Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Update 25

I decided to rewatch my 100 favorite movies of all-time. What those are, you can check HERE. I watch them in random order, there is no rhyme or reason there, just watching those movies I love so much.

81/ 100: The Burbs (1989)
Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks) is in need of rest and spends his vacation in his boring, decent suburb. But then the Klopek family movies into to his neighborhood. They behave a bit strangely, and strange noises come from their house at night. Together with his neighbors, Ray sets out to investigate. “The Burbs” has been a family favorite for years, a film my brother and I can randomly quote from. It’s not a perfect movie for most, but for us, it is the funniest thing out there. Check out my full review HERE.

82/ 100: Little Women (2019)
Yet another film adaptation of Louise May Alcott’s famous book, but in my eyes the best ou there. Aspiring writer Jo (Saoirse Ronan), one of the four March sisters, is the focus, but director Greta Gerwig shows remarkable sympathy for the ambitious Amy )Florence Pugh), who was has always been the “wrong sister” in other adaptations. Emma Watson plays eldest sister Meg and Eliza Scanlen plays introverted Beth. And Timothee Chalamet seems to be born for the role of Laurie. HERE you can read my full review.

83/ 100: The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Monsieur Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes), the flamboyant concierge of five-star Hotel Gran Budapest tries to stay out of the hands of the fascists in 1932 along with lobby boy Zero (Toni Revolori). The silly characters, variegated colors and hyper-realistic setting, that director Wes Anderson is so known for, are all present.  Just like the dry-comic humor. And Ralph Fiennes is energetic and has perfect timing. Check out my full review HERE.

84/ 100: The Usual Suspects (1995)
Excellently acted crime story in which five criminals meet in a cell and, before being innocently released, decide to work together. Leader is the charistmatic Keaton (Gabriel Byrne). Gradually, the come in contact with the mysterious master criminal Keyser Soze. This film marked the breakthrough for actor Kevin Spacey, who also received an Oscar for his role. “The Usual Suspect” is one of the movies that everyone loves, I literally don’t know anyone who doesn’t. Check HERE for my full review.

Still to watch: 16

90s Movie Review - The Usual Suspects

Director: Bryan Singer
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Dan Hedaya, Giancarlo Esposito

Description: A sole survivor tells of the twisty events leading up to a horrific gun battle on a boat, which begin when five criminals meet at a seemingly random police lineup.

Review: There is one scene in “The Usual Suspects” that was considered failed by director Brian Singer. The actors couldn’t concentrate and constantly laughed. Eventually Singer decided to use the footage, the scene could be more interesting because of it. And he was right: one of the most characteristic scenes from the movie was born.

Off course we’re talking about that famous line-up. This ‘failed’ scene managed to give us an impression of the five different criminals. We see their frigid, defiant and anarchistic attitude.
Any form of identification is important in a movie like this, where the characters are criminals and their activities and social environment are so different from ours. All the characters have their quirks.
Kevin Spacey is the one that catches our eye, this was the movie that put him on the map. His insecure portrayal of Verbal Kint is completely credible and he is the one that connects the audience with the story.     

The cunning script by Christopher McQuarrie is the main reason you keep watching. We want to know what’s going on and who Keyser Söze is. This villain is so on point, like a devil, who is mainly in the background but a constant threat.

“The Usual Suspects” needs your attention at all times, but it’s inevitable that you eventually get on the wrong track. It’s a great crime story, with beautiful music, good acting and film noir like camerawork. And that amazing twist at the end makes it to the classic it is.

Rating: 5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Plot Twists

I hate predictable movies, movies that are anything but surprising. So when a film has an twist that you didn’t expect, it makes my day. Here are my five favorite plot twists in movies. Warning: *SPOILER ALERT*

5. The Empire Strikes Back
As the rebel alliance runs from Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker is trained to become a Jedi Knight. When Luke abandons his training to save his friends from Darth Vader, he finds out that he is his father.

4. Planet of the Apes
Three astronauts crash land on an unknown planet. On this planet, apes rule the world, while humans are considered second class citizens. The final scene sees the surviving astronaut stumble upon a half-sunken statue of liberty. He has been on planet earth all along.

3. Seven
Two detectives, Somerset and Mills, search for a serial killer obsessed with the seven deadly sins. In the end, killer John Doe, decides to lead the detectives to his final two bodies. When they arrive, they find a box. In the box is the head of Mills’ wife. Doe admits to have killed her out of envy and challenges Mills to kill him, making wrath the seventh and final sin.

2. The Sixth Sense
Dr. Malcolm Crowe attempts to help a young boy, who sees dead people. In the end it appears that Crowe has been dead himself the whole time.

1. The Usual Suspects
Five criminals plot against the police after being called in for a crime they didn’t commit, but begin to uncover a larger plot stemming from legendary criminal Keyser Soze. But who is he. In the final scene we see that it’s the pretending to be cripple Verbal Kint.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Psycho, Fight Club, Chinatown, Primal Fear, Fallen, Memento, The Prestige, Shutter Island

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 1995

Seriously, this was the toughest year so far. There were so many wonderful movies made in 1995, some of my all-time favorites. But to rank time, almost impossible. I eventually managed, so here are my favourite movies of 1995.

5. Braveheart

This was in the time everyone still took Mel Gibson seriously. He’s so good in “Braveheart”. Haven’t seen it in a while, but it’s not a movie for just anytime. You really have to sit down and fully focus on “Braveheart”. Only then you get the full experience.

 

4. Toy Story

This was ground breaking, the first digitally made Disney movie. It looks amazing, with a perfectly voiced Woody and Buzz by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. It’s not my favourite in the series, but I love “Toy Story”.

 

3. Die Hard with a Vengeance

The best one in the series. I just love seeing Bruce Willis as John McClane (not in the fifth one though, I just pretend that was never made) and he is also one of my favourite movie characters of all-time.

 

2. The Usual Suspect

A movie with a fantastic ending. Even though I know how it ends now, that doesn’t make this movie any less exciting. But that climax is brilliant!

 

1. Se7en

This is definitely one of the best thrillers ever made. The concept, a guy killing by the seven deadly sins, is just genius. I have seen “Se7en” again recently and it still amazes me and manages to creep me out at the same time.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: The Net, Leaving Las Vegas, Casino, Jumanji

In the Picture: The Characters from "The Usual Suspects"

"The Usual Suspects" is one of the best films made in the 90's. Amazing, the ending, oh my god. Here are the characters.

Dean Keaton
Played by: Gabriel Byrne
Keaton is a womanizer and a bit narcissistic, but he also wants to keep positive view on things. He’s the leader of the group.

Michael McManus
Played by: Stephen Baldwin
McManus doesn’t have an emotional connection with other people and some call him ‘crazy guy’. He laughs when it isn’t appropriate or when nobody else laughs.

Todd Hockney
Played by: Kevin Pollak
Hockney is full of anger and resentment. He can’t control his emotions, especially not his anger.

Verbal Kint
Played by: Kevin Spacey
Kint has a melancholic sad face and doesn’t look too smart. He walks funny and when he starts talking it’s hard to shut him up.

Fred Fenster
Played by: Benicio del Toro
Fenster has a flashy appearance and can’t sit still. Verbally he wants to impress people, he has a special way of talking.

David Kujan
Played by: Chazz Palminteri
Kujan is the officer who’s leading the investigation. He thinks he’s smarter then all of them, is impatient and the only way he can get to the truth is by using people.

Favorite Character: Tod Hockney