For this previous Christmas I received a scratch-off poster of “Bucket List” must-see movies. This list of 100 movies is said to be compiled by combining lists from AFI, IMDb, and Academy Award-winners generally recognized as being the greatest films of all time. Because my life isn’t busy enough, I decided I will attempt to watch (or re-watch) every film on the list. As I scratch movies off the list, I will be publishing my very brief thoughts through a series of blog posts.
Click here to see the Letterboxd list of films.
Gravity – dir. Alfonso Cuaron
I remember the real draw of this movie being the technical spectacle, but not even that holds up for me. It probably doesn’t help things that I really can’t stand Sandra Bullock on the best of days and having her grunt and whine and struggle to survive in space certainly doesn’t do the film any favors. 2/5
All the President’s Men – dir. Alan J. Pakula
Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman star in what I can only assume is a painstakingly accurate portrayal of Woodward and Bernstein’s unearthing of the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s. It seems like no liberties were taken whatsoever to glamorize these journalists’ work and instead takes a very meat-and-potatoes approach with very dry dialogue-driven scenes. The weight and significance of the events were tangible, but it just didn’t make for a very entertaining ride. 3/5
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back – dir. Irvin Kershner
It’s been years since I’ve seen it last and I remembered next to nothing about it outside of the broad strokes, but this was technically a re-watch. It’s pretty much the one where most of the series’ pop culture touch points originate. I’m not a huge fan of Star Wars, but it’s pretty easy for me to see the appeal after watching what many consider “the best one.” 3.5/5
Michael Clayton – dir. Tony Gilroy
Michael (George Clooney) is a corporate fixer who is brought in to set things straight when a lawyer at the firm he works for has a mental breakdown and flips on the chemical company he is representing. Easily one of the most engaging and thrilling legal dramas I have ever seen and a prime example of why George Clooney is a power hitter in the industry. It’s also strange to see Tilda Swinton playing a human woman. 4.5/5
The Graduate – dir. Mike Nichols
Another film that I originally watched several years ago (in high school), but for this my initial impression was, from what I can remember, mostly negative. I was delighted to find that I really enjoyed this one from a more mature perspective. I really enjoyed its sometimes awkward sense of humor and I somewhat better connected with Benjamin’s post-grad ennui. 4/5
The Godfather – dir. Francis Ford Coppola
The downside to watching a bunch of movies deemed “classics” is that I can’t possibly enjoy them divorced from their clout, this being the prime example of a movie whose reputation precedes it by a country mile. The best I can say about it is that it’s an extremely solid crime movie that suffers from being paced like a crime epic from the 70s. Having said that, it holds up a lot better than I expected it to. 4/5
Pan’s Labyrinth – dir. Guillermo del Toro
I absolutely loved this film when I saw it back in high school. Strangely enough, the only parts I could recall about it were the fantasy scenes and the brutally violent scenes. As an older and much wiser version of myself, I can confirm that these are the only parts worth remembering. I do not have enough background knowledge about Spain’s political landscape leading up to and into World War 2 to have any idea what else is going on here. 3/5
Up – dir. Pete Docter
This movie came at a time when I had just about fallen of the cart with regards to Pixar films. Watching this one for the first time reaffirmed that I don’t think I really missed out on anything. Apart from the first 15 minutes, which I think are expertly crafted and heartbreaking, if not a bit manipulative, the only other redeeming thing about this movie is “Kevin” the giant bird and her entrancingly hypnotizing animation. 3/5
Crash – dir. Paul Haggis
It continues to boggle my mind that a movie about such strongly resonating topics today as racism and abuse of power fumbles the ball as bad as this movie does. The only redeeming thing about it is seeing Sandra Bullock fall down the stairs in dramatic slow-motion. 1/5