Give It My Best

The Hurt Locker Date Watched:  12/26/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandango at Home Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐): It strayed.  Too many illogical extracurriculars.  I would have been happy if they just kept on following the story of EOD life instead of going "rouge" on a number of occasions. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : One hell of a year and also a toss-up year at that.  I think this film was at least in the top half of the pack but I would have swayed more towards Inglorious Basterds, Avatar, and Up in The Air.  Highly enjoyed Up, Invictus, and An Education also.   Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) All Abo...

American Beauty Date Watched:  12/25/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandango at Home Directing  (⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Mixed feelings so I could not make it perfect.  Great characters but it sometimes felt forced. Wildcard  (⭐⭐): Score.  Fine at first, but it just wears on you. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Thankfully not the Sixth Sense.  The Insider was my favorite.  The Green Mile should have ran away with it though.  Cider House Rules, Magnolia, Boys Don't Cry, Being John Malcovich, and the Talented Mr. Ripley were all better than this. Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) All About Eve (Movie #68) 17⭐ 11) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 12) T...

Lawrence of Arabia Date Watched:  12/23/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Max Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐): Wide eyes and open desert.  The grandeur of the film could have still been established well with maybe 30 minutes less travel time and 5-6 less instances of Peter O'Toole's wide eyed reactions. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Other than To Kill a Mockingbird, this was a winner. Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) All About Eve (Movie #68) 17⭐ 11) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 12) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 13) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 14) The Departed (Movie #66) 16⭐ 15) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 16) On t...

Ordinary People Date Watched:  12/21/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandango at Home Directing  (⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Mother of the year! Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐): Not enough back story.  The point was to address the aftermath, but I felt that could have been done better with just a little more back story. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Probably not.  There were other great performances this year with much better stories and direction.  Raging Bull for sure.  The Elephant Man and Coal Miner's Daughter were also better.  Another year with no love for Star Wars. Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) All About Eve (Movie #68) 17⭐ 11) Parasite (Movie #45)...

A Man for All Seasons Date Watched:  12/19/24 Format:  Watched on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐): Meh.  Good writing and better acting but there was no tension and conflict.  It felt forced. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Probably got it right. Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) All About Eve (Movie #68) 17⭐ 11) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 12) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 13) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 14) The Departed (Movie #66) 16⭐ 15) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 16) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 17) Titanic (Movie #55) 16⭐ 18) The Shape of Water (Movie #53) 16⭐ 19) Everything Everywhere All at...

All About Eve Date Watched:  12/16/24 Format:  Watched on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Surprise surprise.  Not what I expected after some letdowns during that decade of films.   Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : The Third Man and Sunset Boulevard come to mind but I am happy that this won. Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) All About Eve (Movie #68) 17⭐ 11) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 12) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 13) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 14) The Departed (Movie #66) 16⭐ 15) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 16) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 17) Titanic (Movie #55) 16⭐ 18) The Shape o...

The Greatest Show on Earth Date Watched:  12/13/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandago at Home Directing  (⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐): One long advertisement for the circus that they tried to turn into some drama.  Just bad.  What a waste for some good actors. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Take your pick.  I have not see many films from this year but any of them could have won over this. Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 11) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 12) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 13) The Departed (Movie #66) 16⭐ 14) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 15) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 16)...

The Departed Date Watched:  12/11/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Tubi Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): They got me.  The end made up for some up and down writing. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Some good movies this year but this was just a step above. Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 11) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 12) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 13) The Departed (Movie #66) 16⭐ 14) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 15) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 16) Titanic (Movie #55) 16⭐ 17) The Shape of Water (Movie #53) 16⭐ 18) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 19) Rocky (Movi...

Patton Date Watched:  12/11/24 Format:  Watched on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐): Confusing.  Was this satire?  It sure felt like it. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Another toss-up year.  I can see why it won. Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 11) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 12) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 13) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 14) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 15) Titanic (Movie #55) 16⭐ 16) The Shape of Water (Movie #53) 16⭐ 17) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #21) 16⭐ 18) Rocky (Movie #14) 15⭐ 19) The Sound of Music (Movie #48) 15⭐ 20) In th...

Casablanca Date Watched:  12/03/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandango at Home Right to the top! Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Efficient!  The directing, writing, and acting.  Not a single scene or word wasted. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Yes and probably could have won many other years too. Ranking: 1) Casablanca (Movie #64) 20⭐ 2) Schindler's List (Movie #36) 20⭐ 3) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐ 4) The Silence of the Lambs (Movie #37) 18⭐ 5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Movie #44) 18⭐ 6) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐ 7) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐ 8) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐ 9) CODA (Movie #57) 17⭐ 10) Parasite (Movie #45) 17⭐ 11) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie #50) 16⭐ 12) Braveheart (Movie #52) 16⭐ 13) Spotlight (Movie #24) 16⭐ 14) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐ 15) Titanic (Movie #55) 16⭐ 16) The Shape of Water (Movie #53) 16⭐ 17) Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie #...

Chicago Date Watched:  12/02/24 Format:  Watched on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐): +1 for Catherine.  -------1 for Rene and Richard.  They just did not fit for me. Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): The music.  It was still good, poor acting aside. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Nearly everything could have.  Gangs of New York for sure. 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) Roc...

Birdman Date Watched:  11/30/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Hulu Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐): Long take.  I will credit the director above but take it off here.  It became too hokey and less cool the longer it went along. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Every other nominee should have won.  So many better films in a really good 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 (Mov...

Kramer vs. Kramer Date Watched:  11/28/24 Format:  Watched on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐⭐): Hi Meryl, bye Meryl, Hi Meryl.  She just disappeared for most the movie.  Thankfully it gave more time for the father/son connection but when she came back, it just felt fake. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : Apocalypse Now and Alien come to mind.  This was Oscar bait for sure. 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) 1...

Out of Africa Date Watched:  11/27/24 Format:  Watched on TV via DVD Directing  (⭐⭐⭐): Writing  (⭐⭐): Acting  (⭐⭐⭐): Wildcard  (⭐⭐): Didn't feel it.  The actors just did not connect for me, which is odd, because Meryl and Robert should have. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda : A lot could have and a lot should have. 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 #...