What makes a movie classic? There are different definitions of a classic movie. You can have the classics from the 1930s and 1940s that paved the way for future filmmakers. There are cult classics that have aged well despite receiving mixed reactions upon their release. You can have modern classics from the last 30 years that continue to age gracefully.
There are countless classic movies that I have yet to see, i.e. Gone with the wind. I try to cross some of the classics off my list. For many of these movies, I regret after watching them because I wish I had seen them sooner. Two of these movies on the list I had recently seen this year and I can’t wait to revisit them in the future.
The Godfather Part II
With one of the performances that define a generation.
One of the positive aspects of being forced to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic was the ability to cross some of the classics off my list. I had seen the godfather before, but I had never sat down to watch The Godfather Part II from start to finish. I’m ashamed for taking so much time to stream what I think is the best film in Francis Ford Coppola’s trilogy.
He The sequel follows two timelines. The first shows a young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro), a Sicilian immigrant who escapes death in Italy and becomes a prolific crime boss in New York City. The Other Timeline is set in 1958 and follows Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the new Don of the Corleone family who must detect a traitor in the inner circle. Acting is subjective, but Pacino’s portrayal of the tragic antihero-turned-villain should be on any list of the top 10 film performances ever.
Los Angeles Confidential
Murder and corruption within the LAPD
1997 was the year of Titanicthat dominated the awards season and culminated with a record 11 oscar awards. One of the four films that lost Best Picture to Titanic was Los Angeles ConfidentialCurtis Hanson’s neo-black crime drama set in the 1950s. It’s one of those movies I knew I’d like but kept putting it off. I finally sat down to stream it earlier this year and, unsurprisingly, I loved it.
Edmund Exley (Guy Pearce) is a top rookie sergeant for the Los Angeles Police Department. Detective Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) is more interested in raising his profile in Hollywood than doing actual police work. Bud White (Russell Crowe) is a no-nonsense officer who repeatedly takes matters into his own hands. These three police officers become embroiled in a murder investigation that exposes police corruption. It’s a stylish noir where the setting, Los Angeles, becomes the film’s biggest asset.
Los Angeles Confidential
- Release date
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September 19, 1997
- Execution time
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138 minutes
- Director
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Curtis Hanson
working girl
Mike Nichols directs one of the best romantic comedies of the 80s
If you ask people to name the movie that best represents the romantic comedy genre, When Harry met Sally… is probably the most popular answer. I can’t argue with that answer. However, I think Working Girl, which came out a year earlier When Harry met Sally… belongs to the conversation.
Ambitious Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) works as a secretary at a company in New York City. Tess dreams of becoming a top executive, but gender stereotypes hold her back. Tess gets a new job as an assistant to associate partner Katharine Parker (Sigourney Weaver). When Tess believes Katharine stole her idea, she decides to take matters into her own hands by posing as her boss when the latter’s leg injury requires hospitalization. Tess runs into trouble when the man (Harrison Ford) she’s trying to make a deal with becomes the object of her affections. working girl is the sum of its parts: a great cast, an attractive premise and a hopeful ending.
Live and die in Los Angeles
A dark and violent crime thriller from the 80s.
When I first saw Live and die in Los Angeles Earlier this year, the word that came to mind was sleazy. This is a seedy, sweaty movie with complex characters doing questionable, sometimes immoral things. It’s certainly in the running for my favorite non-Exorcist William Friedkin film.
Days before his retirement, Secret Service agent Jimmy Hart (Michael Greene) is murdered by master forger Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe). His partner, Richard Chance (William Petersen), is hell-bent on revenge and plans to take Masters down. With a new partner (John Vukovich) at his side, Chance delves into the Los Angeles crime scene in hopes of catching Masters. I will never understand how Friedkin filmed this car chase, one of cinema’s greatest achievements. Live and die in Los Angeles It’s a well-made neo-noir. Wang Chung shouted.
man hunter
Michael Mann’s vision of Hannibal
Never judge the quality of a movie by its box office. man hunter It earned less than $9 million on a $15 million budget. By all indications, it was a box office failure. However, it is one of Michael Mann’s best works. The silence of the lambs is one of my four favorite movies on Letterboxd. Until a few years ago, I had no idea that Mann first brought Hannibal Lecter to the screen in man hunter.
Former FBI profiler Will Graham (William Petersen) returns to the fold thanks to Jack Crawford (Dennis Farina) to find a serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy (Tom Noonan). To catch a killer, Will seeks the help of Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox), the same man who previously attacked Will and sent him into early retirement. after looking Live and die in Los Angeles and man hunterHow was William Petersen not the biggest movie star? He’s a fantastic protagonist, especially in crime dramas. And with all due respect red dragon, man hunter It is the superior film.
More movies to watch this month
You’ll probably never run out of options on streaming services. Go to Hulu if you’re interested in Oscar-winning movies as Avatar, secret mountainand sentimental value. If you like a new movie to stream this weekendlook How to make a kill on HBO Max or Voicemails for Isabelle on Netflix.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous currents
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two or four
