30 down, 20 more to go. 8 days left.

So here's a recap of movies #30 - #21. It really started strong but fizzled towards the end until capping off with Chinatown. Here's my ranking of the ten I just watched.

#10 - All About Eve (AFI #28)

I vetoed this, couldn't stand the first 30 minutes...see for yourself

#9 - The Grapes of Wrath (AFI #23)

                                      

Henry Fonda yes, rest of movie no

#8 - Some Like It Hot (AFI #22)

Drag, blonde bombshell...I'll stick with Ms. Monroe

#7 - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (AFI #24)

A classic for many, not me. I prefer wartime Spielberg

#6 - To Kill a Mockingbird (AFI #25)

Gregory Peck is amazing - I'll buy whatever he's selling

#5 - High Noon (AFI #25)

                                      

The theme song from the beginning gives away the whole movie

#4 - Double Indemnity (AFI #29)

Count the double entendres

#3 - Chinatown (AFI #21)

Yeah...gross

#2 - Apocalypse Now (AFI #30)

Best. Scene. Ever.

#1 - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (AFI #26)

Life. Liberty. And Jimmy Stewart being mint!

#22 (Some Like It Hot) & #21 (Chinatown)

#22 - Some Like It Hot

Uhhhh. What to say about this 'comedy'.....you know, I read a bunch of posts on IMDB with people saying that this was one of the best comedies ever. I guess things evolve over time, and if - according to current comedic gauges - could you consider this still one of the best comedies ever? Not for me, I'd rather watch a Pauly Shore film....preferably In the Army Now.

Were there some parts where I laughed? No doubt, but I really didn't find it that funny. I guess it's on the list because it was one of the first real comedies like this? I don't know, but I'm finding that to be a trend with this list. Ground breakers tend to be on it, even if some that came after surpassed them in quality, if you're first you're on the list.

So what does this movie have that you might like? Marilyn Monroe - bombshell. Singer, actress, model....yeah it works. Jack Lemmon is in it too. Two guys dress in drag to fool the mob, an old guy falls in love with one of them - of course it's all HILARIOUS!

A guy pops out of a cake and murders a bunch of dudes at the end....big laughs. I guess I'm lucky I didn't use a veto on this one...way to stick it out Tim!

I'd pass on this one again.

#21 - Chinatown

Here we go - now this is what I'm talking about. Jack Nicholson before he was type cast as Jack Nicholson. Great film noir, all around great movie - and who would've suspected with it being centered around people drowning in reservoirs during a drought in L.A.? Riveting. 

If you're looking for a good crime drama - pick this one up. Great ending to the film as well, albeit the 'twist' is a little wonky and kind of barf inducing. OH! And unless I'm mistaken, this is the first movie with nudity in it on the list. Good ole Faye Dunaway, you just can't resist Jack. Jack's the man, who could resist him? And as much chest as you flash Faye, it won't make up for the fact that your annoying sometimes British/sometimes Southern Belle accent has no place in this film. 

Your father in the film sounds as American as they get. You were raised in L.A.....you're not British. Stop it. It's frustrating. Ok fine, take your top off.  Well, without giving too much away it's fair to say she won't speak with that accent after the movie.

Now, the title of the film. Chinatown? How does this fit whatsoever? Two references to it in the movie. First, Jack Nicholson (who's now a private investigator), was once a cop and his beat was Chinatown. Ok....

Second? The last scenes of the movie happen in Chinatown and apparently that means that 'anything goes in Chinatown' or something like that. Either way, good promotion for those who're looking for adventure/black market goods/pigs hanging in windows/cheap sunglasses/shooting sprees....go to Chinatown! 

Good movie though, pretty big fan. And Jack's nose! Wow, that would suck....and to have it sliced open by Roman Polanski of all people. Good thing Jack's nose wasn't 15 years old, because that could've gone south fast....so to speak.

Too soon? Meh.

#25 (To Kill a Mockingbird), #24 (E.T. The Extra Terrestrial) & #23 (The Grapes of Wrath)

#25 - To Kill A Mockingbird

Yeah...this post is going to be about three movies that I wasn't a huge fan of. But To Kill A Mockingbird is probably the least terrible. For a few reasons.

First, Gregory Peck. Tour de force in this movie, great job. If you've seen A Time To Kill then you'd like this however I wish the perspective wasn't through the children's eyes. And that Samuel L Jackson was in it as well. But hey, I didn't read the book...I mean novel...so I guess I can't complain on that end. A lot of these older movies, like Grapes of Wrath are from the novels, verbatim. Bru. Tal. 

Second. The ending of this movie is where it's at though. While the court scenes and the litigation unbelievable, it's all for not...then BAM...Robert Duvall shows up as Boo Radley. I had no idea! Robbie Duvall has got to be in the most movies on this list...him and Jimmy Stewart. Impressive my man.

Anyways, would I recommend this movie? Not really. I'd recommend you Youtube the ultimate court scene at the end and Atticus Finch's closing arguments. That's phenomenal. 

#24 - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

Ok, I'm not going to say much about this movie. I'm not a big fan. I didn't even like it when I was a kid. On second viewing, still not a fan.

