The 25 Word Movie Review Journal

[TwentyFiveWords]

My Top 25 Favorite Movies, pt. 2

20. Field of Dreams (1989)
Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
Starring: Kevin Costner, Timothy Busfield, James Earl Jones

One of only six movies men are allowed to cry during. The perfect father/son relationship movie. So perfect, even Kevin Costner can’t ruin it.

_____________________________________________________________

19. The Jerk (1979)
Directed by: Carl Reiner
Starring: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Jackie Mason

Very smart and very, VERY funny. Steve Martin’s funniest effort to date, before he became “introspective.” Sad thing? He apparently gave up comedy after “Parenthood.”

_____________________________________________________________

18. Psycho (1960)
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles

“We all go a little mad sometimes.” And so begins this psychological experiment in terror, which shouldn’t have been remade. Still scary after 43 years.

_____________________________________________________________

17. Casablanca (1942)
Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains

Influenced nearly every film made since. The tragic story of Rick Blaine, played masterfully and understatedly by Bogart in his finest role. Classy and moving.

_____________________________________________________________

16. The Usual Suspects (1995)
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Benicio del Toro

Woven in a web of intricate details and wrapped in a riddle, this movie will have you searching for answers before the denouement. Beautifully crafted.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

My Top 25 Favorite Movies, pt. 3

15. National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
Directed by: John Landis
Starring: John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Karen Allen, Stephen Furst

Showcased the brilliance of Belushi, before he was unceremoniously taken away. Paved way for “Porky’s,” John Hughes movies, and “American Pie.” Mindless and unapologetic fun.

_____________________________________________________________

14. Caddyshack (1980)
Directed by: Harold Ramis
Starring: Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, Rodney Dangerfield

Every sports-themed comedy owes a debt to “Caddyshack” and its brand of humor. Ted Knight’s the finest comedy foil on celluloid. Bill Murray rocks.

_____________________________________________________________

13. Fight Club (1999)
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter

Subtle as an unexpected kidney punch and unapologetic as Mike Tyson, “Fight Club” posits this message: It’s not what you own—it’s what owns you.

_____________________________________________________________

12. Stand By Me (1986)
Directed by: Carl Reiner
Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland

A coming-of-age story set in the 1950’s, this Stephen King-penned tale packed enough wit, heart and courage for three films. Phoenix’s death proved eerily prophetic.

_____________________________________________________________

11. Chasing Amy (1997)
Directed by: Kevin Smith
Starring: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee

The story of a man who falls in love with a lesbian. Smith writes dialogue better than anyone. Lee portrays righteous indignation better than anyone.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

My Top 25 Favorite Movies, pt. 4

10. Halloween (1978)
Directed by: John Carpenter
Starring: Donald Pleasance, Jamie Lee Curtis

The genesis of the modern slasher flick, by the father of nervous terror. Still scary as all hell, even 25 years later. Sequels? What sequels?

_____________________________________________________________

9. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis

Equal parts classic, fresh, stylistic, vintage and innovative, this movie breathes coolness. Many emulate, none approximate Tarantino’s genius. This movie wasn’t filmed – it was born.

_____________________________________________________________

8. Good Will Hunting (1997)
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver

Damon, Affleck, and Williams took home Oscars for this movie, and deservedly so. This sleeper hit of 1997 about realizing unrealized potential amazes and amuses.

_____________________________________________________________

7. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Directed by: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher

The best chapter of the Star Wars opus is Empire, which blended action, romance, character exposition and sci-fi thrills into a tight, family-friendly package.

_____________________________________________________________

6. Trainspotting (1996)
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle

McGregor plays Mark, Scottish heroin addict, who falls in and out of love with drugs. A grim, stark look at addiction in its many incarnations.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

My Top 25 Favorite Movies - The Top 5

5. The French Connection (1971)
Directed by: William Friedkin
Starring: Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey

Hackman, Scheider forge the template for “buddy cop” movies. Detectives Doyle and Russo track down a heroin shipment, and the supplier with a “French connection.”

_____________________________________________________________

4. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Directed by: Frank Capra
Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers

Schmaltzy, yes, but still the ultimate yuletide movie. Stewart’s George Bailey is imbued with flavor, and Barrymore is deliciously dastardly. Masterful, and required holiday viewing.

_____________________________________________________________

3. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
Starring: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman

A classic retelling of Homer’s “Odyssey” set in 1920’s Mississippi. Don’t let the soundtrack fool you – this movie is slick and fun for all audiences.

_____________________________________________________________

2. Clerks. (1994)
Directed by: Kevin Smith
Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith

The first movie I ever saw that I didn’t want to end. Shoestring-budgeted, this story benefits from Smith’s superb dialogue and the hilarious Dante/Randal dynamic.

