From: Audra Freeman
Subject: RE: Top Ten Favorite Films
Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 16:21:52
Audra's top ten as of 1999
Like every good top ten list it contains 24 films, read on:
1) Jaws-
the only film I saw and loved as a child that hasn't lost ONE SINGLE OUNCE OF MAGIC for me in 24 years and double digit viewings. Like Psycho it caused a generation-wide fear of water. It was one of the most memorable filmgoing experiences of my life and I was a mere 6. I particularly remember watching the scary sections in the reflection of my mom's glasses. And maybe my New England upbringing helps me appreciate it but I love the whole townie-vibe that they had going on. Also the sentimental Spielberg touches that have become increasingly irritating to me in his other pictures remain sweet and realistic in Jaws. I love little Sean mimicking his depressed Dad at the supper table. I love Lorraine Gary growling "You wanna get drunk and fool around?" or hopping on the swingset with her son. It seemed like a real family to me then and still does. And that's before they realize they are going to need a bigger boat!La regle de jeu/la grande illusion-
yeah, I know, one of the greatest films ever made, blah, blah, blah. Another film school special, (it's cliche time, but who cares) Jean Renoir was a genius- wonderfully humanist, long depth of field and layered action (so refreshing compared to today's "we can't trust the viewer to remember what happened 30 minutes ago, we need a flashback"- don't get me started!), three dimensional characters, shades of gray morality, and mostly improvised. Yes, Altman films are good but Renoir did it first. These films not only restore my faith in filmmaking they restore my faith in the human race. Choosing which film I prefer would be like choosing which of my sisters I prefer.It's a wonderful life
What's not to love? I don't care if they show it every five minutes at Christmas time, it deserves to be shown that often. Additional note: I think the scene where they are talking on the phone to Sam Wainwright is highly erotic.Tampopo
Food and everything! Many espouse the universality of "Cinema Paradiso" but to me you can't get more universal than food- everybody eats. And this film covers food and work, food and sex, food and romance, food and class, food and death, food and childrearing, etc.etc. Humor & charm abound.The Hairdresser's Husband
Everyone needs a favorite wildly romantic movie. Normally people veer towards Casablanca or Gone with the Wind. I prefer this little French film, even if as my friend Michael says all French films are the same *Spoiler* "there's lot's of sex in the beginning and in the end someone dies in a psychologically disturbing manner". This is my favorite weepie. *End Spoiler* It features my favorite soundtrack of all time: Michael Nyman swoony violins juxtaposed with Egyptian (?) pop. And many sex scenes yet no nudity! An added attraction: the trailer was really wonderful and we used to dance along to it in the concession stand.Evil dead 2-
I saw this on video freshman year at film school and it changed my life. Already a horror-affianciando it was the first film I ever saw that made me love film-making. Not only was it fun to watch but it really looked like it was fun to work on. Very creative and yet wonderfully cheesy.Crossing Delancey
just nudged "Marty" out of the top ten. I love them both as romance-among-normal people films. Peter Reigert gives this one the edge. I love his voice and line delivery, particularly that scene where he offers to put up her (male) friend and she comments how nice that was and he responds "Not really." Or "You don't know how crazy I was about tonight. I gave wrong change all day. I said the prayer for the planting of new trees... I don't know why." (ok- so those are misquotes, cut me some slack.) The dialogue was very clever but in a realistic way.Road Warrior-
I was in 7th grade(?) my father really wanted to go see this movie I had never heard of and he couldn't find anyone to go with. The previous year I had turned him down for Texas Chainsaw Massacre because I had too much math homework. I didn't make that mistake again, I said I'd go with him. To say I loved this film when I first saw it doesn't quite cover it. I was semi-obsessed with the Mad Max saga. We had cable but no VCR yet, so anytime it was on I watched it. I remember my mother coming into the living room at 2am on a school night and finding me up watching TV. The only explanation necessary was "Road warrior's on". After we got a VCR that Christmas I received a copy of "Airplane!" I was quite disappointed. But later that night my dad slipped me a copy of "Mad Max"- I think he was afraid to give it to me in front of mom. (I later repaid my dad for taking me to RW, by recommending Reservoir Dogs). I was very disappointed with Thunderdome, but I would say my excitement level before it came out was about what most people feel about Phantom Menace.Current ooh-aah's: (will they make the list in 5 years? who knows?)
Favorite film of 1998
Fireworks: WOW- lyricism & ultraviolence peacefully coexisting within the same film. And the brilliance of the editing...words can not express.Favorite film of 1997
Jerusalem: dense and complex like a good novel, full of people acting poorly with the best intentions and (again) very shades-of-gray morality. The cinematography not only showcased the beauty of both Sweden and Jerusalem but you could actually feel the temperatures. Long and Swedish does not necessarily mean boring and this sure proved it to me.runners-up:
Gilda- #11 the dialogue is hilariously bitchy, the homoerotic undertones are so thick I'm surprised the entire cast didn't drown in it, and they still pull a happy ending out of their ass! Very appealing to the side of me that wants to behave badly and get away with it.
Nobody Loves Me- She's German, she's 30, and she's filled with existential angst. It doesn't sound like an upbeat heart-warmer but when I walked out I was in love with life and felt like singing (although not the theme song-which they played every other second it seemed)
Toto the hero: I saw it the same year as Hairdresser, similarly small, similarly under-appreciated. Essentially an ordinary tragedy, with a scrambled time line, but very light-hearted Garp-ish tone. Ending leaves you weeping but happy. A very odd experience.
Aliens- it was a toss-up between this and Road warrior, RW won because it was more formative. Although this is the only film that I saw 3 times the opening week. And I rented it frequently enough that I decided to buy it when it was still $90.
Reservoir Dogs- no comment necessary.
Usual Suspects- a film that makes you use your brain, such a nice change.
Marty- I love films that portray people the way they are as opposed to glamorizing them. "what do you wanna do tonight, Marty?" "I dunno, what do you wanna do?" A lovely portrait of lives of quiet desperation.
World According to Garp- I love the way he looked at life, it's what I aspire to.
Animal House-isn't this the film that really made you want to go to college?
Naked Lunch- I love Cronenberg and this is IMHO his best, intelligent, surreal, full of creepy sex and romantic melancholy. (Although Dead Zone is right up there, as is The Fly)
An American Werewolf in London- genuinely funny + genuinely scary = classic
And my favorite bad movies are:
childhood-Logan's Run actually not that bad but certainly cheesy, and wonderful. a formative film
high school-My Chauffeur soo bad and yet I wanted to be Casey Meadows
current-Deep Rising perhaps the most consistently entertaining, multi-layered, cliche-ridden, collection of badness ever. Truly the product of a twisted mind. I lie awake at night pondering: did they mean for it to be that bad or was it some sort of miraculous synchronicity of incompetence? It's as confounding as the Anaconda promotional snake(?!?)
And by the way, my favorite book is East of Eden, and my favorite song is Concerto #2 in C minor by Rachmaninoff and my favorite body part is the lee of my collarbone. So there!