Five Favorite Films With Alex Gelhar

I love the site Rotten Tomatoes. And one of my favorite aspects of the site is their “Five Favorite Films With…” section. I find it really interesting to see what movies inspired/moved some of the most talented people in the business. And it’s also a great place to find new titles to stock up my Netflix queue with. So as I continue to wait for a phone call from Hollywood, let’s play a little fantasy game where I’m already successful in the industry, and Rotten Tomatoes has asked me to give my Five Favorite Films.

Singin’ in the Rain (1952, 100% Tomatometer)

When I started college I set out to watch every film on AFI’s Top 100 Films list, and this was one that puzzled me. It was in the top 10 and I thought, “Really? This musical on par with Shindler’s List, The Godfather, and Citizen Kane?” Damn did this movie surprise me. It’s so clever, with biting humor, brilliant performances and a fantastic story. Gene Kelly is simply amazing. It was humbling watching him sing, act, dance. and direct! What a talent. And then let’s not forget Don O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds, and Jean Hagen. Man was she funny! Top to bottom this move is exquisitely crafted, and makes me smile every time I watch it.

Raging Bull (1980, 98% Tomatometer)

I have to put a Scorsese film in my top five, so I’ll go with his best and my favorite. I love almost all of his work, but this film is just amazing. From De Niro’s performance to the beautiful black and white cinematography to the best editing ever (Thelma Schoonmaker is just too good) it had everything going for it. A stellar supporting cast, and a script chock-full of quotable lines. “You fuck my wife?” It’s a film that challenges you, not only to like the anti-hero of Jake LaMotta, but to appreciate the precision, care, and unsurpassed talent that went into making such a masterpiece.

Pulp Fiction (1994, 94% Tomatometer)

This was the film that made me want to write for a living. Tarantino is a master of dialogue and story structure, and when he fleshes that story out with such unforgettable characters we as the audience are rewarded. I loved that film so much in high school that I used to watch the first 30 minutes or so whenever I was feeling down. Something about the rapid fire, witty banter between Jules and Vincent just brought a smile to my face. The film also breathed fresh life into John Travoltas career, by giving him arguably his most iconic film role ever. Yet while the dialogue, characters, and crazy story are what everyone talks about, it’s the little things in that film that make it one of my all time favorites. For instance, while Pulp Fiction is often quoted as an “extremely violent film,” almost all of the deaths take place off camera. While Tarantino takes a bad rap some times for aping the techniques of others, the man knows cinema and this was his crowning achievement.

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977, 94% Tomatometer)

This was the movie that made me want to work in this industry. From the first time I watched as a five year old boy, I knew there was something magical in the art of film making. Star Wars transcends so many boundaries as a film – as a business model, an epic, a classic tale of good and evil, and a damn good film to boot. This film gets me every time. When Luke sees his home burning and the score swells. When Han and Luke save Leia and escape the trash compactor. When Obi Wan takes one for the team. I love the dialogue too. Even though at times it seems a bit campy to some, it never did to me. It was written to fit the style of film, and it did that perfectly. And let’s not talk about how flawlessly the story is structured. Anyone want to watch Star Wars now?

Network (1976, 90% Tomatometer)

And now we’ve come down to my all time favorite film. While Pulp Fiction and Star Wars made me want to work in this industry, Network made me realize I didn’t know shit about writing or directing film. Paddy Chayefsky’s prescient script is one of the best screenplays ever written. Watching it over thirty years after it was released the message was as strong and scathing as ever. And it was acted out by, in my honest opinion, one of , if not the best, ensemble casts ever. Finch, Holden, Dunaway, Duvall Beatty Straight. Wow. Everyone of the actors in the films hits a homerun with their scenes, no matter how many or how long. And to me that’s a testament to the stunningly well-written script and the careful direction of Sydney Lumet, the under-appreciated master of cinema. Lumet became my favorite director after I read his book Making Movies. His passion for film-making dripped off the pages, and when I watched Network I could see the fruits of his labors and passion. Network wasn’t a movie made by heartless suits and talent seeking a pay check. It was a film made by people who loved what they did, and understood the power of cinema. I just can’t say enough about that film.

So there you have it, my Five Favorite Films of all time. Next post will be an expanded list of my Top 25 or so films, but without the long explanations. Of course, now I have to really sit down and do some tough thinking. Good thing it’s summer! Speaking of which, make sure to enjoy the nice whether!