The more things change, the more they stay the same. We have a new John Mayer song (staying the same) and we have a new number one (changing). Throw in three more brand new songs to the list, including one debuting at #5 and there’s no reason to miss the latest Music Monday list!
Director: Brian De Palma
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight and Emmanuelle Béart
Plot: “An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.”
Stock: Up
Previous Ranking: #96
“Would you consider the cinema of the Caribbean? Aruba, perhaps?”
Mission: Impossible was one of the first movies that fell in the, “I need to watch that again, category.” A re-watch was necessary so I could pay closer attention to certain details and see what I had missed the first time around.
For an eleven-year-old kid, this is a pretty big deal. Up to this point in my life, movies were straight-forward by design. Their main purpose was to give my parents a break from parenting. Thanks to Mission: Impossible, my entire perspective changed as to what a film could be.
I didn’t enjoy all the other Mission: Impossible films nearly as much as I did the original, so don’t go expecting to see Ethan Hunt any more in my top 100. Instead of focusing on the twists of the story, I felt as if the first couple of sequels created action at the expense of plot.
What I appreciated the most from Mission: Impossible is that it had thrilling and tense sequences, it was cleverly written, and it had a strong and constant moving plot. Seems rather simple, but you’d be surprised how difficult it is to have all those parts play an equal role in any film’s equation.
UPDATE
I first watched this film at home with my Mom. When it was over I remember being excited for my Dad to view it and told him before he started, “now Dad, you have to pay very close attention the entire time.”
In other words I was trying to give my Dad a heads up that this movie wasn’t like the hundreds of others he took me to. He wasn’t allowed to doze off like he did during Matilda.
Mission: Impossible was a turning point for me with movies … and thankfully, for my parents as well.
Fun Fact: The only Mission: Impossible film that doesn’t feature any shootouts/gunfights.
Hint for #72: Apparently King Kong doesn’t have anything on this man.
Peace Be The Journey.
Director: David M. Evans
Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar and Patrick Renna
Plot: “A new kid in town is taken under the wing of a young baseball prodigy and his team. Together, they get themselves into many adventures involving rival teams, lifeguards, and a vicious dog.”
Stock: Holding
Previous Ranking: #75
“You’re killing me, Smalls!”
I had a great childhood … couldn’t have asked for a better one. The summers were filled with baseball, either around the neighborhood playing wiffle-ball or on an actual Little League diamond. What more could a kid ask for? Whenever The Sandlot comes on it takes me back a much simpler time and I always end up smiling.
Yes, The Sandlot has some solid one-liners and is an overall funny movie, but that’s not why it’s on this list. It’s here because it resonates so well with me. It makes me forget about the real world and brings me back to my youth. And any film that can consistently do that deserves recognition.
UPDATE
Despite the constant fluctuation of this list, it’s comforting to know that The Sandlot only moved one spot in the last four years. And to be honest, I can’t think of a better compliment to give, because it perfectly describes The Sandlot’s place in a lot of our lives, especially those in my generation.
We grow older, we grow larger, we marry, we divorce, we have kids, we have jobs and we have responsibilities. And even though our childhood has been forcefully removed, every once in a while we need to remember our younger days. And that feeling, will never change.
Fun Fact: The older and younger Benny are played by real-life brothers, Pablo Vitar and Mike Vitar.
Hint for #73: The fifth installment of this franchise was just released last July.
Peace Be The Journey.
Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams
Academy Awards (2): Christian Bale for Best Supporting Actor and Melissa Leo for Best Supporting Actress. Nominated five more times. Best Picture, Amy Adams for Best Supporting Actress, David O. Russell for Best Director, Best Writing and Best Editing.
Plot: “A look at the early years of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.”
Stock: Holding
Previous Ranking: #63
“I’m the one fighting, okay? Not you, not you, and not you.”
The Fighter earns this spot because of the acting performances, the story-line, and the fact that it is based on a true story.
Both Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg are tremendous in this movie. The chemistry they possess makes you feel that they are actually brothers. That chemistry is the life-blood for this film. Amy Adams and Melissa Leo are terrific as well in supporting roles. Great acting all around.
The story-line shifts often but never loses focus, which is a hard thing to do. Instead of focusing solely on Wahlberg’s character (Micky Ward), it bounces around to Bale’s character (Ward’s brother Dicky), to their estranged family, to Micky’s girlfriend. It’s a delicate tight-rope but well executed.
I had heard of Micky Ward prior to this film, but had no idea all the trials and tribulations he had to deal with. It’s an underdog story if there ever was one. He was fighting battles not only in the ring but out of it as well. A great film that will probably do some climbing in the near future.
UPDATE
Even if Christian Bale is a prick in real-life, it’s still worth watching his portrayal of Dicky Ward. He absolutely steals and owns every scene he is in. The main character is Micky, but Bale is so good as Dicky, he ends up being the center-piece.
The Fighter loses points for not having the most realistic boxing scenes, but the acting, led by Bale, is what has it inside the top eighty.
Fun Fact: Mark Wahlberg waived his own salary and took no upfront fee for this film. Christian Bale was paid only $250,000 for his role.
Hint for #74: This film will teach you how to correctly pronounce Babe Ruth.
Peace Be The Journey.
An old saying goes, “you never know what you have, until it’s gone.” Through the first 29 years of my life, I’ve come to find truth in that.
But does it have to be that way? Why can’t we enjoy things as we are experiencing them? Is it because we are too focused on the destination, and not the journey? Or could it be because we take things for granted too often?
Whatever the reason may be, and it certainly could be a combination of those things, as I’m rapidly approaching the big 3-0, I’ve tried to teach myself the art of appreciation. To simply enjoy things as they come. To not take anything for granted. To be more grateful.
It’s an incredibly tough and challenging to do. For instance, a few weeks ago I was rooting for Jordan Spieth to win the British Open which would have been his third straight major. He ended up falling one shot short and my immediate reaction was complete disappointment. And that reaction, is a clear failure to appreciate.
I was too caught up in the destination – of Spieth winning the first three golf majors of the year – that I lost sight of the journey. I lost sight of how awesome it was to watch someone have that opportunity, that I let the ending/result ruin the entire experience.
Next week the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be playing the Clemson Tigers on ABC in primetime. Both football teams should be in the top-ten and both should be undefeated. The atmosphere in Death Valley will be completely electric. And yes, I will be passionately rooting for Notre Dame to win, but if they don’t, I will try my best not to be disappointed. Wish me luck.
With that thought in mind, I decided to unveil a rather unique list.
Top Ten People Whose Deaths Would Affect Me The Most
Rather morbid right?
Continue reading “The Art of Appreciation”
Luke Florence 