#5 Black Swan 2010

Black Swan
Released: 2010
IMDB rating (at the moment): 8,5/10 #87

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Written by: Mark Heyman, Andrés Heinz and John McLaughlin
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel

I just got home after watching Black Swan at a friends house. I have longed to see this film and finally the time was right.

The film focuses on a ballerinas struggle to get the leading role in The Swan Lake, she is fragile and introvert, just like the White Swan character in the performance, but as the time passes during practice she loses her mind slowly, and she becomes more like The Black Swan.

I have to say one thing, the acting, wow, wow, wow. Portman is killing in this film, my god. And I never thought that Mila Kunis could act very well, but she does make a great appearance in this film, a very good catch by the director and the casting ensemble. And for the rest of the actors, bravo, the douche bag director in the film and the mother is very odd but intriguing characters.

At first I didn't find the computer visualised effects during Ninas (Portmans) scary schizophrenic breakdowns appealing. But after reconsidering the full image in my head I come to realize that it is simply great. The full image is so fragile and strong at the same time. I adore it.

This is a masterpiece, I really have to admit that this is one of the best films I have ever seen. Not mainly because of the great plot and the brilliant directing. But because I felt this film. And I still do, I am almost shivering. I find it amusing and scary at the same time. And that is true cinematic art, to make the audience feel like I am right now.

It was actually thanks to Portman that Kunis got a part in the film, she suggested her to the director and he talked to her via Skype, and voila, she got a part in the film. Also Meryl Streep was considered as playing the mother, and Blake Lively auditioned to play Kunis character Lily. Although I think that Streep and Lively would have stolen too much attention.

Something that I was asking myself was; are Kunis and Portman actually doing most of the ballet dancing in the film or is it by a double? The truth is that both Kunis and Portman did most of the dancing but during the very advanced routines they had a double. Great work, indeed.

If you haven't seen this film, DO IT. It is a masterpiece.

#4 The King's Speech 2010

The King's Speech
Released: 2010
IMDB Rating (at the moment): 8,4/10 #103

Directed by: Tom Hooper
Written by: David Seidler
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter

I just remembered, being as disoriented as I am, that I watched The King's Speech today at the cinema. And since it is among the 250 films I am going to review, it is easier to do it now.

The film focuses on King George IV of Britain and his way to the throne, it is about his stammering and his help from a speech therapist to make him sure that he is the rightful heir to the throne.

As soon as I heard of this film I wanted to watch it. The story is in itself, considering it is actual history, very intriguing. The film's dialogue is very well written and remarkably humorous in its way. It was, in my opinion, an easy film to digest. Nothing really special to be honest, but not a boring or bad film in any way.

I specifically liked the way the film evolved, it got more interesting, even if I knew all along what was going to happen. It is, as I said, very well written and Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush makes a remarkably good duo here.

There is a scene in which king George VI (Firth) goes through different ways to treat his stammering, and it is indeed hilarious to watch. But the real core in this film is the insecurities and the beautiful friendship that evolves between him and his speech therapist (Rush). And the last scene is really a knockout.

The direction seems to me pretty ordinary, and nothing is really groundbreaking. But I would recommend anyone to see this film, and I may place it in the top 250, although somewhere in the bottom of the list. This is just an presumption considering I have only watched 4 of the films recently.

The screenplay writer David Seidler suffered from a stammer himself as a child and he actually wrote a letter addressed to the Queen asking her if he could write a film script about King George VI's stammering problems. She asked him not to while she was still alive, she gave too painful memories as reason. But now Seidler became the oldest man to date to win an Academy Award as a screenplay writer.

#3 Sherlock Jr. 1924

Sherlock Jr.
Released: 1924
IMDB Rating (At the moment): 8,4/10 #231

Directed by: Buster Keaton
Written by: Jean Havez, Joseph Mitchell and Clyde Bruckman
Starring: Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton

This is truly a peculiar story. It is about a film projectionist who in the meantime study to become a detective. And a case comes up just when he tries to propose to his love interest. But the film is more about a dream Sherlock Jr has about him being a detective and saving the day.

