Back to the point in hand. I don't have any great ideas this week, I could have done about the Papal visit, but I'd just be repeating the obvious back at you...he's a powerful man, and is corrupt, he turns a blind eye to paedophilia and doesn't like homosexuals...we get it, he's a bastard.
Instead, I'm settling with something that is partly my opinion but will also give you some insight into some film history. I am going to do the last hundred years of film (not including the last ten years) and choose one film from each decade but also a couple high class runners up. This isn't easy, especially when you get to the nineties which had the brilliance of Fight Club, Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption. Which one will I choose? You'll have to wait and see ;). I won't do any spoilers, so don't worry yourself, but I will be justifying them against other films released in that decade. It will be long, but bear with me...it'll be hopefully interesting, and I'll have fun doing it. Let me get my trusty 1001 Films to See Before you Die. Don't worry, I know this stuff, but it's for reference to film years, I'm a film aficionado but not a complete film nerd ;)
1900-1909
The winner is : The Great Train Robbery 1903
Other great films of this decade: Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) 1902.
It was one of the first westerns. Directed by Edwin S. Porter, it was a great silent adventure, following the tale of two train robbers who attempt to rob a mail train. There's not much else to say about it, apart from it contains some iconic cinematography...and at only twelve minutes long, it manages to tell a fantastic tale.
1910-1919
The winner is: The Birth of a Nation 1915
Other great films of this decade: Les Vampires, 1915, Das Kabinett Des Doktor Caligari (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) 1919.
A film I briefly looked into when attempting a historical enquiry into racism in America. It is one of the most controversial films of all time. The reason being is because it displays the KKK in a very good light. However, the films context and story is fascinating. Considering it was made so early on in film history, it is still over three hours long and manages to capture brilliantly the mood and feeling towards blacks in the South. It is a three hour epic, but if you have any interest in learning about racism at the time, this is a great historical insight. D.W. Griffith manages to get the mood perfectly, and it probably helps that he was a definite racist, hence the positive way the KKK are portrayed.
1920-1929
The winner is: Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie Des Grauens (Nosferatu, A Symphony of Terror) 1922
Other great films of this decade: The Thief of Bagdad 1924 (Where Disney got many ideas for Aladdin), Sherlock, Jr. 1924, The Phantom of the Opera 1925, Bronenosets Potyomkin (The Battleship Potemkin) 1925, Metropolis 1927.
This was a tough one...so many fantastic films released that year. I've only seen two of them however...pretty embarrassing for a film buff like me! Out of those two, the other being The Battleship Potemkin, I enjoyed Nosferatu a great deal more. It is based on the tale of Dracula by Bram Stoker. What it does best is use music to effectively create tension. The opening scene is brilliant and works well to powerfully create the sense of dread that hangs over the whole film. It was a brilliant take on the idea of a vampire, the art of seduction to tempt his victims before going in for the kill. If you thought Twishite was good, you have seen nothing yet, this is what a vampire film should be.
1930-1939
The winner is: Modern Times 1936
Other great films of this decade: All Quiet on the Western Front 1930, Dracula 1931, Frankenstein 1931, Scarface: The Shame of a Nation 1932, Duck Soup 1933, King Kong 1933, A Night at the Opera 1935, The 39 Steps 1935, Mr Deeds Goes to Town 1936, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves 1937, Angels with Dirty Faces 1938, Mr Smith Goes to Washington 1939, Wizard of Oz 1939, Gone with the Wind 1939.
As you can see, there is a helluva lot of films released that year that all made their mark on cinema. I could have picked Gone with the Wind but I feel that it's not as enjoyable as Modern Times. One of my favourite Chaplin films, Modern Times is a masterpiece of physical comedy. It centres around one of Chaplin's main characters, 'The Tramp.' It was the first Chaplin film with sound, the sound being Chaplin singing. It's a sweet, charming and funny tale and will make you immediately fall in love with the genius that was Charlie Chaplin.
1940-1949
The winner is: Ladri Di Biciclette (The Bicycle Thief) 1948
Other great films of this decade: The Philadelphia Story 1940, Pinocchio 1940, Citizen Kane 1941, The Maltese Falcon 1941, Dumbo 1941, Casablanca 1942, To Have and Have Not 1944, Spellbound 1945, It's a Wonderful Life 1946, Rope 1948, The Red Shoes 1948.
