The Graduate (1967) Starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft Written by Calden Willingham and Buck Henry (screenplay), Charles Webb (novel) Directed by Mike Nichols The Graduate reminds me an awful lot of Harold and Maude, which came out about four years later. Both feature young, intelligent, sensitive heroes who have no idea what they want … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Films: The Graduate (#7)
Category: Movies
The AFI Top 100 Films: On The Waterfront (#8)
On the Waterfront (1954) Starring Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint and Lee J. Cobb Written by Budd Schulberg Directed by Elia Kazan Terry Malloy (Brando) is a New Jersey dock worker whose brother is in the mob. That mob runs the Worker's Union, and as long as you play by the rules you get the … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Films: On The Waterfront (#8)
The AFI Top 100 Films: Schindler’s List (#9)
Schindler's List (1993) Starring Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley Written by Steven Zaillian (screenplay) and Thomas Keneally (novel) Directed by Steven Spielberg The Holocaust is one of those singular events in history that's very difficult to wrap your head around. How could an entire country of people stand by and allow the systemic … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Films: Schindler’s List (#9)
The AFI Top 100 Films: Singin’ in the Rain (#10)
Singin' in the Rain (1952) Starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds Written by Adolph Green and Betty Comden Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly It's interesting to me that so many movies chronicle the rise of the "talkies" and the demise of so many silent film stars once pictures had sound. It … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Films: Singin’ in the Rain (#10)
The AFI Top 100 Films: It’s a Wonderful Life (#11)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore Written by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra (screenplay) and Philip Van Doren Stern (story) Directed by Frank Capra Part of what makes It's a Wonderful Life such an indelible movie is its inextricable tie to Christmas and the mood we all … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Films: It’s a Wonderful Life (#11)
The AFI Top 100 Films: Sunset Boulevard (#12)
Sunset Boulevard (1950) Starring Gloria Swanson, William Holden and Erich von Stroheim Written by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and D.M. Marshman, Jr. Directed by Billy Wilder Hoo boy. There's really no question why this is one of the greatest Hollywood films of all time -- Gloria Swanson is completely magnetic as aging film-star Norma Desmond. … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Films: Sunset Boulevard (#12)
The AFI Top 100 Films: The Bridge on the River Kwai (#13)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) Starring William Holden, Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins Written by Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson (screenplay) and Pierre Boulle (novel) Directed by David Lean The Bridge on the River Kwai is a chronicle of what can happen to twist our logic into insanity through the fog of war. … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Films: The Bridge on the River Kwai (#13)
The AFI Top 100 Films: Some Like It Hot (#14)
Some Like It Hot (1959)Starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn MonroeWritten by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. DiamondDirected by Billy WilderI was immediately intrigued by this movie once I discovered it was co-written and directed by Billy Wilder, the gentleman responsible for the superb The Apartment. I was expecting another movie like it, a comedy … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Films: Some Like It Hot (#14)
The AFI Top 100 Films: Star Wars (#15)
Star Wars (1977) Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher Written and Directed by George Lucas What could I say about this movie that hasn't been said before? The impact of this space fantasy epic can't really be understated. It provided a template for science fiction movies to follow for a long time to … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Films: Star Wars (#15)
The 12 Films of Christmas
My family was one of those "alternative Christian" families who didn't celebrate Christmas when I was growing up. So when other kids were going to church or caroling or opening presents, we didn't really do anything besides watch stupid Hallmark Christmas movies and wonder what all the fuss was about. Even though I'm decidedly not … Continue reading The 12 Films of Christmas
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 