Movie Review - "The Hangover Part II" (2011) ***1/2

    Every once in awhile a movie will jump out, catch everyone off guard and completely exceed any expectations a studio may have had for it. In 2009, a perfect example of this was a comedy called The Hangover directed by Todd Phillips and starring relative newcomers Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis. It wasn't expected to do as well as it did but once the word-of-mouth machine got rolling it quickly became a huge hit. It would even go on to shock everyone by winning the Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical. Raunchy, buddy movies typically just don't that kind of respect. But The Hangover was different because it remembered one of the basic rules of comedy....Be funny!! So many gross out or raunchy comedies these days are just that, without the humor.  The Hangover went on to gross over $270 million at the US box office which is just an enormous amount of money for a film of its kind.
     Fast forward two years to 2011, and naturally the studio is going to build off that success and we get the inevitable sequel. Usually this is a bad sign of things to come, and I was skeptical entering the theater. That skepticism went away early in the film though and it was like sitting back with an old buddy and relieving the old days. The Hangover 2 is not quite as good as the first film but there are more than enough laughs to keep you busy for a couple of hours. The movie has received a lot of criticism leading up to its opening with critics stating it is the same exact story as the first one with only the location changing. For the most part, they are completely right with this criticism. It is the SAME movie, but when the first one is so darn funny is that necessarily a bad thing?? There is very little originality in the script and because of that I think a Hangover 3 (it's inevitable..you know it) is probably not a good idea. It worked this time, but you don't want to go to that same well too often.
     The movie opens with the Wolfpack of the original film heading to Thailand for Stu's (Ed Helms) wedding. He is marrying a young lady named Lauren whose father does not think highly of Stu, comparing him to flavorless rice pudding in an awkward, yet funny, dinner scene. The Wolfpack, not wanting a repeat of their episode in Vegas, decide to have a simple bachelor party at a beach bonfire and insist on only one drink each.  The guys bring along Lauren's brother, Teddy (Mason Lee), who is a 17-year old genius and the pride of the family. Everything starts out innocently enough and we think the guys have learned their lesson. But if that was the case, there would be no movie. Night passes and the next morning Phil (Cooper), Alan (Galifianakis) and Stu wake up in a seedy Bangkok hotel room. Alan's head has been shaved and Stu has a tattoo on his face that is the same one Mike Tyson is famous for. As they slowly start to realize that they have screwed up again things get even stranger when a monkey jumps on them and they also find a severed finger in the room. But it's just not any severed finger, they can tell from the ring that the finger is Teddy's and he is nowhere to be found. They are not completely alone though as they realize that Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) from the first movie has showed up to party with them as well. Phil is able to get a hold of their friend Doug, who left the beach early that night, and he covers for the guys as long as he can while the Wolfpack go in search of Teddy so they can get back to the wedding.
     From here, the jokes play out similarly as they did in the first film. The guys are able to backtrack through the seedy Bangkok streets and slowly put together what happened to them. They have run ins with gangsters, drug dealing monkeys, monks, strippers and a whole slew of other shady characters on their journey. There are scenes that are completely hysterical and the character Alan would be worth a spin-off movie of his own. I absolutely loved the line from him when he is reading a password, "K as in Knife". That's funny, I laughed at that for 10 minutes. There are also some scenes that push the limits a little much, namely the "strippers". But the film is funny from open to close and that's the biggest thing for a comedy to do, just be funny. This succeeds.
    I do want to get on a soapbox real quick though. In the theater I saw this in, a lady brought a young girl in to the movie who was maybe 8 or 9. Look, are there R-rated movies out there that I would be okay with a child seeing? Yes. This isn't one of them!!! The movie is rated R but it pushes the NC-17 limit. This is NOT a movie for kids. I'm not trying to tell everyone how to parent and each child is different but please leave the kids at home for this one. Enjoy the movie.

60 - "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

     Here's one that should make the purists proud. The oldest movie on my list is certainly one of the most enjoyable and a true classic in every sense of the word. I've never been a big fan of musicals, and while this isn't labeled a musical,  there is a lot of song and dance in it but it just clicks with me in this case. I still get goosebumps early in the film when the great Judy Garland sings "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". That song took even more meaning to me later in life when I lost a son. Now I can't see that part of the movie without getting a little emotional as I associate that song with my little boy so much. The imagery in the film, whether it be Munchkinland, the Emerald City or any of the other many destinations along the way are unforgettable. The Wicked Witch of the West gave me nightmares as a child and is such a memorable villain. And who can ever forget Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and of course Toto, who join our heroine Dorothy on her journey. The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic and is a must own in any home movie library.

61 - "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991)

     Here's another film that may get some weird looks from people but I'm okay with that. If you go back to one of my first blogs where I defended the work of Kevin Costner, I spoke highly of Robin Hood and felt that this is one of his movies that gets a bad rap for a stupid reason. One criticism I have heard about this movie is that Costner doesn't have the right accent for the Robin Hood character....Really?? That's your problem with the movie? The mans accent. Once again I say, get over it. I thought this movie was great with some wonderful action scenes. Costner is Robin Hood and is joined by Azeem (Morgan Freeman), Will Scarlett (Christian Slater), and the merry men of Sherwood Forest to go after the Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) who murdered Robin's father. Robin's childhood friend, Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), also does her best to assist in the overthrow of the evil sheriff. All of these roles are played extremely well, especially Rickman as the sheriff. The action comes pretty steadily and never once did I think things slipped into a corniness that this film has also been accused of. There have been many film adaptations of the Robin Hood story and while I haven't seen all of them by any means, this is by far the best of the ones I have seen.

