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| a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
I'm back after my two-week hiatus and I solemnly swear that I am up to no good this year I will join the Thursday Movie Pick series every single week, and I will also do my best to not use a title more than once. In the hope that this won't be just another unaccomplished new year resolution, I leave you with my picks for this first week.
All About Eve (1950)
Starring Bette Davis in the role of a Broadway star who is used by a manipulative, aspiring young actress (Anne Baxter), this film is perfectly written, and perfectly acted. And it would have been perfect if it wasn't for the many dull, tedious moments spread throughout.
The Apartment (1960) - Review
Directed by Billy Wilder, it stars Jack Lemmon in the role of an insurance clerk who finds a way to rise in the company by letting his boss (Fred MacMurray) use his apartment to take his mistress (Shirley MacLaine). This film immediately won me over with Lemmon's very likeable character and performance, and a perfect balance between drama and comedy.
On the Waterfront (1954) - Review
Directed by Elia Kazan, it stars Marlon Brando in the role of a young, uneducated dockworker who witnesses a murderer. While it is not perfect, it sure is a great film about the power of corruption, morality, and redemption, with great character development, and terrific acting.
I like all three of these, but my favorite is All About Eve. I still think Sunset Blvd deserved to win over it though.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. All About Eve was far from perfect in my opinion, but Sunset Boulevard is downright terrific and deserved to win.
DeleteGreat choices!
ReplyDeleteAll About Eve is my number three of all BP winners (behind From Here to Eternity and The Best Years of Our Lives). A wonderful souffle of wit and expert performances (George Sanders win is the best Supporting Actor Oscar in the category's history). Had Sunset Blvd won over it I wouldn't have complained but I'm fine with it taking the prize.
The Apartment is an incisive clever and touching film. I can't say I love it as much as some do but it is a deserving winner.
Brando's allure doesn't always work for me, I often find him fussy and over studied particularly for someone who was a method actor, and that led me to avoid watching On the Waterfront all the way through for years. But when I decided to see all the BP winners I gave it a front to back watch and it was a very rewarding experience. A gripping film with brilliant work by Brando, Eva Marie Saint and Rod Steiger.
I went the alternate route and chose the films I think are the absolute pits-the three worst winners in the category's history.
The Broadway Melody (1929)-It only took two years for the Academy to award the wrong film. Glue-footed musical that came out shortly after sound changed the industry won more out of the novelty of songs being able to be heard on screen than any kind of worth the picture possesses….which ain’t much!
Cimarron (1931)-Stiff as a board adaptation of Edna Ferber’s classic novel of the settling of the Oklahoma Territory. Leaden direction, dull performances (incredibly Richard Dix won Best Actor) and a sluggish pace aren’t compensated by one great land rush sequence. The first Western to win Best Picture (in a year where The Public Enemy, Little Caesar and City Lights weren’t even nominated!) soured the pot and it took another 60 years until Dances with Wolves captured another.
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)-The title says just about all about this insufferable, tedious, tiresome and endlessly bloated adaptation of a Jules Verne adventure dealing with a balloon trip circumnavigating the globe. Stuffed with cameos of stars of the day in either passing bits or meaningless parts it made a mint on release but this is the worst film to ever win Best Picture.
I have never heard of any of your picks before. Which is crazy especially about Around the World in 80 Days as both Giant and The Ten Commandments were nominated that same year.
DeleteNow those are 3 winners I can get behind with as The Apartment is my favorite of the bunch.
ReplyDeleteIt is my favourite as well!
DeleteGreat picks! These are all practically perfect films to win and be selected. All About Eve is probably my favorite out of the three.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad All About Eve worked better for you as it's my least favourite here. It's not a bad film but the pace kind of ruined the film for me. I will rewatch it eventually and chances are I'll change my mind then.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these but from your comments and all over the above, I think it's about time I do! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will at least love The Apartment as it's my favourite of the three.
DeleteLove the banner! And you shall succeed!!! If I can, you can! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI love All About Eve especially George Sanders as the biting Addison DeWitt. I love every bit of that film including that dinner party with Marilyn Monroe as a wanna be actress. The Apartment is a good film but I am not as enamoured with it as many are but Lemmon is great. On The Waterfront is an excellent if not somber film with Brando at his best as the man who is vilified by his fellow workers.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those who adores The Apartment.
DeleteThe Apartment is one I want to see.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will love it as much as I did!
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