#214. Network

"I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

A failing television network resorts to desperate measures when they exploit a deranged newscaster for ratings.

I really enjoyed watching Network. I absolutely love the concept, and I think it's interesting how it has actually proved true over time. The mindless television watchers in the film remind me of people today, and how we will eat up any explicit and overly dramatic show that comes on TV.

The characters in the film were all dynamic and interesting, and I thought Faye Dunaway was especially fantastic. She played a completely different character than Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde, and proved her versatility. I also loved Beatrice Straight's performance as Louise Schumacher in the scene where Max admits his infidelity. I could hear the pain in her voice and see the hurt in her eyes as the anguished wife on the other side of an affair, almost like it had really happened to her. It was an extremely powerful scene, and brought a different aspect to the film than expected.

My favorite attribute of this film was its realism. From the selfish intentions of the TV network to the not-so-perfect love affair between Diana and Max, nothing was glamorized. It was an entertaining and enlightening watch, and I give it a 7.4/10. 

Characters: 7.3/10

Acting: 7.5/10

Storyline: 7.5/10

Entertainment Value: 7.6/10

Immediate Rating: 7.4/10

Total Score: 37.3/50

#215. Brief Encounter

"It's awfully easy to lie when you know that you're trusted implicitly. So very easy, and so very degrading."

When housewife Laura Jesson and doctor Alec Harvey meet, they form an instant friendship. They begin their weekly tradition of meeting every Thursday, and gradually fall in love with each other, even though Laura is already married.

The great thing about this movie is the fact that it doesn't exaggerate for cinematic effect. Many movies in the 1940's did that, and though it may have been entertaining at the time, it's now a cringeworthy quality for "old movie" watchers. Brief Encounter is a very realistic take on a momentary infidelity. It wasn't exactly a fairytale, but it changed both associated lives drastically. It wasn't as if the short-lived couple was made perfectly for each other, but more so they used each other as a perfect escape. Alec's escape was from his monotonous job, and Laura's from her monotonous marriage.

I thought the characters in this film were fair. They were neither boring nor extraordinary, but I suppose that just adds the realism that this film brings. I did, however, find Everley Gregg's performance as Dolly Messiter pretty hilarious at the end (and beginning) of the movie.  She definitely played another key role in the film's honesty.

Though I have to admit that it wasn't the best film I've ever seen, I can appreciate it's influence on modern romance (the train scene), as well as its authenticity.

It was simply a solid movie. My immediate rating is a 7/10.

Characters: 7/10

Acting: 7/10

Storyline: 7.3/10

Entertainment Value: 6.9/10

Immediate Rating: 7/10

Total Score: 35.2/50

#216. The African Queen

“Nobody in Africa, but yours truly, can get a good head of steam on the old African Queen.”

Boat captain Charlie Allnut and missionary Rose Sayer leave Africa on Allnut’s boat to escape German threat. Once Rose comes up with a plan to attack Germany’s warship Louisa, the couple embarks on the adventure of their lives.

This film was a pleasant surprise for me! It had a very slow start, but once the main characters Charlie and Rose started their love interest, I was hooked. I couldn’t wait to find out what would become of the couple’s journey, and if their plan of bombing the Louisa would actually work out.

The movie involves two classic actors: Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Both of them have performed in other critically acclaimed films (I really enjoyed seeing Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story, and I can’t wait to watch Bogart in Casablanca once I get to it on the list), and their acting in the African Queen is nothing short of the wonderful. Everything was put together very well.  The animal noises and bugs flying around the couple definitely looked off, but what kind of effects could one expect of a movie from 1951? This film was a great mix of comedy, action, and romance, so my immediate rating is a solid 7.3.

Characters: 7.2/10

Acting: 7/10

Storyline: 7.2/10

Entertainment Value: 7.5/10

Immediate Rating: 7.3/10

Total Score: 36.2/50

#217. Rope

“The good Americans usually die young on the battlefield, don't they? Well, the Davids of this world merely occupy space, which is why he was the perfect victim for the perfect murder.”

Two young men choke one of their friends to death with a rope because they find him surpassingly inferior to themselves. They refer to their plan as the “perfect murder” and throw a party to prove it, hiding his body under the guest dinner table.

When I first looked up this movie, I was disappointed to find that I would have to watch something from 1948 (I seem to never be in the mood for extremely old movies), but that disappointment quickly faded when I saw that Hitchcock directed it. His movies have always sparked an interest in me, and I feel that they really do stand the test of time. The concept of the film is great, and I was hanging on the edge of my seat then whole time, trying to figure out if the two men would get caught or not.

