Hello world.
Whew! What a crazy few weeks it's been. First, my computer went nutzo on me, then I spent WAY too much money trying to deal with the Geek Squad to get it fixed (I'll get to that insane issue). In the midst of all that, I started working on a 10-day gig for a series of Suzuki-Canada commercials, immediately followed up by a 2-day gig with the Oakland A's (and yes, I got an autographed ball to prove it). And in the midst of all THAT, my wife discovered that she's pregnant and we're going to have a baby soon! And now, sitting at home in front of my computer, I am completely wiped out. After all of that, I feel like I've just taken a beating for a week straight, then kicked while I'm down for another week straight.
The crazy thing is, the work wasn't really that hard. Yes, as a PA (still at the bottom rung), I end up doing a lot of physical labor, but it's not that. Part of it could be that when on a set, I do hang out by the craft service table too much (craft service is what they call the table where they put all the munchies, snacks, and drinks, as opposed to catering which is purely just our meals, which aren't exactly skimpy either). It's way too easy to overeat on a set. Must stamp the mantra on my forehead: STAY AWAY FROM CRAFTY'S TABLE! :)
But the reason I'm tired is just that I worked a lot of long days, drove a lot, humped a lot of gear, and didn't sleep much. And I'm stressing about a gajillion other things in life (not to mention the baby, though I have to admit that it doesn't really stress me out at all -- BIG change from a few years ago).
So I apologize, I've been too wiped out since I got my computer back to get on my blog and post anything. I have had a few moments here and there when on other computers to check some of yours out, but haven't replied much -- a lot of time constraints, plus silly issues like hotel computers that don't let pop-up windows appear, etc.
Anyway, I'm back, and so far, February looks like an open month for me so I'll be catching up on everything in my life -- emails, work calls, my short film, my blog, responding on yours, etc.
And before I go: Geek Squad nightmares.
For any of you who have computer problems, I hope I can influence you with your choice of repair houses by saying AVOID THE GEEK SQUAD AT ALL COSTS. Yes, their logos, cars, mottos, and marketing are cute. And yes, they do know quite a bit, but they aren't run well and just don't seem to care about actually fixing my computer. Or anyone's for that matter. Nor did they pay attention when I initially told them what was wrong. After calling back several times, they hadn't even looked at the problem for which I initially came in for. And then I had a mysterious problem of my power supply going bad while they were working on it -- which they said I had to pay for or they wouldn't give me back my computer (well they would but with a bad power supply). I can understand that my power supply might have been going bad, but how do I know some new employee didn't blow my power supply when working on my system? Anyway, my computer still has problems and I still have to deal with the supervisors over there to try getting some of my money back. What a frickin' nightmare.
Anyway, I have seen some movies lately and will have to get to them in upcoming posts. Today was a catch-up day but I ended up getting a voiceover gig this afternoon so that's cut my day up a bit.
Talk to y'alls soon!
The Movie Monkey (and soon to be father of a little monkey) ;)
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19.1.06
Computer Problems and Movie Question of the Day #3
Greetings and salutations, fellow movie lovers.
Well, my computer is down and in for repairs. I'm over at a friend's checking my emails, etc. I don't want to take up too much time complaining about it. Instead, I want to get right into my Movie Question of the Day.
Here's today's question:
Of all of Tom Hanks' films, what is your favorite one? And what character of his do you like the most? (Okay, so that's 2 questions -- I stick with my Monty Python Spanish Inquisition excuse.) (And here's a third -- What's your least favorite Tom Hanks movie?)
My favorite movie of his is: Joe Versus the Volcano
My favorite role of his is: Tough one... I'm kinda split with Woody from the Toy Story movies and the Professor from The Ladykillers.
My least favorite movie of his: You've Got Mail
Until my computer's working again!
The Movie Monkey
Well, my computer is down and in for repairs. I'm over at a friend's checking my emails, etc. I don't want to take up too much time complaining about it. Instead, I want to get right into my Movie Question of the Day.
Here's today's question:
Of all of Tom Hanks' films, what is your favorite one? And what character of his do you like the most? (Okay, so that's 2 questions -- I stick with my Monty Python Spanish Inquisition excuse.) (And here's a third -- What's your least favorite Tom Hanks movie?)
My favorite movie of his is: Joe Versus the Volcano
My favorite role of his is: Tough one... I'm kinda split with Woody from the Toy Story movies and the Professor from The Ladykillers.
My least favorite movie of his: You've Got Mail
Until my computer's working again!
The Movie Monkey
16.1.06
Sore and sick movie thoughts
Well, this weekend, my wife and I decided we really needed to get out and do yardwork (thanks for the tip, Kodijack). Our yard looks great finally -- we trimmed all of the trees and shrubs in both the front and backyard (except our Eucalyptus which is just too tall for us to really do much with) and then pulled out the yard vac and sucked up all the leaves and junk that's been collecting under the bushes probably since we moved in. It was a gorgeous day and perfect for yardwork. Unfortunately, I was already feeling a bit under the weather and now, after inhaling dust, pollen, and other airborne particles, I am having major congestion and feel like doodoo. Plus, my body is sore all over (it didn't help that we went back to the gym after a long time of avoidance the day before). So today, I'm taking the day off and will be going back to bed for the rest of the day. Sinus pressure is no fun, but at least it's more bearable in bed.
But before I do, it's been a while since I discussed any movies here, and being The Movie Monkey, I figured I should discuss some movies I saw this weekend.
