Category: MUST-SEES
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The Ten Commandments [1956]
What can you say in a few words about a four hour movie that depicts the life of Moses, the Egyptian prince who learned of his true heritage as a Hebrew and who became the deliverer of his people? Let’s try “perfection”, which is what director Cecil B. DeMille achieved in this epic film. Apply “magnificient” to…
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Midnight Cowboy [1969]
One of the all time greats. Dark, disturbing dramatization of James Leo Herlihy’s novel was rated X in 1969, but it’s essentially an old fashioned story with a modern twist. John Voight is terrific in his starring debut as Joe Buck, a young and handsome man (who dresses as a cowboy) who moves from Texas…
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Citizen Kane [1941] ★★★★
I wasn’t surprised one bit when I read that many consider “Citizen Kane” as the best film ever made. Afterall, The American Film institute called it the greatest movie of all time back in 1998. “Citizen Kane” is indeed one of those ageless movies that get better with repeated viewings, and through the years, it has become one of…
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Bride Of Frankenstein [1935]
Not only does this sequel equals the brilliance of the first “Frankenstein” movie, but it surpasses it in every way possible. Universal Studios had to wait nearly four years before James Whale accepted the offer to direct this follow up to the 1931 box office hit, but it definitely turned out to be well worth…
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Sunset Blvd. [1950] ★★★★
The opening scene in “Sunset Blvd.” became one of the most iconic sequences in cinema history. We meet Joe Gillis, an unemployed screenwriter, in a very unusual way. He’s floating dead in a swimming pool, recounting his doomed personal and professional involvment with megalomaniac silent movie star Norma Desmond (a wonderful Gloria Swanson). Norma lives…
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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo [2009]
“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is a fantastic film to begin with, but not without its heroine, a 24 year old goth girl named lisbeth, with body piercings and tattoos. She’s small, smart, damaged and a computer hacker. Her attention is fixed on violence against women, in which her own presence is a repeated…
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The King’s Speech [2010]
I watched “The King’s Speech” with extremely high expectations. Afterall, it swept most of the awards so far, and is basically a shoe in for best picture at the oscars. To be honest, I loved most of it, but I still felt like something was missing. Let’s put it this way: I expected a masterpiece, and…
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The Thief Of Bagdad [1940] ★★★★
To begin with a story: I remember watching “The Thief Of Bagdad” when I was very young with my grandfather (who taught me everything there is to know about films). It was probably the first movie I had ever seen, and I was fascinated by it. A couple of years ago, I learned that Criterion was releasing…
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127 Hours [2010] ★★★½
James Franco is incredible in this true story of a mountain climber who finds himself fighting for his life when a fallen rock crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next 6 days, he examines his life by recalling friends, lovers, family and the two hikers he met…
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Videodrome [1983]
A landmark film of the commercial/independent movement of the 1980’s, David Cronenberg’s story of violence and television still rings true today. Max Renn (James Woods) is a cable station operator who begins to see his life spin out of control when his abdomen suddenly grows a vagina-like opening into which, among other objects, audiocassettes can…
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Vertigo [1958] ★★★★
One of the most interesting things about this movie is the fact that it was a flop at the time of its release. Hitchcock instantly blamed James Stewart, saying he was “too old to attract audiences anymore”. The two never worked together again, eventhough Stewart was the original choice for the role of Roger Thornhill in…
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Howl’s Moving Castle [2004] ★★★★
One of the best animated movies ever made from master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (“Spirited Away”, “Ponyo”) about a teenage girl who finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is turned into a 90 year old woman by an evil witch. Embarking on a journey to lift the curse, she finds refuge in a magical castle, where…
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The Best Movies of the Year [2010]
Because people love lists, I’ve managed to put together a list of the 10 best movies I’ve seen this year (taking in consideration that I have yet to see “True Grit”, “Black Swan” and other golden globe nominees). Happy new year everyone! 10-The Kids Are All Right This small independent movie turned out to be one of the best…
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12 Angry Men [1957] ★★★★
Completely absorbing movie starring Henry Fonda as a juror who is convinced that a boy who is accused of murdering his father is completely innocent. But how will he convince the rest of the jury, when they have no doubt in mind that the defendant is guilty of all charges? Rarely a movie manages to keep you…
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It’s A Wonderful Life [1946] ★★★★
Frank Capra’s classic movie has won the hearts of millions of viewers around the world. It’s certainly an ageless film that seems to get better and better with each passing year. James Stewart is perfectly cast as man who has worked all his life to make good in a small town. Thinking he has failed, the frustrated…
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Shadow Of The Vampire [2000]
Amusing and creepy fiction about the making of F.W Murnau’s classic movie “Nosferatu”. John Malkovich is terrific as the German filmmaker who has to deal with a very difficult lead actor (Willem Dafoe in a chilling performance) who seems to be taking his role much too seriously. The local villagers become anxious about the actor,…
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V For Vendetta [2006]
I’m not a fan of “The Matrix” trilogy or most of the Washowski brothers movies. But they really outdid themselves in “V For Vendetta”. In fact, I don’t think they’ll ever make a movie as fresh and beautiful as this one. Hugo Weaving (who else?) is terrific as the masked vigilante known as “V”, who promises…
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The Hurricane [1999]
Exceptional movie follows the story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter (Denzel Washington in one of the best performances of his career), a proud, talented prizefighter unjustly convicted of a brutal crime he obviously didn’t commit. Locked away for almost 20 years, his once forgotten case surprisingly reemerges when a small group of supporters decide to help…
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The Departed [2006] ★★★★
Martin Scorsesse has been terrific over the years. With movies like “Raging Bull”, “Goodfellas”, “Gangs Of New York”, and even the underrated “King Of Comedy” on his résumé, the man can be proud. “The Departed” won him his first oscar as a director, and let me just say: it was about time. With a cast that includes…
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The Phantom Of The Opera [1925]
Fascinating silent film starring Lon Chaney in the title role as the tragic disfigured Erik who haunts the corridors and the cellars of the Paris opera house. He secretly befriends and coaches a beautiful young woman named Christine, and drives the leading lady in the play to flee her role, allowing his new protege to…
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