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January 7, 2008
50 Movies You Might Have Missed (11-15)
11. Amelie

A film so good that it makes me forget I hate the French. It is also is a joy to watch. With the clever layout of the story, the ingenious use of narration and sharp editing there are few films within the past years that compare. This narratively simple movie about a Pollyannish Parisan girl who helps those around her is simply a treat. A good amount of praise can also go to Audrey Tautou in the lead. Beautiful while still looking utterly crazy, Tautou quickly establishes the character she was obviously born to play. Her meek yet welcoming performance carries the piece with ease. She is a pleasure to watch as she makes the insane world of the film believable.


12. Dangerous Liaisons

John Malkovich, Glenn Close, Uma Thurman, Swoozie Kurtz and Michelle Pfieffer all give excellent performances in this layered adapatation of Christopher Hampton's stage play. The scamp Vicomte Sébastien de Valmont (Malkovich) is dispatched by his ex-lover Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil (Close) to bed the young, naive Cécile de Volanges (Thurman) before she marries Merteuil's former lover. At the same time, Merteuil wagers that Valmont will not be able to likewise bed the married, and morally straight Madame Marie de Tourvel (Pfieffer). While attempting to woo the God-fearing Tourvel, Valmont finds that he has fallen in love. This ignites Merteuil's fury and a war between the devious is sparked. A costume movie with teeth, this is one of the better productions of the 1980's, even if Keanu Reeves makes an appearance to remind us all you don't have to be a great actor to get in a Hollywood movie.


13. Fail-Safe

American planes have been sent to bomb Moscow due to an electrical malfunction. Director Sidney Lumet handles the piece masterfully and provides a gripping drama. On top of being a taut Cold-War thriller, this film also sports one of my favorite nightmare sequences ever filmed.
14. "Breaker" Morant

Three Australian soldiers face court martial for the slaughter of some prisoners even though the soldiers were acting under orders when they committed the deed. The trial brings out the conflicts between those in charge and the grunts in the field asked to perform the cruelest of acts. Based on a stage play written by Kenneth Ross, this is really an actor’s movie. The performances are top of the line in this production. Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson and Bryan Brown offer very detailed and intelligent performances.


15. The Killers

I simply love this film. If for nothing else, the opening scene is worth the price of admission. The immediate tension and tone of doom that is struck is so overwhelming…man, I simply love this film!

The film follows the investigation of a killing. Two hit men arrive in a small town and gun down a seemingly simple man who doesn’t put up a fight. This story by Ernest Hemingway is told in a series of recollections from the people who surrounded the dead man. Burt Lancaster wonderfully plays Ole (the dead man) with a perfect mix of brutish stupidity and confident power. From the editing to the lighting every level of this film is masterfully laid out. Skip the crud that Hollywood is kicking out and return to classics like this one.


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posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 4:00 PM




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