First, Hostel. Now a lot of people probably want to avoid this movie considering its subject and genre (torture/murder and horror, respectively). I actually liked it, but I like those dark, evil horror movies. Eli Roth, the writer/director/co-producer, said he really wanted to go for a film in the style of recent Asian horror films which really don't hold back. And Eli didn't; this is a brutal film and not for everyone. Still, if you're into blood and guts and evil people, you should check this out.
Second, The Squid and the Whale. I loved it. My wife and friend hated it. My thinking is this: I come from divorced parents, they both come from parents who are still together. Considering the subject of divorce and kids dealing with it, I related (though never had problems quite like they did). I thought the movie had a lot of truths and was very funny. They both were expecting more comedy (it's billed as such) but didn't get it -- it's a subtle humor and one that perhaps kids from divorced families would appreciate more. Anyway, I liked it and felt it might even end up in my top 10 of 2005.
Third, The Matador. Absolutely loved it. I thought Pierce Brosnan was a great James Bond who was never given a great James Bond film to star in (my apologies to those of you who like his films). I also was afraid that after starring as James Bond that Brosnan would get stuck playing similar sorts of roles. Well, The Matador was the perfect film for him to break the stereotype. By far, this is his best performance, and it's a completely opposite James Bond type of assassin character. The chemistry between Brosnan and Greg Kinnear is perfect, and the character relationships are spot-on. Hope Davis brings a lot to the story as Kinnear's wife. Definitely check this one out, particularly if you're a James Bond fan or a Pierce Brosnan fan.
That's it for now. I want to go lay down. Enjoy the movies!
TMM
But before I do, it's been a while since I discussed any movies here, and being The Movie Monkey, I figured I should discuss some movies I saw this weekend.
First, Hostel. Now a lot of people probably want to avoid this movie considering its subject and genre (torture/murder and horror, respectively). I actually liked it, but I like those dark, evil horror movies. Eli Roth, the writer/director/co-producer, said he really wanted to go for a film in the style of recent Asian horror films which really don't hold back. And Eli didn't; this is a brutal film and not for everyone. Still, if you're into blood and guts and evil people, you should check this out.
Second, The Squid and the Whale. I loved it. My wife and friend hated it. My thinking is this: I come from divorced parents, they both come from parents who are still together. Considering the subject of divorce and kids dealing with it, I related (though never had problems quite like they did). I thought the movie had a lot of truths and was very funny. They both were expecting more comedy (it's billed as such) but didn't get it -- it's a subtle humor and one that perhaps kids from divorced families would appreciate more. Anyway, I liked it and felt it might even end up in my top 10 of 2005.
Third, The Matador. Absolutely loved it. I thought Pierce Brosnan was a great James Bond who was never given a great James Bond film to star in (my apologies to those of you who like his films). I also was afraid that after starring as James Bond that Brosnan would get stuck playing similar sorts of roles. Well, The Matador was the perfect film for him to break the stereotype. By far, this is his best performance, and it's a completely opposite James Bond type of assassin character. The chemistry between Brosnan and Greg Kinnear is perfect, and the character relationships are spot-on. Hope Davis brings a lot to the story as Kinnear's wife. Definitely check this one out, particularly if you're a James Bond fan or a Pierce Brosnan fan.
That's it for now. I want to go lay down. Enjoy the movies!
TMM
12.1.06
Thursday Thirteen #2
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1. Sunrises and sunsets -- and Arizona has some of the best! 2. Icicles 3. Seahorses 4. The magical way I met my wife, Paisley 5. Spiderwebs & Spiders 6. The vast amount of space in our galaxy and universe, and the amazing planets, nebulas, etc. that share it with us 7. The Sistine Chapel 8. The things Walt Disney created and accomplished in his lifetime 9. Whales 10. That airplanes -- huge objects that weigh a lot -- can actually fly 11. Google Earth (I'm a geek, what can I say? I love maps) 12. There's a moment from my childhood. A friend and I were walking from his place to mine. To get there, we had to hike over a hill. When cresting the hill, he and I walked into a clearing in which two enormous deer stood. We all froze. I stared at these hulking objects, convinced they were statues because they were so absolutely still. My friend and I stepped forward toward the deer -- they did not move. We stepped closer and, with hands outstretched, reached for their fur. They sprung to life and darted away through the trees. I watched them disappear and smiled in awe, convinced it was a dream but knowing it was real. It's always stuck with me. 13. I marvel at our species' storytelling -- that we have stepped so far out of the realm of other animals into a world in which we create such magical things such as stories. The idea of passing on a tale that means something to somebody shows that we have an innate need to entertain and to instill feelings in others. And it's not just the storytellers, but the actors, the directors -- everyone! That's it this week, folks. See you next time. TMM Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Snickerdoodles |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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10.1.06
Strange Step Back
Today, I started working on a shoot for a series of Sonic commercials. The agency that produces the TV spots for Sonic comes here about 6 times a year to do these spots (you may have seen them -- it looks like hidden cameras in a car watching a couple of guys as they order/eat Sonic food). Anyway, a lot of the people I know in town here work on these spots. Well, today I finally had an opportunity to come on board. Of course my role on the shoot is a PA, or Production Assistant. So you all know, this is about the lowest position you can get on a shoot. Truthfully, I do a lot of PA work here in town -- it pays the bills and, since I have this desire to make movies or TV shows and nothing else (no wedding videos, corporate videos, commercials, etc.), I have never really pushed myself to work higher in this area. Unfortunately, in Phoenix, that's about all there is. So I am a perpetual PA. Normally, I just roll my eyes and say, "Whatever," knowing that it's money and I'm spending most of my free time trying to make bigger things, like feature films. But coming down after this past weekend when I was back in the director's chair making a creative and fun project, then stepping into this, I just felt like screaming. It was so strange, like I had really stepped forward only to step backward again. It's making me realize that if I want to be a director, I need to direct. Even if it's wedding videos, corporate videos, and commercials right now. But to keep stepping back just paints my coworkers' eyes with a sense that I'm not really going to get where I want. I need to make a commitment and start taking steps forward.
Of course I'll be on this Sonic gig for 3 more days, then a Suzuki gig later in the month. I'll have to keep PAing and taking some other work while I start getting my plan of attack together. How exactly am I going to go about stepping into the director's chair permanently? That is the question...
Anyway, I'm off to bed. Feeling a bit under the weather after the incredibly long days of my shoot.
The Movie Monkey
Of course I'll be on this Sonic gig for 3 more days, then a Suzuki gig later in the month. I'll have to keep PAing and taking some other work while I start getting my plan of attack together. How exactly am I going to go about stepping into the director's chair permanently? That is the question...
Anyway, I'm off to bed. Feeling a bit under the weather after the incredibly long days of my shoot.
The Movie Monkey
Horny French Guy
My French friend sent me this link. It's completely crazy. Check it out! It'll make you laugh and marvel at the crazy things that people do. I think it's that innate bug we all have to feel different from others. Which is a good thing.
The Link to The Horny French Guy (and it's not what you're thinking)
TMM
The Link to The Horny French Guy (and it's not what you're thinking)
TMM
9.1.06
Movie Question of the Day #2
If you were the one picking the Oscars, what 5 films would you nominate for Best Picture of 2005?
My answer:
Batman Begins
The Constant Gardener
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Serenity
The Upside of Anger
Runners Up:
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Constantine
Sin City
Syriana
Walk the Line
Of course, I haven't seen all the films that everyone's talking about, so this is just of what I've seen.
How about you?
My answer:
Batman Begins
The Constant Gardener
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Serenity
The Upside of Anger
Runners Up:
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Constantine
Sin City
Syriana
Walk the Line
Of course, I haven't seen all the films that everyone's talking about, so this is just of what I've seen.
How about you?
Movie Question of the Day #1
What is one of your favorite movie quotes?
One of mine: "Son, you've got a panty on your head." -- Raising Arizona
T h e M o v i e M o n k e y
One of mine: "Son, you've got a panty on your head." -- Raising Arizona
T h e M o v i e M o n k e y
8.1.06
Late Night Post Film Shoot Musings
Wow.
So I finished shooting my short film, Romey & Jules. I am now completely exhausted yet cannot sleep. So those of you reading this know, the film is a 10-minute tale of the forbidden love between a clown and a mime. Here's a rundown of some thoughts/memories/musings from the shoot.
1. The shoot was scheduled from 4pm to 5am each night. Generally, film shoots run 12 hour days with a 1/2 hour lunch. We went from 4pm to 8am the first night and 4pm to 9:30am the 2nd. Luckily, no one was getting paid on this or we would have been forking out a LOT of overtime.
2. The first shot for day one was planned for 6pm. We didn't get it off until close to 6:30. In other words, we were behind schedule right from the start.
3. A lot of shoots begin this way as you have to find your groove.
4. One reason we had such long days was that we scheduled the shoot for 2 nights when the script was only 5 pages long. Between the time we scheduled it and when we shot, the script was filled and became 10 pages. We didn't have the dough to rent our location for an extra night, nor did we feel we'd be able to get our crew to work any other night than a weekend evening. So we crammed a lot into each day.
5. Doing a shoot with unpaid crew is difficult because people have priorities in their lives other than the film and may or may not be able to be around the whole time. If they're getting paid, they'll stick around.
6. We had mostly dialogue scenes the first night, which is good and bad -- quicker and easier to shoot, but more time consuming to work with the actors as it's important to really find the performances.
7. Our camera's wide angle lens was broken so I had to fork out extra dough to rent another one for the weekend. Was it worth it? Worth every penny.
8. Our prop master painted a crushed black velvet painting of a rodeo clown for the back wall. It's awesome and he gave it to me after the shoot. I'm going to hang it in my office.
9. The 2nd night, we had a lot of stunts and crazy, creative shots. It took a lot of time to set them up, but it was worth it. Possibly the most fun was the shot from within the toilet looking up at our clown's face as he tries to drown himself. It was so fun.
10. Casting is so important in a film. We cast 4 people who really embodied their roles. I couldn't have been happier.
11. I need to prepare better with my breakdowns -- what shots I want, etc. Then I need to meet further in advance with the director of photography and 1st AD to walk through everything so we can better put together our schedule. As it was, it was very creative and fun but we could've saved some time if I had things together a bit more.
12. It's not that I knew this and didn't do it -- I felt I had been very prepared for the shoot. It became clear after day one that I needed to put together better shot lists. So I did that before day two. On day two, it became very clear that I needed to talk through every shot ahead of time w/my crew so we can best determine the order of shooting.
13. The reason for this is when making a film, you have to get a lot of angles of any given scene. You don't shoot it all in order because you'd have to keep moving equipment (lights, camera, etc.) back and forth and out of backgrounds. So you try to shoot everything you can in one direction before reversing and getting the other. I had some of this but needed to be a bit more prepared.
