'12 Angry Men' (1959): #5 Favorite Movie

On a hot day, in a downtown courthouse, 12 men of a jury gather in a small room for an hour and half, and try to deduce the guiltiness or innocence of a young man from the slums for murdering his father. Simplest plot on the planet, and yet comes across as one of the greatest films ever made.

There really is not much that can be said about this film, except that there is so much to say about this film as well. Once the film starts, it takes place almost in real time. There are very little jumps in the timeframe. That is partly what makes this film so believable. All the jurors go by unnamed. Instead, it's juror #1, juror #2, Juror #8, etc. You do not see any of the courtroom action. What happens in the film is all what happens afterward, which you normally do not see: The final decision by the jury.

This film is full of strong characters, each representing a different part of our society, with rich dialogue. At just an hour and a half, this film goes by rather quick and yet you still feel as though you have gained a bucket-load of information. And you still want more from it once it ends.

The first time I watched this film, I was completely surprised by how hooked and entertained I was. And yet, hardly anything much happens in it. But, like I said before, the characters are interesting, the situation is intriguing, the dialogue is strong, and the payoff is an emotional piece of acting, while all the more uplifting as well. When we live in a time where society believes big budget special effects are the way to go to entertain an audience, it's all the more surprising and relieving to be just as on the edge of your seat through simple, yet brilliant storytelling and acting. As soon as the film had ended, I wanted to see it again.

Several years ago, my father had to serve in a jury for reasons I cannot recall at this time. When I asked him about this movie, '12 Angry Men', and if his experience was anything like this, he responded by saying, 'Oh yes, it was very much like this'.

4/4

'2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968): #4 Favorite Movie

When you look at the special effects in '2001: A Space Odyssey', I'll bet you would think that the movie is only ten years old, instead of over forty. That is just one of the many outstanding and breathtaking aspects about this masterpiece from director Stanley Kubrick. Just look at how smoothly the camera pans across the surface of the moon as a spacecraft flies overhead. Or how a man in a spacesuit appears to be floating in midair, without the requirement of a harness or strings of any kind. Or how a spaceship, that is almost a mile long, looks like a speck of dust in the background while an asteroid comes flying over the camera, just barely missing us. When you think of how limited filmmakers were back in the day, with what they could do with a camera or a special effect, you only can wonder how they could have achieved such a feat like this one. This film was ahead of it's time. Not even the greatest CGI of our generation could create such detail and realism as '2001' has.

Stanley Kubrick, possibly the greatest filmmaker who has ever come to pass, has significantly created probably the greatest science-fiction film of all time. And that is saying a lot, considering the many other great ones. The ironic fact about that statement though is this. Before this film came along, science-fiction was a genre strictly considered B-movie material, with low-budget thrills that only appealed to a limited audience. It was not until the release of '2001' when audiences started to realize a difference in what the genre, and film itself, can achieve. Less than ten years later, one big influence from this film would be realized from another science-fiction classic. A little movie called 'Star Wars'.

From the dawn of man, to the present time, a mysterious black monolith has appeared with an apparent way of transporting intellect into it's nearest individual. An ape who could not figure out how to defend itself from an opponent in the first place, now seems to understand completely, after having encountered the black monolith. Millions of years later, the black monolith has appeared once again, this time on the surface of the moon. Once it is discovered by mankind, the monolith sends a transmission in the direction of Jupiter. In order to find out what this means, astronauts embark on an odyssey unlike any man has ever achieved, through space and possibly time.

Now, we have already passed the year 2001, yes. But does that make this movie all the more insignificant? No. Look at all of the achievements technology has made to this day. Almost half of those achievements were an inspiration from '2001: A Space Odyssey' itself. Look at the videophone used by the businessman on the space station to call his daughter, home on Earth. Now, we are able to have face-to-face conversations with our friends and loved ones through our very own cell phones.

