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Watched on Sunday June 1, 2025.

This is a smart, twist-filled mystery that delivers far more than your typical murder-mystery fare. Co-written by Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins—an unlikely but brilliant screenwriting duo—the film is a true gem for fans of intricate plotting and sharp dialogue.

Set aboard a luxurious yacht cruising the French Riviera, the story follows a group of Hollywood insiders gathered for a macabre game orchestrated by their enigmatic host, Clinton (James Coburn). What begins as a playful scavenger hunt turns increasingly sinister, revealing deep secrets and long-held grudges among the guests.

The cast is outstanding. Dyan Cannon brings wit and bite to her role, James Mason adds gravitas, and Richard Benjamin proves himself a compelling lead. The ensemble chemistry is palpable, and each performance feels distinct and essential to the puzzle. The film keeps you guessing with a meticulously layered plot that rewards close attention, yet never feels bogged down by its own complexity.

What makes The Last of Sheila so enjoyable is its blend of sophistication and playfulness. It’s a film that assumes its audience is intelligent and up for the challenge, but it also knows how to have fun along the way. From its breezy Mediterranean setting to its darkly comic undercurrents, the movie balances tone beautifully.

Despite being released in 1973, it holds up remarkably well today—arguably even gaining appreciation as modern viewers rediscover its cleverness.

The Grifters is a sharp, moody crime drama that blends noir sensibilities with a psychological edge. Directed by Stephen Frears and based on Jim Thompson’s novel, the film offers a darkly compelling look at three con artists entangled in a web of deceit, ambition, and emotional dysfunction.

The performances are a standout, particularly Anjelica Huston, who brings a chilling depth to her role as a seasoned grifter with a brittle exterior and hidden vulnerabilities. John Cusack and Annette Bening round out the central trio with solid performances that balance charm and menace in equal measure.

Visually, the film leans into a stark aesthetic that suits its cynical tone, and the score helps maintain a simmering tension throughout. While the pacing drags slightly in the second act and the character development can feel a bit cold at times, the payoff is suitably grim and thought-provoking.

Overall, The Grifters is a well-crafted, intelligent film that doesn’t quite reach classic status but remains a strong entry in the neo-noir genre. It’s worth watching for the performances alone, especially if you enjoy morally murky characters and a story that isn’t afraid to lean into discomfort.

The Sandpiper attempts to blend romance, art, and moral conflict in the sun-soaked setting of Big Sur, but ultimately it flounders under the weight of its own pretensions.

Despite the undeniable on-screen chemistry between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the film never quite earns the emotional depth it seems to be striving for. Taylor plays Laura, a free-spirited artist and single mother whose bohemian lifestyle clashes with the uptight morality of the school heaster, played by Burton. What could have been a thoughtful exploration of clashing worldviews quickly devolves into melodrama, with characters delivering pseudo-philosophical dialogue that feels more like a series of monologues than a genuine exchange.

Visually, the film has its moments—Big Sur is inherently photogenic, and the cinematography does its best to capture the wild beauty of the coast. But beautiful scenery can’t mask a shallow script. The pacing drags, particularly in the second act, and the film leans too heavily on romantic clichés rather than building real stakes or character development.

To make matters worse, The Sandpiper seems unsure of its own message. Is it a critique of institutional rigidity? A defense of individual freedom? A tale of doomed love? The film gestures at all these themes without committing to any, leaving the audience with little more than aesthetic posturing and a memorable theme song (“The Shadow of Your Smile”) that ironically outshines the film itself.

Watched on Saturday May 31, 2025.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho isn’t just a landmark in cinema history—it’s a masterclass in suspense and storytelling that continues to resonate, even decades after its release.

From the moment the film begins, there’s an unsettling energy that creeps in and never quite lets go. Hitchcock’s direction is razor-sharp, balancing eerie stillness with sudden, jarring moments that catch you off guard. He doesn’t rely on gore or shock for cheap thrills—he builds tension with precision, letting dread simmer until it boils over.

