Well…I have been writing for this site for the past six months…and I had been maintaining my two movie review policy per column…but I know the site is undergoing some major changes and I promised I would finish my list…so the next/last two columns will be the mother of all reviews: the mega-columns…

I’ve been posting a couple of movie “mini-reviews” at a time, doing so weekly at the end of 2004 until the folks here at moodspins asked me to save my final two columns for Oscar weekend. And here we are! Moodspins is re-launching without its own “movie” section starting Monday, February 28, and I’m happy to be bringing you our final two movie columns on such an exciting weekend for movie fans everywhere.

Each of the next two columns will feature 25 films from my 100 Favorites list, instead of the usual two to four, so let’s get right into it!

51. Airplane! – I’m not sure why it took me so long to put this on my list. My closest friends know that I am obsessed with this movie. This movie patented the crazy comedy that made a whole generation laugh. Ted Stryker and his drinking problem, a cabin on instruments, The inflatable automatic pilot, jive, “I picked a hell of a week to quit_______________, Rapunzel, Rapunzel and many other colorful moments make this my pick for the greatest comedy ever made!

52. The Naked Gun – A movie that was made in the same spirit as Airplane!. Leslie Nielsen plays our favorite police Lieutenant who gets into incredibly goofy predicaments. Nordberg (O.J. Simpson) is one of his crazy sidekicks. Who could forget the famed cry of Enrico Palazzo Saved The Queen! Police Squad, the short-lived TV show that gave birth to these ideas and characters, is worth a viewing as well!

53. The Sweet Hereafter – I kept seeing coming attractions which all said that this movie was on 100 top ten lists in the year it was released. It seemed intriguing. Ian Holm and his personal life/problems intersect with an investigation about a school bus accident. This movie is dark, quiet and powerful beyond belief. Definitely worth seeing.

54. Forrest Gump – Philadelphia turned Tom Hanks into a serious actor and this movie cemented his reputation in this genre. A movie about a dim-witted boy from Middle America, who conquered the world, fell in love and dealt with the simple everyday things that life brings. Putting this character into historical context made this film so charming and successful. Vietnam, AIDS, disco and everything else in the mix is covered in a clever and topical manner throughout this film. Robin Wright-Penn and Tom Hanks are both irresistible in their roles.

55. Rebecca – This was the first film that Alfred Hitchcock made in America. It was also the first film that Hitchcock made for David O. Selznick. This tale of lies, murder, relationships, sickness, health and mental anguish is based on the classic Daphne Du Maurier novel of the same name. Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine light up the deliver tremendous performances and light up the screen. I can’t think of many other Hitchcock classics that hold you in suspense from start to end. I don’t know how this one was left off of the AFI top 100 list!

56. It Happened One Night – The classic Clark Gable/Claudette Colbert romantic comedy. Runaway rich girl encounters a man whom she can’t stand. Throughout the film this dislike turns into love and we find ourselves rooting for both of our leads to end up together. Capra, the director, made these sappy 1930’s/1940’s romances better than anybody else. The story goes that Colbert had no desire to do the film and it was really after some coaxing that she agreed to take part….what a loss it would have been if she had declined!

57. Leaving Las Vegas – An depressive alcoholic quits his job, takes his savings, and travels to Las Vegas, where he plans to drink himself to death. This man meets a prostitute in Las Vegas and these two lost souls form a bond of sorts. That was probably the worst two line description of an amazing movie….but it gives the roughest of outlines. Nicholas Cage and Elizabeth Shue entered the realm of serious dramatic acting with this film. This movie is dark and depressing from the opening scene until the credits, but it still has a captivating quality that just can’t be explained by words….and a great soundtrack as well!

58. The Game – Michael Douglas plays a rich and powerful man that has everything he could want. His brother, as played by Sean Penn, gets him a gift that turns into more than he bargained for. Michael Douglas ends up running for his life and we have no clue what’s going. This is the most suspenseful film I have scene in the last ten years….hands down. Everybody acts their part out to perfection and you stay riveted to the screen for the entire film….I recommend this one to everybody….regardless of genre preference.

59. Basic Instinct – Sharon Stone, Michael Douglas and Jeanne Tripplehorn are all amazing! While the film had its initial success because of severe ratings drama, the movie stands the test of time because of a great plot and terrific acting….chilling film!

60. The Guns of Navaronne – WWII era film that takes Anthony Quinn, Gregory Peck and many others into a covert mission to disable Nazi weaponry that’s holding an island full of people captive. Fantastic action, great plot and top notch acting.