Though I thought the minor characters were a bit boring, I loved Brandon (John Dall) and Phillip (Farley Granger). Brandon was probably my favorite character, because his arrogance progressively increased the suspense throughout the movie as he gave more and more hints of David’s murder. Farley Granger did a great job also as conscience ridden Phillip, Brandon’s foil. Though this film isn’t life changing, it’s still a good watch. My immediate rating is a 7/10.

Characters: 6.9/10

Acting: 6.8/10

Storyline: 6.9/10

Entertainment Value: 7/10

Immediate Rating: 7/10

Total Score: 34.6/50

#218. Crash

"It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something. "

The film follows several fictional stories of people of different races and personal backgrounds. As the plot progresses, the characters’ experiences intertwine with one another and provide self-enlightenment.

I was very put off by all of the racial themes. I honestly don't buy this movie concept as much as I wish I did. The film attempts to imply realism in today's society, but misses the mark completely. Sure, racism still exists, but very rarely do I hear it mentioned in any casual conversation, and this movie made it seem as if it’s the most prevalent problem in the world today. It also didn't help that I felt like it was trying to teach me some sort of politically correct lesson the whole time I was watching it. Racial situations were dramatized and forced so badly that it was almost laughable at points. Other than that unquestionable beef, I thought the movie was made well (as in good actors, good editing…that sort of thing) and it also kept my interest throughout. The problem is just looking past the ridiculousness of it all.

I know there were probably a lot of things I missed regarding the storyline that possibly could have increased my tolerance for this movie. It was just too difficult to pay attention to much else other than the overly obvious racial motif. That is why my immediate rating is a 5.9/10.

Characters: 5/10

Acting: 6.5/10

Storyline: 5.5/10

Entertainment Value: 6.8/10

Immediate Rating: 5.9/10

Total Score: 29.7/50

#219. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

"But why is the rum gone?"

After Elizabeth Swann is taken by Captain Barbosa, blacksmith Will Turner and pirate Jack Sparrow work together to rescue her. They soon come to find that there are secrets to Barbosa's ship that go much deeper than they expected.

This is definitely the best Pirates movie out of the four. The plot was good, the characters were good, and Johnny Depp's acting was pure gold. The other movies are decent, but don't have as good of dialogue or story development. They also lack the unique magic that this one brought. I think Captain Jack Sparrow will always be one of the greatest film characters of all time, because Johnny Depp absolutely brought the character to life. He had the demeanor of a tried and true pirate, but was still the most outstanding and one-of-a-kind of any film. Johnny Depp does a great job in every movie he does in my opinion, but the dedication he had for this role was what made this one so extraordinary.

I thought the other actors in this film did a great job as well. Geoffrey Rush was a wonderful antagonist, and really shined as Barbosa without taking the spotlight away from Depp. I also liked Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley's characters, and was very disappointed to see that they weren't in the fourth movie. It just wasn't the same without them.

I really enjoyed watching this film again, because it brought back the same wonder about it that I had about it when I was younger. I feel like anyone at any age can enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean, and this is simply a great movie that never loses its charm. I give it an immediate rating of 7.8/10.

Characters: 7.9/10

Acting: 8/10

Storyline: 7.8/10

Entertainment Value: 8/10

Immediate Rating: 7.8/10

Total Score: 39.5/50

#220. Bonnie and Clyde

"This here's Miss Bonnie Parker. I'm Clyde Barrow. We rob banks."

In the time of the Great Depression, Bonnie (Faye Dunaway) and Clyde (Warren Beatty) meet and become the most lovable criminals America has ever known.

I was kind of taken aback by the civilian murders committed by the duo at the beginning of the movie, and wondered how I would ever connect with characters that were so relentless. I even felt sorry for the police officer they tied up beside the pond. But as the film progressed, I grew more and more fond of the Barrow Gang, and increasingly against all authority that was trying to stop them. So much so that near the end, I thought of every police officer killed as a victory. I had the same mind set as they did, the perspective of an outright criminal. I felt like I personally knew the Barrow Gang, and I didn't want my friends to get hurt. That just goes to show how much this movie can pull a viewer in.

What I loved most about this film was the portrayal of Bonnie and Clyde's relationship. Their love seemed extremely genuine and almost had a child-like innocence despite their dangerous lifestyle. It's very rare to see a love like that perfectly portrayed in film, and for that alone Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and director Arthur Penn should have each gotten an Academy Award. I pretty much adored every single character, with the exception of Blanche. I thought that Estelle Parsons' acting was a little overbearing, and I was very surprised and disappointed to see that she was the only actor to receive an award for this movie.

I have a good feeling that I will buy this film and watch it quite a few more times, because I find it entertaining and incredibly charming. My immediate rating is an 8.4/10.

Characters: 8.5/10

Acting: 7.9/10

Storyline: 7.7/10

Entertainment Value: 8.5/10

Immediate Rating: 8.4/10

Total Score: 41/50