14. There is a place that directors need to find with their actors when on a set. Not a physical place, but a mental place. It's not related to the film. It's just a place to be and enjoy each other to find a connection and common ground so you always feel comfortable and ready to work when it's time. I am still developing this habit -- I tend to focus too much on the technical side of things and let the acting slip through. I really tried working on it on this shoot but know I have a ways to go still.
15. Our location was a seedy motel in the heart of Phoenix. And boy was it seedy. We had some great stories and run-ins with tenants and lodgers throughout the weekend. Not only that, but things we kept finding in the rooms (other than lumpy pillows, stained towels and bed sheets) proved to us that when the script called for a seedy motel, we didn't realize what would actually mean when shooting in a real one. Zoinks!
16. Through it all, I met a lot of new people who I'd love to have work with me on future projects -- both actors and crew.
That's it for now. When I get all the pictures dumped into the computer and collected from cast and crew, I'll put a few up here. I'll also put notices up as to where and when it may be screening at a theatre near you.
As I have more processing time and as I get into the post-production period (editing, scoring, remixing), I'm sure I'll post more up here.
And now, I'm off to bed. Hopefully. I already tried it at 10pm with no luck. We'll see if 12:30am will work.
The Movie Monkey
So I finished shooting my short film, Romey & Jules. I am now completely exhausted yet cannot sleep. So those of you reading this know, the film is a 10-minute tale of the forbidden love between a clown and a mime. Here's a rundown of some thoughts/memories/musings from the shoot.
1. The shoot was scheduled from 4pm to 5am each night. Generally, film shoots run 12 hour days with a 1/2 hour lunch. We went from 4pm to 8am the first night and 4pm to 9:30am the 2nd. Luckily, no one was getting paid on this or we would have been forking out a LOT of overtime.
2. The first shot for day one was planned for 6pm. We didn't get it off until close to 6:30. In other words, we were behind schedule right from the start.
3. A lot of shoots begin this way as you have to find your groove.
4. One reason we had such long days was that we scheduled the shoot for 2 nights when the script was only 5 pages long. Between the time we scheduled it and when we shot, the script was filled and became 10 pages. We didn't have the dough to rent our location for an extra night, nor did we feel we'd be able to get our crew to work any other night than a weekend evening. So we crammed a lot into each day.
5. Doing a shoot with unpaid crew is difficult because people have priorities in their lives other than the film and may or may not be able to be around the whole time. If they're getting paid, they'll stick around.
6. We had mostly dialogue scenes the first night, which is good and bad -- quicker and easier to shoot, but more time consuming to work with the actors as it's important to really find the performances.
7. Our camera's wide angle lens was broken so I had to fork out extra dough to rent another one for the weekend. Was it worth it? Worth every penny.
8. Our prop master painted a crushed black velvet painting of a rodeo clown for the back wall. It's awesome and he gave it to me after the shoot. I'm going to hang it in my office.
9. The 2nd night, we had a lot of stunts and crazy, creative shots. It took a lot of time to set them up, but it was worth it. Possibly the most fun was the shot from within the toilet looking up at our clown's face as he tries to drown himself. It was so fun.
10. Casting is so important in a film. We cast 4 people who really embodied their roles. I couldn't have been happier.
11. I need to prepare better with my breakdowns -- what shots I want, etc. Then I need to meet further in advance with the director of photography and 1st AD to walk through everything so we can better put together our schedule. As it was, it was very creative and fun but we could've saved some time if I had things together a bit more.
12. It's not that I knew this and didn't do it -- I felt I had been very prepared for the shoot. It became clear after day one that I needed to put together better shot lists. So I did that before day two. On day two, it became very clear that I needed to talk through every shot ahead of time w/my crew so we can best determine the order of shooting.
13. The reason for this is when making a film, you have to get a lot of angles of any given scene. You don't shoot it all in order because you'd have to keep moving equipment (lights, camera, etc.) back and forth and out of backgrounds. So you try to shoot everything you can in one direction before reversing and getting the other. I had some of this but needed to be a bit more prepared.
14. There is a place that directors need to find with their actors when on a set. Not a physical place, but a mental place. It's not related to the film. It's just a place to be and enjoy each other to find a connection and common ground so you always feel comfortable and ready to work when it's time. I am still developing this habit -- I tend to focus too much on the technical side of things and let the acting slip through. I really tried working on it on this shoot but know I have a ways to go still.
15. Our location was a seedy motel in the heart of Phoenix. And boy was it seedy. We had some great stories and run-ins with tenants and lodgers throughout the weekend. Not only that, but things we kept finding in the rooms (other than lumpy pillows, stained towels and bed sheets) proved to us that when the script called for a seedy motel, we didn't realize what would actually mean when shooting in a real one. Zoinks!
16. Through it all, I met a lot of new people who I'd love to have work with me on future projects -- both actors and crew.
That's it for now. When I get all the pictures dumped into the computer and collected from cast and crew, I'll put a few up here. I'll also put notices up as to where and when it may be screening at a theatre near you.
As I have more processing time and as I get into the post-production period (editing, scoring, remixing), I'm sure I'll post more up here.
And now, I'm off to bed. Hopefully. I already tried it at 10pm with no luck. We'll see if 12:30am will work.
The Movie Monkey
6.1.06
It's here!!! THE LIST
With a film shoot tomorrow, you'd think I'd be getting a good night's sleep. But the truth of the matter is our call time is 4pm and we'll be shooting until around 6am. Because of this, I've been staying up later and later each night this week, getting myself more physically ready for the long nights. And I've been stressing out about work on this film all week, so it's been good to take my mind off of it for a few hours and just blog.
