Movie #47: West Side Story. Or really, just watch Romeo and Juliet.

Title: West Side Story

Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer

Directed by: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise 

Year: 1961

Number on the AFI List: 51 (why)

Y’all. I couldn’t get into this movie. At all. Maybe its because I’ve been spoiled on the modern day method of musical movies. I couldn’t handle the break of character types into a song and dance number in full falsetto. Gangsters don’t sing like that. Juliet…wait, no, Maria got over the fact that her brother was dead way too easily. I know he was a jerk. But have some respect and don’t sleep with his killer an hour after it happened. And for the love of all that is holy, can everyone PLEASE stop over acting? Tony and Maria were boring. The gangsters at least played their stereotypes well and were a bit more entertaining to watch. Doc was touching.

The only fully redeemable character was Anita, played by Rita Moreno. She was awesome, from beginning to end. I believed her. I rooted for her. I struggled with her. She stole the show.

I wish I had more to say. The dancing and singing were both great, I can’t deny that. I just couldn’t handle the concept.

Ok. Back to listening to Hamilton.

Favorite moment: every time Anita was on screen.

Will I watch it again: only if I absolutely have to.

Movie #46: Spartacus. Or really...I AM SPARTACUS

Title: Spartacus

Starring: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Number on the AFI List: 81

Year: 1960

I'm not a huge fan of Roman era movies, but it seems like they were all the rage in the 50s and 60s! I enjoyed Ben Hur better than Spartacus; Charleton Heston (as Ben Hur) seemed to grapple with his experiences and his place in life better than Kirk Douglas (as Spartacus), who was always proud of himself and remained proud of himself from the beginning. I wanted to see more struggle rather than a strong man just doing strong man things (great for Westerns...not so much a slave-freeing-slaves story). That being said, the supporting cast was SUPERB. By the end of the movie, I was in awe of Peter Ustinov as Batiatus- his arc from being the enemy to friend was beautiful to watch. I read he won an Oscar and rightly so! Laurence Olivier was of course flawless as Crassus; his paranoid spiral into jealousy and rage over Spartacus was compelling and convincing. I also have to give a shout out to Tony Curtis-this was the first dramatic role I've seen him in (I'm sure he did others), and he was amazing as the slightly flamboyant and strong Antonius. Jean Simmons as Varinia held her own against the primarily male cast, not being overshadowed or pushed to the side as just the damsel in distress, but fighting for her husband. The scene between her and Crassus is probably my favorite scene of the film-she doesn't let him get away with anything! "You think by threatening to kill my child you'll make me love you?" YES GIRL. GET HIM.  

I now know what inspired every battle sequence in subsequent films like Braveheart and Lord of the Rings. The long, drawn out choreography of the battle scene was a bit tedious, but well shot. (I also know why marching bands do what they do. Could it be a stretch to say that football players are our new gladiators and marching bands are our new soldiers? Just a thought I had.) I loved the speeches by Spartacus and Crassus interwoven together before the battle. It heightened the tension and struggle between the two men, both trying to overthrow the other. 

The ending was beautiful but again, with Ben Hur having been released a few years prior, it was a bit cliche.  And I didn't believe Spartacus was dying on that cross. (I did, however, believe that Varinia was looking at the love of her life dying on a cross). Kirk, if you happen to be reading this, I mean no disrespect, seeing as you have had quite the epic film career and well, I haven't. I did love the imagery of a man dying to set the captives free, but thats the Christian in me :)

Favorite moment:

I AM SPARTACUS

Will I Watch it again: Only if I must :)

Movie #45: Psycho. Or really....no, Psycho is the most fitting title.

