1954 Movies
OSCARS Won/Nominated
IMDB Top 250
IMDB Top 250
Animal Farm
Dir: Joy Batchelor & John Halas 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Quite an unnerving piece of work, this animation of George Orwell's classic is pretty powerful. If you held this up, visually, side-by-side with Charlotte's Web, it would be hard to tell them apart. However, this film is by no means a children's film. With the story about farm animals rising up to take over the farm they are a part of, it is full of the "Power Corrupts" parable and is rather violent...and the communist allegory is certainly not lost. Most of my enjoyment of this film came from the shock at how grown-up and no less Orwellian it was simply being animated. You will be quite surprised too. B |
OSCARS
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On the Waterfront
Dir: Elia Kazan Stars: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die IMDB #140 It is so refreshing to see a movie that is simple on paper, elevated to near perfection by its actors. Brando, Malden, Cobb, and Steiger are all so electric as they play out a story that is as simple as a man grappling with his own conscience over his involvement in violent union-involved murder. People say that Elia Kazan created this movie as a sort of contrition over his House Unamerican Act finger-pointing. I like to stay ignorant of the director's personal life. If I didn't....I wouldn't like Polanski or Allen movies either. Powerful Movie and worthy of its 8 oscars. The only reason it didn't win all 11 it was nominated for was because Malden, Cobb, and Steiger all split the Supporting Actor vote. B+ |
OSCARS
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Sabrina
Dir: Billy Wilder Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden Humphrey Bogart is still one of my all-time favorites...and he acts circles around Audrey Hepburn and William Holden...to the level where it is a detriment to the overall movie. Billy Wilder's direction is very fun and whimsical...and I kind of like the story...but the romance aspect of this movie, and it IS a romance...is a bit creepy. Sabrina's relationship toward David is stalkyey. David's relationship toward Sabrina is rapey. Sabrina and Linus's relationship is odd and strange. BUT...the movie IS enjoyable to see how the hi-jinx unfold...so I was ok with the poorly executed stuff. B |
OSCARS
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Seven Brides For Seven Brothers
Dir: Stanley Donen Stars: Jane Powell, Howard Keel Sure...this movie is made with great colors, good music, and a lot of enthusiasm...but I never much cared for the story. So an eldest brother gets married and inspires his 6 other brothers to do the same. When things aren't going to plan, they kidnap their prospective brides, and everyone is dancing and singing about these creepsters. Just a very strange musical. C+ |
OSCARS
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La Strada
Dir: Federico Fellini Stars: Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die This is my first Federico Fellini film, and it is very impressive. I couldn't quite get into the early scenes, but the film got better and better as it progressed and finished quite extraordinarily. It plays like a greek tragedy, with Anthony Quinn playing the violent, grumpy Zampano and Giulietta Masina playing Gelsomina as a naive, childlike woman...both as broad archetypes with seemingly unavoidable fates. Apparently Fellini has a lot of circus stuff in his films, and this is no exception. La Strada impressed me, especially because of the superb performances by the leads. I can't wait to knock off some other Fellini films on this list like La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2, and Satyricon B |