Leave a comment

Movie Hall of Fame-Class of 2021!

Posted by amateurcinefile on April 25, 2021 in Cinema Journal

List by Jarrett Leahy

Oscar weekend is upon us yet again, which means it is time to reveal the 8th annual AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame class of 2021. This year’s inductees include three first ballot Hall of Fame films, two Best Picture winners, three National Film Registry selections, a historic epic, a sports drama, a romance, a comedy drama, a crime mystery, and an action thriller. These six films bring our Hall of Fame total to 54.

AMATEURCINEPHILE.COM 2021 HALL OF FAME CLASS

Drive (2011) Metacritic’s #4 ranked film of 2011, Drive was named to over 40 Critics Top-10 lists including seven #1 spots. A sleek, stylish, and violent action thriller, Drive is the first of three 1st Ballot films of this year’s Hall of Fame class and the second film from the 2010’s to be inducted into the AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame.


The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) Nominated for five Academy awards, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was named to 11 Critics Top 10 lists including two #1 spots. The second 1st-Ballot film from 2011, Dragon Tattoo is the also the second Hall of Fame film for director David Fincher, joining the 2020 inductee The Social Network.

Moneyball (2011) Nominated for 6 Academy awards including Best Picture, Moneyball was named to 35 Critics end of year Top-10 lists including two #1 slots. The third 1st ballot film from 2011, Moneyball becomes the fourth movie from the 2010’s to be inducted into the AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame and the second film starring Brad Pitt, joining Class of 2019 inductee Inglourious Basterds.

Do The Right Thing (1989) A 1999 National Film Registry selection, Do The Right Thing was nominated for two Academy awards and four Golden Globes. Selected the Best film of 1989 by both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Do The Right Thing is the sixth Hall of Fame film from the 1980’s.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962) One of the most beloved epics in cinematic history, Lawrence of Arabia won 7 Academy awards including the Best Picture of 1962. A 1991 National Film Registry selection, Lawrence of Arabia is the fourth film from the 1960’s to be chosen an AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame movie.

Marty (1955) A truly captivating and heartfelt love story, Marty was an 8-time Academy award nominated film, winning four Oscars including the Best Picture of 1955. Selected to the National Film Registry in 1994, Marty becomes the third film from the 1950’s to be inducted into the AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame.

So there you have it, the AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Make sure you come back next Oscar weekend when another six films are chosen for inclusion.-JL

AMATEURCINEPHILE.COM HALL OF FAME BREAK DOWN BY DECADE:

-1920’s (1):
Metropolis, 1927 (Class of 2020)

-1930’s (3):
Bringing Up Baby, 1938 (Class of 2018)
City Lights, 1931 (Class of 2018)
Wizard of Oz, 1939 (Class of 2014)

-1940’s (5):
Casablanca, 1942 (Class of 2014)
Notorious, 1946 (Class of 2015)
The Philadelphia Story, 1940 (Class of 2020)
The Red Shoes, 1948 (Class of 2019)
The Third Man, 1949 (Class of 2015)

-1950’s (3):
Anatomy of a Murder, 1959 (Class of 2014)
Marty, 1955 (Class of 2021)
Singin’ in the Rain, 1952 (Class of 2019)

-1960’s (4):
Belle de Jour, 1967 (Class of 2017)
Lawrence of Arabia, 1962 (Class of 2021)
The Leopard, 1963 (Class of 2016)
2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968 (Class of 2014)

-1970’s (6):
Cabaret, 1972 (Class of 2020)
Chinatown, 1974 (Class of 2015)
The Deer Hunter, 1978 (Class of 2017)
The Godfather, 1972 (Class of 2014)
The Godfather Part 2, 1974 (Class of 2014)
Harold and Maude, 1971 (Class of 2019)

-1980’s (6):
A Christmas Story, 1983 (Class of 2017)
Do The Right Thing, 1989 (Class of 2021)
Field of Dreams, 1989 (Class of 2018)
Hannah and her Sisters, 1986 (Class of 2014)
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, 1984 (Class of 2020)
Tender Mercies, 1983 (Class of 2015)

-1990’s (8):
Before Sunrise, 1995 (Class of 2014)
Boogie Nights, 1997 (Class of 2015)
Casino, 1995 (Class of 2015)
Dazed & Confused, 1993 (Class of 2016)
Goodfellas, 1990 (Class of 2016)
Heat, 1995 (Class of 2018)
Pulp Fiction, 1994 (Class of 2014)
Rushmore, 1998 (Class of 2017)

