Top 10 Film Scores of All Time

Alex at And So It Begins... recently posted his top 10 film scores list, and he suggested that I do one as well. I'm sure I left something out, but that's how it goes. Also, be sure to check out Alex's brilliant list.

Blind Spot: Pickpocket (1959)

Michel.

Directed by Robert Bresson
Produced by Agnès Delahaie
Written by Robert Bresson
Starring Martin LaSalle, Marika Green, John Pélégri, and Pierre Leymarie

1969 CinSpec Awards

Winners indicated (*). Notable films I still need to see are The Damned, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, The Sorrow and the Pity, Age of Consent, Battle of Britain, Alice's Restaurant, and Take the Money and Run.

Review: I Love Sarah Jane (2008)

Sarah (Mia Wasikowska) and Jimbo (Brad Ashby).

Directed by Spencer Susser
Produced by Angie Fielder
Written by David Micôd and Spencer Susser

Starring Brad Ashby, Mia Wasikowska, Vladimir Matovic, Beau South, Peter Yacoub, and Richard Mueck

Top 100 Favorite Films List Updated

"I'm gonna make him a list he can't refuse."

I haven't updated my list since October, so I thought it was time for a revised one. There are a lot of changes to the list, with 18 new ones added. View my new list on the 100 Favorite Films page.

Films added:
The Bridge on the River Kwai, Chungking Express, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Cries and Whispers, The Departed, Holy Motors, In Bruges, The Lady Eve, A Matter of Life and Death, Mona Lisa, The Passion of Anna, The Rules of the Game, The Set-Up, A Short Film About Killing, A Short Film About Love, The Third Man, The Tree of Life, Wild Strawberries

Films removed:
The Artist, Black Narcissus, Black Orpheus, Black Swan, From Here to Eternity, The General, Grave of the Fireflies, High Noon, It's a Wonderful Life, Love in the Afternoon (1957), Modern Times, North by Northwest, The Ox-Bow Incident, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Rashomon, Se7en, The Seven Year Itch, The 39 Steps

You can view my old list after the cut.

Oscar Oddity #10: The Godfather Part II (1974)

The Godfather Part II is often associated with being the first (and only one of two) sequel(s) to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. While this is a groundbreaking statistic, the film holds another interesting Oscar distinction.

Five Films in Five Words #2

Here's five more films... in five words.

1959 CinSpec Awards

Though I watched some films to catch up on this year, I still have a few left to see. For instance, I haven't seen The World of Apu, Compulsion, Floating Weeds, or The Young Philadelphians yet. As always, winners are indicated (*).

50 Shots from To the Wonder

Terrence Malick's highly anticipated sixth film was released in select theaters and on VOD last weekend. I've seen it twice, and I'm still not sure what I think of it. At the moment, I'd call it a great film, but it has its flaws. So, I thought I'd highlight the film by looking at Emmanuel Lubezki's beautiful cinematography. Check out some of the images below.

Thanks for the LAMMY Nomination!

Yesterday I was pleased to learn that I have been nominated for a LAMMY for Best New LAMB. (You can listen to the podcast announcing the nominees here or view the full list here.) Thanks so much to everyone who voted!

When I started blogging more last summer, I had no expectations, and even when I joined the LAMB in September, I never thought I'd be a contender, let alone a nominee. There are so many great blogs that have - and haven't - been recognized, and I'm amazed that this little blog was able to get in.

Thanks again. Congratulations and good luck to all of you who are nominated!

Review: Mona Lisa (1986)

George (Hoskins) and Simone (Tyson) on the job.

Directed by Neil Jordan
Produced by Patrick Cassavetti and Stephen Woolley
Written by Neil Jordan and David Leland
Starring Bob Hoskins, Michael Caine, Cathy Tyson, Robbie Coltrane, Clarke Peters, and Kate Hardie

1949 CinSpec Awards

I still have a few films I need to see from this year, but this is a fairly complete ballot. Again, winners are marked (*).

Five Films in Five Words

Here's a new idea I'm toying with.

My Criterion Collection

I decided to see just how small my collection was, and found that I have just 33 Criterion titles (not counting those in box sets). However, I also have 31 alternate editions of films that Criterion has released. Take a look at them below, along with my Criterion release wishlist. (Note: Images correspond to the Criterion edition I have. For instance, I only have two titles on Blu-ray, as indicated below.)

Double Feature: The Guns of Navarone (1961) and The Longest Day (1962)

The Guns of Navarone (1961) - ****

J. Lee Thompson's World War II action/adventure operates on a simple premise: a group of Allied solders is assembled and charged with destroying two massive guns on Navarone Island that are preventing the rescue of 2,000 troops trapped on a nearby island. Arguably a B movie, it features a lot of thrills, much like Von Ryan's Express (1965) and The Great Escape (1963). War films of this kind are always better with a solid cast, and this one doesn't disappoint. Gregory Peck played a strict military officer in Twelve O'Clock High (1949), and he's no less effective as Captain Mallory, the leader of the outfit. Playing his comrades, David Niven as Corporeal Miller and Anthony Quinn as Andrea Stavros are also great as the brains and the brawn. The film might not be the most dramatic war picture ever made, but it has it moments, both in style and in substance. It's no wonder the Academy nominated this enjoyable movie.

Top 5 Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy Performances

Before Midnight (2013)

Richard Linklater's Before trilogy is coming to an end(?) next month, and many (myself included) are anxious to see what happens to Jesse and Celine. Since Before Midnight is opening in a matter of weeks, I decided to take a brief look at Ethan Hawke's and Julie Delpy's best performances to date.

1939 CinSpec Awards

Starting today, I'll be completing my Decades series (or starting a My Ballot one?) by posting a full lineup of nominees every week. (So, these ballots will be linked on the Awards page with the winner posts.)

The Passing of a Legend

Here's the story at the Chicago Tribune.

R.I.P., Roger. Here's hoping you and Gene are debating a film right now.

Best Director: A Complete List of Winners

Orson Welles scored consecutive wins.

On Friday, I'll begin posting full lineups of each category I've done for my Decades feature. I'll be posting them by year, and I'll post a lineup from a different decade each week. (But more on that later.)  In addition to those categories, I wanted to add Best Director to the lineup, so here's all of my winners. Most match my Best Picture winners, but those that do not are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Ball of Fire (1941) vs. The Lady Eve (1941)

Both screwball comedies feature Barbara Stanwyck as a woman who falls in love whilst deceiving a gullible man. (SPOILERS)

Question About Friday's Post

"I have a question."

As per majority opinion, I will be posting a full lineup of nominees starting this Friday. My question is this: how would you prefer them? I could post them by year or by category. I've got a system worked out for a yearly format, which will allow me to do a different decade each week. But if you want them by category, I have a second question: Which category (listed below) should I do first? Let me know in the comments. Thanks.

Best Picture
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Cinematography
Best Music (Score and Song)
Best Screenplays (Adapted and Original)
Best Film Editing

Films I Saw in March

Annie Girardot and Alain Delon in Rocco and His Brothers.

The Best:

1. Rocco and His Brothers - ****
2. The Lady Eve - ****
3. Beau Geste (1939) - ****
4. The Spirit of the Beehive - ****
5. The Killing - ****
6. Midnight - ****
7. Spring Breakers - ****
8. Reversal of Fortune - ****
9. The Guns of Navarone - ****
10. Saturday Night Fever - ***1/2