So what this has done is provided me with a late-night opportunity to catch up on Coverville back episodes and put my LIST together (see this post to know what I'm talking about). (I really need to learn html code so I know how to put links in my blog. One of these days, after I take down my Christmas decorations and sell my junk on ebay and finish my movie and....)
As I mentioned in my previous post, lists like this are constantly evolving. There are some recent films on here that, in a year or two, may be nowhere to be seen. And there are movies that have been in my Top 10 that have disappeared simply because I'm not in the mood for them at 2:38am this morning. So without further ado, here it is, with some notes and thoughts thrown in for your enjoyment. The top 50 are in numerical order, the last 50 in alphabetical order.
Last 50:
About a Boy
Airplane!
Amelie
Amores Perros
Being John Malkovich
Bringing Up Baby
Citizen Kane
Clue
Detour
Die Hard
Election
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eve's Bayou
Fargo
Fight Club
Finding Nemo
A Fish Called Wanda
The Fly (1986)
The General (1926)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
GoodFellas
Harold and Maude
High Noon
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Ikiru
In America
The Incredibles
It's A Wonderful Life
Lawrence of Arabia
Memento
Million Dollar Baby
The Mission
Moulin Rouge!
Once Upon a Time in the West
Out of the Past
The Princess Bride
Psycho
Pulp Fiction
Rashomon
Requiem for a Dream
RoboCop
Rosemary's Baby
Rushmore
Seconds
Serenity
The Shining
The Silence of the Lambs
Stand By Me
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Unforgiven
50. Back to the Future -- I've loved this since I first saw it in 1985. Robert Zemeckis really knows how to construct a tight film.
49. Jerry Maguire -- despite the constant spoofing of the line, "You had me at 'hello,'" it's still a brilliant film that I can't turn off.
48. Blade Runner -- Incredible vision of the future
47. L.A. Confidential -- not only a great film, but a great book
46. To Kill a Mockingbird -- Gregory Peck at his finest
45. The Third Man -- I'm always blown away by the gorgeous lighting in the sewer climax.
44. Toy Story -- So many unbelievable memories of watching this in 1995 when I was working at Walt Disney World. Such a perfect place to view this movie countless times.
43. Planet of the Apes (1968) -- One of my theatrical highlights: watching a horribly scratched print of this in 1998, introduced by Charlton Heston in person as one of the highlights of his career. (Not that I'm a fan of Heston, but it was just a really cool experience.)
42. The Exorcist -- so damn creepy, and Ellen Burstyn is always one of my faves
41. Moonstruck -- John Patrick Shanley's writing at its finest
40. Poltergeist -- I'll never get over that damn clown!
39. The Big Lebowski -- "Hey, watch it, man! There's a beverage here!"
38. Jaws -- I still jump when Roy Scheider is chumming and the shark pops up.
37. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir -- I've been so hooked on this lately, which I never thought would happen. It's sappy and sweet and I love it!
36. Joe Versus the Volcano -- John Patrick Shanley created such a great film here and so few seem to like it. I love it, and Tom Hanks, being my favorite actor ever, makes it all the better.
35. Traffic -- First viewing, I thought it was great but didn't think I'd watch it again. Then I bought it on an impulse, and watched it 3 times in 1 weekend. Couldn't get enough, and still can't. Steven Soderbergh's best film, IMHO.
34. The Manchurian Candidate (1962) -- I never thought I'd be able to hate Mrs. Potts so much.
33. Touch of Evil -- Citizen Kane is widely regarded one of the greatest films of all times and I love it, but to me, this is Orson Welles' masterpiece.
32. The Maltese Falcon -- If only I could write dialogue like this.
31. The Lord of the Rings trilogy -- If only I had 12 or 13 free hours more often to watch it all in one go. Peter Jackson really blew me away with what he did here. I never thought I'd get so emotionally attached to a fantasy epic -- I can't contain myself when I watch it.
30. Alien -- If only I could create an amalgam of the original with the director's cut. I'm not a fan some of the added material, but some of it is brilliant.
29. Shaun of the Dead -- One of the funniest romantic comedy zombie movies ever.
28. se7en -- Should be higher on my list but I'm getting tired. David Fincher, Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Andrew Kevin Walker, Howard Shore and Darius Khondji all in top form.
27. 12 Monkeys -- the first of my slew of Terry Gilliam films on my list, and should probably be higher as well. Higher being closer to #1.
26. Being There -- Peter Sellers is unbelievable in this film. A quiet film but gets me every time.
25. The Spy Who Came In From the Cold -- absolutely brilliant cold war thriller based on John Le Carre's novel.
24. The 'Burbs -- Makes me laugh every damn time. And Jerry Goldsmith's score is possibly one of his best.
23. The Empire Strikes Back (or Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, if you prefer to go the long title route) -- the best of the Star Wars films still.
22. The Money Pit -- Possibly the movie with more laugh-out-loud moments for me than any other. Watching Tom Hanks laugh hysterically after the bathtub falls through the floor is my favorite movie comedy moment EVER.
21. Planes, Trains & Automobiles -- Steve Martin and John Candy are perfect in this film.
20. Three Amigos -- my guilty pleasure movie. My little buttercup.
19. Network -- One of those movies that I think of from time to time and it makes me want to scream at the world that I'm not going to take it anymore.
