Filmhash List: Steve Carell’s Career

With Crazy, Stupid, Love. out today, we thought we’d take a look at Steve Carell’s career to date, and review some of the highs and lows on his path to being one of the most in-demand comedy stars around.

Bruce Amighty (2003)
Like many people, this was my first exposure to Carell, and he basically stole the show right out from under Jim Carey in one scene. Here is the clip, where Jim Carey (with the powers of God) messes with Carell’s newscaster character. However, many knew him from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and in both of his first two big breaks, he is largely treading familiar ground.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Carell didn’t stray far from his first major film role when joining his next film. He plays Brick Tamland, the idiot weatherman, and provides the film with some of the best non-sequitors in one of the funniest films of the aughts.

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

The first starring role for Carell came with Judd Apatow’s first directing job (Carell also got a writing credit). It was a smash success, and made it onto a lot of critics top ten lists for the year. The film broke him out of the newscaster role, and into playing a more fully realized character.

The Office (2005-2011)
That fall, the British hit series The Office was brought to American shores, and the character of Michael Scott was born. While obviously based on Ricky Gervais’ David Brent, Carell brought his own brand of comedy to the role, and made Michael Scott the most beloved boss in TV history (OK, maybe after Lou Grant).

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
At the time of shooting LMS, Carell was a virtual unknown in Hollywood, as this was prior to The 40 Year Old Virgin. The role of Frank was written with Bill Murray or Robin Williams in mind, but Steve Carell was chosen for the role a few months before filming began. The directors said, “When we met with Steve Carell, we didn’t know he could do this based upon what he had done. But when we met with him and talked to him about the character, the tone of the movie and the way we were approaching it, he was right on the same page with us.”

Evan Almighty/Dan in Real Life (2007)
Evan Almighty, at the time of release, was the most expensive comedy ever made. It was a financial flop, failing to bring in fans of the original, families, Christians, greenies, or any other conceivable demographic. However, Carell’s performance was one of the few things praised about the film.

The same year, he also starred in an indie comedy, Dan in Real Life, whose premise seems a tad similar to that of this weekend’s release. It’s regarded pretty highly, but I found it only to be moderately successful.

Get Smart (2008)
Steve Carell is the obvious choice to take over the role Don Adams originated, and there may be no one else alive who could have done as good of a job. One of the better TV-to-movie adaptations, it maintains the style and humor of the source material, while updating the attitude and adding some solid action scenes.

Date Night, Dinner for Schmucks (2010)
Last year brought Carell together with NBC Thursday Night Comedy co-star Tina Fey, a dream pairing, and they did make a delightful on screen couple. The film overall felt safe, but Carell and Fey playing to their strengths isn’t something to complain about.

Dinner for Schmucks isn’t a great film, but Carell’s performance might be what saves it. He brings a sincerity and honesty to the role that others would just play as the butt of every joke (see: Zack Galifianakis). Carell’s performance alone is enough to watch this film.

Filmhash List: 10+ Heat Wave Busters

A list from the esoteric brains behind Filmhash. If you have a list topic, let us know, and we’ll…come up with something!

Rather than spending all weekend in this record heat wave wishing we could be outside, our antidote to the swelter is to put on a movie, crank the AC and try to feel as chilly as possible. Here is our 10+ film guide to doing so. Bonus points awarded for being cold enough to be under a blanket with hot chocolate!

1. Fargo (1996)

The quintessential Coen Brothers film, Fargo captures their knack for dark comedy and fascination with crime tales in their purest fusion. The Coens always manage to bring our the best in the top-notch character actors they so often work with, and Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, and Steve Buscemi are at the height of their game in this one.

2. The Thing (1992)

What could be colder than Antarctica? Especially when being stalked by a violent alien. Ebert called the special effects “among the most elaborate, nauseating, and horrifying sights yet achieved by Hollywood’s new generation of visual magicians”, and noted it as “a great barf-bag movie.”