62 - "Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" (1988)

     Well, this is one movie I don't have to worry about giving a plot description for. Not because it's one of those movies where I think most everyone has seen (although most probably have), but simply for the fact that it just doesn't matter. Naked Gun is from the famous ZAZ team of Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker and David Zucker, who are known for slapstick comedy which was highlighted by their classic Airplane!. In Naked Gun, the late Leslie Nielsen plays Lt. Frank Drebin of Police Squad who is on the case of an assassination attempt on the Queen of England, who is visiting Los Angeles. George Kennedy and O.J. Simpson have supporting roles as co-workers at Police Squad. Priscilla Presley plays the love interest of Lt. Drebin. There's really not too much to say about this movie. It's not a masterpiece of cinema or anything like that, but it is simply one of the funniest movies ever made. It's hard to believe at one time Leslie Nielsen was a leading dramatic actor because he just seems perfect for these slapstick comedy roles. If you are having a down day and just need a good laugh, pop in Naked Gun and watch the worries melt away.
(Naked Gun spawned two sequels that are not as good but are pretty funny themselves. May as well give them all a shot)

63 - "Foul Play" (1978)

     Chevy Chase's movie career since the mid-90's hasn't been a thing of beauty and because of that it can be easy to forget just exactly how big he was in the first decade of his film career. There was a time when he was a leading comedy star and that reputation was well deserved. After his stint on Saturday Night Live was over, his first big movie role was in Foul Play alongside the beautiful Goldie Hawn. It was a great start to a great comedic film career. Chase is Tony Carlson, a San Francisco detective, who gets involved in a case where some unknown people are trying to kill a young librarian named Gloria Mundy (Hawn). Gloria is a young bachelorette who after leaving a party one day picks up a hitchhiker who is kind to her, but it leads to the assailants coming after her. The gentleman she picks up is an undercover detective and he has evidence of a crime that is to take place in the city. He hides the evidence with Gloria but doesn't tell her so when the assailants catch up with him, they eventually turn their attention to her. Tony takes on the role as her protector while also trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle and figure out what crime is about to take place in his city. Foul Play from this description may sound like a mystery, and it is, but the film is also very funny. Much of the humor is provided by Chase and Dudley Moore who has a small, scene-stealing role as a playboy. This is a movie that may have easily slipped under your radar so if you haven't had a chance to see it I highly encourage you to dig up a copy somewhere. See Chevy Chase in top form when he was one of the leading men of comedy.

64 - "The Goonies" (1985)

      I wanted to be one of the goonies so bad when I first saw this film at 10 years old. At that time in my life I loved reading adventure books about kids searching for treasure and stuff like that, so when I saw this movie it really hooked me and has been a favorite ever since. I feel this is a movie that most have seen so I won't waste my time on plot details but if you haven't seen it for any reason, get with it and put The Goonies in your Netflix queue or get it however you get movies. It's a true classic. The cast is strong from top to bottom with Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Sean Astin, Jeff Cohen, Jonathan Ke Quan, Martha Plimpton and Kerri Green being the stars of the film, all adding their unique personality to their respective roles. Former NFL player and World Strongman contestant John Matuszak has the unforgettable role of Sloth, a deformed figure with a big heart who befriends Chunk (Cohen) and helps the goonies accomplish their adventure and find the loot. The Goonies also features some great action at times and there are parts where there is definitely an Indiana Jones vibe to the film which ups the excitement. There's not much more to say. If you have seen it, you probably loved it. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? Go find it.

65 - "The War" (1994)

     The War is one of those movies where from the moment I saw it I feel like I have been standing on a mountain shouting to the world to "SEE THIS MOVIE"....only to have it fall on deaf ears. Or when someone did take my recommendation and watched the film they just didn't get the same enjoyment out of it that I did. There's been one or two folks who have liked it, but I generally fell like I'm standing on an island with this movie. Well, if I'm on the island alone, that's fine with me because I think The War is a very underrated film and is a hidden gem. Kevin Costner is Stephen Simmons, a vet who has returned from Vietnam with psychological and emotional issues that he is dealing with regarding his time there. Elijah Wood and newcomer Lexi Randall are his kids, Stu and Lidia, who are basically the stars of the film. Stu and Lidia, along with their friends, build a nice tree fort in the woods but find themselves in a feud with another family of kids, the Lipnickis, who come from a poor family and are dominated by their alcoholic father. Stephen tries his best to teach his kids that peace should always be the main goal and fighting will only lead to trouble. These lessons will be put to the test with Stu and Lidia in a big way following an accident that changes their life. If there is one issue that some people seem to have with The War is that the movie is very sentimental and preachy, sometimes overly so. And while I agree with that I feel the message that the movie preaches is a good one and I am able to look past some of these issues. The War made me cry, pure and simple, and I'm fine with that. I am moved by the story and because of that I will keep yelling from that mountain to make sure people seek this film out.

66 - "Fletch" (1985)

     I didn't see Fletch for the first time until the mid-90's. I had always been a huge fan of Chevy Chase but there was just something about that movie that didn't seem appealing to me. Fortunately, I gave it a chance one day and it has become a film like the previous movie on my list, Father of the Bride, where it is on quite a bit and I always have to watch it. Fletch is a comedic masterpiece and Chevy Chase is top form as newspaper reporter who uses many aliases and disguises to get the scoops he needs. Early in the film he is approached by a stranger, Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson), who offers a monetary award if Fletch will shoot him. Stanwyk tells Fletch that he is dying of cancer and suicide will cancel any insurance policies he has, but murder will not. Fletch agrees to do it but he smells a rat from the get go and starts investigating Stanwyk. What he finds is that everything, and everyone, is not as they always seem and it leads to an even bigger story revolving around drugs. The movie may sound like more of a mystery, and it is, a good one at that, but along the way the movie provides plenty of laughs that only Chevy Chase can pull off. Fletch also features Joe Don Baker and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson in good supporting roles. Also look for Geena Davis in a small part which is one of her earliest movie roles.

