Once Upon A Time In The West

Once Upon A Time In The West (Sergio Leone, 1968)

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Rating: Q=8, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Western, Complex Relationships, Drama

Spaghetti westerns have always felt so slow, to me, but if you can get passed that, they are absolutely marvelous gems. This one is classic--quiet and eerie with artistic long takes and strange angles, beautiful score, and interesting faces to watch. Charles Bronson is fantastic. When you watch you really feel like you are in the movie, sweating and listening carefully to every creak of a windmill or shuffle of a foot. This is astonishing film making.

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962)

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Rating: Q=6, P=7 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Western, Politics, Drama,

"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Oh, what truth in this statement. This is as "western" as you can get--desert, gunslingers, romance, pride, masculinity. What does it mean to be a man? A good man? An honest man? Reputation is everything, it seems...perhaps this is still true...A gorgeous John Ford film told in a flashback narrative. Brilliant performances by all actors, especially Lee Marvin.

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Imitation of Life

Imitation of Life (John M. Stahl, 1934)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Race, Drama, Complex Relationships

A beautifully stirring and important film about race that is still as compelling and moving as it was back in 1934. I urge you to watch this--the acting, dialogue, and striking images force every viewer to confront the truths about race in this country.

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The Hundred-Foot Journey

The Hundred-Foot Journey (Lasse Hallstrom, 2014)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Food, Family, Culture, Globalization, Fairy Tale

Another gem from Lasse Hallstrom--much in the same vein as Chocolat, in my opinion. A beautiful, light-hearted film about the love of food and cooking, the love of family, and the often surprising rewards that come from curiosity, determination, and sharing. I needed to eat Indian food after watching this film and really wanted to stroll through the markets of a small French village, too. Thoroughly enjoyable story.

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Breakfast on Pluto

Breakfast on Pluto (Neil Jordan, 2005)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Gender/Sexuality, Whimsical, Philosophical, Identity, Ireland, Political

I knew that Cillian Murphy went above and beyond in this performance, but wow. A serious film that doesn't feel serious at all, appropriately matching the story's main character. Identity is a very important concept that has only become more topical in the ten years since this film was released. The feeling of belonging and feeling that you are valued may be the essential thing for survival in this world.

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