Dez's Favorite Flicks, #'s 35-31

I had a phone conversation last night with my friend JMW. We discussed the trials and travails of creating movie (and music) lists. He had an interesting idea. Noticing that there are some evergreens that appear on every list for me or for him, perhaps those should be "retired" to make room for some newer or more off the beaten path picks. Perhaps one could segregate the all time favorites, like "these 20 films are in the Hall of Fame", list them real quick, and then move on to discussing some different but still great picks. This might serve one of the goals of listmaking, the one of suggesting interesting choices for the reader to check out that they might have missed. But at the same time, I countered, when you assemble these periodic lists, you want them to be comprehensive and accurate. You know, "these are my favorite 50" with no caveats. Ah, such is the dilemma of listmaking. JMW did, by the way, admit to me that he did not think he had actually ever seen First Blood, even though he commented on that pick in my last batch. mmm-hmm. He assures me that his own list is coming soon over at ASWOBA.

The five below are an eclectic bunch. A bit heavy on the 70's, but that was a hell of a decade for great moviemaking.

35. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), dir. James Foley

David Mamet dialogue is always distinctive with its rapid fire, sharp exchanges. This film adaptation of one of his best plays works so well in part due to the superlative cast that Mamet and Foley pulled together: Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin and Jonathan Pryce all dig their teeth into this material with gusto. It is the story of a group of desperate real estate salesmen competing with each other to not get fired after the hatchet man (in a hilarious tirade of verbal abuse given by Alec Baldwin) announces that the salesman of the month will get a Cadillac, second place a set of steak knives, and the rest will be fired. My favorite exchange in a movie full of memorable exchanges: Lemmon is excitedly detailing to Pacino a big sale he just closed at the home of some buyers, and both men savor each moment of the hunt. Lemmon tells of how the woman of the house served him a piece of pie as they were negotiating. Pacino: “Homemade?” Lemmon: “No, store bought.” Pacino: “F*ck her.”


ABOVE: Alec Baldwin's famous inspirational speech to the sales force in Glengarry Glen Ross

34. Gandhi (1982), dir. Richard Attenborough

This historical epic film is a fairly accurate telling of the life of Gandhi and the history of India during his time. While historians can nitpick certain scenes or argue fairly about how certain events were portrayed or what was omitted, Attenborough and his team did a good job overall. Ben Kingsley made his name with his phenomenal portrayal of one of the most revered figures in human history. While enjoyable as a film, this movie also serves as a fantastic educational tool. When I was teaching Geography to 9th graders, I used this film in the Indian unit. Not only does it chronicle India’s fight for freedom from the British, it also explains the civil war that erupted within India soon after independence and resulted in the creation of Pakistan.

33. Dog Day Afternoon (1975), dir. Sidney Lumet
Based on an actual robbery, this is the story of what should have been a simple 10 minute bank job turning into a 12 hour ordeal and media circus. Al Pacino was at the top of his game in the 70’s, and this may be his best performance. Pacino plays Sonny, a hapless bank robber who tries to steal enough money to pay for his gay lover’s sex change operation. He is accompanied by the simple Sal (Sonny: “They’re gonna get us an airplane. What country do you want to go to?” Sal: “Wyoming”), played by John Cazale. What starts out as almost a comedy becomes an exhausting and intense standoff.


ABOVE: Now this is the way to do opening credits. I love the opening of Dog Day Afternoon, the perfect use of image and music to set the mood. Using the best Elton John song you've never heard, "Amoreena," Lumet presents a series of images of a hot, steamy, bustling, 70's New York City that sets the stage perfectly for what is about to happen.

32. Deliverance (1972), dir. John Boorman

Ever wonder what the big deal was about Burt Reynolds? Check this movie out. This is an action thriller about a group of cocky city slickers who go out into the wild for a weekend of hunting, fishing and general manliness. They run into problems when they cross paths with some murderous backwoods, inbred kooks. The movie builds slowly with some genuinely creepy scenes. #32 has several iconic moments, such as the “Dueling Banjos” scene and of course the brutal sodomy rape scene where the unfortunate Ned Beatty gets the honors (“squeal like a pig!”) It is a taut thriller with great performances from Reynolds, Beatty, Jon Voight and Ronny Cox. One of the best action thrillers ever made.


ABOVE: Some creepy folks that our four city slickers encounter in Deliverance

31. Star Wars (1977), dir. George Lucas

Try and forget for a moment, if you can, the heinous Star Wars films of the last decade and a half. Pretend that they never happened. OK? Perhaps you can now remember what was so charming and fun about the original films. The Star Wars universe was practically religion for kids of my generation.