My top 25

Ok, so ive been doing recommendations throughout the year but now that things are wrapping up, I'll go the extra mile and give you my top 25 ALL-TIME fav's. Just so you know this is hard because its something I've been personally been meaning to do, so here goes nothing....

25. Fight Club - "When you have insomnia, you're never really asleep... and you're never really awake"...boy can I relate. I would tell you more about this movie but well there's a rule to not talk about it, and the 2nd rule, well im still not supposed to talk about it.





24. Munich - This movie is perhaps the best Steven Spielberg movie I've seen in a long time. Not only that but the John Williams score keeps you on the edge of your seat. It was nominated for Best Picture the past year.






23. Roger & Me - Director Michael Moore's 1st documentary from 1989.
I don't know what it is about it, but its very entertaining. It focuses on the aftermath of the downsizing of General Motors in Flint, Michigan and Moore's efforts to confront CEO Roger Smith.






22. La Notte - A film that I saw recently that blew me away.
It's a simple story of a couple going through marital issues and the tempations that surround them. The cinematograhy is breathtaking.






21. Dr Strangelove -
You would think a film from 1964 wouldn't be funny or translate well to todays generation but yet it does. A timeless film really. It's a dark comedy from genius director Stanley Kubrick. It follows its crazy cast of characters as they prepare for nuclear war. Peter Sellars plays 3 roles in the film, all perfectly different, you would never know otherwise.

20. Contempt - I've recommended this film before, One of the best French New Wave films ever done. Music is fantastic and plus Brigitte Bardot is smoking hot.







19. Y tu mama Tambien - Such a chill movie. A fantastic road movie about two mexican friends and their own adolensense. Along the way they encounter a woman who brings them together in ways they never knew.



18. Vanilla Sky - Great from start to finish, the ending is amazing. Cameron Crowe is one of my favorite directors. Don't hate it cause Tom Cruise is in it, it came out before he went crazy. This is perhaps his best movie he's ever done (and probably will ever do)




17. Annie Hall - An unconventional film. But it works, and captures the vibe of relationships so well that it connects to people today. Winner of the 1978 Oscar for Best Picture







16. Rashoman - Another movie I've recommended. Akira Kurasawa is one of the most influential and greatest directors of all time. Every single one of his films is legendary, this just so happens to be my personal fav.







15. Taxi Driver - "Loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man. " ...perhaps something we can relate to at certain points in our lives. Director Martin Scorcese, Paul Schrader's script and Robert DeNiro's acting weave into the story of single taxi driver in New York who reaches his boiling point and decides to fight back against society. You talkin to me? you talkin to me???

14. The Matrix - I'm not the biggest fan of the sequals but the first one is amazing. One of the most influential action movies to come out in our lifetime.






13. Boogie Nights - "You're not the boss of me, Jack. You're not the king of Dirk. I'm the boss of me. I'm the king of me. I'm Dirk Diggler. I'm the star." ....there are so many good quotes in this movie, its awesome.

12. Close Encounters of the Third Kind - Another good personal fav and one of Steven Spielberg's best. It's my fathers favorite movie so it connects us in a weird way.

11. Dog Day Afternoon - Sydney Lumet's thriller about a man played by Al Pacino who robs a bank and then all hell breaks loose. The cinematograhy is amazing. It also features perhaps my most favortie actor of all-time John Cazale.







10. The Great Escape - When you think action movie, you probably think big mindless explosions or something. This film does action and suspense the real way and its one of the greatest movies of all time.




9. Adaptation - You see that picture, that's how I feel coming up with an adequate summary for this film. the movie that put screenwriter Charlie Kaufman on the map.




8. Pulp Fiction - Perhaps the coolest movie ever made. I don't know what else really to say that hasn't been said.


"Tell that bitch to chill!"





7. Raiders of the Lost Ark - Perhaps the greatest paced movie of all-time. So many memorable images. One thing people forget, this film also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture. Indiana Jones is the man.



6. The Shawshank Redemption - One of the most beautiful movies ever done. It's a story about hope, even in the darkest of places. Morgan Freeman's voiceover is riveting.





5. Jackie Brown - My favorite Quentin Tarantino movie. Probably everyones least favorite. I don't know what it is but it's just such an awesome movie.

"I didn't know you liked the Delfonics"




4. The Shining - Stanley Kubricks best movie. The cinematograhy is probably the greatest of all time. Jack Nicholson gives an amazing performance...





3. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - ....but not his best as he shines even better in this film about a mental institution and the cast of characters inside. This is a film that launched the careers of Danny Devito & Christopher Lloyd to name a few.