This is tough! I am flicking through my book, because I'm using this as a guide and there's so many! I am trying to be original with the choice in best film. Citizen Kane and It's A Wonderful Life were both released in this decade, and I've chosen an Italian film over both of them. A film I can bet you won't have heard of too! The film stands out to me because it was one made with non-actors. The director, Vittorio De Sica apparently chose the principle actors on their walk alone. It is a simple but touching story. The Italian title is actually The Bicycle Thieves and the title gives away what the main premise is. However, the focus is on the father and his son as they look for the bike. There are some fantastic moments, some heartbreaking and some that fill you with warmth...but you'll have to just watch it to see these moments for yourself ;).
1950-1959
The winner is: Some Like it Hot 1959
Other great films of this decade: Sunset Blvd. 1950, A Streetcar Named Desire 1951, Singing in the Rain 1952, On the Waterfront 1954, Rear Window 1954, Rebel without a Cause 1955, Giant 1956, 12 Angry Men 1957, Vertigo 1958.
I have seen almost all the films I've mentioned (in terms of the other great films list). However, in this decade Some Like it Hot is easily the best. It has some fantastic performances from both Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. Billie Wilder is a brilliant director, of many genres and the film ends with one of the best lines in film history. Obviously, if I just said it, you'd think "that's not that great" but it's the context in which it's said. It's got some highly humorous scenes, including a homage to Cary Grant, by Tony Curtis. It also stars Marilyn Monroe, a vastly under rated actress who also performs 'I want to be loved by You' in the film, and she makes it an comic romance rather than just a comedy.
1960-1969
The winner is: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 1964
Other great films of this decade: Spartacus 1960, West Side Story 1961, To Kill a Mockingbird 1962, The Manchurian Candidate 1962, The Birds 1963, The Great Escape 1963, Goldfinger 1964, Blowup 1966, Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly) 1966, The Graduate 1967, Cool Hand Luke 1967, The Producers 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968, Night of the Living Dead 1968, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1969, Easy Rider 1969.
I've already done an entire blog on To Kill a Mockingbird, both the book and then the film respectively. Therefore, I wanted to choose a film that isn't as good but is easily my favourite, after the Gregory Peck epic. It is a stark look at the fear of Nuclear War following on from the aftermath of World War Two. It does so in a darkly humorous way, and there are some brilliant one-liners. Peter Sellers is fantastic as Dr. Strangelove, a crazed German doctor who loves the idea of nuclear war. He's also brilliant as Captain Mandrake and also wonderful as the President. Yes, Stellers plays three roles and would have even played a fourth if it weren't for difficulties with a broken leg and also his inability to do a Texan accent. Out of the Kubrick films I've seen (the director) it is by far my favourite. It is a clever, insightful and witty film. As an added bonus, it was James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader) debut film.
1970-1979
The winner is: The Godfather 1972
Other great films of this decade: Five Easy Pieces 1970, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 1971, A Clockwork Orange 1971, Get Carter 1971, Dirty Harry 1971, Papillon 1973, Mean Streets 1973, Chinatown 1974, The Godfather: Part II 1974, Dog Day Afternoon 1975, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975, Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1975, Barry Lyndon 1975, Carrie 1976, Taxi Driver 1976, Network 1976, Star Wars 1977, Stroszek 1977, The Deer Hunter 1978, Dawn of the Dead 1978, Halloween 1978, Alien 1979, Kramer 1979, Life of Brian 1979, Apocalypse Now 1979, The Jerk 1979.
The hardest decade thus far! However, it was made easy by the fact I haven't seen half of these, I just know you should. I'm afraid I'm being very unoriginal in my choice this time, but it The Godfather is a fantastic drama. It charts the rise of the son of a Mafia don, played to perfection by Al Pacino. Based on the brilliant novel by Mario Puzo, this film does almost everything right. It manages to create a balance between disgust at the criminal activities and yet you hold an admiration for the principles of the Don, these being ones of honour and respect. The Don being played by Marlon Brando, one of his last great roles.) The end scene is juxtaposition of the highest class and is one of my favourite moments in film history. It was a tough call between this and the second film (which does just as well) but the first is about the rise of Pacino's character, and is a far more engaging tale.
