Random thoughts that absolutely no one inquired about...
Closest film equivalents to Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea...
Metropolis - Fritz Lang (8.4/10) ... among candidates it is the closest in quality similarity, closest in emotional arc, consistency or "peaks & valleys" of emotional intensity pretty much all of the way through (considerable similarities between the two)... has some parallels in terms of themes and types of emotion too, how heart on sleeve it is, how one can draw parallels with its religious convictions and themes, its love and heartbreak themes, and parallels between its underworld, tyrannical class system and, in some ways, Aeroplane's WW2 themes (Anne Frank, etc) and Nazi concentration camps. As well as parallels with its visual style/amalgamation which comes close to a "retro-futuristic" aesthetic (among its many aesthetics between expressionism, art deco, etc). In that sense it runs fairly parallel to Aeroplane's concerns in both the past and the present, drawing from music of WW II and earlier periods while also modern and vibrant indie-folk and bordering on nearly "punk" values (or DIY, low-fi, haphazard technique, indie creed). The main thing missing is the true devastation and sadness permeating Aeroplane. In Metropolis this emotional pull is kinda-sorta there but it is very surface level in comparison (his yearning for the girl, the energetic and breathless yearning and action towards freedom from pain/slavery) and even if it matches Aeroplane in liveliness or vigor, it is not nearly as evident in its real-life concern nor pain nor nearly as deeply moving. If Metropolis also accomplished this, it would probably be powerful enough for the same rating (8.9 vs 8.4 last revisited).
City of Lost Children - Jean Jeunet (7.6-7.8/10) ... similar parallels in its vision and themes, as with Metropolis, though here a real sadness, trauma, more permeates the proceedings. However, it is simply not visceral enough or truly personal/heartbreaking enough (would need to, approximately, double its intensity and momentum, closer to that of Metropolis, while somehow also increasing how devastating or traumatic it is wanting to be). It would probably need a stronger more no-holds-barred, greater more sympathetic attachment to a lead performance to pull that off.
Forrest Gump - Robert Zemeckis (7.4/10) ... will add some thoughts
Brand Upon the Brain - Guy Maddin (7.2/10) ... its been years since I've watched this, but it is perhaps the closest in terms of how one would expect the visual world of a film equivalent of the album to look aesthetically. And there are several parallel themes. However, unless a revisit proves otherwise, it probably isn't emotional enough (in that I don't recall it drawing any particularly emotional attachment to a main protagonist). It's probably too "on the outside looking in" to more completely match the unshakable emotional feeling of Aeroplane speaking so directly to the listener, the personal conviction and immersion into it, even if aesthetically it seems to have all its intentions in the right place.
Maybe... (seem like solid possibilities, may need to revisit while thinking with such parallels in mind)
Underground - Emir Kusturica (8.2/10)
The Dance of Reality - Alejandro Jodorowski (7.9/10) _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Last edited by AfterHours on 5 days ago; edited 1 time in total
I'm about an hour into T2 Trainspotting and am curious how people feel about this follow up to the classic, masterful first Trainspotting (still among the most riveting, fresh "blackly comic" films of the 90s).
No spoilers though please. I should be through the movie late Thurs evening and don't want to know where it all ends up, so keep that out of the comments if you don't mind! It already has its hands full following the original, don't want to lose the surprises too!
I looked at it on RYM and saw 2017 and was thinking "WTF!?" -- shocked that it came out 8 years ago!? How has time flown like this?? I swear it was 2, maybe 3 years ago, that I was seeing trailers for it and reminding myself to catch it at some point soon. Now here we are... 🤔 _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Random, for fun... (may end up making this a more serious list...)
BEST ALBUM OPENERS AND CLOSERS - ROCK/JAZZ (VERY INCOMPLETE!)
NOTE: If two or more tracks are connected, segued, I usually count this all as "one" song/track/suite. However, entire albums (where a "single track" or segued) do not count for this list, as they are both an "opener" and a "closer" (or neither)
Greatest Album Openers:
Satz: Ebene + Satz: Gewitter (energy rise—energy collapse) - Klaus Schulze - Irrlicht - Tracks 1 & 2 (Track #1 on Original Vinyl Issue) (1972)
Free Form Freak-Out #1 + Hurricane Fighter Plane + Free Form Freak-Out #2 + Transparent Radiation + Free Form Freak-Out #3 + War Sucks - Red Crayola - Parable of Arable Land - Tracks 1-6 (or Tracks 1-7 depending on the issue) [Entire Side A] (1967)
Lorca - Tim Buckley - Lorca - Track #1 (1969)
The Creator Has A Master Plan - Pharoah Sanders - Karma - Track #1 (1969)
Panoptikon - Diamanda Galas - Diamanda Galas - Track #1 (1984)
The Magic City - Sun Ra - The Magic City - Track #1 (1965)
Improvisie - Paul Bley - Improvisie - Track #1 (1971)
Emily - Joanna Newsom - Ys - Track #1 (2006)
Evangelista I - Carla Bozulich - Evangelista - Track #1 (2006)
As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams - Stephan Micus - Implosions - Track #1 (1977)
1/1 - Brian Eno - Music for Airports - Track #1 (1978)
The Rainbow + Eden + Desire - Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden - Tracks 1-3 (Track #1 on original pressings and vinyl) (1988)
Woe to All (On the Day of My Wrath) - Lingua Ignota - All Bitches Die - Track #1 (2017)
Here, Not Here - Charalambides - Joy Shapes - Track #1 (2004)
Cygnus... Vismund Cygnus - The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute - Track #1 (2005)
Aqualung - Jethro Tull - Aqualung - Track #1 (1971)
Hotel Overture - Carla Bley - Escalator Over the Hill - Track #1 (1972)
Sea Song - Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom - Track #1 (1974)
Janitor of Lunacy - Nico - Desertshore - Track #1 (1970)
Track A: Solo Dancer - Charles Mingus - The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady - Track #1 (1963)
Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited - Track #1 (1965)
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison - Astral Weeks - Track #1 (1968)
Beginning - Keith Jarrett - The Survivor's Suite - Track #1 (1976)
Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N’ Roses - Appetite for Destruction - Track #1 (1987)
Breadcrumb Trail - Slint - Spiderland - Track #1 (1991)
Pull Me Under - Dream Theater - Images and Words - Track #1 (1992)
Facelift - Soft Machine - Third - Track #1 (1970)
Paint it Black - Rolling Stones - Aftermath (US Edition) - Track #1 (1966)
Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers - Track #1 (1971)
Acknowledgement - John Coltrane - A Love Supreme - Track #1 (1964)
Astronomy Domine - Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn - Track #1 (1967)
Middle of the Road - Pretenders - Learning To Crawl - Track #1 (1984)
24 - Red House Painters - Down Colorful Hill - Track #1 (1992)
Rocks Off - The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street - Track #1 (1972)
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana - Nevermind - Track #1 (1991)
Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones - Beggar’s Banquet - Track #1 (1968)
Strange Feelin' - Tim Buckley - Happy Sad - Track #1 (1968)
Stephanie Knows Who - Love - Da Capo - Track #1 (1966)
All I Really Want - Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill - Track #1 (1995)
The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. One + The King of Carrot Flowers, Pts. Two & Three - Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Tracks 1 & 2 (1997)
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart - Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Track #1 (2002)
Right Next Door to Hell - Guns N’ Roses - Use Your Illusion I - Track #1 (1991)
Greatest Album Closers:
Sister Ray - The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat - Track #6 (1967)
Pursuance + Psalm - John Coltrane - A Love Supreme - Tracks 3 & 4 (Track #3 on Original LP) (1964)
Atlantis - Sun Ra - Atlantis - Track #5 (1967)
Miss Fortune - Faust - Faust - Track #3 (1971)
Mode D: Trio and Group Dancers/Mode E: Single Solos and Group Dance/Mode F: Group and Solo Dance - Charles Mingus - The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady - Track #4 (1963)
Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands - Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde - Track #14 (1966)
The Mother of Virtues - Pyrrhon - The Mother of Virtues - Track #9 (2014)
Valentyne Suite - Colosseum - Valentyne Suite - Tracks 5-7 (1969)
The End - The Doors - The Doors - Track #11 (1966)
Touching - Paul Bley - Improvisie - Track #2 (1971)
Tragouthia Apo to Aima Exoun Fonos - Diamanda Galas - Diamanda Galas - Track #2 (1984)
Reoccurring Dreams - Husker Du - Zen Arcade - Track #24 (1984)
Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road - Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom - Track #6 (1974)
Conclusion - Keith Jarrett - The Survivor's Suite - Track #2 (1976)
The Call of Ktulu - Metallica - Ride the Lightning - Track #8 (1984)
European Son - The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico - Track #11 (1967)
Good Morning Captain - Slint - Spiderland - Track #6 (1991)
When the Music's Over - The Doors - Strange Days - Track #10 (1967)
Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair - Patty Waters - Sings - Track #8 (1965)
Nobody Walkin' - Tim Buckley - Lorca - Track #5 (1969)
Desolation Row - Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited - Track #9 (1965)
Trilogy: a) The Wonder; b) Hyperstation; z) Eliminator Jr. - Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation - Track #12 (1988)
Torn Curtain - Television - Marquee Moon - Track #8 (1977)
Che - Suicide - Suicide - Track #7 (1977)
I Am the Resurrection - The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses - Track #11 (1989)
Cowgirl in the Sand - Neil Young - Everybody Knows this is Nowhere - Track #8 (1969)
Shots and Ladders - Low - Trust - Track #13 (2002)
A Day in the Life - The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Track #13 (1967)
When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin - IV - Track #8 (1971)
Murder Most Foul - Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways - Track #10 (2020)
Wealth - Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden - Track #6 (1988)
Revelation - Love - Da Capo - Track #7 (1966)
Reservations - Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Track #11 (2002)
Its All Over Now, Baby Blue - Bob Dylan - Bringing it All Back Home - Track #11 (1965)
All That is My Own - Nico - Desertshore - Track #8 (1970)
Slim Slow Slider - Van Morrison - Astral Weeks - Track #8 (1968)
Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles - Revolver - Track #14 (1966) _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
NOTE: This is not a list that is ordered exclusively by how funny the films are (absolute funniest at the top, least funny at the bottom). It is more accurate to say it is a list of the best films where comedy (including black or darker comedies, comedic-satires, and so on...) happens to be a major genre/theme of the selection, listed in order by their overall quality (as in my overall criteria: emotionally, conceptually, creatively). It would also be more accurate to say that the higher on the list, the more ingenuity and meaning the comedy will tend to have on average. There are some films (lower on the list) that have made me laugh harder than some, or even most, of the films higher on the list. However, the films in the higher rankings are more significant experiences, better overall films (usually in more ways beyond comedy alone) and their comedy, even when it is not being "laugh-out-loud" funny, tends to have more ingenuity, more meaning, provoke more thought or even a greater multitude of feelings, emotions, reactions than just laughter. And it will tend to be more permanently watchable, to remain compelling after countless revisits, with fewer (if any) diminishing returns.
