Gareth’s Top 10 Favorite Fims :
written by :
Gareth Watkins (East Yorkshire, England)
Films that just miss the cut :
Rear Window
I’m a big fan of Alfred hitchcock and especially James Stewart and this, for me, is their best collaboration. It’s a movie for anyone who has ever taken a nosey look over their fence at their neighbour or through a window at someone in their living room and wondered what they’re up to. Stewart is just great as the wheelchair bound peeping tom while Grace Kelly is beautifully charming as his girlfriend.
Monsters Inc
For me, this is the funniest Pixar movie so far and is hugely enjoyable mainly because of the performances of Billy Crystal and John Goodman as the two central characters. The computer animation is superb and the whole thing is eminently rewatchable.
Unforgiven
I love Clint Eastwood – both in front and behind the camera. This one gives us the best of both worlds with a terrific performance as the aging gunman and deservedly Oscar-winning direction. Its one of those movies that succeeds in every department, including stunning cinematography and a beautiful score. Eastwood at his best, although it is another of his movies that makes it into my top 10.
The Ladykillers (1955)
I so wanted to ensure a British film was in my top ten but I couldn’t sacrifice any of my other picks to make way! This is my favourite British film with the legend Sir Alec Guinness on creepily top form. The Coen remake with Tom Hanks was enjoyable but not a patch on the original.
Ghostbusters
One of only three films I saw more than once at the cinema (the others are ET and Reservoir Dogs). A tremendously entertaining film.
The Big Lebowski
I’m a big Coen Brothers fan and I was going to include two of theirs in my 10 but I had to be ruthless and cut one. Jeff Bridges was born to play The Dude, that’s all I’ll say! (I collect autographs from the Coen Brothers movies and they can all be seen at www.lanius.co.uk/autographs/coens.php)
GARETH’S TOP 10 FAVORITE LIST :
10. Moulin Rouge!
This snuck into my top ten because of what it means to my wife and I. It was a film I went to see with her, expecting to hate it and ended up really enjoying it. Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman do a great job with the songs and like last year’s Mamma Mia, the fact that they aren’t professional singers, gives it all an extra ounce of charm. This film holds a special place in our hearts because we went to Paris and saw the Moulin Rouge live show for our honeymoon and also had Ewan McGregor’s version of Your Song for the first dance at our wedding.
9. Hard Boiled
John Woo is one of the best action directors ever – fact! Chow Yun Fat is a great action star and this is my favourite Woo/Fat collaboration. The storyline is a bit hokey but the action is just breathtaking. Never mind that our hero doesn’t stop to reload much. When the action sequences are this well choreographed, who cares? Tony Leung is in this one too and he is one of my favourite Asian stars.
8. Mr Smith Goes To Washington
How can anyone not like James Stewart? He was the original “Everyman” and here perhaps representing a lot of people who have a rose-tinted view of the American government. I defy anyone not to be moved as the naive Smith’s ideals of what he thought American government should be, become shattered and when he makes his climactic, marathon speech, a lump in the throat is assured for all but the hardest of hearts. The film revolves around Stewart’s charming central performance but there is great support from the brilliant Claude Rains and the lovely Jean Arthur.
7. The Fellowship of the Ring
I was a fan of Peter Jackson ever since I saw his debut Bad Taste years and years ago. The Rings trilogy is a far cry from the hilarious splatter mayhem of that early film. Great score, huge, sweeping landscapes, and an ever bigger story with memorable characters, some charming, some not. It’s bigger than the sum of its parts and I pick the first film from the trilogy because this is where it all began – our first introduction to Jackson’s vision of JRR Tolkein’s world. His eventual Oscar glory was well deserved, following the years of hard work that Jackson had put in. I was just in awe when I saw this film and a numb rear end from the long running time did nothing to spoil my enjoyment and subsequent repeat viewings.
