During a holiday bout of the DVD board game Scene It! with my in-laws, I made a shocking discovery- most of them had never seen the film “Casablanca.” Saddened by this news, I thought of the many others who had to drag through their lives deprived of the experience of seeing that movie. I have a friend who excludes any film that is black and white, a disturbing lifestyle choice that I cannot begin to comprehend. There’s no excuse for this kind of behavior, and 2008 can be your year to break this dreary cycle.
So while you’re vowing to lose ten pounds, stop eating meat, stop fighting with your mother, stop voting Republican, learn to knit, learn to fly, or beat me in Scene It! (that’s my father-in law’s) resolve to start catching up on some essential films. You can start with “Casablanca.” I’d also suggest the following, in no order.
“Singin’ in the Rain” (1952) This is a wonderful musical- good for breaking into a genre that many people find bizarre and incomprehensible. This is neither; it’s hilarious, witty, fast-paced and utterly delightful. Even you macho types who look down on the concept of tap dancing would, if you actually watched this movie, be forced to say, “Wow.” I’ll admit that there are plenty of goofy, unwatchable musicals, but “Singin’ in the Rain” is not one of them.
“Rear Window” (1954) If you’ve never seen an Alfred Hitchcock film, and surely there are some poor souls that haven’t, this is my favorite. James Stewart seems to be in all of my favorite Hitchcock movies, so “Rope” and “Vertigo” are good choices, too. But what makes “Rear Window” so strong is the timeless concept. Some of his films that rely on effects or plot surprises, like “Psycho,” may arguably be a little dated and put some people off, but “Rear Window” is as exciting as suspenseful as anything you see today.
“Sunset Boulevard” (1950) From the early monkey funeral scene to the famous “I’m ready for my close-up” finale, this is a completely unconventional film about a frustrated young screen writer and the aging cinema queen who takes him as her lover and supports him. A well-written, suspenseful exploration of aging, sexual dynamics, pride and Hollywood, I sometimes think this is my favorite film.
“The Big Lebowski” (1998) But actually, this one is my favorite. To prove that this is not a boring egghead movie list, I want to take one more opportunity to encourage everyone not to miss this insane, profane masterpiece. You haven’t seen it if you’ve watched it on Comedy Central. There is so much profanity in it that to clean it up renders it incomprehensible. One memorable line is changed to “This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps!!” So rent it, or better yet, buy it. It becomes better with repeat viewings.
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975) If you’re wondering why everyone likes that pompous bloated Nicholson so much, why everyone thinks he’s so cool even when he wears sunglasses to the Oscars, then you’d better look into his early films, like this one. This is full of absolutely incredible performances and, of course, the source material doesn’t get any better than the Ken Kesey novel.
“Chinatown” (1974) will also shed light on the “What’s the big deal with Nicholson?” question. Check them out to remind yourself that he wasn’t always a parody of himself, playing a bombastic Jack Nicholson character in movie after movie. This can wash the sugary aftertaste of all those times you watched “Something’s Gotta Give” on TBS.
And speaking of that corny embarrassment to formerly wonderful actors, “Annie Hall” (1977) is your best introduction to Woody Allen, who many people I have talked to feel unwilling to watch. That is crazy. Just watch “Annie Hall.” It’s romantic but not sappy, it’s realistic but also full of weird fanciful sequences, and while, like Nicholson, Woody Allen does play the same character in every film, this one is one of life’s great pleasures. Do not cheat yourself of it.
So, take this short, random, biased list and throw some in your NetFlix queue if you haven’t seen them. You can sandwich a classic in between “Superbad” and “The Simpsons Movie” and it won’t hurt a bit. You might even like it. At the very least, it might give you a leg up on family game night.
Contact Asia Frey at afrey@lagniappemobile.com.
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