-2000’s (14):
Almost Famous, 2000 (Class of 2014)
Before Sunset, 2004 (Class of 2014)
Brokeback Mountain, 2005 (Class of 2016
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004 (Class of 2015)
(500) Days of Summer, 2009 (Class of 2019)
In The Mood For Love, 2000 (Class of 2020)
Inglourious Basterds, 2009 (Class of 2019)
Lost in Translation, 2003 (Class of 2014)
No Country For Old Men, 2007 (Class of 2017)
Rachel Getting Married, 2008 (Class of 2018)
Road to Perdition, 2002 (Class of 2018)
Sideways, 2004 (Class of 2016)
There Will Be Blood, 2007 (Class of 2017)
Up in the Air, 2009 (Class of 2019)

-2010’s (4):
The Social Network, 2010 (Class of 2020)
Drive, 2011 (Class of 2021)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, 2011 (Class of 2021)
Moneyball, 2011 (Class of 2021)

Permalink
Leave a comment

Movie Hall of Fame-Class of 2020!

Posted by amateurcinefile on February 9, 2020 in Cinema Journal

My Post

List by-Jarrett Leahy

As we approach Oscar night, it is time to reveal the 7th annual AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame class of 2020. This year’s class of honored films includes one 1st ballot film (movies from 2010 became eligible for selection this year), two National Film Registry selections, three Best Picture nominees, three foreign films, a musical drama, a romantic comedy, and the first animated inductee. These six films bring our Hall of Fame total to 48.

AMATEURCINEPHILE.COM 2020 HALL OF FAME CLASS

The Social Network (2010) An eight-time Oscar nominated film, The Social Network won three Academy awards including Best Adapted Screenplay. This year’s only first-ballot film, The Social Network was selected to 78 critics’ Top 10 lists back in 2010, including 22 #1 spots as well as the National Board of Review Best Film of 2010.  This tense drama perfectly encapsulates the time when the new guard abruptly pushed aside the corporate ruling class and presciently foreshadows social media’s cultural revolution. The Social Network becomes the first film from the 2010’s to be inducted into the AmateurCinephile.com Hall of fame.
social-network-16

Cabaret (1972) Directed by Bob Fosse and starring Liza Minnelli in her seminal role as nightclub singer, Sally Bowles, Cabaret was the National Board of Review Best Film of 1972. A 1995 National Film Registry selection, Cabaret holds the distinction of being the film awarded the most Academy awards (eight) without winning the Oscar for Best Picture (losing to Class of 2014 honoree, The Godfather). Cabaret is the sixth 1970’s Hall of Fame film.
Cabaret pic

In the Mood for Love (2000) A sultry and hypnotic story of betrayal, In the Mood for Love was ranked the 24th greatest movie of all-time in the 2012 BFI Sight & Sound poll, making it the highest-rated movie of the 21st century. In The Mood for Love becomes the fourteenth film from the 2000’s and the 2nd movie from the year 2000 to be inducted, joining inaugural Class of 2014 honoree Almost Famous.
in-the-mood-for-love1

Metropolis (1927) Arguably the most influential early science fiction film, Metropolis was voted as the 35th greatest film in the 2012 BFI Sight & Sound poll. Directed by famed Austrian filmmaker, Fritz Lang, Metropolis is the second silent film to be inducted, joining Class of 2018 City Lights, and the first Hall of Famer to represent the decade of the 1920’s.
metropolis_A-1080x675

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) The breakout film of legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a post-apocalyptic drama based on a Miyazaki-created manga of the same name. Praised for its anti-war and environmental subject matter, Nausicaa’s reputation as one of the greatest animated films only grows as its themes and style continue to influence the anime genre today. Nausicaa is the first animated film to be inducted in the AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame and the fifth film from the 1980’s.
nausicaa-valley-of-the-wind-img

The Philadelphia Story (1940) One of the most beloved screwball comedies of the 1940’s, The Philadelphia Story was nominated for six Academy awards, winning two for Best Actor (James Stewart) and Best Screenplay. A 1995 National Film Registry selection, The Philadelphia Story’s critical and financial success helped resurrect screen legend Katharine Hepburn’s floundering career as a string of flops had her labeled as “box office poison.” The Philadelphia Story becomes the fifth 1940’s inductee and the third film starring Cary Grant joining Bringing Up Baby and Notorious.
ThePhiladelphiaStory1940.12778_012620161036