The hardest decade thus far! However, it was made easy by the fact I haven't seen half of these, I just know you should. I'm afraid I'm being very unoriginal in my choice this time, but it The Godfather is a fantastic drama. It charts the rise of the son of a Mafia don, played to perfection by Al Pacino. Based on the brilliant novel by Mario Puzo, this film does almost everything right. It manages to create a balance between disgust at the criminal activities and yet you hold an admiration for the principles of the Don, these being ones of honour and respect. The Don being played by Marlon Brando, one of his last great roles.) The end scene is juxtaposition of the highest class and is one of my favourite moments in film history. It was a tough call between this and the second film (which does just as well) but the first is about the rise of Pacino's character, and is a far more engaging tale.
1980-1989
The winner is: The Breakfast Club 1985
Other great films of this decade: The Shining 1980, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 1980, Airplane 1980, Raging Bull 1980, Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981, Blade Runner 1982, The Evil Dead 1982, Diner 1982, Gandhi 1982, Videodrome 1983, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi 1983, Once Upon a Time in America 1983, Scarface 1983, The Terminator 1984, Ghost Busters 1984, Back to the Future 1985, The Colour Purple 1985, Stand by Me 1986, The Fly 1986, Aliens 1986, Ferris Bueller's Day Off 1986, Platoon 1986, Top Gun 1986, Full Metal Jacket 1987, Withnail and I 1987, Good Morning, Vietnam 1987, The Untouchables 1987, A Fish Called Wanda 1988, Big 1988, Die Hard 1988, Rain Man 1988, Batman 1989, When Harry Met Sally 1989.
With the eighties, there were two big categories of films, Vietnam war films and Teen films with teen-pop, mostly starring actors from a group of kids known by the media as 'The Brat Pack.' Although the Vietnam War films are all brilliant, The Breakfast Club is easily one of my personal favourites. It opens with five teens who know very little about each other. Over the course of the day, they become acquainted and learn things about each other that nobody else knows. It's a typical coming-of-age film and each actor is brilliant in their own role, (though my personal favourite being Judd Nelson.) It has a mixture of comedy, romance and drama. It has one of the best monologues I've seen in any film, some highly amusing lines and some classic montage scenes set to a brilliant soundtrack. It's a feel good film and you come away feeling that life can be pretty good sometimes.
1990-1999
The winner is: The Shawshank Redemption 1994
Other great films of this decade: Goodfellas 1990, Dances with Wolves 1990, Edward Scissorhands 1990, Total Recall 1990, Terminator 2: Judgement Day 1991, JFK 1991, Resevoir Dogs 1992, Romper Stomper 1992, Glengarry Glen Ross 1992, Groundhog Day 1993, Philadelphia 1993, Schindler's List 1993, The Lion King 1994, Clerks 1994, Four Weddings and a Funeral 1994, Pulp Fiction 1994, Babe 1995, Tou Story 1995, Casino 1995, Heat 1995, Clueless 1995, Se7en 1995, The Usual Suspects 1995, Fargo 1996, The English Patient 1996, L.A. Confidential 1997, Saving Private Ryan 1998, Fight Club 1999, Being John Malkovich 1999, American Beauty 1999, The Matrix 1999, The Sixth Sense 1999, The Green Mile 1999.
Almost all of my top films were made in this decade. Arguably because I grew up with them, but then I wasn't watching Schindler's List or Pulp Fiction at five was I? Yes, The Shawshank Redemption wins hands down. It's based off of a short story by Stephen King, and tells the moving story of a man who is jailed in prison, despite being adamant that he is not guilty. It is a story which shows a long period of time within the jail...from the perspective of one of the inmates 'Red' (played by Morgan Freeman.) It has many touching moments, not all regarding the two leads...and you gain an emotional involvement in almost all of the main prisoners. You gain a different perspective about prison life...and it raises the question, does incarceration for such an extended time do a man any good? It is one of the best prison films you'll see and the story is written so that it pans out brilliantly.
Well, we finally made it...all ten decades that I wanted to cover. Thanks for keeping up! (Unless you closed the window half way through, you dick head.) The song title is one by Alphaville...who are the original musicians behind Forever Young and not Mr. Hudson as I first believed...so much for fucking originality eh? At least this blog is! ;) The title is my own reference to the fact that you aren't going to be forever young...so you might as well go watch all those films now! Don't come back until you've seen at least each winner from each decade! It's only ten films! Better get started until you're so old that you don't even remember what decade the film is from and therefore can't tell if you've accomplished my goal...better get started oldie.
Now go away.
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