Like what 'The Abyss' did for the deepest parts of the ocean, '2001: A Space Odyssey' does for the farthest corners of the universe. And with both, we are able to ponder the greatest mystery of all time: Our own existence, where we came from and where we will go next. Arthur C. Clarke, the author of the novel which this film is based from, said, "Since the dawn of time, there have been one hundred billion human beings to walk the Earth. There are also one hundred billion stars in our Milky Way Galaxy... For everyone who has ever lived, there could be a star, with planets circling around them... Enough land in space for everyone to have a whole world." When you watch the ending of '2001: A Space Odyssey', keep that theory in mind and see what you have to say for yourself.

The first time I watched this movie, it was on a hot August day. I viewed it from my tiny portable DVD player. And yet, during the film's final twenty minutes, I literally almost felt like I had just stepped inside a freezer and that the brightness of the sun through the windows had diminished. As corny as it sounds, I felt like I had just travelled through space. If I could feel something like that from a small, seven inch screen and on a bright sunny day, I can only imagine what it could have been like, seeing this in a dark, cold movie theatre. That is how affective this film was, and still is to this day.

This is a film experience unlike any other you may ever have in your lifetime. This film is a meditation, a poem and a treasure. You may love it, or you may loathe it. It may test your patience, or you may be wanting more from it. Whatever it may be, just know that what you get from this film is something unique. Unique, bold and, above all, special.

4/4

'The Haunting' (1963): #3 Favorite Movie

"It was an evil house from the beginning - A house that was born bad." This eerie quote helps set up the mysterious and frightening history of Hill House, as narrated at the start of the film by Dr. John Markway (Richard Johnson). "Silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there... walked alone." This is a direct quote from the novel, 'The Haunting of Hill House' by. Shirley Jackson, which the film is based off of. And it has become one of the most classic horror novels ever written. In fact, it is said to have even scared Stephen King... witless, I'll say.

The film's director, Robert Wise, was in his office one day, reading a review of this new book that had just been released, 'The Haunting of Hill House'. He got himself a copy, and started reading it. Almost halfway through the book, while reading it in his office, one of his assistants came bursting in through the door (to bring him something or to say 'Hi', I do not know), causing Wise to leap out of his chair, frightened and jumpy from what he was just reading. It was then he realized that if he can get scared easily by this book, then it certainly would make a pretty good film. And so began pre-production of the greatest horror movie ever brought to the screen.

My introduction to this film was on a night I will never forget. I cannot really remember whether it was the night before Halloween, or a couple of nights after. I was around 13 years old at the time, and for a kid of my age with a history of anxiety disorder, I still had a slight fascination with horror movies. My mother had asked me and my little sister to sit down and watch this old scary movie that she had remembered from when she was a little girl. "Oh, this is old fashioned, you guys will probably not even get scared by this silly movie", my mother said to us before starting 'The Haunting'. Afterwards, I literally could not sleep for two nights straight.

From 'The Haunting' to 'The Shawshank Redemption', you can tell that I certainly owe a great amount of my love of movies to my parents.

In an attempt to find out whether or not the supernatural really exists, Dr. John Markway sets up a reservation to stay at the infamous Hill House, believed to be "haunted", though some say there are many logical explanations for what could be happening. Markway is not alone in his expedition. He hires a group of assistants to help him in his experiments at Hill House. One of them is named Eleanor Lance (Julie Harris), who desperately wants to get away from her home, after the death of her invalid mother, and live somewhere else. The other members of the group are Theodora (Claire Bloom) and Luke (Russ Tamblyn). Once arriving at Hill House, it is quite clear that this place is unusual. It is almost like the house itself is "staring" at you, with it's windows like the eyes of demons. There are things that "go bump in the night", unnatural voices chanting, doors that close by themselves. But, is there a single "ghost" seen in this film? Are any of these haunting events real? Could this all be just happening inside the group's heads?

What I absolutely love about this film is it's lack of special effects, manipulating it's audience into thinking they see something, when in fact, they probably do not. It is what you do not see that frightens you. Much like Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining' (1980), many of the films mysteries go about simply as this: Unexplained. We do not get the cliched explain-every-plot-detail ending. It is all left up to the audience to figure out for themselves. That is the key to what makes this a brilliant horror film.