So there you have it, the AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Make sure you come back next Oscar weekend when another six films are chosen for inclusion.-JL

Edited by-Michelle Zenor

AMATEURCINEPHILE.COM HALL OF FAME BREAK DOWN BY DECADE:

-1920’s (1):
Metropolis, 1927 (Class of 2020)

-1930’s (3):
Bringing Up Baby, 1938 (Class of 2018)
City Lights, 1931 (Class of 2018)
Wizard of Oz, 1939 (Class of 2014)

-1940’s (5):
The Philadelphia Story, 1940 (Class of 2020)
Casablanca, 1942 (Class of 2014)
Notorious, 1946 (Class of 2015)
The Red Shoes, 1948 (Class of 2019)
The Third Man, 1949 (Class of 2015)

-1950’s (2):
Anatomy of a Murder, 1959 (Class of 2014)
Singin’ in the Rain, 1952 (Class of 2019)

-1960’s (3):
Belle de Jour, 1967 (Class of 2017)
The Leopard, 1963 (Class of 2016)
2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968 (Class of 2014)

-1970’s (6):
Cabaret, 1972 (Class of 2020)
Chinatown, 1974 (Class of 2015)
The Deer Hunter, 1978 (Class of 2017)
The Godfather, 1972 (Class of 2014)
The Godfather Part 2, 1974 (Class of 2014)
Harold and Maude, 1971 (Class of 2019)

-1980’s (5):
A Christmas Story, 1983 (Class of 2017)
Field of Dreams, 1989 (Class of 2018)
Hannah and her Sisters, 1986 (Class of 2014)
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, 1984 (Class of 2020)
Tender Mercies, 1983 (Class of 2015)

-1990’s (8):
Before Sunrise, 1995 (Class of 2014)
Boogie Nights, 1997 (Class of 2015)
Casino, 1995 (Class of 2015)
Dazed & Confused, 1993 (Class of 2016)
Goodfellas, 1990 (Class of 2016)
Heat, 1995 (Class of 2018)
Pulp Fiction, 1994 (Class of 2014)
Rushmore, 1998 (Class of 2017)

-2000’s (14):
Almost Famous, 2000 (Class of 2014)
Before Sunset, 2004 (Class of 2014)
Brokeback Mountain, 2005 (Class of 2016
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004 (Class of 2015)
(500) Days of Summer, 2009 (Class of 2019)
 In The Mood For Love, 2000 (Class of 2020)
Inglourious Basterds, 2009 (Class of 2019)
Lost in Translation, 2003 (Class of 2014)
No Country For Old Men, 2007 (Class of 2017)
Rachel Getting Married, 2008 (Class of 2018)
Road to Perdition, 2002 (Class of 2018)
Sideways, 2004 (Class of 2016)
There Will Be Blood, 2007 (Class of 2017)
 Up in the Air, 2009 (Class of 2019)

-2010’s (1):
The Social Network, 2010 (Class of 2020)

Permalink
Leave a comment

2018 Top 10 Films

Posted by amateurcinefile on February 24, 2019 in Cinema Journal, End of Year Top 10 Lists

FotoJet

Like a fingerprint or snowflake, every end-of-year Top 10 list is as unique as the cinephile who conceives it. Rules for list creation vary greatly as well. Some choose to reward films based on pure technical merits, others select strictly on emotional connection, still others like to highlight lesser known achievements that deserve the much needed notoriety. AmateurCinephile.com tries to use a little of all three to generate its annual record of Top 10 films. As with every year, the pains of decision are made worse by the knowledge that not every film from the previous year was viewed. But this comes with the territory of being an amateur and not a professional. So without further ado, here are the films from 2018 that have the “honor” of being selected to the AmateurCinephile.com Top 10 Films of 2018.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Having only ten slots can be a difficult proposition for those who enjoy making lists like this. Every year, deserving movies get left on the cutting room floor as the list of candidates gets whittled down to the final ten. So please indulge me as I offer a quick list of a few films that were left just outside my Top 10 in the hopes they may inspire you to seek them out if you haven’t done so already.

-Minding the Gap: This documentary explores the effect childhood traumas have on three young skateboarders as they mature into adults.

-Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is a wondrous look at the singular career of Fred Rogers and his groundbreaking children’s show, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

-A Star is Born-The forth adaptation of this beloved story about the joys and pitfalls of stardom shows just how talented Bradley Cooper is as an actor and filmmaker.

-Basketball: A Love Story: A ten-part, twenty-hour documentary about the history of Basketball that rivals Ken Burns’ Baseball in terms of sheer knowledge and adoration for the sport it highlights.

-Searching: A missing-person mystery told exclusively through the perspective of the technology used by the frantic father as he attempts to track down his missing daughter. John Cho is fantastic.

-Crazy Rich Asians: An extravagantly over-the-top romantic comedy that I must confess I am a complete sucker for. The onscreen chemistry between Constance Wu and Henry Golding is truly palpable.

AMATEURCINEPHILE.COM TOP 10 FILMS OF 2018

10. Hearts Beat Loud (Brett Haley): A vintage record store owner whose business is on the rocks convinces his musically gifted daughter to form a band with him before she heads off to college. A humorous and delightful comedy, Hearts Beat Loud delivers a breakout performance from Kiersey Clemons while Nick Offerman brings a vulnerability and emotional depth that sits just below the surface of his wise-cracking wannabe hipster persona. The term feel-good-story gets thrown around an awful lot these days, but nothing fits Hearts Beat Loud more perfectly. Good luck not smiling at the end of this one.hearts-beat-loud-sundance

9. Eighth Grade (Bo Burnham): A shy teenage girl attempts to come out of her shell in the hopes that it will help ease her impending transition to high school. Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade’s breakout star, delivers a truly inspiring performance, expertly balancing the awkward timidity of an introvert with the right level of hopeful innocence. Veteran actor Josh Hamilton’s heartfelt portrayal of single father Mark also adds to the film’s charm. The writing and directorial debut of comedian Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade can feel painfully awkward and voyeuristic at times, but overall the film is an endearing exploration of the pressures and expectations faced by today’s youth living in a technology crazed landscape. “Gucci!”Screen-Shot-2018-07-17-at-6.44.01-PM.png

8. Annihilation (Alex Garland): A group of scientists are charged with investigating an inexplicable quarantined zone after a previous mission goes awry. A perfect blend of horror and sci-fi, this mind-bending thriller leaves you with more questions than answers. Annihilation is the type of intellectual science fiction film that harkens back to the days of Tarkovsky’s Stalker. With his much anticipated followup to Ex Machina (my number one film of 2015), writer/director Alex Garland has established himself as one of the preeminent voices in modern sci-fi.anh-00407r_copy_-_h_2018

7. A Quiet Place (John Krasinski): A family struggles to survive in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by a species of creatures with highly sensitive hearing. Another 2018 critically acclaimed directorial debut, this time from The Office star John Kransinski, who stars with his real-life wife Emily Blunt in this taut and tension-filled horror drama that spotlights the bonds that tie a family together even under the most trying of circumstances.a_quiet_place_still_1

6. Isle of Dogs (Wes Anderson): Created using stop-motion animation, Isle of Dogs is a story of a young boy who sets out to find his beloved dog after an outbreak of dog flu leads to the banishment of all canines to Trash Island. Influenced by the work of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, Isle of Dogs is the second animated feature from auteur Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and is blessed with a who’s who of voice-over talent including Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, and Scarlett Johansson. Seen by some as a subtle warning against the dangers of unchecked power and groupthink, Isle of Dogs is a charming adventure and a heartwarming ode to the love shared between a boy and his dog._100637164_dogs_fox

5. First Man (Damien Chazelle): First Man examines the life of famed astronaut Neil Armstrong during the time surrounding his renowned mission to become the first man on the moon. The third film from rising star Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash), First Man is blessed with a myriad of heart-stopping flight scenes. Where it differs from many other NASA-based dramas however is in Chazelle and screenwriter Josh Singer’s choice to concentrate more on the man than the myth, highlighting the little known tragedy that befell the Armstrong family and how that grief fueled Neil’s desire to succeed as an astronaut. Working closely with the family, Armstrong’s sons Mark and Rick have been quoted as saying this was the most accurate portrayal of their father and mother. Every year great films, for a multitude of reasons, slip through the cracks only to be rediscovered as time passes. I foresee this fate for First Man; it’s too good a film not to.first-man-2

