El Mariachi
His first film, in 1992
From Dusk Till Dawn
Clooney, Tarantino take on vampires
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Fans, critics were mostly underwhelmed
Next: Alfred Hitchcock pre-1939 movies
The Lodger
Gotta hide those wretched handcuffs!
Blackmail
First sound film, already masterful.
The Lady Vanishes
My favorite, next to Psycho.
Next: remakes, or “reimaginings” of Hitchcock films, by people other than Hitchcock.
Psycho
Van Sant’s shot-by-shot remake - widely panned.
*
High Anxiety*
Spoofs much Hitchcock, Vertigo especially
Body Double
Cribs from Vertigo, Rear Window
Next: Movies about the Olympics
Personal Best
Complicated love lives of hopefuls.
Miracle
The 1980 men’s hockey team.
Cool Runnings
Jamaica’s got a bobsled team!
Next: Movies to watch instead of the Olympics.
Pride & Prejudice
Lizzie is mischievous, luminous, charming
Notorious
Grant, Bergman defeat Nazi conspiracy
Up
Coot, youngster, dog team up
Next: Movies in which a dog is a major character
The Incredible Journey
Pick your version: two dogs.
Turner & Hooch
Second billing, but still major.
Lassie Come Home
Dare you not to cry.
Next: movies with watchable child actors in major roles.
The Sixth Sense
Little boy was heartbreakingly sad
Jerry Maguire
Little boy was absolutely adorable
Zombieland
Little girl was total badass
Next: Movies in which a former child actor, all grown up, performed quite well
A Child is Waiting
IMHO, Garland’s best adult performance.
The Accused
Jodie Foster: quintessential successful transition.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Emma Watson growing up well.
Next: Movies where musicians trying their hand at acting, did very well.
I could puke out descriptions for 3 different Gwar movies (possibly including Phallus in Wonderland yet again), but that would be stretching the definitions of “acting”, “very well”, “trying”, “musicians”, and “movies” pretty taut. I shall therefore restrain myself and punt to the next player.
Movies where musicians trying their hand at acting, did very well.
Casablanca
Dooley Wilson not just pianist.
Zoolander
David Bowie funny as judge.
Begin Again
Adam Levine makes convincing sleaze.
Next: Movies where actors trying their hand at music (singing or playing an instrument) did very well.
Mamma Mia
Streep belts out ABBA well.
Georgia
Winningham’s voice, guitar are mesmerizing.
Walk the Line
Reese Witherspoon is really singing.
Next: Three films that all use a Shakespeare quote as their title, but are not Shakespeare pastiches or reworkings (a la, Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern are Dead).
Leave Her to Heaven
Evil woman finally gets comeuppance
North by Northwest
Classic Fifties Hitchcock chase flick
Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country
Kirk, crew expose dangerous conspiracy
Next: Movies with a key character named William (not any nickname thereof)
Almost Famous
Patrick Fugit as William Miller
Braveheart
Mel Gibson as William Wallace
As You Like It
Paul Chan as (just) William
Next: movies in which Patty Hearst has a cameo.
Pie in the Sky
2000 documentary about Warhol’s films
Cry-Baby
Plays Wanda’s mother, I see
Bio-Dome
This time, was Doyle’s mother
Next: Tragi-comedies
Penny Serenade
Very, very sad. But funny.
The Nasty Girl
Tragic or comic. You pick.
Life Is Beautiful
Best foreign-language film Oscar winner.
Next: Absurdist comedies.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
It’s all rather silly, innit?
The Big Lebowski
Whatever, man. The Dude abides.
PeeWee’s Big Adventure
A man and a bicycle.
Next: Slapstick comedies.
Safety Last!
Harold Lloyd dangles from clock.
The Bangville Police
Made “Keystone Cops” household word.
Mon Oncle
Tati won Best Foreign-language Oscar.
Next: Old cartoons (or cartoon/human mixes) you hope no one remakes with Pixar animation or other CGI.
Steamboat Willie
Why mess with a classic?
Long-Haired Hare
Bugs v. opera singer - hilarious!
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Quite perfect as it is.
Next: Fictional movies about political campaigns
Primary Colors
Not about Clinton, one bit.
The Manchurian Candidate
There’s campaign in convoluted plot.
The Campaign
Newcomer vs. incumbent, lobbyists, scandal!
Next: Films that are blatant propaganda (only one Michael Moore film allowed).
Roger & Me
Michael’s no fan of GM.
The Nation and Destiny
Part of North Korean series.
Olympia
Slick Nazi feature on games.
Next: Fictional movies about rock bands.