Interesting concept to name ten most influential movies was started by friends. Despite not having been asked, I thought it would be fun to do as well. The first caveat is that I have not chosen movies necessarily for their “influence” as I agree with Harry that movies are not necessarily influential. Nonetheless, here it goes, not in any particular order. 1. A Clockwork Orange. While Stanley Kubrick was clearly ahead of his time with this raw and brutal portrayal of Alex and his droogs, it is the opportunity to read the novel by Anthony Burgess that has been seminally influential. The preface to the rereleased American version that contained the originally omitted 21st chapter has been tremendously influential to me as may become more apparent in the future. The movie influenced the American version of the book, removing the redemption of Alex because Kubrick had omitted it. This is still one of the most fascinating interactions of literature and cinema in history. 2. Casablanca. Occasionally, the critics get one right. In our era of special effects, it is helpful to remember what old Hollywood cinema could be at its very best. The performances were first rate across the board, and the movie managed to avoid being overly hokey when the potential was there to become a second rate film. I could watch it every week and not get bored with it. 3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail. One cannot consider the influence of British comedy upon the American scene without a nod to the Python troop. Of all their efforts, this is quite simply the best. I listed this one fifth on purpose…. 4. Psycho. What Kubrick has been to thriller (A Clockwork Orange) and space travel (2001 doesn’t make my list), Hitchcock has been to horror. While the shower scene is certainly cliché now, the movie was beyond ahead of its time on its release. The idea of killing off the female lead in the first 20 minutes of the film was as bold as its visceral content. 5. Fever Pitch. Please understand that this is the 1997 original film with Colin Firth based upon the autobiographical novel by Nick Hornby. This is the saga of the 1988-9 season of the English First Division following Paul’s romance along with amazing and tragic events of April 15, 1989. This movie depicts the crash of Liverpool football club after Hillsborough from the perspective of Arsenal who benefitted from it. Even as a lifelong Liverpool supporter, this movie is first rate. Sorry, Harry, but this truly is the best sports movie ever made. 6. Patton. If you knew nothing else about this epic movie, the fact that George C. Scott never picked up his Oscar because he felt that the man was incredible and he merely portrayed him, reminds you that not all actors are self-absorbed idiots whose personalities are forever frozen in adolescence. But this movie is the best war movie ever made. Having said that, Private Ryan and The Great Escape deserve honorable mention. 7. My Name is Nobody. In a genre that is full of classics, my favorite is this Henry Fonda and Terence Hill spoof on westerns that despite having its tongue firmly implanted in its cheek, managed to remain true to the spirit of melodrama that was the classic Western. Sergio Leone (see below) directed some of the scenes, which probably lent some respectability to the film in critics’ eyes, but I like it because it was pure fun. 8. Unforgiven. The Spaghetti Westerns, a trilogy of unrelated films, all starring Clint Eastwood and directed by Sergio Leone, are the gold standards of the genre. While The Good, The Bad and The Ugly usually and deservedly hogs the attention, the three really should be viewed together. It is this legacy of film that influenced Eastwood to make Unforgiven. The brutality and lack of glorification of the Old West was the hallmark of this film, and it was powerful. Perhaps you could argue that Private Ryan was the forerunner here with what it did similarly to war films, but because this was done by Eastwood, and done so incredibly well, it just matters more. 9. MASH. I had to include this film for a number of reasons. I’m not a big fan of the comedy genre in general, but this movie had important other aspects. In addition to spawning one of the longest running primetime dramas on television, this movie introduced the public to the medical film genre in a way that has never been duplicated. Only the first season of Gray’s Anatomy has come close to dealing with life and death in a realistic fashion in the way that MASH did. I am not talking about the quality of the medical scenes from a technical level, though MASH was far ahead of its time in that respect as well, I am speaking of the treatment of death on film. In the real world, people die. MASH never lost sight of that truth. 10. LOTR. Faithfully and lovingly done with a careful hand, Peter Jackson brought the all-time fantasy trilogy to the screen spectacularly. There is no doubt that this film makes this list based upon the strength of Tolkien’s work, but as adaptations go, Jackson provides one of the best ever. That’s my list.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 14:13:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015