Some Like It Hot

Top 100 (#14/22); Laughs (#1); Stars - Marilyn Monroe (#6); Quotes - "Well, nobody's perfect" (#48)

It had its funny moments, and in the 1950s it was probably a daring premise (although Shakespeare and Mark Twain have both done similar plots).  I guess overall it was okay.  I just don't know that I'd rank it as high as AFI did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNINUciNyyk

The Way We Were

Songs - The Way We Were (#8); Passions (#6)

Enh.  I thought it was supposed to be a wonderfully romantic love story, but it was really more about communism and blacklisting.  Needless to say, I didn't really care for it.

But then, it did have Robert Redford.  Robert Redford isn't actually the best looking man I've ever seen (although he is very handsome).  But he definitely is charming.  There's something about him - maybe his smile - that's completely disarming.  Yeah.  I think I need to watch The Sting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnwyZAUhS3A

Saturday Night Fever

Songs - Stayin' Alive (#9)

I didn't have the highest expectations for this movie - I was expecting cheese.  And yes, it delivered.  But what I really didn't expect was how much I would dislike Tony Manero and flat-out hate the movie.

I can see where a 20 year old guy who's Mr. Disco would think he was all that with the ladies.  But what a pig.  And when Doreen fawned all over him and begged, "Tony, can I wipe the sweat off your forehead?"  I groaned and every suffragette out there rolled over in her grave because she set women back to caveman days.

So no, I did not like Saturday Night Fever.  I can see why it's iconic, but I attribute that to the BeeGees, not to the story itself.  The soundtrack is the only thing likeable about this movie.  Well, that and the fact that it inspired this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KMkh8glNsA

New York, New York

Songs - Theme from 'New York, New York' (#31)

Robert DeNiro in a musical?  Well, he didn't actually sing. He played (or maybe pretended to play) the saxophone.

I didn't really care for this movie.  I just don't get couples that put career ahead of their marriage.  Don't get married then if your career is that important.

I will say this, though - Liza Minelli can belt it, and this song is one of her best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhaS4_gn3cc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T3h9JocqLk

The Manchurian Candidate

Top 100 (#67); Thrills (#17); Villains - Mrs. John Iselin (#21)

This was much easier to follow than the recent remake - or maybe it seemed easier because I had seen the remake.  At any rate, it was good.

Angela Lansbury was terrific in her role, which actually seems wrong.  It's just not right for Mrs. Potts to be a villain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RAUm6l_t6k

Gilda

Stars - Rita Hayworth (#19); Songs - Put the Blame on Mame (#84)

I didn't love it.  For one thing, I thought Hayworth and Ford were sorely mismatched.  She's just too beautiful.  For another, I think this was supposed to be romantic, but in all honesty she traded one guy who didn't treat her well for another who didn't treat her much better.  I thought her life was sad.

I was going to post a clip of "Mame", but then decided to do a clip of another diva who should have been a princess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4TRvYAyt3k

A Day at the Races

Laughs (#59); Stars - The Marx Brothers (#20)

Some good things about this movie -

1) it's not the Three Stooges
2) the acting has improved since Animal Crackers
3) um...I think that's all

Oh, and when it says "The year's BIG laugh, music, and girl show!", "girl show" refers to the Esther Williams-like routine at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCDAxeuJn6I

The Awful Truth

Laughs (#68); Stars - Cary Grant (#2); Passions (#77)

Cary Grant and Irene Dunne play a divorcing couple who are doing everything in their power to undermine their ex's new love interests.  Cute and funny.

Cary Grant is suave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk4pzBVfs_o

Beaches

Songs - The Wind Beneath My Wings (#44)

I think I was supposed to be sobbing at the end.  Sorry - nary a tear.  Maybe at this point in the game I've become movie weary.  Or more likely, maybe this particular chick flick tried too hard.

I will say this, though - then unknown Mayim Bialik was the perfect choice for young Bette Midler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_2PAwX86m4

McCabe & Mrs. Miller

Top Ten - Western (#8)

First off, I just plain didn't like this movie about a gunslinger and a madam who join forces and open a brothel in late 1800s Pacific Northwest.  The characters were unappealing and Julie Christie's accent was painful. 

Secondly, I have now seen three Robert Altman movies (M*A*S*H and Nashville were the other two).  I don't like him.  He clutters his movies with people and sounds.  So many things going on at once, bouncing back and forth, crowding every frame.  And people talking about pointless things, like minor characters carrying on over whether or not one of them should grow a beard.  It's not funny, and completely irrelevant.  Yes, it's real life, but in a movie it just doesn't fit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6UAYGxiRwU

Pulp Fiction

Top 100 (#95/94); Thrills (#53); Top Ten - Gangster (#7)

Here's something unexpected - I liked this movie.  I really didn't think I would.  In fact, I was figuring I'd probably turn it off partway through.  But I didn't.

I'm not saying it's my favorite movie ever.  But it was clever.  It was witty.  It had moments that you really didn't see coming.  And John Travolta danced.

 Yes, it was sweary, and it had it's gross moments.  But it kept me interested.  And it had a great cast - John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson (but what's with his hair in the poster?  that was so not his movie hair), Eric Stoltz (not altogether lovable here, but he's always been one of my favorites, so that's ok.  and he was funny), Tim Roth, and Bruce Willis (whom I love so much, yet I always forget how much I love him until I see him and then I think "Oh, I love him so much!", so then, not only do I love him, but I'm always pleasantly surprised, and that makes me happy).  And then there's Ving Rhames and Christopher Walken and Harvey Keitel.

So I'm not saying you have to see it.  I'm just saying I was surprised that I liked it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAf6MWehpGA

Soylent Green

Stars - Edward G. Robinson (#24); Quotes - "Soylent Green is people!" (#77)

This movie might have been a bit more interesting and suspenseful if I didn't already know the ending.  Or maybe that wouldn't have helped. 

I did, though, like seeing Robinson in his final film role.  I like it when big stars of the past come back to the movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT3wTiQAYrY&feature=related

Top Hat

Stars - Fred Astaire (#5), Ginger Rogers (#14); Songs - Cheek to Cheek (#15); Musicals (#15)

Great songs, great dancing - Top Hat is easily my favorite Astaire/Rogers musical.  Loved it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3dt0mUQoQg

Shaft

Songs - Theme from "Shaft" (#38)

I don't know.  It was just kind of there.  I think it would have been better as a TV show.  I like Moses Gunn though.

Oh, and I've never been convinced Elizabeth Corday would have known who Shaft was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUV_W2SUqZU

Norma Rae

Cheers (#16); Heroes - Norma Rae Webster (#15)

Norma Rae fights against the great injustices of the world by unionizing her fellow mill workers.

It was fine.  I just don't like loudmouth, pushy people.

(This clip is long - just watch the first 25 seconds or so):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcj4EkhJDXY