67 - "Father of the Bride" (1991)

     Father of the Bride is one of those movies that seems to be on the tube all the time, usually on basic cable or channels like Encore. Even though it's on quite often, whenever I run across it I always have to stop and watch for a little bit but I usually end up watching through to the end. It's a movie that just makes me happy. I find it very funny of course but also it has a great heart at its core that takes it to that extra level. Steven Martin plays George Banks, the father of the film, and his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams) has just returned from school overseas. He's excited to have her back in the house until she hits him with the news that she met a guy in France and now they are going to be married. This news sets George up for the most stressful time in his life and gives us the basis for the story as the wedding plans begin to unfold and it feels like everyone is tugging at George's wallet. Steve Martin is always funny but he seems to be at his comic best when he is in a manic state and he reaches that point several times in the film. Diane Keaton is Nina, George's wife and provides the buffer that George needs to keep from going crazy. Martin Short shows up in a scene-stealing role as Franck, the wedding coordinator. Father of the Bride is one of the funniest films I have ever seen and is my personal favorite of all of Steve Martin's many roles.

68 - "Zodiac" (2007)

     In the late 60's and into the 70's, a serial killer who called himself Zodiac terrorized the streets of the San Francisco Bay community. Zodiac claims to have killed more than 30 people but police were only able to confirm seven victims, two of which survived. The case has not been solved to this day and remains open in the state of California. There have been many films about the murders but I feel pretty confident in saying that this is the best of the bunch, even though admittedly I haven't seen all of the others. That's just how strongly I feel about this film. The movie centers on 4 men who are all trying to solve the murders. Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Edwards play detectives assigned to the case. Jake Gyllenhaal is the star of the movie and plays reporter Robert Graysmith, who wrote several books on the killings including the one that this film is based on. Robert Downey Jr. also plays a reporter in the movie. All of the acting leads are played well, especially Gyllenhaal and Ruffalo. Zodiac clocks in at over 2 1/2 hours but when it was over I wanted more. The movie flies by and seems a lot shorter. If you are into crime dramas and haven't seen Zodiac yet, make sure to put it at the top of your must see list.

69 - "Mystic River" (2003)

     On top of being one of the most famous actors of our time, Clint Eastwood has also proven to be a heck of a Director. Three films directed by Clint will appear on this list; an unnamed one to come later, Million Dollar Baby was at 97, and now Mystic River finds its place on the list. Clint is superb at getting actors to perform at the top of their game and this movie is no exception as the cast is led by 3 of Hollywood's biggest stars who all give some of their best performances. Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon star as three childhood friends who grew together in an Irish neighborhood in Boston. They are reunited when Jimmy's (Penn) teenage daughter is murdered. Sean (Bacon) is a detective now and he is assigned to the case. When some evidence turns up that could implicate their friend Dave (Robbins) in the murder, the friendship of the three men is put to the test. Mystic River is a great mystery written by author Dennis Lehane and adapted for the big screen by Brian Helgeland. Sean Penn won the Best Actor Oscar and Tim Robbins took home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for their roles in the film. The movie lost out in the Best Picture category to Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, but I'll take Mystic River any day of the week.

70 - "The Exorcist" (1973)

     Absolutely one of the most intense and scary motion pictures ever put on film. William Peter Blatty wrote both the novel and the screenplay for the movie. It tells the story of Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), an actress and single mother who becomes concerned when her 14-year-old daughter Regan (Linda Blair) starts exhibiting strange behaviors and is prone to fits. She calls Father Karras (Jason Miller), a young priest who has recently been questioning his faith due to his mothers illness. When Father Karras meets Regan he determines that Regan has been taken control of by the devil and recommends that an exorcism be performed. They contact Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow), who along with Father Karras, begin the exorcism ritual on Regan. The scenes from this point of the film to the end are some of the best ever filmed in the horror genre. The Exorcist would go on to win Oscars for Best Sound and Best Adapted Screenplay, one of the few films in the horror category to be honored by the Academy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Picture but lost to The Sting. As someone who has seen both films....yeah, the Academy missed that one. If you've never seen The Exorcist and want a good old fashioned scare, what are you waiting for? See it.

71 - "Kingpin" (1996)

     The Farrelly brothers, who directed Kingpin, are probably best known for their movies Dumb And Dumber and There's Something About Mary. I enjoyed both of those movies as well but Kingpin to me is the forgotten classic among the Farrelly brothers work. Woody Harrelson is Roy Munson, one of the best young talents in the world of bowling who is at the top of his game and living the good life. He meets another professional bowler, Ernie McCracken, who is a sleazeball in every sense of the word and ends up scamming Roy, ultimately leading to a bunch of guys attacking Roy and amputating his hand in a unique way. McCracken is played by the great Bill Murray who has only a supporting role but steals the movie every time he is on screen. After his accident, Roy spends the next years of his life as a rundown slob who has fallen to the bottom and lives as an alcoholic. He is at the end of his rope and just when all is lost he meets an Amish gentleman named Ishmael (Randy Quaid) who is a bowler also. Roy sees an opportunity to train Ishmael in the hopes of entering a million dollar tournament that could turn his life around. The two end up on a road trip to Vegas, with Ishmael slowly adjusting to life outside the Amish community. Vanessa Angel as Claudia ends up joining the duo midway through the trip and accompanies them on their trip. Kingpin is absolutely hilarious at times but towards the end we see that it has a heart to it that is unexpected. One of the true comedy gems out there and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

