The 100 Chapter 3: 96 and 95

Who doesn't love a list?

I devour the BFI Best Films of All Time list whenever they deem it necessary to revise and (invariably) disagree with most of the findings, but I still get a kick out of browsing. Same with Rolling Stone's inane Best 100 Albums (how does Sgt. Pepper drop from #1 to #24 in the latest incarnation?); the anger I feel subsides when I see they've put a couple of Aerosmith albums on the list! We all disagree with that number one but we keep right on scrolling through each choice.

This project, which has been percolating for quite a while, originated from the constant back and forth "good natured bickering" between John Scoleri and myself. John invariably loves everything and I hate it all (for more of the discourse, I advise one and all to pick up a copy of bare•bones print magazine and read our debates about streaming and movie theaters to get a taste). I began to think it would be fun to compose a Favorite (as opposed to Best) 100 and compare our selections. Making it even more tantalizing, I managed to talk the third head of Ghidorah, Jack Seabrook, into participating. This could be interesting, since John's never seen a movie the two Georges (Romero and Lucas) didn't have a hand in, and Jack usually favors the flicks that have words at the bottom of the screen (dis-moi que j'ai tort, Jack!). I, on the other hand, can't wait to educate these two gentlemen as to what constitutes good cinema.

Every Thursday, we'll count down our picks two at a time. We're hoping this will generate discourse outside of our trio. Let us know just how crazy we are. This is going to be fun! —Peter

Cronocrimines (Timecrimes) (2007)                        Starring: Karra Elejalde, Nacho Vigalondo               Directed by: Nacho Vigalondo

"I'm Hector Three!"

The problem with any discussion about Cronocrimines is that too many beans would be spilled eventually. This is a movie that is propelled by the twist perhaps more than just about any other you can think of (in fact, I would recommend you not watch the embedded trailer until after you've seen the movie). The barest minimum I could give you would be: Hector is relaxing in his garden with his binoculars, exploring the beautiful countryside surrounding his home, when he spies a very pretty young woman stripping in the forest. Sending his wife off to the store, Hector goes exploring, and that's when everything goes haywire.

I'll say, to keep those of you who have no knowledge of the flick interested, that the film deals with the pratfalls of time travel. At times it's confusing, but it's always enthralling. It's the kind of science fiction what-if that Al Feldstein and Bill Gaines mined over and over in the 1950s and I have no doubt that writer/director Vigalondo was exposed to those classics. I stumbled onto this one when I was doing a deep dive on foreign horror years ago and a few other discoveries from that journey will show up soon. —Peter

Remarks from the Gallery

Jack: What the heck? Now that's one I've never heard of!

John: I haven't seen this one in years, but I really liked it. I recently picked up the Umbrella Blu-ray because it was overdue for revisiting. 

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)          

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt, Walter Huston

Directed by: John Huston

Humphrey Bogart gives a stunning performance as Fred C. Dobbs, a man down on his luck in Mexico in 1925 who joins another bum and a grizzled prospector in a search for gold in the Sierra Madre mountains. Unfortunately, other people get involved and things spiral out of control for Dobbs, whose cruelty and paranoia eventually lead to his downfall.

Bogart was a big star at the time and it's impressive how well he plays such an unlikeable main character. Walter Huston won an Oscar playing Howard, the old prospector, and deserved it. Tim Holt is perfect as Curtain, the other bum, whose conscience puts him at risk when Dobbs gets increasingly nervous. John Huston won Oscars for writing and directing the picture, which holds up terrifically on rewatching. It's funny that the line about "We don't need no stinkin' badges" has become so famous, since it's not a big moment in the film.

This is one of those movies that could be much higher up on the list! —Jack

Remarks from the Gallery

Peter: Another decent pick, Jack. Bogie would have to be on my Top Ten Favorite Actors list thanks to this, Key Largo, and The African Queen.

John: Another classic that I have in the library but have yet to watch. SPOILER ALERT—Bogart does make my list!

Somewhere in Time (1980)          

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, Christopher Plummer

Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc

"Is it you?"

While I prefer Richard Matheson's novel (Bid Time Return) to the film adaptation, I think the film still succeeds thanks to the chemistry between our best screen Superman and the lovely Jane Seymour. A classic tale of love transcending time, it's hard not to get caught up in the romance (thanks in large part to John Barry's excellent score). Plummer is fantastic (as always) as the protective manager of Seymour's Elise McKenna from a suitor he's sure will destroy her acting career. 

Somewhere in Time is textbook example of a film that found its audience after a less than spectacular theatrical run. Few films are celebrated regularly at the location where they were filmed nearly 50 years after they were made, but there's a regular Somewhere in Time weekend at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan (Dawn of the Dead's Living Dead Weekend at the Monroeville Mall is another).

Remarks from the Gallery

Peter: Now here's a romance fantasy that actually works, thanks mostly to Christopher Reeve's restrained performance and the gorgeous cinematography. I've never read the novel, though I'm a big fan of Matheson. 

Jack: I think I read the novel long ago and I'm sure I must have seen the movie. No complaints here!

Bachelor Party (1984)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tawny Kitaen  Directed by: Neal Israel

"Gentlemen... start your boners!"