3. Airport (1970)

This movie was one of the first films to make over $100 million at the box office, and in doing so launched the entire disaster movie genre (pun not intended!). The film revolves around an airport manager trying to keep his airport open during an intense snow storm, while a terrorist plans to blow up a plane mid-flight. The story is fleshed out by focusing on ordinary people and their reactions and relationships as these events unfold. It features stars Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, and a host of other Hollywood heavyweights you may not recognize if you’re under the age of 40.

4. Titanic (1997)

I included this film simply because it was the 1990s version of Airport, except that an iceberg is the terrorist. Just imagine yourself in the freezing cold North Atlantic, and you cool down in no time!

5. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Nature disaster movies became all the rage in the late 90s, and this latter entry into the genre by Roland Emmerich is pretty silly. But a frozen New York City is damn cool looking (pun intended, of course).

6. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The best installment in the Star Wars franchise is also the coolest, with the opening sequence on Hoth providing some of the best mix of action and character moments in any film. Here, we find Han Solo being a supreme badass:

Echo Base Officer: Your Tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker!

Han Solo: Then I’ll see you in Hell!

And that’s why Harrison Ford is the best there is.

7. Alive (1993)

This hard-to-watch film is an adaptation of Piers Paul Read’s 1974 book Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, which is a narrative telling the true story of the Uruguayan rugby team who crashed into the Andes mountains on October 13, 1972. Perhaps the true achievement of this film is that it mostly manages to show what happened without over-sensationalizing it.

8. Frozen (2010)

A tense ‘horror’ film about a bunch of teens who get stuck on a ski lift after the park closes, and have to do everything they can to try and not die of exposure. The actors and script aren’t quite up to the premise, but director Adam Green imbues the film with an inherit watchability.

9. March of the Penguins (2005)

This film follows a year in the lives of Emperor Penguins as they journey into the heart of the frozen Antarctic continent. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and is one of the few documentaries to ever capture the imagination of American audiences.

10. Cool Runnings (1993)

A Jamaican bobsled team. What more do you need for relief on a hot summer’s day?

Bonus: My most likely impulse is just to watch clips of skiing scenes from James Bond films. Here is my favorite:

From The Spy Who Loved Me:

Filmhash List: The Year in Review…So Far

It’s hard to believe the year is halfway over! 2011 has been a pretty good year for film, and the best is yet to come. But let’s take a look back at the last 6 months, and our favorite films so far. Enjoy!

Super 8

This film had ample opportunity to derail under the weight of audience expectations, but to our delight it toes the line between nostalgia and modernity very well. Director J.J. Abrams brings his sci-fi sensibilities to the screen alongside gifted young actors to make Super 8 both an entertaining and compelling film.

Bridesmaids

Make ‘em laugh, Make ‘em laugh, Don’t you know everyone wants to laugh? They said it could be done, but it would be a hard sell, and I think it’s safe to say that the ladies of Bridesmaids got the job done. A smart, funny film that spoke directly to women, yet even appealed to some enlightened men out there. It was a great first step for the future of female-driven comedies.

Attack the Block

This film was an awesome surprise and a fantastic viewing experience that we were lucky to be apart of. The film is on limited release at the moment, slowly gaining momentum and vying for an even wider release on July 29th. Attack the Block is relying heavily on word-of-mouth to get people in theaters, and we here at filmhash wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t say: GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!! You can read our review of it here.

Hanna

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this thriller, but Hanna scores on every level-from the acting to the energizing score, I loved every minute of it. Although not the first film to do so recently, Hanna stirred up a little controversy with its use of a violent young female character in the lead role. I feel the use of violent women in film, although sometimes sexualized by Hollywood, allows filmmakers to explore the paradigms of innocence and darkness more throughly than if they were to use male characters. It certainly makes Hanna a visceral and stylistic adventure worth seeing.

Midnight in Paris

A wonderful, lighthearted film that nonetheless has volumes to say about our culture’s penchant for glamorizing days gone by. In fact, writer/director Woody Allen couldn’t have picked a more opportune release date amidst the sea of nostalgia films in theaters this season. There’s nothing wrong with looking back, as long as you don’t loose the strength to move forward.

Will any of these movies make it to our top ten at the end of the year? We’ll wait and see!

