September 30, 1999
My Favorite Movies II - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
Again, in no particular order are the movies that are favorites...
GONE WITH THE WIND, was the grandest epic of them all. Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, not to mention Hattie McDaniel and Olivia De Haviland, were superb. A landmark.
CASABLANCA, Humphery Bogart was great and Ingrid Bergman wonderful. A great movie, great story and a great cast.
JOAN OF ARC, another gem that touched me at an early age. Ingrid Bergman was again, wonderful.
THE JAZZ SINGER This isn’t the Jolson one, which was the first talking picture, nor the Danny Thomas one. This one starring Neil Diamond, is easily placed by some film critics as the worst picture ever made. It touched me at an early age and remains a favorite. Lawrence Olivier redeems this picture simply with his presence.
SHALL WE DANCE? is a Japanese film with english subtitles, but the barrier of language, doesn’t take away from this films ability to touch. It’s very humorous, very charming and is worth a look.
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY is probably the funniest movie of the decade. The Farrelly brothers do a great job in going for the gross-out stuff, but hell, it’s a riot!
SUNSET BOULEVARD Even though I’ve grown to have affection for the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, this Billy Wilder masterpiece is superb. Film noir at its very best, with William Holden and Gloria Swanson, its a must-see for film buffs.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE is a cinematic masterpiece that was helmed by legendary film director Elia Kazan. Starring Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando, this tale is a not-miss.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a great film drama. It’s subject is as sensitive as hell, but it has great heart and the passion to overcome hatred and prejudice. Gregory Peck is at his commanding best.
Audrey Hepburn is at her best in MY FAIR LADY. Helmed by the legendary George Cukor, and co-starring Rex Harrison, Hepburn gives an amazing performance, and don’t forget the Lerner and Loewe score.
Katherine Hepburn won her 3rd of 4 Best Actress Oscars, for her performance in THE LION IN WINTER. She commands the screen with her presence and her brilliant comedic timing and her ability in stagecraft makes the film a good movie.
HELLO, DOLLY! was the last of the real, great, big and brash musicals. Directed by Gene Kelly, Barbra Striesand gives a very believeable performance.
SWEET CHARITY was a box office bomb, but it was one of the first movies directed by the great dance legend Bob Fosse. Shirley MacLaine gives an innocent performance, as a not so innocent girl, that won’t fail to touch.
THE FRENCH CONNECTION, is one of the most interesting storylines ever to be put to film. Gene Hackman gives a great performance in this tale that has some great drama.
THE WAY WE WERE, Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand give good performances in this movie that will certainly touch.
THE SUNSHINE BOYS is a Neil Simon masterpiece. Starring the brilliant Walter Matthau and the sublime George Burns, this movie is one of the funniest!
THE DEER HUNTER is one of the most harrowing films of the 1970’s. Depicting a part of the Vietnam confilict, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken give great performances.
KRAMER VS. KRAMER won Dustin Hoffman his first Oscar. He plays a single father trying to make it, after his wife leaves in a bout of mental anguish. Touching and a great story, great scenes and two of the greatest actors of our time, Hoffman and Meryl Streep.
VICTOR/VICTORIA is an attempt to recreate the big musicals on film. Starring Julie Andrews as a woman impersonating a man impersonating a woman, is wonderful, as were the late Robert Preston and James Garner. The Henry Mancini and Leslie Briscuse score is great, as well.
With RAIN MAN, Dustin Hoffman won his 2nd Oscar, playing a man with autism. With Tom Cruise and director Barry Levinson, this film has heart.
DRIVING MISS DAISY is a great picture with a great performance by the late Jessica Tandy. She is devine in this film.
AWAKENINGS, Robin Williams is actually quite brilliant and Robert De Niro is beyond brilliance, he’s superb. The story is touching and it doesn’t fail to move.
PHILADELPHIA is a tale of a plight. Tom Hanks’ plight for acceptance, because he’s dying from AIDS in this brilliant Jonathan Demme film.
FIELD OF DREAMS is a great attempt by Kevin Costner to make a good movie. He succeeds and, at the same time touches the viewer, as well as firmly implant a loving look at America’s pasttime.
PULP FICTION is brash and funny. John Travolta’s ‘comeback’ performance is nothing short of great, and the genius of Tarantino is there.
NIXON, was a difficult public figure, but Anthony Hopkins gives him great depth. Joan Allen is brilliant, as well.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .