My Favorite Movies: Number 53

53. My Cousin Vinny (1992)

This movie was made for Joe Pesci, he plays the role of Vinni Gambini perfectly. And, besides a few minor roles, this film really introduced america to Marisa Tomei via an Oscar winning performance.

I’m not going to dig too much into the merits of this movie, but I think it's a classic and a perfect snapshot of early 90s movies.

The courtroom scenes are awesome, and the banter between Pesci and the judge are classic (Two Youts? Whats a Yout?). Joe Pesci is on point as the out of place out of towner in a small southern town, and full of humorous one liners.

But the scene that makes and steals this movie is when Tomei takes the witness stand. Her explanation of why the prosecution is asking a trick question is priceless. And because of this movie, and that scene, we all know what a positraction rear end is.

This is probably more of a childhood favorite and guilty pleasure than a film that belongs on a top movie list, but this is my list so I can do with it what I want.

My Favorite Movies: Number 54

54. Mallrats (1995)

Mallrats is Kevin Smith’s follow up to the cult classic Clerks, and became a classic in its own right as well.

This film introduced us to Jason Lee, who would become a staple in future Kevin Smith films. For me, it was the first time I fell in love with Claire Forlani, and the 2nd time I love with Joey Lauren Adams (Dazed & Confused). It also featured the 2nd major role for Ben Affleck following Dazed and Confused, and Shannen Doherty’s first major film role following the end of 90210.

This is my favorite and most quotable Kevin Smith Movie (much to the dismay of many Chasing Amy supporters). Which may be because this is the only film Kevin Smith did not edit himself.

Mallrats is all about quotable one-liners, and ridiculous hijinks as two loser “mallrats” try to win back their girlfriends.

The collection of characters in this film is impressive. The 15-year-old writing a book about sex, the guy that can’t see the sailboat (a schooner is a sailboat!!), Secuirty guard Le fours, the tri-nipple psychic, Ben Affleck playing a manager of Casual Male who likes to fuck girls in uncomfortable places (like the back of a volkswagen), Suiter #3 in the game show, and the gameshow producer/overbearing father to name a few.  

Though Jason Lee’s character steals the show with uncanny humor and delivery of what may otherwise be very elementary lines.

I love this movie, and might have watched it 20 times during my junior high years, and several times since. It’s a very worthy B-level movie that I can’t get enough of.

And That kid is BACK on the escalator!

A Collection of Trailers

A Collection of Trailers after the jump:

My Favorite Movies: Number 55

55. Aladdin (1992)

One of my favorite Disney movies. Following the 1st animated film to be nominated for best picture (Beauty and the Beast), Disney delivered another great addition to the Disney vault. Enchanting animation, even better music, and a great performance by Robin Williams all contribute to a well told and timeless story for all ages.

Comedy, romance, and adventure are all found in this tale about an orphan who falls in love with a princess.

Aladdin is a great protagonist, a young relatable street rat trying to keep his own with and woo his royal love interest. Jafar serves the role of the villain in this tale, and is excellent. Similar to Scar in Lion King, Jafar’s evil stems from his manipulative and subtle calculated deciets.

We also have the Genie. Not only does Robin Williams add great inflection and personality to this voice over, but the animators do a great job of portraying his performance. The Genie steals every scene he is in, and becomes more relatable than Aladdin. Most of the humor in this movie comes from Genie, and it’s top notch for a children’s movie.

One thing that was fairly difficult to pull off well in animation at the time, (mostly prior to Lion King in 1994 which is on a different level of greatness), is fast paced action sequences. But Aladdin is full of them, from the street chases to the final battle scene, the animation in near perfect.

Finally, as with all the best disney movies, the star of this film is the music. From the catchy tune of “Prince Ali”, to the comedic and fun “Never Had a Friend Like Me”, and finally the majestic “A Whole New World”.

(Triva sidebar: “A Whole New World” was the song that knocked Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” out of the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 100. The first, and only song from a Disney animated movie to reach #1 on the Billboard Top 100)

I loved this movie as a kid, and I’ll love this movie as I grow older. As with many disney films, it is timeless and to me one of the best movies in a string of the classic Disney movies of my childhood made between 1989 and 1994 (Little Mermaid, Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King). But you’ll have to wait until I get further down my list to find out which one is my favorite.

My Favorite Movies: Number 56

56. Bloodsport (1988)

This is a martial arts guilty pleasure for me. There’s nothing spectacular in terms of  plot development, acting, or special effects. In actuality this is a bad movie, but to me it’s just a good martial arts flick.

I love Van Damme, and this is my favorite movie from the Muscle from Brussels.

The movie has some cool fights and a storyline that is serviceable until the next fight scene. I don’t have much to say about this movie other than it’s a personal favorite for me.

My Favorite Movies: Number 57

57. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

I'm going to make this short, but this movie is creepy, sadistic, and straight fucked up....but I LOVE IT.

A Clockwork Orange is a notoriously violent, graphic and disturbingly brilliant movie.

The film is full of creepy and uncomfortable scenes ranging from rape, violence, torture, humiliation, and obscure rehabilitation methods all of which make you question your moral compass.

Malcom McDowell is awesome, and Kubrick creates beautifully shot scenes from ungodly subject matter.

I love films that give me an uncomfortable and twisted mind fuck. And this is one of the best. This isn't Human Centipede or Saw, where extreme violence/torture is done for shock value. This is a good story with large overarching themes and satirical commentary, it just happens to be a ridiculously fucked up story.

My Favorite Movies: Number 58

58. Full Metal Jacket (1987)

To me there are four definitive Vietnam War Movies - Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket. The later three are better movies. The Deer Hunter and Platoon are best picture winners, Apocalypse Now was a Coppola, Brando, Sheen, Duvall masterpiece. Full Metal Jacket is less decorated and has a lot less star appeal than the other three, but its my favorite of the four.

Spartacus. Lolita. Dr. Strangelove. 2001: A Space Odessey. Clockwork Orange. Barry Lyndon. The Shining. Full Metal Jacket. From 1960 - 1987 Stanley Kubrick made eight movies, and all but The Shining were nominated for Oscars. Full Metal Jacket was the end cap to this revolutionary and iconic run of films (lets just pretend Eyes Wide Shut never happened).

Full Metal Jacket follows a very basic structure, it could almost be told in the theatre with a very definitive first and second act, each with its own climactic drama. The first part of the movie basically follows a bunch of vietnam bound soldiers during boot camp, the second part meets the same characters in the middle of the Vietnam War.

The 1st half makes this movie, and the story it tells could stand on its own without the 2nd half. The drill instructor is one of the most iconic movie characters of the 20th century. From the very onset of the film viewers are immersed in the world of Master Gunnery Sargent Hartman.

The first 45 minutes is chock full of one-liners, creative dialog and a cruel since of humor. All of which leads up to the best moment in this entire film, the bathroom scene.

Curiosity, horror, empathy, shock, and ultimately tension fill the emotional spectrum during this scene. I love scenes that create a tapestry of emotion and this scene does that perfectly, ultimately ending the 1st act and setting the tone for the 2nd. 

The second part of the movie is much less entertaining, and at times drags but it has it's moments. The John Wayne impressions, the Saigon working women, the battle scenes and the ultimate show down with a Vietnamese sniper. 

The first half makes this movie what it is for me, the second half is an acceptable cherry on top with its own emotional and tension filled scenes.

This is may not be the vintage Kubrick that you'd expect, but it's a decent end cap to an unparalleled run at filmmaking and my favorite Vietnam movie. 

Teaser...number 57 on my list is another Kubrick film