The Space Shuttle: A Film History

Today is the last launch of NASA’s Space Shuttle, the only true exit and return vehicle ever to be flown by mankind (so far). Not only has it had 30 years of service and over 130 launches, but you may not realize the shuttle has also enjoyed an illustrious film career.

The shuttle’s film debut came in the 1979 Bond film, Moonraker, years before any actual test flights. One of the goofier Bond films, the shuttle is one of the least odd things about it. Overall, it is a fun, lighthearted movie, the kind best watched on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The first official appearance of a named shuttle came in 1986′s comedy Space Camp. Sadly, the film was released in the wake of the Challenger disaster, making a comedy about kids accidentally sent into space a very tough sell. Despite having an overly silly robot befriend Joaquin Phoenix, it’s a pretty decent film despite it’s awful release timing.

The next film to feature the shuttle is Michael Bay’s blockbuster Armageddon. The ultimate blue collar fantasy, this is the film where a bunch of oil drillers are sent to space to use nuclear weapons to break apart an asteroid and save the world. Although the film is now used by NASA as a training exercise in spotting scientific inaccuracies, it’s a great ride, and the shuttle (with a few choice modifications) plays a very prominent role.

Shortly thereafter, Clint Eastwood’s Space Cowboys took a bunch of retirees into space on a mission to reprogram an obsolete Soviet satellite with a secret. It’s a very formulaic film, and as such the tension doesn’t feel so high. Fittingly, the older space jockeys also make an appearance on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show. All of the lead performances are excellent, and overall it makes for one of Eastwood’s most fun efforts.

And finally, perhaps, the shuttle makes a brief appearance in the newest Transformers film, also directed by Bay. Unfortunately, it does not transform. That would have been awesome.

“She sure was a good ship. Farewell, Aquarius, and we thank you.” – from Apollo 13

Filmhash List: Rating Fourth of July Blockbusters

In honor of July 4th being one of the ‘big four’ movie weekends, we’re going back over the last 16 years and rating the release from that year, starting in 1995!

Apollo 13 (1995)

This is one of the best movies of all time, hands down.
Grade: A

Independence Day (1996)

This not only started a chain of Will Smith vehicles coming out on July 4th weekend, but also the new disaster movie trend. Still a great movie.
Grade: B-

Men in Black (1997)

One of the all-time great sci-fi comedies. I find myself quoting it often. Jill: And there’s a pug!
Grade:  A-

Armageddon (1998)

The other major trend on this list is Michael Bay, and this is one of his most enjoyable. It’s also appropriate: if there’s anything Michael Bay loves more than explosions and underwear models, it’s America.
Grade: B

Wild Wild West (1999)

Sadly this film is awful, despite how bad I wanted it to be good.
Grade: D

The Patriot / The Perfect Storm (2000)

I really enjoy The Patriot, it’s a great epic. The Perfect Storm didn’t really do anything for me, but it’s decent. Jill: I actually loved Storm…Mark Wahlberg.
Grade: Patriot: B, Storm: C    Jill: Storm: A+++++++++++

Men in Black II (2002)

I’ve actually done everything I can to forget I ever saw this movie. There is no good here. Jill: There’s a pug!
Grade: F

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Actually pretty decent, all things considered. The ending completely took me by surprise, which was welcome.
Grade: C+

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

The best film in the trilogy, and one of my favorite superhero movies.
Grade: A-

War of the Worlds (2005)

Haven’t seen it. Spielberg + Aliens does not overcome the Tom Cruise factor for me.
Grade: N/A

Superman Returns (2006)

This film is better than its reputation might lead you to believe. It’s a loving tribute to the Donner Superman films.
Grade: B-

Transformers (2007)

The best film in this franchise.
Grade: B-

Hancock (2008)

The first half of this movie is solid, the second half is abysmal.
Grade: D+

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)

I actually haven’t seen any of the films in this franchise.
Grade: N/A

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)

Not the most interesting film in the franchise visually, but the story was not as mind-numbing.
Grade: C+

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

Read my review!
Grade:  B-

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!!!!