The infamous shower scene, of course, is legendary—and for good reason. The editing, Bernard Herrmann’s piercing score, and the camera work all come together in a sequence that’s still genuinely jarring. Even knowing what’s coming doesn’t take away from its impact.

Anthony Perkins delivers a phenomenal performance as Norman Bates. There’s a delicate, almost boyish charm to him at first, which makes his character’s gradual unraveling all the more disturbing. Janet Leigh also deserves praise; her role is bold and unpredictable, setting the tone for the film’s willingness to break narrative convention.

One of the most impressive things about Psycho is how it defies expectations. The story doesn’t follow a standard structure, and that unpredictability makes it all the more gripping. It’s psychological, it’s tense, and it’s smart in how it manipulates audience perception.

In short, Psycho is every bit the classic it’s claimed to be. It’s a film that not only helped define a genre but also elevated it, and it still manages to feel fresh, unsettling, and brilliantly crafted. Whether you’re a longtime fan of thrillers or just dipping into Hitchcock’s work for the first time, this one is essential viewing.

Watched on Saturday May 31, 2025.

A stirring and beautifully crafted film that blends history, heart, and hope into a genuinely compelling story. Directed by Gary Ross and based on the bestselling book by Laura Hillenbrand, the film tells the true story of a small, undersized racehorse who captured the spirit of a nation during the Great Depression.

What stands out most about Seabiscuit is how effectively it weaves together the journeys of three broken men—a jockey (Tobey Maguire), a trainer (Chris Cooper), and an owner (Jeff Bridges)—each dealing with loss and hardship, who find redemption and purpose through a horse that nobody believed in. Their chemistry is authentic and understated, and the performances are quietly powerful across the board.

The film is also visually stunning, with sweeping cinematography that captures both the grit of the era and the raw energy of horse racing. The race scenes are especially exhilarating—well-paced and immersive without resorting to overdramatization.

At its core, Seabiscuit is more than just a sports movie. It’s about resilience, second chances, and how even the most unlikely among us can rise to greatness. The film’s message feels timeless, and its storytelling is both inspiring and emotionally satisfying.

Watched on Saturday May 31, 2025.

Watched on Saturday May 31, 2025.

Watched on Friday May 30, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday May 27, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday May 27, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 26, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 26, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 26, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 26, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 26, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 26, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 25, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 25, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 25, 2025.

Watched on Saturday May 24, 2025.

A rare cinematic gem that manages to blend charm, wit, and grit into one unforgettable experience. Directed by George Roy Hill and anchored by the irresistible chemistry between Paul Newman and Robert Redford, this 1969 classic still holds its own decades later.

From the opening sepia-toned credits to the film’s iconic freeze-frame ending, every moment feels meticulously crafted yet effortlessly cool. Newman’s Butch is all charisma and cleverness, while Redford’s Sundance brings brooding intensity and sharp-eyed resolve. Together, they form one of cinema’s most iconic duos—funny, flawed, and fiercely loyal.

What sets this film apart isn’t just the story of two outlaws on the run—it’s how that story is told. The dialogue sparkles with dry humor, and the pacing is unhurried in a way that allows for real character development. The film deftly mixes tones, weaving light-hearted banter with moments of melancholy and suspense. And of course, the Burt Bacharach score, especially “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” adds a quirky, unexpected layer that somehow works perfectly.

Visually, the cinematography captures the rugged beauty of the American West and South America, giving the film an almost lyrical quality. It’s no wonder it picked up four Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Original Screenplay.

More than 50 years on, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid remains a masterclass in storytelling and star power. It’s entertaining, poignant, and undeniably cool—a true classic that earns its place in film history.

Sergio Leone’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly isn’t just a standout Western—it’s a cinematic landmark that continues to influence filmmakers and captivate audiences decades after its release. From the opening credits to the final standoff, this film delivers an experience that feels epic, stylish, and thoroughly entertaining.