Good special effects? Ya. 

Annoying? Oh yeah.

Sorry any ET fans but this was not a big part of my childhood and I'm probably biased now that I watched it again. ET, go home. Seriously....like now. Take all of your 30 year anniversary editions with you.

Yeah. Peace out.

#23 - The Grapes of Wrath

So whats up with this movie? Henry Fonda gets out of jail and his family is destitute. They travel to California in hopes of being...less destitute? Anyways, he can't keep out of trouble so he leaves. Then they keep hitting the road since California was not the answer to their problems. Lose lose here folks. 

So Henry Fonda circa 1940 looks like Kevin Harvick. That's pretty much all I was thinking about.

This movie was lame.

#27 (High Noon) & #26 (Mr. Smith Goes To Washington)

#27 - High Noon

The second Western on the list, one more to go. So I thought Shane was the stereo typical Western, boy was I wrong. This. This is the stereo typical Western (at least until the next one I see).

One thing that confused me though, the movie starts off with the Marshall (50 ish) getting married to his Quaker wife (20 tops....not tooo shabby). He goes to leave on his honeymoon but some dude he put away in prison who was supposed to hang....gets let off somehow and is arriving...by train to mess him up (presumably)....at....HIGH NOON! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Anyways, that's the whole movie. Him coming back and trying to get anybody in the town to help him out and shoot this guy. There's only 4 bad guys, like honestly...just set up properly with 2 guys and you could take them out. That's it. But everyone is a big baby. They all bail, which I'm sure is a commentary on America at the time...well at least that's what the Duke said. He hated this movie, so I guess I had to disagree with Mr. Wayne on this one. So literally no one helps him....but he still wins. So there you go.

I liked it. If you need to get accustomed to Westerns, try this one. But just like Shane, don't expect a big shoot em up. Even less violence than Shane, and it's all at the end. But, for those needing celebrities...a young Lloyd Bridges is the new baby Marshall who's a giant loser....I expected more. I appreciated him more in Blown Away.  Remember that one, with his son Jeff, and Tommy Lee Jones? Great movie.

How'd that not make this list?

#26 - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Jimmy Stewart. Boy oh boy. Don't ever change you charming son of a bitch.

If you hadn't figured it out by now, Jimmy Stewart is my favorite actor...the guy can flat out act and I think he'd probably love to down a pint or two with you and bitch about the AFC North domination...well back in the day. When he was alive. But the guy is the man.

Does everyone remember the Simpsons episode when Lisa wins an essay contest and has to go to Washington to compete in the National essay competition but overhears something that is evidence of Senate corruption? Then she goes to the Lincoln memorial to right herself? Yeah...that's a rip off of this movie.

Anyways, great movie. Partial comedy, partial drama. I just wish it didn't end so abruptly. Also, a great little flick to explain some political nuances....you know, like what a filibuster is. Pretty much that's what the entire movie is about.

But in all seriousness, when Jefferson Smith is 3/4 through his filibuster against the corrupt Senate, and he needs some help - Jean Arthur sends him a note that, when he reads it, is truly one of the best feel good moments in movie history.

Such a good movie, and Claude Rains plays a great part in this...and he's from my favorite movie Casablanca which helps out a ton.

I immediately bought this movie after I finished watching it. There's a solid chance it's in my Top 3 thus far, if not my top movie.

Jimmy Stewart. Don't go changing. Well, if you could come back to life that'd be awesome. But apart from that, you're wicked and I profess my love for you. True story. Just look at this guy.

#30 (Apocalypse Now), #29 (Double Indemnity) & #28 (All About Eve)

#30 - Apocalypse Now

Francis Ford Coppola is 2 for 2 on this list so far. A lot of people don't like Apocalypse Now, I'm not one of them. This movie is amazing, with deep meaning that goes much further than just a pretty bad ass war movie.

At the very least, you have to be in awe of all of the incredible actors that came out for this one.

Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Harrison Ford, Laurence Fishburne, Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper...unreal. All of them with outstanding performances. Marlon Brando is creepy as hell yet somewhat sophisticated in his disturbingly scary and insane portrayal of Colonel Hurtz. Dennis Hopper. Wow, Dennis Hopper isn't in this until the end but he's really 'Dennis Hopper' like.

A lot of people will remember Robert Duvall's role, or at least his helicopters as it's one of the most famous scenes in all movie history - The Flight of the Valkyries leading into "I love the smell of napalm in the morning!"

Are there some historical inaccuracies in this movie? Yeah...I sincerely doubt that helicopter brigades would go in full force before anyone else. I also doubt there'd be a midnight USO show, nor Christmas lights all over the place. Regardless, this movie - in my mind - is a masterpiece. That's 2 masterpieces from Coppola so far.

The horror. The horror.

Go see this movie.

#29 - Double Indemnity

So at the beginning of this whole thing, I had heard of all of these....with 1 exception. Double Indemnity. So I looked it up. Old.....great. At least all of the other old movies I had heard of for good reason. But, a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do.

This movie was something else. An original film noir - some definite dark content. Pretty sexy without being obvious like today. No sex scenes, no swearing but some pretty fancy dialogue with a double entendre every three seconds.