Perhaps the most underrated, least seen raunch comedy of the 1980s, a decade infamous for lousy raunch comedies, Bachelor Party holds a special place in my... heart. Long before Tom Hanks was a serious actor, he was a comedic chameleon (here slipping into the skin of Bill Murray) who starred in reliably funny vehicles like the short-lived TV series, Bosom Buddies, and the smash mermaid romance Splash (released shortly before Bachelor). I had been a big fan of Bosom while it was on the air, so I was first in line in the summer of '84 at The Pruneyard for this one. In retrospect, this film stands out from all of Hanks's filmography for its lewd behavior and continued ability to swing for the fence (in one scene, literally). It's no wonder that, once he was doing little sammitches at the Ritz with Spielberg, Hanks would change the subject every time an interviewer brought up this deliciously tasteless romp.

Bachelor Party wastes no time establishing its "stacked jokes" method of making the audience laugh so hard they miss out on some lines. It worked on me, so I went back for a second viewing only a few days after the first. So many classic scenes and lines: Rick (Hanks)'s discussion with his future father in law at the tennis court; the pimps ("This being Mel!"); Debbie (Kitaen)'s workplace; Debbie's debauched bridal shower; the dead donkey; "the car... debbie... the car... debbie..." Nick the Dick... Nymphos Without Pants... hey, I could be here all day. This is, bar none, the best raunch comedy ever made. Take that, Animal House!—Peter

Remarks from the Gallery

Jack: Bachelor Party? Bachelor Party?? Peter, Peter, Peter. What are we going to do with you? I saw this first run, albeit by the time I saw it with my guy friends at age 21 it had moved to the dollar theater. I recall it was funny. I also recall that Tawny Kitaen was really cute but looking back at her photos online that look didn't age well. Or maybe it's me that didn't age well.

John: I like Bachelor Party (the high point in Tawny Kitaen's filmography), but I'm an even bigger fan of Bosom Buddies (that will make my Top 100 should we ever get around to ranking TV shows). So much so that I loved every time Tom's colleague Peter Scolari turned up in one of Tom's features. Bachelor Party is definitely an outlier in Hanks' CV, and as much fun as it is, it doesn't have the comedic chops to top the comedies that made it onto my list.

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen

Directed by: John Lasseter

When Woody is taken by a creepy toy store owner named Al, who plans to sell him as part of a collection to a toy museum in Tokyo, Buzz Lightyear and the gang must hit the road and rescue their pal before he is taken away forever. There's just one problem: Woody has discovered that he was the star of a popular kids TV show in the 1950s and he kind of likes the idea of being famous!

Toy Story 2 is a delight from start to finish. I chose it over the other Pixar films mainly because it nails the character of the creepy toy collector who is just in it for the money and has to have a complete set (the Prospector is "mint in the box"). The scenes showing the  TV show, Woody's Roundup, nail the mid-'50s vibe perfectly, and the fact that Woody's reign ended after the launch of Sputnik is just one of countless touches that shows how well the creators of this film understand the history of popular culture.

The throwaway moments and lines are great:

• Emperor Zurg telling Buzz Lightyear, "I'm your father!" and later having a catch with his son
• Rex the dinosaur momentarily reflected in the pizza truck's rear view mirror, just like in Jurassic Park
• The looks on the faces of the male toys when they suddenly happen upon the display of Barbies partying in the toy store
• The toys crossing the busy street hidden under orange traffic cones and not realizing they are causing chaos
• The final chase on the airport baggage conveyor belt
• Every last thing Woody's horse does

This is another movie that holds up well on rewatching. As I write this, Toy Story 5 is set to come out in a couple of weeks, and I can't wait! —Jack

Remarks from the Gallery

Peter: You're almost right, Jack. This is actually the second best Pixar flick but a very close second (to Finding Nemo). I sat in a movie theater with my then seven-year-old son and laughed until I cried. In fact, I think I laughed more than he did. Toy Story 2 does contain my favorite Pixar scene of all time, the aforementioned "cones on the highway." I haven't yet seen 3 or 4 but this makes me want to catch up.

John: I just got out of a screening of Toy Story 5 as I write this, and it's another fun installment in Pixar's strongest franchise. For my money, Toy Story 3 is the strongest installment. I'll be interested to hear what Peter thinks after he gets around to watching that one.

Last Night in Soho (2021)          

Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith

Directed by: Edgar Wright

"If I could live any place and any time, I'd live here in London in the '60s. It must have felt like the center of the universe."

This is the most recent film to crack my Top 100. And with a few more years to age, I can see it ranking even higher than I was comfortable placing it at this point in time. Last Night in Soho is Edgar Wright's greatest achievement to date. And I love Spaced, Shaun of the Dead,  Hot Fuzz, and Baby Driver. I think he's one of the most gifted directors working today, with a singular voice and visual style. 

Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy play very different young women separated by decades and yet strangely linked to one another. A highlight is a brilliantly choreographed, mesmerizing dance sequence that warrants watching the behind the scenes footage of how it was accomplished in camera (only after you have seen the film, of course). 

Remarks from the Gallery

Peter: Now we're talking. I can't remember too many movies I ignored upon release and then relented after receiving umpteen texts from my esteemed (and steamed) colleague, Mr. Scoleri, about the enjoyability of this film. This is easily Edgar Wright's best movie and one that could be watched over and over again, with each viewing revealing some new aspect you missed prior. This would definitely rank in my 150 Favorite.

Jack: Never heard of it!