2. The Godfather Saga - Ok so I'm counting parts 1 and 2 as a single film. It is afterall a direct continuation of the story. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Diane Keaton, Robert DeNiro, John Cazale....I mean does it get better than this??? well it didn't for me even as recent as a few weeks ago but since I've seen it so many times a new film has won me over..........

1. Goodfellas - This is perhaps the greatest edited movie ever. It's Martin Scorsese's masterpiece about the world of crime following Ray Liotta, Robert DeNiro and Joe Pecsi. I've decided to rate it higher than the godfather because it very rewatchable. I can put it on anytime and be very entertained each time. I literally could keep watching this movie and never get sick of it. If you have never seen it, do so immediately





Well that wasn't a long post or anything. Who knows, this list will probably change dramatically soon as everyday I watch more and more films. Thats the cool thing about films, they are truly works of art and you can see them in a whole new light the next time you see it. Casey and Lisa, you guys have been awesome teachers and thanks for everything. Now if you will excuse me im going to watch this movies I left off the list just to make sure I didn't make a mistake.....

It's in my queue...

You guys bring up a very good point here. A netflix phenomena if you will. The saying "It's in my queue"'. By this rational anyone who utters this is hooked. Well consider me hooked. It's like that movie Requiem for a Dream, I'm a netflix version of Ellen Burstyn trying to fit in a red dress (or in my case open a red envelope) . Right now my friends and I are hooked. My queue alone right now is about 200 movies deep. That's going to take me like a year to watch no joke. Oh well it's a long summer.

Speaking of Requiem, that movie made me sick the first time I watched it. I saw Darren Aronofsky's other film Pi as well, not as good, a little pretensious if you ask me. Jennifer Connelly though is arguably my favorite actress. Not gonna lie I've had a crush on her since I saw the Labyrinth in 3rd grade. In fact between that, The Rocketeer and A Beautiful Mind, I think I'm set for life. Mmmm Jennifer Con..(splashed with water)...yea sorry about that rant. My friend actually told me to check out House of Sand and Fog because not only is she in it but that it's also a good movie. Ben Kingsley is it and hes always great. I look forward to checking it out and watching it eventually because.......well...you know, its in my queue.

"Enough is enough...

...I've had it with these snakes!"

You know what movie sucks....

....Hard Rain with Christian Slater. You know what sucks even more...actual hard rain at a ballgame. I had tickets to tuesdays Red Sox-Yankees game. Beckett's debut vs the Yanks since the shutout in the world series; Johnny Damons 1st series back; and not to mention BEAUTIFUL seats (WAY better than those in the picture) I had tickets for my friends and I in the right field roof tables which is basically like a luxury box as you have your own waiter and they bring you food, not to mention you get a complimentary free 100 dollars to spend on food & beverage. Of course with our luck the game got rained out and is postponed until august. It wont have the same effect then because i wouldnt be able to go with the same guys. Oh well i might sell them...(if your interested let me know). At the very least i got a free dinner with a view because we used those 100 dollars up in about 3 seconds. We had fun eating a ton of food and beer....even though it was in the rain.

shootin & seafood

So i shot a short film over the weekend AND bought a new external hard drive, so things are looking up in the movie making department. The project is an homage to old Italian films that im doing for the iMovie project. I shot it in Boston near the harbor so the visuals should be nice, it was all caped off with a helping of crab cakes with my crew at The Barking Crab. mmm....crab cakes...

new entry

im editing it and incredibly tired so i'm going to bed, the real thing will be up sometime in the morning

audio project

My audio project

I've Given In....

...to Netflix. All my friends have it and have told me what a great deal it is so i've decided to jump on the Netflix bandwagon. It's a good deal, $19.99 a month for unlimited movies (you get 3 at a time) which in retrospect is better than the deal at DVDen (9.99 for 5 movies for a week). So ya that's how I'll be spending by spring break, using my free trial of netflix at my house. (have I mentioned I got a 65inch HDTV with brand new surround sound...if I were ever on cribs that's about the only cool thing I've got to show off.)

anyhoodles...time for movie of the week!...(actually I owe u readers about 2 movies of the week since I didn't post 1 last week)..Our first movie recommendation comes in the spirit of March Madness. No, I wont say Hoosiers (to predictable) I'm going with Blue Chips. Ok so it isn't an excellent movie, but it stars Nick Nolte in it doing well...Nick Nolte things. It also stars NBA players Shaq and Penny Hardaway, along with cameos from Bobby Knight, the guy who played Al Bundy, and of course Boston Celtic legends Bob Cousy(in a memorable free throw shooting scene where he never misses and did it all in one take) and of course the great Larry Bird. About as a good as a sports movie as your going to get from the 90's so check it out if your into basketball and have never seen it.