The camera techniques used in this film is truly stunning. At least for being quite old. There is scenes that take place inside a film screen and the actor falls into different settings. It is really amusing. I particularly like the way they have used the set design and put every place into its own function.

There are two scenes that blew me away. One is where Sherlock Jr is stalking the thief, and he is really close. The choreography is both amusing and brilliant. The second scene is where the main character is trapped on a motor cycle and is speeding through different settings. It is true stunt!

I absolutely adored this film. It is cool, because it is a meta film. And I had no idea they existed in the 20s! It is smart, creative and in the mean time very silly. The typical comedy stereotypes exist in this film, for example the classic "tripping on the banana peel"-joke. But it is all good because this is a masterpiece that deserves to be in the top 250.

I'm getting back to this with stunts, Buster Keaton made all stunts himself and actually in this film he severely hurt himself in the neck when falling down a tube connected to a water basin. The injury caused terrible migraine which Keaton had to live with for the rest of his life.

And when you watch be sure to laugh at the last scene, it is so corny and cute at the same time. Watch this film! (Available on YouTube.)

#2The Kid 1921

The Kid
Released: 1921
IMDB Rating (at the moment): 8,3/10 #167

Directed by: Charles Chaplin
Written by: Charles Chaplin
Starring: Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Jackie Coogan

The film is about a boy left at birth by his mother who simply can't care for him. After some time he ends up with a tramp who raises him. But you see, his mother becomes a famous star and starts to do charity. And guess who she meets...

The storyline is basic, but yet so genius. I can see every modern feel good comedy trying to be as innovative as Chaplin, but this is the original people. Sure it is quite goofy with a lot of slapstick humour and cheap shots. But it is entertaining and cleaver, because it was made in the early 20s. I can see the reason why this film is considered one of the greatest, because it is simply so easy to watch, but yet so brilliant.

It is difficult to review such an old film. But I can tell you a few things that caught my attention. Firstly the acting is way over the top, but then again this is a silent film, better to be very clear with your message. And secondly the make up they are wearing is quite interesting. It is very highlighted, and thirdly the actors sometimes adress the camera, which would be very rare in modern film. But this is simply a masterpiece, I can say no more.

And what makes it even better is the music. Originally composed by Chaplin himself. The score is actually inspired by Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony.

The film is available without charge on YouTube (make sure to get one with the original music score), due to the copyright rules being withdrawn because it is simply that old.

Make sure to look for the fighting scene and the special effects in the dream scene. It is simply wonderful.

#1 風の谷のナウシカ (Keze No Tani No Naushika) 1984

風の谷のナウシカ (Keze No Tani No Naushika) - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Released: 1984
IMDB Rating (at the moment): 8,1/10 #249

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki Written by: Hayao Miyazaki Starring: Sumi Shimamoto, Mahito Tsujimara, Hisako Kyoda

The story is about Princess Nausicaä who desperately is trying to keep the nations in war from destroying themselves and their dying planet. The forests are toxic, the whole planet is dying and there are insects threatening to destroy the human villages, but only as long as the humans keep fighting each other. You see where the plot is going? I see a clear peace wish here. But they are subtle and very impressive.

I have to be honest, I am in love with Miyazakis storytelling and his artwork. The image of the insects are both appealing and terrifying at the same time. The main character Nausicaä is a strong woman, and without saying too much she really saves the day a lot of the times, the story is way ahead when it comes to strong female leads. I was fixated to the screen during the whole movie, it is really, really nicely done, both visually and storywise. The different characters can sometimes be a bit predictable, but nevertheless this is a true masterpiece and deserves to be in the top 250.

Be careful though which version you watch, because when the film was distributed in America (the distributors being Disney) the film was cut by 25 minutes. Apparently Miyazaki was not pleased with this and sent a samurai sword to the executives at Disney saying "No cuts".