Filmhash List: 15 Film Teachers We Wish We Had In School

A list from the esoteric brains behind Filmhash. If you have a list topic, let us know, and we’ll…come up with something!

In honor of Bad Teacher coming out this weekend, we thought we’d run down the teachers in various films we wish had been ours in school, and what we would have learned from them! (in no particular order)

1. John Keating (Robin Williams), Dead Poet’s Society

What we learned: Real men write poetry.

(John Keating): Language was developed for one endeavor, and that is…

(Neil): To communicate?

(John Keating): No! To woo women!

2. Mr. Hand (Ray Walston), Fast Times at Ridgemont High

What we learned: Strict teachers still care about their students, and want them to succeed.

3. Ms. Norbury (Tina Fey), Mean Girls

What we learned: Ladies, let’s keep the claws retracted.

4. Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris, Michael Gambon), Harry Potter series

What we learned: It is our choices that show us who we really are, far more than our abilities.

5. Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), The Karate Kid

What we learned: That karate, and life requires balance. And that you must, “First learn stand, then learn fly. Nature rule, Daniel-san, not mine.”

6. Dewey Finn (Jack Black), School of Rock

What we learned: Sometimes, you just have to rock. And that not all school learning needs to happen in ‘traditional’ classes.

7. Mr. Griffith (Thomas Haden Church), Easy A

What we learned: You can be a ‘cool’ teacher who talks to kids…without trying to ‘keep it real,” Phil Dunphy style. The world according to Mr Griffith:

“I don’t know what your generation’s fascination is with documenting your every thought… but I can assure you, they’re not all diamonds. ‘Roman is having an OK day, and bought a Coke Zero at the gas station. Raise the roof.’ Who gives a rat’s ass?”

8/9. Yoda/Obi-Wan (Frank Oz, Alec Guinness), Star Wars

What we learned: Fear, anger, and hate are the ingredients of galactic disaster. Also, if you’re going to do something, do it, or don’t do it. There’s no A for effort in this galaxy far far away.

10. Mr. Vernon (Paul Gleason), The Breakfast Club

What we learned: Don’t mess with the bull.

11. Det. John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger), Kindergarten Cop

What we learned: Basic human anatomy and there is such a thing as TMI on Career Day:

(Mr. Kimble): We’re going to play a wonderful game called…”Who is my daddy and what does he do?”

(Rina, Tina): Our mom says our dad is a real sex machine.

(Joseph): My dad’s a gynecologist. He looks at vaginas all day long.

12. William Forrester (Sean Connery), Finding Forrester

What we learned: That talents are made to be shared with the world, not hidden away.

13. Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, Jr. (Harrison Ford), Raiders of the Lost Ark, Last Crusade

What we learned: Firsthand knowledge is a valuable thing. Oh, and ‘X’ never marks the spot.

14. Phil (Bradley Cooper), The Hangover

What we learned: Teachers are people too. Sometimes they are bad people, and sometimes they will steal your parents’ field trip money for a wild weekend in Vegas.

15. Mr. Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss), Mr. Holland’s Opus

What we learned: Just because you may not be living your dream doesn’t mean you aren’t doing something extremely worthwhile.

Who are your favorite fictional teachers?

Filmhash List: 8 Great Children’s Fantasy Book Adaptations

A list from the esoteric brains behind Filmhash. If you have a list topic, let us know, and we’ll…come up with something!

With Mr. Popper’s Penguins as the big family film release this week, we’re running down 8 of the best children’s fantasy books made into films. For the purpose of this list, we’re ignoring anything that is part of a series. Because this would be a much, much longer list.

Babe (1995)

This is a tale of epic proportions. About a pig. I don’t know how to better describe this movie. I mean, it’s a movie about talking animals that got nominated for Best Picture! When there were only five nominees (it lost to Braveheart)! This is just an exquisitely made film. At the end of the day, “That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.”