IN PROGRESS / UNDER CONSTRUCTION
9/10
<<<9.0>>>
Brazil - Terry Gilliam (1985) [The Final Cut, 142 minutes]
8.5/10
<<<8.7>>>
<<<8.6>>>
North by Northwest - Alfred Hitchcock (1959) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<8.5>>>
Nashville - Robert Altman (1975)
<<<8.4>>>
La Dolce Vita - Federico Fellini (1960) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<8.3>>>
Satantango - Bela Tarr (1994) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Pulp Fiction - Quentin Tarantino (1994)
8/10
<<<8.2>>>
8 ½ - Federico Fellini (1963) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Underground - Emir Kusturica (1995)
Love Exposure - Sion Sono (2008)
Belle de Jour - Luis Bunuel (1967) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<8.1>>>
Holy Mountain - Alejandro Jodorowsky (1973)
<<<8.0>>>
Limelight - Charlie Chaplin (1952)
<<<7.9>>>
The Dance of Reality - Alejandro Jodorowsky (2013) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<7.8>>>
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover - Peter Greenaway (1989)
Being John Malkovich - Spike Jonze (1999)
Reservoir Dogs - Quentin Tarantino (1992) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Holy Motors - Leos Carax (2012) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Michel Gondry (2004)
Natural Born Killers - Oliver Stone (1994) [Director's Cut, 123 minutes; Theatrical Cut is only slightly lower, 7.7 or 7.8/10]
7.5/10
<<<7.7>>>
Conspirators of Pleasure - Jan Svankmajer (1996)
Funny Games - Michael Haneke (1997) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Zardoz - John Boorman (1972)
Viridiana - Luis Bunuel (1961) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Rules of the Game - Jean Renoir (1939)
The Kingdom - Lars Von Trier (1995)
Badlands - Terrence Malick (1973) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<7.6>>>
Blue Velvet - David Lynch (1986) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Apartment - Billy Wilder (1960)
It's Such a Beautiful Day - Don Hertzfeldt (2012)
The City of Lost Children - Jean-Pierre Jeunet (1995) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Goodfellas - Martin Scorsese (1990) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Tootsie - Sydney Pollack (1982)
The Graduate - Mike Nichols (1967)
Bonnie & Clyde - Arthur Penn (1967) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia - Sam Peckinpah (1974) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Playtime - Jacques Tati (1967)
<<<7.5>>>
Eraserhead - David Lynch (1978) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Tenant - Roman Polanski (1976) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Fargo - Joel Coen (1996)
The Phantom of Liberty - Luis Bunuel (1974)
A Zed & Two Noughts - Peter Greenaway (1985)
Dr. Akagi - Shohei Imamura (1998)
Irma La Douce - Billy Wilder (1963)
The Ballad of Cable Hogue - Sam Peckinpah (1970)
Manhattan - Woody Allen (1979)
Rio Bravo - Howard Hawks (1959) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Videodrome - David Cronenberg (1983) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Life is Beautiful - Roberto Benigni (1997)
Death Wish 3 - Michael Winner (1985) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Dogma - Kevin Smith (1999)
Weekend - Jean-Luc Godard (1967)
Celine and Julie Go Boating - Jacques Rivette (1974) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Get Out - Jordan Peele (2017) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Meet John Doe – Frank Capra (1941)
Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb - Stanley Kubrick (1964)
The Devils - Ken Russell (1971) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
After Hours - Martin Scorsese (1985)
Modern Times - Charlie Chaplin (1936)
Black Cat, White Cat - Emir Kusturica (1998)
<<<7.4>>>
Inglorious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino (2009)
Miracle in Milan - Vittorio de Sica (1951)
American Beauty - Sam Mendes (1999)
Forrest Gump - Robert Zemeckis (1994)
A Fish Called Wanda - Charles Crichton (1987)
Chungking Express - Wong Kar-wai (1994) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Parasite - Bong Joon Ho (2019)
The King of Comedy - Martin Scorsese (1983)
Network - Sidney Lumet (1976)
Amelie - Jean-Pierre Jeunet (2001)
Body Double - Brian De Palma (1984) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Sullivan's Travels - Preston Sturges (1941)
Annie Hall - Woody Allen (1976)
Baby Driver - Edgar Wright (2017) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
To Be or Not To Be - Ernst Lubitsch (1942)
Dead Man - Jim Jarmusch (1995)
To Catch a Thief - Alfred Hitchcock (1955) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Breathless - Jean-Luc Godard (1960) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
El Topo - Alejandro Jodorowsky (1970) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Pierrot le Fou - Jean-Luc Godard (1965) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<7.3>>>
L'Age D'Or - Luis Bunuel (1930)
Southland Tales - Richard Kelly (2003)
The Exterminating Angel - Luis Bunuel (1962)
Trainspotting – Danny Boyle (1996)
The Truman Show - Peter Weir (1998)
Uncut Gems - Josh and Benny Safdie (2019) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Synecdoche, New York - Charlie Kaufman (2008) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Airplane! – Jerry Zucker; David Zucker; Jim Abrahams (1980)
Delicatessen - Jean-Pierre Jeunet (1991)
Some Like it Hot - Billy Wilder (1959)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - Shane Black (2005)
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - Guy Ritchie (1998)
Smiles of a Summer Night - Ingmar Bergman (1955)
The Draughtsman's Contract - Peter Greenaway (1982) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
City Lights - Charlie Chaplin (1931)
Something Wild - Jonathan Demme (1986)
The General - Buster Keaton (1926)
Don't Look Up - Adam McKay (2021)
Baby Doll - Elia Kazan (1956)
A Clockwork Orange - Stanley Kubrick (1971)
The Lobster - Yorgos Lanthimos (2015)
Crank - Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor (2006)
The Great Dictator - Charlie Chaplin (1940)
Bringing Up Baby - Howard Hawks (1938)
The Gold Rush - Charlie Chaplin (1925)
Barton Fink - Joel & Ethan Coen (1991)
Tuvalu - Veit Helmer (1999)
Dog Day Afternoon - Sidney Lumet (1975)
Flirting With Disaster - David O. Russell (1996)
Poor Things - Yorgos Lanthimos (2023) ***tentative rating/may need to revisit***
Ghostbusters - Ivan Reitman (1984)
Brewster McCloud - Robert Altman (1970)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit - Robert Zemeckis (1988)
Probably 7.3/10+ but too undecided on exact rating/ranking
Trouble in Paradise - Ernst Lubitsch (1932) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Heaven Can Wait - Ernst Lubitsch (1943) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Lady Eve - Preston Sturges (1941) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
7/10
<<<7.2>>>
The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Jim Sharman (1975) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Phantom of the Paradise - Brian De Palma (1974) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Brand Upon the Brain! - Guy Maddin (2006) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Fight Club - David Fincher (1999)
Taxidermia - Gyorgy Palfi (2006)
If... - Lindsay Anderson (1968)
Adaptation - Spike Jonze (2002)
A Matter of Life and Death - Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger (1947) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Back to the Future - Robert Zemeckis (1985)
Time Bandits – Terry Gilliam (1981)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - George Roy Hill (1969) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Ninotchka - Ernst Lubitsch (1939) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Play It Again, Sam - Herbert Ross (1972) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Charade - Stanley Donen (1963) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Fisher King - Terry Gilliam (1991)
Blues Brothers - John Landis (1980)
Simon of the Desert - Luis Bunuel (1965)
Magnolia - Paul Thomas Anderson (1999) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Hot Fuzz – Edgar Wright (2007)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World - Stanley Kramer (1963) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Down By Law - Jim Jarmusch (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Big Lebowski - Joel and Ethan Coen (1998)
What About Bob? - Frank Oz (1991)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Milos Forman (1975) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Total Recall - Paul Verhoeven (1990) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Thelma & Louise - Ridley Scott (1991) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Science of Sleep - Michel Gondry (2006)
It Happened One Night - Frank Capra (1934)
I Was a Male War Bride - Howard Hawks (1949) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Kid - Charlie Chaplin (1921) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<7.1>>>
Raising Arizona - Joel and Ethan Coen (1987)
Stay Tuned - Peter Hyams (1992)
Wayne's World – Penelope Spheeris (1992)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World – Edgar Wright (2010)
Raiders of the Lost Ark - Steven Speilberg (1980) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
21 Jump Street - Phil Lord; Christopher Miller (2012)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Terry Gilliam; Terry Jones (1975)
To Die For - Gus Van Sant (1995)
Mars Attacks! - Tim Burton (1996)
The Front Page - Lewis Milestone (1931)
Rain Man – Barry Levinson (1988) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Stranger Than Paradise - Jim Jarmusch (1984) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Fifth Element - Luc Besson (1997)
Amateur - Hal Hartley (1994)
The Royal Tenenbaums - Wes Anderson (2001)
Shallow Grave - Danny Boyle (1994)
Peggy Sue Got Married - Francis Ford Coppola (1986)
Edward Scissorhands - Tim Burton (1990) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Joel Coen (2000)
The Purple Rose of Cairo - Woody Allen (1985)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – John Hughes (1986)
Groundhog Day - Harold Ramis (1993)
Falling Down - Joel Schumachler (1993)
Naked - Mike Leigh (1993)
Miller's Crossing - Joel Coen (1990) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Do the Right Thing - Spike Lee (1989) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The African Queen - John Huston (1951) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
American Graffiti - George Lucas (1973)
Funny Bones - Peter Chelsom (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Wild at Heart - David Lynch (1990)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - Quentin Tarantino (2019)
Ghost World - Terry Zwigoff (2001)
The Trial - Orson Welles (1962) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Circus - Charlie Chaplin (1928) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Conspiracy Theory - Richard Donner (1997) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote - Terry Gillian (2018) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Scarlet Empress - Josef von Sternberg (1934) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<7.0>>>
Donnie Darko - Richard Kelly (2001) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Welcome to the Dollhouse - Todd Solondz (1995)
Her - Spike Jonze (2013) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Short Cuts - Robert Altman (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Cabaret - Bob Fosse (1972) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Boogie Nights - Paul Thomas Anderson (1997)
True Lies – James Cameron (1994)
Robocop - Paul Verhoeven (1987)
The Great Race - Blake Edwards (1965) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bananas - Woody Allen (1971) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Sideways - Alexander Payne (2004)
Barry Lyndon - Stanley Kubrick (1975) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Lady Bird - Greta Gerwig (2017)
Booksmart - Olivia Wilde (2019)
Wall-E - Andrew Stanton (2008)
Eighth Grade - Bo Burnham (2018)
Heathers - Michael Lehmann (1989)
Sherlock Jr - Buster Keaton (1924) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Young Frankenstein - Mel Brooks (1974) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Cameraman - Buster Keaton (1928) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
His Girl Friday - Howard Hawks (1940)
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut - Trey Parker (1999)
Lethal Weapon - Richard Donner (1987)
Beetlejuice – Tim Burton (1988)
Blood Simple - Joel Coen (1984) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Monsieur Verdoux - Charles Chaplin (1947) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Blazing Saddles - Mel Brooks (1974) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
American Psycho - Mary Harron (2000)
Full Metal Jacket - Stanley Kubrick (1987) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Steamboat Bill Jr. - Buster Keaton (1928) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Almost Famous - Cameron Crowe (2000) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
High Fidelity - Stephen Frears (2000)
La La Land - Damien Chazelle (2016) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell (2012)
Lars and the Real Girl - Craig Gillespie (2007)
Topsy Turvy - Mike Leigh (1999)
Spring Breakers - Harmony Korine (2012) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Lost in Translation - Sofia Coppola (2003) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
L' Atalante - Jean Vigo (1934) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Being There - Hal Ashby (1979)
Toy Story - John Lasseter (1995)
Inside Out - Pete Docter (2015)
Shaun of the Dead - Edgar Wright (2004)
Wag the Dog - Barry Levinson (1997)
Everything Everywhere All at Once - Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (2022)
This is Spinal Tap - Rob Reiner (1984) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Gremlins - Joe Dante (1984)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch - Joe Dante (1990)
Naked Gun 2 1/2 - David Zucker (1991)