_____________________________________________________________

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1980)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Paul Freeman

This is the movie that made me love movies. Spawned two successful sequels, and a litter of homage-laden action movies. Adventure’s name is Indiana Jones.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

One Hour Photo (2002)
Directed by: Mark Romanek
Starring: Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan
Rating: 2.5 (out of 5.0)

Williams plays Sy the Photo Guy, a film developer who obsesses about his favorite clients. Creepy-cool, but movie suffers from acute lack of climax.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Vanilla Sky (2002)
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Jason Lee
Rating: 4.0 (out of 5.0)

Life bends and reality twists in this bizarre tale of perceptual reality and understanding life. Requires repeated viewing to grasp, but well worth the trip.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Amy's O (2001)
Directed by: Julie Davis
Starring: Julie Davis, Nick Chinlund, Caroline Aaron
Rating: 2.0 (out of 5.0)

Mildly amusing, wildly-improbable movie about Amy, author of "Why Love Doesn't Work," who falls for incorrigible radio jock. Romantic-comedy without much....comedy, unfortunately.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Death to Smoochy (2002)
Directed by: Danny DeVito
Starring: Edward Norton, Robin Williams, Catherine Keener
Rating: 2.0 (out of 5.0)

Smoochy is America's hottest kid show host - so, of course, he must die. Alternates between being too mean-spirited, and not mean enough. Pointless, directionless.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Jackass: The Movie (2002)
Directed by: Jeff Tremaine
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Chris Pontius, Steve-O
Rating: 4.0 (out of 5.0)

Catering to the lowest common denominator shouldn't be this damned hilarious. Doesn't stray from TV formula, and wallows in own self-reverence, but still amuses.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Ghost Ship (2002)
Directed by: Steve Beck
Starring: Julianna Margulies, Gabriel Byrne, Ron Eldard
Rating: 1.75 (out of 5.0)

Salvage team runs across the Antonio Graza, lost ocean liner with a macabre past, and systematically falls prey to ghosts. Mediocre at every turn. Blah.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

The Matrix: Reloaded (2003)
Directed by: The Wachowski Brothers
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
Rating: 4.25 (out of 5.0)

Complete sensory overload earmarks this second chapter in the Matrix saga. Visually stunning and aurally devastating, this sequel's flashy and fun. Plot? Hey, nobody's perfect.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Darkness Falls (2003)
Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman
Starring: Emma Caulfield, Chaney Kley
Rating: 1.5 (out of 5.0)

Possibly the worst idea for a horror film ever imagined. "Look out, kids! The evil Tooth Fairy!" Somebody needs kicked in the groin over this.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

(Well, it seemed appropriate. Happy...)


Independence Day (1996)
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Will Smith, Bill Pullman
Rating: 3.75 (out of 5.0)

This blockbuster didn't spawn the "ride movie" but it sure raised the bar. Inner film snob wants to hate ID4, but can't. Total popcorn-muncher.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Directed by: McG
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu
Rating: 3.5 (out of 5.0)

Absolutely devoid of plot and more unbelievable than Joe Isuzu, this movie offers up big explosions, big fun. Extra points for semi-Angel-nudity. Yowza.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Highway (2001)
Directed by: James Cox
Starring: Jared Leto, Jake Gyllenhaal, Selma Blair
Rating: 2.25 (out of 5.0)

Utterly pointless journey. Seemingly wanted to speak for a generation, ultimately had nothing to say. Saved from lower rating by Gyllenhaal, who salvages bad script.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Directed by: Jonathan Mostow
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes, Kristanna Loken
Rating: 4.0 (out of 5.0)

Not Cameron, but not bad. Schwarzenegger's in danger of parodying himself, but Stahl gives a rousing turn as adult John Connor. Satisfying action flick. Recommended.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

The Shape of Things (2003)
Directed by: Neil LaBute
Starring: Paul Rudd, Rachel Weisz, Gretchen Mol, Fred Weller
Rating: 3.75 (out of 5.0)

This stage-adapted screenplay asks, "Is finding true love worth losing your sense of self?" At times mean-spirited, yet still thought-provoking. Just...interesting.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Scooby-Doo (2002)
Directed by: Raja Gosnell
Starring: Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard
Rating: 2.25 (out of 5.0)

Matthew Lillard's inspired Shaggy impression prevents this movie from sinking to "Tomb Raider" depths. Suitable only for kids and retarded adults. Sequel's coming next year.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Auto Focus (2002)
Directed by: Paul Schrader
Starring: Greg Kinnear, Willem Dafoe, Rita Wilson
Rating: 3.75 (out of 5.0)

The story of Bob Crane, Hogan's Heroes star, whose obsession with pornography ultimately led to his murder. At times uneven; still, thoroughly engrossing. Great rental.

 

[TwentyFiveWords]

Shallow Hal (2001)
Directed by: The Farrelly Brothers
Starring: Jack Black, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jason Alexander
Rating: 3.5 (out of 5.0)

Jack Black is, at his best, unscripted. Sadly, they underutilize this talent, but "Shallow" illustrates that he can carry a film. Great, funny "date movie."