72 - "Scream" (1996)

     I have a theory that the next influential horror film will come out in the year 2014. Why? Because I have determined that there is a 18 year gap between horror films that go on to become trendsetters in the genre. It started in 1960 with Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Eighteen years later, in 1978, John Carpenter turned the genre around with his classic Halloween. Eighteen years later, in 1996, Wes Craven re-created the genre again with Scream. So that's my theory on why 2014 will give us the next influential horror film. Hey, it's just a theory, sue me. Either way, all 3 of these films are on my list and at 72 we have the great Scream. I can remember seeing this movie in an almost empty theater early one afternoon after it had already been out for a couple of weeks. I had heard some rumors that it was good and decided to give it a chance. This film hooked me from the start. The first 10 minutes with Drew Barrymore being stalked is to this day one of  my favorite moments in a scary movie. Neve Campbell is Sidney Prescott, a high school student whose mother was killed a year ago and it appears someone still has a score to settle, even though Sidney thinks her mothers killer is in prison. Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy, Rose McGowan and Matthew Lillard all have roles as classmates and friends of Sidney. David Arquette plays Dewey, a local police deputy who is trying to help Sidney figure out who is stalking her. Arquette's ex-wife, Courteney Cox (the two met on the set of this film) plays reporter Gail Weathers and ends up joining Dewey in trying to solve the mystery. Scream is a terrific horror film and has scenes that are legitimately scary which so many horror films lack any more. It spawned numerous less-successful imitators but it changed the genre and for that it will always be remembered.
(Sequel Alert: While Screams 2, 3 and 4 don't hold up to the original they are all worth a look as well.)

73 - "Fargo" (1996)

     The Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan, are always an enigma to me. I fully appreciate their talents as writers, producers and directors and several of their films I have really enjoyed but others just haven't connected with me at all. Out of all their films though, Fargo is the one that really stands out to me as the cream of the crop and is the only one to make this list. William H. Macy stars as Jerry Lundegaard, a car salesman who has gotten himself into a financial mess and hires two thugs to kidnap his wife and he will split the ransom money with them when his father-in-law pays up. It sounds good in theory except for the fact that Jerry is by no means a criminal mastermind, to say the least. The two goons he hires, Steve Buscemi playing one of them brilliantly, aren't exactly the world's best criminals either, but are very dangerous. Frances McDormand won a Best Actress Oscar for her role as Marge Gunderson, the local sheriff who also happens to be pregnant. She begins piecing together the clues which ultimately leads her to Jerry and the two begin a cat and mouse game. Can Jerry get his money before Marge gets all the evidence she needs? Fargo plays well as a mystery but can also be very funny at times and yet violent also. It has a wonderful script, also written by the Coens, and the acting is all super.

74 - "Avatar" (2009)

     I remember thinking when I first heard about this movie that I had no desire to see it. It just didn't sound interesting at all. James Cameron was at the helm and was making an epic picture that could sink the unsinkable Titanic (pun fully intended) from the top of the box office charts. I just didn't buy it and did not see Avatar until several months after it's release when it was played as part of AMC Theaters Best Picture Showcase. Wanting to see all the movies that were nominated I finally sat down to watch it with my 3D glasses on......and was completely blown away!! For over 2 and a half hours I was completely hooked and when it was over I felt that I had truly seen something that transformed cinema. Then a funny thing happened several months later and I watched this at my parents home on their television and I did not have those same feelings at all. In fact, I was kind of bored at times, I have to admit. So this movie is hard for me because I can only recommend it the way it was intended to be seen, in 3-D in a theater environment. I'm sure this movie will be re-released at least once in the future and if you didn't catch it in a theater, you should. So maybe it's a little mean for me to have it on the list but at the same time I can't deny how I felt when I saw it that first time. It was one of the greatest theater experiences I have had and that has to be on the list. (Due to this movie only being a couple of years old, and it also being the highest grossing movie ever, I'm skipping any plot details. I'm pretty sure everyone knows at least something about the story, so it seems kind of pointless. I will probably do a full review one day down the road.)

75 - "Schindler's List" (1993)

     This was one of the more difficult decisions I had when making the list. I have stated that I don't necessarily think these are the "best" movies ever made but more these are my "favorite" movies. That caveat lead me to a decision to make when it came to Schindler's List because I have only seen this movie once all the way through and really don't know if I will get around to watching it again. Schindler's List is a very difficult movie to watch due to the subject matter but at the same time I cannot let go of the fact that rarely have I been moved so emotionally the way I was when watching this the first time. It's one of the few movies out there that not only do I recommend people see it, but I think it should almost be required viewing. We should never forget what happened to the Jews at the hands of the Nazis during World War II. Schindler's List stars Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, a Nazi sympathizer and greedy businessman who has a change of heart in his beliefs when he sees Jewish people being brutally murdered by Nazi soldiers. He starts using his factories to employ Jews which will keep them out of the concentration camps. He has a Jewish accountant named Itzhak Stern, played wonderfully by Ben Kingsley, who assists Oskar in his humanitarian efforts. Ultimately Oskar saves the lives of approximately 1100 Jews who almost certainly would have been condemned to death at Auschwitz or other death camps. Schindler's List is a powerful, great film but many will find it hard to watch. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and is about 99% black-and-white which works perfectly here. This movie would not have the same feel in color, I truly believe that. Ralph Fiennes portrays Nazi leader Amon Goeth and I will always consider his role one of the most villainous in cinema history. If you've ever put off watching this film, I will understand but I would also encourage you to find some time to work it in one day. Like I said, I think it's a movie everybody should see.

