Give It My Best

Terms of Endearment Date Watched:  11/26/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandango at Home Directing  (⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): It got better.  It was a drag for a while even with the good acting.  I knew what was going to happen but the 3rd act really was able to turn the film around. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : The Right Stuff, Return of the Jedi, and The Big Chill all could have done it. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 9) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 10) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 11) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 12) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 13) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 14) Titanic (Movie #55) 16⭐ 15) The Shape of Water (Movie #5...

All Quiet on The Western Front Date Watched:  11/23/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Tubi Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐): Intro to war.  Did a lot of things that have not been done before and are still done now.   Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Given the year and the type of movie, I think the win was deserved. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 9) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 10) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 11) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 12) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 13) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 14) Titanic (Movie #55) 16⭐ 15) The Shape of Water (Movie #53) 16⭐ 16) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 17) Rocky (Movi...

CODA Date Watched:  11/20/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Apple TV+ Directing  (⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Cast.  Well done all around. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : A pretty weak year but I think CODA could have won even in a stronger year. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 9) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 10) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 11) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 12) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 13) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 14) Titanic (Movie #55) 16⭐ 15) The Shape of Water (Movie #53) 16⭐ 16) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 17) Rocky (Movie #14) 15⭐ 18) The Sound of Music (Movie #48) 15⭐ 19) In the Heat of the Night (...

Green Book Date Watched:  11/17/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐): Not enough.  Well written and acted but I felt there could have been more conflict with the subject matter.  It was too PG-13. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : There was definitely plenty of Oscar bait out there but Green Book was a good pick in the end. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 10) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 11) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 12) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 13) Titanic (Movie #55) 16⭐ 14) The Shape of Water (Movie #53) 16⭐ 15) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 1...

Titanic Date Watched:  11/16/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Undeniable.  This wasn't just king of the box office, it was king of the world.  You cannot deny what this movie was in the late 90s.  It was never my favorite but it is always nostalgic. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : To me, Good Will Hunting and LA Confidential will always be the best films of the year.  However, Titanic still deserved to win. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 10) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 11) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 12) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 13) Titanic (Movie...

My Fair Lady Date Watched:  11/15/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandango at Home Directing  (⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐): Did not age well.  It is really sad when I think all the modern adaptations are actually better. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : If they wanted to go with a musical, Mary Poppins was the better choice.  Dr. Stangelove was better than anything else. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 10) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 11) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 12) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 13) The Shape of Water (Movie #53) 16⭐ 14) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 15) Rocky (Movie #14) 1...

The Shape of Water Date Watched:  11/12/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandango at Home Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Concept.  Unique and well executed across directing, writing, and acting.  Not perfect, but really good. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : I am happy with it.  Three Billboards maybe could have won.  Dunkirk and Get Out were just short. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 10) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 11) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 12) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 13) The Shape of Water (Movie #53) 16⭐ 14) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 15) Rocky (Movi...

Braveheart Date Watched:  11/8/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandango at Home Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐): Better before the internet.  Going back 30 years, the story captivated my young mind.  Unfortunately, now that I know the true story, it is hard to move past it. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : I don't get why The Usual Suspects did not get much love.  Apollo 13 could have challenged but they probably got it right... again, before the internet. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 10) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 11) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 12) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 13) Everyt...

The Best Years of Our Lives Date Watched:  11/8/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Prime Video Directing  (⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐): Tried and failed.  The intent was good and I will give it the extra star for representation.  It just tried too hard. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Can't say I know who to pick this year.  It's a Wonderful Life stands out but I still don't know if it should have won. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 10) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 11) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 12) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 13) Rocky (Movie #14) 15⭐ 14) The Sound of Music (Movie #4...

The Lord of the Rings:  The Return of the King Date Watched:  11/5/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandango at Home Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐): The end of the fellowship.  It was hard to follow as a stand alone movie that wasn't even the best of the trilogy.  Throw in where it veered from the source material and I had to give it an average. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Another good year.  City of God, Mystic River, and Cold Mountain could have won in many other years but the Academy finally gave the trilogy the credit it deserved. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 10) Spotlight (Mov...

Nomadland Date Watched:  11/1/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Hulu Directing  (⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐): Not much going for it.  I will give it extra credit for the score and that is about it. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : So many better films.  Minari, Sound of Metal, Judas and the Black Messiah, Promising Young Woman.  I would even take Tenet over this. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 10) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 11) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 12) Rocky (Movie #14) 15⭐ 13) The Sound of Music (Movie #48) 15⭐ 14) In the Heat of the Night (Movie #39) 15⭐ 15) Slumdog Millionaire (Movie #47) 15⭐ 16) The Sting ...

The Sound of Music Date Watched:  10/31/24 Format:  Watched on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): It transcends its audience.  I have never watched this film end to end before.  Only bits and pieces.  However, the songs of this first are part of everyday.  At least have of them I knew without ever seeing them on screen.  That says something. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Other than Doctor Zhivago, who could have also done it, the Academy got it right. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 10) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 11) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 12) Rocky (Movie #14) 15⭐ 13) The Sou...

Slumdog Millionaire Date Watched:  10/28/24 Format:  Watched on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Concept.  I know it was adapted but it was a great way of retelling a life story. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : It was a pretty decent year with a lot of contenders.  This checked all the boxes, however.  If anything, I would have gone with WALL-E over everything else. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 10) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 11) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 12) Rocky (Movie #14) 15⭐ 13) In the Heat of the Night (Movie #39) 15⭐ 14) Slumdog Millionaire (Movie #47) 15⭐ 15) The Sting (Movie #2...

Marty Date Watched:  10/26/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Tubi Directing  (⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐): I get it what they were trying to do so I will give them props.  Either it is really dated or is just falls flat. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Possibly East of Eden or Rebel Without a Cause but it was a pretty down year. Ranking: 1) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 2) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 3) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 4) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 5) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 6) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 7) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 8) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 9) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 10) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 11) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 12) Rocky (Movie #14) 15⭐ 13) In the Heat of the Night (Movie #39) 15⭐ 14) The Sting (Movie #22) 14⭐ 15) Dances with Wolves (Movie #29) 14⭐ 16) Ben-Hur (Movie #43) 14⭐ 17) Annie Hall (Movie #20) 14⭐ 18) The Fr...