Paul Simpson - Movie Lists: 397 Ways to Pick a DVD

Movie Lists

Paul Simpson

Paul Simpson

WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM

John Atkinson, Jo Berry, Lloyd Bradley, Titus Chalk, Samantha Cook, lan Cranna, Mark Ellingham, Damian Hall, Angie Errigo, Rob Ganley, Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger, Andrew Lockett, Martin Mazur, David Parkinson, Naman Ramachandran, Martin Rosser, Helen Rodiss, Lesley Anne Rose, Sebastian Secker Walker, Jack Simpson, Jamie Smart, Lesley Turner, Victoria Williams

Acknowledgments

Thanks to: Stephanie Jones, Sharon OConnor, Martin Rosser, Mark Ellingham, Duncan Clark and Susanne Hillen, and to all the crack team of reviewers.

Picture credits

Front cover photo: 3D glasses Nicholas Rigg/Corbis All other photos are licensed from the MovieStore Collection Back cover photos (left to right): Isabelle Adjani and Klaus Kinski in Nosferatu The Vampyre; Matt Damon and George Clooney in Syriana; Anne Parillaud in Nikita

Publishing details
Published by Profile Books
3A Exmouth House, Pine Street, London EC1R 0JH
www.profilebooks.com

Copyright Paul Simpson, 2008

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

The moral right of the author has been asserted

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

Printed and bound in the UK by Bell & Bain Ltd, Glasgow

Typeset in Minion Pro to an original design by Duncan Clark

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 9781846688720

Because weve all had that queasy feeling in our stomachs as we peruse the massed ranks of movies in video stores, movies-on-demand, or online rentals, and begin to panic slightly as the realisation dawns that we cant quite remember the name of that film somebody recommended last week, dont want to fall back again on an old standby (you cant spend every leisure hour watching Cary Grant reruns), but dont really know, as your eye runs through the titles, which film you want to rent or buy. With this book you need never suffer again.

Because life is too short to watch bad movies, this book is purely about good films 397 lists of them that Im convinced youll enjoy watching. They are listed under actor, director, genre, sometimes their country or region of origin and sometimes under quirkier headings like surfing or psychos. The lists are cross-referenced on a pseudo-scientific basis Some Like It Hot, which could be listed under Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe or Billy Wilder, sits atop the Screwball Comedy list although occasionally, where a list would be packed with cross-references, we have chosen to review more and refer less.

This is designed to be the first edition of a book that will grow and grow, in future editions and maybe online. And it would be great to have your contribution. So if you feel weve missed out some vital movie, or you have a list of your own youd like to see up in lights, please feel free to email me at movielists@profilebooks.com.

And in the meantime, enjoy that movie

Paul Simpson

Surging testosterone, squealing car brakes, sneering baddies, and wisecracking heroes define thanks to the likes of Spielberg, Scott and Donner the action movie. Not to mention that old cinema slogan: You cant beat a good film

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Dir Steven Spielberg, 1981, 115m

Indiana Jones is a truly great action hero, a strong, brave, intelligent, blundering Im making this up as I go along archaeologist who was at his most compelling foiling the Nazis. The sight of Alfred Molina covered in tarantulas, Spielbergs flair and a witty script mean this is still a must-see. Best of the sequels is Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989) in which Ford spars beautifully with Sean Connery.

The Bourne Identity

Dir Doug Liman, 2002, 118m

Neither star Matt Damon nor director Liman were obvious choices to tackle Robert Ludlums Jason Bourne novels. Yet Damon and Limans action hero feels like he belongs to the 21st century. A young amnesiac looking for his true identity, Bourne has only a bag of money, a knack for martial arts and a girl in a decrepit Mini to help him. A slick, quick, big, stylish chase movie that may well affect your levels of adrenaline and yielded two half-decent sequels: The Bourne Ultimatum (2004) and The Bourne Supremacy (2007).

Lethal Weapon

Dir Richard Donner, 1987, 110m

The mixture as before car chases, explosions and the partner/ buddy combo of loose cannon (Mel Gibson) and by-the-book (Danny Glover) but faster, with no pause for breath. In less than two hours Gibson and Glover meet, become friends, survive torture, rescue Glovers daughter, chase cars and kill folks. Shane Blacks wisecracking script suits the frenetic pace. Zeffirelli was so enamoured by Gibsons suicide scene he cast him as Hamlet.

Beau Geste

Dir William Wellman, 1939, 120m, b/w

Boys Own-style adventure of three brothers who join the Foreign Legion. Savaged by Graham Greene as uncritical daydreaming about brutality, this rousing adaptation of the P.C. Wren bestseller drawing closely on Herbert Brenons silent 1926 version keeps our interest thanks to Coops laconic charisma, Brian Donlevys memorably sadistic sergeant and some lavish set pieces.

Fight Club

Dir David Fincher, 1999, 139m

Chuck Palahniuk had the idea for his novel when he was beaten up on a campsite after asking someone to turn their radio down. Fincher made the book into a deliciously OTT cult classic. Edward Norton and Brad Pitt are superb as The Narrator and Tyler Durden, the soap-maker who changes the Narrators life. With no corset in sight, Helena Bonham-Carter shines as a hellcat while Meatloaf almost steals the show as a Fight Club member with man-breasts.

All-action heroine Franka Polente (Lola) shows an impressive turn of speed in Tom Tykowers existential thriller. But can she outrun fate?

Run Lola Run

Dir Tom Tykwer, 1998, 81m

Lola (Franka Potente) has 20 minutes to find a large sum of money, which technically belongs to a local gangster, but has been lost by her useless boyfriend. But Fate enters the equation, with three scenarios played out, each leading to a different conclusion for the hapless boyfriend. Split screen and video footage ensure the hyperkinetic action sequences never flag.