Last night I watched Contact - which is up there with one of my favorite movies. I own it, and I've seen it probably 10 times. Not sure what it is that I find so deeply satisfying and exciting about it - and this is a consistent response. The 10th time seeing it is as vivid as the 2nd time (not as vivid as the 1st time - you can't recreate THAT). There are very few movies which stand up to such repetition.
Here are a few with some windbag comments from yours truly. What are yours?
Apollo 13, for whatever reason, is another one for me. Every time I see it I have the same intense response. Repetition doesn't seem to dilute the intensity. The same powerful moments still resonate with the 6th or 7th time.
Another thing I watch repeatedly which never dulls is the HBO documentary called "Do You Believe in Miracles" - about the 1980 Olympic team. For those of you new to me, and who only know me as some kind of Bogart or Rebecca West fanatic, you missed THAT obsession. (Example of the mania here, here, and here.) Anyway - the HBO documentary is pretty much always at the forefront of my tapes, ready access. I don't know what it is exactly that gets me about it, and we're talking every single time - but I am grateful for it, and I don't question it.
The Big Sleep is a neverending source of fascination. I've seen it ... 6 times now? Once I saw it twice in a 2 day period. The same moments thrilled, surprised, etc. I leaned forward at the same moments, I enjoyed the same moments (I love how Bogart seems to have chosen, for Philip Marlowe, that when he is deep in thought, he tugs gently on his ear lobe. That gesture doesn't show up in any of his other movies - at least not with as much regularity as he shows in The Big Sleep. I love how he does it.)
Please SCORN ME NOT but the film Nixon also never .... I'm trying to find the right word. It remains just as juicy now as when I first saw it. I don't care about Oliver Stone's politics - I mean, I care - but not when it comes to that movie. I am talking about the juiciness of the acting in that film which really is top-notch, and no matter how many times I see it, I never get tired of watching. JT Walsh and James Wood - YUM. Madeline Kahn in her brief cameo - the last role she did. The guy from "Frasier" who I normally don't care for - but I LOVE him as Dean. I love Ed Harris, I love to watch Anthony Hopkins - but most of all, for some reason, I am MOST fascinated by the duo performances of JT Walsh and James Wood as Haldeman and Ehrlichman. It tastes GOOD. Perpetually.
Here's an embarrassing one. Bring It On. I will see that movie 5,000 times in my lifetime, I can feel it.
Same with Sense and Sensibility. I own it, I watch it probably once a month - the same moments get me, even though I am now totally familiar with them. Alan Rickman (god!!) leaning outside the sick room, saying to Emma Thompson, "Give me something to do ... or I shall go mad." And Emma's breakdown at the end. I'm such a sap. But when her veneer cracks, I crack. Regardless if it's the 20th time I've seen it.
Casablanca. Each time I see it it's like it's the first time.
Oh, and one more: Liar Liar. That movie absolutely KILLS me each and every time I saw it.
So tell me. What movies do you NEVER get tired of?
I bawl like a big fat baby at the ending of The Shawshank Redemption. Every time.
Posted by: Emily at June 24, 2004 2:31 PMOh yes! That ending is a KILLER.
Posted by: red at June 24, 2004 2:33 PMOne of the few movies - at least current movies - where a voice-over really WORKS. Morgan Freeman's voice-over is just fantastic.
"I guess I just miss my friend..."
so GOOD!!
Posted by: red at June 24, 2004 2:34 PMHere's one maybe no one will come up with: Weeds with Nick Nolte. When the black muslim inmate sings Impossible Dream to audition for the prison play I get chills. And the ending is as scary as it gets. For me.
Posted by: michael at June 24, 2004 2:46 PMI have never seen Weeds, despite my respect for Nick Nolte's acting. To quote Patrick from yesterday: Am I a heathen??
Posted by: red at June 24, 2004 2:48 PMBraveheart always gets me, especially when that entirely fictional ending: "You have bled with Wallace...now bleed with me!". I just love it. BTW, today is the anniversary of Bannockburn.
I must have watched Armageddon a hundred times when I managed the Electronics department at Bradlees. I love when Bruce Willis sacrifices himself to save all of humanity, even in ridiculous films, he's always a believable hero. He's John Wayne with more acting talent.
The Lord of the Rings movies too, especially Fellowship.
Oh yeah...and Red Dawn. "Because...we live here!"
Posted by: Bill McCabe at June 24, 2004 2:53 PMOf course - Red Dawn!!
Posted by: red at June 24, 2004 2:56 PMNot a heathen, just missing something good. As a student of theater (and everything else, apparantly)you'll love it. It's about a prisoner who reads "thick" books to pass the time. Then he writes a crude, derivitive play, then a good hearted bleeding heart beautiful critic sees it and gets him sprung, makes love to him and they take it on the road (the play, not the lovemaking ... well, that too), eventually ending up in New York ... Oh hell, just find the thing and watch it. You'll love it.
Posted by: michael at June 24, 2004 3:00 PM"North by Northwest" - For so many things, but in particular for Cary Grant's performance. His interplay with James Mason and Martin Landau; his terrific dialogue with Eva Marie Saint, but especially for the way he figures a way out of his predicament during the art auction scene.
"L.A. Confidential" - Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, James Cromwell - performances too good to be true.
"The Empire Strikes Back" - I've worn out a tape of this watching and re-watching the "The force is with you, young Skywalker - but you are not a Jedi yet..." scene.
Posted by: Jeff at June 24, 2004 3:01 PMAnything by John Hughes, but especially Sixteen Candles.
The first two Star Wars movies.
The Wild Bunch.
The Priness Bride.
