A to Z favorite films

I got this interesting film meme from Chris. What’s interesting about this meme is that rather than choosing your top 10, 20, 50 etc films of all time, which is always an impossible thing to do for many of us, it asks you to list an alphabetical list of your favorite films, one for each letter of the alphabet. Yes, it’s still challenging because it could happen that your many favorite films start from the same alphabet (as it happened with me), but still easier and fun to do than trying to list best films. I have also written few lines after almost each film, where I tried to sum up those things which I thought made me like the film so much. All readers of this blog are also more than welcome to do this tag. If you can, please write down few sentences or even few words explaining what made a particular film favorite for you..I think it will really richen your meme. Otherwise, just listing the films is also fine.

Annie Hall : (1977)

My second most favorite film of all time and Woody Allen at his best in juxtaposing humor with very serious philosophy.You get to know about both the irony of life and the unpredictability of love in one film..what more can you ask for? But, you are unlikely to get this one right (the way I didnt when I first watched it), unless you have been through some stuff. The traditional narrative structure is taken by it’s head and completely turned around fantastically by Allen. I think Annie hall was one of those amazing examples where on one hand, it was terrifyingly realistic in it’s exploration of it’s themes, and on the other hand, it took vast liberties in telling the story (Alvy’s character going back to his childhood and interacting with kids, writer coming from behind to ridicule pseudo intellectual in the movie line, and many such scenes). The interesting part was that how both realism and abstract surrealism worked wonderfully well for this masterpiece.

The Bridge On the River Kwai: (1957)

Apart from the usual first rate deliverables by director David Lean (brilliant cinematography, first rate performances, attention to detail etc), what made this movie truly great for me was the ultimate conflict present in the story. Most war movies are either for or against their wars, but this is one of the few that focuses not on larger rights and wrongs but on individuals and how they react to impossible situations.

Chinatown (1974):

Roman Polanski’s thriller could serve as a Bible on filmmaking, if one watches it in that context . Whatever one could hope to see in a perfectly constructed film, based on a conventional narrative format, is there in this film; symbolism from the very first scene, character development, classic three act structure and a perfect climax. But before you think it’s just a cleverly crafted film, let me tell you that the film has as much soul to it as any other great film. Soul provided by it’s actors..especially, Jack Nicholson in one of my all time favorite performances.

Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) :

Yes, it’s one another great film by my most favorite director Stanley Kubrick. I cannot decide what in the movie makes it so great. Is it the comic darkness of cold war era, darkness which is still chillingly relevant in today’s world? Or is it the all time great performance of Peter Sellers, in three different roles, which makes it great? Or it’s simply the flawless storytelling by Kubrick which makes it great? I think it’s all of this plus more..

E.T. — The Extra-Terrestrial: (1982)

E.T. is all about the child in us. You can never grow too old for this one. The film has innocence, hope, and cheer, all well done along with first of its kind special effects. What I found really interesting about all those amazing moments in the film is that how director Spielberg created them out of legitimate and fascinating plot developments.

Fargo (1996):

My favorite Coen Brothers’ film. I think they are in their best element in this one combining their favorite elements-dark comedy, highly stylized scenes, film-noir, doomed characters, accents and peculiarities of that period/ region and not to forget Frances McDormand- with absolute finesse. As somebody said, films such as Fargo make you fall in love with cinema.

The Godfather: (1972)

I like Godfather for everything it is. I absolutely loved the character development of Al Pacino. I love the many highly stylized scenes made possible by superb direction of Coppola. I love that superb performance of Marlon Brando. Such is the power of Al Pacino’s character portrayal that you start behaving like Michael Corleone without even knowing it. Absolutely marvelous.

Guide: (1965)

Though it’s said that R.K Narayan didnt really like the film version of his classic novel, I personally think Guide is one of those few Hindi films which successfully combine all that which is both unique and endearing in our Indian cinema. You connect with the protagonist, Raju guide, at some important level because he is as shallow as you are, as clueless in understanding love as you are and finally as human as you are. The film asks most important questions and ends as perfectly as it can. The film, flawlessly directed by Vijay Anand- a director grossly underrated and forgotten-, was much ahead of it’s times.

It’s a Wonderful Life: (1946)

Iam generally not a very big fan of movies of 30’s and 40’s, but this one transcends time and period in it’s celebration of life and people. The Time magazine on it’s release in 1946 said, “Director Capra’s inventiveness, humor and affection for human beings keep it glowing with life and excitement”. It was so right.

Judgment at Nuremberg: (1961)

To Kill a Mockingbird: (1962)

Lawrence of Arabia: (1962)

David Lean’s best work. This film made me realize that a 4+ hour film could be watched in one go without getting bored for a second. Breathtaking visuals, most complex character portrayed on screen and what not. I wrote a post about this here.