4. Roma (Alfonso Cuaron): Roma tells the story of a young housemaid working for a middle-class family in Mexico City during the heightened civil unrest of the early 1970’s. Filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron has produced an impressively diverse resume of critically acclaimed cinematic creations including Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Children of Men, and Gravity. Roma is undoubtedly Cuaron’s most personal and intimate story, as he based the film on his family’s servant and has said that ninety percent of the scenes represented in the film are taken out of his own childhood memories. With impeccable black & white cinematography, some have found the Spanish-language film’s subject matter and pacing to be a bit outside their taste range. But for those who appreciate great world cinema, Roma is clearly one of the best examples 2018 has to offer.5c473bda52414700923655a3-750-563

3. The Rider (Chloe Zhao): A saddle bronc rodeo rider must make a life-altering decision on whether or not to return to the sport he loves, and risk further injury, after experiencing a near fatal head injury. Originally born in China, writer/director Chloe Zhao loosely based The Rider on real rodeo cowboy Brady Jandreau and the difficulties he faced after his own rodeo accident. Zhao cast Jandreau, his father, and his sister to play the fictionalized versions of themselves, giving The Rider almost a documentary feel to it. The Rider is a modern western with magnificent cinematography that expertly captures the fatal attraction rodeo cowboys have to their beloved sport and the lifestyle that comes with it.RiderChloeZhao

2. Leave No Trace (Debra Granik): A veteran and his teenage daughter try to acclimate to real world living after authorities discover them living off the grid amongst the dense forest of a public park in Portland, OR. Writer/director Debra Granik made a name for herself back in 2011 with her masterful Ozark drama, Winter’s Bone, a film that introduced us to superstar Jennifer Lawrence. Granik is back again with another young talent in Thomasin McKenzie. The father-daughter chemistry between Ben Foster and McKenzie makes this tale all the more heart-wrenching. Leave No Trace tastefully examines the difficult subject matter of P.T.S.D. and the extreme consequences it can have for the military veterans’ families.leave-no-trace-movie

1. Private Life (Tamara Jenkins): Richard and Rachel, a middle-aged couple struggling to have a child later in life begin exploring alternative options, including the unpleasant idea of third-party reproduction. A comedic drama that examines the financial and emotional burdens that come with the complicated world of assisted reproduction and adoption, writer/director Tamara Jenkins’ impeccable script offers Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn a perfect vessel to show off their unique blend of humor and anguish. Surprisingly one of the funniest movies I saw in 2018 considering the film’s dramatic subject matter, Private Life is a true cinematic gem and my #1 film of the year.lead_720_405

Edited by-Michelle Zenor
Permalink
4 Comments

Movie Hall of Fame-Class of 2019!

Posted by amateurcinefile on February 23, 2019 in Cinema Hall of Fame, Cinema Journal

Hall of Fame 2019

List by-Jarrett Leahy

Happy Oscar Night Eve! As the tradition continues, it is time to announce the 6th annual AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame class of 2019. This year’s class of illustrious films includes three first-ballot films (movies from 2009 became eligible for selection this year), three Best Picture nominees, two National Film Registry selections, four comedies, a deliciously fictitious WWII drama, and arguably the greatest musical of all time wrapped up into six wonderful films. If you haven’t seen any of these films, please take the time to seek them out, and feel free to share your thoughts…

AMATEURCINEPHILE.COM 2019 HALL OF FAME CLASS

(500) Days of Summer (2009): (500) Days of Summer is the first of three films from 2009 to be inducted into the AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame as a first-ballot honoree. Nominated for two Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy, (500) Days of Summer was named to fifteen national Top-10 film lists including being chosen the best film of 2009 by the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, this 2019 Hall of Fame film is an endearing and delightfully charming creation that, in my humble opinion, is the best romantic comedy since Annie Hall.500-days

Inglourious Basterds (2009): Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Inglourious Basterds is the second first-ballot honoree from 2009. Written and directed by famed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds is blessed with a stellar cast that includes Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender. This fictional re-imagining of a WWII plot to assassinate Nazi leaders is best known however for introducing the cinematic world to Christoph Waltz, an Austrian-German virtuoso who would go on to win the first of his two Best Supporting Actor Oscars for his sinfully devilish portrayal of villain Col. Hans “The Jew-Hunter” Landa. Tension-filled and irreverently violent, Inglourious Basterds becomes the second Hall of Fame film for Tarantino joining Class of 2014 inductee Pulp Fiction.basterd_670