At its core, the movie is a deceptively simple tale of three gunslingers—Blondie (Clint Eastwood), Tuco (Eli Wallach), and Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef)—all racing to find a cache of buried gold during the chaos of the American Civil War. But the beauty of this film lies not in the plot, but in the atmosphere Leone creates. With expansive desert landscapes, tension-filled silences, and close-up shots that magnify every twitch and squint, the film builds a world that feels mythic and raw all at once.

Clint Eastwood delivers a performance of quiet charisma, while Eli Wallach steals the show with his unpredictable and oddly sympathetic Tuco. Lee Van Cleef rounds out the trio with a cold-blooded menace that lingers long after he exits the screen. Together, they create a dynamic that’s electric—sometimes funny, sometimes dangerous, and always engaging.

Of course, no review would be complete without mentioning Ennio Morricone’s iconic score. From the instantly recognizable main theme to the haunting “Ecstasy of Gold,” the music elevates every scene, adding emotional depth and a sense of grandeur that’s hard to match.

At nearly three hours long, the pacing might feel deliberate to modern viewers, but it’s never dull. Every scene builds tension, adds nuance, or deepens character. And the final three-way duel at the cemetery? Still one of the greatest endings in film history.

Overall, this is more than just a great Western—it’s a masterclass in filmmaking. Whether you’re a longtime fan or watching it for the first time, it’s a film that demands—and deserves—your attention.

This is a moving, intelligently crafted film that succeeds both as a wartime drama and a deeply personal story of resilience. Anchored by a powerful performance from John Garfield, the film tells the true story of Al Schmid, a Marine who was blinded during World War II and had to learn to rebuild his life. It’s as stirring emotionally as it is respectful of its real-life subject.

What sets this film apart from other war-era pictures is its honest exploration of the psychological and emotional toll of combat injuries. Rather than focus solely on battlefield heroics, Pride of the Marines spends much of its time in hospitals and quiet moments of reckoning. This choice gives the story an emotional depth that’s still impactful decades later.

Garfield’s portrayal of Al is raw, vulnerable, and grounded—he captures the frustration, fear, and gradual acceptance that come with his character’s new reality. Equally excellent is Eleanor Parker, who plays Al’s steadfast love interest with warmth and strength, adding real heart to the film’s romantic thread.

The film also deserves credit for its straightforward handling of post-war adjustment. Without veering into melodrama, it confronts the audience with the long-term costs of war, emphasizing that true heroism often begins after the shooting stops.

In short, it's a film that stands as a tribute to personal courage.

Watched on Friday May 23, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday May 20, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 19, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 19, 2025.

Watched on Saturday May 17, 2025.

Watched on Saturday May 17, 2025.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa at the height of his powers, this 1952 classic feels remarkably timeless, offering a deeply human meditation on mortality, legacy, and what it means to truly live.

The story follows Kanji Watanabe, a lifeless bureaucrat who has spent the better part of three decades shuffling papers in a Tokyo city office. When he learns he has terminal stomach cancer, he’s confronted with the bleak realization that he’s done little of value in his life. What unfolds is not a frantic sprint to check off a bucket list, but rather a slow, emotionally resonant search for meaning—one small, meaningful act at a time.

Takashi Shimura’s performance as Watanabe is simply extraordinary. With minimal dialogue and a face weathered by both age and regret, he delivers a portrayal that’s heartbreaking, vulnerable, and ultimately inspiring. It’s a masterclass in understated acting, filled with subtle gestures that say more than pages of script ever could.

Kurosawa’s direction is equally restrained and purposeful. The film’s pacing is deliberate, allowing each moment—whether it’s a long walk through the neon-soaked nightlife or a haunting rendition of “Life is Brief” sung in a bar—to breathe and land with emotional weight. Cinematographer Asakazu Nakai paints Tokyo in rich shadows and delicate light, underscoring Watanabe’s internal transformation with visual poetry.