Die Hard - John McTiernan (1988) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Charley Varrick - Don Siegel (1973) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Riders of Justice - Anders Thomas Jensen (2020)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - Howard Hawks (1953) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Cocoon - Ron Howard (1985)
The Witches - Nicholas Roeg (1990) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Evil Dead - Sam Raimi (1981) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Sneakers - Phil Alden Robinson (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<6.9>>>
Sexy Beast - Jonathan Glazer (2000)***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Lego Movie - Phil Lord / Christopher Miller (2014) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Wolf of Wall Street - Martin Scorsese (2013)
Nurse Betty - Neil Labute (2000)
Alice - Jan Svankmajer (1988) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Bridget Jones' Diary - Sharon Maguire (2001)
A Serious Man - Joel and Ethan Coen (2009)
The Cable Guy - Ben Stiller (1996)
Galaxy Quest - Dean Parisot (1999)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl - Gore Verbinski (2003) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Beverly Hills Cop - Martin Brest (1984)
Zero for Conduct - Jean Vigo (1933)
Dazed and Confused - Richard Linklater (1993)
Superbad - Greg Mottola (2007)
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - Larry Charles (2006)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Ben Stiller (2013)
Toy Story 3 - Lee Unkrich (2010)
Bruno - Larry Charles (2009)
Drunken Master - Yuen Woo-Ping (1978) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Little Shop of Horrors - Roger Corman (1960) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Scream - Wes Craven (1996)
Batman - Tim Burton (1989) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Pinocchio - Hamilton Luske and Ben Sharpsteen (1940) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Edge of Seventeen - Kelly Fremon Craig (2016) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
National Lampoon's Animal House - John Landis (1978)
Risky Business - Paul Brickman (1983)
RRR - S. S. Rajamouli (2022) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Analyze This - Harold Ramis (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Hannah and Her Sisters - Woody Allen (1986)
My Fair Lady - George Cukor (1964) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Shop Around the Corner - Ernst Lubitsch (1940) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Hausu - Nobuhiko Obayashi (1977)
Child's Play - Tom Holland (1988) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Ghost - Jerry Zucker (1990) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Working Girl - Mike Nichols (1987)
The Breakfast Club - John Hughes (1985)
She's Gotta Have It - Spike Lee (1986) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Go - Doug Liman (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
48 Hours - Walter Hill (1982) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Pink Panther - Blake Edwards (1963) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<6.8>>>
Harold and Maude – Hal Ashby (1971)
Election - Alexander Payne (1999)
Romancing the Stone - Robert Zemeckis (1984)
Stranger Than Fiction – Marc Forster (2006)
Bad Santa - Terry Zwigoff (2003) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
L.A. Story - Mick Jackson (1991)
Batman Returns - Tim Burton (1992) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Adventures of Robin Hood - Michael Curtiz (1938) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Seven Year Itch - Billy Wilder (1955) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! - David Zucker (1988)
Palm Springs - Max Barbakow (2020)
Chasing Amy - Kevin Smith (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Grosse Point Blank - George Armitage (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Chimes at Midnight - Orson Welles (1965) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Toy Story 2 - John Lasseter (1999)
Dave - Ivan Reitman (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas - Henry Selick (1993) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Zoolander - Ben Stiller (2001)
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl - Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (2015) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Men in Black - Barry Sonnenfeld (1997)
Pleasantville - Gary Ross (1998)
Crooklyn - Spike Lee (1994)
White Men Can't Jump - Ron Shelton (1992)
The Burbs - Joe Dante (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - Jeremiah S. Chechik (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Sin City - Robert Rodríguez and Frank Miller (2005) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Adventures of Baron Manchausen - Terry Gilliam (1988)
Anomalisa - Charlie Kaufman (2015) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
When Harry Met Sally - Rob Reiner (1989)
Deconstructing Harry – Woody Allen (1997)
Duck Soup - Leo McCarey (1933) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Six Degrees of Separation - Fred Schepisi (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Little Shop of Horrors - Frank Oz (1986) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Jerk - Carl Reiner (1979) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
La Ronde - Max Ophuls (1950) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
M*A*S*H - Robert Altman (1970) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Punch Drunk Love - Paul Thomas Anderson (2002) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
They Live - John Carpenter (1988)
Labyrinth - Jim Henson (1986) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Office Space - Mike Judge (1999)
Meet the Parents - Jay Roach (2000)
Clifford - Paul Flaherty (1994)
Hail Caeser – Joel & Ethan Coen (2016)
Mrs Doubtfire - Chris Columbus (1993)
Police Story - Jackie Chan (1985)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Frank Oz (1988)
An American Werewolf in London - John Landis (1981)
Out of Sight - Steven Soderbergh (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Barbarella - Roger Vadim (1968) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Wolf - Mike Nichols (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Ocean's Eleven - Steven Soderbergh (2001)
***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
6.5/10
<<<6.7>>>
Man on the Moon - Milos Forman (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Evil Dead II - Sam Raimi (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Kung Fu Hustle - Stephen Chow (2004)
Scream 2 - Wes Craven (1998)
The 40 Year Old Virgin - Judd Apatow (2005)
Rush Hour - Brett Ratner (1998)
Fright Night - Tom Holland (1985) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Singin' in the Rain - Stanley Donen; Gene Kelly (1952) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Splash - Ron Howard (1984)
Twins - Ivan Reitman (1988)
Heartbreakers - David Mirkin (2001)
Small Soldiers - Joe Dante (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Moonstruck - Norman Jewison (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The War of the Roses - Danny DeVito (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Running Man - Paul Michael Glaser (1987) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<6.6>>>
Barbie - Greta Gerwig (2023)
Army of Darkness - Sam Raimi (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Rushmore - Wes Anderson (1998)
Battle Royale - Kinji Fukasaku (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Gosford Park - Robert Altman (2001)
As Good as it Gets - James L. Brooks (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Waitress - Adrienne Shelly (2007)
Waking Ned Devine - Kirk Jones (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Rock - Michael Bay (1996) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Death Proof - Quentin Tarantino (2007)
The Freshman - Andrew Bergman (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Fried Green Tomatoes - Jon Avnet (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Stripes - Ivan Reitman (1981) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Field of Dreams - Phil Alden Robinson (1989) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<6.5>>>
Napoleon Dynamite - Jared Hess (2004)
Lolita - Stanley Kubrick (1962)
Sleepless in Seattle - Nora Ephron (1993)
Four Weddings and a Funeral - Mike Newell (1994)
Big - Penny Marshall (1988)
Looney Tunes: Back in Action - Joe Dante (2003) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Terry Gilliam (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
National Lampoon's Vacation - Harold Ramis (1983) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Cabin in the Woods - Drew Goddard (2011)
Spaceballs – Mel Brooks (1987)
Monty Python's Life of Brian - Terry Jones (1979)
Sabrina - Billy Wilder (1954) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Philadelphia Story - George Cukor (1940) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bad Boys - Michael Bay (1995)
(500) Days of Summer - Marc Webb (2009)
Dumb and Dumber - Peter Farrelly (1994)
A Christmas Carol - Edwin Marin (1938) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
A Christmas Story - Bob Clark (1983) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
My Big Fat Greek Wedding - Joel Zwick (2002) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Monsters, Inc - Peter Docter (2001) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Naked Gun 33 1/3 - Peter Segal (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Hateful Eight - Quentin Tarantino (2015) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Paddington 2 - Paul King (2017) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Trading Places - John Landis (1983) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Crank: High Voltage - Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor (2009)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - Alejandro González Iñárritu (2014) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<6.4>>>
Knocked Up – Judd Apatow (2007)
Pretty Woman - Garry Marshall (1990)
Juno - Jason Reitman (2007)
Mystic Pizza - Donald Petrie (1988)
Robocop 2 - Ivan Kershner (1990) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Darkman - Sam Raimi (1990)
The Wizard of Oz - Victor Fleming (1939) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Lion King - Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff (1994) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Little Mermaid - Ron Clements and John Musker (1989) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Fast Times At Ridgemont High - Amy Heckerling (1982)
Say Anything - Cameron Crowe (1989)
Sixteen Candles - John Hughes (1984)
Home Alone - Chris Columbus (1990)
Hot Shots! - Jim Abrahams (1991)
Swingers - Doug Liman (1996)
There's Something About Mary - Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly (1998)
The Princess Bride – Rob Reiner (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Die Hard with a Vengence - John McTiernan (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Stakeout - John Badham (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Jackie Brown – Quentin Tarantino (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Beautiful Girls - Ted Demme (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory - Mel Stuart (1971)
<<<6.3>>>
Grease - Randal Kleiser (1978) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Opposite of Sex - Don Roos (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Toy Story 4 - Josh Cooley (2019) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Tropic Thunder - Ben Stiller (2008) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Catch Me If You Can - Steven Spielberg (2002) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Mean Girls - Mark Waters (2004)
Little Miss Sunshine - Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (2006) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
My Cousin Vinny - Jonathan Lynn (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Liar Liar - Tom Shadyac (1997)
The Full Monty - Peter Cattaneo (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Goonies - Richard Donner (1985) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Hangover - Todd Phillips (2009)
Bridesmaids - Paul Feig (2011)
I Married a Witch - Rene Clair (1942) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
This is the End - Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (2013)
Short Circuit - John Badham (1986) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Tideland - Terry Gilliam (2005) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Superman - Richard Donner (1978) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Uncle Buck - John Hughes (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Piranha - Joe Dante (1978) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
6/10
<<<6.2>>>
The Interview - Evan Goldberg / Seth Rogen (2014) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Tim Burton (2007) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Good Morning, Vietnam - Barry Levinson (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
House Party - Reginald Hudlin (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
CB4 - Tamra Davis (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Emperor's New Groove - Mark Dindal (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Aladdin - Ron Clements and John Musker (1992)
Spiderman 2 - Sam Raimi (2004) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
American Made - Doug Liman (2017) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Roxanne - Fred Schepisi (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Breakfast at Tiffany's - Blake Edwards (1961)
Bull Durham - Ron Shelton (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Starship Troopers - Paul Verhoeven (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Man Who Would Be King - John Huston (1975) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Jerry Maguire - Cameron Crowe (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Get Shorty - Barry Sonnenfeld (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Last Action Hero - John McTiernan (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Ref - Ted Demme (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Arachnophobia - Frank Marshall (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
