Four Flicks, Vol. I
I dove into a few hobbies when the world came to a halt in 2020. I got reacquainted with my fly rod, went four-wheeling, and smoked cigars with the infamous Chef Kent in the mountains. We managed to find a riverfront pub that served pint after pint of Hefeweizen while we watched other anglers reel em' in. I also picked up origami, studied horticulture and ornithology, and dove headfirst into cinema.
I didn’t think of myself as a “movie buff” prior to 2020. I occasionally went to the theater, enjoyed 007 flicks, and had a small collection of DVDs, but I always wanted to “get into” film. I didn’t know what that meant or where to start until my cousin’s son moved to Atlanta after film school.
I’d take him to dinner while he taught me the basics of cinema, and I found everything fascinating. I started listening to film podcasts, reading scripts, and committing to watching the American Film Institute Top 100 (only American films) and the Sight and Sound Top 100 (International and American films). To date, I’ve seen 88 on the AFI list and 36 foreign films.
A lot of people ask me how to “get into” film. For starters, it takes time. I’m three years in, and I’ve merely scratched the surface. That said, my advice is to start with the AFI Top 100. You’ve already seen several (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Godfather, Rocky), and none are too abstruse. I would randomly pick a number and watch the corresponding movie on the list. Of the 88 I’ve seen, only four are on my “never again” list.
Once you’ve got your fill of American films, sprinkle in foreign films from the Sight and Sound list. I’ll write another piece on how to do this because it’s not easy. French and Italian flicks are a no-brainer, but it gets complex when you get into Japanese, Swiss, and Russian stuff. Never mind Iranian, Armenian, and the like. My suggestion is to start with Bicycle Thieves (Italian) and The 400 Blows (French).
As Andy wrote to Red in The Shawshank Redemption (ranked 72nd in the AFI Top 100), “If you’ve come this far, maybe you’re willing to come a little further.” Assuming you’re enjoying yourself, check out the Criterion Collection for independent, esoteric, and arthouse stuff. This is a rabbit hole of cosmic proportions—don't say I didn’t warn you.
Lastly, quite often I’m asked about good films that are off the radar, so I picked four that fit the bill, but I won’t provide reviews for a few reasons. First, where’s the fun in losing the element of surprise? And second, I’ve never been a fan of critics who fancy six-syllable words and think Blazing Saddles is for the unwashed masses, and I intend to keep my distance from them.
The Swimmer – 1968.
No way to explain this one...you’ll have to watch it for yourself.
Downhill Racer – 1969.
A pet project of Redford's that was filmed on location in the Alps.
The Kid Stays in the Picture – 2002.
Fascinating documentary on one of Hollywood's most fascinating men.
The Wild Bunch – 1969.
There are Westerns, and there are WESTERNS. This is the latter. Ranked 79th in the American Film Institute Top 100. “If they move, kill ‘em!”