Up in the Air (2009): A corporate downsizing specialist (someone who is paid to fire people) finds his own beloved livelihood at risk of being made obsolete by a new young colleague with grandiose plans to implement cost-saving technology. Based on a Walter Kirn novel, Up in the Air was the much anticipated followup to director Jason Reitman’s 2007 critically adored coming-of-age comedy Juno. Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Up in the Air offers the perfect mix of poignant reality and comic relief.  This film is a deftly created time capsule, exploring the aftermath of corporate downsizing that plagued the beginning of the 21st century.MCDUPIN EC021

Harold and Maude (1971): A cult classic if there ever was one, Hal Ashby’s eccentric dark comedy tells the unconventional love story between a death-obsessed young man and a free-spirited nonconformist septuagenarian. Blessed with an ethereal soundtrack from 70’s headliner Cat Stevens, the film’s improbable stars, Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort, each received Golden Globe nominations for their sublimely exceptional portrayals. Irreverently macabre and delightfully charming, Harold and Maude has grown in stature and acclaim since its initial release, as evidenced by its 1997 selection into the National Film Registry.68049bc3b53a6d7fd723d4d5414ec3b64b3dc61e

The Red Shoes (1948): Based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name, this year’s 1940’s inductee becomes the fourth film from the decade to be selected for Hall of Fame inclusion. One of the finest examples of the Technicolor filming process, The Red Shoes earned five Oscar nominations including one for Best Picture, winning two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Art Direction. Considered the finest achievement of the acclaimed Powell and Pressburger collaboration, the British Film Institute named The Red Shoes the ninth greatest British film of all time while a 2017 Time Out magazine poll ranked it fifth.red-shoes_2470711k

Singin’ in the Rain (1952): What new can be said about Singin’ in the Rain that hasn’t already been covered over the last sixty-plus years? Arguably the greatest musical of all time, surprisingly, Singin’ in the Rain was nominated for only two Academy Awards in 1953. Since this obvious oversight by the Academy, this 1989 National Film Registry selection has been awarded a slew of honors and accolades including being named the fifth greatest American motion picture of all time by AFI in 2007, the number 20 film on Sight and Sound’s 2017 list of the 50 Greatest Films of All-Time, and AFI’s Greatest Movie Musical. Now it has the honor of also being an AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Famer.singin-in-rain

So there you have it, the AmateurCinephile.com Hall of Fame Class of 2019! Make sure you come back next Oscar’s eve when another six films are chosen for inclusion.-JL

Edited by-Michelle Zenor

AMATEURCINEPHILE.COM HALL OF FAME BREAK DOWN BY DECADE:

-1930’s (3):
Bringing Up Baby, 1938 (Class of 2018)
City Lights, 1931 (Class of 2018)
 Wizard of Oz, 1939 (Class of 2014)

-1940’s (4):
Casablanca, 1942 (Class of 2014)
 Notorious, 1946 (Class of 2015)
The Red Shoes, 1948 (Class of 2019)
The Third Man, 1949 (Class of 2015)

-1950’s (2):
Anatomy of a Murder, 1959 (Class of 2014)
 Singin’ in the Rain, 1952 (Class of 2019)

-1960’s (3):
Belle de Jour, 1967 (Class of 2017)
The Leopard, 1963 (Class of 2016)
2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968 (Class of 2014)

-1970’s (5):
Chinatown, 1972 (Class of 2015)
The Deer Hunter, 1978 (Class of 2017)
The Godfather, 1972 (Class of 2014)
The Godfather Part 2, 1974 (Class of 2014)
Harold and Maude, 1971 (Class of 2019)

-1980’s (4):
A Christmas Story, 1983 (Class of 2017)
Field of Dreams, 1989 (Class of 2018)
Hannah and her Sisters, 1986 (Class of 2014)
Tender Mercies, 1983 (Class of 2015)

-1990’s (8):
Before Sunrise, 1995 (Class of 2014)
Boogie Nights, 1997 (Class of 2015)
Casino, 1995 (Class of 2015)
Dazed & Confused, 1993 (Class of 2016)
Goodfellas, 1990 (Class of 2016)
Heat, 1995 (Class of 2018)
Pulp Fiction, 1994 (Class of 2014)
Rushmore, 1998 (Class of 2017)

