With the 114th pick, team REDVAN would like to select
300 in the war category. I decided to go with this one rather than a more modern war movie because, although still crazy fiction (Frank Miller), there are some really good truthful bits in this movie. And it is awesome.
hmmmm....
what to do, what to do...
Ive debated taking the full 15 hours just to be a prick , that and theres some internal debate as to what to select with the next pick. I know the category, but its come down to a few choices I really didnt expect to be left over still
anyways after much deliberation, DVD-eh? has opted to go with what my initial pick would have been and I guess ultimately its the one that I actually own as well....
with the 115th pick in the Pre-60's category:
no clips as Im at work, will try to remember to add some way later tonight, though I dont think it'll be necessary as almost everybody and their dog should have seen this classic by now
__________________
Thank you for not discussing the outside world
Way to keep it going, top of the order! I think that with my pick, we're at something like nine picks in the last 16 hours.
In the Fantasy Category, 6 Degrees of Troy McClure proudly selects The Prestige.
So many things about this film that I love. Story of two magicians who become the most bitter rivals imaginable. So many twists! Great acting by Bale, Jackman, and Caine. I wouldn't rank it as Scarlett Johansson's best performance, but she's at least nice to look at. I love David Bowie's appearance as Nikolai Tesla... such a great casting choice. By my count, this is the third film picked to include David Bowie (and the third to include Christian Bale, and the third directed by Nolan). But the whole Tesla side of things gives the movie a subtle touch of steampunk. Nolan always makes it difficult to like his heroes, and this film is no different; his films are never patronizing. There's a few categories where this film fits according to IMDB - drama, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller. And while I may move it to thriller, I really feel that it best belongs in fantasy.
Team Pineapple Express is thrilled that it's time to make another pick! With this fifth round pick, Team Pineapple Express is proud to select in the category of Sci Fi, Donnie Darko. (It was difficult to categorize this movie, so IMDB did it for me.) This film, released in 2001, was written and directed by Richard Kelly. It stars the lovely and delicious Jake Gyllenhaal as the title character, a teenage boy who escapes death when he avoids being crushed by a jet engine that falls into his room. After this, he experiences many odd things, including visions of a giant bunny named Frank, who has odd and frightening predictions for the future. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wylie and Mary McDonnell round out the cast of Donnie Darko.
It's a very odd movie, difficult to describe, that takes several viewings to appreciate, IMO. I first watched it and I didn't like it, but it stuck with me. When I watched it again, I picked up on a lot more and really started to like it.
So, in summary, good story, good acting, good cast, good 80s soundtrack.
Some trivia...
-The movie was shot in 28 days, the exact timespan of the film.
-The DVD contains several hidden items. Two are visible in the "Philosophy of Time Travel" book in the Special Features. Another can be found after selecting the "Cunning Visions" menu screen.
-Jason Schwartzman was originally supposed to play Darko, but had too many scheduling conflicts, so the part was given to Gyllenhaal.
-This film marks the feature film debut of the awesomely funny Seth Rogen.
Some youtube clippys:
The trailer
A clip from the movie. Donnie discussing Watership Down and bunnies, possibly NSFW:
Another clip, Donnie dealing with The Lifeline, again possibly NSFW:
And finally, the popular Gary Jules Mad World tune that appears in the film. It worked really well in the film, IMO, it fit perfectly with the tone and themes, etc. This is just the video for the song, no clips from the movie or anything, just figured I would add it for those that like it, myself included:
Going with a personal fave here, which probably could have dropped a bit lower, but grabbing it anyways.
Team NC-17 would like to move THE GODFATHER from DRAMA to BEST PICTURE, and select AMERICAN BEAUTY in the DRAMA catagory.
- This film has been described as "Death of a Salesman" for the nineties. Early in the film, Carolyn mentions that "the Lomans" just moved out of the house next door.
- Lester Burnham, a middle-aged man who develops an infatuation with an adolescent girl, is an update of Humbert Humbert from the classic novel "Lolita." "Lester Burnham" is an anagram for "Humbert learns."
- Lester gives his work phone number as 555-0199. This was also the phone number Al Pacino leaves on 'Russell Crowe (I)''s answering machine in the beginning of The Insider (1999), released the same year. This was also Agent Fox Mulder's phone number during the third season of "The X Files" (1993).
- In Lester's cubicle we see a small movie poster for The Usual Suspects (1995).
