A Life in Movies

"A Life in Movies" is a blog-a-thon hosted by the site Fandango Groovers Movie Blog. The goal is to pick a movie from each year of one's life through 2010 and say a few words about it. A complete list of participants can be found at the host site.

I almost wasn't gonna do this because I was a bit hesitant about actually revealing my age - something that normally doesn't bother me in real life! But then I decided that was a silly reason not to take part in a blog-a-thon, so here I am. I suppose being surrounded by so many film bloggers who are so much younger than me makes me feel my own age sometimes - not that I'm a senior citizen or anything.

Props to Andy from FGMB for this idea, and for inviting me to take part. It is a pretty clever idea for a blog-a-thon. These aren't necessarily my favorite films from each year; just films I like, or at the very least, have seen.

Cabaret (1972). I think dark musicals are my favorite kind, and this is one of the best. Liza knocks 'em dead, but I like Joel Grey best.
Sleeper (1973). I need to accept the bitter fact that screwball Woody is gone and is never coming back. But I keep hoping.
Foxy Brown (1974). Recently scientists have discovered that the sexual energy generated by Pam Grier could light up the North American East Coast for a year.
Cooley High (1975). If John Hughes were black, he would've made movies like this.
King Kong (1976). No lie - the overt sexual foreplay between Kong and Jessica Lange always made me uncomfortable as a kid. Of course, I couldn't have explained why back then...


Pete's Dragon (1977). I remember my mother taking me to see this one.
Thank God It's Friday (1978). Guilty pleasure movie! A young Jeff Goldblum, the Commodores, disco dancing, Donna Summer singing "Last Dance" - you can't miss.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). As a Trekkie, I would be remiss if I didn't include a Trek movie. A sub-par execution of a very good story - one that doesn't need a villain (are you listening, JJ Abrams?).
Popeye (1980). If nothing else, it's perfect casting.
Pennies From Heaven (1981). Another disturbing musical, made even better with dancing Christopher Walken.

Eating Raoul (1982). "I'm a hot-blooded crazy emotional Chicano!"
Eddie and the Cruisers (1983). This kid I used to work with couldn't get enough of this movie. Stay far away from the sequel, though.
A Soldier's Story (1984). Underrated military drama that my father took me to see. Early role for Denzel.
Tampopo (1985). A sweet little Japanese movie about food that I discovered during my video retail years.
She's Gotta Have It (1986). Spike Lee has become so closely associated with New York it's easy to forget that he's originally from Atlanta.

Dragnet (1987). Another guilty pleasure. Tom Hanks has another comedy in him, I know he does.
Midnight Run (1988). Charles Grodin needs to make a comeback, dammit!
Uncle Buck (1989). Got dragged to see this and ended up loving it.
Pump Up the Volume (1990). If not Jenny's favorite film, then it's at least in her top five.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991). The movie that made me a Trekkie.

Hard Boiled (1992). I used to slide down bannisters all the time as a teenager. Sad to say, however, I never did it while shooting bad guys. It's one of the great regrets of my life.
Demolition Man (1993). More people dig this one than I realized.
Heavenly Creatures (1994). There's this song - I wish I knew who sings it - that's an ode to Kate Winslet. The chorus goes, "I'm no diplomat/But you look better fat/Kate Winslet!" And it's true.
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995). I saw Heather Matarazzo speak at a gay rights rally here in NYC once.
Matilda (1996). Awesome, awesome, awesome kids movie. Matilda is totally my role model. Now if only I could develop telekinetic superpowers...

187 (1997). Sam Jackson the dramatic actor doesn't get nearly enough credit. Check out this film about pre-Columbine high school violence one day.
A Simple Plan (1998). Sam Raimi needs to make another movie like this.
Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999). "It's da fuggin' birdman!!" [wheeze]
Dude Where's My Car? (2000). The ONLY Ashton Kutcher movie I'll ever watch.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001). Who knew that John Cameron Mitchell would go from this to Rabbit Hole?

Barbershop (2002). Why do so many black barbershops have wide screen TVs? Seriously, in my neighborhood, there's like, a hundred different barbershops and they all have them. Some guy could be shaving Lebron James' number into your scalp when all of a sudden somebody gets shot on CSI and the next thing you know you've got half an ear!
Mystic River (2003). The movie that got me hooked on Dennis Lehane.
Kung Fu Hustle (2004). Took a chance on it on a day when I was feeling depressed, and ended up enjoying it.
Good Night and Good Luck (2005). I know this was the year of Brokeback Mountain, but this was the movie I was rooting for to win Best Picture.
The Fountain (2006). Years from now, people will better appreciate this movie.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007). Would I have the courage to live if I were in this guy's situation? I wonder.
Rachel Getting Married (2008). An interracial marriage and it's treated no differently than any other one.
Up in the Air (2009). Still kinda pissed it didn't win the Adapted Screenplay Oscar.
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010). Seeing this was purely a spur-of-the-moment decision.