What’s especially striking about Ikiru is how it avoids sentimentality while still being deeply moving. The film doesn’t promise redemption or happy endings—it offers something more honest: the idea that purpose can be found in quiet acts of service, even if the world hardly notices. Watanabe’s small triumph, building a children’s playground in a neglected neighborhood, becomes a symbol of his quiet rebirth. It’s not flashy, but it’s real.

In an age where productivity and personal success often take center stage, Ikiru dares to ask a more profound question: “What will you leave behind when you’re gone?” For a film over seventy years old, its message feels more urgent than ever.

Watched on Saturday May 17, 2025.

Masaki Kobayashi’s Kwaidan is a hauntingly beautiful film that rewards patience and immerses viewers in a world where folklore, atmosphere, and artistry converge. Adapted from Lafcadio Hearn’s collection of Japanese ghost stories, this anthology of four separate tales stands as a high point in international horror cinema—not for its fright factor, but for its poetic and visual power.

Each story unfolds with deliberate pacing and a dreamlike tone, drawing you into a surreal realm where spirits linger and fate is often inescapable. What makes Kwaidan exceptional is its painterly approach to visuals. The set designs are often intentionally theatrical, almost like expressionist stage plays, and that stylization gives the film a unique identity. From snow-blanketed forests to eerily painted skies, every frame is composed with an artist’s eye.

While modern horror often relies on jump scares and fast editing, Kwaidan takes its time, building mood and tension through silence, shadow, and symbolism. The score, heavy on traditional Japanese instrumentation and avant-garde techniques, adds another layer of unease and mystery.

Though it runs over three hours, Kwaidan is not something to be rushed, it’s a film to be savored. For viewers open to atmospheric storytelling and willing to embrace its slow rhythm, Kwaidan is an unforgettable experience—a meditative ghost story told with elegance and eerie grace.

In a Lonely Place is one of those rare films that feels ahead of its time, yet timeless in its emotional depth and atmospheric tension. Directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame, this noir classic sidesteps the genre’s typical formula and instead delivers a haunting character study wrapped in suspense.

At the heart of the film is Bogart’s portrayal of Dixon Steele, a Hollywood screenwriter with a volatile temperament. It’s one of his finest performances—raw, unpredictable, and surprisingly vulnerable. Unlike his more traditionally heroic roles, Bogart here explores the darker edges of masculinity, and it’s a portrayal that lingers. Gloria Grahame matches him with equal force, bringing grace and subtle complexity to her role as Laurel Gray, the neighbor who becomes both his lover and his emotional anchor.

What really makes In a Lonely Place stand out is its psychological nuance. The central mystery—whether Steele is capable of murder—feels almost secondary to the emotional suspense of watching two people try to build trust in the shadow of trauma and suspicion. The film’s real genius lies in its portrayal of intimacy strained by fear, and love tempered by doubt.

Ray’s direction is taut and expressive, using shadow and space to mirror the characters’ inner turmoil. The screenplay, adapted from Dorothy B. Hughes’s novel, is sharp and introspective, with dialogue that cuts deep without ever feeling showy.

This isn’t just a noir—it’s a tragic romance, a meditation on violence, and a commentary on the fragility of human connection. The ending is as devastating as it is inevitable, and it’s that quiet emotional wreckage that truly makes the film unforgettable.

In a Lonely Place is a masterpiece that rewards both first-time viewers and return visits. It’s moody, magnetic, and masterfully made—a film that stays with you long after the credits roll.

Watched on Friday May 16, 2025.

Watched on Thursday May 15, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday May 14, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday May 14, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday May 13, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday May 13, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 12, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 12, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 11, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 11, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 11, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 11, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 11, 2025.

Watched on Saturday May 10, 2025.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and KILL BILL: VOLUME 2 screened at the New Beverly Cinema.

• Jesus Christ Superstar
• Moonlight and Pretzels
• Hud
• The Divorcee
• Servants' Entrance
• Edge of the City
• The Last Dragon
• Kill Bill: Vol. 2
• Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
• Colossus: The Forbin Project

...plus 7 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Only films where both Joel and Ethan are credited.

• Blood Simple
• Raising Arizona
• Miller's Crossing
• Barton Fink
• The Hudsucker Proxy
• Fargo
• The Big Lebowski
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?
• The Man Who Wasn't There
• Intolerable Cruelty

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Best Years of Our Lives
• Dog Day Afternoon
• Nights of Cabiria
• Grand Illusion
• The Apartment
• Wings of Desire
• Raging Bull
• Tokyo Story
• The Third Man
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Live Wires
• In Fast Company
• Bowery Bombshell
• Spook Busters
• Mr. Hex
• Hard Boiled Mahoney
• News Hounds
• Bowery Buckaroos
• Angels' Alley
• Jinx Money

...plus 38 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• East Side Kids
• Boys of the City
• That Gang of Mine
• Pride of the Bowery
• Flying Wild
• Bowery Blitzkrieg
• Spooks Run Wild
• Mr. Wise Guy
• Let's Get Tough
• Smart Alecks

...plus 12 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Little Tough Guy
• Little Tough Guys in Society
• Newsboys' Home
• Code of the Streets
• Call a Messenger
• You're Not So Tough
• Junior G-Men
• Give Us Wings
• Hit the Road
• Sea Raiders

...plus 5 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Dead End
• Crime School
• Angels with Dirty Faces
• They Made Me a Criminal
• Hell's Kitchen
• Angels Wash Their Faces
• On Dress Parade

1. Wings
2. The Broadway Melody
3. All Quiet on the Western Front
4. Cimarron
5. Grand Hotel
6. Cavalcade
7. It Happened One Night
8. Mutiny on the Bounty
9. The Great Ziegfeld
10. The Life of Emile Zola

...plus 86 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Film picks for TCM Film Fest 2024. In chronological order...note that the first two are a double-feature that I watched at the New Beverly cinema on Wednesday evening.

• Buck and the Preacher
• Thomasine & Bushrod
• Only Yesterday
• The Small Back Room
• The Good Fairy
• The Model and the Marriage Broker
• It Should Happen to You
• The Prisoner of Shark Island
• It Happened One Night
• The Road to Ruin

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Godfather Part II
2. Blazing Saddles
3. Killer of Sheep
4. Nashville
5. The Godfather
6. Chinatown
7. Taxi Driver
8. Jaws
9. McCabe & Mrs. Miller
10. The Conversation

...plus 90 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Saint in New York
• The Saint Strikes Back
• The Saint in London
• The Saint's Double Trouble
• The Saint Takes Over
• The Saint In Palm Springs
• The Saint's Vacation
• The Saint Meets the Tiger
• The Saint's Return

A list of French films I love...no particular order.

• Elevator to the Gallows
• Au Revoir les Enfants
• The 400 Blows
• Panic
• Eyes Without a Face
• Grand Illusion
• Amélie
• Cléo from 5 to 7
• Jean de Florette
• Manon of the Spring

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Female Trouble
• Pink Flamingos
• Polyester
• Hairspray
• Multiple Maniacs
• Desperate Living
• Cry-Baby
• Serial Mom
• Cecil B. Demented
• Pecker

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Red Dust
• Hold Your Man
• One Way age
• Genevieve
• Bicycle Thieves
• Footlight Parade
• Blood on the Moon
• American Graffiti
• House of Wax
• The Bat Woman

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

List of feature-length films directed by The Archers (both Powell & Pressburger must be credited directors)

• One of Our Aircraft Is Missing
• The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
• The Volunteer
• A Canterbury Tale
• I Know Where I'm Going!
• A Matter of Life and Death
• Black Narcissus
• The Red Shoes
• The Small Back Room
• Gone to Earth

...plus 5 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Too Late for Tears
• My Man Godfrey
• Reign of Terror
• Limelight
• Rififi
• The Bank Dick
• Boom!
• Why Be Good?
• 42nd Street
• Air Mail