Another key element that works effectively in the film is yet again a subtle touch. Eleanor Lance is clearly, from the start, a disturbed woman, and we understand that how? Not just by her personality and body language, but through her own voice-over. Almost every little thought Eleanor is thinking to herself, we the audience hear it. When she is driving in her car, when she is wandering trance-like through the hallways of Hill House, we hear her every thought. She is basically playing the audience, experiencing exactly what we are. When she is scared, we are scared. When she is laughing, we are laughing. When she looks in horror at the "face" that suddenly appears in the wallpaper, we are right there with her.

The technical aspects about this film are nothing short but a stroke of genius: The cinematography, the unique camera angles that simulate a demented mindset. The lighting, with it's contrasts from bright sets to shadowy corners. These are all brilliant, and equally terrifying. And conveniently, the black-and-white photography helps with creating the film's creepy atmosphere. One of the best examples is during the scene near the end of the film where Eleanor slowly makes her dreaded ascent up the ominous spiral staircase, a representation of insanity, in the library.

What I love about Robert Wise, as a filmmaker, is his genius with genres. He has made just about every kind of movie there is. From a Sci-fi classic like 'The Day The Earth Stood Still', a romance/musical like 'West Side Story', this horror film by the name of 'The Haunting', another musical called 'The Sound of Music', and a brilliant war epic like 'The Sand Pebbles'. But 'The Haunting', I believe, is his crowning achievement. Wise once said, "I have had so many people tell me, 'Mr. Wise, you have made one of the scariest pictures I've ever seen, and you didn't show anything. How did you do it?' It's mainly by suggestion. We don't show any horrific effects in it, or any monstrous things at all. It's all a kind of suggestion: Is it, or is it not?" That is quite the question.

'The Haunting' is full of intelligence. The script is tight, the characters are smart and engaging, the scares are genuine and the events are interesting, in a ghostly kind of way. I think, in the case of this film, I can certainly say that they do not make them like they used to. This is honestly one the greatest films ever made, and one of my all time favorites. Next Halloween, or just whenever you feel like having a good scare, watch 'The Haunting'. I only dare you to watch this one alone... in the night... in the dark.

4/4

'The Shawshank Redemption' (1994): #2 Favorite Movie

I can remember when I watched this movie for the very first time. It was on a hot August night, just a couple of weeks before the start of my final year in Junior High School. It was on television, and my parents had asked me to come watch this movie with them. I reluctantly came in and sat down, thinking it would be just another one of my parents pleasures and that I would regret watching it. Boy, was I wrong. Immediately after the film had ended, I was completely stunned by what I had just seen. I had never really experienced such emotions from a movie before, like depression, concern, sadness and hopelessness. Then eventually, as things took a big turn, joy and hopefulness took over. And finally, once the film was near it's end, complete satisfaction and happiness. Great joy and hope was found in even the darkest of places. Once I had seen 'The Shawshank Redemption', I knew it would become a part of me for the rest of my life.

"Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free". That was the film's running tagline, and in many ways, it is the films central message.

Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a pretty successful banker, is given two life sentences to Shawshank prison for killing his wife and her lover. Once there, things do not go well for him at all. Then, Andy befriends the most unlikely of sorts: A convicted African-American murderer, by the name of Red (played by Morgan Freeman). You see, this film takes place around the late 1940's. Throughout the years in prison, Andy and Red, along with other fellow inmates, spend a great amount of time with each other. They play games in the courtyard, share stories of life outside prison during lunch, and eventually, they discover how one can suddenly "get used to" living behind stone walls and iron bars. On occasion though, Andy's behavior becomes a little unusual for a man in his position of imprisonment. He may be up to something. But if that is so, what could it be?

Frank Darabont, the screenwriter and director of the film, has become pretty well known for creating movies full of uplifting material in some of the most unusual situations. Some of those other films of his include 'The Green Mile' (1999) and 'The Majestic' (2001). But with his heartfelt dramas aside, he is also known as a huge horror movie-buff. He made 'The Mist' (2007), with it's hugely controversial ending, and is also the developer and producer for television's 'The Walking Dead'.

