Back in the pre-pandemic days, it was a treat to watch movies on the big screen, read the movie critics’ reviews and make our own choices about what was the best picture of the year, best actress, and so on. One can appreciate why the studios reigned back production when the viewing audiences were banned from movie theatres. One must give Hollywood a G for guts in trying to woo us with an Oscar night this year.
I did see Power of the Dog which had its moments but needed more insight than the picture portrayed. Maybe if we had a ‘real’ cowboy playing the lead instead of Benedict. I wanted to see Dune only because I really enjoyed Frank Herbert’s books and the first version of Dune was disappointing. Other than seeing the sad demise of Daniel Craig – the best Bond since Sean – not much on the list of Oscar nominees intrigued me.
And so, having watched many, many movie reruns during the pandemic, I am having my own Oscar night of favourite ‘Bests’ from years gone by. I will even have a bowl of Orville’s popcorn, buttered and lightly salted. I’m not sure if red or white wine goes with popcorn but I can work that out.
My favourite movies all had a great storyline and at least one or two outstanding performances by the actor(s). The exception might be A Space Odyssey where Hal and the music still get me. Likewise, the music in Dr Zhivago but director David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia and Bridge of the River Kwai gave fodder to a couple of great performances. Casablanca with Bogart was a great movie but I liked Bogie in African Queen as it gave him a chance to show another side of his acting.
Anyone who saw Bill Murray at the recent Pebble Beach Pro/Am golf tournament saw his chops in making people laugh – and love him. Bill is well known for Groundhog Day and Caddyshack, but his performance in Lost in Translation makes that one of my top movies. Check that one out if you haven’t seen it.
I grew up with Dusters and must have seen every John Wayne movie at least twice, maybe three times, but who is keeping count. The ‘Duke’ was the quintessential cowboy until Clint came along, but my favourite is Gary Cooper in High Noon. The music was excellent in High Noon, only challenged later by Morricone’s score in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Modern Westerns, like Day of the Dog and Brokeback Mountain, paint a different kind of cowboy and I doubt the Duke would have played convincingly in those dusters.
I like musicals (the Doc says it might have something to do with singing in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas in High School) and admit I did enjoy the Sound of Music. Okay, I had an infatuation with Julie Andrews. One West Side Story was enough. On top of my list is Cabaret – Liza and Joel – great performances with political overtones.
Films in a foreign language, with or without subtitles, can be an opportunity to see how other countries and their directors use film. Parasite comes to mind, even if Don Trump didn’t get it; but one of my favourites was the Quebec film, Seducing Doctor Lewis; now remade as The Grand Seduction, which oddly enough, lost something in translation to English despite Gordon Pinsent. My wife always wanted to see any of Pedro Almodóvar’s work and how could I not watch when Penelope was featured? What subtitles?
Dramas would have to include Rear Window with Jimmy Stewart, the Godfather, and The Hurt Locker. War movies, although you need to use the propaganda filter in your mind, would include Apocalypse Now, Das Boot, and Dunkirk, although the ending of Dunkirk was ruined for me by burning the fake Spitfire that did not have a motor. All Is Lost with Robert Redford has to be on my list of must-watch dramas.
Intriguing movies that have remained with me would include Lars and the Real Girl (Ryan Gosling), The Russians are Coming (Alan Arkin), and Tunes of Glory (Alec Guinness). And of course, Dr Strangelove with Peter Sellers. Supporting actors that may have not won or been nominated but remain with me are Rod Steiger in Heat of the Night, and Juliette Binoche in The English Patient.
Now if we could somehow bring back Bob Hope to host the show, I might stay awake. I think it is dry white wine with popcorn. A glass of Chardonnay?