-2000’s (13):
Almost Famous, 2000 (Class of 2014)
Before Sunset, 2004 (Class of 2014)
Brokeback Mountain, 2005 (Class of 2016)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004 (Class of 2015)
(500) Days of Summer, 2009 (Class of 2019)
Inglourious Basterds, 2009 (Class of 2019)
Lost in Translation, 2003 (Class of 2014)
No Country For Old Men, 2007 (Class of 2017)
Rachel Getting Married, 2008 (Class of 2018)
Road to Perdition, 2002 (Class of 2018)
Sideways, 2004 (Class of 2016)
There Will Be Blood, 2007 (Class of 2017)
Up in the Air, 2009 (Class of 2019)

Permalink
Leave a comment

2017 Top 10 Films

Posted by amateurcinefile on March 4, 2018 in Cinema Journal

Top 10 of 2017

List by-Jarrett Leahy

As the 2018 Academy Awards near, it’s time yet again for AmateurCinephile.com to release the site’s Top 10 list for the 2017 movie year. Every year, there are always films that unfortunately go unseen before the Top 10 posting.  This year is no different, but, overall, I’m fairly comfortable with these selections, and I hope you’ll give a few of them a watch if given the chance.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Baby Driver (Edgar Wright)
Colossal (Nacho Vigalondo)
Get Out (Jordan Peele)
Mudbound (Dee Rees)
Last Flag Flying (Richard Linklater)
Wind River (Taylor Sheridan)
Wonder Woman (Patty Jenkins)

AMATEURCINEPHILE.COM TOP 10 FILMS OF 2017

  1. Columbus (Kogonada): He is stuck in Columbus, Indiana, tending to his ailing, estranged father.  She selflessly remains in Columbus, Indiana, to look after her recovering mother. Written and directed by Korean-born filmmaker, Kogonada and starring John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson, Columbus is a contemplative and emotionally therapeutic examination of responsibilities the child must endure when it comes to taking care of ailing parents. A showcase of the heralded modern architecture that populates the town it is set in, Columbus is a hidden gem worth seeking out. (A-)
    columbus4

  1. Dunkirk (Christopher Nolan): The harrowing true story of the evacuation of the Allied army from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, as the German forces surround and close in on their location. Told using three intertwined storylines, each with its own timeline, auteur filmmaker Christopher Nolan expertly recounts this momentous event in world history with meticulous detail and accuracy. Rivetingly immersive, Dunkirk proves yet again Nolan remains at the top of his game. (A)
    Dunkirk-1

  1. Phantom Thread (Paul Thomas Anderson): A distinguished 1950’s London dressmaker finds his meticulously controlled life upset by a headstrong young woman who becomes his muse and romantic interest. The final performance for three-time Academy Award-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread is an elegant and sumptuous period drama filled with stunning costume design (he’s a world-renowned dressmaker after all). But all this pageantry masks a dark, little secret.  This film is a bit naughty. Clandestine power struggles ensue between this famed artist, used to getting his way, and his new creative influence he does not want to alienate, and we the viewer get to sit back and enjoy the lovingly underhanded and subversive actions that emanate. (A)
    UPTA_05950_R_CROP-feature-1600x900-c-default

  1. Call Me By Your Name (Luca Guadagnino): Set amongst the beautiful 1980’s Italian countryside, a burgeoning relationship blossoms between a 17-year-old young man and an older college student who is hired to be the research assistant for his father. Nostalgic and romantic, Luca Guadagnino’s tale of infatuation and sexual discovery never over-sensationalizes or turns tawdry.  Rather, it remains honest and adoringly engaging as we experience the euphoric highs and afflicting lows of an unconventional first love. (A)
    call-me-by-your-name-1-1600x900-c-default1

  1. Blade Runner 2049 (Denis Villeneuve): After the uncovering of a long-repressed secret that could plunge a society already in disarray into anarchy, LAPD blade runner, Officer K, is tasked with covertly identifying and eliminating this threat and seeks out the assistance of former blade Runner, Rick Deckard, who has been in hiding for over thirty years. The choice to make a sequel to a cult-classic science fiction masterpiece twenty-five years after its initial release was a perilous decision to say the least. But if anyone could pull it off it would be Canadian auteur, Denis Villeneuve, and boy did he. Starring Ryan Gosling as Officer K, Blade Runner 2049 not only expertly compliments the narrative laid down by the original film, but skillfully expands on it to create its own existential questions involving artificial intelligence and what exactly are our responsibilities as the creator. A true masterwork of the science fiction genre, let the endless debate begin as to which film is better. (A)
    blade-runner-20492

