My Favorite Movies – Intro

Long-form film, like a great book, does more than entertain.

Great movies move people. They inspire. They cause empathy, longing and joy. Characters become family members, dialogue turns into a group of catchphrases and scenes are exposed on the negative of our memory. We remember certain movements, twitches, off-handed remarks. We celebrate the campy, we despise the obvious, we create mantles upon which to place our favorites.

In honor of the upcoming Oscars, I will be presenting my ten favorite movies in the history of film, one at a time, two per day. And since I’m infatuated with lists, each movie will be accompanied by a short list.

In addition, I’ve asked friends, family and bloggers to put together their lists. These guest posts will be put up as the week progresses. Not to mention a set of movie lists to be posted by the writers at Misc. Asst.

The movies selected may seem scattershot and random. But that’s the nature of the art form – where the simplest environmental factors (mood, surroundings, peers, preconceived attitudes) can effect how the same movie is viewed by different people. One person’s brilliance is another’s tripe. One person’s snooze-fest is another’s entertainment.

But hey, we’re not talking about simple entertainment.

We’re talking about movies.

My Favorite Movies

2/18
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
All the President’s Men

2/19
This is Spinal Tap
High Fidelity

2/20
Becket
Braveheart

2/21
The Life Aquatic
The Godfather, Part II

2/22
Monty Python and the Holy Grail

2/23
Fargo