You’ve been banished to a beautiful tropical island for the duration. Among the belongings you are allowed to bring is a DVD player and ten movies. Since there is no satellite receiver on this island, you’re stuck watching these films over and over. Which ten would you pick? Here are my selections:
Godfather One. Probably the greatest film ever made. Mario Puzo’s great novel brought to life on screen is almost perfect in every sense.
Godfather Two. It’s rare that a sequel can be as good, maybe even better than the original.
Moonstruck. Cher’s unforgettable Oscar winning performance as a widow in the prime of her life and her Italian heritage are moving and hilarious at the same time. The closing scene in the family’s kitchen is one of the best movie moments ever.
Groundhog Day. Bill Murray is unforgettable as the sour-minded weatherman who is caught in a time warp in Punxsutawney, PA, living the same day over and over. His journey teaches him something new each day. Its’ entertaining, moving and teaches us all some life lessons.
Witness. Harrison Ford’s portrayal of tough Philadelphia detective John Book made this one of the top ten grossing films of all time when released in 1985. His assimilation into the Amish way of life to protect a witness was illuminating.
Superman One. Christopher Reeves was Superman. He was my boyhood hero brought to life on screen. His perfect portrayal was complemented by Margot Kidder’s Lois Lane and the heroics were never in doubt. There were four sequels but the original took the cake.
Second Hand Lions. I never met anyone who saw this movie who didn’t love it. Michael Caine and Robert Duval are superb as two old codgers living life out on their ranch in Texas, spending most of their days in rocking chairs on the front porch. Then their eleven year old nephew is suddenly and unexpectedly dumped on them. Life is never the same for any of them again in this highly entertaining, humorous, and adventurous film.
The Life of Pi. I’ve never seen a film like it before or since. Four years in the making and the visual effects are stunning. How does a teenage boy survive in a life boat in the ocean for weeks on end when his only companion is a 450-pound Bengal Tiger? You have to see it to believe it and you still won’t.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is a non-stop adventure from beginning to end. Indy’s heroics are second to none, the director manages to weave humor and pathos into the search for the vessel holding the original Ten Commandments. There were three sequels, the following two were great, but “Lost Ark” is the benchmark.
Shawshank Redemption. There are lots of “prison movies” around, but they all play second banana to this one. The story of an innocent man condemned to life imprisonment for a murder he didn’t commit. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman team up and the resulting redemption is more than the evil warden bargained for.
I’d be interested in your pick or picks for movies you already do or would watch over and over. I’ll publish the results in a future column.