Posted by: Dan at June 24, 2004 3:04 PMWitness. I paid to see it in the cinema 15 times when it came out in 1984. Of course, movies were cheaper back then.
Terminator (the original).
Aliens (the second one).
My husband and I “do lines”. “Book. How is your hole?”
“Is the English dead? He looks dead.”
“How do I look? Like shit boss. Yo Mamma.”
“Man, what are we supposed to use? Harsh language?”
Julia:
My friend Jackie and I know Witness by heart, too!
"You want to hold my kitten??"
I particularly love when Harrison Ford wakes up from his fever and sees the group of Amish elders peering down at him. It's hilarious.
Posted by: red at June 24, 2004 3:09 PMPhilistine that I am, my most-watched list consists almost entirely of "Let's detatch ourselves from reality for a bit, 'kay?" films. Leading the pack is The Fifth Element, which I will slip in whenever I need to chase the blues away. The Mummy is probably my second choice, but only because I have a huge man-crush on Brendan Fraser.
Oh crap...did I type that out loud?
In my more "serious" moods, Casablanca takes the top spot. I probably watch it once a month. #2 would be Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I have been known to begin watching both again just as soon as the credits roll.
Guffawed when I read about the man-crush. Thank you for admitting that on my blog. I feel honored.
Posted by: red at June 24, 2004 3:13 PMOh, and detaching oneself from reality is highly understandable. I believe that that is where the "Bring It On" obsession on my end comes from. I pop that one in, and all my troubles melt away.
Posted by: red at June 24, 2004 3:14 PMDan:
My sister used to work as a teacher out on Block Island. Once, I took the ferry out there with my nephew Cashel to visit. He was maybe 4 years old. Very little. It was freezing. I don't know if you've been to Block Island - but as the ferry approaches, you can see the huge bluffs facing you.
Cashel, all bundled up - (you know how little kids get so bundled up that they can no longer move their arms?) - saw the bluffs - his first time seeing them - and suddenly shrieked:
"THE CLIFFS OF INSANITY!"
He even did Wallace Shawn's lisp.
Posted by: red at June 24, 2004 3:17 PMAlso, Mr. Z, just want to take a moment to appreciate the comedic possibilities in the following phrase:
"did I type that out loud?"
Posted by: red at June 24, 2004 3:18 PMBook is working on his sister’s car in the barn. Eli comes in and says, “If you are well enough to do that, you could do work for me?” Book says, “Sure. What?” “Milking maybe.” “Milking?” “Milking. You know – cows.” “Yeah. I seen pictures”
Then in Aliens, Ripley comes in to the loading dock and says, “I feel like a fifth wheel around here. Is there anything I can do?” Sergeant, “I don’t know. Is there anything you can do?”
Love the movies.
Posted by: Julia at June 24, 2004 3:19 PMAh, Princess Bride is fun for all ages! Your nephew sounds monstrously cute - make sure he uses his powers for good!
And I gotta add props for Aliens as well. And John Woo's The Killer - love love love that movie.
Posted by: Dan at June 24, 2004 3:26 PMthe original bedazzled
drumline
I totally want to hear it, Scott.
Posted by: Emily at June 24, 2004 5:32 PMI agree with Scott that Shawshank's ending scene feels tacked on after-the-fact, but for me it just enhances the perfection (if that's possible).
It may be that the true test of a "never get tired of" movie is that you watch it every time you see it on cable, even though you own it on VHS AND DVD.
Posted by: Jeff at June 24, 2004 6:43 PMA League of Their Own I saw it in the theater with my grandmother, a few months after my grandfather passed away, he was a WWII vet. At the end when "old Dottie" mentions her husband passed away the previous winter, my grandmother got choked up, I got choked up, and to this day I can't watch that and not get choked up. I also adore the movie. I could easily watch it every day for a month, and never tire of it.
Some others:
Big
Shawshank Redemption
Big Fish (just rented this one a couple weeks ago, and I'm itching to see it again..and again...and again...I absolutely LOVED it)
The Princess Bride
Some Kind of Wonderful, I don't know why I love this movie so much, (and I don't even own it. geez).
Any of the Monty Python movies
St. Elmo's Fire
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 25, 2004 9:00 AMLaura: wasn't Big Fish just wonderful? I loved it too.
Posted by: red at June 25, 2004 9:32 AMSheila, it was absolutely amazing. I love Tim Burton movies, but usually they're a bit dark, but this had such a sweet feeling to it, I found it mesmerizing. I must buy it.
Posted by: Laura at June 25, 2004 9:56 AMI have a short-list of movies that I will watch if they come on tv, even if I've seen them many many times before:
The Princess Bride
Trading Places (I don't know why; I just love the caper bit where they all dress up to double-cross the crooked stock guys)
A Christmas Story
The Third Man (which is never on any more)
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Cats Don't Dance (yes, it's a cartoon, but I just love it)
Also, pretty much anything with Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart in it...
Yeah, I know, it's a totally split-personality list, but that's how I am about movies and stuff.
Posted by: ricki at June 25, 2004 11:12 AMConan the Barbarian and Zulu.
Posted by: Kerry at June 25, 2004 12:26 PMMr. Holland's Opus - That symphony...that symphony...
Back to the Future - there's always something interesting to see in every frame, and the optimism is so refreshing, even 20 years later.
Independence Day - well, it used to be before 9/11, which Red and I have discussed in a previous post.
Sixth Sense - Once this movie ages a bit and is shown on regular rotation I can tell it will be one of those.
Posted by: Barry at June 25, 2004 1:31 PMNoises Off
Grease
Selena
A Chorus Line
Gone With the Wind
Stage Door