76 - "Groundhog Day" (1993)

     As I started writing this review I began to wonder how many times Bill Murray was on my list. After giving it a glance it appears that 4 movies of his are on the list and another 3 were some of the last cuts that I made to the list. While not the most times an actor/actress will be represented, it's up there and is a testimony to the comedy of Bill Murray. He has already appeared once before on the list with Ghostbusters and there are 2 more yet to come, but I believe Murray gives his finest performance of the bunch in Groundhog Day. Murray plays Phil Connors, a cynical weatherman in Pennsylvania who dreads the trip every February 2nd to Punxsatawney, PA to cover the towns Groundhog Day celebration. Phil is an uppity city man who feels by going to Punxsatawney he is lowering himself to the level of the "hicks" that the town has. While there, he doesn't take the job seriously and spends most of his time insulting or making fun of everyone around him. But alas, it's just one day he has to spend there so he deals with it. Unfortunately, Phil's life is about to change as he is forced to live Groundhog Day over and over and over and over again until he gets it right. Groundhog Day with a lesser actor would have been a frustrating movie I believe. We see some of the same stuff over and over and over...you get the picture...and it requires an actor who brings a humor to the role that we can connect with and keep us invested in the story. Murray pulls that off with flying colors and the film never feels to repetitive as we see Murray learn something or try something different each time. The beautiful Andie MacDowell also stars as Rita, Phil's producer and ultimately the object of his affection. She does not get overwhelmed by Murray's acting and more than holds her own and provides great balance for the film. Groundhog Day is one of the funniest films made but it also has a heart to it and that's what sets it apart and makes it a great movie.

77 - "A Time To Kill" (1996)

     Many of the works of author John Grisham have made their way to the big screen but none more effectively than the one based on his first novel, A Time To Kill. When a young black girl is attacked and raped by two drunk rednecks, the girls father Carl Lee Hailey kills the attackers in cold blood as they are being led into the courthouse for their hearings. He believes the guys will get let off without any retribution so he takes the law into his own hands. Hailey is portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson who in my opinion gives his finest performance in this film. Hailey hires southern lawyer Jake Brigance to defend him even though he knows the odds are stacked against him. Even though a lot of people understand and agree with what Carl Lee did, there are those who feel he went over the line when he killed the boys. This action revives the KKK in the area and they are out to make Carl Lee pay for his actions. Brigance must somehow do his job of defending Carl Lee even though he, his family and his friends become targets of the KKK as well. Brigance is played by Matthew McConaughey who frustrates me as an actor sometimes. He shows so much talent at times, as he does in this role, but too often he takes on brain dead roles which do not show off the acting credentials he possesses but does not demonstrate near enough. His resume should be better than what it is. Regardless, he is wonderful in this film and his closing speech in court is top notch. A Time To Kill does not get the recognition it deserves as a story and if you have not had the privilege of seeing it I highly encourage you to as it is a movie that causes us to think a little bit and that does not occur near enough in movies these days.

78 - "Titanic" (1997)

     Due to the fact that Titanic ruled the all-time box office record for 12 years until Avatar came along, I feel pretty safe in assuming this is another movie that almost everyone has seen. Titanic was the number one movie in America for a record 15 consecutive weeks!! 15!! That's hard to fathom but it received repeated viewings from young teenage girls who were definitely going through Leo-mania at the time. And while the focus for them may have been on Leo and his romantic angle with Kate Winslet, what is actually there is a wonderful film that combines drama and action with some amazing special effects work to create one of the few true epics of the past 30 years. Titanic went on to receive 11 Oscars at the 1998 Academy Awards and most of them were well deserved as they were primarily in the technical categories. It also won Best Picture, and while I think Good Will Hunting was the better picture from that year (as you will see later in the list) I can understand why Titanic won and I don't much of an issue with it. The script and the acting in the film are nothing to write home about but nothing is terrible either. The beautiful Kate Winslet, and co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, would both go on to give much better performances but both of them hold their own here. Titanic is an epic in every sense of the word and I think every home movie library collection should have it in there somewhere.

79 - "Ghostbusters" (1984)

     Probably one of the movies on the list I feel confident that almost everyone who reads this will have seen it. So there is not much reason to discuss plot details or defend the choice. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson star as the famous foursome who defend New York City from spirits that have been released onto the populous. The film mixes special effects with comedy really well which is impressive since those two things usually don't work together. But they do here and the result is one of the 80's most memorable films. Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis are also along for the ride as neighbors in a high rise apartment complex, which ends up being the main portal for the spirit world and ultimately the location of the climax of the film. Ghostbusters is a fun film and stands the test of time. It is just as funny today as it was when it was released back in 1984. The famous Marshmallow Man is one of cinemas greatest creations in my opinion. It's so ridiculous, yet so awesome, and I will never forget sitting in a theater and seeing that thing for the first time. If you happen to be one of the few people who has not seen Ghostbusters, get with the program and enjoy the adventure.

