After much deliberation "It's Just A Flesh Wound" is delighted, and quite frankly amazed, to be able to select David Lean's masterpiece "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) in the non-fiction category.
IMDB has this listed as a biography, among others, which would lead me to believe it qualifies for this category as is based on the real life exploits of T.E. Lawrence and is largely based on Lawrence's own writing about events.
This is such a fantastic movie to be able to select so low in the draft. IJAFW considers this to be an absolute steal at this position.
WIKI info:
Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962epic film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Austrian Sam Spiegel (through his British company, Horizon Pictures), from a script by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson.
The film stars Peter O'Toole in the title role. It is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential films in the history of filmmaking. The dramatic score by Maurice Jarre, and Super Panavision 70 cinematography by Freddie Young, are also hugely acclaimed.
The film depicts Lawrence's experiences in Arabia during World War I, in particular his attacks on Aqaba and Damascus and his involvement in the Arab National Council. Its themes include Lawrence's emotional struggles with violence in war (especially the conflicts between Arab tribes and the slaughter of the Turkish army), his personal identity ("Who are you?" is a recurring line throughout the film), and his divided allegiance between his native Britain and its army, and his newfound comrades within the Arabian desert tribes. The film is unusual in having no women in speaking roles.
With the 215th pick in the CP Movie Draft, StrayBullet selects Scarface starring Al Pacino. Scarface will be placed in the Drama category.
Al Pacino plays Tony Montana; A small-time gangster with big time dreams. He plays the part, convincing us that Tony is possibly the greatest gangster ever on film. Violent throughout and continually referenced in today's pop culture, Scarface is truly one of the best of all-time.
I detect a level of shame or guilt in this statement. One should never feel guilty for including a Kurt Russell movie on their Movie Draft list. It should be a cardinal rule, really. I'm thinking of using The Strongest Man In The World for one of my wildcard picks - that or Captain Ron, haven't decided yet.
I get it. Kurt Russell is just one of those actors - like Bruce Willis - that won't really win any awards or outlandish accolades but he's in enough movies that people like that he's a household name.
No shame at all on my part. I truly LOVE Kurt Russell... maybe too much. I think he's perfect and I wanted to make sure that my list included at least one Kurt movie. And now it does, so I am happy.
Lawrence of Arabia and Scarface are two that I have almost picked a couple of times. I can't believe they lasted this long.
Given that all of your movie picks are ones that I might have picked myself, it is not surprising in the least that you were considering those two movies. Lawrence of Arabia is one of the all-time great epic movies. I cannot believe it fell so far. I might have picked it much earlier too but was hoping it, among a few others still available, would fall through the cracks a little. Luckily for me it did.
Underrated movie, in my opinion. I think it is because it stars Bruce Willis (as was discussed just a hair earlier in the thread) many people don't think it is a great movie. I think it is. It was nominated for 2 Oscars, one of them for Brad Pitt's awesomeness as the 'nutjob' Jeffrey Goines. This movie has some really great futuristic visuals and an interesting plot that keeps you glued to the screen. Terry Gilliam has turned into a pretty great director hasn't he?
Pitt at his best
Trailer
__________________ 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
With my 8th round pick, #216 overall, The Team With No Name is proud to select in the Sci-Fi category, Twelve Monkeys.
That was going to be my next pick!! Awesome movie. My No.1 choice in Sci-Fi. Darn you, Dis! Should have taken it before Lawrence! (Was Lawrence on your radar?) Why this isn't considered a great movie is beyond me. It's pitch perfect for the genre.
Damn, 12 Monkeys, another one I was hoping would slip under the radar.
Earlier in the thread, someone mentioned that Brad Pitt is an under-rated actor (despite being such a popular actor), and this is the movie that first made me realize that even though he's a "pretty-boy", he certainly isn't a "pretty-boy actor" (if that makes sense). Like Depp and DiCaprio, he's a guy who could have taken easy roles and gotten by on his looks, but has chosen some interesting roles and isn't afraid to not be the sex-symbol leading man.
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Turn up the good, turn down the suck!
One of the best action/cop movies of the last decade, if not the best. I didn't even hear about this movie somehow until it came out on DVD. I really wish I had seen it on the big screen, but even watching it on DVD with no idea what it was about was thrilling. There are several scenes in the film that are so intense. Shield like intense...fans of that show know what I mean!
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Training Day is a thrilling tale of young LAPD officer Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) who is joining a highly regarded NARC unit. It chronicles his first day, his training day, and the associated mayhem that he has to endure at the hands of his training officer, unit leader Alonzo (Denzel Washington). What a ride!
Denzel won the best actor oscar for his role and Ethan Hawke was nominated for best supporting actor. Well deserved honors!! The casting is outstanding as even characters with small roles are played so very well.
Trailer (RIP Mr. La Fontaine!)
First Encounter
Just a friendly card game in the barrio! (this is one of my favorite scenes in any movie ever!)
Final Showdown (almost)
__________________ 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
With the 218th overall selection in the CP Movie Draft, StrayBullet proudly choses, Do The Right Thing - A Spike Lee Joint. Do The Right Thing will be StrayBullet's first Wildcard selection.
Tensions explode on the hottest day in Brooklyn when a black customer in an Italian pizzeria is offended when he believes that there is a lack of misrepresentation on the walls of the shop. A bold and fierce film during a time when NYPD and the many ethic communities in New York were at a boiling point following a bout of police brutality cases. This film exposed the sensitive and racial tones of society and displayed them for middle-America to see. Spike Lee's breakthrough film, Do The Right Thing is a must see.
It's Just a Flesh Wound is thrilled to be able to pick with the 219th pick of the CP Movie Draft another classic that has slipped further than I thought it would,
"The Sting" (1973) will occupy our Best Picture category.
This was the movie that started my love for the caper or con genre. There have been other movies, especially recently, with the twist ending but The Sting was really the one that started it all. One of my favourite TV shows right now is the BBC series "Hustle" which references this movie often and indeed steals the plot, and the characters refer to that fact, in one of the episodes. Highly recommended (both Hustle and The Sting for those who haven't seen it.)
WIKI: The Sting is a 1973caper film set in September 1936 and revolving around a complicated plot by two professional grifters (Paul Newman and Robert Redford) to con a mob boss (Robert Shaw). The story, created by screenwriter David S. Ward, was inspired by some real-life con games perpetrated by the brothers Fred and Charley Gondorf and documented by David Maurer in his book The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man. The movie was directed by George Roy Hill, who also directed Newman and Redford in the classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The title phrase refers to the moment when a con artist finishes the "play" and takes the mark's money. (Today the expression is mostly used in the context of law enforcement sting operations.) If the con game is successful, the mark does not realize he has been "taken" (cheated), at least not until the con men are long gone.
The movie is divided into distinct sections with old-fashioned title cards with lettering and illustrations rendered in a style reminiscent of the Saturday Evening Post. The film is noted for its musical score - particularly its main theme melody, "The Entertainer", a piano rag by Scott Joplin, which was lightly adapted for the movie by Marvin Hamlisch. The film in turn encouraged a long overdue surge of popularity and critical acclaim for Joplin's work.[1]
The film was a major box office success in 1973, taking in more than US$160 million. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Outstanding choice Jagger! I suspect a lot of people have never had the pleasure of enjoying this one. Great movie!
__________________ 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
Damn, I was going to pick that! It was on Encore Avenue the other day after work and I watched the whole thing. My mom used to make us watch it when I was a kid.
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The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true. Go Flames Go!
Outstanding choice Jagger! I suspect a lot of people have never had the pleasure of enjoying this one. Great movie!
Thanks. It really is an excellent movie and is a must see for anybody that hasn't seen it before. The set up is fantastic.
Also, like I said before anybody who likes The Sting will likely enjoy the British TV show, "Hustle." They have just released a 4 season DVD box set in North America. It's a great buy.
