Well, this is my first blog. I got inspired by the 99x countdown of the essential CDs. Here are my 13 essential DVDs. (In no particuliar order!) Tell me what ya think!
Seven--Both a rareity and an anomaly in modern filmmaking. A tragedy with the villain actually dying at the end. Violent, dark, and completely unnerving.
Traffic--An apolitical movie thats actually unafraid to take a stand. Elegently weaving three loosely connected stories, each shot in a different lighting, this film is perfection for writing and directing.
L.A. Confidential--Curtis Hanson crafted a film-adaptation of a novel many cited to be unfilmable. A simple..story that..centered around three cops and a mass murder evolved into a rich character study and political intrigue that cemented Kevin Spacey as a star and ushered in the welcoming of Russell Crowe.
Reservoir Dogs--Shot almost entirely in a warehouse, this film is an education on how to write dialogue. A bloody gangster tale that shows very little violence, yet still makes the audience suffer. By far Tarantino's finest work.
Black Hawk Down--A gut-wrenching look at a military mission gone wrong. This film could have easily have pointed fingers and placed blame, yet it focuses on the men involved and graphically shows what they endured.
The Godfather I & II--A classic. Period. Two of the most quotable movies of all time. One is known for launching the careers of Duvall, Pacino, and Caan, and resurrecting the career of Brando. Two takes a slower, darker approach that relies on deep internal conflict. Remembered for Michael and Fredo's frayed relationship and De Niro's unmistakenable turn as Vito.
Goodfellas--A wonderful compliment to the Godfather trilogy that, instead of focusing on the hierarchy and the patriarch of a mafia family, focuses on the mafia's footsoldiers and low-level grunts. Known for Joe Pesci's firey performance, and Scorsese's oscar upset.
Clerks--"37!" Nuff said.
The Empire Strikes Back--One word. Yoda. George Lucas took a page from Coppola and built upon his masterpiece with a darker film with a huge.cliffhanger ending; setting the bar so high that even himself couldn't surpass.
Batman Begins--What sets this movie apart from other comic book films is that its a gripping story that just happens to include superheros as characters.
Unforgiven--The anti-western. Star and director Clint Eastwood, the last you would expect to make this movie, crafts a film where even the protagonists have flaws.
Terminator 2--Arguablely the greatest sequel ever made, mainly because it builds upon the first and surpasses it. A revolutionizing film in terms of effects, that also tells a gripping, emotional story.
A Few Good Men--If you can get past the cheesey made-for-TV music, you get a rich, deeply layered ethical tale. Featuring an all-star cast, some at the beginning of their careers, this is a great courtroom movie before the "courtroom movie" became a cliche.
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