80 - "Casablanca" (1942)

     Movie "experts" everywhere can rejoice!! I have a classic movie in my list finally. I've made it no secret that there will not be a lot of movies in this list that were made pre-1980. I just haven't bought in to some of the older movies like others have even though I fully admit that I need to give more of them a try. I watched Gone With The Wind and Casablanca over the course of one weekend several years ago when I was going through a phase of wanting to finally see some of these classics. I thought Wind was an okay movie and there were things about it I liked, I just feel it's way too long. That's my biggest issue with it, there are some scenes that just drag. But I fell in love with Casablanca upon seeing that for the first time. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are former lovers who through a series of circumstances are reunited at a popular nightspot in Casablanca that Rick Blaine (Bogart) owns, during World War II. Rick is bitter towards Ilsa (Bergman) at first because she split up with him but as he learns the reasons why, he begins to understand her situation. Ilsa is now with Victor Laszlo a Czech underground leader who is being sought by Nazis. Rick can help them escape but will he? Casablanca is a wonderful film and if you are like me and have held off seeing this film for too long, take my advice and give it a shot. This one truly is a classic in every sense of the word.

81 - "Top Gun" (1986)

     I just recently got to see Top Gun on the big screen for the first time, thanks to AMC Theaters classic movies series. THAT was a great experience to say the least. I'm not a big fan of Tony Scott action movies as things like script and good acting are usually not hallmarks of his work, but Top Gun is definitely an exception. Tom Cruise stars as Navy pilot Pete Mitchell, codenamed Maverick, who along with his partner Goose (Anthony Edwards) are sent to the top pilot school in the world, Top Gun. Maverick is known as being a hot shot and will take crazy risks with his flying to gain the upper hand. His abilities, while unique and some of the best the instructors have ever seen, are so out of the norm that he is labeled as risky to work with. While at Top Gun, Maverick duels with the other top pilot in the Navy, Iceman played by Val Kilmer. When an accident leads to a tragic consequence, Maverick must somehow pick himself up and find the courage to get back in the cockpit. A female instructor named Charlie, played by Kelly McGillis in her second straight appearance in this list, becomes romantically attracted to Maverick and tries to help give him the courage to continue. Top Gun is a fun, action-packed film and is one of the movies that defined the decade of the 80's. This is another movie where the soundtrack fits perfectly and adds to the movie, highlighted by the 80's classic "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins.

82 - "The Accused" (1988)

     Jodie Foster is probably my favorite actress and one of the few currently going who you can feel pretty confident that even if the movie is not that great, it's not going to be because of her performance. She is the recipient of 2 Best Actress Oscar awards and the first came for this film, The Accused. Foster plays Sarah Tobias, who as the movie opens has just escaped after being raped by three men in a bar. Slowly we start to get more of the back story and we realize that Sarah was on drugs and drinking and may have been acting provocatively towards the men. When her attackers receive very light sentences, Sarah is crushed and ends up being taunted by a gentleman who was there during the act and encouraged the attackers to continue. Sarah approaches the district attorney, Kathryn Murphy, who decides to go after the individuals in the bar who cheered on the events. Murphy, portrayed by the wonderful Kelly McGillis, goes against the advice of her superiors and sets out to right the injustice that was done to Sarah, despite the fact she does not fully approve of the way Sarah acted that night. The acting by Foster and McGillis in this film is top notch and the movie is worth seeing just for that fact alone
(Note: The entire rape scene is shown late in the film. This scene is pretty brutal and can be hard to watch. This is not a movie for kids to see for sure and even some adults may have some serious issues with the fact so much of this is shown in the movie. I'm not saying avoid it, because it does a play a major role in the emotions of the story, just be noted that it can be tough to watch at times.)

83 - "Major League" (1989)

     One way you can tell I really like a movie, especially a comedy, is if I repeat the lines of the movie often. Major League is one of those movies and it's because of one reason: Bob Uecker!! Uecker absolutely steals the movie and gives one of the funniest supporting performances I have ever seen as the tv and radio announcer for the Cleveland Indians. Just a couple of examples of many classic lines in the film: "He leads the league in Saves, ERA and Hit Batsmen.This guy threw at his own kid in a father-son game."....."Hey, in case you haven't noticed folks. And judging by the attendance you haven't. The Indians have managed to win a game here or there and are threatening to climb out of the cellar." Uecker is wonderful but the rest of the cast comes through as well. Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Wesley Snipes lead a ragtag bunch of rookies and washed up ballplayers who were assembled to finish last, but pull together to make a run at their hated rivals, the Yankees. There is a love story between Berenger and Rene Russo which feels out of place in the movie but those scenes don't appear too often and we stick to the baseball comedy for the most part and that is gold.

84 - "My Life" (1993)

     While many people have seen the previous film on my list, I have a feeling that very few people have seen this movie. I remember seeing My Life in the theater on opening weekend and I think there was me and maybe 10 other people in the audience. This was not a blockbuster. But the people that were there, I don't think one of them left with a dry eye, including the guys. This is a film that I think you are either going to love or going to hate. I don't think there's much middle ground. And I will understand people that don't connect with it and dislike it. But those that do connect with it on an emotional level I think will find a hidden gem for their film libraries. The movie stars Michael Keaton as Bob Jones, and ad executive who has terminal cancer and knows he has only a short time to live. His wife Gail, portrayed by Nicole Kidman, is pregnant with their first child, a boy. Since Bob knows he will not be around, he starts videotaping his life so his son will have some sort of record of who his father was. That's pretty much the premise of the film in a nutshell. What follows is an emotional journey where Bob has just one final wish, he wants to see his son born. I won't go into too much the rest of the way because this movie is best experienced first hand. I did connect with this movie unlike some and what is there is such a touching story that I bought into it hook, line and sinker. The movie is very heavy on sentiment, don't watch it without a box of tissue. I encourage you to give this movie a try if you haven't seen it. You may be very surprised.