6. Lost in Translation
This is a film that seems to divide opinion. Many love it while others berate it, saying they were waiting for something to happen and it never did. I think they missed the point. It’s very much a character piece and a story of an unusual friendship, bordering on love affair between a young graduate and a jaded, older actor well-past his glory days. In someone else’s hands, the film could have been so very different but written and directed by Sofia Ford Coppola and brilliantly acted by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, against a noisy, colourful backdrop of downtown Tokyo, this is a wonderful, wonderful film. For those waiting for *something* to happen, the relationship IS the something. There are so many memorable moments…”Brack toe”…”Lip my stockings”…Murray trying to stop the cross-trainer…but really too many to mention. It’s so absorbing and charming and the journey the two characters go on is one my wife and I (because we both love the film) are only too willing to join them on again and again.
5. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
As Spaghetti westerns go, this has to be the definitive one. Clint Eastwood at his brooding nameless best with superb support from Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef. Ennio Morricone’s unforgettable score, so atmospheric, adding loads to the overall experience. The whole movie of course orchestrated by the legendary Sergio Leone. Wow, this is just a great ride and what a climax with the stand off in the cemetery with lots of close ups of eyes as the tension mounts. I emailed Axel today after hearing his comments about the use of Aimee Mann’s song at the end of Magnolia (I love that movie!) and how some people didn’t like how the actors sang to it. I love how the use of music with some scenes can make a world of difference and raise it from being a great scene to a GREAT scene. You mentioned Goodfellas and the use of Layla. Well the final shots of the sweeping desert and Eastwood riding off into the distance accompanied by Morricone’s “wah-wah-waaaahhhh” score is one of my favourite movie moments. I’m not ashamed to admit that sometimes, when a scene is just so good, I get emotional and wrapped up in the moment – this is one of those times. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – my favourite western.
4. Star Wars
While definitely not the greatest film ever made, contrary to many popular polls, this is undoubtedly one of the most influential and significant, not least because of the impact it had on childhoods the world over, mine included. I was only 4 when this movie came out so was a bit of a late starter but I got so caught up in Lucas’ universe that I lived and breathed Star Wars for years. I’ve grown up a bit now of course but whenever I watch it, I feel a tinge of excitement when the 20th Century Fox fanfare plays at the beginning, just like I did 30-odd years ago!
3. Fargo
I’m a big fan of the Coen Brothers. There aren’t many writer/directors whose average movies are still a level above the best of many others. Fargo is without doubt the Coens at their best. It’s another movie where everything was just right – the plot, the cast, the score, the cinematography, the pacing and the direction. William H Macy can do “hapless” so well! There is a terrific double act of Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare while Frances McDormand won an oscar for her portrayal of the outwardly naive but ultimately clever policewoman. It’s all set against a freezing cold, snowy backdrop in a Minnesota winter, brought to life by Carter Burwell’s brilliant score. The Coens won an oscar for their original screenplay and it is easy to see why. Their characters and their turns of phrase make for a wonderful script and the resulting film is simply brilliant.
2. The Shawshank Redemption
This is one of those films that you realise very quickly is going to be good. It’s one that has been talked about and talked about so I’m sure I can’t say anything new about it but let’s just say that I love this film! Great moments, highs and lows but of course the underpinning theme of holding on to hope. Ultimately uplifting, this is one that I can watch again and again and never grow tired of. Kudos to director and screen-writer Frank Darabont for the great job he did on this and of course hats off to the tremendous cast led by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, with the under-rated Bob Gunton as the warden and Clancy Brown as the hard-nosed Captain Hadley. This should be in everyone’s top ten!
1. Casablanca
If there is a more perfect film than this one, I’d like to know what it is. As old as the film is, Casablanca has retained it’s charm and delight for nearly 70 years. Chock full of wonderful characters played by a perfect cast. Bogart was never better than here, cool calm and charismatic. Ingrid Bergman – beautiful and charming. Strong support comes from Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Paul Heinreid but my favourite character is undoubtedly Captain Renault played by the brilliant Claude Rains. Next to Bogart, he gets the best lines and all the laughs. Casablanca is the perfect film to relax to on a Sunday afternoon with a delightful mix of romance, humour and drama. It certainly isn’t all soppy stuff with the serious issue of World War 2 and the French resistance running through it. A highlight is when the French patrons of Rick’s Bar join in with a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise, much to the anger of the Germans but this small act of defiance epitomises the spirit of those resisting the German onslaught. An absorbing, romantic and just wonderful film.
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