Stephen King also plays a huge part in 'The Shawshank Redemption' and in Frank Darabont's life in general. Firstly, King wrote the original novella of 'The Shawshank Redemption', which was originally entitled 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption'. Why Rita Hayworth was involved is something I just cannot tell you. You are just going to have to see for yourself as you watch the movie. Stephen King is also involved with Frank Darabont a lot because 'The Green Mile' was a novel of his also, as 'The Mist' was another one of his short stories, as well. Darabont is an obvious fan of Stephen King.

This movie holds elements and comparisons to other movies, such as 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' (1975) and 'Cool Hand Luke' (1967), both of which also take place in a sort of prison-like setting. Both films are great ones in their own way, but for me they do not quite hold the same type of heart and soul that is felt in 'The Shawshank Redemption'. Whenever I am not in such a good mood, I usually think of this movie, then I start to feel a little better. Whenever I feel my life is not going so well, I think of 'Shawshank', and how good things can come to pass.

To say 'The Shawshank Redemption' is a great movie is kind of an understatement. It is almost a requirement in life itself to see this movie at least once before you die. You will never forget it.

4/4

'The Abyss' (1989): #1 Favorite Movie

In the last decade of my life, I have mysteriously grown into a fascination with water and the ocean itself. Maybe it is it's depth, it's size or the mysteries it holds. In fact, scientists claim that we know a lot more about the universe than we even do about our own oceans. A lot of that wonder and mystery is pondered deeply in James Cameron's masterpiece, 'The Abyss'.

This is a fairly hard choice for me to make. There easily could have been a number of other great films to choose from for my number one spot: 'The Shawshank Redemption', 'Citizen Kane', 'Raging Bull', '2001: A Space Odyssey' and 'It's a Wonderful Life' to name a few. These all may be at the top of someone else's list, and are tremendous films. So you may even be wondering, 'Of all the great movies out there, why this one in particular?' Well, with this review, I hope I can tell you why.

Take a good look at society today, a really good look. Then after watching this film, look again and think about yourself. Let's say you work in a skyscraper. The person working in the cubicle next to you does not really know you, and you do not really know them. Then an earthquake happens. A large crack opens up below that person and now he/she is holding on for their life. Meanwhile, you are fine and unharmed. You begin to make a run for safety. Now, you look back and notice that person dangling, about to fall a long way to their death. Do you risk your very life to save this person's, or do you turn around and keep running, reassuring your own safety? You might be thinking how any of this relates to a movie about the ocean. That is just one of the central morals behind this film: What type of a human being are you?

After a fatal accident with a nuclear submarine, a nearby group of oil riggers are put to the task by the U.S. NAVY of diving deep into the depths of the sea, in hopes of finding survivors of the submarine wreckage. Virgil Brigman (Ed Harris) and Lindsey (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), the leaders of the oil-rig, are in the middle of divorce and it has now taken an event like this to bring them both together to help each other. Meanwhile, up on the surface, the Cold War is at it's peak, and one of the NAVY SEALS helping the oil-rig with the rescue mission, may be a little more than just paranoid. Later, a hurricane sweeps through causing the rig to be disconnected from rescue and service above. And that is when the mystery of the abyss begins. Strange lights and unusual shapes appear from a nearby trench, miles deep. What is the explanation behind all this? Is it Russians, or something else?

This film works as a kind of underwater 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' and '2001: A Space Odyssey', and with that comparison, you probably would think this has to deal with an alien species and/or monsters. You may be right, and then again you may be only slightly wrong. What if the real monsters are the very things you take for granted: The people right next to you? In this case, on the oil-rig at the bottom of the ocean. Now do not let that scare you and give you the wrong impression, because this is not a horror movie in the slightest.

In the Special Edition (which is the version of the film I am recommending, by the way), the movie begins with a quote by Friedrich Nietzche saying "When you look long into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you." Maybe the abyss is not just a deep trench in the middle of the ocean, but also the deepest parts of our very souls. Corniness aside, I know, it is just something to think about.