Title: Psycho

Starring: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, Janet Leigh

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Year: 1960

Number on the AFI List: 14

Hit play:

I'm not going to be the first one to say this, or the last: Psycho is BRILLIANT. ANTHONY PERKINS.  My gosh! You couldn't find someone more perfect, subtle, neurotic, nervous, paranoid, manipulative, and yet...somehow sympathetic. You wouldn't think he was a killer until you find out he is (spoilers. Not sorry about it. You should know he's the killer by now.). How he wasn't even nominated for an Academy Award is beyond me. In fact, how The Apartment won best picture and Psycho wasn't even nominated for best picture is outlandish. Hitchcock's brilliant direction and style is on full display throughout this movie, how he can create intensity with use of darkness and light, silence and song, swooping camera shots, and subtle yet graphic scenes of murder. The infamous shower scene is brilliantly shot. While today, the cop out would be to show full on nudity and just get the shooting of the scene over with, Hitchcock uses various angles and shots that are so jarring you don't know where he's going next, just like Norman Bates with his blade. Apparently, it took seven full days to shoot that one scene. If anything, this goes to show that great movie making is about quality more than quantity, taking your time to do something well and thought out, rather than just doing a few shots to get a scene over with. 

My favorite moments were the conversations people had with Bates. In fact, my favorite scene of the movie is when Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is eating her sandwich in Bates' office. The tension of both of them not wanting to get caught in their respective schemes is palpable-Crane with her money, Bates with his jealous attraction of her. 

Of course, everyone else in this movie is fantastic, too. Detective Arborgast (Martin Balsam) knows how to pressure and question Bates almost to the point of revealing his sins in a clever scene of cat and mouse (GREAT writing). Sam Loomis (John Galvin) and Lila Crane (Vera Miles) are excellent at finding out just what they need from the police and Bates himself, almost fooling Bates into believing they are just normal weary travelers.

Overall, this movie is fantastic and deserves to be watched over and over again. Modern horror filmmakers could learn a lot from Hitchcock's subtlety and style.

Favorite moment: I already mentioned it, but the dinner scene between Marion and Norman.

Will I Watch it Again: Yes. And buy it.

Movie #44: The Apartment. Or really, how to succeed in business without really trying!

Title: The Apartment

Starring: Jack Lemon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray

Directed by: Billy Wilder

Number on the AFI List: 80

Year: 1960

Don't let my title fool you, this movie is nothing (or, not a lot) like the musical/movie How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. However, C. C. Baxter, played by Jack Lemon, does use his apartment as a means to rise to the top of Consolidated Life; he allows the executives of the company to use his apartment as a place where they can meet up with the women they're having affairs with. He wins their affections, too, and eventually becomes an executive assistant. I hate the subject matter. While Baxter is a forgivable character, misogyny reeks from this film at every turn. The only struggle for Fran Kubelick (a fantastic Shirley MacLaine in one of her earliest roles) is for her to choose fake love from the top executive, Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), or from pushover Baxter. Yes, this movie has its sweet moments and is thoroughly entertaining, I just couldn't jump completely on board. 

I will say that its nice to see how acting is becoming more and more grounded; this movie was one of the first ones where I never found any of the acting over the top or unconvincing. 

Favorite moment: When the doctor is trying to wake Fran up from her drugged up stupor (trying not to give spoilers!)

Will I watch it again: Maybe. 

Movie #43: Ben-Hur. Or really, redemption.

Title: Ben-Hur

Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins

Directed by: William Wyler

Number on the AFI List: 100 (ugh)

Year: 1959

"And I felt his voice take the sword out of my hand." - Judah Ben-Hur

I was skeptical when I started this movie because of the length of it. 

However, now I am FLOORED. Absolutely floored. What a beautiful story of redemption and hope. I’ve had a chance to study the Inter-testamental period and the Gospels over the past month through my internship at Reality LA, so it was really cool to be able to follow the historical context in a fresh light. Judah Ben-Hur, played by Charlton Heston in his Pre-Moses days (PM for short), is the prince of Judea. He is friends with a Roman tribune, Messala (Stephen Boyd), but their friendship is torn apart by Ben-Hur's loyalty to God and Messala's loyalty to the state. Messala falsely accuses Ben-Hur and his mother and sister of trying to harm him after a roof tile accidentally falls on his parade. Ben-Hur is taken as a slave, and then we follow his epic journey to seek revenge on Messala and find his mother and sister. The Lord is gracious to Ben-Hur, giving him favor with other Roman soldiers, until he becomes a hailed tribune himself. It is not until witnessing Jesus' death on the cross that Ben-Hur finally forgives Messala, in a beautiful ending that I will be thinking about for a long time.