85 - "Forrest Gump" (1994)

     This is one movie that I feel pretty safe assuming most people have seen so going into plot details is probably not necessary. Some people that know me very well may be surprised to find this movie on my list because I have spent some time bashing it. But there's an explanation to those rants. It's not that I dislike the movie, I obviously do seeing that it made this list but I think it absolutely robbed The Shawshank Redemption of the Best Picture Oscar. That's my only beef with it, I don't think it was nearly on the same level with that film so I hold a little bit of a grudge. Spoiler Alert: The Shawshank Redemption is high, VERY high, on this list. But Gump is certainly a great film and Tom Hanks does a wonderful job portraying this simple, yet very complex, man from Alabama. I do believe Gary Sinise as Lt. Dan steals the movie when he is on screen and the scene on the boat towards the end when he comes to accept things in his life is a great moment. This is another movie where the soundtrack plays a big role in the success of the film. I'm not a big soundtrack guy but when it's notable it really stands out and that is the case here. Sally Field, Robin Wright and Mykelti Williamson also give nice supporting performances to this film which deserves the accolades it received....except that Best Picture Oscar.

86 - "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986)

     A John Hughes 80's teenage rebellion movie = great times!! Matthew Broderick stars as our hero Ferris Bueller who decides to skip school because the day is just too perfect to be cooped up in school. He fools his gullible parents into believing he his sick and sets out for a fun day with his hypochondriac best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck). But first they must bust his girlfriend Sloane, the beautiful Mia Sara, out of school by devising a story about her grandmother dying. Once together the three head out for a day on the town. But not everyone is fooled. School principal Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) and Ferris sister Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) both suspect not all is as it seems to be and each sets out on their own to bust Ferris and prove he isn't really sick. Will one of them succeed in exposing Ferris before he completes his day off with Cameron and Sloane? Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a wonderfully fun film and is a sort of anthem for kids who grew up in the 80's. Could we get away with some of the stuff Ferris does? Absolutely not, our parents generally weren't that naive. But would we try? You bet!!

87 - "The Dark Knight" (2008)

     I've never been a big fan of movies based on comic books. While I consider myself a nerd in general I just never got into comic books so the movies that are inspired by them don't usually connect with me. I'm not a fan of the Spiderman movies at all. Don't care to even see things like X-Men or The Hulk. The Christopher Reeves Superman films are okay but I don't hold them in high regard....The one exception for some reason is the character of Batman. I've enjoyed several of the Batman movies and Dark Knight is one of the best movies I have seen since the 2000's started. Christian Bale stars as Batman but this is the late Heath Ledger's movie as he steals every scene as Batman's primary nemesis, The Joker. The plot is simple really, Batman teams with Lt. Jim Gordon and DA Harvey Dent to take down a criminal organization that is plaguing the streets of Gotham. The organization is lead by the dreaded Joker who terrorizes everyone, even other criminals. That's the plot, pure and simple. The movie is action packed throughout and was a beauty to see on the big screen. One of the best films of recent memory in my opinion.
(While they are not on the list, I also highly recommend the Batman films featuring Michael Keaton)

88 - "Back to the Future" (1985)

     I originally had Back to the Future ranked a few spots higher in the rankings but it just felt appropriate to put it at 88. Kudos to everyone who understands why. Once again another classic 80's movie that is just fun to watch, pure and simple. Michael J. Fox stars as Marty McFly, a pretty typical teen who travels back to 1955 via a time machine which is a plutonium-powered DeLorean created by the hyperactive scientist Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd. So he can get back to the future, Marty must meet his parents in their teenage years and make sure they fall in love or he will never come to exist. There's probably a better way to describe the plot but that's the best I could come up with at the moment. It's really not as hard as it sounds to follow if you have not seen the movie yet. Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson all have supporting roles in the movie and do a great job. Back to the Future spawned two fairly successful sequels but I didn't care for either of them enough to recommend alongside the original. The original is the crown jewel and is a must see if you haven't had a chance yet.

89 - "Urban Cowboy" (1980)

    I'm never going to be mistaken for a fan of things country, especially country music, but Urban Cowboy is infectious and I don't see how you can't help but enjoy it. John Travolta stars as Bud Davis, a country boy who is moving to the big city to work at the refinery where his Uncle Bob works. When he arrives in town he is taken to the favorite local night spot, Gilley's, owned by country legend Mickey Gilley who plays himself in the film. Here Bud meets Sissy, played brilliantly by the wonderful underrated actress Debra Winger (see Forget Paris). The two hit it off right away and are married in little time. Things start out well but turn downhill when an escaped convict, Wes Hightower (Scott Glenn), enters the picture and starts hanging around the bar. Sissy is intrigued by Wes's bad boy personality and the fact that he is a "true" cowboy. This leads to a series of showdowns between Bud and Wes which leads us to the climax of the film which revolves around a mechanical bull riding competition. A lot of Urban Cowboy is pretty cheesy stuff, but it's the 80's and that's what the decade is known for. I'm not big on soundtracks and music in movies but this is one that definitely stands out. Country stars Bonnie Raitt, Mickey Gilley, The Charlie Daniels Band, Kenny Rogers, Bozz Scaggs and Johnny Lee, among others, all provide music to this wonderful soundtrack which fits the film perfectly. I know there are some people out there who will argue Grease and Saturday Night Fever or perhaps Pulp Fiction, but to me this is John Travolta's best performance.