<<<6.1>>>
Sweet and Lowdown - Woody Allen (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Reality Bites - Ben Stiller (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
World of Tomorrow - Don Hertzfeldt (2015)
The Simpsons Movie - David Silverman (2007)
National Lampoon's European Vacation - Amy Heckerling (1985) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Hook - Steven Spielberg (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Deadpool - Tim Miller (2016) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky (2012) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Psycho III - Anthony Perkins (1986) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Child's Play 2 - John Lafia (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bruce Almighty - Tom Shadyac (2003) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Lethal Weapon 4 - Richard Donner (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Beauty and the Beast - Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale (1991)
Convoy - Sam Peckinpah (1978) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - Wolfgang Reitherman and John Lounsbery (1977) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Up - Pete Docter (2009)
Big Trouble in Little China - John Carpenter (1986) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Pee Wee's Big Adventure - Tim Burton (1985) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Adventures in Babysitting - Chris Columbus (1987)
The Jungle Book - Wolfgang Reitherman (1967) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Birdcage - Mike Nichols (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bowfinger - Frank Oz (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Sandlot - David M. Evans (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Primary Colors - Mike Nichols (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed*** T2 Trainspotting - Danny Boyle (2017)
<<<6.0>>>
Chicken Run - Nick Park / Peter Lord (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - Jason Woliner (2020)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles - John Hughes (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Glengarry Glen Ross - James Foley (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Shakespeare in Love - John Madden (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Big Fish - Tim Burton (2003) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Shrek 2 - Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon (2004)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life - Terry Jones (1983)
American Pie - Paul Weitz (1999)
Pineapple Express - David Gordon Green (2008) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - Steven Spielberg (1989) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Indiana Jones and The Temple Of Doom - Steven Spielberg (1984) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
From Dusk Til Dawn - Robert Rodriguez (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Desperado - Robert Rodriguez (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Chicago - Rob Marshall (2002) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
A Hard Days' Night - Richard Lester (1964) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Pretty in Pink - Howard Deutch (1986) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Spiderman - Sam Raimi (2002) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Miss Congeniality - Donald Petrie (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Stand By Me - Rob Reiner (1986) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America - Mike Judge (1996)
Kindergarten Cop - Ivan Reitman (1990)
Batman Forever - Joel Schumacher (1995) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Sleepy Hollow - Tim Burton (1999) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Dick Tracy - Warren Beatty (1990) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Paddington - Paul King (2014) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Joe Versus the Volcano - John Patrick Shanley (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit - Steve Box (2005) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<5.9>>>
Cat Ballou - Elliot Silverstein (1965) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - Stephen Herek (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
That Thing You Do! - Tom Hanks (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Tim Burton (2005) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Weird Science - John Hughes (1985) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Scream 3 - Wes Craven (2000)
The Addams Family - Barry Sonnenfeld (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Caddyshack - Harold Ramis (1980) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Hot Shots! Part Deux - Jim Abrahams (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Love Bug - Robert Stevenson (1968) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Crazy, Stupid, Love. - John Requa and Glenn Ficarra (2011)
Something's Gotta Give - Nancy Mayers (2003)
Yesterday - Danny Boyle (2019)
17 Again - Burr Steers (2009)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy - Adam McKay (2004)
Wild Things - John McNaughton (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Lethal Weapon 2 - Richard Donner (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Smokey and the Bandit - Hal Needham (1977) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Death Becomes Her - Robert Zemeckis (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Desperately Seeking Susan - Susan Seidelman (1985) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bring it On - Peyton Reed (2000)
Clerks - Kevin Smith (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
City Slickers - Ron Underwood (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Singles - Cameron Crowe (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Coming to America - John Landis (1988)
Grumpy Old Men - Donald Petrie (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Ratatouille - Brad Bird (2007)
Scrooged - Richard Donner (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Major League - David S. Ward (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Commando - Mark Lester (1985)
A Bug's Life - John Lasseter (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Kung Fu Panda 2 - Jennifer Yuh (2011) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<5.8>>>
Ed Wood - Tim Burton (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Four Rooms - Allison Anders / Alexandre Rockwell / Robert Rodríguez / Quentin Tarantino (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Wild Wild West - Barry Sonnenfeld (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Back to the Future Part II - Robert Zemeckis (1989)
Bell, Book and Candle - Richard Quine (1958) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - Nicholas Stoller (2008)
You've Got Mail - Nora Ephron (1998)
Shrek - Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson (2001)
Cry-Baby - John Waters (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Addams Family Values - Barry Sonnenfeld (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Money Pit - Richard Benjamin (1986) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Cool World - Ralph Bakshi (1992)
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids - Joe Johnston (1989)
Clueless - Amy Heckerling (1995)
Friday - F. Gary Gray (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood - Paris Barclay (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Craft - Andrew Fleming (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Zero Theorem - Terry Gilliam (2013) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Finding Nemo - Andrew Stanton (2003)
The Incredibles - Brad Bird (2004)
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery - Jay Roach (1997)
What Women Want - Nancy Meyers (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Tremors - Ron Underwood (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
*batteries not included - Matthew Robbins (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Parenthood - Ron Howard (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Brady Bunch Movie - Betty Thomas (1955) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
5.5/10
<<<5.7>>>
Despicable Me - Pierre Coffin / Chris Renaud (2010) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Notting Hill - Roger Michell (1999)
Blockers - Kay Cannon (2018)
Steel Magnolias - Herbert Ross (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion - David Mirkin (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Men in Black 3 - Barry Sonnenfeld (2012) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Wayne's World 2 - Stephen Surjik (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Last Boyscout - Tony Scott (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Antz - Eric Darnell / Tim Johnson (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Me, Myself & Irene - Bobby Farrelly / Peter Farrelly (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Alice in Wonderland - Tim Burton (2010) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
School of Rock - Richard Linklater (2003)
<<<5.6>>>
Guardians of the Galaxy - James Gunn (2014) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Men in Black II - Barry Sonnenfeld (2002) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Absent Minded Professor - Robert Stevenson (1961) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Cocktail - Roger Donaldson (1988)
Wedding Crashers – David Dobkin (2005)
Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen (2011)
Look Who's Talking - Amy Heckerling (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Peter Pan - Clyde Geronimi / Wilfred Jackson / Hamilton Luske / Jack Kinney (1953) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Mr. Bean's Holiday - Steve Bendelack (2007) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino (2012) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Kung Fu Panda - John Stevenson & Mark Osborne (2008) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<5.5>>>
Kill Bill, Vol. 1 - Quentin Tarantino (2003) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Back to the Future III - Robert Zemeckis (1990)
Road Trip - Todd Phillips (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Short Circuit 2 - Kenneth Johnson (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Blades of Glory - Josh Gordon and Will Speck (2007) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Airplane II: The Sequel - Ken Finkleman (1982) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Knight and Day - James Mangold (2010)
Lethal Weapon 3 - Richard Donner (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Herbie Rides Again - Robert Stevenson (1974) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
A League of Their Own - Penny Marshall (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
One Hundred and One Dalmatians - Clyde Geronimi / Hamilton Luske / Wolfgang Reitherman (1961) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
10 Things I Hate About You - Gil Junger (1999)
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me - Jay Roach (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Austin Powers in Goldmember - Jay Roach (2002) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Brewster's Millions - Walter Hill (1985) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Ghostbusters II - Ivan Reitman (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Mystery Men - Kinka Usher (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Six Days Seven Nights - Ivan Reitman (1998)
Bottle Rocket - Wes Anderson (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<5.4>>>
Father of the Bride - Charles Shyer (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Easy A - Will Gluck (2010) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Dictator - Larry Charles (2012)
Sister Act - Emile Ardolino (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Child's Play 3 - Jack Bender (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Ron Howard (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Mask - Chuck Russell (1994)
Zombieland - Ruben Fleischer (2009)
<<<5.3>>>
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - Tom Shadyac (1994)
Tommy Boy - Peter Segal (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Jawbreaker - Darren Stein (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Tin Cup - Ron Shelton (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Idiocracy - Mike Judge (2006)
Weekend at Bernie's - Ted Kotcheff (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Earth Girls Are Easy - Julian Temple (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 - James Gunn (2017) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 - James Gunn (2023) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
5/10
<<<5.2>>>
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Ken Hughes (1968) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Kingpin - Peter & Bobby Farrelly (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Elf - Jon Favreau (2003) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Meatballs - Ivan Reitman (1979) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Nutty Professor - Tom Shadyac (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
It Could Happen To You - Andrew Bergman (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Toys - Barry Levinson (1992)[/b] ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Polar Express - Robert Zemeckis (2004)
Crocodile Dundee - Peter Faiman (1986)
Ice Age - Christ Wedge (2005) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<5.1>>>
Love Actually - Richard Curtis (2003)
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead - Stephen Herek (1991)
French Kiss - Lawrence Kasdan (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Shallow Hall - Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly (2001)
Scary Movie - Keenen Ivory Wayans (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Dragnet - Tom Mankiewicz (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Old School - Todd Phillips (2003)
