This is a list of 10 films I could watch once a year.
1. Samurai Cop (1989): One of the finest films in existence. It stars Matt Hannon as the titular Samurai Cop. Said samurai cop never displays a whole lot of samurai ability, however, his hair is beyond reproach and there is plenty of curb-jumping dialogue in this one. The scene between the nurse and samurai cop is brilliant. "Samurai Cop" is never boring. It contains plenty of extremely bad dialogue and several attractive nude women, so what more could you ask for?
2. Sideways (2004): A wonderful film starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, and Virginia Madsen. Two men drive to the wine country in Central California as a vacation from their current problems. "Sideways" was partially filmed in Solvang, California, a town previously seen in the 1981 horror film, "The Unseen," starring Barbara Bach. "Sideways" is a fantastic film with seriously great dialogue and great pacing. Directed by Alexander Payne, who previously directed "Election" and "About Schmidt," and who directed the 2011 film, "The Descendants."
3. Logan's Run (1976): "Good carousel, tonight." "Logan's Run" is one of my favorite science fiction films. There are so many interesting set pieces in this film. The idea of carousel is fascinating and the way it is filmed during the beginning of the movie is great. The music in the film is also outstanding.
4. Superman (1978): "Superman" is like three films in one. The first 25 minutes is straight science fiction and features Marlon Brando. The next 25 minutes are like a well-done family drama depicting the life of Clark Kent in Smallville as he discovers his powers. Glenn Ford and Phyllis Thaxter play their roles of Pa and Ma Kent wonderfully. The remainder of the film, of course, is about the adult Clark/Superman and his adjustment to his role as Superman. All of the performances in the film are outstanding, especially Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman.
5. The Room (2003): This is another goofy one. Like, "Samurai Cop," "The Room" is an amazing accomplishment in filmmaking. "The Room" contains some jaw-dropping scenes that are so fantastic, too fantastic to be believed, quite honestly. If you are in the mood to laugh at any film's expense, make it "The Room." So many situations make no sense. It is awesome!
6. Blade Runner (1982): Ridley Scott's sci-fi film based on Phillip K. Dick's, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep," is a groundbreaking piece of filmmaking. So story in the film is always compelling and the performances are great. The music of Vangelis throughout the film is equally as memorable. And I love the Ladd Company logo at the beginning of the film. Total geek alert, but, yes, I love that logo on the black background. "Blade Runner" was co-executive produced by Bud Yorkin, who was one of the producers of "All in the Family."
7. Annie Hall (1977): If I had money, I would say, "For my money, this is Woody Allen's best film." That is another tired saying, so I will refrain from using it any further. "Annie Hall" is full of brilliant dialogue. The subtitles scene, the "driving through plutonium" line, Christoper Walken's brief appearance in the film are just a few reasons why I love "Annie Hall." It's Oscar for Best Picture for 1977 was deserved.
8. Z Channel-A Magnificent Obsession (2004): This is a very well-made documentary about Jerry Harvey, the creator and programmer of Z Channel, a subscription television service in Southern California that existed from 1975-1987. What made Z Channel so special, we learn from the film, is that Harvey programmed A LOT of very rare and obscure films on the channel, making this a must-have for film buffs. Obviously in the 70's and 80's, many films were not as readily available as they are now, making Z Channel even more valuable during this time period. If you love movies and the discovery of obscure films, you will love this documentary. There were several films I discovered while watching this film such as "A Safe Place" and "Welcome to L.A." "Z Channel" is a straight-forward documentary without any of the manufactured drama that is, unfortunately, present in many recent documentaries. There is real-life drama in the story of the Z Channel, however, it is presented in a natural way, without any overbearing music or falseness.
9.Slingblade (1998): "Slingblade" is flawless. All of the performances are spot on, the location shooting is wonderful, it places the viewer in that setting. The story is great and it is natural. It is a perfect film.
10. Airplane (1980): "Airplane" changed, or at least created, a new type of comedy film. The fast-paced jokes, sight gags, clever verbal jokes make "Airplane" a comedy classic. I recommend not only "Airplane," but also the underrated, "Airplane 2: The Sequel." "What is your impression of Ted Stryker?" "I'm sorry, I don't do impressions."
Thank you, kind readers, for your time and your careful attention to this matter.
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