18. The Philadelphia Story -- Katharine Hepburn at her finest.
17. Monty Python and the Holy Grail -- One of the films I quote all the time and will never cease to get tired of.
16. Casablanca -- Brilliant dialogue, brilliant story, beautiful Ingrid.
15. Double Indemnity -- started my love for Film Noir.
14. North by Northwest -- My favorite Hitchcock film, and that's hard to say because there are about 7 that I think are flawless.
13. Some Like It Hot -- I never tire of watching Jack Lemmon bound around as a woman -- it seems so wrong but it so damn funny!
12. The Fisher King -- Another of Terry Gilliam's great films. Jeff Bridges, my other favorite actor of all time, in one of his best performances (it's the long hair -- he's always best when his hair is long).
11. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb -- Peter Sellers is perfect, Stanley Kubrick is perfect -- it's all perfect. The President talk w/the Russian premier is one of the funniest conversations on celluloid (and it's completely 1-sided).
The Top 10:
10. Raising Arizona -- Some of the best lines to quote ever.
9. Close Encounters of the Third Kind -- An absolutely solid film in every way.
8. Chinatown -- Roman Polanski's masterpiece. Another great Jerry Goldsmith score, by the way.
7. Charade -- I don't know what it is about this film. Perhaps that it was the first VHS tape I ever owned and I watched it countless times as a kid. Or that Peter Stone's writing is so brilliant. Or Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Or Stanley Donen who directs it brilliantly. Who knows? It's a perfect film in my book.
6. The Godfather trilogy -- I watch this with my wife about every year or two. I never get tired of it. Not even Sophia's acting (though I still cringe a bit).
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark -- Spielberg's masterpiece. Such a brilliant film. And 2 great sequels as well. As a teen, this was my favorite film of all time. It hasn't moved too far.
4. Brazil -- Terry Gilliam's masterpiece (but if you're going to watch it, please do yourself a favor and track down the director's cut on Criterion DVD -- it's the only way to watch it). I like it more every time I see it.
3. The Shawshank Redemption -- it normally would be higher, but I've been completely taken by the next two films, and they've been my favorite films of all time for a while now. Still, this is a perfect film and I could watch it anytime.
2. Wonder Boys -- Unbelievable film. Michael Douglas isn't afraid to look old and messy. Curtis Hanson really created a perfect film here, even though it's not as recognized as L.A. Confidential. That's a shame because this is so good! Brilliant writing (based on a book which I haven't read but assume it's brilliant), solid characters, and it always moves in a direction I wouldn't expect it to. I could watch this over and over and over...
1. All About Eve -- I must be transfixed with brilliant writing as of late, because this is one of the most amazingly written films ever. I sat in the Writers Guild of America's library and read the original script (anyone can go there and read scripts for free -- stop by when you're in LA next time!). I couldn't put it down. Joseph L. Mankiewicz wrote and directed this flawlessly. It wouldn't be here w/o the brilliant performances, too. Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Thelma Ritter, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill, even Marilyn Monroe's brief appearance -- they're all made for these roles (or seemingly vice versa). Watch it and tell me it's not brilliant. I dare you.
So there you have it. Feel free to watch some of these and start up a debate. And feel free to put together your own list. It's a challenge for sure, but a fun one. If you do, email me a link to it. I'd love to see what you come up with.
Well, for now, it's finally bedtime. 3:23am. I figure I'll sleep until 10 then get up and start getting myself organized for my shoot. Wish me luck! I'll drop a blog if I can midway through to fill you in on the trials and tribulations. If not, definitely on Sunday after I sleep all day.
Until then.
TMM
So what this has done is provided me with a late-night opportunity to catch up on Coverville back episodes and put my LIST together (see this post to know what I'm talking about). (I really need to learn html code so I know how to put links in my blog. One of these days, after I take down my Christmas decorations and sell my junk on ebay and finish my movie and....)
As I mentioned in my previous post, lists like this are constantly evolving. There are some recent films on here that, in a year or two, may be nowhere to be seen. And there are movies that have been in my Top 10 that have disappeared simply because I'm not in the mood for them at 2:38am this morning. So without further ado, here it is, with some notes and thoughts thrown in for your enjoyment. The top 50 are in numerical order, the last 50 in alphabetical order.
Last 50:
About a Boy
Airplane!
Amelie
Amores Perros
Being John Malkovich
Bringing Up Baby
Citizen Kane
Clue
Detour
Die Hard
Election
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eve's Bayou
Fargo
Fight Club
Finding Nemo
A Fish Called Wanda
The Fly (1986)
The General (1926)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
GoodFellas
Harold and Maude
High Noon
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Ikiru
In America
The Incredibles
It's A Wonderful Life
Lawrence of Arabia
Memento
Million Dollar Baby
The Mission
Moulin Rouge!
Once Upon a Time in the West
Out of the Past
The Princess Bride
Psycho
Pulp Fiction
Rashomon
Requiem for a Dream
RoboCop
Rosemary's Baby
Rushmore
Seconds
Serenity
The Shining
The Silence of the Lambs
Stand By Me
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Unforgiven
50. Back to the Future -- I've loved this since I first saw it in 1985. Robert Zemeckis really knows how to construct a tight film.
49. Jerry Maguire -- despite the constant spoofing of the line, "You had me at 'hello,'" it's still a brilliant film that I can't turn off.
48. Blade Runner -- Incredible vision of the future
47. L.A. Confidential -- not only a great film, but a great book
46. To Kill a Mockingbird -- Gregory Peck at his finest
45. The Third Man -- I'm always blown away by the gorgeous lighting in the sewer climax.
44. Toy Story -- So many unbelievable memories of watching this in 1995 when I was working at Walt Disney World. Such a perfect place to view this movie countless times.
