I have not seen any discussion of the latest AFI nominations—this time the category is Cheers. The AFI defines this as Movies that inspire with characters of vision and conviction who face adversity and often make a personal sacrifice for the greater good. Whether these movies end happily or not, they are ultimately triumphant – both filling audiences with hope and empowering them with the spirit of human potential. There are 300 nominated films, 100 less than for previous categories. It can only be assumed that Hollywood has not made many movies about personal sacrifice. 12 Angry Men 2001: A Space Odyssey 8 Mile 9 to 5 Abe Lincoln in Illinois Adventures of Robin Hood, The Affair to Remember, An African Queen, The Air Force Alamo, The Ali All the President's Men American History X American President, The Amistad Angels in the Outfield Antowne Fisher Apollo 13 Awakenings Babe Babe Ruth Story. The Babes in Arms Bad News Bears, The Bang the Drum Slowly Bataan Beau Geste Beautiful Mind, A Ben-Hur (1926) Ben-Hur (1959) Benji Best Years of our Lives Bible, The Big Country, The Birdman of Alcatraz Bishop's Wife, The Black Stallion, The Blackboard Jungle Born on the Fourth of July Boys Town Braveheart Breakfast Club Breaking Away Bridge on the River Kwai, The Bridges of Toko-Ri, The Captains Courageous Carousel Casablanca Cast Away Champ, The Chariots of Fire Children of a Lesser God Christmas Carol City Lights Close Encounters of the Third Kind Coal Miner's Daughter Cocoon Color of Money, The Color Purple, The Coming Home Conrack Cool Hand Luke Cool Runnings Cop Land Cowboys, The Cry Freedom Dances with Wolves Dark Victory Dave Day the Earth Stood Still, The Dead Man Walking Dead Poet's Society Defiant Ones, The Destination Tokyo Destry Rides Again Diary of Anne Frank, The Dirty Dancing Dirty Dozen, The Disraeli Do the Right Thing Dr. Ehrilch's Magic Bullet Driving Miss Daisy Dumbo E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Edison, the Man El Cid Erin Brockovich Exodus Fame Ferris Bueller's Day Off Fiddler on the Roof Field of Dreams Finding Neverland Flashdance Footloose Forrest Gump Four Feathers Free Willy Freshman, The Fried Green Tomatoes Gandhi General, The Gentleman's Agreement Ghost Gladiator Glory Go, Man, Go! God is My Co-Pilot Godspell Going My Way Gon with the Wind Good Earth, The Good Morning, Vietnam Good Will Hunting Goodbye, Mr. Chips Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey Grapes of Wrath, The Great Escape, The Green Mile, The Grreatest Storey Ever Told, The Guadalcanal Diary Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Gunga Din Guns of Navarone, The Guy Named Joe, A Harold and Maude Heidi Hero High Noon Hoosiers Hotel Rwanda How the West Was Won Hurricane, The I Am Sam Ice Castles In the Heat of the Night Incredible Journey, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, The Insider, The It's a Wonderful Day Jackie Robinson Story, The Jerry Maguire Jesus Christ Superstar Jim Thorpe - All-American Joan of Arc Jonathan Livingston Seagull Joy Luck Club, The Karate Kid, The Keys of the Kingdom, The Kid, The Killing Fields, The King of Kings, The (1927) King of Kings, The (1961) Knute Rockne All American Lassie Come Home Last Temptation of Christ, The Lawrence of Arabia League of Their Own, A Lean On Me Life of Emile Zola, The Liles of the Field Lion King, The Little Orphan Annie Longest Day, The Longest Yard, The Lord of the Rings, The: Fellowship of the Ring, The Lorenzo's Oil Lost Weekend, The Love Story Madame Curie Magfificent Seven, The Malcolm X Man for All Seasons, A Mark of Zorro, The Marty Mary Poppins Mask Meet Joan Doe Men, The Midway Mighty Ducks, The Million Dollar Mermaid Miracle Miracle on 34th Street Miracle Worker, The Mission, The Mississippi Burning Moulin Rouge! Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Mr. Holland's Opus Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Mrs. Miniver Music of the Heart My Fair Lady My Family, Mi Familia Mystery, Alaska National Velvet Natrual, The Norma Rae North Dallas Forty Nun's Story, The October Sky Officer and a Gentleman, An Oliver! On Golden Pond On the Waterfront One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Our Vines Have Tender Grapes Paper Chase, The Passion of the Christ, The Patton Philadelphia Pinocchio Places in the Heart Pocketful of Miracles Pollyanna (1920) Pollyanna (1960) Pride of the Marines Pride of the Yankees PT 109 Queen Christna Quo Vadis Rain Man Rambo: First Blood Part II Rasin in the Sun, A Ray Red Badge of Courage, The Reds Regarding Henry Remember the Titans Revemge pf the Neerds Right Stuff, The Robe, The Robin Hood Rocky Rollerball Rookie, The Rudy Run Silent, Run Deep Sands of Iwo Jima Saturday Night Fever Saving Private Ryan Scent of a Woman Schindler's List Seabiscuit Searching for Bobby Fischer Sergeant York Serpico Shaft Shane Shawshank Redemption Silkwood Sleepless in Seattle So Proudly We Hail! Sombody Up There Likes Me Song of Bernadette Sound of Music, The Sounder Sparrows Spartacus Spider-Man 2 Spirit of St. Louis, The Ssince You Went Away Stagecoach Stand and Deliver Stand by Me Stand Up and Cheer! Star Wars Story of Alexander Graham Bell, The Story of Louis Pasteus, The Straight Story, The Sullivan's Travels Sunrise at Campobello Superman Sweet Charity Ten Commandments, The Thelma & Louise Thief of Bagdad, The Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo To Hell and Back To Kill a Mockingbird Top Gun Tree Grows in Brooklyn, A Truman Show, The Unmarried Woman, An Verdict, The What's Love Got to Do with It Wild One, The Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Wings Winning Team, The With a Song in My Heart Wizard of Oz, The Woithout Limits Working Girl Yankee Doodle Dandy Yentl You Can't Take it with You Young Mr. Lincoln Young Tom Edison Zorba the Greek Your comments are invited.
There's already a thread: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...&highlight=afi Welcome back, Lew. ~T
I posted this breakdown over at another forum... Number of nominees by decade: 1920s: 12 - 4% 1930s: 26 - 8.66% 1940s: 43 - 14.33% 1950s: 36 - 12% 1960s: 35 - 11.66% 1970s: 34 - 11.33% 1980s: 48 - 16% 1990s: 47 - 15.66% 2000s: 19 - 6.33% The list is a mixed bag for me, with some great selections along with some 'what were they thinking?' choices. (Rambo: First Blood Part II, WTF?) I would have enjoyed seeing films such as My Bodyguard, Tender Mercies, or Twelve O'Clock High make the nominee list, but since some of my favorites are present I can't complain too much. - Walter.
Lew, Buenos Dias! I am curious about your thoughts about some of the films in this list. I know we disagree about the merits of Do The Right Thing, but I'm curious if it strikes you as a film that belongs on a Cheers list?
This early opinion is subject to change, as I’ve not thought about this film in this light. However even though I understand (and sympathize with) many of the actions that others find repugnant, I don’t think that (other than perhaps ‘Da Mayor) anyone’s actions meet the test of ‘the common good’. Of course (along with Walter) I suspect that I will think that many of the movies making the final cut won’t pass that test either. So on balance, I’d probably like to see Do the Right Thing on the final list.
Bridge on the River Kwai? Isn't vision and conviction the problem in that film with the "wise-cracking loose cannon" saving the day? Certainly not a film I would describe as cheery or filling me with hope. Sleepless in Seattle? The inspiring vision and conviction to get my dad a date? DTRT is certainly more worthy than pro-establishment pics like Driving Miss Daisy and Forrest Gump. on the inclusion of The Straight Story and Searching for Bobby Fischer.
