. This is framed through a diary he wrote and is being read by a woman to her dying mother as Hurricane Katrina makes land fall in New Orleans. A lot about life and how we all live it is said here. All said is very wise and well written. The makeup is amazingly done, as well as the special effects (It won an Oscar for them). The direction by David Fincher is top notch. He is one of the best working in Hollywood right now. This is another depressing movie. I don’t consider that a bad thing, sadness is one of the most powerful emotions a man can experience. It works well here, creating a very memorable movie that I doubt I will ever forget.
- The Tree of Life
Looking at this list so far, it’s all sad dramas. I guess I’m into that sort of thing. I may as well put something happy in here. This is a different kind of movie. It’s filled with mostly metaphors for its themes. This is par for the course for its director, Terence Malick. In the best way I can explain it, it’s about nature, grace, and forgiveness, put in the context of a men remembering his childhood in the 1950’s. A bit different, right? Especially the short scene midway through the film involving dinosaurs. It works, trust me. The special effects were done using traditional methods, similar to what was done for 2001: A Space Odyssey. This also has the most beautiful cinematography I have ever seen. You could take any still from the film and hang it on a wall. Your friends would be impressed. Watching this left me feeling happy, as well as hopeful for the future. It’s not for everyone considering its nontraditional narrative, but if you are looking for something different, you should check this out.
Film and Other Things 