43. Planet of the Apes (1968) -- One of my theatrical highlights: watching a horribly scratched print of this in 1998, introduced by Charlton Heston in person as one of the highlights of his career. (Not that I'm a fan of Heston, but it was just a really cool experience.)
42. The Exorcist -- so damn creepy, and Ellen Burstyn is always one of my faves
41. Moonstruck -- John Patrick Shanley's writing at its finest
40. Poltergeist -- I'll never get over that damn clown!
39. The Big Lebowski -- "Hey, watch it, man! There's a beverage here!"
38. Jaws -- I still jump when Roy Scheider is chumming and the shark pops up.
37. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir -- I've been so hooked on this lately, which I never thought would happen. It's sappy and sweet and I love it!
36. Joe Versus the Volcano -- John Patrick Shanley created such a great film here and so few seem to like it. I love it, and Tom Hanks, being my favorite actor ever, makes it all the better.
35. Traffic -- First viewing, I thought it was great but didn't think I'd watch it again. Then I bought it on an impulse, and watched it 3 times in 1 weekend. Couldn't get enough, and still can't. Steven Soderbergh's best film, IMHO.
34. The Manchurian Candidate (1962) -- I never thought I'd be able to hate Mrs. Potts so much.
33. Touch of Evil -- Citizen Kane is widely regarded one of the greatest films of all times and I love it, but to me, this is Orson Welles' masterpiece.
32. The Maltese Falcon -- If only I could write dialogue like this.
31. The Lord of the Rings trilogy -- If only I had 12 or 13 free hours more often to watch it all in one go. Peter Jackson really blew me away with what he did here. I never thought I'd get so emotionally attached to a fantasy epic -- I can't contain myself when I watch it.
30. Alien -- If only I could create an amalgam of the original with the director's cut. I'm not a fan some of the added material, but some of it is brilliant.
29. Shaun of the Dead -- One of the funniest romantic comedy zombie movies ever.
28. se7en -- Should be higher on my list but I'm getting tired. David Fincher, Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Andrew Kevin Walker, Howard Shore and Darius Khondji all in top form.
27. 12 Monkeys -- the first of my slew of Terry Gilliam films on my list, and should probably be higher as well. Higher being closer to #1.
26. Being There -- Peter Sellers is unbelievable in this film. A quiet film but gets me every time.
25. The Spy Who Came In From the Cold -- absolutely brilliant cold war thriller based on John Le Carre's novel.
24. The 'Burbs -- Makes me laugh every damn time. And Jerry Goldsmith's score is possibly one of his best.
23. The Empire Strikes Back (or Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, if you prefer to go the long title route) -- the best of the Star Wars films still.
22. The Money Pit -- Possibly the movie with more laugh-out-loud moments for me than any other. Watching Tom Hanks laugh hysterically after the bathtub falls through the floor is my favorite movie comedy moment EVER.
21. Planes, Trains & Automobiles -- Steve Martin and John Candy are perfect in this film.
20. Three Amigos -- my guilty pleasure movie. My little buttercup.
19. Network -- One of those movies that I think of from time to time and it makes me want to scream at the world that I'm not going to take it anymore.
18. The Philadelphia Story -- Katharine Hepburn at her finest.
17. Monty Python and the Holy Grail -- One of the films I quote all the time and will never cease to get tired of.
16. Casablanca -- Brilliant dialogue, brilliant story, beautiful Ingrid.
15. Double Indemnity -- started my love for Film Noir.
14. North by Northwest -- My favorite Hitchcock film, and that's hard to say because there are about 7 that I think are flawless.
13. Some Like It Hot -- I never tire of watching Jack Lemmon bound around as a woman -- it seems so wrong but it so damn funny!
12. The Fisher King -- Another of Terry Gilliam's great films. Jeff Bridges, my other favorite actor of all time, in one of his best performances (it's the long hair -- he's always best when his hair is long).
11. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb -- Peter Sellers is perfect, Stanley Kubrick is perfect -- it's all perfect. The President talk w/the Russian premier is one of the funniest conversations on celluloid (and it's completely 1-sided).
The Top 10:
10. Raising Arizona -- Some of the best lines to quote ever.
9. Close Encounters of the Third Kind -- An absolutely solid film in every way.
8. Chinatown -- Roman Polanski's masterpiece. Another great Jerry Goldsmith score, by the way.
7. Charade -- I don't know what it is about this film. Perhaps that it was the first VHS tape I ever owned and I watched it countless times as a kid. Or that Peter Stone's writing is so brilliant. Or Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Or Stanley Donen who directs it brilliantly. Who knows? It's a perfect film in my book.
6. The Godfather trilogy -- I watch this with my wife about every year or two. I never get tired of it. Not even Sophia's acting (though I still cringe a bit).
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark -- Spielberg's masterpiece. Such a brilliant film. And 2 great sequels as well. As a teen, this was my favorite film of all time. It hasn't moved too far.
4. Brazil -- Terry Gilliam's masterpiece (but if you're going to watch it, please do yourself a favor and track down the director's cut on Criterion DVD -- it's the only way to watch it). I like it more every time I see it.
3. The Shawshank Redemption -- it normally would be higher, but I've been completely taken by the next two films, and they've been my favorite films of all time for a while now. Still, this is a perfect film and I could watch it anytime.