Let's begin

Hello people!

I will now start a project by watching and reviewing the current top 250 films from the website IMDB.

I'll start with the oldest movies and work my way through to the very latest. Keep in mind that the list of films were taken from the website on the 15th of March 2011. The list may change during this project, but the films I have to watch is as follows (in Swedish, the bold ones is films I have watched before):

Chaplins Pojke (The Kid) 1921

Fart, Flickor och Kärlek (Sherlock, Jr.) 1924

Guldfeber (The Gold Rush) 1925

Så Går Det Till i Krig (The General) 1926

Soluppgång (Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans) 1927

Metropolis 1927

En Kvinnas Martyrium (La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc) 1928

På Västfronten Intet Nytt (All Quiet on the Western Front) 1930

M 1931

Stadens Ljus (City Lights) 1931

Fyra Fula Fiskar (Duck Soup) 1933

Det Hände En Natt (It Happened One Night) 1934

Moderna Tider (Modern Times) 1936

Borta Med Vinden (Gone With the Wind) 1939

Trollkarlen från Oz (The Wizard of Oz) 1939

Mr. Smith i Washington (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) 1939

En Skön Historia (The Philadelphia Story) 1940

Det Ligger i Blodet (His Girl Friday) 1940

Vredens Druvor (The Grapes of Wrath) 1940

Rebecca 1940

Diktatorn (The Great Dictator) 1940

Riddarfalken från Malta (The Maltese Falcon) 1941

En Sensation (Citizen Kane) 1941

Casablanca 1942

Arsenik och Gamla Spetsar (Arsenic and Old Lace) 1944

Kvinna Utan Samvete (Double Indemnity) 1944

De Bästa Åren (The Best Years of Our Lives) 1946

Utpressning (The Big Sleep) 1946

Notorious 1946

Livet Är Underbart (It’s a Wonderful Life) 1946

Repet (Rope) 1948

Cykeltjuven (Ladri di Biciclette) 1948

Sierra Madres Skatt (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre) 1948

Sju Hertigar (Kind Hearts and Coronets) 1949

Den Tredje Mannen (The Third Man) 1949

Min Vän Harvey (Harvey) 1950

Allt Om Eva (All About Eve) 1950

Demonernas Port (Rashomon) 1950

Sunset Boulevard 1950

Linje Lusta (A Streetcar Named Desire) 1951

Främlingar På Tåg (Strangers on a Train) 1951

Att Leva (Ikiru) 1952

Sheriffen (High Noon) 1952

Singin’ in the Rain 1952

Prinsessa På Vift (Roman Holiday) 1953

Fruktans Lön (Le Salaire de la Peur) 1953

Flykten Från Fångläger 17 (Stalag 17) 1953

Slå Nollan Till Polisen (Dial M for Murder) 1954

La Strada 1954

Storstadshamn (On the Waterfront) 1954

Fönstret Åt Gården (Rear Window) 1954

De Sju Samurajerna (Shichinin No Samurai) 1954

Trasdockan (The Night of the Hunter) 1955

De Djävulska (Les Diaboliques) 1955

Spelet Är Förlorat (The Killing) 1956

Cabirias Nätter (Le Notti di Cabiria) 1957

12 Edsvurna Män (12 Angry Men) 1957

Smultronstället 1957

Åklagarens Vittne (Witness for the Prosecution) 1957

Det Sjunde Inseglet 1957

Bron Över Floden Kwai (The Bridge Over the River Kwai) 1957

Ärans Väg (Paths of Gory) 1957

En Djävulsk Fälla (Touch of Evil) 1958

Studie i Brott (Vertigo) 1958

Ben-Hur 1959

De 400 Slagen (Les Quatre Cents Coups) 1959

I Hetaste Laget (Some Like it Hot) 1959

I Sista Minuten (North by Northwest) 1959

Ungkarlslyan (The Apartment) 1960

Psycho 1960

Fifflaren (The Hustler) 1961

Dom i Nürnberg (Judgment at Nuremburg) 1961

Yojimbo – Livvakten (Yojinbo) 1961

Hjärntvättad (The Manchurian Candidate) 1962

Skuggor Över Södern (To Kill a Mockingbird) 1962

Lawrence av Arabien (Lawrence of Arabia) 1962

Mannen Som Sköt Liberty Valance (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) 1962