I loved the concept of following a man’s life during the same time as Jesus’ life on earth without focusing on Jesus, and yet Jesus saves the day. How could he not? Ben-Hur’s story is every man’s life, living a life of reliance upon self and strength, envy and revenge, until the Suffering Servant breaks the cycle. I love how when Ben-Hur prayed for God to give him strength, Jesus gave him water. I literally hollered when that happened. Jesus gave Ben-Hur strength to do the task set before him when giving him water, and Ben Hur returned the favor on Christ’s walk to Golgotha. The beauty of the ending still has me in awe. The kingdom of God came down upon Ben-Hur and his family and changed the course of their life. As the blood of Jesus fell with the rain, healing, forgiveness, and grace reordered their future to one of hope and love. “By His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5. All of the fighting Ben-Hur had to do to redeem himself was lifted off of His shoulders as the freedom of Christ fell upon his household. 

This movie was a tremendous encouragement to me in the midst of a difficult health and life battle of my own. The beauty of seeing the kingdom of God has renewed my hope. So thank you, William Wyler, for creating a truth filled movie.

Thank you, Jesus, for suffering for the sake of our forgiveness.

Favorite moment: The ending *spoilers!*

Will I watch it again: I’m tempted to start over the whole 3.5 hours!

Movie #42: North by Northwest . Or really, the craziest set up you've ever seen!

Title: North by Northwest

Starring: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint 

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Number on the AFI List: 55

Year: 1959

This is the first Hitchcock movie that I thoroughly enjoyed (I know, I know. I spent a good 30 minutes talking to some friends about how I haven’t resonated with Hitchcock yet, but I’ve wanted to). From the beginning of the movie, poor Roger Thronhill (Cary Grant) is mistaken for a CIA agent, George Kaplan by foreign spies led by Phillip Vandamm. The joke is on Vandamm, however, because Kaplan doesn't exist! Vandamm is a master at setting up Thornhill, even to the point of Thornhill being framed for murder. However, what Vandamm doesn’t know is that the CIA is just as masterful at playing tricks on people, and Thornhill ends up working with the CIA and Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) in order to get microfilm from Vandamm. The movie ends with a climactic chase down Mount Rushmore. The rescue is a typical deus ex machina which kind of drove me crazy, but really, how else can you save people from falling to their deaths off of George Washington’s nose? (Ok, it wasn’t exactly like that, but close!)

If that plot synopsis confused you, don't worry. I'm still confused, too...and probably missed a few vital moments.

The cinematography was remarkable, with many shots being filmed from high above or in a crowd of people, giving the audience a feeling of claustrophobia and (harkening back to one of Hitchcock’s other films) vertigo. The movie is an endless cat and mouse chase, and is beautifully directed and acted. Eva Marie Saint steals the movie when she enters as the seductive, undercover agent Eve. If Cary Grant’s character was brighter, he would have become aware that she was sent to seduce him, but of course he just falls for it. Men.

Favorite moment: The “first dinner date” on the train.

Will I watch it again: sure!

Movie #41: Some Like it Hot. Or really, nobody's perfect!

Title: Some Like it Hot

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemon

Directed by: Billy Wilder

Number on the AFI List: 22

Year: 1959

I'm glad to say that I've seen this movie a few times before and I love it more and more each time! Some Like it Hot is a quick witted, hilarious situational comedy starring Marilyn Monroe as Sugar, Tony Curtis as Joe/Josephine, and Jack Lemmon as Jerry/Daphne. Jerry and Joe find themselves being witnesses to a hit job by the mob in Chicago (led by Spats Colombo), so in order to get the heck outta dodge they dress up as women and join a women's band playing at a hotel in Florida. Both have to overcome their manly desires to maintain their disguises, although Joe/Josephine creates another alter ego in order to pursue Sugar as man. Part Twelfth Night, part gang movie, Some Like it Hot starts off with a bang (multiple bangs from guns, to be precise) and ends with some of the funniest dialogue in movie history.  

It's interesting to watch this movie in light of recent events in America with transgenderism and same sex marriage pushing against cultural comfort. This movie was made when both of those things were taboo. In fact, the movie affirms cultural hegemony by making sure both men are attracted to women, even when dressed up as women, and when Jerry/Daphne is proposed to by Osgood Fielding, there is no question that the marriage won't work out.

Political and social notions aside, this movie is hysterical from start to finish and is a prime example of great comedy.

