…. that is, Sal’s GREAT cinematic question to all of us in the comments section of my last post.
I’d put it here, but I’d kind of like to see the answers all in the same place.
Go answer it! (And I’m already revising MY list in my head.)
That Sal’s quite a gal. Thanks, Sal!
Superb question. Sadly, most of mine are already taken. (The “Forest Gump” addition was particularly brilliant.) So for the sake of freshness I’ll add some new ones to the list:
1. “The Wizard of Oz” (A Mid-Western, Technicolor, all-American movie landmark)
2. & 3. “The Godfather”, Parts I and II (great contrasts between “the old country” and “the new”.)
4. “Avalon” (America from a Jewish immigrant point of view)
5. “Singin’ In The Rain” (American cinema cornered the market on the musical. “SitR” is the pinnacle of the genre.)
6. “Birth of a Nation” (Landmark in film, great discussion starter on how far we’ve come)
7. “Tombstone” (Clint Eastwood at his best.)
8. “Far and Away” (What’s more American than charging down the frontier with a flag to stake your claim of the open range? I ask ya’!)
9. “25th Hour” (Controversial, but again, a good conversation starter about 9/11 and the metaphorical melting pot that is America.)
10. “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (Just ’cause I love it. And it breathes life into the American dream, for women in particular.)
Dashed off somewhat quickly. Certainly not the be-all, end-all (or an even comprehensive list). As always, I could add several others…
WG, Do you mean “Unforgiven” where you have “Tombstone”?
Interestingly, I almost put “Tombstone” on my list as well, but decided the more historical “Wyatt Earp” was the better pick than its lighter cousin.
“Unforgiven” is also a super pick. One of my all-time favories of any genre.
OH, NO! Yes I did, Noonz. Sorry. Thanks for the correction!
“Tombstone” was way too slick and pretty for me. It didn’t “look” like a Western should, you know? “Wyatt Earp” IS the better choice on that score.
Agreed on Tombstone. I love it for what it is, but I really got pulled into “Wyatt Earp”. It’s big-time filmmaking.
Was Tombstone the one with Val Kilmer? I thought that was, by far, the best performance he has ever given.
Tombstone, yes, Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. I thought he was terrific and I don’t always.
I find myself distracted by his teeth.
Don’t ask why.
What about Val Kilmer in “Top Secret?” Now that was a movie.
Cullen — Must’ve missed that one. What’s it about?
I was kind of kidding. It’s a Zucker brother’s movie (the guys who did the Airplane movies). It’s a zany comedy.
Yeah, I figgered you were kidding. I was still just kind of curious …