...plus 7 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• One Potato, Two Potato
• The Bitter Stems
• The More the Merrier
• When You're in Love
• The ion of Joan of Arc
• Repeat Performance
• Roar
• A House Divided
• Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
• Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Love Crazy
• The Man Who Knew Too Much
• Rafter Romance
• Beat the Devil
• Panic
• So This Is Paris
• Red-Headed Woman
• Laura
• Zardoz
• Arsenic and Old Lace

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Fifth Avenue Girl
• Bachelor Mother
• Stagecoach
• Grey Gardens
• Meet Me in St. Louis
• Double Indemnity
• Employees' Entrance
• Eraserhead
• City Lights
• Godzilla

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Killing
• Safe in Hell
• The Night of the Hunter
• The Narrow Margin
• I Am Suzanne!
• It
• On the Waterfront
• Plan 9 from Outer Space
• Captains Courageous
• The Donovan Affair

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Night World
• The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
• Merrily We Go to Hell
• Out of Africa
• Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
• Road House
• Santo vs. Evil Brain
• Double Wedding
• A Woman Under the Influence
• Love Affair

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Finishing School
• Stage Door
• Intruder in the Dust
• The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
• The Set-Up
• Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
• Leave Her to Heaven
• The World's Greatest Sinner
• Kiss Me Deadly
• When You Read This Letter

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Slender Thread
• Lover Come Back
• Maisie Gets Her Man
• Spy Smasher
• Queen Bee
• Cocktail Hour
• I, the Jury
• Kill Bill: Vol. 1
• Angels with Dirty Faces
• Three on a Match

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Chronological order of Marx Brothers films where they appear together as main characters.

1. The Cocoanuts
2. Animal Crackers
3. Monkey Business
4. Horse Feathers
5. Duck Soup
6. A Night at the Opera
7. A Day at the Races
8. Room Service
9. At the Circus
10. Go West

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Bulldog Drummond
2. Bulldog Drummond's Third Round
3. Captain Swagger
4. Bulldog Drummond
5. Temple Tower
6. The Return of Bulldog Drummond
7. Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
8. Bulldog Jack
9. Bulldog Drummond Escapes
10. Bulldog Drummond at Bay

...plus 14 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Metropolis
• Nosferatu
• Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler
• Napoleon
• Grand Illusion
• The Rules of the Game
• Children of Paradise
• Rome, Open City
• Paisan
• La Terra Trema

...plus 29 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

No particular order

• The Third Man

  Orson Welles as Harry Lime

• Lawrence of Arabia

  Omar Sharif as Sherif Ali

• Notorious

  Cary Grant as Devlin

• Stagecoach

  John Wayne as Ringo

• Jaws

  Robert Shaw as Capt. Quint

• Rear Window

  Grace Kelly as Lisa Fremont

• Sunset Boulevard

  William Holden as Joe Gillis

• Double Indemnity

  Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson

• Raiders of the Lost Ark

  Harrison Ford as Indy

• Gilda

  Rita Hayworth as Gilda

...plus 6 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Westerner
• Sergeant York
• The Pride of the Yankees
• Meet John Doe
• The Cowboy and the Lady
• Task Force
• The Wedding Night

1. Seven Samurai
2. Amélie
3. Battleship Potemkin
4. Bicycle Thieves
5. Pan's Labyrinth
6. The Battle of Algiers
7. City of God
8. The Seventh Seal
9. The Wages of Fear
10. Spirited Away

...plus 90 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

All Ginger Rogers films in chronological order.

Missing: PERFECT STRANGERS (1950)

• A Night in a Dormitory
• Office Blues
• Young Man of Manhattan
• Queen High
• The Sap from Syracuse
• Follow the Leader
• Honor Among Lovers
• The Tip-Off
• Suicide Fleet
• Carnival Boat

...plus 64 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

The 10 films that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers starred in together.

