2 Comments

1. 

   Congratulations, guys! Episode 100 is a perfect culmination of the HP – comedy, critical analysis, and a good dosage of Bay-bashing. Some of my favorite moments:

   1. Using “I, Frankenstein” as your recording track marker. The irony of a sewn-together man being the place where you stitch two files together. : )
   2. “Number Seven is… Seven”
   3. Putting Michael Mann’s Heat on this list – well done, Doug!
   4. DRIVE at #4!?!?!? This is why I listen to this podcast – the logic-defying curveballs of Dirty A.
   5. Acknowledgement of John William’s influence in our love of film. The guy is the “bacon” of Hollywood. Seriously – any film is made instantly better by adding John Williams to it.

   My top 10, fwiw:

   10. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Not a big Jim Carrey fan, but the casting in this film is amazing. Carey and Winslet are excellent, and the supporting cast also work very well. Gondry’s aesthetic and direction (along with John Brion’s score) in this film are flawless, and I love the concept. The collapsing beach house scene still hits me right in the feels.
   9. L.A. Confidential. For many of the same reasons you guys already discussed. Amazing ensemble cast and a perfect multi-thread narrative. Crowe and Spacey are incredible. I was bitter that Titanic stole this film’s Oscar… Heck, I still am.
   8. Dr. Strangelove. A brilliant satire that still cracks me up every time I see it. (I feel like this film was made by an alternate-universe Monty Python.) Three distinct styles used for the three main locations – and you cannot beat Peter Sellers final scene in the War Room (cracking the cast up along with the audience).
   7. Scrooge (1970 – Albert Finney). This film not only holds a place for me as an annual family Christmas tradition, it also has one of the best male actor performances I’ve ever watched. Finney gives a master-class performance in acting as Ebenezer Scrooge, and was only 34 years old at the time of filming. I also love the musical score – this is my go-to holiday film based on nostalgia alone.
   6. Aliens. I was on the fence about the original or the sequel, and ultimately have to go with the action-packed, Cameron-helmed hit. Ripley’s final battle vs. the Queen? You can’t get a much better popcorn action film. Game over, man.
   5. Ghostbusters. I was bitterly disappointed that none of you guys had this one anywhere on your lists. This film still holds up despite some now-dodgy-looking CGI. Murray, Ackroyd, Ramis, and Hudson will forever be their respective characters from this film for me – Weaver and Ramis are also great – and the story and comedy still entertain. I could watch this film for Murray’s performance alone. Plus bonus points for catchy film song… Who ya Gonna Call?
   4. The Shawshank Redemption. I first saw this film as a sneak preview on my college campus. I knew nothing about it, save the fact that it was based on a Stephen King story. What I thought was going to be shlocky horror ended up being one of my favorite films of all time. The casting is awesome, and my reasons mirror many of the same ones that you guys mention in the podcast.
   3. The Incredibles. The best superhero film of all time, in my mind. I love Dark Knight, and I love Avengers. I love Spider-Man 2, and I love Unbreakable. This one, though, hits every note on my “must haves” for a superhero film. Great story, the characters are all well-written, and the score is Spy-Movie fun. The heroes are both heroic and human. The comedy is fun without being hammy. And the heroes are always trying to do the right thing and to help others. In an age where we have Marvel, Fox, and DC vying to show us superhero powers on the big screen, this film manages to give us creative and inspired use of these powers, and produces the best Fantastic Four film we’ll ever see.
   2. The Matrix. The gawd-awful sequels have tarnished the legacy of this film, but this movie was a game-changer for me. This might be the FIRST modern superhero film, and certainly one that weaved so many elements of my childhood into a single film. Kung fu and Fight choreography? Check. Sci-Fi? Check. Superpowers? Check. Mind-bending WTF moments? Check. Hero’s journey? Check. The elevator lobby scene is still among the greatest action scenes I’ve ever witnessed, and you cannot deny the impact that this film has had on contemporary cinema. It’s been copied and parodied so much that it seems stale upon first consideration, but watch it again – it’s a damn good film.
   1. The Big Lebowski. Not the best film of all time, but certainly my favorite. The Coens are my favorite film makers in Hollywood today (sorry Russos!) and I love the story and the cast in this film. I know many people who don’t find The Big Lebowski funny upon initial viewing because they’re trying to figure out the mystery behind the story, or because they’re looking for Adam McKay “Anchorman” styled humor. But ultimately the story and these screwball characters are an excuse to present us with the comedy of everyday humanity. It reminds us that “people” are funny.

   Honorable mentions: The Goonies, Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 2, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Braveheart, The Abyss, Apollo 13, The Usual Suspects, John Carpenter’s The Thing, Terminator 2.

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     thanks for listening, jim! eternal sunshine and ghostbusters ftw!! in regards to “drive,” again, the numbering system meant very little on my list haha