It's pretty normal film noir stuff, but in 1944 it's epic and controversial. An insurance salesman falls in love with a neglected and beautiful wife. They conspire to get her husband to sign up for accidental death insurance (forged) with a double indemnity clause (if you die of certain things you get double the settlement...aka fall off of a train). 

They kill the husband, throw him off a train and look to live happily ever after. Until the guys insurance company starts getting suspicious. Either way, its a great ending and great movie in general. Very surprising stuff. I'd also really recommend this movie, it will throw you for a loop.

#28 - All About Eve

So....I gave this 20 minutes or so. Second veto. Just wasn't my style. Maybe it was the fact that I knew it was 2.5 hours and maybe if it was an hour shorter I would have stuck it out. I couldn't do it here...the perils and social backstabbing that goes on in Hollywood. Big surprise. 

Two things at least. The first is that the nurse from Rear Window is in this. That's all. And the second is that this movie won a ton of Oscars. But hey, the Academy makes mistakes eh? English Patient anyone???

Sorry guys, I couldn't do it. Saved me time though. 

8 days...20 movies later

Let the depravity sink in...

This coming week is going to be difficult as I'm in Toronto for half of the week, and not to mention the fact that March Madness begins on Thursday. So yeah...I'm going to have to focus a lot harder.

But for all of you eager to see my rankings of AFI's 40-31 movies of all time, here ya go!

#10 - Annie Hall (#35 on AFI's List)

Ugh...bathe in the neuroticism

#9 - Dr. Strangelove: Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb (#39 on AFI's List)

Big leap forward from Annie Hall - too bad Woody Allen wasn't riding that bomb

#8 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (AFI #34)

Being a Dwarf would suck, but they're rich...it's kind of like Hollywood

#7 - The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (#38 on AFI List)

Great line. Crazy Mexicans.

#6 - The Sound of Music (#40 on AFI List)

Michael Fassbender, nee Christopher Plummer is the man. Go Canada!

#5 - The Bridge on the River Kwai (AFI #36)

#yablewit Obi Wan.

#4 - The Maltese Falcon (AFI #31)

Bogey, you keep being you buddy.

#3 - One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (AFI #33)

Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Jack Nicholson...what more do you need?

#2 - The Best Years of Our Lives (AFI #37)

One of the best, hooks or no hooks

#1 - The Godfather II (AFI #32)

Fredo you idiot

So there it is. Without a doubt, the Godfather II takes the cake - fantastic. Well, it's on to Apocalypse Now...I have a feeling this one will be near the top. Great movie, pumped to watch it again!

As always, feel free to leave any comments - positive or otherwise. Just know that if it's not positive, there's a chance I'll probably eviscerate you :)

St. Patty's Day update - #32 The Godfather II & #31 The Maltese Falcon

This is a great run of flicks. To make sure I wasn't stuck in front of the tv all morning on St. Patty's Day and to get to my green beer quicker, I watched the Godfather Part 2 yesterday.

To make it simple, if you've never seen any of the Godfather films (well, really just the first two...but watch them all for continuities sake), you need to. Like right now. Go. Watch them.

The Godfather II is the first sequel to ever win an Oscar and most argue that it's better than the first. It's different that's for sure but it really is a masterpiece. It's going to be tough to beat this one.

Al Pacino is phenomenal in this - calm, cool, collected. Rarely has any outbursts but when he does you better not be in the room. He's so calculated but at the same time seems so serene and a dude you'd want to be friends with. Just don't try to kill him.

Robert Duvall, as always an amazing addition to the Corleone family. And the standard Coppola family inclusions (Talia Shire, etc) are great. I also have to mention John Cazale - who plays Fredo. John passed away early in life after a battle with cancer. Not only was he dating Meryl Streep when he died, he had only ever appeared in 5 movies (over 6 years). ALL OF THEM WERE NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE.

The film splits between normal time and flashback to Vito Corleone and how he came to be. This is where DeNiro won his only Oscar. Doesn't say much, but he definitely commands the room - some great knife work too.

The Godfather II is a brilliant masterpiece and I could watch it again and again. I'm eager to get to the original Godfather to see how it compares now that it's fresh in my mind.

The Maltese Falcon is another great movie and like I said earlier when I wrote about the Treasure of the Sierra Madre, I prefer my Bogey to me suave. This helped - as he's a pretty pimped out Detective tracking down not only the treasure that everyone else is looking for (the Maltese Falcon), but the truth behind the murder of his partner, and others....while macking this woman the whole time.

It's a pretty intricate plot for the time and it's crisp back and forth pace helps, as I could see a lot of people losing interest with so many moving pieces. There are a few carry overs from Casablanca in this actor wise but I would rank it right behind Casablanca as one of Bogey's best.

If you like detective type movies and want to see one of the films that started the whole genre, then the Maltese Falcon is a definite must. It started a lot of the Detective/cop show cliches.

The bad guys are pretty dumb though, I'll give them that. Makes catching them pretty easy.

Just look at this guy - so effortless to be the coolest guy in the room