Coraline (2009)

This stop motion film is based on the novella by the acclaimed fantasy author Neil Gaiman. It follows the story of Coraline, a blue haired girl, and her family’s move from Ann Arbor to Oregon. The film chronicles her adventures with her strange new neighbors and an alternate reality called the “Other” World. While some children’s films move at an almost blinding pace in order to keep their intended audience pacified, like the other great films, this one takes the time to fully allow the audience to take in their surroundings. The lovingly-crafted stop motion is also one of the best 3D experiences ever.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, this stop motion film by auteur director Wes Anderson, this is one of my absolutely favorite films. Anderson and writing partner Noah Baumbach make the smart move of taking the original work and writing a new beginning and new ending, deeping Dahl’s characters, and giving the film a more satisfying climax. It also features a stellar voice cast wit George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jascon Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, and more.

Holes (2003)

Based on the novel by Louis Sachar, Holes is a great stylized film starring a very young Shia LeBeouf. Directed by Andrew Davis, director of The Fugitive, Holes is a wonderfully stylized film fusing the feel of Cool Hand Luke with a child’s adventure tale, but is never condescending. All of the characters feel three-dimensional, adding yet another layer of depth to this wonderful movie.

Jumanji (1995)

Perhaps the best movie centered around a board game (so far), this has Robin Williams at his best manic children’s entertainment. Directed by Joe Johnson, the film effects still hold up today, and this is one of those films I watch every time I come across it on TV.

Mary Poppins (1964)

One of my favorite Disney films, Mary Poppins is “practically perfect in every way.” ‘Nuff said.

Night at the Museum (2006)

This is a fun adventure that mostly takes place within the confines of the American Museum of Natural History. Featuring Ben Stiller as a down-on-his-luck night watchmen, it features an all-star cast as the living inhabitants of the Museum, who only come alive at night. Especially notable is Robin Williams as the statue of Theodore Roosevelt. One of the better recent live action kids movies, with an emphasis on fun and imagination over jokes about bodily functions.

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

This is a rare children’s film that is almost purely a drama. Every other film on this list has a strong comedic element, but this adaptation of the Maurice Sendak book pulls no punches. The film focuses on Max and his journey of emotional escape to the land of the Wild Things. It’s a voyage of self-discovery, and Max learns valuable lessons about life. Part of this film’s beauty is that it shows rather than tells the audience’s lessons. It’s not subtle, but it doesn’t beat you over the head with cute sayings to bring the message to the audience.

Filmhash List: Kid’s ‘Close Encounters’

A list from the esoteric brains behind Filmhash. If you have a list topic, let us know, and we’ll…come up with something!

Tonight we’re going to see Super 8, J.J. Abrams’ tribute to the late 70s/early 80s film of national treasure Steven Spielberg. Here are 8 other ‘super’ films featuring kids and their own ‘Close Encounters.’

1. ET: The Extraterrestrial (1982)

This is easily the most popular film in the genre, and one of Spielberg’s most personal. The character of ET was modeled after an imaginary friend Spielberg created for himself during his parent’s divorce. While being intensely autobiographical, what makes ETsuccessful is that it also explores the universal themes of family, loneliness, peace, and friendship.

2. The Last Starfighter (1984)

Along with Tron, The Last Starfighterwas one of the earliest films to extensively use computer animation in live action. This movie is a kind of wish-fulfillment, as a high score on a video game translates into a ticket to be a real space fighter. It’s a solid 80s action comedy, and especially fun for those of us who love old school video games.

3. The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

So imagine if Daniel-san from The Karate Kidgot knocked out and woke up in ancient China as part of the Monkey King myth. That’s basically what this film is, and oh yeah, it’s the first ever film to star both Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Completely awesome.

4. Monster House (2006)

The best of the Zemeckis motion-capture films, and is easily one of the scariest PG films I’ve ever seen. Basically a kid and his friends have to save their neighborhood from an evil living house. The movie is definitely one of the most inventive kids films to come from somewhere other than Pixar.

5. Iron Giant (1999)

One of the few animated period films I can recall, Iron Giant has a fascinating backstory, the most interesting of which is that because of a corporate foul-up, director Brad Bird was able to make the movie with little studio oversight. If you haven’t seen it, you owe it to yourself to see this movie.

6. The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)

Based on the book of the same name, this is a heartwarming film about a kid and his toys coming to life. Unlike Andy from Toy Story, though, Omri knows his toys are alive.

