Cut Magazine's Top 150 Films (5)
It has been requested that we pick up the pace to get to number 1. (Though I am sure the curious can track this list down somewhere.) We left off at number 111...
(110 - 101)
110. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) Putting Robert Redford and Paul Newman together in a movie in 1969 would be like Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise (pre-mental breakdown) together today. It is more "fun" than some of the other westerns that appear on this list. Non-traditional in a lot of ways, this was one of the precursers to some of the really off-the-wall movies that came out in the early 70s.
109. 12 Angry Men (1957) A remake of this classic comes out this year, but try and see the original if you can. There is a very short list of movies that can appeal to both critics and audiences which are based solely on dialogue. The movie is almost entirely set in the jury room as the 12 men of the jury decide the fate of a Latino boy who is on trial for killing his father. Though my favorite Henry Fonda film is probably Once Upon a Time in the West, his acting in 12 Angry Men is superb.
108. Singing in the Rain (1952) One of the only musicals on the list I actually sat through. The music is timeless, and the dancing scenes are pretty incredible. I don't think I could sit through it again, though.
107. The Great Escape (1963) This movie is best known for Steve McQueen's role as Cpt. Hilts, but the supporting cast is one of the best in film history, with key roles palyed by the likes of James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Coburn and Charles Bronson. As prisoners in an "escape-proof" German P.O.W. camp in WWII, our heroes have nothing better to do than make moonshine and plan the Great Escape. It feels much shorter than it's 172 minutes.
106. Speed (1994) Silly romantic action movie. This one doesn't really stand the test of time.
105. When Harry Met Sally (1989) Almost as unlikey as Dustin Hoffman as a romatic lead, Billy Crystal is perfect in the role of Harry, and is a perfect match with Meg Ryan's Sally. Actually funny romantic movies are rare, and this is shares the honor with few peers.
104. King Kong (2006) Probably the newest movie on the list, King Kong is an amazing upgrade from the less-than-great 1976 remake. Unlike George Lucas' constant tinkering with the Star Wars films, one feels like Peter Jackson got exactly what he wanted in this epic, slightly overlong, dream project.
103. Manhattan (1979) Woody Allen has done it so many times, he IS believable as the romantic lead in the films he writes and directs. Heck, why not write yourself having an affair with the high-school aged Mariel Hemingway? I would classify this as an unromantic comedy which is dated, but worth watching. Allen's humor is much less in-you-face as many of his comedic counterparts, and the viewer must watch closely, as some of the funniest lines are passing mumbles by Allen's character.
102. North by Northwest (1959) Alfred Hitchcock at his prime. Cary Grant at his prime. Eve Saint Laurent at her prime. North by Northwest is one of the cornerstones of masterful film making. This is one of the ones they talk about when they talk about "perfect movies".
101. Blues Brothers (1980) I wouldn't classify this as a "musical" per se, as the music is incorportated into the movie in a way we usually don't see in musicals. This really is a comedy classic that truly gets funnier and better upon every viewing. Though carried wonderfully by Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi, the truly giant all star cast (John Candy, Carrie Fisher, Steve Lawrence, Charles Napier) makes indivudual scenes classics in their own right. And of course the mucical numbers by some of the biggest names in music (Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown) make the perfect blend of comedy and music.
(110 - 101)
110. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) Putting Robert Redford and Paul Newman together in a movie in 1969 would be like Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise (pre-mental breakdown) together today. It is more "fun" than some of the other westerns that appear on this list. Non-traditional in a lot of ways, this was one of the precursers to some of the really off-the-wall movies that came out in the early 70s.
109. 12 Angry Men (1957) A remake of this classic comes out this year, but try and see the original if you can. There is a very short list of movies that can appeal to both critics and audiences which are based solely on dialogue. The movie is almost entirely set in the jury room as the 12 men of the jury decide the fate of a Latino boy who is on trial for killing his father. Though my favorite Henry Fonda film is probably Once Upon a Time in the West, his acting in 12 Angry Men is superb.
108. Singing in the Rain (1952) One of the only musicals on the list I actually sat through. The music is timeless, and the dancing scenes are pretty incredible. I don't think I could sit through it again, though.
107. The Great Escape (1963) This movie is best known for Steve McQueen's role as Cpt. Hilts, but the supporting cast is one of the best in film history, with key roles palyed by the likes of James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Coburn and Charles Bronson. As prisoners in an "escape-proof" German P.O.W. camp in WWII, our heroes have nothing better to do than make moonshine and plan the Great Escape. It feels much shorter than it's 172 minutes.106. Speed (1994) Silly romantic action movie. This one doesn't really stand the test of time.
105. When Harry Met Sally (1989) Almost as unlikey as Dustin Hoffman as a romatic lead, Billy Crystal is perfect in the role of Harry, and is a perfect match with Meg Ryan's Sally. Actually funny romantic movies are rare, and this is shares the honor with few peers.
104. King Kong (2006) Probably the newest movie on the list, King Kong is an amazing upgrade from the less-than-great 1976 remake. Unlike George Lucas' constant tinkering with the Star Wars films, one feels like Peter Jackson got exactly what he wanted in this epic, slightly overlong, dream project.
103. Manhattan (1979) Woody Allen has done it so many times, he IS believable as the romantic lead in the films he writes and directs. Heck, why not write yourself having an affair with the high-school aged Mariel Hemingway? I would classify this as an unromantic comedy which is dated, but worth watching. Allen's humor is much less in-you-face as many of his comedic counterparts, and the viewer must watch closely, as some of the funniest lines are passing mumbles by Allen's character.
102. North by Northwest (1959) Alfred Hitchcock at his prime. Cary Grant at his prime. Eve Saint Laurent at her prime. North by Northwest is one of the cornerstones of masterful film making. This is one of the ones they talk about when they talk about "perfect movies".
101. Blues Brothers (1980) I wouldn't classify this as a "musical" per se, as the music is incorportated into the movie in a way we usually don't see in musicals. This really is a comedy classic that truly gets funnier and better upon every viewing. Though carried wonderfully by Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi, the truly giant all star cast (John Candy, Carrie Fisher, Steve Lawrence, Charles Napier) makes indivudual scenes classics in their own right. And of course the mucical numbers by some of the biggest names in music (Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown) make the perfect blend of comedy and music.
posted by John T at 2:29 PM
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