Den Stora Flykten (The Great Escape) 1963

8½ 1963

Dr. Strangelove eller: Hur Jag Slutade Ängslas och Lärde Mig Älska Bomben (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb) 1964

För Några Få Dollar Mer (Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu) 1965

Persona 1966

Slaget om Alger (La Battaglia di Algeri) 1966

Den Gode, Den Onde, Den Fule (Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo) 1966

Vem Är Rädd för Virginia Woolf? (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) 1966

Mandomsprovet (The Graduate) 1967

Rebell i Bojor (Cool Hand Luke) 1967

Rosemary’s Baby 1968

Harmonica – En Hämnare (C’era Una Volta Il West) 1968

År 2001 – Ett Rymdäventyr (2001: A Space Odyssey) 1968

Det Vilda Gänget (The Wild Bunch) 1969

Butch Cassidy och Sundance Kid (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) 1969

Patton – Pansargeneralen (Patton) 1970

Clockwork Orange 1971

Sleuth – Spårhunden (Sleuth) 1972

Gudfadern (The Godfather) 1972

Exorcisten (The Exorcist) 1973

Blåsningen (The Sting) 1973

Chinatown 1974

Gudfadern, del II (The Godfather: Part II) 1974

Barry Lyndon 1975

En Satans Eftermiddag (Dog Day Afternoon) 1975

Hajen (Jaws) 1975

Monty Pythons Galna Värld (Monty Python and the Holy Grail) 1975

Gökboet (One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest) 1975

Rocky 1976

Network 1976

Taxi Driver 1976

Annie Hall 1977

Stjärnornas Krig (Star Wars) 1977

Deer Hunter 1978

Manhattan 1979

Alien 1979

Apocalypse (Apocalypse Now) 1979

Monty Pythons Life of Bryan – Ett Herrans Liv (Life of Brian) 1979

Elefantmannen (The Elephant Man) 1980

Tjuren från Bronx (Raging Bull) 1980

The Shining 1980

Rymdimperiet Slår Tillbaka (Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back) 1980

Ubåten (Das Boot) 1981

Jakten På Den Försvunna Skatten (Raiders of the Lost Ark) 1981

Fanny och Alexander 1982

Gandhi 1982

The Thing 1982

Blade Runner 1982

Jedins Återkomst (Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi) 1983

Scarface 1983

Nausicaä från Vindarnas Dal (Keze No Tani No Naushika) 1984

Terminator 1984

Amadeus 1984

Once Upon a Time in America 1984

Ran 1985

Tillbaka till Framtiden (Back to the Future) 1985

Stand by Me 1986

Plutonen (Platoon) 1986

Aliens – Återkomsten (Aliens) 1986

Bleka Dödens Minut (The Princess Bride) 1987

Full Metal Jacket 1987

Min Granne Totoro (Tonari No Totoro) 1988

Eldflugornas Grav (Hotaru No Haka) 1988

Die Hard 1988

Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso) 1988

Indiana Jones och det Sista Korståget (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) 1989

