A-Z #84: Gladiator

You can pick up hundreds of DVDs for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. It's never about quantity, it's about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#84 - Gladiator

Why did I buy it?

 

I didn't see it at the cinema. I know, I know, it's one of those films you must have seen at the cinema, but alas, I did not. But as an employee of Woolworths, on the Entertainment counter, I saw a huge bunch of people buy this on its release. I was a little shocked that I was not more aware of it and bought it, without having seen it... and boy was it good.

Why do I still own it?

Sarah loves it and I do think its great. The sheer scale of the film is incredible - especially my favourite gladiatoral match with the tigers. I didn't even know who Russell Crowe was at the time - though, in fairness, when I finished watching the film, it was Joaquin Phoenix that I remembered vividly. The thing is, I have had this film for a long time, in the hope that it'd be worth buying the Director's Cut but - as you have seen from my post on Donnie Darko - sometimes the directors cut simply ain't no good! Has anyone seen it? Which one is better? It's an incredible film and to think that Ridley Scott also made Blade Runner and Alien simply shows how talented the man is.

A-Z #83: Gandhi

You can pick up hundreds of DVDs for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. It's never about quantity, it's about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#83 - Gandhi

Why did I buy it?

Twas a Best Picture I have not seen. In an attempt to watch all the Best Picture winners, I believed that Gandhi was the film that stalled me for its win in 1982. Turns out, this is inaccurate. I have all the winners from 2011 and all the way back to ... 1987 ... and The Last Emperor. At any rate, I bought Gandhi and I watched it and ... if I'm honest, it might be sold off...

Why do I still own it?

Because it is a good film with a strong moral centre-point... based on a true-story with an incredible performance from Ben Kingsley. My problem is whether I will watch it again. As good as it is, I will struggle to view it a second time because its over 3-hours long and, until I make my epic film with thousands of extras ... I doubt I will need to watch it. Having said that, I could argue the same point as Lawrence of Arabia. If I was to sell Gandhi ... then I should additionally sell Lawrence of Arabia ... 

Should it stay or should it go?

A-Z #56: Dances With Wolves

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#56 - Dances With Wolves 

Why did I buy it?

For many, many years I hated Dances with Wolves. In fairness, I hadn't seen it. But my reasoning was how it nabbed the Best Picture gong from Scorsese when he was nominated with Goodfellas. Real shame. But then I bit the bullet, purchased the triple-disc, and watched winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, 1991: Dances with Wolves

Why do I still own it?

 

I have only watched it once and it was incredibly good. Kevin Costner has been mocked for many years - ever since Waterworld - Costner seems to be a bit of a joke. He has recently been cast as Superman's Dad in the upcoming Zack Snyder reboot of the man of steel and it is pretty incredible to know how great an actor - and director Costner is. There is nothing unpolished about this film - the scale and scope are captured gloriously in widescreen, showing vast vistas of buffalo and desert in Fort Sedgwick, Colorado.

 

I think, Avatar has alot to answer for and, what makes this film that much more refined, is the finale as Dunbar (Costner) does not 'win' or 'defeat' the enemy, but he decides to leave the tribe, knowing he has put them in danger. I doubt Jim Cameron could've been so brave with his Jake Sully (Worthington) who, easily enough, became not only of the Na'vi, but additionally, the best Na'vi there has ever been. 'Dances With Wolves' (Costner's tribe name) was good, but he was never 'the best' member of the Sioux tribe.

Should I sell it though?

A-Z #43: Chinatown

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#43 - Chinatown

Why did I buy it?

One of those 'classic' pieces of cinema and one of two 'most-important' film in Roman Polanski's back-catalogue (the other being Rosmary's Baby). Additionally, I am a big fan of all films of the Gangster genre, and so this undercover-thriller was a film I was destined to purchase and watch many years ago

Why do I still own it?

The first time I watched this, I did not own it. It was onlt a number of years later when I seemed to constantly find myself coming across the film again and again. It was nominated for Best Picture (and nominated for another eleven Academy Awards, but only taking one away for Towne's Best Screenplay) and losing out to The Godfather Part II - though incidently it did win Best Motion Picture at the Golden Globes. It crops up for disection within Syd Field's Screenplay: The Foundations of Screewriting. And, as the film-noir of the seventies, it always stands out from the crowd for its dark subject matter and grotesque ending. I only watched it recently again, prior to watching Polanski's The Ghost and it still stands as an incredible film - with incredible performances from Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston. 