1. Flying Down to Rio
2. The Gay Divorcee
3. Roberta
4. Top Hat
5. Follow the Fleet
6. Swing Time
7. Shall We Dance
8. Carefree
9. The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
10. The Barkleys of Broadway

All the Torchy Blane films!

1. Smart Blonde
2. Fly Away Baby
3. The Adventurous Blonde
4. Blondes at Work
5. Torchy Blane in Panama
6. Torchy Gets Her Man
7. Torchy Blane in Chinatown
8. Torchy Runs for Mayor
9. Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite

All of the Andy Hardy films.

1. A Family Affair
2. You're Only Young Once
3. Judge Hardy's Children
4. Love Finds Andy Hardy
5. Out West with the Hardys
6. The Hardys Ride High
7. Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
8. Judge Hardy and Son
9. Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
10. Andy Hardy's Private Secretary

...plus 6 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

List of films I *should* have seen by now.

• Fight Club
• Rudy
• The Matrix
• Schindler's List
• Stand by Me
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
• High Noon
• Platoon
• Rushmore

A list of 13 British noir films that Filmstruck curated in Jan/Feb 2018

1. The Third Man
2. Dancing with Crime
3. Wanted for Murder
4. Night and the City
5. Obsession
6. Pool of London
7. It Always Rains on Sunday
8. Brighton Rock
9. They Made Me a Fugitive
10. Yield to the Night

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Third Man

   The leaves falling, Holly Martins leaning against the wagon on the side of the road, Anna walking towards him from a distance.

   I love the length of time that it takes for Anna finally reach where Holly is standing, and then when she simply walks past him without even recognizing him, that's perfect moment #1. When Martins lights his cigarette and tosses the match to the ground with a slight level of disgust, that's perfect moment #2.

   Martins betrayed Harry Lime, something Anna would never do, and for that he suffers this penalty.

2. Nights of Cabiria

   Cabiria (who has just lost everything but the clothes on her back) somehow manages to get back to the road, and while she's walking to who-knows-where is surrounded by a group of kids having a good time.

   Her tears slowly turn to nodding to the kids with a slight smile, and then something magical happens...she breaks the fourth wall and smiles at *us*. To me, this is Fellini at his best.

3. City Lights

   Quite an emotional ending when the girl takes the tramp's hand and immediately recognizes him as her benefactor.

   There's so much humility in the act of kindness displayed by the tramp, even when he acknowledges that he's the same person, he's very shy to do so.

   Love the fade out.

4. The Nun's Story

   The final 10 minutes--without music as Zinnemann wanted--is one of the most emotional in film for me.

5. Citizen Kane

   Throughout the film, we're trying to find the mystery of what Charles Foster Kane's dying word 'Rosebud' meant.

   Two importing things happen at the end of the film:
   1. The reporters realize that maybe you can't sum up a man's life with one dying word.
   2. We realize as we figure out what Rosebud meant that perhaps you can. Kane lost a small object (the sled) that represented something huge. The fact that what he lost he could never regain no matter how wealthy or powerful he was.

   Quite a sobering ending.

6. Casablanca

   "We'll always have Paris." Sometimes doing the right thing isn't the easy thing.

7. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

   When Jean Arthur screams "yipee!" at the top of her lungs as chaos is reigning on the Senate floor and the President of the Senate smiles wide and flips his gavel...I'm smiling through tears.

8. The Searchers

   After years of searching for Laurie, Ethan finally returns her home. He stands in the doorway of the wilderness home and then walks off the porch and slow saunters away as only The Duke can.

   The lovely western ballad only adds to the finality of Ethan's quest and the film.

9. Cinema Paradiso

   Sure, you can say this is overly-sentimental. But I *love* how this ends...it's a love-letter to me and to all who love film.

10. The Apartment

    Turns out C.C. Baxter is a mensch.

...plus 14 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Films where a disparate group of characters find themselves thrown together in a common situation.