6. The Neverending Story (1984)

This American/German coproduction is one of the best ‘pure’ fantasy films ever made, near and dear to children of the 80s.

7. Attack the Block (2011)

We recently saw this film at an advance screening, and we loved it. It’s a group of kids defending their apartment building from an alien invasion. Here’s our in-depth review.

8. It

Because Ryan is terrified of clowns, I’m writing this one. It is an awesome made for TV special (yes, and also a Stephen King horror novel) about a group of kids that are terrorized by Pennywise the clown, a literal personification of fear. The kids are able to escape the clown’s clutches but their paths to adulthood are clouded by their past encounters with the evil Pennywise. It isn’t until later, all grown up, that the group of childhood friends is ready to face their fears and summon the courage to defeat their evil foe together. Also: Ryan, this pic is for you. Sweet dreams.

Filmhash List: 10 Best 60s Period Films

A list from the esoteric brains behind Filmhash. If you have a list topic, let us know, and we’ll…come up with something!

In honor of X-Men: First Class opening today, here is our list of the ten best period films for the 1960s.

10. Across the Universe

This film metaphorically traces the career of The Beatles through the fascinating mind of Julie Taymor. A lush production that weaves Beatles songs though the events of the 1960s. Some may not find this as charming as I do, but the visuals are worth seeking this out. Plus awesome cameos by Bono, Salma Hayek, and Eddie Izzard!

9. Pirate Radio (The Boat That Rocked)

A fun British comedy directed by Richard Curtis (Love Actually) about a fictionalized pirate radio station off the coast of Great Britian in 1966, Pirate Radio meanders too much to be great. However, I always enjoy seeing a cast of actors who obviously had fun making a movie together, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Chris O’Dowd and the rest of the cast had a great sense of camraderie. That helps carry the film, the only other notable accomplishment is an awesome soundtrack.

8. A Serious Man

One part loving tribute to the Coens’ upbringing in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and part Jewish fable, A Serious Man is a seriously weird film. It’s really a set of connected vingettes dealing with one family’s trials and tribulations in 1967, centering on Larry Gopnik, the family’s patriarch. Larry undegoes a series of trials during the film, including his wife wanting a divorce, his brother living in his house and trying to keep a low profile, a vote for tenure, grade bribery, and a crisis of faith. Meanwhile his son deals with bullies and his impending bar mitzvah. The tone is dark, but only occasionally bleak, and the film deftly captures the feeling of not being sure of how best to deal with life’s problems.

7. That Thing You Do

The first of three Hanks movies on this list, this is Hanks’ love letter to mid-60s rock and roll, and specifically The Beatles. A wonderful, joyous film, and one of the great rock ‘n’ roll films. Definitely watch it if you haven’t seen it.

6. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery/The Spy Who Shagged Me

A spoof of the early James Bond films, as well as the spy genre in general, the greatness of the first Austin Powers movie has beocme somewhat lost since half of the lines in the film became annoying pop culture catchphrases for years after the film’s release. The movie begins in 1967, and a lot of the humor in the middle of the film is derived from Austin Powers being a fish-out-of-water in the 1990s, given how much attitudes on sex, women, and relationships have changed. The sequel heightens this by having the characters travel back to 1969, though it loses the “fish-out-of-water” subplot for it.

5. Catch Me If You Can

Another film centered on real events, this is the biographical film of Frank Abignale, Jr. supercon artist and check fraud extraordinaire. There are many scenes in this film which obviously serve as the inspiration for the new fall show Pan Am, and the whole movie is centered on Frank’s idea of what it means to be cool in 1963. While some of the details were changed to enhance the father-son aspects of the story (Spielberg directed this after all), this is a fantastic film. Also of note, this is the first time I noticed Amy Adams. Sigh.

4. Thirteen Days

Like this weekend’s new X-Men offering, this film centers around the Cuban Missile Crisis. While the film has been criticized for overstating the role of Kenny O’Donnell in the Crisis, it nevertheless portrays a historical version of inside the Kennedy Administration. It is also one of those rare films based on true events, where the audience knows the outcome, but the film is still very suspenseful and masterfully acted.

