Well, no sooner had I posted my first top ten than I came up with more movies that I love.
I did say it would happen.
So, in no particular order, here are ten more:
In the Heat of the Night – An ”issue’ movie that is damned entertaining and still effective almost 50 years later. Sidney Poitier (They call me MISTER Tibbs) and Rod Steiger (I’ve got the motive that is money and the body that is DEAD) go head-to-head but end up respecting each other in a cracker of a murder story.
Charade – The romantic thriller that shows them all how it’s done. So what if Cary Grant’s too old for Audrey Hepburn. A witty script, some fine support from George Kennedy, James Coburn and Walter Matthau, a killer score from Henry Mancini make this a genuine a classic.
On the Waterfront – OK, so Elia Kazan didn’t cover himself with glory during the McCarthy hearings but the experience MAY have brought us this classic gangster story. Marlon Brando was perfect as the slightly punchy dock worker (I coulda been a contender), Rod Steiger nicely sweaty as his mobbed-up brother, Lee J. Cobb all bombast as the crime kingpin. Throw in some great black and white photography, an atmospheric score from Leonard Bernstein and Karl Malden as a plucky priest and you’ve got a film that really is a contender.
Ace in the Hole – Kirk Douglas was hugely under-rated in my opinion and this was one of his best performances. A mite too dark and cynical for some, but Billy Wilder’s picture of media manipulation of the news is still relevant today. Maybe even more so.
All the President’s Men – Speaking of newspaper stories, here’s the big daddy. How screenwriter William Goldman pulled a narrative out of this sprawling true life tale is incredible, especially if you’ve read about the shenanigans off screen in his book ‘Adventures in the Screen Trade.’ It’s an effective, inspiring tale, though, well directed, well acted. And it’s got Jason Robards Jnr.
The Innocents – Repressed sexuality has never been scarier. This version of ‘Turn of the Screw’ has never been bettered. Deborah Kerr was perfect for the central role, the black and white photography makes it even more terrifying and Peter Wyngarde – yes, Jason King as Quint, the gardener (maybe his ghost) – makes a truly heartstopping appearance looking through a window.
Fiddler on the Roof – Okay, I admit, it I do like me a musical. Why have I picked this one in particular? For me, it’s the best. I’m a huge fan of director Norman Jewison (who made ‘In the Heat of the Night’), I like the songs, I like the story and I’ve even seen this twice on the stage.
A New York Winter’s Tale – Critics say this is a mess but I don’t think so. Fantasy, romance and a need for the world to make sense lie at the heart of this film. Colin Farrell does well, Russell Crowe menaces, there’s a flying horse, a sense of wonder and some beautiful music from Hans Zimmer and Harry Gregson Williams.
Tombstone – This came out at around the same time as Kevin Costner’s more sombre ‘Wyatt Earp’, which I also like, but this wins because of its Hollywood pzazz. We’ve got thunderstorms and red scarves flying the wind. We’ve got Val Kilmer offering to be twitchy Michael Biehn’s huckleberry. And we’ve got Kurt Russell – said to have directed most of the film, although not sure if that’s true – telling them he’s coming and hell’s coming with him. Cue a thunderous score from Bruce Broughton.
The Untouchables – I’m not a huge fan of Brian de Palma but this, for me, is his best. Kevin Costner was perfect to play honest, upright Elliot Ness and Robert de Niro replaced Bob Hoskins as Al Capone – not because Hoksins wasnl’t right but just because they’d wanted de Niro originally but he wasn’t available. An Oscar wining turn from Sean Connery, as an Irishman with a Scottish accent, adds to the class.