Question: Why do all gang members have weird noses? Can we talk about this for a second? These two are prime examples (notice how Spats Colombo, on the right, looks totally normal, while his henchmen look a bit...more interesting).

Anyway, thats neither here nor there.

Favorite moment: When Daphne and Osgood are dancing the Tango, juxtaposed with Joe and Sugar having a good time on the yacht. Hysterical.

Will I watch it again: Absolutely!

Movie #40: Vertigo. Or really, fear of being caught in a murderous trap!

Title: Vertigo
Starring: James Stewart and Kim Novak
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Number on the AFI List: 9
Year: 1958

Due to health issues and other pressing matters, I actually watched this movie about three-four weeks ago, so this review may be a bit spotty. I do know that this movie is crazy. How does Jimmy Stewart, playing Scottie Ferguson, keep finding himself in impossible situations? In Vertigo, his friend Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) hires him to follow his wife, Madeline Elster (Kim Novak), in order to make sure she's not going crazy...but really, in order for him to stage her suicide so Gavin can get away with murdering her. Or at least, I think that's what I remember. This movie really does create a sense of spiraling confusion, as Scottie becomes more and more obsessed with Madeline to the point where he finds a woman who looks just like her and forces her to dress up as her. In order to not spoil the movie, I'll leave it there. But it was just weird. Well acted, well written, well directed, but weird.

Typical Hitchcock.

Unfortunately that's all I have to say about this one. I enjoyed it, but I need to watch it again.

Favorite moment: Probably the build up to the end.

Will I watch it again: I should!

MOVIE NUMBER 40! Here's my "top 40" on the AFI list thus far:

1. City Lights

2. It's a Wonderful Life

3. Modern Times

4. The Bridge on the River Kwai

5. Sunset Boulevard

6. Sunrise
7. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
8. Wizard of Oz
9. Gone with the Wind
10. On the Waterfront
11. A Streetcar Named Desire
12. The African Queen
13. Angry Men
14. Citizen Kane
15. All About Eve
16. Sullivan's Travels 
17. Double Indemnity
18. Casablanca
19. Singing in the Rain
20. Vertigo
21. Bringing up Baby
22. The Gold Rush
23. The Best Years of our Lives
24. The Maltese Falcon
25. Yankee Doodle Dandy
26. It Happened One Night
27. High Noon
28. A Night at the Opera
29. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
30. The Grapes of Wrath
31. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
32. The General
33. Rear Window 
34. King Kong
35. The Philadelphia Story
36. Intolerance
37. Swing Time
38. Duck Soup
39. The Searchers
40. Shane

Movie #39: The Bridge on the River Kwai. Or really, the bridge to madness.

Title: The Bridge on the River Kwai 

Starring: William Holden, Alec Guiness, Jack Hawkins

Directed by: David Leon

Year: 1957

Number on the AFI List: 36

Although criticized for being historically inaccurate, The Bridge on the River Kwai is a fantastic war film that explores themes of perseverance, honor, and pride…that eventually goes too far. Colonel Nichols (Alec Guiness) and his squad of British soldiers have been captured and taken to a Japanese POW camp in order to build the Burma-Siam railway bridge. Nichols is insistent on remaining in command over his men, to the point that he and all of his commanders underneath him are placed in “hot boxes” for over a month, while the rest of his men sabotage the building of the bridge. Eventually, Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa), the commander of the POW camp, gives into Nichols’ demand to be in charge, since he is running out of time to get the bridge built. Nichols’ begins to view the project as a sign of British pride, and demands his men build with excellence. At the same time, the allies are planning to blow up the bridge once its finished. The movie builds to an explosive ending that leaves many men, allied and Japanese, dead, and with Nichols’ bridge, and pride, in a heap of rubble at the bottom of the Kwai river.

This film explores many questions, including: how long should a man suffer at the hands of his enemy for the sake of dignity? And if he wins, can he avoid working in favor of the enemy and forget his loyalty to his country?  How long before pride leads to disgrace? What seems honorable is actually a snare. The movie ends with haunting laughs from the British soldiers as everything goes awry. I was left saying “wow…wow…WOW.” Madness. True madness.

Favorite moment: The ending.

Will I Watch it Again: YES.