every viewer is going to get a different thing. That's the thing about painting, photography, cinema

    It's been a while between posts, for a couple of reasons. First, I learned that too many quality movies discourages me from wanting to watch more movies. It's as if my reserve tank fills too quickly and leaves no room for more. Also, the week of Christmas I felt a bit under the weather. It turned out to be the beginning of pneumonia--my first bout with that particular illness--as well as a sinus infection, bronchitis, and an ear infection. I went through three rounds of antibiotics, oral steroids, almost a dozen bottles of cough syrup, gallons of tea and orange juice... and nearly all of my paid time off for the new year. It's impossible to focus on films when I feel that awful.
     Getting better, though, and starting to watch again. And catching up on my reviews so that I can launch the new year.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - "Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his children against prejudice."
I watched it because: I've set a goal to see more classic movies. This is #34 on the AFI 100 Years...100 Movies list (original list, 1998), #25 on the 10th anniversary version of that list (2007), and #2 on 100 Years...100 Cheers (2006).
story: 5/5
visuals: 4/5
acting: 5/5--standout: Gregory Peck makes what may be the best performance on film
intangibles: 3.5/5--it can be hard to watch, which is the point (in part), but it's a lovely film and well worth seeing.
Academy Award winner:
• Best Actor—Peck
• Best Adapted Screenplay
• Best Art Direction
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Picture
• Best Director
• Best Cinematography
• Best Supporting Actress—Mary Badham (Scout Finch)
• Best Music, Score
overall: 4.375/5

Some Like it Hot (1959) - "When two male musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in."
I watched it because: it's #14 on the AFI 100 Years...100 Movies list (original list, 1998), #22 on the 10th anniversary version of that list (2007), and #1 on 100 Years...100 Laughs (2000).
story: 3/5
visuals: 3.5/5
acting: 3.5/5--standout: Marilyn Monroe
intangibles: 4.5/5--there's just something about it. Monroe is almost painfully sweet and lovable. Tony Curtis is gorgeous, and Jack Lemmon is just so funny.
Academy Award winner:
Best Costume Design, B&W
Academy Award nominee:
Best Actor—Lemmon
Best Director—Billy Wilder
Best Writing
Best Cinematography, B&W
Best Art Direction - Set Decoration, B&W
overall: 3.625/5

Citizen Kane (1941) - "Following the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance; 'Rosebud'."
I watched it because: it's #1 on the AFI 100 Years...100 Movies list (original list, 1998), and #1 on the 10th anniversary version of that list (2007).
story: 2/5--I just didn't get it
visuals: 5/5--incredibly beautiful. This film is a cinematography class in itself.
acting: 3/5--seriously, I didn't get it.
intangibles: 2.5/5--so weird. I know it's a classic, but I was totally perplexed throughout.
Academy Award winner: Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Picture
• Best Actor—Orson Welles
• Best Director—Welles
• Best Cinematography, B&W
• Best Art Direction, Interior Decoration, B&W
• Best Sound, Recording
• Best Film Editing
• Best Music, Scoring
overall: 3.125/5

West Side Story (1961) - "Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy."
I watched it because: it is #2 on the AFI 25 Greatest Movie Musicals list, #41 on the AFI 100 Years...100 Movies list (original list, 1998), and #51 on the 10th anniversary version of that list (2007).
story: 4/5
visuals: 4/5
acting: 3/5--standout: Rita Moreno
intangibles: 3/5
Academy Award winner:
• Best Picture
• Best Director
• Best Supporting Actor, George Chakiris
• Best Supporting Actress, Moreno
• Best Art Direction – Set Decoration (Color)
• Best Cinematography (Color)
• Best Costume Design (Color)
• Best Film Editing
• Best Original Score
• Best Sound
Academy Award nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay
overall: 3.5/5

Raging Bull (1980) - "The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it."
I watched it because: it's #24 on the AFI 100 Years...100 Movies list (original list, 1998), #4 on the 10th anniversary version of that list (2007), and #51 on 100 Years...100 Thrills.
story: 4/5
visuals: 4.5/5
acting: 4/5--standout: Robert De Niro is, as always, phenomenal.
intangibles: 3/5--this film can be difficult to watch. The characters are unlikeable, the fighting is sometimes brutal, and Martin Scorsese never flinches. That's what makes it so great, too.
Academy Award winner:
• Best Actor—De Niro
• Best Film Editing
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Picture
• Best Supporting Actor—Joe Pesci
• Best Supporting Actress—Cathy Moriarty
• Best Director—Scorsese
• Best Cinematography
• Best Sound
overall: 3.875/5

Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night (1988) - "Rock 'n' roll legend Roy Orbison and some friends, legends in their own right, get together and perform some of Orbison's songs."
I watched it because: my dad and I were talking about Bruce Springsteen and his skill as a guitarist (separate and apart from his singing talent), and Dad recommended this documentary of Roy Orbison as a glimpse into Springsteen's raw joy in music.
story: N/A—this is a concert video
visuals: 3.5/5
acting: N/A--standouts: it's a concert, Roy Orbison appearing with the backup of a parade of famous, accomplished musicians. I particularly enjoyed seeing Springsteen and Tom Waits.
intangibles: 5/5--great musicians having a blast playing fun music together. It's lovely to watch.
overall: 4.25/5

[the title quotation is by David Lynch]