My 39th – 41st Favorite Motion Pictures

41. Roots (1977)
Clocking in at 540 minutes puts an immediate strike against any motion picture, but this engaging story here kept me entralled from beginning to end. And here’s the amazing thing: this is a made-for-TV movie. Almost as a law of the universe, made-for-TV is synonymous with crappy, but yet again Roots rises above. The camera work is unprecedented for television, and there’s nary a second-rate actor in the whole (enormous) cast. I also appreciated the graphic depiction of the events, again a rarity for television.
Why not rate this higher? Well, maybe 540 minutes is a bit long. The series loses a little momentum once Kunta and Kizzy have left the scene. Oh – and Kizzy? Annoying.

40. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
I viewed this film becuase it had been the second film in history to win the ‘top five’ Oscars (Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and Screenplay). Normally, when I watch a film with such high expectations, it doesn’t hold up – but this one did. Great acting, a great story, and just about the best ending of any motion picture. Ever.
Why not rate this higher? Oh, look, it’s Jack Nicholson playing himself again. Man, I get so sick of that guy. Also, what happened in the 70s that caused cinematographers to forget what natural color was?

39. Notorious (1946)
Another classic Hitchcock, this one is filled with memorable scenes: The long kissing scene that skillfully subverts the production code of the time, the camera pan to the key in Bergman’s hand, the wine bottles, and especially the suspenseful, slow walk down the stairs of the mansion as Raines’ character looks on powerless. Even the very end, as Grant locks the car door – I smile in sheer delight at these skillfully crafted scenes. Laila Valente once said: “Notorious is one of the most romantic and sensual movies ever made. The continuous and rising tension between the two antagonists is almost tangible. Their desperate need of each other explodes in the ever-lasting kiss and the revelation of his love on Alicia’s death bed. Cary Grant has never been so dark and vulnerable.” Good call.