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| A weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
Welcome back to another week of Wandering Through the Shelves's series Thursday Movie Picks. This week we are sharing our favourite Steven Spielberg movies. Keeping in mind that there's plenty of his films that I'm yet to see and that I don't consider this to be his best films, only my favourites as the title states, I leave you with my picks.
Catch Me If You Can (2002) - Review
Plot: It tells the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) who, before turning nineteen, successfully conned millions of dollars' worth of checks as a pilot, doctor and legal prosecutor as well as showing an FBI agent's (Tom Hanks) attempts to catch him.
This is one of those stories that seems too unreal to be true and yet it's true and it's beautifully told by Spielberg. His comic timing, which was very off in 1941, is on point, which makes the film such a fun watch. The cast too is fantastic, DiCaprio as charming as usual and Hanks as likeable as usual.
Jurassic Park (1993) - Review
Plot: After creating an island theme park populated by dinosaurs, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) invites palaeontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) to test it. Unfortunately, the park suffers a major power breakdown which allows the dinosaurs to roam freely over the island and the group of scientists, along with two kids, must fight for their survival.
While some aspects of the screenplay could have used more work — the characters are terribly one-dimensional —, this one is arguably the best of the franchise as it's exciting and entertaining, the special effects are terrific, the dinosaurs look realistic and menacing, and the cast, I mean, it has Sam Neil, Laura Dern and Jeff freaking Goldblum!
The Terminal (2004) - Review
Plot: Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks), a man from the fictional Eastern European nation of Krakozhia, gets stuck in the terminal of New York's JFK Airport as his country is taken over in a coup, the US doesn't recognise the new nation and the borders of Krakozhia are close. Forced to say in the International Transit section, Viktor makes it his home and starts to develop friendships with the people who work there.
It took me ages to finally watch this film and boy, did I regret it. The writing isn't particularly good here as the story is cheesy and predictable, there's plenty of things that don't make a lot of sense and some confusing romantic subplots. And yet, this is such a sweet, heartwarming film and, despite their lack of characterization and development, I really cared about the characters. And you gotta love Stanley Tucci's performance as the asshole/customs director who tries to prevent Viktor from leaving the airport.
I have seen all 3 and love catch me which was such an engaging film and one where you route for the kid. Jurassic Park scared the hell out of me because the dinosaurs looked so real. The kitchen scene had me on the edge of my seat. I liked the Terminal which is very loosely based on a true event. Hanks and Tucci made the film!
ReplyDeleteYas! More love for Catch Me If You Can.
DeleteI also added Jurassic Park on my list! That was such a fantastic movie and I loved the special effects for the movie at the time! I really need to watch Catch Me If You Can someday!
ReplyDeleteThey are really good, aren't they? Whenever I rewatch it, I'm amazed with how good the effects are. And yes, you need to watch Catch Me If You Can. It is such a fun movie, and the acting is great.
DeleteWe share a pick with Catch Me If You Can as that was one of my dad's favorite films and I'm likely to get very sentimental if I ever watch it. He LOVED this film and it features his favorite performance from Leo who was one of his favorite actors.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet.
DeleteI never saw Catch Me If You Can but I might have to try and check it out this year! I love your list.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And yes, you should.
DeleteOf these three Catch Me If You Can is by far my favorite. It is a wild story but because of the combined talents of Spielberg, Hanks and DiCaprio it is never less than fun and involving.
ReplyDeleteJurassic Park isn't something I watch often but it is very tense and well made. The follow-ups not so much.
It took me a long time to watch The Terminal, the preview was just awful, and while I didn't hate it I found it to be middling at best.
I’ve used all of my favorites (Raiders, Saving Pvt. Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, Lincoln, Bridge of Spies and The Post) of his theatrical releases before so I turned to a handful of his early TV films that I admired.
Duel (1971)-Suspense film of salesman Dennis Weaver driving through the desert and unconsciously offending a psychotic truck driver who then doggedly pursues him with the object of killing him. While it sounds simple Spielberg makes it incredibly taut. His first solo film directing effort was an enormous hit making his reputation.
Something Evil (1972)-Married couple Paul and Marjorie Worden (Darren McGavin and Sandy Dennis) move into what seems to be a bucolic Pennsylvania farm house with their kids and at first all is good. But suddenly disturbing events begin to transpire and Marjorie suspects what had only been hinted at by the locals before-the house is possessed by the Devil! Good acting and Spielberg’s firm hand make it a cut above. A precursor of his later Poltergeist.
Savage (1973)-Martin Landau plays Paul Savage, a renowned TV investigative reporter with his own weekly show (think a 70’s Anderson Cooper) covering the proposed nomination of a candidate to the Supreme Court. When the news is announced Savage is contacted by Lee Raynolds, a young woman in possession of damaging evidence she’s willing to sell. Savage goes to the network boss (a very young Dabney Coleman) for the cash but then word arrives that Lee is dead, a supposed suicide. But is that really so? Looking for answers leads Savage into a labyrinth of lies and deceit. A decent story enhanced by Spielberg’s directorial touches and aided by a strong cast including Barbara Bain (Landau’s wife at the time), Will Geer (Grandpa Walton) and Pat Harrington. This was Spielberg’s final TV gig before moving into features.
Bonus:
Eyes (1969)-Claudia Menlo (Joan Crawford) a fabulously rich but mercenary woman (she tells her doctor "My single abiding interest is MYSELF"!) who has been blind since birth blackmails a surgeon (Barry Sullivan-who also appears in Savage) to transplant the eyes of a desperate man she has bought so she can see for twelve hours. The surgery is a success but an unexpected hitch pitches her back into darkness. The second segment of the pilot for the TV show Night Gallery was Spielberg’s first professional directorial job and he aces it with an assured hand helped by Crawford’s accomplished performance.
I'm sorry The Terminal didn't work that well for you but at least you didn't hate it.
DeleteI haven't seen any of your picks but Duel has been on my list for quite some time. Might give it a chance later this year.
We match with one and I have seen the other two. I like all these movies. All rewatchable and pretty entertaining.
ReplyDeleteI know right! And it's such a shame most people haven't seen Catch Me If You Can.
DeleteSolid picks, though I suppose you can't really go wrong with most Spielberg movies. My opinions are boring when it comes to Spielberg, with my favourites being Jaws and Raiders. Though I do also love the gritty simplicity of Duel, his first movie.
ReplyDeleteThey are not boring, just classic, maybe. I did like Jaws as it was very tense but I wasn't crazy about Raiders. I know, I know, blasphemy! But I liked The Temple of Doom better.
DeleteI've seen all, but it has been ages since I've seen Jurassic park and the Terminal so I remember very little.
ReplyDeleteCall for a rewatch, I guess haha
DeleteI watched The Terminal at home so was Ok with it, but at the cinema or having paid for it I'd have been harsher with it. I'd love to see Leo and Tom act alongside each other more often.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm lucky then as usually my feelings towards a movie are the same regardless of where I saw it. Actually, I think I might enjoy it a bit more if I paid for it, to make the money worth it. Unless it's a disaster.
Delete