Practical Magic - Griffin Dune (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bean - Mel Smith (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Jumanji - Joe Johnston (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Mo' Money - Peter MacDonald (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bird on a Wire - John Badham (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Multiplicity - Harold Ramis (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Distinguished Gentleman - Jonathan Lynn (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<5.0>>>
The Iron Giant - Brad Bird (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - Chris Columbus (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Empire Records - Allan Moyle (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - David Hand (Walt Disney) (1937) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Step Brothers - Adam Mckay (2008) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 - Quentin Tarantino (2004) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit******Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Police Academy - Hugh Wilson (1984) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby - Adam McKay (2006) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Flintstones - Brian Levant (1994)
Meet the Fockers - Jay Roach (2004) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bird on a Wire - John Badham (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Fun With Dick and Jane - Dean Parisot (2005) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Yes Man - Peyton Reed (2008) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Kung Fu Panda 3 - Alessandro Carloni and Jennifer Yuh (2016) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
She's All That - Robert Iscove (1999)
Frozen - Chris Buck / Jennifer Lee (2013) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Vice Versa - Brian Gilbert (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Pick Up Artist - James Toback (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Short Circuit 2 - Kenneth Johnson (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<4.9>>>
Michael - Nora Ephron (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Beverly Hills Cop II - Tony Scott (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Legally Blonde - Robert Luketic (2001) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo - Vincent McEveety (1977) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Robin Hood: Men in Tights - Mel Brooks (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Wedding Singer - Frank Coraci (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Smokey and the Bandit II - Hal Needham (1980) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Turner and Hooch - Roger Spottiswoode (1989)
Harry and the Hendersons - William Dear (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Dr. Doolittle - Betty Thomas (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Nine Months - Chris Colombus (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<4.8>>>
Rock of Ages - Adam Shankman (2012) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Problem Child - Dennis Dugan (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Happy Gilmore - Dennis Dugan (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Bedazzled - Harold Ramis (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Click - Frank Coraci (2006) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Major League II - David S. Ward (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
While You Were Sleeping - Jon Turteltaub (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Tigger Movie - Jun Falkenstein (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Princess Diaries - Garry Marshall (2001) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit - Bill Duke (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Another 48 Hours - Walter Hill (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Lady and the Tramp - Hamilton Luske / Clyde Geronimi / Wilfred Jackson (1955) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Coneheads - Steve Barron (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
4.5/10
<<<4.7>>>
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Steve Barron (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Space Jam - Joe Pytka (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
License to Drive - Greg Beeman (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls - Steve Oedekerk (1995) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Opportunity Knocks - Donald Petrie (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Cannonball Run - Hal Needham (1981) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Howard the Duck - Willard Huyck (1986) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<4.6>>>
Dude, Where's My Car? - Danny Leiner (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Waterboy - Frank Coraci (1998) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Airheads - Michael Lehmann (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Big Daddy - Dennis Dugan (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin - Karl Geurs (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Spy Hard - Rick Friedberg (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
8 Heads in a Duffel Bag - Tom Schulman (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<4.5>>>
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze - Michael Pressman (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Pink Panther - Shawn Levy (2006) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment - Jerry Paris (1985) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Eurotrip - Jeff Schaffer (2004)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Fran Rubel Kuzui (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Encino Man - Les Mayfield (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Shrek The Third - Chris Miller (2007) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Teen Wolf - Rod Daniel (1985)
Casper - Brad Silberling (1995)
Kung Fu Panda 4 - Mike Mitchell (2024) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Dumbo - Ben Sharpsteen (1941) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo - Mike Mitchell (1999) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Three Men and a Baby - Leonard Nimoy (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Crocodile Dundee II - John Cornell (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Ice Age: The Meltdown - Carlos Saldanha (2006) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<4.4>>>
Rookie of the Year - Daniel Stern (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Dumb and Dumber To - Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly (2014) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Career Opportunities - Bryan Gordon (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
K-9 - Rod Daniel (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Alice in Wonderland - Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske (1951) ***Questionable genre selection/may be removed***
The Animal - Luke Greenfield (2001) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Hot Chick - Tom Brady (2002) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<4.3>>>
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo - Mike Bigelow (2005) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Little Nicky - Steven Brill (2000) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Little Monsters - Richard Greenberg (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Police Academy 3: Back in Training - Jerry Paris (1986) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
George of the Jungle - Sam Wiseman (1997) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Problem Child 2 - Brian Levant (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Beverly Hills Cop III - John Landis (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
4/10
<<<4.2>>>
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde - Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (2003) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Mighty Ducks - Robert Stevenson (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Ernest Goes to Camp - John R. Cherry III (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Ernest Scared Stupid - John R. Cherry III (1991) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<4.1>>>
Herbie Goes Bananas - Vincent McEveety (1980) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
The Pallbearer - Matt Reeves (1996) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Scary Movie 2 - Keenen Ivory Wayans (2001) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Dennis the Menace - Nick Castle (1993) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<4.0>>>
Strike it Rich - James Scott (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Teen Witch - Dorian Walker (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
A Night at the Roxbury - John Fortenberry (1998)
Ernest Saves Christmas - John R. Cherry III (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Ernest Goes to Jail - John R. Cherry III (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Cabin Boy - Adam Resnick (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Curious George - Matthew O'Callaghan (2006) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Ice Age: Continental Drift - Mike Thurmeier / Steve Martino (2012) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<3.9>>>
The Cannonball Run II - Hal Needham (1984) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Revenge of the Nerds - Jeff Kanew (1984)
Look Who's Talking Too - Amy Heckerling (1990) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<3.8>>>
For Keeps - John G. Avildsen (1988)
Billy Madison - Tamra Davis (1995)
Daddy Day Care - Steve Carr (2003) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
3.5/10
<<<3.7>>>
The Pink Panther 2 - Harald Zwart (2009) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<3.6>>>
<<<3.5>>>
Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise - Joe Roth (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<3.4>>>
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol - Jim Drake (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<3.3>>>
Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation - Roland Mesa (1992) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
3/10
<<<3.2>>>
Car 54, Where Are You? - Bill Fishman (1994) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<3.1>>>
Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach - Alan Myerson (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege - Peter Bonerz (1989) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<3.0>>>
Caddyshack II - Allan Arkush (1988) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Teen Wolf Too - Christopher Leitch (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Piranha 2 - James Cameron (1980) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Garfield: The Movie - Peter Hewitt (2004) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties - Tim Hill (2006) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
Mannequin - Michael Gottlieb (1987) ***tentative rating/may need a revisit***
<<<2.9>>>
<<<2.8>>>
Have seen/need to revisit ... Don't forget to add...
George Burns: "Oh, God" movies
Clue
The Muppet Movie - James Frawley (1979)
The Great Muppet Caper
The Muppets Take Manhattan
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Sesame Street: Follow That Bird
Need to see...
Who Killed Captain Alex? - I.G.G. Nabwana (2010)
Other Anders Thomas Jensen movies...
Zazie at the Metro
Support the Girls - Andrew Bujalski (2018)
Midnight Run
Suburbia
Bedtime Story (1964 original "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels")
Freddy Got Fingered
Girls Trip
Think Like a Man
Pitch Perfect
Are We There Yet
Waiting for Guffman
Funniest? (Consistency and emphasis of hilarity)
Airplane
Bruno
Borat
Zoolander
The Naked Gun 2 1/2
The Naked Gun
40 Year Old Virgin
Booksmart
Superbad
21 Jump Street
Wayne's World
Monty Python's Holy Grail
Bad Santa
A Fish Called Wanda
Young Frankenstein? Blazing Saddles? (Need to revisit)
Love Exposure?
Romantic Comedy Recommendations/Haven't Seen:
NOTE: Scaruffi's rating to the right of title in parenthesis, to give general order of importance for me ... plus asterisks means it's one of his "unofficial" ratings, which often means he hasn't seen it yet (especially those from the 1990s forward). In such cases, the rating is just an estimate based on his favorite critics until he does and rates it himself...
Design for Living - Ernst Lubitsch (1933) (6/10)
The Merry Widow - Ernst Lubitsch (1934) (6/10)
Sylvia Scarlett - George Cukor (1934) (7.4/10)
Top Hat - Mark Sandrich (1935) (*7/10*)
Swing Time - George Stevens (1936) (6.5/10)
Mr Deeds Goes to Town - Frank Capra (1936) (7.3/10)
My Man Godfrey - Gregory La Cava (1936) (*7/10*)
The Awful Truth - Leo McCarey (1937) (*7.1/10*)
Holiday - George Cukor (1938) (7/10)
The Palm Beach Story - Preston Sturges (1942) (6.5/10)
Cluny Brown - Ernst Lubitsch (1946) (6.5/10)
Adam's Rib - George Cukor (1949) (7.3/10)
Roman Holiday - William Wyler (1953) (7/10)
Kiss Me Stupid - Billy Wilder (1964) (7/10)
Man's Favourite Sport - Howard Hawks (1964) (7/10)
Barefoot in the Park - Gene Saks (1967)
Minnie And Moskowitz - John Cassavetes (1971) (6/10)
A New Leaf - Elaine May (1971)
The Heartbreak Kid - Elaine May (1972)
The Unbelievable Truth - Hal Hartley (1989)
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge - Aditya Chopra (1995) (*7/10*)
The Last Days of Disco - Whit Stillman (1998) (*6.7/10*)
Monsoon Wedding - Mira Nair (2001) (*7/10*)
Dil Chahta Hai - Farhan Akhtar (2001) (*7/10*)
Munna Bhai MBBS - Rajkumar Hirani (2003) (*7/10*)
The Devil Wears Prada - David Frankel (2006) (*4/10*)
Jab We Met - Imtiaz Ali (2007)
3 Idiots - Rajkumar Hirani (2009) (*6.5/10*)
The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius (2011) (*7/10*)
PK - Rajkumar Hirani (2014) (*6/10*)
The Night is Short, Walk On Girl - Masaaki Yuasa (2017) _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Last edited by AfterHours on 29 hours ago; edited 4 times in total
Running Log - Comedy Films - Updates Ratings/Rankings...
