IMDB rating: 8.8
My rating: 9.0
Schindler's List was a movie I knew a lot about but had never gotten around to watching it. This is Spielberg's masterpiece and deserves its spot near the top of the list.
The majority of the film was in black and white which was an interesting directing choice. After watching another great Holocaust film, The Pianist, I think it was the right one to make. The vivid colors in The Pianist distracted from the storyline and didn't quite fit with the theme. Schindler's list had to rely on acting and a riveting story to make the most of its 2 colors and boy did it succeed.
Liam Neeson was fantastic as Oskar Schindler, a Nazi party member and factory owner during World War II. Some other great performances by Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes rounded out the film.
It was really inspiring to know that not all humanity was lost in Hitler's Germany. At the same time, it was depressing to realize that despite the enormous efforts of Oskar Schindler, 6 million people still died.
The ending of this movie was unconventional. Each of the actors came back on screen escorting the actual person they were portraying in the film. It was a fitting way to end this masterpiece. Schindler's List is near the top in most movie lists for a reason. Even if you know what's going to happen, the experience is still worth it.
There are many disturbing images and scenes from the Holocaust in this film, so you may have to turn your head away at a few parts. Also, Schindler's List is over 3 hours long, so make sure and plan ahead before watching this. That being said, this is one of the greatest movies ever made and everyone should watch it.
Schindler's List - #7
American History X - #39
My Rating: 9.1
American History X was a movie I've been wanting to see for a while. I finally found a copy and was not disappointed. The film was very emotional and thought provoking.
Edward Norton gave a powerhouse performance and proved himself as one of the greatest actors alive today. He was able to portray a troubled teenager, a hardened criminal, and a caring brother flawlessly. Each of his roles were completely believable. The supporting cast was great too, but they couldn't compete with Norton for the spotlight.
There is brief nudity, some violence, and a lot of adult language. If you are easily offended, you may want to stay away from this film. That being said, I highly recommend this and would rank it in the top 10 movies of all time.
Once Upon a Time in the West - #19
The great directing along with a great cast and a compelling story made this film a pleasure to watch. When I watched Once Upon a Time in the West, I had just seen Henry Fonda in 12 Angry Men. It was interesting to see him as a villain after being the ultimate good guy.
After 5 minutes of watching this movie, I was ready to turn it off. It starts out pretty slow, but stick with it. You'll be glad you did. I can't decide between City of God and this movie as my favorite of all time. If you like Westerns or just great film making you have to see Once Upon a Time in the West.
12 Angry Men - #9
My rating: 8.8
12 Angry Men was a great movie. I don't usually like old movies, but this is such a classic that I had to watch it.
Almost the entire movie takes place in a single room with 12 jurors sitting around a table. Without changing scenery or music, 12 Angry Men had to rely primarily on acting. Luckily, this movie has some of the best acting of any I've seen. Henry Fonda led the pack with a memorable performance.
It is only 96 minutes, so there really isn't any excuse to not see this movie. If you haven't seen it yet, you really have to.
