...on my quest to watch all 100 films in the 10th Anniversary Edition of the AFI Top 100 Films.
In starting this journey, I was trying to figure out how best to accomplish the task of writing about this, while (hopefully) remaining interesting. So, I came up with a couple of ideas. I went through the list and checked off all the films I had seen. Turns out the number was exactly 50. I'd seen half...and an idea came to me...I'll watch them in sets (always with the MATH) of 5. Start with 5 I haven't seen, then go to 5 I have, and so on. That allows me to watch one of the top 5 as the last film, as I have seen all of them. So. The icing on the cake will be "Casablanca." (even though "The Godfather" is my favorite film - but it only makes sense to sit down and watch the two "Godfather" films in one weekend - and no "Citizen Kane," because although I love it, ending with number 1 is too cliche for me...)
I then pondered how to write about it. Hmmmph. You know what? That whole sets of 5 thing works quite nicely for that, as well. I do intend to live blog one night, if enough people actually take an interest in this. Which means, of course, that you too, the reader, will be able to share in REAL TIME my thoughts on a film as I watch it. I think p'raps I'll do that twice. Once for a film I haven't seen, and once for a film I have.
I am doing these in no particular order. It's starting with films I own or have access to through Amazon Prime.
Enough lead in - let's get this started, shall we? These are in the order in which I watched them.
Films 1-5
1. "The African Queen." OK. This was an inauspicious beginning. I, for the life of me, have no idea how this film is in the top 100 and other, FAR more worthy candidates like, oh, say, "The Right Stuff," or any other number of films are not here. I can't even justify the star power of the director (he's kinda well represented in the top 100 with "The Maltese Falcon," nor the stars...Bogie is not only in "The Maltese Falcon," but "Casablanca" as well. Katharine Hepburn is also well represented on the list, especially with "The Philadelphia Story." So. What are my thoughts? 1. The opening scene is entirely too long. The out of sync soundtrack (the Brother character's singing never matches the music), and the overall length of the church scene just started this off badly for me. 2. We then go to a fairly well acted scene where tea is had. And Bogie's stomach growls noticeably throughout. I guess it's supposed to show how hungry he is...but there is really nothing done to remedy it, nor any acknowledgement that, FUCK YES, I'M HUNGRY. 3. The village is then burned, World War I begins, and our protagonists find themselves left all alone. What do they do? They decide to hop on Bogie's boat and go down the river.
For an hour and a half.
Now. I'm a big believer in context. I understand that sometimes what seems very unsophisticated to us was quite revolutionary at the time. Not this hunk of crap. It's an obviously drunk Bogie doing very little stuff as Katharine Hepburn pretends to have interest in him. The film is a travelogue. Come to Africa! You might see CROCODILES! OR LEECHES! MAYBE A MONKEY! Seriously. That's about the only thing I can find of merit in this. Don't get me wrong. I think the film's story teeters on interesting at times, and Katharine Hepburn, in her day, was one hell of a woman. And how can you not love Bogie? (wait, didn't you just call this a hunk of crap?) I just don't see greatness. I did like trying to figure out where I'd seen the German Boat Captain before. Yup. Russian ambassador, "Dr. Strangelove." This time the "big bored" was me. If these films are going to continue like this...I might be pretty happy that I've only watched 50...
Boo. Bad, bad start. "The African Queen." Watched it. I can say I've done that. I never want to do it again.
2. "The Apartment." Whew. At least this film I enjoyed. When I was in high school, my folks rented "Irma La Douce," a film pairing Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. I remember thinking that was a pretty damned good movie. I had always intended to watch "The Apartment," but never got to it. I'm very glad I did. I don't think I'm going to spend a lot of time talking about the films' plots. You want those? Go to Wikipedia. This is about my reaction to what I watched. My thoughts: Jack Lemmon's performance in this is heartbreakingly complex. The subtle, tiny movement that his face does when he discovers that his boss's mistress is the woman with whom he is in love is something only a skilled craftsman can execute. Sure, there is a lot of Lemmony mugging in this, but DAMN, that man could act. Shirley MacLaine is wonderfully natural, wonderfully naturally beautiful, and matches Lemmon in the subtlety department. P'raps it was Billy Wilder, but a lot of the things that happen in this film could have been played for melodrama. What I saw was real. And real good. This film was given the Oscar for Best Picture, and I'm not going to look up what films it beat, but I can get it. It's a great story, a great bit of acting, and a great bit of directing.
It's telling, I think that the film's central plot...is still somewhat sophisticated. Watch it for your self and you can almost see this story happening today. Well. The drunken Christmas party orgy probably isn't quite the same now, but I think the point was made...
