Meryl Streep and Robert Redford headline this romantic drama that is based on a true story, and is a recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Gone With the Wind. Claiming a number of Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Score (by John Barry), Screenplay, and obviously, Cinematography,…
Tag: oscars
Gone With The Wind (1939) -Victor Fleming, George Cukor and Sam Wood
A gorgeous score by Max Steiner welcomes me to this towering four hour epic based on Margaret Mitchell’s classic (albeit incredibly racist) tale of the south. This was one I had never seen, but as I dove back into the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, specifically the romance and melodrama section,…
Braveheart (1995) – Mel Gibson
The next war movie to take a look at thanks to the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is this epic stunner from 1995, helmed and starring Mel Gibson, illustrating that yes, the man may have his problems, but can tell an amazing story. The tale of William Wallace (Gibson) gets the…
All Quiet On The Western Front (1930) – Lewis Milestone
The next genre being tackled by the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is War, with the first title and its recommendations dealing with tales from the First World War. Based on the book by Erich Maria Remarque, the resulting film was banned for its pacifistic views and disgust with war, it wasn’t about flag-waving…
Marty (1955) -Delbert Mann
Ernest Borgnine stars as the titular Marty in this wonderful film recommended in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of On The Waterfront. This is a gem of a film, lovely in its simplicity and honesty, and I can hear the echoes of it in my own life….
The Lost Weekend (1945) – Billy Wilder
Ray Milland and Jane Wyman star in this first recommendation from Great Movies – 100 Years of Film following my viewing of On The Waterfront. And wow… $10 went a long way back in 1945! This one took Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Milland too Best Actor at the Oscars that year,…
On The Waterfront (1954) – Elia Kazan
“You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it.” Brando turns in a bravura performance in this, the next drama entry from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book. The film scored itself…
Black Narcissus (1947) – Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger
The next recommendation from Great Movies – 100 Years of Film following Pandora’s Box, is this 1947 classic starring Deborah Kerr, based on Rumer Godden’s novel. A rundown palace, remotely positioned in the Himalayan mountains is the new location for a hospital and school to be run by a small group of nuns, led by newly commissioned Mother Superior,…
Avatar (2009) – James Cameron
The 101 Action Movies comes to a close with James Cameron’s sci-fi action-adventure epic. No matter what one thinks of the story, and for me, it was simply a rehash of Pocahontas, again. There is a strong environmental message, one about living in harmony with our surroundings as opposed to pillaging and destroying as…
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) – Peter Jackson
The last installment of Peter Jackson’s gorgeous adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel, The Lord of the Rings, is very welcome indeed on the 101 Action Movies list. Lord of the Rings has always been my favorite book, since I first settled in at the age of 12 and read it. I still remember…
The Mind Reels 