#96: Do The Right Thing (1989)

Spike Lee has always been somewhat of a controversial figure in America’s eyes, but you can’t deny the fact that he brings issues up that sometimes need talking about. Usually I don’t concentrate on what actors or directors do outside of their pictures, but I think that Lee is one of those celebrities, for one reason or another, who has gained such a reputation (viewed either negatively or positively) that it has affected whether or not people see his films. Which is a shame, because Do The Right Thing is one powerful, introspective and moving film filled with humor, drama and in a way, horror. I think that regardless of what your opinion is of Lee, this film is a must see that will garner a new respect for the man.

Do The Right Thing, with a recognizable late 80’s hip-hop culture at its center, follows Mookie (Lee), a pizza delivery boy for the only white occupants in the African-American Brooklyn neighborhood. As the film progresses through one extremely hot day, you meet eccentric and thoughtful characters that make up one huge family. As racial tensions began to slowly boil over, Mookie is forced to make choices that not only affect the neighborhood, but also reflect on the troubles that America’s society faces every day.

There is no question that this movie is about racial issues as the hit “Fight The Power” opens and segues throughout the film, but Lee approaches it in such a new way, that instead of being hesitant, you dive head first into the story. You are weaved into an ensemble of characters that are so funny and touching, that regardless of race, you start to feel a connection. Then with innovative use of cinematography, breaking of the fourth wall, and camera angles, Lee guides you to a face-to-face conflict that is so terrifying in its realistic nature, you don’t know what hits you. What he forces you to do, which is contrary to what others say about the director, is to think for yourself and answer the question, “Why?”

I know that this sounds heavy handed, and it is, but I don’t want to neglect the fact that this movie is a very entertaining ride with superb performances from an all-star cast. When you combine high entertainment with themes that challenge an audience, you can see why this film is now considered as one of the top 100 American films.

I give Do The Right Thing 5 out of 5 pizza slices.

Up (2009)

In my eyes, Pixar can do no wrong in both their short and full-length films. Even their film Cars, which was good but not great, is way above most animated films that come out of rivaling factories. The quality that makes them stand out amongst the rest is their great storytelling ability that spans across all ages.

Up stretches this characteristic to the utmost by having its two main characters be an old widower and a persistent young boy scout. Oppressed by loneliness and life, the elderly Carl (Ed Asner) picks up his life (literally) and flies his home with helium balloons to a place he’s always wanted to visit. What he does not plan for is an adventure that comes in the form of a stowaway and a land full of creatures… both familiar and unusual.

I don’t think Up surpasses other Pixar films, but it succeeds in being innovative, yet not too unfamiliar. It’s so rare to see elderly main characters and the director, Pete Docter, uses Carl as an emotional center that encompasses life that any adult can relate to. To say that I just teared up a couple of times would be an understatement. Just when you are hit at your emotional core, the film whisks you away to a land of humor, action and entertainment that you just can’t find in one place.

Up had just enough moments where I felt like I was watching an animated children’s move and not a film, but it has to be one of the stronger movies I’ve seen this year. One thing you can ALWAYS guarantee with a Pixar movie is a fun time, and as ticket prices continue to go up, it’s great to have that security as a moviegoer.

I give Up 4 out of 5 talking dog collars.

#97: Blade Runner (1982)

I won’t lie, I’ve never been a huge sci-fi fan. They’ve just never done much for me, so going into Blade Runner, I was really skeptical. Oh yeah, and the echos of it being terribly boring didn’t help either. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but that didn’t necessarily mean that I was thrilled by it.

It should be noted that I watched the director’s cut (Ridley Scott) of this film, that apparently abandons the Harrison Ford narration of the film, expands on the romantic scenes with Ford and Sean Young, and has an ending, which I can testify to as having “somewhat of a bleaker ending.”

With that said, Blade Runner follows Rick Deckard (Ford), a blade runner who is called out of retirement to terminate human clones, known as replicants, who wish more harm than good in the futuristic Los Angeles of 2019. Five replicants (one who is played by Daryl Hannah) have escaped from their exile island to further their short life-spans, and it is up to the rebel Deckard to stop these violent and strong clones from killing civilians to obtain their goal.

Much has been made about the visuals of this film, and they are spectacular. Even though this film was made in 1982, they still hold up, which can’t be said for many things that have come out of the 80’s. And honestly, that’s really the only reason why I can fathom that this film is on the list. The story is intriguing, but the replicants come off more boring than dangerous, and although Harrison Ford does well with the part, it’s nothing to write home about. I did get caught up in the story, but the final battle scene is just like the rest of the movie, very long and slow so you can take in the visuals. I don’t mind endings of movies that keep you guessing, but this one didn’t provide enough information throughout the film to even gather clues to what Scott was trying to say.

If you are really into cinematography and visual effects (especially before the rampant CG you see all the time these days), Blade Runner should be in your collection, but if you are neither a fan of sci-fi or slower paced movies, I would be very surprised if you would enjoy this film.

I give Blade Runner 2.5 out of 5 funky costumes.

Tin Cup (1996)

Why are Kevin Costner films so hit or miss (no pun attended)? It’s a toss up to whether he’s going to show up as a good actor or not, and thankfully he does in this one. He plays a West Texas, golf driving-range owner who always lets his male ego get in the way of actually being successful in life. As in most of these sport/romantic comedies, a girl (Rene Russo) and a long-time rival (a very solid Don Johnson) show up to spur him to win the U.S. Open to prove to everybody he has the talent to back up his mouth.