- The title of the film refers to a breed of roses that while pretty and appealing in appearance, is often prone to rot underneath at the roots and branches of the plant. Thus, the tagline '...look closer' tells the viewer when they look beyond the 'perfect suburban life' they will find something rancid at the root.
- Chris Cooper was the last actor cast - virtually when rehearsals were beginning. When he first read the script, he found the character infuriating, thinking: "God, do I want to spend so much time in this character's head?" He remembers, "Then I started making excuses... I said, this is such a negative script, I don't like this and that." His wife finally told him he was "frightened of this script and chances are because you're frightened you should do this part"; his response was that he "knew, really immediately, that she was right."
- The hand and stomach on the film's poster do not belong to Mena Suvari, but are in fact those of actress/model Chloe Hunter.
- Kevin Spacey improvised everything he does in the car while his character is stoned and singing to "American Woman".
PS - I know both GODFATHER and AMERICAN BEAUTY won Best Picture, but I think both movies fit into their respective spots nicely.
Nice pick Protto, making my choice in the Drama category easier. Down to two movies...but I have a feeling Vanflamesfan will pick one of them. Damn you Van!
Sadora pulled back Enter The Dragon and selected When We Were Kings. That's where you're off I think.
4 X 27 = 108
Missed that. Thanks.
Btw, I was really close to picking American Beauty on my last pick. And I loved "A bout de souffle", even though for some reason I almost never like French movies. Highly recommendable, aged surprisingly well I'd say.
the last three choices are all fantastic movies and would rank very high on the "shermometer", Im sure Hoosiers is good too, its regarded by some as one of the best sports movies ever, but ive never been inclined to watch it
__________________
Thank you for not discussing the outside world
In the 5th Round, Direct2Video selects Hoosiers in the Sports category.
Thrilled that this movie fell to me. The best sports movie ever, in my opinion.
Absoultely. Steal of the draft so far IMHO. Well done.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
Team Yippie-Kay-Yay is happy that our musical pick came from "A mission from God!"
The Blues Brothers
In 1980, The Blues Brothers, directed by John Landis, was released. Featuring epic car chases involving the Bluesmobile and musical performances by Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker, the story is set in and around Chicago, Illinois. It is a tale of redemption for the paroled convict Jake Blues and his brother Elwood as they decide to take on a "mission from God" and reform their blues band in order to raise funds to save the Catholic orphanage where they grew up. Along the way, the brothers are targeted by a "mystery woman" (Carrie Fisher) and chased by the Illinois State Police, a country and western band called the Good Ol' Boys, and "Illinois Nazis."
Some of the musicians:
John Belushi
Dan Aykroyd
James Brown
Cab Calloway
Ray Charles
Aretha Franklin
Steve Cropper
Donald Dunn
Willie Hall
Chaka Khan
John Lee Hooker
Joe Walsh
My favorite part is when the real honky tonk band shows up. Jeff Morris as Bob says, "I'm Bob! Lead singer of the band and driver of the Winnebago!"
and of course, this bit of vintage John Candy.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
Damned, I was just about to go for Blues Brothers! This last round has been a real killer, my shortlist is practically gone already. Back to the old drawing board...
Still, plenty of goodies left. For our 5th pick and 124th overall, Selfmade Heroes are proud to choose Gōsuto In Za Sheru/Kōkaku Kidōtai, better known simply as Ghost in the Shell (1995) for the Animation category.
I strongly recommend never touching the English overdub, but simply fighting through the subtitled version, even if it will propably take at least couple of viewings to get a hold of all the plot (unless you read and think really fast). I'm usually not much of a purist, but the overdub is simply so horribly done that manages to almost completely destroy the mood and tones of the film through comical raspy machismo.
I know this is a somewhat unfair comparison, but I think you'll see what I mean by comparing the opening titles... (Warning, borderline NSFW.)
with the English trailer:
As to why see this movie, I think Jonathan Mays puts it pretty accurately:
"If the purpose of a review is to determine whether a film is worth viewing, there is little to say about Ghost in the Shell. It exists on the elite plane of modern anime masterpieces, and for this reason alone, it should be watched."
Nice pick Protto, making my choice in the Drama category easier. Down to two movies...but I have a feeling Vanflamesfan will pick one of them. Damn you Van!
, that and theres some internal debate as to what to select with the next pick. I know the category, but its come down to a few choices I really didnt expect to be left over still