La Dolce Vita - Federico Fellini (1960) ...simply added to my Comedy Films list whereas before it was missing... (same rating as it has been for years: 8.4/10)
Holy Mountain - Alejandro Jodorowsky (1973)7.9/10 to 8.1/10 ...update from several months ago...
The City of Lost Children - Jean-Pierre Jeunet (1995)7.2/10 to 7.4/10; 7.4/10 to 7.6/10 Celine and Julie Go Boating - Jacques Rivette (1974)7.5/10...added, whereas before it was missing ... rating from a long time ago ("tentative")
Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb - Stanley Kubrick (1964)7.6/10 to 7.5/10 Delicatessen - Jean-Pierre Jeunet (1991)7.4/10 to 7.3/10 ...update from several months ago...
Crank - Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor (2006)7.3/10 Poor Things - Yorgos Lanthimos (2023) ...added to Comedy list whereas before it was only on my "Greatest" overall films list (7.3, though "tentative/may need revisit") ... haven't seen since Christmas time 2023 when it opened in theaters, need to see again to be sure (at the time I thought it was somewhere around 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and this will likely stand, so this rating should be close nevertheless)
Adaptation - Spike Jonze (2002)7.2/10 (no change... "probably -- not necessarily final") Magnolia - Paul Thomas Anderson (1999)7.2/10 ...added , whereas before it was missing (questionable genre selection...)
What About Bob? - Frank Oz (1991)Not Rated or "tentative 6.6/10" to 7.2/10 Barry Lyndon - Stanley Kubrick (1975)Not Rated to 7.0/10 ...finally adding to Comedy list... rating very tentative -- most recently viewed about 10 years ago... genre selection (for Comedy) also arguable ... needs a revisit to better judge on both counts... (note that I've rated this pretty much every where between 6.5 or so and 7.5 or so before, so this rating is basically just an estimate for now in between those points)
Everything Everywhere All at Once - Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (2022)6.9/10 to 7.0/10 This is Spinal Tap - Rob Reiner (1984)Not Rated to 7.0/10 ...Rating not truly new but an estimate from years ago, "tentative" ...finally added this film, whereas before it had somehow (not realizing it) been missing from any of my lists all these years? Unfortunately, Reiner's passing reminded me... (RIP) ... I do plan on revisiting during this round of viewings...
Gremlins 2: The New Batch - Joe Dante (1990)"tentative 6.6/10" to 7.0/10 ...Hadn't seen in god knows how long, since the 90s??? ... A raucous satire with many inspirations behind it (from as far afield as Robocop, to Ghostbusters, to Body Snatchers, to Aliens, to Looney Tunes, to Marx Bros, to, etc...directly quoting or surely inspired by these and more...), including being wildly self-referential of the original (even interrupting the film and breaking the fourth wall in its self-reverence). Its greatness is not in how "subtle" or "deep" its cinematic language and gags, but how wildly chaotic and absurd it gets while erecting all these inspirations and quotations into its own chaos, and in especially how the Gremlins are essentially demons wreaking havoc on consumerism and corporate greed, haunting all of its sinners (and mimicking, mocking, them), who yet remain oblivious of their sins through the very end; also metaphor for Dante's rebuttal of the film itself (not wanting to make a sequel to begin with, laying waste to his own, the studios, intentions while simultaneously expressing them) ... With this revisit and upgrade, the internal question to myself is whether or not it might actually be superior to the original. I am wondering if this should may be even 7.1 or possibly higher. Currently, I am putting it right beside the original in my Comedy list (at 7.0) but this may still change. Another point (in its favor for a higher rating) is that it clearly played a major part in inspiring Burton's Mars Attacks which I have at 7.1 (sometimes higher) while Scaruffi rates that as high as 7.4... Either way, I'll probably want to revisit the original first (and probably Mars Attacks too, comparing...) to better decide...
Naked Gun 2 1/2 - David Zucker (1991)Not Rated or "tentative 6.0" to 7.0/10 ...Hadn't seen this in at least 15 years so was a treat to revisit ... possibly the best of the series, even if I could say the first one is maybe superior up until (roughly) the last fourth (of each). The last Act or so of 2 1/2 reaches the heights of comedic masterpieces like Airplane, with a series of ingenius gags that never lets up, among the high points of 1990s comedy. Rest of the film is always amusing or funny and relentlessly satiric as well (of bad guys, of the president and his wife, of etiquette, of politics, of suspense films, of buddy cop films, of police and detectives in general and their brilliance at solving the mystery, etc, with countless quotations including the hilarious tribute to Ghost's love scene...) ...and it avoids too much repetition with the original (no small feat), always finding new ways to express its wit, humor, satire, with Neilsen's dead pan, oblivious stupidity among the great characters (and most useless, inadvertently winning despite himself...) in the history of comedy...
Sexy Beast - Jonathan Glazer (2000)6.9/10 ... added to Comedy list, "tentative" rating from a long time ago, needs revisit at some point...
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Ben Stiller (2013)6.9/10 Analyze This - Harold Ramis (1999)6.9/10..."tentative" rating from years ago, still need to revisit
48 Hours - Walter Hill (1982)6.6/10 to 6.9/10 ...update from several months ago...
Stranger Than Fiction – Marc Forster (2006)6.8/10 (no change) ... Could be 6.9-7.0 but at least for now decided that 6.8 is (probably) accurate, fwiw... may change my mind as I revisit some others...
Bad Santa - Terry Zwigoff (2003)6.8/10 (no change) ... Another one that might change as I watch/re-watch some others... still kind of getting my bearings with film during this Christmas season, after my time off spent getting sloshed at Miami beach (that's a reference to the film, not serious... 😎 )
Labyrinth - Jim Henson (1986)6.4/10 to 6.8/10 ...added to Comedy list "questionable genre selection"
Office Space - Mike Judge (1999)6.7/10 to 6.8/10 Meet the Parents - Jay Roach (2000)Not Rated or "tentative 6.2/10" to 6.8/10 Clifford - Paul Flaherty (1994)Not Rated or "tentative 5.3/10" to 6.8/10 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Frank Oz (1988)6.5/10 to 6.8/10 Wolf - Mike Nichols (1994)6.8/10 ... "tentative" rating, estimated from several years ago, needs revisit...
Small Soldiers - Joe Dante (1998)6.7/10 ...tentative rating, estimate from 27 years ago (upon release), needs revisit...
Twins - Ivan Reitman (1988)Not Rated or "tentative 6.0/10" to 6.7/10 Heartbreakers - David Mirkin (2001)Not Rated or "tentative 6.7/10" to 6.7/10 Field of Dreams - Phil Alden Robinson (1989)6.6/10, no change... Trading Places - John Landis (1983)6.5/10 ... "tentative" rating, estimated from several years ago, needs revisit...
Crank: High Voltage - Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor (2009)6.5/10 Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - Alejandro González Iñárritu (2014)6.5/10 ...forgot to include this on the Comedy list...tentative rating, haven't seen since release 11 years ago, needs revisit...
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory - Mel Stuart (1971)Not Rated to 6.5/10; 6.5/10 to 6.4/10 ... possibly 6.8 or so... And now for some "RAMBLING THOUGHTS BY AFTERHOURS" 🤔 ...qualitative cut off point for 6.8 plus or minus for children's films/Fantasy is The Neverending Story (barely 6.8...), so it comes down to whether or not this is slightly above or below that... all things considered, a tough call... Neverending Story may achieve a greater sense of wonder, emotional, thematic momentum and impact, even if Dahl's themes are ultimately more interesting on their own in Wonka... Cinematically, Neverending Story may be the greater achievement due both to superior visual sense and wonder, achieved technically, edited to a greater momentum, tension between its "parallel universes", ultimately, more drama, and so on... Wonka is a fine film but too often simply "shows" things happening (with mostly stationary camera, more or less unadorned by cinematography that could make it seem more wondrous or visionary, and/or applying a rather basic composition of its scenes/action ... "generally" with some exceptions of course) ... City of Lost Children takes up more or less similar themes and predicaments, though obviously far more compelling and fascinating visually, cinematographically (even if one allows for technical advance, film-making prowess, between them and relative to period -- relative to the quarter century between them), achieving both more awe and wonder, more sinister, darkness, tension, ambiguity and immersion between dream/nightmare ...more visionary, more impact, etc... Wonka is pretty firmly stationed in the techniques, cinematic craft, visual sense (more or less) of Capra films from as far back as 1939 (like the composition, camera work, editing of Mr Smith ... characterizations of the protagonists, family, the crowd of Capra or Vidor...) crossed with the rather stationary visual imagination of Wizard of Oz (also 1939; sets only, after the tornado largely unadorned by cinematographic imagination to make it yet more visionary and immersive...), whereas an early Fantasy film even as far back as 1927 like Lang's Metropolis, uses and achieves quite a bit more expressive, impactful, stylish, (and more interesting, compelling) sets and effects with resourceful craft, combined with much tighter montage, editing and more visceral staging and action, to achieve far more energy, momentum, emotional impact, etc (Wonka only occasionally starts to approach such at some junctures in the film, but could've used more of...) ... or see, for example, Zardoz -- obviously a very different type of Fantasy film, and certainly not for children -- but nevertheless, made only a year later, yet employs quite a bit more visual imagination, cinematographic ingenuity, on even half the budget; never mind films like Gilliam's Time Bandits (only a decade later) or Brazil (14 years later) seem to exist in almost entirely different mediums (far more visionary, more visually extraordinary, more immersive...) ... So, to continue thoroughly beating a dead horse, Wonka seems slightly below Neverending, perhaps slightly above Wizard of Oz (though my last rating of 6.4 might be a little low in retrospect...) and then one can take a film like City of Lost Children (7.4 last time I watched several months ago, and at least plus-0.5 superior to Wonka...) gives it a point to compare up to and, between this and Wizard of Oz and then Neverending Story, leaves one a few "poles" to rate and rank it between or around ... any way, just giving a general set of parameters I'm thinking about it within and some (rather miscellaneous and scattered) reasons as to why -- just in case one thinks the 6.5 seems too low at a glance while this film has been gaining more and more acclaim since, especially, Wilder's death ... for the record, I like the film in many ways btw, it is a very fine children's film with darker/sinister undertones and underlying themes that symbolize its action and consequences (including the two-faced ambiguity of Wonka himself), a joy to revisit it after so many years...