Maybe I am wrong, maybe there is a reason it didn't pick up the awards?

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Top 5 Best Picture Oscar Winners

I have professed my distaste for many a Top 5 list in the past but there are always exceptions to the rule and, having watched a fair few of the Best Picture Oscar winners I feel I am in a good position to state the Top 5 Best Picture Winners, according to Screen Insight is ...

5. The Departed

Martin Scorsese should've won an Oscar much earlier in his career - losing out to Dances with Wolves when he had Goodfellas was shocking. The Departed is proof that filmmakers can not only remake a foreign film exceptionally well, but additionally, if they are good enough they will eventually win an Oscar. An incredible cast, a hugely entertaining film - this is an example when Oscar gets it right and everyone who watches the film will agree with their decision

4. Annie Hall

Oscar is not a big fan of comedy. I am a huge fan of Woody Allen and Annie Hall is much more accessible than the vast majority of his work. Even with Manhattan, Woody Allen has the semi-pretentiousness of a black-and-white palette whilst one of the female love interests to Woody is a 14-year-old girl. You get none of this in Annie Hall, just some incredible jokes and some facsinating innovative techniques in use - subtitles to expain what the couple really mean, tthe ghost-like Diane-Keaton leaving the bed as Woody tries to seduce her whilst the opening and closing direct-to-camera monologues show how great a showman Woody Allen truly is.

3. Casablanca

Having recently mentioned this on the A-Z, there is only so much to say. It still remains a classic with stunning performances from everyone involved. Like the best classics - Gone with the Wind, Night of the Living Dead and Easy Rider - the end of Casablanca can never be remade, retouched or improved upon. It was made at a specific time, representing a period with actors that could only deliver those specific lines at that time in history.

2. West Side Story

Musicals and Epics dominated fifties cinema. Other winners during that time period were The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Lawrence of Arabia and Ben-Hur. On one level, West Side Story is a musical which is very personal as Tony and Maria fall in love - but set on an epic backdrop as the two families are against each other. A remake of-sorts (based on Romeo and Juliet) it has energy, pace and tragedy. One of my favourite musicals... and one of my favourite Oscar winners.

1. The Godfather/The Godfather Part II

You can't separate them first off. The only sequel to win Best Picture is only as good as it is because of its predescessor. Francis Ford-Coppola famously turned the films down when first approached. Mario Puzo needed the money. Al Pacino was unknown and Marlon Brando bailed on the sequel. So many stories behind it, so many personal connections and I think it is all these incredible facets that make the film even more watchable. It has class, it has style and it deserves its Best Picture win. As it also deserves its place as one of the Best Films of All Time.

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A-Z #30: Bridge on the River Kwai

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#30 - Bridge on the River Kwai 

Why did I buy it?

I swear, my Dad has so much to answer for my interest in film. As much as he might despise the film-obsessive attitude I have, he has much to answer for. Akin to Ben-Hur, this 3+ hours epic film was a favourite for those Sunday afternoons. I never knew the importance of the film until many years later - David Lean directing, winning Best Picture at the Oscars for 1957, alongside winning big at the BAFTA's and the Golden Globes.

Why do I still own it?

 

Because the story is fascinating and, dare I say it, incredibly unique. Alec Guinness is captured and, as a Prisoner of War, is ordered to build a bridge and takes so much pride in the bridge that he doesn't realise that he is ultimately helping the enemy. An awesome finale - "my god - what have I done" before, Guinness falls on the lever.

But is it too big and sprawling? Maybe you don't need so much David Lean?

Remember - you can always email The Simon and Jo Film Show directly using this email: simonandjoshow@gmail.com

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A-Z #28: Braveheart

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#28 - Braveheart 

Why did I buy it?

Oscar-Winner. Best Picture. All that jargon. Other than that, epic-Scottish war films are not really my thing. I hadn't seen it before hand and - upon watching the 50min documentary on the second disc - it is one of the worst 'double-disc' boxes I have ever bought. I hear the Blu-ray is better.

Why do I still own it?

 

Ever the completist, alongside Apocalypto and Passion of the Christ - with this - I have all of Gibsons films. But I mujst admit I haven't seen it much since the first watch. I watched it a second time with my Mum and - in the same evening -  we watched the aforementioned documentary (Rubbish). Additionally I own a bunch of Best Pictures, so i guess, thats another plus point. Then again, I own Shakespeare in Love in a crappy boxset with Vanity Fair and Marie Antoinette (it was £3! what can I say? I wanted to watch the film and the cheapness meant that I might as well buy it....) and have every intention of selling that at the earliest opportunity. 
Other than the completist factors, there is not much reason to keep it - is it important enough to keep?