2. Wonder Boys -- Unbelievable film. Michael Douglas isn't afraid to look old and messy. Curtis Hanson really created a perfect film here, even though it's not as recognized as L.A. Confidential. That's a shame because this is so good! Brilliant writing (based on a book which I haven't read but assume it's brilliant), solid characters, and it always moves in a direction I wouldn't expect it to. I could watch this over and over and over...
1. All About Eve -- I must be transfixed with brilliant writing as of late, because this is one of the most amazingly written films ever. I sat in the Writers Guild of America's library and read the original script (anyone can go there and read scripts for free -- stop by when you're in LA next time!). I couldn't put it down. Joseph L. Mankiewicz wrote and directed this flawlessly. It wouldn't be here w/o the brilliant performances, too. Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Thelma Ritter, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill, even Marilyn Monroe's brief appearance -- they're all made for these roles (or seemingly vice versa). Watch it and tell me it's not brilliant. I dare you.
So there you have it. Feel free to watch some of these and start up a debate. And feel free to put together your own list. It's a challenge for sure, but a fun one. If you do, email me a link to it. I'd love to see what you come up with.
Well, for now, it's finally bedtime. 3:23am. I figure I'll sleep until 10 then get up and start getting myself organized for my shoot. Wish me luck! I'll drop a blog if I can midway through to fill you in on the trials and tribulations. If not, definitely on Sunday after I sleep all day.
Until then.
TMM
Thursday Thirteen
I have a million things on my mind, so what better to do than relax for a few, listen to an old episode of Coverville, and play Thursday Thirteen. I apologize for the light text color. I'm on the computer all the time, but am mostly html and web design illiterate, so I have no idea how to fix that. If anyone wants to throw some tips my way, I'd be more than happy to try to figure it out. When I have time, that is. ;)
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
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2. Snickerdoodles 3. Give Me Something To Sing About |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
5.1.06
Still coming...
So I know I promised I'd get my Top 100 movies list out by 1/1/2006, but I've been swamped lately with this crazy little short film I'm working on. I have put together a list of about 150 movies that I'd consider for the top, so now I just need to whittle it down, put it in order, etc. My shoot is this weekend so after that, I'll be able to finish.
The short film is a very fun piece called "Romey and Jules" and it's a Romeo & Juliet tale told between a clown and a mime. It's tragic, funny, and has a happy ending for a change. When it's all said and done, I'll put a link up here for it so you can all watch it.
We had rehearsal last night -- our last one before the shoot. It went really well. It's only a cast of four, so it made it a bit easier. I haven't directed a narrative film in almost ten years, so I've been a little nervous. Still, after each rehearsal, I really feel like I'm in the right element and am thrilled. It's been a challenge because I've been working on other people's shoots for so long that I started doubting whether I still had the skills to helm a project of my own. But here I am doing it. I'm still nervous about our shoot tomorrow and Saturday, but once I'm there, I believe I'll get right back into it, just like riding a bike.
I have a great set of actors. They all fit their roles so well. My one fear has always been working with actors. I went to film school back in Colorado and the one thing they never really spent time on at CU-Boulder was working with actors. Needless to say, I always felt unprepared to work with them. So I've been reading a wonderful book, Directing Actors by Judith Weston, and it's really helping. It's giving me a lot of ideas. The biggest thing I've been learning is that any fear I have, I just have to jump in and confront it. It's the only way to improve. So I have been challenging myself with the actors, trying to come up with good direction, not result direction, and I'm getting there. I still have a ways to go but I feel we're all on the right track.
As I continue production on my short film, I'll try to keep posting blogs to keep track of what I'm doing, how I'm feeling, what I'm screwing up, etc.
Oh, one thing that did happen at rehearsal yesterday, I somehow managed to pinch a nerve in my lower back. It's not feeling too hot right now. Doh! Even after an epsom salt bath late last night. Ah well. Ice packs and heating pads here I come.
Hasta.
The short film is a very fun piece called "Romey and Jules" and it's a Romeo & Juliet tale told between a clown and a mime. It's tragic, funny, and has a happy ending for a change. When it's all said and done, I'll put a link up here for it so you can all watch it.
We had rehearsal last night -- our last one before the shoot. It went really well. It's only a cast of four, so it made it a bit easier. I haven't directed a narrative film in almost ten years, so I've been a little nervous. Still, after each rehearsal, I really feel like I'm in the right element and am thrilled. It's been a challenge because I've been working on other people's shoots for so long that I started doubting whether I still had the skills to helm a project of my own. But here I am doing it. I'm still nervous about our shoot tomorrow and Saturday, but once I'm there, I believe I'll get right back into it, just like riding a bike.
I have a great set of actors. They all fit their roles so well. My one fear has always been working with actors. I went to film school back in Colorado and the one thing they never really spent time on at CU-Boulder was working with actors. Needless to say, I always felt unprepared to work with them. So I've been reading a wonderful book, Directing Actors by Judith Weston, and it's really helping. It's giving me a lot of ideas. The biggest thing I've been learning is that any fear I have, I just have to jump in and confront it. It's the only way to improve. So I have been challenging myself with the actors, trying to come up with good direction, not result direction, and I'm getting there. I still have a ways to go but I feel we're all on the right track.
As I continue production on my short film, I'll try to keep posting blogs to keep track of what I'm doing, how I'm feeling, what I'm screwing up, etc.
Oh, one thing that did happen at rehearsal yesterday, I somehow managed to pinch a nerve in my lower back. It's not feeling too hot right now. Doh! Even after an epsom salt bath late last night. Ah well. Ice packs and heating pads here I come.
Hasta.
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