Maffiabröder (Goodfellas) 1990

Skönheten och Odjuret (The Beauty and the Beast) 1991

Terminator 2 – Domedagen (Terminator 2: Judgement Day) 1991

När Lammen Tystnar (The Silence of the Lambs) 1991

De Skoningslösa (Unforgiven) 1992

De Hänsynslösa (Reservoir Dogs) 1992

Måndag Hela Veckan (Groundhog Day) 1993

Schindler’s List 1993

Den Röda Filmen (Trois Couleurs: Rouge) 1994

Ed Wood 1994

Lejonkungen (The Lion King) 1994

Léon 1994

Forrest Gump 1994

Pulp Fiction 1994

Nyckeln Till Frihet (The Shawshank Redemption) 1994

Casino 1995

Toy Story 1995

Heat 1995

Braveheart 1995

Seven 1995

De Misstänkta (The Usual Suspects) 1995

De 12 Apornas Armé (Twelve Monkeys) 1995

Trainspotting 1996

Fargo 1996

Good Will Hunting 1997

Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-Hime) 1997

Livet Är Underbart (La Vita È Bella) 1997

L.A. Konfidentiellt (L.A. Confidential) 1997

Festen 1998

Truman Show 1998

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels 1998

The Big Lebowski 1998

Rädda Menige Ryan (Saving Private Ryan) 1998

American History X 1998

Magnolia 1999

Sjätte Sinnet (The Sixth Sense) 1999

Den Gröna Milen (The Green Mile) 1999

American Beauty 1999

Matrix 1999

Fight Club 1999

In the Mood for Love (Fa Yeung Nin Wa) 2000

Älskade Hundar (Amores Perros) 2000

Snatch 2000

Gladiator 2000

Requiem for a Dream 2000

Memento 2000

Monsters, Inc. 2001

Donnie Darko 2001

Sagan om Ringen: Härskarringen (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) 2001

Spirited Away (Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi) 2001

Amelie från Montmartre (Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain) 2001

Tala Med Henne (Hable Con Ella) 2002

Infernal Affairs (Mou Gaan Dou) 2002

Sagan Om de Två Tornen (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) 2002

The Pianist 2002

Guds Stad (Cidade de Deus) 2002

Livets Hjul (Bom Yeoreum Gaeul Gyeoul Geurigo Bom) 2003

Mystic River 2003

Sagan om Konungens Återkomst (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) 2003

Pirates of the Caribbean: Svarta Pärlans Förbannelse (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) 2003

Big Fish 2003

Hitta Nemo (Finding Nemo) 2003

Kill Bill: Volume 1 2003

Oldboy – Hämnden (Oldeuboi) 2003

Crash 2004

Det Levande Slottet (Hauru No Ugoku Shiro) 2004

Superhjältarna (The Incredibles) 2004

Million Dollar Baby 2004

Kill Bill: Volume 2 2004

Hotel Rwanda 2004

Undergången – Hitler och Tredje Rikets Fall (Der Untergang) 2004

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 2004

Batman Begins 2005

Sin City 2005

Letters from Iwo Jima 2006

Children of Men 2006

V För Vendetta (V for Vendetta) 2006

Pans Labyrint (El Laberinto del Fauno) 2006

The Prestige 2006

The Departed 2006

De Andras Liv (Das Leben der Anderen) 2006

Fjärilen i Glaskupan (Le Scaphandre et le Papillon) 2007

Råttatouille (Ratatouille) 2007

The Bourne Ultimatum 2007

There Will Be Blood 2007

Into the Wild 2007

No Country for Old Men 2007

Låt Den Rätte Komma In 2008

In Bruges 2008

The Wrestler 2008

Slumdog Millionaire 2008

Gran Torino 2008

Wall-E 2008

The Dark Knight 2008

Mary & Max 2009

Star Trek 2009

Hemligheten i Deras Ögon (El Secreto de sus Ojos) 2009

Avatar 2009

Upp (Up) 2009

Inglourious Basterds 2009

District 9 2009

The Social Network 2010

Draktränaren (How to Train Your Dragon) 2010

The King’s Speech 2010

Black Swan 2010

Inception 2010

Toy Story 3 2010

I'm really looking forward wathing all these movies, as you could see I've seen a few, but I will watch them again, and this time with new and more analysing eyes.

I'm starting with the classical silent movies, but I started a bit easy with one of the animated classics from 1984 by Miyazaki. I hope I can be forgiven for breaking my own guidelines, but I hope you enjoy the first of my reviews.