Tin Cup is just a sold film that is perfect for both guys and girls to enjoy together. The chemistry between Costner and Russo is more than enough to have the gals watching, but there is plenty of golf and buddy humor (Cheech Marin is a lot of fun) for the guys. I was into the story the whole time and enjoyed it from start to finish. Nothing really stands out that makes it bad and I wouldn’t ever put it on the “Best Comedies” list, but if somebody was having trouble figuring out what to rent for a Friday evening or Saturday afternoon, I would recommend this in a heartbeat… especially for date nights. I give Tin Cup 3 out of 5 broken clubs.

Ghost (1990)

Yes, it’s true… this was my first time to see this film. Whitney has always given me a hard time about not seeing it, and I can see why, sorta… This film is a supernatural romance that follows Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) who is trying to avenge his murder and reconnect to his lover (Demi Moore) as a ghost… hence the title. With the help of a con-artist/psychic (Whoopi Goldberg), he pushes the boundaries of his paranormal state to tend to some unfinished business.

Honestly, the first half of the movie really didn’t hold my interest at all. You have to keep in mind that the effects were a pretty big deal at the time, but still the film feels very dated. The cheesy dialogue and Swayze’s overacting did not help, but halfway through there was a switch the flipped for me. The same characteristics were there that bugged me, but I had no idea where things were headed, which kept me invested and entertained. It’s a little surprising to me that Whoppi won Best Supporting Actress because she’s really just a much-needed comic presence in a very melodramatic film, but her acting does save it. Along with Moore, they both take their roles seriously, and you particularly miss Whoppi’s character when she’s away from the screen.

If you can dive into the suspension of disbelief, you’ll love the mixture of mystery, comedy, drama and romance. There were just too many elements that drew me out, but at the end I came out smiling, which means that I give Ghost 3 out of 5 pottery wheels.

#98: Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Oscar winner:
Best Actor in a Leading Role (James Cagney), Best Music, Scoring of a Musical, Best Sound, Recording

“My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you...”

I would probably have never seen this movie if it wasn’t for that quote. I always wondered what the context was to make that quote so memorable in film history. Besides that, I’ve been hesitant to watch the film because it never really looked like a true musical (which ended up to be kinda true) and the title alone kinda turns you off because, well, you can’t help but get that annoying song stuck in your head. See, you are humming it in your head right now! You can thank me later...

This bio pic/musical is about the life of George M. Cohan (Cagney) who went from a vaudeville family lifestyle to one of the most famous composers, singers, and dancers to hit not just Broadway, but America.

And yeah...that’s about it. There’s not much to this film, but in a way, that is what makes it stand out. The movie released soon after Pearl Harbor, and boy does it make a connect to the Uncle Sam posters you’ve seen in your history books. This film more or less pukes American propaganda. I had no idea that George Cohan was responsible for such songs as Yankee Doodle Dandy, Give My Regards To Broadway, and the WWI anthem, Over There. Although it’s pretty heavy-handed on American sentiment, it was neat to see a reflection of a time where people would do anything for their country and even thinking of protesting a war was out of the question.

Some of the musical numbers are forgettable because they don’t really support the story, but the whole movie is saved by the acting force of James Cagney. I’ve sadly never seen his films, but like most people, I’ve always connected him with gangster films of the 30’s. Although he isn’t the biggest dancing presence ever seen in film, he brings so much joy and energy to the film, Yankee Doodle Dandy is worth watching solely for his performance. The narrative thread got boring at times, but the film has some really sweet moments and its innocence allows your mind to relax and just enjoy the ride. Yankee Doodle Dandy is a tricky one to pin down: Older generations will love it, while younger ones will be left bored. But it allows you to feel the spirit that was running amongst the U.S.A. during WWII, and no matter what age you are, you can’t help but be moved by that.

I give Yankee Doodle Dandy 3.5 out of 5 catchy tunes.

#99: Toy Story (1995)

I’ve seen Toy Story many, many times before, but even seeing it once again, I felt like a giddy youngster as I was thrust into this world of talking toys. Many animated movies boast that they can make you feel like a kid again, but this movie truly can back that statement up. You used to be so connected to your toys. They had their own personalities and you could’ve sworn they had a life of their own when you couldn’t find them, even though your mom would say that you, “Must’ve just misplaced it.”

Toy Story follows the group of toys that make up Andy’s room. Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is the leader of the pack and Andy’s favorite toy. His spot on the throne of plastic majesty is threatened when a new modern toy, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) comes to town. As tempers flare between the two, Woody and Buzz find themselves lost in the real world and forced to work together to return home to their beloved owner.

I can’t believe it has already been over ten years since Toy Story has come out and it still holds up today. The CG animation is still breathtaking and if released today, I think it still looks crisper than some of the Dreamworks movies that have come out recently. John Lasseter really did a great job directing this film. The angles and lights bring a cinematic feel to the movie, but he still keeps the innocent mood the movie requires. One thing I’ve always liked about Pixar is that they truly find the right actor to voice a character and not just who is “hot” at the time. Woody, Buzz, and all the side characters are fully developed and I’m sure people connect with different ones. This movie is just plain fun and finds that perfect balance for both kids and adults to partake in. It’s funny, suspenseful and surprisingly emotional. This is one of those films that I can’t wait to show to my future children, not just so I can enjoy it with them, but to see them transported into this world that always lurks in the back of every kid’s mind.

I give Toy Story 5 out of 5 Randy Newman songs.