• Stagecoach
• The Breakfast Club
• Lifeboat
• 12 Angry Men
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
• Grand Hotel
• The Poseidon Adventure

From Robert K. Elder's wonderful book, here is a list of 35 films and the directors who chose them (directors names in comments.)

The book has great interviews, here's an Amazon Link

1. After Dark, My Sweet

   Austin Chick

2. The Angel

   Stephen and Timothy Quay

3. Arcane Sorcerer

   Guillermo del Toro

4. Beaver Trilogy

   Phil Lord

5. Blume in Love

   Neil LaBute

6. Boom!

   John Waters

7. Breaking Away

   Richard Curtis

8. Can't Stop the Music

   Jonathan Levine

9. The Chase

   Guy Maddin

10. Eureka

    Danny Boyle

...plus 25 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Robert K. Elder's book interviewing 30 directors and the films that inspired them.

• An American Werewolf in London

  Edgar Wright

• Annie Hall

  Rian Johnson

• Apocalypse Now

  Danny Boyle

• Bonnie and Clyde

  Bill Condon

• Brazil

  Richard Kelly

• Citizen Kane

  Peter Bogdanovich

• A Clockwork Orange

  John Dahl

• 8½

  Henry Jaglom

• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

  Brian Herzlinger

• The Exterminating Angel

  Alex Gibney

...plus 22 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A list of traditional/classic Christmas films in no particular order.

• Miracle on 34th Street
• White Christmas
• The Bishop's Wife
• Meet Me in St. Louis
• It's a Wonderful Life
• The Shop Around the Corner
• The Apartment
• A Christmas Story
• I'll Be Seeing You
• Elf

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Tokyo Story
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
3. Citizen Kane
4. 8½
5. Taxi Driver
6. Apocalypse Now
7. The Godfather
8. Vertigo
9. Mirror
10. Bicycle Thieves

• All About Eve
• Black Narcissus
• Blackboard Jungle
• Easy Rider
• Harold and Maude
• The Lost Weekend
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
• The Outsiders
• The Shawshank Redemption
• The Swimmer

...plus 491 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Bang the Drum Slowly
2. The Natural
3. The Pride of the Yankees
4. Bull Durham
5. Field of Dreams

• Metropolis
• Nosferatu
• Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler
• Napoleon
• Grand Illusion
• The Rules of the Game
• Children of Paradise
• Rome, Open City
• Paisan
• La Terra Trema

...plus 29 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Films that I've see multiple times; they make me cry each time I watch them. Warning: notes contain spoilers.

• of Endearment

  When her kids visit her in the hospital...it's such a truthful scene...and the younger son crying.

• Dances with Wolves

  "Can you see that I am Wind In His Hair? Can you see that I am your friend?"

• The Best Years of Our Lives

  When Fred Derry's (Dana Andrews) dad reads his letter of commendation.

• Up

  That montage at the beginning of the film. Forget about it. One of the best pieces of film-making I've seen...animated or not.

• Crash

  That scene with Lara runs out to her father (who's being held at gunpoint) because he doesn't his 'cloak of protection'.

• Million Dollar Baby

  When, at the end you realize the whole narrative has been him writing a letter to his daughter.

• Lost in Translation
• Whale Rider

  When she gives her speech at school through tears because her grandfather is not there.

• The Bridges of Madison County

  When he's in the pickup truck, it's raining and he hangs the necklace on the rear-view mirror.

• The Shawshank Redemption

  Final scene when Red is reunited with Andy on the beach. VO by Red about hope.

...plus 24 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Vertigo
2. Citizen Kane
3. Tokyo Story
4. The Rules of the Game
5. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey
7. The Searchers
8. Man with a Movie Camera
9. The ion of Joan of Arc
10. 8½

The updated 2007 version of AFI's top 100 films.

1. Citizen Kane
2. The Godfather
3. Casablanca
4. Raging Bull
5. Singin' in the Rain
6. Gone with the Wind
7. Lawrence of Arabia
8. Schindler's List
9. Vertigo
10. The Wizard of Oz

...plus 90 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.