The Sandlot - David M. Evans (1993)6.1/10 ... "tentative" rating, estimated, haven't seen in several years, still need to revisit
Primary Colors - Mike Nichols (1998)6.1/10 ... "tentative" rating, estimated, haven't seen in several years, still need to revisit
T2 Trainspotting - Danny Boyle (2017)6.1/10 ...very difficult film to rate imo because it is technically impeccable, visually striking, well-acted, etc, and at least tries to not get too sucked into obvious "sequel-itis" (as in, it has plenty of alternate comments upon, but not just an utter repeat of the original ... valiantly attempts a different angle... uses its own energy towards more or less different ends instead of just recreating the original...), but it's efforts at nostalgia didn't especially work (they weren't an utter failure either; mostly neutral or mildly interesting and/or mildly affecting, blackly comical...). Boyle tries dozens of visual tricks and Trainspotting/Fight Club/Requiem for a Dream/Clockwork Orange-style montages/techniques/visuals to immerse one in the characters struggles/world view/mental states. It no doubt has its moments and is never less than interesting to watch but it probably overshoots its attempts and lacks the amazing efficiency of the original (no wasted sequences, everything essential...), and thus can't match its sense of qualitative momentum (everything hits, keeps hitting comically and dramatically and otherwise, no real "qualitative valleys"), is just less riveting, less fresh, less impactful at what its going for. Best comedy is probably the "Catholics" sequence. Best drama and film-making (while remaining blackly comic) is probably the attempted suicide sequence (intentionally not giving away spoilers) -- here Boyle's technical prowess and montage and emotional confluence + impact works the best. Much of it is partially empty even if always technically impressive. That said, as it was such a technical profusion of cinematographic tricks (etc), it's possible there's more to this and it could use a revisit, and it might also help to revisit the original then come back to it right after, as it does seem to reference it (sometimes more subtly) probably more than immediately hit me on this viewing. So I am open to changing my mind...
Kindergarten Cop - Ivan Reitman (1990)Not Rated to 6.0/10 ... finally revisited after...probably 25 years last time I saw it? ... I actually saw this in theatres as a kid when it was released (during a field trip for school, in Oregon, where the film is set), so there is a fun nostalgia factor there and plus I've spent time in Astoria and seen or been to all the locations of the film (not going to them as a fan of the film, but simply in the normal course of life, spending vacation time in Astoria, etc). Anyway, solid all the way through, no real flagging even though predictable. Avg when it comes to drama and action-crime and obligatory romance sub-plot, while it excels when pitting The Terminator versus kindergartners -- because he is so clearly out of his element and this is well-suited to comedy, and Arnold is excellent (perhaps surprisingly at the time) as a comic actor. The kids too are superbly cast and very memorable, with great comic sequences of their own.
Ed Wood - Tim Burton (1994)5.8/10 ... "tentative" rating, haven't seen in several years, still need to revisit
School of Rock - Richard Linklater (2003)Not Rated or "tentative 6.2/10" to 5.7/10 ... RAMBLING BARELY COHERENT THOUGHTS!!! 🤡 ...Jack Black is a bit "too" Jack Black (approaching "Ace Ventura: Music School Teacher"...) for this to work as well as it could, and although it works enough to remain brisk and mildly entertaining throughout, it is also just hard to believe that the school could possibly be as stupid as they are, and how this could realistically be missed for 3 weeks that he wasn't really teaching anything other than music -- not a single time being caught? (another thing that is hard to believe is the short time line of how all this happens, how much music and synergy was accomplished despite so little time to practice and learn a whole new music...). One kind of has to pretty much completely leave their brain at the door, I suppose... The adult characters (especially Black and the principal) border a bit too heavily on caricatures and are hard to believe as real people. The story and trajectory of what happens, the overcoming of the obvious incoming conflict/reveal tearing their plan down, too, is all very predictable and requires a bit too much suspension of disbelief (all the parents are fine in the end just like that?) ... For starters, the school despite being "one of the best" doesn't do background checks, doesn't ask for his ID ... etc?. In a sense -- yes, it is a comedy -- so it doesn't desperately need to be realistic, but on the other hand, it is also shot and staged as if entirely based in realism, and for the film to work better than it does it has to be a bit more believable to give it enough credence and foundation for its (minor) emotional pay off to work (and in this case, it barely manages to). Seeing them play is fun and the finale is fun, even if it is always teetering on the edge of a bit too much suspension of disbelief and a bit too much stupidity in how it all plays out. Still, all in all, its a fun movie -- if quite overrated -- the kids are charismatic (even if the diversity of them and their plethora of skills are a bit too "perfect", another suspension of disbelief...) and Jack Black has (off and on) barely enough winning scenes for it to work, and it does spark just enough interest to keep one rooting for him and the students through the end, even if ultimately there isn't much gained from it (the emotional/thematic development of him ironically becoming responsible, thinking of others instead of selfish, and the kids ironically learning more important lessons than they might've learned in school from a real teacher, and the parents being 100% forgiving in the end, is fine and all I guess, but also obvious, hugely predictable and derivative of countless TV shows and movies with fundamentally the exact same trajectory and development). The film is brisk enough (so one doesn't over-think it?) and its energy (despite its stupidity) keeps things moving and fun, just enough for the film to work on a surface level of emotional/thematic pay-off...
Ghostbusters II - Ivan Reitman (1989)Not Rated to 5.5/10 (tentative, still under consideration) Six Days Seven Nights - Ivan Reitman (1998)Not Rated to 5.5/10 ...Simply forgot to add to the Comedy list... haven't watched this since the late 90's or maybe early 2000s...
Brewster's Millions - Walter Hill (1985)5.5/10 ... "tentative" rating, haven't seen in several years, needs revisit
Bottle Rocket - Wes Anderson (1996)5.5/10 ... "tentative" rating, haven't seen in several years, needs revisit
Earth Girls Are Easy - Julian Temple (1988)5.3/10 ...tentative, needs revisit, last watched approx 5-10 years ago...
Idiocracy - Mike Judge (2006)5.8/10 to 5.3/10 Crocodile Dundee - Peter Faiman (1986)Not Rated to 5.0/10; 5.0/10 to 5.2/10 ... Hadn't seen in at least 20 years ... simple, amusing, very predictable. The best thing about it is that it is a relatively efficient, pleasant comedy that combines the flip sides of two "fish out of water" stories into halves of the film as a single comedy. The whole movie is obviously pretty stupid (especially the Romantic aspect between the woman and two men -- she is essentially cheating in each half of the film -- but being a Romantic comedy treats this as a non-issue ethically, giving Dundee no second thoughts about her once she leans towards him, and then the predictable resolution without conflict...?...idk... 🤔 ...anyway not that important being a silly, rather useless film, but just thought I'd mention this...). Maintains mild interest, amusing jokes for the most part throughout, and is a mildly original take on the fish out of water comedy. It has a charming happy ending.
Ice Age - Christ Wedge (2005)5.2/10..."tentative" rating from years ago, haven't seen since around the time of its release (20 yrs ago), need to revisit...
Shallow Hall - Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly (2001)5.1/10 ...no change in rating from the same "estimated" rating from years back (early 2000s) ... A very predictable film that barely gets by because of its "cringe" premise that is partially successful at being both offensive, somewhat funny, and (mildly) touching at the same time (from the female perspective, not Jack Black's). Jack Black as usual is a complete moron and barely passable here mainly because he reigns it in a bit and makes a sorta valiant attempt (for him) at being "real" (during the more serious parts). Paltrow is the gem of the film, managing empathy while alternately being the punch line of most of the jokes. She almost manages to bring enough heart and emotion into the film (at moments, does, such as the restaurant scene near the end), to increase the depth from utter stupidity and predictability. But the end when Black inevitably makes things right (in the same cliched ways it always happens in these films) doesn't trust its more interesting convictions (towards the drama it was starting to create) and sticks to its mediocre rom-com guns instead of going for a deeper expressive balance between drama and comedy; of course, I'm sure the director was trapped by Black's limitations as an actor as well -- again, Paltrow completely outshines him... It was also a good decision to partially hide her actual appearance throughout the film until near the end... unfortunately, the film could not possibly be more "cookie cutter" in its cinematic language, visual style ...there is basically no personal stamp on it whatsoever, could've been directed by any rom-com director(s) of the period...this is not as problematic being a rom-com-cringe comedy (which are often trying to look stupid or even intentionally in opposition to cinematic "art" or aesthetic aims...), as it would be for a film attempting a more artistic statement, but nevertheless the main point is more how it literally looks and moves cinematically like there is virtually no individual personality involved beyond the most obvious direction and visual sense imaginable (the only exception being how Paltrow is alternately shot, presented) ... again, whats more interesting about it is basically carried on the back of Paltrow's performance (as both POVs of her character) and the touch of ingenuity in how this is presented and in the emotional/thematic confluence/balance of its premise between cringe-comedy and (minor) drama -- salvaging the rest from a lower rating...
The Distinguished Gentleman - Jonathan Lynn (1992)5.1/10 ..."tentative" rating, estimated from several years ago, needs revisit
Frozen - Chris Buck / Jennifer Lee (2013)5.0/10 ..."tentative" rating from years ago, haven't seen since around the time of its release (12 yrs ago), need to revisit...
Vice Versa - Brian Gilbert (1988)5.0/10 ..."tentative" rating, estimated from several years ago, needs revisit
Short Circuit 2 - Kenneth Johnson (1988)5.0/10 ..."tentative" rating, estimated from several years ago, needs revisit
Coneheads - Steve Barron (1993)4.8/10 ..."tentative" rating, estimated from several years ago, needs revisit
Shrek The Third - Chris Miller (2007)4.5/10 ..."tentative" rating from years ago, haven't seen since around the time of its release (18 yrs ago), need to revisit...
