For the past two terms, the Scene desk has recommended some of our favorite movies: our favorite sci-fi flicks, musicals, foreign films, stand-up comedy specials, documentaries and more. For our last set of recommendations, we’re recommending our favorite movies of all time.
“Pan’s Labyrinth” recommended by Mitch Small
“Pan’s Labyrinth” seems like it was engineered in a lab to appeal specifically to me: it features stunning visual direction, unflinching treatment of its subject matter, well-made practical effects, and most importantly, it’s an incredible story with strong elements of fantasy. Set in Spain right after their civil war,@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457430/@@ it tells the story of Ofelia,@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457430/@@ a young girl whose mother is married to the brutal sociopath Captain Vidal.@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457430/@@ As she adjusts to her new environment, she discovers the magical world that underlies the countryside, while at the same time a war goes on around her: a communist rebellion that Vidal seeks to snuff out. Take note: “Pan’s Labyrinth” is not a very easy watch. It’s graphically violent and deals with heavy themes, but I believe it’s one of the most inventive and rewarding movies I’ve ever seen.
“Cold Mountain” recommended by Rebecca Sedlak
This 2003@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159365/@@ war drama, written and directed by Anthony Minghella,@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159365/@@ is an epic Civil War story full of danger and romance. W.P. Inman (Jude Law)@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159365/@@ is a wounded deserter making his way back to his sweetheart, Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman),@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159365/@@ in Cold Mountain, N.C., during the last months of the war. The couple’s blossoming romance is told in flashbacks, and the film alternates between Inman’s treacherous journey, fraught with sympathetic and desperate strangers, and Ada’s trials at home after her father dies. Renee Zellweger also stars as Ruby Thewes,@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159365/@@ a young women determined to help Ada survive on her farm. Zellweger won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her performance. Natalie Portman, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Jena Malone and musician Jack White also appear in supporting roles.@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159365/@@ This film is beautiful, tragic and memorable with a great folksy soundtrack. Hopefully you’ll love it just as much as I do.
“The Impostors” recommended by Ben Kendall
“The Impostors”@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120823/@@ is one of the best movies that nobody has ever seen. Stanley Tucci and Oliver Platt@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120823/@@ play two actors who end up accidentally stowing away on a cruise ship sometime in the 1920s. With an ensemble cast (Alfred Molina, Lili Taylor, Tony Shalhoub, Isabella Rossellini, Steve Buscemi, Billy Connolly)@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120823/@@ the script weaves in and out of multiple plots all revolving around murder, mayhem and a good old-fashioned love story. Really the plot is hard to pin down, but to sum it up: Anarchist bomb plots, murderous con artists, lecherous wrestlers, unrequited love three times over, a hack actor with anger management issues, a deposed queen, and two other runaway actors who discover (by chance) all the evil plots. With Tucci and Platt’s characters using their acting skills to evade capture by all manner of villain and confused hero, this movie is a treat and one of my favorites (if not my favorite).
“Pulp Fiction” recommended by Kevin Piaskowski
It’s tough to narrow down your favorite films into one single film that overshadows the rest. Personally, I feel that “Pulp Fiction” is that film for me. There are three distinct reasons as to why “Pulp Fiction” is my favorite film of all time. First, Quentin Tarantino@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/@@ displays his cinematic brilliance in an extraordinary way. He combines suspense and comedic relief in an unprecedented manner. Second, John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/@@ put together the best performances of their respective careers. Particularly, Jackson becomes larger than life when he recites the famous lines, “And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger,”@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/quotes@@ before committing cold-blooded murder. Third, “Pulp Fiction” is one of those films that you can watch countless times and always find something new and exciting to intrigue you. Tarantino is a brilliant director and “Pulp Fiction” proves it.
“Dirty Dancing” recommended by Amanda Barker
The original “Dirty Dancing” with heartthrob Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092890/@@ is not only a classic but a guilty pleasure. The flashy dance sequences and appealing performances of Johnny and Baby@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092890/@@ can be mesmerizing and definitely add to the summer romance feel of the movie. While many parts of the movie can be sexy and promiscuous, Grey gives a touching performance as the shy and idealistic Baby. You can’t forget Swayze, who just adds to the exceptional cast, and their skillful and convincing performances bolster every event in the story. The reason “Dirty Dancing” truly takes the gold, though, is because of the last scene. The final dance scene is unforgettable, and the song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”@@http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1945@@ may be even better. Baby and Johnny have become more drawn to one another, so the dancing in this scene is more culminating, seductive and liberating.