Monday, June 21, 2010

The Dirty Dozen - 12 Movies I will watch again and again

Here is the link to this fun blogfest - at Alex Cavanaugh's site. Check out some of the many blogs that have joined in - be surprised at what you might encounter. I know I was...

12. Finding Nemo - this is my drug of choice when sad or blue. I love everything about it - the plucky little Nemo, his neurotic father, the Sharks in a twelve-step program, the gulls chanting 'mine, mine' over and over AND the most lovely turtle surfing dudes. Bliss.


11. Amelie - crazy wonderful stylistic, dreamy tale of a woman's slow wake-up. I love everything about this movie - the quirky style, the fairy-tale structure and the message of love.


10. Women in Love - this delicious telling of one of D.H.Lawrence's most beloved stories is exciting, scary, sexy and beautifully shot.


9. Five Easy Pieces - early Nicholson - truly elegaic, masterfully told, both funny and tragic - I love this movie!! I could watch it a thousand times.


8. Gosford Park - all of Robert Altman movies are my favourite but in that this one combines not only his brilliance but his take on the English manor mystery - well how good is that.


7. Breakfast at Tiffany's - Audrey Hepburn, crazy girl on a sad mission, a writer in a walk-up flat as the narrator, weird early 60's style party, oh what a movie.


6. Small Change - an early François Truffaut film is a brilliant depiction of the secret lives of children. This is cheating but while my memory serves me I'm going to tie this with 'The War of the Buttons' with a similar theme.














5. Cinema Paridisio - so good it should be illegal! This is a movie for movie lovers about loving movies...enuff said.


4. And while we're on a foreign movie run - any movie by Lina Wertmüller- especially Seven Beauties with the delicious crazy Italian Chaplin -  Giancarlo Giannini. yum!




3. And speaking of Chaplin - all of them but especially The Gold Rush! When people in my life suffer a bereavement I do not bring them a baked ham. I bring them Chaplin movies. They really soothe broken hearts.

2. Madame X - never seen it ? well, you oughta. It's a classic, my dears, about a love going terribly askew, a secret, and redemption. It stars Lana Turner and John Forsythe. gosh I love it.

and drum roll for numero uno

1. The English Patient - because I just love it OK? Every bit - the sweeping romance, the scenery, the acting, the writing mostly the writing...love it.



15 comments:

Mason Canyon said...

An interesting list. I so enjoy Gosford Park too.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Some older selections! Nemo is always a good pick, too.
Thanks for participating!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Very interesting selection, I know of a few but being British there are some I don't know.
Pleasure to read your favourites.
Yvonne.

Anonymous said...

Lovely list of classics! :D

Hart Johnson said...

I need to see more movies. I've seen the first and last, but none from the middle. I blame having a mother who watched things like 'The Blob' with me instead of turning on a proper Sunday afternoon movie... I am definitely putting some of these on my list.

Cruella Collett said...

YAY for The English Patient! I like the writing (of the movie) too, but ironically I prefer the movie to the book. Though I should re-read it, since I may have been too young for it when I first read it (I remember blushing because the word "penis" was on the first page...). But I also seem to remember that I didn't like Hana as much in the book as I do in the movie.

You gave me some great tips for new (old) movies to watch too! (And may I just say I LOVE the new look of the blog!)

Jan Morrison said...

Mason - oh I'm mad for Gosford Park - it is one of the few movies that I own because I never get tired of it.

Alex - thanks for dropping by and thanks for a fun event. I'm going in and adding your link (not so good with that stuff but I'll try!)

Yvone - ha ha! I went to your site and all 12 are American! And all great movies. I should've added the Carry On movies and of course I do love Monty Python too...

Diamond - thanks for dropping by...

Tartlett - I just KNOW you'll love Madame X. It is so bizarre.

Cruella - I really liked both but I adore adore adore Michael Ondaatje so of course...

Gregg Metcalf said...

I haven't seen Nemo yet. Haven't actually seen any on this list except the English Patient. My wife "forced" me to watch this with her one day, and wouldn't you know, I liked it.

CA Heaven said...

Yeah, one of your movies was on my list too; Cinema Paradiso ... first I've seen >:)

Cold As Heaven

Jan Morrison said...

hey Gregg - how about that! I never thought of The English Patient as a chick flick. Ondaatje is such a guy's guy, after all.
CaH - I'm going over to check your list. I love that movie... how about The Saddest Music in The World?

Natasha said...

Nemo is a classic. Would have made the list, but Madagascar is the current drug of choice, so it won out.
Stayed away from The English Patient, because I am always apprehensive about watching movies based on books I love, but this now comes heavily recommended.

Jessica Bell said...

Amelie, was such a beautiful film, wasn't it? Glad someone chose it! You know another film which I haven't seen on anyone's list, which I had contemplated? Chocolat. Gorgeous film too. :o)

Tabitha Bird said...

Mmm.. some wonderful movies on your list. Funny though, I could not STAND The English Patient. Goes to show how very personal both movies and writing is hey.

Stacy Post said...

Jan! SO many movies I love here. Amelie, Cinema Paradiso, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and The English Patient. Great selections!

I'll have to check out the ones I don't know. But one kiddie movie you may enjoy is Up. Loved it!

Jan Morrison said...

oh I do love how personally people take their films. Sometimes my best friend of 35 years (!) and I cannot discuss a movie for the tempers that ensue! I wasn't worried about the Eng. Patient's translation to film because Michael O worked on it and because I love that dear director (he did Truly, Madly, Deeply and taught a few friends of mine) so...
Another movie I might have put is The Quiet American - it is my favorite book so I was quite nervous to see it but it was perfect.
I love and own a copy of UP! I love kids movies - watched Over the Hedge with my grandkids today. Shrek is another favourite...