Strike it Rich - James Scott (1990)4.0/10 ..."tentative" rating, estimated from several years ago, needs revisit
Daddy Day Care - Steve Carr (2003)3.8/10 ..."tentative" rating from years ago, estimated, needs revisit
Car 54, Where Are You? - Bill Fishman (1994)3.2/10..."tentative" rating, estimated, haven't seen in over 30 years, since release (1994) _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Last edited by AfterHours on 29 hours ago; edited 11 times in total
Bold = Newly added
Bold + Italics = Was already listed but recently upgraded/downgraded
Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week(s): 1-1-26 - 1-25-26
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane (1964) ...upgraded...
The Doors - The Doors (1966)
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady - Charles Mingus (1963)
Yerself is Steam - Mercury Rev (1991)
The Velvet Underground and Nico - The Velvet Underground (1966)
On the Way Down From Moon Palace - Lisa Germano (1991)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch - Joe Dante (1990)
The Survivor's Suite - Keith Jarrett (1976)
Slow, Deep and Hard - Type O Negative (1991)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Ben Stiller (2013)
Meet the Parents - Jay Roach (2000)
Clifford - Paul Flaherty (1994)
Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb - Stanley Kubrick (1964)
Office Space - Mike Judge (1999)
Good - Morphine (1992)
Remain in Light - Talking Heads (1980)
Strange Days - The Doors (1967)
Top 10+ Albums/Movies/Visual Art for the Week(s) - Rated 6.7/10 or Below
Twins - Ivan Reitman (1988)
Crank: High Voltage - Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor (2009)
Field of Dreams - Phil Alden Robinson (1988)
T2 Trainspotting - Danny Boyle (2017)
Kindergarten Cop - Ivan Reitman (1990)
School of Rock - Richard Linklater (2003)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - David Hand (Walt Disney) (1937) ...May change the rating... under consideration...
Shallow Hall - Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly (2001)
Top 10+ SONGS/TRACKS for the Week(s)
FAMILIAR ROCK/JAZZ ALBUMS - RE-RATED:
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane (1964) 9.1/10 to 9.3/10 ... one of the most difficult ratings decisions I've made in a while. It is just so hard to put -- really anything -- above the likes of The Doors/VU and Nico as it is... I revisited several times to be sure, across various weeks, at first upgrading 9.0 to 9.1 while tentatively noting that it "seemed more like 9.2 or possibly 9.3"... Anyone familiar enough historically with my ratings of Jazz will know this isn't the first time it has been 9.3, and was in the 9.3-9.5 range for years actually, while even back around 2005-2007 or something like that A Love Supreme held my very top spot for Rock and Jazz before eventually being overtaken by TMR, Rock Bottom and Black Saint at the time... However, even that in mind, placing something that high has always been a major decision as it is an almost impossible standard to reach (and maintain) on my list -- thus why I was so tentative and am already doubting myself a little even now after having done so... That said, it has indeed held up over multiple listens at "minimum 9.2" and "probably 9.3" so I'm going with it... It is great to have it back and great to have a Jazz 9.3+ even if I can't guarantee I won't change my mind again!! Black Saint has recently come with similar thoughts, more or less, so be on the look out for a possible upgrade for that one too...
Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10 Not Rated to /10
/10 to /10 /10 to /10 /10 to /10 /10 to /10 /10 to /10 /10 to /10 /10 to /10 /10 to /10 /10 to /10
Highlighting one of the towering masterpieces (any art) of the 20th century in light of upgrading its rating...
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane (1964)9.1/10 to 9.3/10 ... one of the most difficult ratings decisions I've made in a while. It is just so hard to put -- really anything -- above the likes of The Doors/VU and Nico as it is... I revisited several times to be sure, across various weeks, at first upgrading 9.0 to 9.1 while tentatively noting that it "seemed more like 9.2 or possibly 9.3"... Anyone familiar enough historically with my ratings of Jazz will know this isn't the first time it has been 9.3, and was in the 9.3-9.5 range for years actually, while even back around 2005-2007 or something like that A Love Supreme held my very top spot for Rock and Jazz before eventually being overtaken by TMR, Rock Bottom and Black Saint at the time... However, even that in mind, placing something that high has always been a major decision as it is an almost impossible standard to reach (and maintain) on my list -- thus why I was so tentative and am already doubting myself a little even now after having done so... That said, it has indeed held up over multiple listens at "minimum 9.2" and "probably 9.3" so I'm going with it... It is great to have it back and great to have a Jazz 9.3+ even if I can't guarantee I won't change my mind again!! Black Saint has recently come with similar thoughts, more or less, so be on the look out for a possible upgrade for that one too...
ALSO:
Pursuance + Psalm - John Coltrane - A Love Supreme - Tracks 3 & 4 (Track #3 on Original LP) (1964)8.5/10 to 8.7/10
I know I've discussed this before but it's been ages...
Some factors to consider if you want to start hearing it as a 9.3-level masterpiece (or thereabouts)...
Coltrane's playing is not just "spastic" or "free" or improvised sax, but is actually mimicking human vocal patterns, yearnings, cries (and so on) -- uttering and attempting to utter phrases wherein the language of his sax play is on the order of syllabic phrasings and lines. These range from urges and unutterable, interrupted, passages (emotive, even violent and pained, struggles to find the words or complete phrases) to the eventual poetic, bowed, hymned elocution of the finale before the word or feeling or beholding of God.
In listening to this also pay attention to the astounding facet in his playing that he is so often unfurling "sheets" of rapid changes and developments in phrase and emotive variegation (word-to-word, clause-to-clause if these were actual sentences), that unwind and develop and traverse virtually possessed states of expressivity often in a "single breath" (without break to grab for air) or even when more than this, far fewer than seems human. This is notable immediately from Acknowledgement forward and becomes incredibly emotional because it is as if he is trying to say everything with such conviction, so overcome by emotion, so stunned with the mind racing of religious visions or spiritual feeling, that he can barely contain himself.
The playing and structure of the whole and each of its parts within is in constant diametric (opposing) ends but also simultaneously fused, seamless -- one of the most astonishing constructions, most genius works of compositional fusion/unity, in music history. Almost indecipherably, fluctuating continuously, momentously, it is constantly running on the border of each (in confluence, and alternately) modal, free, improvised, outward, expressive, while also highly unified, rational, formal, analytic, contemplated, thoughtful, inward (not just all the instruments together, but even the individual playing of each instrument tends towards a simultaneity of expressively, inwardly 'intellectual' while also 'spontaneous', emotionally unrestrained -- and not just Coltrane's sax even if this makes the most of these diametric sides; but certainly Jones too, while also even in Tyner's piano and Garrison's bass...). Scaruffi briefly notes that it combines "African nationalism, Indian spirituality, western rationality". What he is likely referring to (in general, perhaps more easily decipherable, relatable, concepts) is the fact that even while Coltrane is furiously leaning into virtually free form modal, improvised, play, (bordering on "spirituals" and furious sermons) it is uniformly based or develops from or into, or turns out to be nevertheless rational and "composed" -- the work is an amalgamation of all these "modes" at once (or even when not completely simultaneous, one rapidly follows or seamless becomes the other), a furious composition that alternates them seamlessly or even explodes them all simultaneously as "one", virtually new, genre-fusion of spiritual jazz (combining continents, fusing world-views, fusing forms of spiritual address). It always fundamentally based on motifs/themes (from the beginning the earliest notes and eventually the voice, after traversing through the whole of his sax, "A Love Supreme ... A Love Supreme... etc") and this retains a sense of discipline and 'composure' (no matter how "free" it becomes), through underlying "theme and variation" and "cyclic theme", variegated to extremes throughout all four movements -- again, composed, resolved, no matter how free, how emotively unhinged, how furious the passage becomes at any point. All the instruments trade places in these regards and traverse their own journeys of these modes ESPECIALLY Coltrane's sax and Jones percussion (which each become technically and emotionally unrecognizable from their humble beginnings before thereafter bowing and humbled before God in the finale). If you pay close attention throughout of how seamlessly the pieces are moulding and changing and then re-forming between these modes, between "spontaneity" and "rational", between "free" and "formal or structured", between "furosity of emotion" and "analytical/contemplation", one further and further hears BOTH such diametric sides within each mode, often simultaneously but nevertheless within the same passage (no matter how furious and free and unhinged, the passage will also be analytical and structured, rationally worked out and concluded, in the same ... etc).
These are just some main points to consider... If you can track with at least these points (and surely there is more that could be said, pin-pointed) the work should become virtually unfathomable and overwhelming, sensory overload, miraculous... _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Level 8: actually coming full circle from the early days and taking the time to grasp the emotional and conceptual content of every shot of Citizen Kane, recognizing it as probably the most profound film ever made, after initially determining when between Level 1 and Level 3, that it was surely "overrated" and "empty" and having argued this violently among cinephiles who were Level 8
Level 9: realizing your life as a cinephile is a mobius strip on the order of Polanski's Chinatown and that you now, Citizen Kane having been grasped and under your belt, are persistently rewatching films with a new more refined understanding of the language of cinema and are in effect watching yourself from the past while in the present having already seen yourself based in a past that was unfolding ineluctably as if it had already happened or was bound to happen -- and that your film-going experience, perhaps your entire life, may be a reckoning with this uncanny phenomena
Level 10: you took me a little too seriously when reading the above and need to get out more, meet some people, rub noses with real life and situations, feel real things, real friends, develop a romantic relationship, find true love, absorb failures, feel hope and desire and live life to the fullest
Level 11: Level 10 was so Hollywood-ian and AfterHours is full of shit
Level 12: Nostalghia is actually Tarkovsky's best film, not his worst. I now see and feel (deeply) how the first person perspective and movement/choreography of the camera is in dialect and tension with the autobiographical, more "third person", surrogate of Tarkovsky (the protagonist) "inside" the film, his disposition, movement and actions. This constant relay between (Tarkovsky) himself on the "outside" generates a profound inner and conflicted poetry, introspective existential and spiritual ruminations, with a yearning dialect about and between himself (or his perspective of himself) on the "inside", and always in metaphorical correlation with the filmed and surrounding environments as ruins and reflections of the self, of memory and nostalgia (perplexed, immersed, between Italy and Russia) from that of past or desperate life and forgotten, lost, civilization -- and that lost, longing past in newfound, afflicted tension with the present. Like Tarvkosky, like his camera in search to and with his surrogate, I too am trying to find and understand myself through the cinematic act and shall live my life in this movie of my own making
🤐
Okay, okay... I'm really just messing around, making this up as I go and got on a roll that was (mostly!) satirical (even if the cinematic points/allusions about Chinatown and Nostalghia are pretty legit) _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
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