On the eve of my 40th birthday, I pride myself on the fact that, yes, I made it through my 30s without ever actually watching a single episode of thirtysomething and now I am too old to relate to the series.
Just thought I would get that milestone out of the way first.
In the tradition of the best desert island discs lists, I thought it might be fun to program a virtual film festival that represents what of the past 40 years of my existence on this planet I would want to do a marathon big screen festival of in a perfect world.
It’s a collection of favorites, and by no means a list of what I consider the “best.” But if I got to program a non-stop screening of 40, it would be these, shown in order of release. Roll film…
obligatory retro self portrait of the blogger
THE GODFATHER (1972)
I’m gonna kick off this festival with a movie you can’t refuse and a horse head under your sheets.
DON’T LOOK NOW (1973)
Growing up in the Detroit area, I’d see this film edited for Sunday afternoon television a lot, and it still messed me up. It’s even more haunting uncut and on the big screen.
THE MACK (1973)
Because you can always use some Blacksploitation. This is one of the best of the genre.
CARRIE (1976)
Ok, one more Brian De Palma I’m going with here. But this is arguably his best film, or at least the one that successfully blends camp and drama. It’s also still one of the best Stephen King adaptations.
ANNIE HALL (1977)
I just screened a new 35mm print of this the other day on its 35th anniversary, so I have a head start on the fest. Still such a hysterical movie.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
Probably my favorite example of a movie that can be suspenseful, enchanting, scary and hopeful often at the same time.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
Only allowed if we can get a 70mm print of the original version. Otherwise we can burn the special edition print and roast marshmallows on it for a 2 hour break before watching…
THE SHINING (1980)
Would love to watch this with the new documentary right after it that’s coming this summer (Room 237).
TIME BANDITS (1981)
Man, that ending gets me every time. I still warn my parents to keep away from the toaster.
TRON (1981)
And in 70mm, if you please.
ET (1982)
Repeat viewings of ET always surprise me because you go into it knowing most of the key scenes, and resistant to be moved by a woman in a rubber suit with Deborah Winger’s voice. But then you don’t count on the pacing of the movie upping your emotional connection. Still a classic.
BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984)
The first R rated film I had to sneak into by myself. Epic profanity that’s PG by today’s standards.
BODY DOUBLE (1984)
I love this Brian De Palma movie for its audacity. It’s sexist, garish and a blatant plagiarism of Hitchcock. I love watching people react to seeing for the first time.
GREMLINS (1984)
Still my favorite film of all time, and probably not going to change any time soon.
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
Or any of the sequels really. This is the best one for the big screen though. Although that Blu-ray release does it some justice too.
THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984)
And turn it up to 11.
AFTER HOURS (1985)
This movie is probably 1/10th of the reason I moved to New York City. There’s something romantic about it now, having never been to the city in the 80s.
FERRIS BEULLER’S DAY OFF (1986)
If you could only pick one John Hughes film, I’m sorry Breakfast Club, but this is the one.
SOMETHING WILD (1986)
Crazy, crazy, crazy film from Jonathan Demme. Crazy.
TRUE STORIES (1986)
I was strangely obsessed with this film when it came out, and really I still am to some extent.
EVIL DEAD 2 (1987)
It’s a VHS rental memory for me mainly, but I’ve since seen it on 35mm a few times and I marvel at the ingenuity to push the envelope where the first film left off not to mention basically remake it.
HEATHERS (1988)
I know somewhere out there are some High School kids passing around Blu-rays of this like we bootlegged VHS Rocky Horror tapes. It’s still a bad-ass film on too many levels.
THEY LIVE (1988)
I could pick any John Carpenter film, but let’s make it fun. No Little China allowed.
DO THE RIGHT THING (1989)
Remember when a major studio released films like this during the Summer? Spike Lee probably never thought it would get even harder from here on out to work with studios.
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)
I saw a print of the film at MOMA a couple years ago, and I was struck at how beautiful it holds up on the big screen. Forget about your Blu-ray or DVD copy.
WILD AT HEART (1990)
Widescreen David Lynch weirdness coming off of the Twin Peaks wave. Debate if you must, but this is where Nicolas Cage starts to get a little wacky with the performances. I blame the cockroach from Vampire’s Kiss.
DEFENDING YOUR LIFE (1991)
Albert Brooks at his sharpest satire and Meryl Streep at her most adorable.
RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)
I was an intern at Miramax during the summer of ’92 and I can promise you they had no idea what they had on their hands. Critics were either naming it a landmark or running out of the theatre vomiting. T’was a blast to be a part of the dawn of Tarantino.
INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE (1994)
It’s slow and moody enough to make you doze off, but there are enough jump kicks to the face that wake you up. I speak from experience having re-watched this on a recent flight to Europe.
CASINO (1995)
Yeah, I love me some Goodfellas, but this is a better film. It is. Watch it again.
SHOWGIRLS (1995)
Trashy, bad greatness that you couldn’t make up if you tried your least. The stars aligned in all the right proportions for this masterpiece. Watch for the audience members that haven’t ever seen it. They’ll be the ones shaking their heads in disbelief.
TRAINSPOTTING (1996)
I would put Clockwork Orange on the list, but technically it came out a year before I was born. This is second to that in terms of beautiful debauchery.
THE ICE STORM (1997)
The music, the set design, the direction and the way Joan Allen makes me so sad when I watch this movie. Every single time. That shoplifting scene kills me.
BULWORTH (1998)
It hasn’t aged well, but I love this ghetto superstar. I hope it’s remembered as Warren Beatty’s goofy masterpiece.
RUN LOLA RUN (1998)
An electric, energetic and rebellious little German number that makes me feel cool just by watching it.
THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (2004)
It’s still the best Wes Anderson film, thank you very much. Your argument is invalid.
THE FALL (2006)
This is one of the most beautiful films of the past 10 years that nobody’s ever seen. Let alone on the big screen.
WALL-E (2008)
Released on my birthday four years ago in fact. Probably the most melancholy reflection on existence and aging to pull on your strings, even though Up did a pretty impressive job of that the next year.
WATCHMEN (2009)
Yeah, yeah, I know it’s not everyone’s delight, but I stand by it. A solid adaptation (and even more solid if you watch the ultimate cut) that’s just a blast.
BELLFLOWER (2011)
To end the evening, something that feels like the future of cinema. Way more important and memorable than last year’s Drive.
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