1) The Killer
Easily one of the best films in the history of film. More than an action film, more than a drama, more than a love story-it's a blueprint for a way of life. To describe this film in one word?
Passion. If you let The Killer take you where it wants you to go-it stays with you forever.
2) They Live
John Carpenter's docu-drama on the Reagan Era is a more powerful whistle-blower than JFK, and it benefits from a fine screen performance from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Roddy Piper).
3) Grosse Pointe Blank
At the end of the day-this film means as much to me as Phantom Menace means to Django. I AM Martin Blank.
This is the film I want to make. I hadn't been so inspired by a film since I saw-well, one of my future picks...
4) A Life Less Ordinary
Another perfect film. 40's screwball comedy with a 90's pop-culture veneer and a punk rock sneer from the friends behind Trainspotting.
5) Say Anything
For what it says. Some movies confirm who you are-validate you. You walk a path. Not really sure if you're right. Someone comes along who has achieved what you want and shows you that the path you're on is the good thing. Cameron Crowe let me know when I was 16 years old.
And is it just me-or is Grosse Pointe Blank pretty much Say Anything 2:The Quickening.
6) The Phantom
This movie is posessed of an altruism to which I can only aspire. An interview with star Billy Zane sold me on seeing the flick on opening night. He said that he, "wanted to portray the beauty of this character who does good-not for money or fame, but because he believes in the idea that if you do good, good things will happen to you."
A life philosophy from a sexy man.
Cathy Zeta and Kristy Swanson don't hurt either.
Legend has it that Billy Zane and BRUCE CAMPBELL were fighting for the role, and Zane won out. Knowing that, and watching the film-you realize that both the hero and the villain are roles that are played with that Bruce Campbell veneer of eanest cheese. But the villain in this film is Treat Williams. Treat Williams starred in the cheese classic DEEP RISING, directed by Stephen Sommers. Sommers, who has name dropped Sam Raimi and the Evil Dead films in numerous Fango interviews, is a monster fan of Army of Darkness, going so far as to crib a few of the film's bits for his film THE MUMMY. Treat Williams' performance in Deep Rising is very Bruce in tone, Sommers is a fan of Army of Darkness, and TODD MACFARLANE'S ARMY OF DARKNESS ASH FIGURE LOOKS LIKE TREAT WILLIAMS.
Oh, and Phantom screenwriter Jeffery Boam created the TV series The Adventures of Brisco County Jr-which starred BRUCE CAMPBELL.
It's all creepishy connected.
7) Masters of the Universe
8) The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
9) 10 Things I Hate About You
10) Avenging Disco Godfather
[This message has been edited by Hot Animal Machine (edited 03-12-2001).]