3. National Lampoon’s Animal House

A landmark comedy, this 1978 film popularized the college comedy as well as the “gross out” comedy genre, and is a fantastic movie. The year 1962 was chosen for the setting because the writers felt it was the last innocent year in American history, with the homecoming parade at the film’s end occuring the November 1, 1963, the day before the Kennedy Assasination. This allows the film to sidestep anything about Vietnam draft dodging and other social issues directly, and allowing the characters to revel in the college experience of the time. However, the way the film is written it includes indirect references to the War, the Kent State shooting, and other topics. This dual mentality allows the filmmakers to comment on other events without compromising the characters.

2. American Graffiti

It is easy to watch this film now and dismiss it as some sort of Boomer nostalgia (which I loathe), but because it was made in 1973, it’s way too early for that. It’s actually a landmark film in the “teen” genre, and pioneered the “into the night” film as well. It’s a fantastic, brilliant film, and Lucas’ best directorial effort. Definitely check it out, as this film captures the “teen moment” moving from the late 50s to the early 1960s. It’s a time before the Kennedy Assassination, Watergate, and counterculture. And the ending is unforgettable, though now it may seem cliche due to so many films copying it (including one on this list). It’s a shame this film gets buried under Lucas’ current legacy, Star Wars and Indiana Jones. I wish he had made more movies like this (not sequels like More American Graffiti, which seems to be terrible).

1. Apollo 13

Apollo 13 is a masterful film, and I’d probably list it in my all-time top 10. If you know anything about the production of this movie, it’s that the amount of detail that went into the props and sets is astounding, from the space suits to Mission Control, everything was made for the film, but reproduced authentically. All of the shots in the film were made for the movie, nothing is borrowed from actual NASA footage. Not only that, but the weightlessness was filmed in zero g, on board a specially designed aircraft, with the sets for the capsule and lander built inside! Even thinking about this movie makes me nostalgiac for a real space program.

The Greatest Pixar Scenes

Katey Rich of Cinemablend tweeted over the weekend asking if there was any scene in the Pixar filmography better than Wall-E and Eve dancing. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of the opening sequence in Up, showing us Carl and Ellie’s life together.

This is truly a breathtaking scene, and I can’t think of many others that cause such an intense emotional response from only knowing the characters for a few minutes. This one scene tells a complete story (in fact, it can stand a part as it’s own short film), a story that is both joyous and hopeful as well as heartbreaking and tragic.

In some ways, I agree with Katey that watching Wall-E and Eve dance is the highest high, while scenes in the Up opening and the trash compactor from Toy Story 3 leave me a wreck. However, the end of Toy Story 3 incites the strongest reaction in all of Pixar. Watching Andy leave his toys to Bonnie is the most intense feeling of bittersweetness I have ever experienced, film or not. The realization and transition of lives leaves me mixing tears of sadness and joy. I can admit that. – Ryan

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As I read Katey’s article I began thinking back to all the Pixar films I have seen (most of them) and trying to pick one scene that resonated with me without picking an entire film. It’s a difficult task to be sure. I am not usually a crier when it comes to films, but I did cry at the end of Toy Story 3. Such a scene would affect me, as I remember having to make a choice: bringing my beloved Bear to college or leaving him at home. I think the choice is a little easier for women, as the stigma of owning stuffed animals is not nearly as high as it is for men. I brought him with me, and was happy to find my roommates had their own collection of furry friends.

ANYWAY,  because I promised Ryan we wouldn’t talk about the same Pixar scene, I have selected another that I found to be just as moving and oozing with adorable cuddly goodness. It’s a scene in WALL-E , where we visit WALL-E’s home for the first time, and he turns on his tape of Hello, Dolly! The audience watches him dance and sing along, but then we see WALL-E react to the characters, a man and woman, holding hands. He clasps his two hands together in response. It gets me every time. Maybe it’s because we know that for the time being, WALL-E is alone in the world, fiercely devoted to his work, sole caregiver to his delightful insect friend,  and deserves a true companion. Sigh. Don’t we all? – Jill