61. Shadow of a Doubt – We come to our final film for the day…and Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite film of his own. Teresa Wright plays a young girl who loves her Uncle. Her Uncle, as played by Joseph Cotten, comes to town and Wright starts to discover some strange things about her uncle. Could he be a wanted criminal or is it all in her mind. The audience is, at first, torn on this same topic, but little by little we start to side with Wright. We begin to see how diabolical Cotten can be…and we wonder what he’ll get away with…..rent the film to find out!

62. Top Gun – I was very late in my Top Gun experience. I first saw this movie last year (I know…how had I never seen it!). Maverick and the boys show how to fly and love….and who doesn’t love a movie with Tom Skeritt….I mean….he’s Tom Skeritt!!

63. Jerry Maguire – You had me at hello! A Mission Statement! Jay Mohr as a really nasty guy! Renee…before she was really annoying! This movie has it all. Smart and funny romantic comedy that ties into sports. Cuba Gooding Jr. is phenomal and made his name on this movie. Kelly Preston is devilish….and who doesn’t love the little boy! Go see it.

64. Fast Times At Ridgemont High – Was sean Penn ever light-hearted in a movie role? It’s very easy to forget the Stoner Sean Penn of Fast Times and only remember him as the somber Mystic River Man. This movie made everybody in my generation fall in love with Phoebe Cates. I never tire of this film!

65. A Few Good Men – You can’t handle the truth! Tom Cruise and co. are out to prove wrong doing on the part of Jack Nicholson. Will they prove that he ordered the code red? Will Tom Cruise and Demi Moore end up in a romantic entanglement….will we ever get tired of this movie….probably not!

66. Blade Runner – Based on a story by Philip K. Dick…androids and the future….Harrision Ford as the star. Ridley Scott as the director. Glimpses into a gritty and dark future. A film worth your time!

67. Tombstone – This would definetely make my top 20 films. Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday is the triumph of his career. Kurt Russell, Bill Paxton, Dana Delaney, Powers Boothe and many more bring life to the story of Wyatt Earp and his battle with the Clanton’s (and all the cowboy’s for that matter). This movie is nothing short of brilliant (and I don’t use that word lightly)! My highest reccomendation goes to this movie!

68. Any Given Sunday – I’m not a sports fan. I couldn’t care less about football…..but I love this film. Oliver Stone’s portrayal of an aging coach, middle-of-the-road team and all that comes with it. This movie has more stars than you can count (Pacino, Heston, Diaz, Foxx, LL Cool J, L.T., Modine, etc., etc). Great camera work on the field!

69. Memento – Many people say that Hollywood has run out of original ideas. It’s very easy to agree with this statement…since every other movie seems to be a re-make….but then a movei like Memento pops up and makes you smile. This is a story that’s told backwards….in small chunks….and is filmed so well…that it’s amazing it didn’t become more popular….but I guess good art is always on the fringe!

70. To Kill A Mockingbird – Perhaps the only film to be as good (or better) than the novel. Gregory Peck acts to perfection….and Robert Duvall is pretty spooky in his cameo as Boo Radley. This story of racial injustice and tolerance is a true classic.

71. Boys Don’t Cry – I can’t remember another film that shocked me to the core as much as this movie. H. Swank was well-deserving in her Oscar win (even if she had been “The Next Karate Kid” a few years before)…tough to be in the mood to watch this film…since it’s so bleak….but it’s still worth the time.

72. Donnie Brasco – I love Mafia films…..who doesn’t?!! This story of a man on the inside is amongst the classic Al Pacino/Mafia films. Johnny Depp performs incredibly (when doesn’t he?) and you are really waiting to see what happens!

73. The Apartment – Classic romantic comedy with Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine. Man loans out apartment for his boss to use….man falls in love with girl…..girl is confused….the end? OK…it’s hard to explain in a sentence…but well worth the time!

74. The Red Violin – This film deserves to be seen by a much larger audience. The plot surrounds a legendary violin known as the Red Violin. The movie takes us through its origin, shows how it changed hands over hundreds of years (and traveled throughout the world) and brings us to the present day auction that surrounds the violin. The Corigliano soundtrack, which features Joshua Bell, is some of the best string music I have heard in the last decade. Go see it!

75. Yankee Doodle Dandy – Jimmy Cagney as George M. Cohan. We get to see Cohan, the actor/dancer/ writer, through Cagney’s brilliant performance. We learn the origins of “Mary”, “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and many other classic songs.

Stay tuned to moodspins this weekend for the final part of this list!

Last 5 posts by

• Dan's Favorite Films -- Oscar Weekend Finale! - February 26th, 2005
• Dan's Favorite Films: #47-50 - December 2nd, 2004
• Dan's Favorite Films: Vacation & Christmas Vacation - November 25th, 2004
• Dan's Favorite Films: The Jerk & European Vacation - November 18th, 2004
• Dan's Favorite Films: Pulp Fiction & Lost In Translation - November 11th, 2004