To Kill a Mockingbird will of course place close to the top, since Atticus is as close to a model of their definition as you can get. I hope that One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest places highly as well.
I agree with Brook in the overkill of some predictable, commercial, routine, feel-good movies (on my dislike list would be Love Story, Lilies of the Field with the consequent exclusion of movies like Tender Mercies. Of course everyone will have a list of exclusions, so here I also agree with Brook in noting some pleasant surprises (such as the aforementioned Bobby Fisher, Babe and Breaking Away). Here is my list (subject to modification)—not necessarily the movies I like the best, but the ones that I think meet the criteria and don’t make me retch (e.g. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?). 12 Angry Men 2001: A Space Odyssey 9 to 5 Abe Lincoln in Illinois Affair to Remember, An African Queen, The Alamo, The Ali All the President's Men Amistad Antowne Fisher Babe Bang the Drum Slowly Best Years of our Lives Blackboard Jungle Born on the Fourth of July Breaking Away Bridges of Toko-Ri, The Captains Courageous Casablanca Chariots of Fire City Lights Coal Miner's Daughter Color Purple, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Dead Man Walking Dead Poet's Society Defiant Ones, The Destry Rides Again Diary of Anne Frank, The Do the Right Thing Driving Miss Daisy Dumbo E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Exodus Fiddler on the Roof Field of Dreams Finding Neverland Freshman, The Fried Green Tomatoes Gandhi General, The Going My Way Good Earth, The Good Morning, Vietnam Goodbye, Mr. Chips Grapes of Wrath, The Gunga Din High Noon Hoosiers In the Heat of the Night Joan of Arc Killing Fields, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Lawrence of Arabia Life of Emile Zola, The Lord of the Rings, The: Fellowship of the Ring, The Lost Weekend, The Malcolm X Man for All Seasons, A Marty Mary Poppins Miracle Worker, The Mississippi Burning Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Norma Rae October Sky On the Waterfront One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Passion of the Christ, The Patton Pinocchio Pride of the Yankees Queen Christna Rasin in the Sun, A Ray Reds Right Stuff, The Run Silent, Run Deep Schindler's List Searching for Bobby Fischer Sergeant York Serpico Shaft Shane Silkwood Sounder Spartacus Stagecoach Stand by Me Sullivan's Travels Sweet Charity Thief of Bagdad, The To Kill a Mockingbird What's Love Got to Do with It Wild One, The Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Wings Zorba the Greek
Well many of those predictable, commercial, routine, feel-good movies are exactly what this list is all about. You may not like them as films, but they make sense on such a list. The following films might be better films, but IMO, have absolutely no business being on this list: Do the Right Thing Coming Home Jesus Christ Superstar Joan of Arc Killing Fields, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Passion of the Christ, The Raisin in the Sun, A Saturday Night Fever I may not like films like Lawrence of Arabia, The Alamo, Hoosiers, Silkwood and many others, but I understand their inclusion. And one could argue that there are aspects of films like Passion, Last Temptation and Superstar that are better than religious films like Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, or Going My Way, but at least those films make sense on this list. Certainly I fail to see how a film like Do the Right Thing can be viewed as ultimately triumphant.
I think Do the Right Thing is an absolute masterpiece, and don't at all see it as a racist film like George does, but I have to wonder what's doing on this list as well. Other dubious entries: 12 Angry Men All the President's Men Bridge on the River Kwai, The (it's been a while...) High Noon -- H
I don't know. Jesus in the Passion was certainly a character of vision and conviction, who faced some of the worst adversity I've ever seen on screen. The sacrifice is intimately personal, and judging by the scene of ressurection at the end, he is ultimately triumphant.
It's not the Jesus didn't make a great sacrifice. It's simply that I don't find a film which essentially just shows that sacrifice in gory detail to be very inspiring. To me, it's like taking the Diary of Anne Frank and replacing it with a film that just shows her undergoing torture and abuse at the hands of the gestapo. I'd find that a far less inspiring film. But obviously there are many people who would disagree with me.