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A-Z #21: Ben-Hur

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films... or you can tell me whether I should sell 'em...

#21 - Ben-Hur 

Why did I buy it?

A few reasons which, if you are reading these points, no doubt you will gather - first up, the most successful Best Picture Oscar winner. It won 11 Academy Awards and was only matched 48 years later by Titanic and then a few years after that by The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Fact is, it has never been topped.

Secondly, my brother - the Bangor/Bath Rep - and I have always joked about this film. It felt like, when we were younger, our Saturday and Sunday afternoons were plagued by this film taking over the family TV. Unlike the kids of today, we had our NES set-up in the lounge so everything had to be shared ... but ultimately Dad chose what was on TV and, if Ben-Hur was on, there was no way we would sit there for four-hours until he was finished. We would simply remain gutted and leave the room - potentially setting up our NES with the crappy black-and-white TV. Duck Hunt was no fun on the blac-and-white TV. [Second] Fact is, I never sat and watched the whole thing - though we would mock my Dad endlessly for it - so I knew I had to at some point... and by purchasing this sweet, 4-DVD boxset, I knew that I would eventually watch it...

Why do I still own it?

The Best Picture point still stands. Sarah and I watched it over a weekend - 2-hours Sunday and 2-hours Saturday - when we lived in Finchley, North London. Personally, I love the Jesus Christ parrallel story - how, rather than seeing God-as-man, we see, just a man who is broken down to nothing - ut is forced to stand up. The chariot-race is the stuff of legend and, I think there truly is something incredible about such a huge, epic story - I mean, I don't even think Gladiator is on such a huge scale: does Gladiator take on God himself? without even showing his face?

But you may disagree - shall I throw Ben-Hur to the lions?

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A-Z #20: A Beautiful Mind

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films... or you can tell me whether I should sell 'em...

#20 - A Beautiful Mind 

Why did I buy it?

I was - and ultimately still am - attempting to watch all the Best Picture winners and I found this cheap enough to purchase it. I vividly remember buying it at the Aberystwyth Woolworths and, as I walked home, I was dubious about whether it would be any good... would I find it long and boring ...

Why do I still own it?

In the first instance I do like it and, back when I first bought it, I watched it many times because I enjoyed it so much. I even watched it with young Jo and this brought about an epic debate: the focus of the film felt a little unclear - the romance between Nash and his wife should have been the centre-point of the film ... but it actually didn't feel important in A Beautiful Mind, hence the almost-unneccessary feel of the romance story - we were all rooting for Nash (Crowe) to simply get over his (without giving anything away) problems.

The epic debate was how I used Titanic as an example of a film that, although about the disaster and showing great sub-stories about class in 1912, the film was rooted in the romance between Jack and Rose, hence why it was so good - Titanic is, before anything else, a Romance. Jo disagreed - Titanic is a disaster movie according to him.

This incredible argument raged on all night and A Beautiful Mind is what started it all. This may be part of the reason I still own it because, capturing the frame from the film above made me give it a slight re-analysis and, having watched many Oscar contenders and Best Picture winners since this film, it does seem quite by-the-numbers so...

Should I sell it?

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A-Z #7: Amadeus

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a buck each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films...

#7 - Amadeus

Why did I buy it?

Best Picture-a-thon as I have every intention of watching every Best Picture Oscar Winner ... ever. That really is about it.

Why do I still own it?

Because, despite the epic nature of the story, I think there is something fascinating about the envy, greed and friendship between the two composers - Salieri and Mozart. Don't get me wrong, maybe one day this will be moved out for a different period-biopic, but currently, this interesting biopic of Amadeus Mozart is a great insight into the madness, desire and personality (his bloody laugh) of an artist.

Additionally, though I have no intention of having all of Milos Formans films, it is nice that I have more than one - and Forman is one of those directors very few people know about (Well, maybe us Film Obsessives do - but Formans name is not up there with Scorsese, Coppola and Spielberg, despite some incredible films). So, with a certain air of arrogance, I can say things like "oh, well, if you like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest then you'll love something he made a short while after ... " and know what I'm talking about when I pull out Amadeus...

  

Remember - you can always email The Simon and Jo Film Show directly using this email: simonandjoshow@gmail.com

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