Monday, June 29, 2015

My 150 Favorite Movies #34

The Endless Summer (1966)

This groundbreaking documentary, directed by Bruce Brown, takes a look at the international surfing community, and those who chase the sun looking for the perfect wave. Following particularly closely two California surfers and their endless travels (as well as travails), the film spawned many imitators, including a sequel, Endless Summer 2Riding Giants, and Step Into Liquid. The soundtrack is outstanding, and the film itself is visually breathtaking.

Monday, June 01, 2015

My 150 Favorite Movies - #35

The Odd Couple (1968)

Mismatched housemates make for nonstop hilarity in this classic comedy based on Neil Simon's hit Broadway play. Legendary screen actors Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon never fail to mine the pathos beneath the comedy in this story of two divorced best friends who decide to live together in spite of their obvious incompatibility. One of the greatest passages of dialogue in the movies is the following,  from the character Oscar Madison: "I can't take it anymore, Felix, I'm cracking up. Everything you do irritates me. And when you're not here, the things I know you're gonna do when you come in irritate me. You leave me little notes on my pillow. Told you 158 times I can't stand little notes on my pillow. "We're all out of cornflakes. F.U." Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Ungar!" This film is a joy, from start to finish.