Wasn't aware you went ahead and viewed the film but I'd disagree with you here. No shock of course. As I said in another thread, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE will probably take the #1 spot, which I wouldn't mind. I noticed Newman's SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME made the list, which I feel is strange. I'd certainly put NOBODY'S FOOL on there instead. THE COLOR OF MONEY on the list but no THE HUSTLER? BABE, BABE RUTH STORY, THE BIBLE and several others are a bit strange since the majority of people give these a very, very low rating.
We are in complete agreement. Even so, there are a few that make sense being on the list, that are so unworthy as movies, that they won't make mine. While I disagree (for the moment at least) as to the placement of The Last Temptation of Christ, I buy into your argument as to The Passion of Christ. I’m still going back and forth as to Do the Right Thing. It might be interesting to see some top 10 picks out of the 300—not the full 100.
So basically any American narrative film ever made. Didn't we already see this when it was called just "AFI's 100 years, 100 movies"? Talk about ubiquitous, isn't that a definition for every narrative film almost, at least according to McKee. I mean if they are putting 2001 in there and consider any character in that film to have vision or conviction beyond "I don't want to die" then I am truly missing something.
I'll bite, I was only able to find 70 that I think fits the criteria though. I think a better title would be 100 years, 100 feel good movies. Not necessarily required that the movies are weak mushy fests, but that they leave you with a little thrill of satisfaction and enjoyment and zing after you finish watching them. That's why I'd include Bridge on the River Kwai because it gives such enormous pleasure to experience the film and be on that journey with the characters. I think Seth has a point, but according to their definition, films like Singin in the Rain and Some Like it Hot wouldn't qualify, which is sad, because they're films you cheer for, but I guess there has to be some modicum of distinguishment from their 100 movies list. I think this is the most subjective list the AFI has done, tough to get more subjective than comedy, but they've managed it. Here's my top ten from the 300. 1. Shawshank Redemption 2. Stand by me 3. It's a wonderful life 4. To kill a mockingbird 5. E.T. 6. Great Escape 7. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 8. Searching for Bobby Fischer 9. Bridge on the River Kwai 10. Pollyanna Movies I'd ADD in my ballot, Iron Giant, In America, Empire Strikes Back, Empire of the Sun, How Green Was My Valley, Old Yeller, Bambi, Beauty and the Beast, Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, Die Hard, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, A.I., Paths of Glory
My top 10—sort of a combination of movies that fit the definition and ones that I like: Affair to Remember, An Diary of Anne Frank, The Fiddler on the Roof Grapes of Wrath, The Life of Emile Zola, The Lost Weekend, The October Sky One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Searching for Bobby Fischer Stand by Me And some that I was loath to leave out: Breaking Away Casablanca City Lights Finding Neverland Goodbye, Mr. Chips Malcolm X Mr. Deeds Goes to Town To Kill a Mockingbird A bit surprising that only Stand By Me was on both Adam's list and mine.
My top ten, based on what I feel best fits the criteria as opposed to favorites, would look something like this: The Grapes of Wrath It's A Wonderful Life To Kill A Mockingbird Mr. Smith Goes To Washington The Shawshank Redemption Field of Dreams Cool Hand Luke Chariots of Fire The Best Years of Our Lives Rocky Another film that I think would have been a good fit for this nominee list is Mister Roberts. - Walter.
I actually agree with much of George's post, except for Raisin in the Sun and Saturday Night Fever which I would argue definitely belong. It's A Wonderful Life Sullivan's Travels High Noon (though somewhat conflicted on this as it is as much an indictment as it is inspirational) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington On The Waterfront To Kill A Mockingbird The Shawshank Redemption The Straight Story 12 Angry Men Glory Falling short: The Best Years of Our Lives, Raisin in the Sun, The Karate Kid, The Natural, The Sound of Music, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Saturday Night Fever Additions to the nominee list: The Devil and Daniel Webster, Hail The Conquering Hero, Superfly
Stand By Me and Searching for Bobby Fischer, Lew, and I thought about October Sky but its been ages since I've seen the film, love the movie though.
