Goodfellas (1990) Martin Scorcese

some minor spoilers

 

Martin Scorcese is my favorite director although I don't think his films are the best. He's my favorite director  because I liked all of his films that I watched (except for one- Casino which is not bad but I was disappointed). I watched about 8 of his films and I liked almost each and every one, from the old De Niro ones to the new DiCaprio ones. Whenever I go to the cinema to watch a Scorcese movie or go to the video store (we still have some in Israel) to rent a Scorcese movie I know that I will enjoy the ride. Now let's get back to Goodfellas. First of all Goodfellas is based on a true story. Goodfellas is about a man named Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). Henry says "as far as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster." The movie follows Henry's path into the mob since his teenage years. Goodfellas is my favorite Scorsese movie. Lets talk about the acting, Robert De Niro is just Amazing , Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta are both great. The only problem with this movie is the violence it didn't really bother me but if you have a problem with violence you should keep this in mind. This movie is very touching. At some points I could really sympathize with Henry (and at some I didn't but I wasn't meant to).
In one scentence: A great Scorsese classic
verdict 5/5 stars 

 

M (1931) Fritz Lang

spoilers

M is about a serial killer named Hans (Peter Lore) that kills only children. Hans terrorizes the whole city of Berlin and everybody is terrified of him. Because he continues to murder people the police put more police officers on the streets and that annoys the mob. So the mob decides that they should catch the killer themselves. They decide to hire beggars to look out for the killer each beggar got a part of a street that they need to stay in and look for the killer there. Before you know the killer's name or actually see his face you start to recognize him by his creepy whistle (he always whistles a song named "In the Hall of the Mountain King"). at the end of the movie the mob catches the killer  and have a "fair trail" with Lawyers" with "lawyers" and all (I won't tell you what hapenns at the end You'll just have to watch it), in this scene the killer makes an amazing speech, actually the most amazing in cinematic history. This speech is so powerful so thought provoking. Actually I couldn't stop thinking about it for a week. Wow, what a speech. Another great thing about this movie is the photography it is really amazing.
in one sentence: An amazing and very thought provoking.
verdict: 5/5      

    

Skyfall (2012) Sam Mendes

Some minor spoilers

I don't like this film, because this movie cost 150-200 million dollars to make and it doesn't have any cinematic value, actually the people who make this movie know that it will not have any cinematic value. You must ask why do they make it then? I'll tell you why because it SELLS, I have no idea why it does, but it sells. Just to prove a point The Departed (won the best picture Oscar in 2006 and is a great film, they are both from about the same time era) cost 90 million dollars to make ( about half of how much it cost to make Skyfall) and earned 200 million dollars (I already subtracted the budget) and Skyfall earned about 950 million dollars I have no idea why. The idea of James Bond is okay, so they made one, and then two okay a sequel, and then three okay a trilogy but 23 is too much.
In one scentence: Don't watch
1/5 stars

 

My Top 10 Movies

 

1. The Godfather (1972) Francis Ford Coppola- An astonishing film from the wedding scene to the baptism scene. Marlon Brando's acting is amazing!! He manages to play somebody older than him by about 20 years and he does it perfectly.
 

2. Citizen Kane (1941) Orson Welles- This movie is a real timeless classic. The photography is amazing and Orson Welles is great too (as an actor and a director).


 

3. Goodfellas (1990) Martin Scorsese - no better mafia film has ever been made except the Godfather. Scorsese with De Niro and even Pesci what can be better then that?


 

4. Scindler's List (1993)Steven Spielberg- What a touching story, I could hardly get through this movie without crying, seriously. The acting is great and this is without a doubt the best holocaust film ever made.


 

5. Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock- A thrilling movie to say the least, Hitchcock's amazing classic is still horrifying more then 50 years after it was made (especially the shower scene).



6. The Gold Rush (1925) Charlie Chaplin- Wow, what a hilarious film! A real Chaplin classic.



7. The 400 Blows (1959) Francois Truffaut- this classic (one of the pioneers of the French new wave) is very thought provoking and the direction by Truffaut is great.
.
8. M (1931) Fritz Lang- This is one of the most thought provoking films ever made (even more then The 400 Blows) and I couldn't stop thinking about it for about a week. The photography and directing are both great.



9. Rear Window (1954) Alfred Hitchcock- Another thrilling Hitchcock classic although not as good as psycho it is still a great film.



10. American Beauty (1999) Sam Mendes - An amazing film and really thought provoking too. The actors are really great especially Kevin Spacey.
 

 

 

Psycho(1960) Alfred Hitchcock

spoilers

Without a doubt this is one of the best films ever made. Psycho is thrilling and horrifying therefore it is not for the weak hearted among you, but the people among you that can stand horror movies will appreciate this amazing classic. The acting is really good in general and Anthony Perkins's acting is great. Janet Leigh is great too. Hithcock  is truly a great filmmaker and you can see why in this movie. The way he builds suspense is amazing especially in the shower scene: a three minutes scene that includes about 50 cuts and features 77 different camera angles and it even took seven days to film!!!. I forgot to talk about the amazing twist, unfourtantly for me I have ruined the twist for myself but even though I knew the mother was a part of his split personality from the beginning I was in denial until the very end. If  I wouldn't have spoiled the movie for myself I am sure I wouldn't guess that ending. I only noticed the shot at the end when Normans face and his mother's skull converged after seeing it for several times but when I did I was completely terrified.
In one sentence: A brilliant film but not for the weak hearted.
5/5 stars.  

 

 

The Gold Rush(1925) Charlie Chaplin

some minor spoilers

This hilarious movie is about the Klondike gold rush. The Klondike gold rush started when gold was discovered in Klondike north-west Canada in 1896. The news got to the U.S.A a year after which triggered the migration of an estimated 100,000 people who went on a quest to find gold. In the movie the tramp(that's how Charlie Chaplin's usual character is referred to) is one of them.

This movie is full of memorable scenes, especially the scene where the tramp eats his own shoe (he eats the laces like spaghetti). Charlie Chaplin is as funny as ever in this amazing classic that never fails to get old. There are some other funny actors too, I liked Marc Swain's acting a lot. There is not much left to say about this movie just trust  me and watch it.
ןIn one sentence: An hilarious Chaplin classic.
verdict:5/5 stars