The Manchurian Candidate: (1962)

A film which hasnt aged at all. It could have been made yesterday. Technically brilliant and a very sophisticated satire. The film moves freely between realism and surrealism. The movie is so rich in intrigue that by the end of the movie you dont know whom to trust.

Notorious: (1946)

Alfred Hitchcock’s bit less known but nevertheless perfect suspense drama. I think Notorious had exceptionally pure story line. In the sense that maximum effect comes from minimum of elements. Notorious is considered one of the best examples of suspense in cinema history, and I cannot agree more. Ingrid Bergman looked so beautiful and angelic. Where are those beauties now?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: (1975)

Jack Nicholsan, Jack Nicholsan and Jack Nicholsan..what else? One of the best performances in cinema history. This is one of the darkest pictures I have seen. I believe you need to have stomach to go through this one and still come out not completely devastated. But, the experience is worth what you learn by the end. I think the film is a commentary on the so called sane people who behave in the most insane way without ever realizing it.

Paths of Glory: (1957)

Kubrick’s first masterpiece and best anti war movie I have seen. The film, as effortlessly as possible, confirms the ridiculousness of war between two ‘nations’. The famous war scenes were shot in a very innovative manner by the young Kubrick. Kirk Douglas’s performance elevates the film to even greater heights.

The Purple Rose of Cairo: (1985)

Woody Allen’s wonderful take on fantasy merging with reality. It talks about what art, in this case movies, can do to people. It satirizes the one dimensional characters created by writers in their novels and films. The background of great depression period provides a a very nostalgic feel and in-fact complements the film. Even in the satire, Allen essentially sees his characters with compassion.

Rashoman: (1950)

My favorite Kurusawa film. It was the first masterpiece of Japanese cinema to achieve international recognition. Rashoman is very lyrical film for me. The plot arranges the story’s events in the most expressive way..it develops a temporal order of it’s own. The jumps in time give Rashoman it’s dramatic intensity. Cinematography was brilliant and audacious for those times. The film, extremely multilayered and dark at most times, restores faith in human kindness and compassion by the end.

Shaukeen: (1981)

One of my most favorite Hindi comedies. Basu Chatterjee’s best work: I think he is one of our finest Indian directors, who along with another great Hrishikesh Mukherjee, gave us the ideal combination of entertaining and sensible cinema, especially in the 70’s and 80’s. Shaukeen is extremely honest and funny at the same time. Characters are ordinary people who just want to be loved and stay human. The chemistry among the three oldies- Ashok Kumar, Ak Hangal and Utpal Dutt- is awesome and you are in splits whenever they all are in the same frame. The scene where AK Hangal, after having couple of drinks, tries to seduce Rati Agnihotri has to be one of the funniest scenes in Hindi cinema. Rati’s amazing sex appeal didn’t hurt either.

The Shawshank Redemption: (1994)

The film is about patience, time and indomitable spirit of man. Andy is such a powerful reservoir of patience and determination that nothing seems to break him. The drama in the film slowly builds up and you care so much for the characters that you don’t wanna leave them even for a second.

2001: A Space Odyssey: (1968)

What can you possibly write in few lines about a film, which is not just your most favorite film of all time, but which has also quite strongly influenced how you see both cinema and life? It’s very very unlikely that in my lifetime any other film will ever affect me more than this one and will displace 2001 from my top spot. There are extremely rare films which are technically marvellous, which have a perfect pace, which boast of best possible performances, which are really entertaining and which finally are so fulfilling that they touch you at the most important level; 2001 is that film for me. For all those who thought/think that film is anti God or ambiguous or very dark or very impersonal, I declare that it’s the most intelligent, logical, personal and optimistic film ever made. Thank you very much Mr Kubrick and Mr Clarke for giving us this film.

Vertigo: (1958)

What can I say about Vertigo which hasnt been said yet? This was the best example of Hitchcock’s undeniable technical accomplishments, visual eloquence and infallible ability to thrill. Hitchcock’s best film.

Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf: (1966)

A brilliant black comedy and Elizabeth Taylor..what else?

X-Men: (2000)

I’m not a fan of superhero films and comic book characters. Watched this one..didn’t get lot of things as I haven’t read the comic series..but found it entertaining and cool.

Young Frankenstein: (1974)

Comedy and Sci-Fi, both reasonably well done. The film works both as a comedy and as a weirdly touching story. A lot of the credit for the film goes to the performances of Gene Wilder, as young Frankenstein, and Peter Boyle as the monster. Well made and entertaining.

Zelig: (1983)

Woody Allen’s obscure- but one of his best- film. It’s a mockumentary and has the same theme as Forrest Gump, but explored in a less sentimental manner than FG. I think the film is essentially about how we hopelessly, but perhaps unconsciously, want to connect with each and every person we come across in life. One of the most personal and emotional films of Allen without he blowing the trumpet for the same.