Movies I've seen at least three
times and have somehow formed my life
1. Star Wars
I saw the first movie thirteen times in
theaters when it came out. It's a space opera, perhaps cheeseball,
yet at the time, visually, it was amazing. I felt like Luke in real
life, living lonely on a desolate planet. I still feel that way. And
I wanted to be Han Solo. I still feel that way.
2. Aliens
The first, Alien, is also a classic,
maybe even visually and artistically more so than Aliens, but there
is something about this one, the non-stop action, but I love Vasquez.
Ripley too, she was even smarter, but both offered me the strong
women of comic books, strong women I've always looked for since. But
more than one other young man I knew in the 90s loved Vasquez too,
and her call to action has been mine for my life: "Let's rock!!"
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
I'd even argue The Life of Brian is
better, but The Holy Grail was the first of theirs I saw, and changed
how I saw humor: mockery and satire, above all to oneself. As a D&D
nerd, this one hit home.
4. Blood of Heroes
With Rutger Hauer and Joan Chen. My
group of high school friends, boys and girls, all loved this one,
though I'm not sure how popular it ever was. That scene at the
end—Joan Chen: I don't want to lose. Hauer: Then win.
5. Rollerball
All three times in my teens, I think. The original, with James Caan, spoke to something in the angry soccer player of my
younger self: "This isn't a game! It was never meant to be!" There's something about all sports in that statement. Recently re-watched and it holds up.
6. The Seven Samurai
I would be one of the group of misfits,
wanting to do the right thing and defend the defenseless.
7. Blade Runner
Any version, though the Director's Cut
(without the voiceover) is best. Combining sci-fi with noir is genius.
But the question of what makes us human (memories? emotions?) is
still relevant. Loved the sequel too.
8. The Piano
The only woman-directed film on the
list, I know. All three of the actors are intense powerhouses. Holly
Hunter (without speaking!) gave me the first real look into women's
desires and fears and the balancing acts they have to perform. I
would be (am) Harvey Keitel putting his tongue in the hole in her
stocking.
9. Casablanca
Probably on everybody's list. The
choice: he could get the woman, but gives her up for the greater
cause. I want to love people because they serve a greater cause.
10. Barfly
It's gritty. It's about the lowlife
class which rarely gets representation. Which is what Charles
Bukowski was always writing about. The beauty and the despair of
being poor. Creating out of that.
11. Apocalypse Now
The original, not the Redux version.
The extra footage doesn't add anything. I don't even like Martin
Sheen or his performance—he was added late, was supposed to be
Harvey Keitel I think (and imagine that)—it's everyone else in the
movie, and it's the madness, not just of war, but of life. In a
sense, and I just thought of this, Sheen works because he's so blank: he just wanders through the quest,
already damaged from life, already shut down emotionally.
12. Spinal Tap
I saw the bass player Billy Sheehan give a talk, and he said, "I didn't think Spinal Tap was funny. All that stuff has happened to me." Which makes it funnier. The deadpan humor, everything played straight. I think it's somehow a mockumentary about men, in general, somehow. And not just musicians, but anyone who loves rock/metal music loves this movie. Because it's true.
13. Sex, Lies and Videotape
I relate to James Spader's character, his distance and desire, and I love the contrast between the people who are having sex but who are not connected/intimate, and his desire for, but fear of, intimacy.
Honorable mentions:
The Company
Man On Wire
Blue
They Live
