Leaving Las Vegas, the new frontrunner
Yesterday I managed to finally see "BlacKkKlansman." Right now, which is way, way, way too early to say such things, I can't imagine Spike Lee not being nominated for Best Director. Although I really liked the film, I can absolutely see it not being nominated for Best Picture. But more on that another time.
Yesterday I began the day watching the romantic tragedy, "Leaving Las Vegas." Thank goodness I added it at the last minute, because right now it is sitting right at the top with "Secrets & Lies," battling it out for my favorite film of all time.
I can't remember the last time I watched "Leaving Las Vegas," but I think it was more than likely the mid 90s. Over 20 years, no doubt. When I first saw it I was a Freshman at Northeast Community College, nearing the end of my first semester. At that point in my life I'm not even sure I had ever been drunk, much less a drunk. What struck me then was the acting. Today, Ben (Cage)'s need to drink himself to death is not lost on me the way it might have been in the mid 90s.
I loved the film so much that I got two versions of the original theatrical poster...very possibly my first online purchases! I remember when Roger Ebert named it the best film of the year, and I was thrilled. Prior to the Oscar nominations, I hoped beyond hope that the film itself would be nominated for Best Picture. It wasn't. It did get nominations for Cage and Shue as well as a director and writing nominations for Mike Figgis.
1995 was long before Nicolas Cage was considered a caricature of himself, and he was instantly (if I remember correctly) the frontrunner for Best Actor. Elisabeth Shue did win a few precursors, but come Oscar night she lost to Susan Sarandon. I have never seen "Dead Man Walking," so it is hard for me to be mad at this, although rewatching what Shue does...it makes it almost impossible for me to believe anyone could be better.
The film is that rare, perfect match of material, direction and actors. Cage went on to be nominated again, for "Adaptation," but Shue, hasn't quite made it back. I enjoyed her in "Mysterious Skin," (which I'll be watching again shortly for this series) but I found her to be quite bad in "Battle of the Sexes." Here's hoping she finds another actor's director to bring that incredible naturalism back out of her.
A couple of days ago, I had the realization that I needed to add "Before Sunset" to the Best Films Rewatch. To greater appreciate that film, I thought, why not watch "Before Sunrise" first.
I first discovered "Before Sunrise" shortly after it was released on VHS. As you know from earlier, "Dead Poets Society" is one of my Favorite films. I became so enamored with Ethan Hawke after watching DPS, that I decided to watch his entire available filmography. "Explorers," "Dad," "White Fang," "Mystery Date," "A Midnight Clear," "Waterland," "Alive," "Reality Bites" (in theaters), and then I watched "Before Sunrise."
I remember being so floored by how different the film was than the many I had binged before it. Interestingly enough, "Before Sunrise" managed to break my obsession with Ethan Hawke. It was a major turning point for him. From teen heartthrob to serious actor. I have actually seen almost none of his films post "Before Sunrise" other than the other two in the "Before Trilogy."
I told you I saw "BlacKkKlansman" yesterday, and I was supposed to see "Crazy Rich Asians" as well. My date canceled on me (we are back on for tomorrow!), so I decided to come home and watch "The Exorcist."
What a fantastic horror film, "The Exorcist" is. Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller, Lee J. Cobb, William O'Malley, Linda Blair....they are also so great. It makes me wonder how fantastic horror films might be today if they cast our best actors but also had top of the line source material and great direction. Maybe the "It" sequel will be that film for us. Although I have low expectations.
For the sake of this series, "The Exorcist" doesn't make the cut. I found myself starting to judge it a tad too critically last night, and when that happened I shut that part of me down and simply enjoyed the film.
I've hesitated to publish my "order of things," but why not let you readers in on the journey. Many of the films I have watched have been punted to my very own "Popular Film Category" which I would rename, "Favorite Films of all Time" which leaves the following.
1. Leaving Las Vegas and Secrets & Lies (at this point it's a "Sophie's Choice!)
3. Donnie Darko
4. Pulp Fiction
5. Silence of the Lambs
6. The Godfather Part II
7. West Side Story
8. Doom Generation
9. The Empire Strikes Back
10. Vertigo
Or course, this order might change, but for now, I'm pretty happy with it.
For now, I think I've pretty much finalized the rest of the films for the series. They are below.
Remaining
Mulholland Drive - 2001
Lost in Translation - 2003
Before Sunset
Mysterious Skin - 2005
Brokeback Mountain 2006
Zodiac - 2007
Where the Wild Things Are - 2009
Black Swan - 2010
La La Land - 2016
Call Me By Your Name - 2017