  1. Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig): This deliciously quirky coming-of-age story follows a peculiarly charismatic 17-year-old girl trying to find herself in the mundane suburbs of Sacramento, CA circa 2002. Written and directed by actor/filmmaker Greta Gerwig (Frances Ha, Jackie, Mistress America) Lady Bird is a fictitious homage to her own unconventional upbringing in Sacramento, CA. Starring now three-time Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn, Atonement), Lady Bird cunningly captures the angst-ridden world of this precocious young woman as she tries to find her way in life. Filled with amusing Catholic school anecdotes and a period-accurate soundtrack, Lady Bird shows that Gerwig will remain a creative force to be reckoned with for years to come. (A)
    9c123a51-ace0-4391-a1fd-dc035b47ebec

  1. The Big Sick (Michael Showalter): Kumail, a Pakistani-born comedian living in Chicago, struggles with the idea of possibly alienating his family after he meets and falls for Emily, a non-Pakistani grad student. These feelings become even more convoluted when Emily becomes critically ill. Written by real-life couple Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon based on their own covert courtship, The Big Sick is an immigrant story, medical drama, and behind-the-scenes look at the life of a stand-up comedian wrapped up into a wonderfully sentimental and diverting romantic comedy. A film that gets better with each viewing (I’ve seen it three times), The Big Sick joins Lady Bird as two first-rate pieces of comedic cinema destined to be modern comedy classics. (A)
    c8e04a63-9e4d-4c80-9b49-32b0ef35e37a-the-big-sick

  1. A Ghost Story (David Lowery): The ghost of a man who suffered a sudden, tragic death returns to his bucolic house to be with his grieving wife. Writer/director David Lowery creates an uncommonly peculiar and exceptional ghost story, exploring the idea of the afterlife with a poignant eeriness, as you sympathize with the ghost’s frustration about not being able to communicate or even comfort the woman he loves. Lowery’s decision to utilize the childish ghost-in-a-sheet motif was an intrepid choice, bringing a level of existential realism to a character that could have easily been construed as campy or nonsensical. Achingly hypnotic and mesmerizing at times, this film may not be for everyone, but if you’re into more experimental cinema, A Ghost Story is by far one the best. (A)
    72ee90e6-92d8-11e7-b116-f4507ff9df92_1280x720_112846

  1. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Rian Johnson): As the Resistance prepares to battle the First Order, Rey remains on Ahch-To, hoping to persuade exiled Jedi-Master Luke Skywalker to train her how to harness and control her new-found abilities. The second installment of the third Star Wars trilogy has caused quite the controversy amongst some of the so-called Star Wars purists, as many have taken umbrage with the Luke Skywalker story arc that writer/director Rian Johnson created for the iconic character. After witnessing Johnson’s masterful extension of the Galaxy, far, far away, the only controversy I can see is whether or not The Last Jedi has surpassed The Empire Strikes Back for the title of the best Star Wars installment. It has for me, and I suspect that, if you are a fan of the franchise and go into your viewing without any preconceived expectations, you will find this film to be one of the best of 2017. (A)
    ridley-hamill-last-jedi-trailer-ht-jef-171121_12x5_992

  1. Mother! (Darren Aronofsky): A couple’s secluded tranquility is up-ended when unsolicited visitors unexpectedly show up on their doorstep, straining their peaceful way of living. Choosing this film for my #1 film of 2017 comes with a bit of trepidation, for many moviegoers have expressed a general dislike (or downright hatred) for Darren Aronofsky’s latest cinematic creation. However, for me, there was no film more daring or original to come out in 2017 than Mother! and I honestly believe it will find its rightful critical praise as time passes. A biblical allegory disguised as a psychological horror film, at the time of the movie’s theatrical release, there was a big debate about whether the film’s allegorical aspects should be known beforehand, basically “spoiling” any major surprises it offered. It is my recommendation that you should spoil the plot for the sake of understanding and/or possibly enjoying the film’s abstract narrative involving humankind’s infatuation with God and mistreatment of mother nature. Terrifying, intoxicating, avant-garde, Mother! will be hated by many. There’s a good chance you will or already do, and that’s perfectly alright. But for me, no film from 2017 challenged me more or left me downright giddy with appreciative enthusiasm. I truly hope you’ll give it a chance. (A)
    mother.0

Edited by-Michelle Zenor
Permalink