3. "On the Waterfront." Now, this, THIS is a fine film. A young, GOD HELP ME IS HE SEXY Brando, Eva Marie Saint making her (Oscar winning) debut, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Karl Malden, FRED GWYNNE! This is a film. Something that I've already noticed while doing this is just how fleeting a story is. "On the Waterfront" is a great film...but ultimately it's just one tiny fragment of an idea that is made into a story. That fragment? There is corruption in the world, and occasionally those who are oppressed rise above it. Now, we all love that story. I watched masterful direction by Elia Kazan helping to make that story into a gritty, sumptuous film. Another thought, on a more base level. HOLY CRAP Eva Marie Saint was gorgeous. Not film star gorgeous, but accessible, interesting, might actually have a thought in her head gorgeous. She also did one hell of a job in this, holding her own against the madness that was Brando. She was incredible, just incredible. In fact, as an actor, that's what struck me the most watching this film. Everyone in it was looking at the other person and speaking the truth. Great study in acting. Again, I think the story, ultimately, wears a little thin, but how can you not enjoy watching Brando and Steiger sharing the back of a car? That's one of those moments where you can just see the talent/dedication/craft dripping off the screen. It doesn't hurt that Brando is delivering one of the great speeches in film history (or was the speech made great by a gifted actor?). Yeah, he coulda been a contender.
I wholeheartedly recommend the film "On the Waterfront." It is what great filmmaking should be.
4. "North by Northwest." Hmmmmmph. Eva Marie Saint again, and the first appearance of a Hitchcock film. There are 3 others on the list, but I've seen all of them previously, and well, I wanted to make sure to watch a film of his as early as possible in the list. Now. There is something I should say at this point in the proceedings. I've fancied that this process will be a bit like what Ebert and Siskel had to go through on a weekly basis. I have to watch an average of 2 films a week to accomplish my task. Wanna know what Ebert and Siskel DIDN'T HAVE TO DO?! They didn't have to watch two "top 100" films a week. I'm whining, to be sure, but a little of this is difficult. I'm getting to see great film all the time. Eventually...that will get old.
Bah.
Hitchcock. "North by Northwest." Cary Grant. I must admit I've not watched a lot of Cary Grant. He always struck me as the classic definition of someone who might say "I'm not an actor, I'm a MOVIE STAR!" His performances seem wooden, and he always just appears a little too cool. "North by Northwest" may start to change that perception for me. While watching this, I perused IMDB a bit, and discovered that Jimmy Stewart thought he was going to get the role. I love Jimmy Stewart. The right guy got the role. Of course, you have a lot of Hitchcock standards, the shot from the above as Cary Grant parks his car at the U.N., the brief (and TERRIBLE) cameo, the soft focus shots of Eva Marie Saint, etc. But you also had a noticeably gay Martin Landau, James Mason playing it cool, and a really cool set piece for the film's climax. I'm sorry, but if the idea of just walking up and saying "We're on top of the monument" at Mount Rushmore doesn't appeal to you...I'm not sure anything can. That's a fun thought. This film is great fun, well acted, (although someone REALLY needs to explain the auction scene to me) and gorgeous to watch. Everything a Hitchcock film should be. I'm very glad I put this high on the list. We've had 3 winners so far. I'll take a .750 batting average any ol' day.
5. "The Philadelphia Story." Cary Grant again. Jimmy Stewart. Katharine Hepburn being everything that "The African Queen" teased (but failed to deliver upon) that she was. I was going to watch "The Bridge on the River Kwai" in this spot, but Amazon took it off Prime before I got to it. I decided to punt, based simply on running time. I'm glad I did. Again, I think this a paper thin idea of a story...but somehow it makes for a compelling two hours. It doesn't hurt that Jimmy Stewart turns in a PHENOMENAL performance. His cynicism, his natural mannerisms, and most importantly his DRUNK are all great in this. I've been a long time fan of "My Favorite Year" (didn't you reference that talking about "North by Northwest?"). Peter O'Toole's Alan Swann has long been my favorite film drunk. No more. Watch Jimmy Stewart scream, "Oh, C.K. Dexter Haaaaaven!" and see the NOT over the top nature of it, and you'll understand. Actually, while watching it, I thought of something else as well. See if you don't think of Sheldon Cooper talking about Amy Farrah Fowler. It's hard not to see it. Katharine Hepburn was beautiful in this film, not only physically, but in spirit. I can't imagine her "Red" was that much of a stretch for her. Indeed, I think this was Hepburn just being Hepburn. And she's fascinating. And beautiful. And feisty. And desirable. "The Philadelphia Story" isn't the cinematic piece of art that "North by Northwest" was, but it's a great film. I'm glad I switched. I think "Bridge on the River Kwai" is going to tickle my fancy to no end as a piece of art. "The Philadelphia Story" just tickled my fancy. Sometimes that's what a great film needs to do.
Whew. That's FIVE! I did it! I've already gotten through numbers 6 and 7...so hopefully I'll be back in a week with 5 more. In the mean time, thanks for reading. I really love doing this. I hope you enjoy it, too.
Not a lot of deep thoughts thus far.
What do you think? Should I write more? Do you want to know other things about the films? Is this too vague? Let me know.