90 - "Tommy Boy" (1995)

     This is probably one of the only Top 100 lists where you will find a Chris Farley film, but that's what makes me different!! Chris Farley is a comedy idol to me and the day I learned that he had passed away, a little part of me died as well. We lost a really funny man way too early. He lived larger than life and that ultimately lead to his death. But before he bowed out he left behind some really funny stuff for us to enjoy and Tommy Boy is one of those. Farley teams with SNL buddy David Spade in a "road trip" comedy that compares with Planes, Trains and Automobiles favorably, in my humble opinion. Tommy Callahan (Farley) returns home from school to work at his fathers (Brian Dennehy) auto parts factory but the senior Callahan has a heart attack and passes away. Tommy must go on the road with Richard (Spade) to take over his father's sales and try and save the company. Plenty of wackiness ensues on the road between the two. Tommy Boy is often quoted by me and is a lasting memory to one of my favorite comedians. Wish you were still here Chris.

91 - "Steel Magnolias" (1989)

     Oh boy, can't wait to see what kind of garbage I catch from this. With Forget Paris, Ghost, and now Steel Magnolias on my list, I sense I'm losing my man card real quick. That's okay, I admit I like this movie. Sue me.  We probably all know the plot. A close knit group of lady friends in Louisiana assemble at the neighborhood hair stylist to discuss men, makeup, hair, weddings, babies, life, death....you name it. Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah, Dolly Parton and Shirley MacLaine are primary actresses here and they all have a nice rapport with each other. But don't overlook Tom Skerritt as Sally Field's husband and Julia Robert's father. He more than holds his own with these ladies and delivers one of my favorite lines in movie history. It's probably not appropriate to put it here since I'm trying to keep this clean, but the scene where Shirley MacLaine serves him a piece of cake shaped like an armadillo, his response is absolutely wonderful. He also provides a true sense of emotion late in the movie when his daughter falls ill. Don't overlook his performance.

92 - "Executive Decision" (1996)

     I really didn't want to see this movie when it came out. I saw that Steven Seagal was in it and I'm just not in to the type of movies he makes. You will not find a lot of his work in my list, just to give you a heads up. But I remember renting it on videotape when it came out just to give me something to watch and boy was I surprised. This is a very exciting film and well made. It's not even really a Seagal film per se. I don't want to spoil anything but I will say that Seagal is not even in half the running time of the movie. This shocked me and because of it the movie was nothing like I thought it would be. The story is about a group of terrorists who hijack a plane traveling from Greece to Washington, D.C. They claim they are going to help a comrade escape US custody but a US intelligence expert named David Grant (Kurt Russell) believes there are other motives for their mission. A large amount of poison has gone missing and Grant believes the terrorists intend to use the poison to blow up the plane over Washington causing a massive death toll. Seagal is Lt. Col. Austin Travis who leads a group of counter-terrorist soldiers on a mission to take back the plane while it is in flight and take out the terrorists. I won't reveal anything else, how all of this accomplished is pretty neat to witness and I don't want to spoil anything. Executive Decision is pretty intense at times and should provide a solid two hours for anyone out there who needs their action/suspense fix.

93 - "Philadelphia" (1993)

     Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington are both actors you will see again higher up in this list, I really respect the work of both of these guys and seeing them together in Philadelphia is a treat. The movie deals with a very delicate subject and lesser actors would not have been able to pull off the emotions needed for this story. Tom Hanks stars as Andrew Beckett, a very successful young attorney who is moving up the ranks in his firm. He is given a very important case to handle and does it well until one day when a document goes missing and is only found at the last minute to save the case. Even though everything turned out alright, Andy is fired by his senior partners in the firm. He is stunned by this news and thinks there may be other reasons involved. Andy believes that everyone has learned his secret, that he has AIDS, and that is the reason why he is fired. Andy approaches attorney Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) to take his case against the law firm to court. Joe declines the case at first for personal reasons but once he sees Andy in the library working alone he talks with him more about his situation and eventually agrees to take the case. From here the movie becomes a courtroom drama for the most part but it does not get bogged down in legalese. We see Andy in his personal life quite a bit dealing with his disease along with his partner Miguel, played by Antonio Banderas. I think we have come a long way in this country with our sensitivity towards AIDS and it is not the taboo subject it once was. But in 1993, it still was just that and I give the filmmakers credit for making this film and approaching the subject and it's personal ramifications head on. Tom Hanks won the first of back-to-back Best Actor Oscars for his portrayal of Andy Beckett and it is well deserved.

94 - "Twister" (1996)

     I will catch some grief for having this movie on my list, I already have from one person, but I have to be honest as always and I love this movie. Now there is a caveat to that statement. I saw this film in theaters and it is definitely one you needed to experience on the big screen rather than the small screen. I did catch it in theaters and was in absolute awe. From an acting and screenwriting point of view, the movie is really nothing special. But man the special effects and sound effects are top notch and very well done. The film stars Bill Paxton and Jami Gertz as a couple who are on their way to meet his wife, played by Helen Hunt, to sign divorce papers. Bill and Jo (Paxton, Hunt) were once a happy couple that spent their free time as "storm chasers", people that run around into tornado zones in the hopes of studying them. Bill has left that job but Jo and her team are still chasing away and as the movie opens one of the biggest storm days in Oklahoma's history is expected. Sure enough, when they arrive a storm hits nearby and Bill and Jo are thrust back into action together. And this is pretty well how the movie goes from start to finish. Like I said, this movie is not an acting gem by any means and Jami Gertz's character just seems out of place altogether, but the effects are amazing. Go along for the ride and you may find something you really enjoy.