My 2nd recommendation is Contempt by Jon-Luc Godard. It's an old French film which I tried basing my photoessay off of. It's a story about love and the relationship of a screenwriter and his wife. The film also stars American Jack Palance (Curly from City Slickers fame). Its a serious drama that also explores the ways of film making. One of my personal favorites. If you've never seen a French New Wave film check it out. Also see Godard's Breathless as well, a film that might translate better to a younger crowd.

Have a good spring break and peace the balls out ya'll.

photoessay

Well mine sucks but here it is....
http://people.umass.edu/kpjuica/

download presentation 1 with powerpoint

Thing is ive been sick all week like no other and have been busy as hell. As far as movies go though Tonight at 7PM in Campus Center 101 is the first ever UMASS FILM FESTIVAL presented by UVC-TV19. I work at the station so i'll be attending (and working). In fact technically i'll be late cause of this class. Thanks for getting me fired. Today has been rough as i've been putting the final touches on my terrible excuse for a photoessay. I haven't even eaten today. With this Film Fest after class, I probably won't get to eat until around 10-11ish or so. That should be a good breakfast.

Updates

As you can see I updated this blog. Links are up so check those out. I sort of rushed through those previous blog entries so I made a few slight changes. I plan on going more in depth in the future. One thing I am going to also do from now on is have a "Movie Of The Week". It's easy to recommend famous movies like Forrest Gump or something so instead, I'll focus more on Independent; Foreign; Old Films; Movies in Theaters; etc...In general movies that are obscure and maybe forgotten somewhat as well as personal favorites of mine. I'll try and mix things up as much as I can. This weeks Flick....."Rashoman" - Directed by Akira Kurasawa.

In my opinion you can't go wrong with Kurosawa. He is a master storyteller. His most famous film is "The Seven Samurai" which you should also check out if you haven't seen. One of his more obscure films is called "The Hidden Fortress" which was the bases for Star Wars. Rashoman although not as acclaimed as Seven Samurai, is very cool in concept. In what was the first of its kind the film is told through the interpretations of different characters, so we see the same general story unfold, yet the details contrast throughout. I walked away in somewhat of an awe after I saw it for the first time. samurai movies kick ass.

A long short vacation...

This was a long weekend for myself. I went home to Boston Thursday night and came back Wednesday morning. During that time I saw many films. The first movie I saw was "Raiders of the Lost Ark". I watched it with my 2nd cousin whos 13 years old. He had never even heard of Indiana Jones before. I realized that watching the movie through him made all the special effects seem supremely dated. He thought the effects were cheesy. Hearing him bash my childhood like that was the oldest moment of my life to date.

Next I headed downtown to hang out with a few friends at Emerson College. After dinner in the north end we came back to their apartment and watched "The Great Escape", This is one of the films I've always been meaning to watch but never did. So we watched as my best friend fell asleep a third of the way through. I stayed up and watched the whole movie. By the end I thought it was one of the better movies I've seen in a long time. Shorty after, I called it a night.

Our last day hanging out we chilled around Boston. Looking to kill some time, we thought screw it lets go see a movie. And so we did, as went to the Boston Common Theater where we watched "Good Night, and Good Luck", one of the few oscar nominated pictures I haven't seen yet. The film directed by George Clooney himself is nominated for Best Picture and I could see why. One of the more interesting things it brought up was the relationship of Television vs Citizens and wether or not it should be used for entertainment or to educate. In the end a whole lot happened in that short time over the weekend.

Until next time...

Winter...

...can be downright depressing at times. Remember when we were kids and we couldn't wait for snow? Well now snow kinda sucks. I guess thats growing up for ya, you slowly start to lose your interest and imagination for things. I guess thats why man invented the TV. Whoever came up with the idea definatly had to be from some place snowy. Ahh TV...mans best friend on a snowy day inside. For me, a 28' inch tv and a dvd player will do...

My Blog

My blog will center around movies. From all around really; The movie theater, the video store, cable, back home...you get the picture. I've always had a passion for film and television. Hopefully one day i can do something involved in that. That or sports, i love sports. Work at ESPN? NESN?? write a sports movie? we'll see what happens down the road. For now in this blog i'll be talking about different movies and the places i see them and how it effects my life.