The life and death situations, the sacrifices for the ones you love, the friendship that overpowers hatred. These scenarios are all handled very powerfully and emotionally in this film, particularly in the last hour. It is just breathtaking. Without spoiling anything, there is a particular scene where after a character has sacrificed them-self, the team on the rig desperately try to bring that person back. I dare you to tell me, after watching this scene, that you did not feel shivers run up and down your spine. It is rare, for me, to see something that powerful and affective in a movie these days.

This near three hour film does not even feel that long. Once you are involved in the story, the characters and their situation, time is irrelevant. If you choose to watch the theatrical cut instead of the Special Edition, that is just fine. Just know that the full impact of the movie is in the Special Edition. You will only get about half in the other, but it is still 'The Abyss', a terrific movie.

4/4 

Favorite Movies List

Throughout this blog, I will be posting reviews of some of my all time favorite movies. Movies that have had an astounding impact on me creatively, personally and emotionally. If any of these films I write about you have not seen, I would highly recommend (once you have the time) to check them out.

Review: 'The Deer Hunter' 4/4

With the first hour of 'The Deer Hunter' having already come and gone, I was saying to myself, 'What's the point of all this? They easily could have cut out 30 minutes of this film's opening and you would not have missed a thing.' Now, with the ending of the film long behind me, I not only appreciate the hour long introduction to these characters and their situation, but I am glad that the film had taken that route of development. How else would I have been emotionally involved with these lifelong friends and the end that they face?

'The Deer Hunter', directed by Michael Cimino, stars Robert de Niro as Michael and Christopher Walken as Nick, with Linda, played by Meryl Streep, in the middle of a love triangle. Does she love Michael or Nick? Who knows. The film takes place in the late 1960's, in a small Pennsylvania town. With a hobby of hunting deer in the mountains, Michael, Nick and friends find joy and sport in what they do. But, when Michael and Nick are called to serve in Vietnam, the 'game' changes radically.

To make a long story short, Michael and Nick are taken as prisoners of war by the Vietcong. While imprisoned, they are forced into a harsh, terrible risk taking game of Russian Roulette, in which one person takes a turn at holding a revolver to their head, with one bullet inside. If he shoots and nothing happens, he wins for now. I don't believe I need to tell you what happens when a person loses. There is one particular moment in this film that has stuck with me ever since seeing it. It is during the Russian Roulette, and de Niro's character is forced to put a revolver to his head. Like he told a guy before him, you got to show them how tough you are. Just seconds before he pulls the trigger, he looks into the eyes of one of the Vietcong and lets out a desperate cry. He pulls the trigger... and nothing happens. There's a look on his face after this happens that can only say so much. He whimpers. Was he relieved that the gun did not go off, or was he, in a way, sad that he was still alive? Or could it have been both?

Michael, now a war veteran, comes home as a changed man. He's not so much a naive, drunk person anymore. Now he has respect. His perspective on hunting deer even changes, now that he is home from the war. Let me say this though without spoiling anything: The same could not be said for Nick. And that's one of the things I admired about this film. It's an unflinching look on the effects of war. You can either be changed by it in a good way, or become desensitized and lose your own humanity. I was also surprised how I did not like these characters very much at first. Then at the end, I was deeply sympathetic towards them.

I myself feel very privileged to have met and known men who have served in the war in Vietnam. Some were mildly damaged by it, others were fine and continued to serve both their families and their country in a very powerful way. My hat is off to them.

This film helped me appreciate the life I have even more, and how we as a society should not take our daily lives for granted. Now, be warned. This film is not for the faint of heart. That being said though, the last five minutes of this movie are so moving, you'll be glad you watched it.

4 / 4

Let's Get Things Started!

At first, I figured I would begin with reviews for a few of my top favorite movies of all time. But, with a situation that I'm in at the moment, with this movie still fresh on my mind, I figured I'd better get this one out of the way. So, without further adieu, I'll have my review of 'The Deer Hunter' up soon.

My rating system (How I rate movies):
- 1/4: Poor
- 2/4: Okay
- 3/4: Good
- 4/4: Great