a parrot bit me

Average rating: 7.75

Animal House (1978) - "When they arrive at college, socially inept
freshmen Larry (Thomas Hulce) and Kent (Stephen Furst) attempt to pledge the snooty Omega Theta Pi House, but are summarily rejected. Lowering their standards, they try at the notoriously rowdy Delta Tau Chi House, and get in. The trouble is, the college dean (John Vernon) has it in for the Deltas. He has put them on 'Double Secret Probation' and secretly assigned Omega's president (James Daughton) the task of having their charter revoked." 

length: 1h, 49m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by John Landis  |  why I watched: it's one of those movies I could watch once a week and never get tired of (previously reviewed here)

IMDb: 7.4/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 91% / 89% Audience  |  my IMDb: 9/10  |  MPAA: R

tone & texture: joyful, crisp & modern

notable quote: "'OK, so that means that our whole solar system could be like one tiny atom in the fingernail of some other giant being...? [giggle] This is nuts! That means that one tiny atom in my fingernail could be...' 

    '...could be one tiny little universe!' 

    'Can I buy some pot from you?'"

my notes: wonderfully goofy, filled with lines I could recite in my sleep, and populated with so many recognizable characters. This one is a part of my identity.

themes: found family, chaos v. order

overall: highly recommended

 

Ocean's Eleven (2001) - "Dapper Danny Ocean is a man of action. Less than 24 hours into his parole from a New Jersey penitentiary, the wry, charismatic thief is already rolling out his next plan. Following three rules: Don't hurt anybody, don't steal from anyone who doesn't deserve it, and play the game like you've got nothing to lose, Danny orchestrates the most sophisticated, elaborate casino heist in history." 

length: 1h, 56m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Steven Soderbergh  |  why I watched: I've seen it before, but never reviewed. Also watching one last time before listing the set for sale

IMDb: 7.7/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 83% / 80% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: PG-13

tone & texture: energetic, crisp & modern

notable quote: "'Does he make you laugh?'

    '... He doesn't make me cry.'"

my notes: my objection to this film is that it's more about the setup than the heist itself. Maybe if they'd called it "Ocean's Five".... Still, it's entertaining and pretty to look at—an enjoyable-enough way to spend a couple of hours.

themes: found family, chaos v. order

overall:  recommended

The Third Man (1949) - "An American pulp writer arrives in post-WWII
Vienna only to find that the friend who waited for him was killed under mysterious circumstances. The ensuing mystery entangles him in his friend's involvement in the black market, with the multinational police, and with his Czech girlfriend." 

length: 1h, 33m  |  source: Amazon Prime  |  directed by Carol Reed  |  why I watched: needed something sharper than recent choices have been (previously reviewed here)

IMDb: 8.1/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 99% / 93% Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: sardonic; noir shadows

notable quote: "'I don't need your drinks, Calloway.'

    'You will. I don't want another murder in this case, and you were born to be murdered.'"

my notes: deeply unsettling and twisty, it's deliciously suspenseful and weird (that freaking zither, and Hansel!!) and wonderful 

themes: moral ambiguity, identity

AFI: 100 Years...100 Movies (original list, 1998): #57

    100 Years...100 Thrills (2001): #75

    100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains (2003): villain #37 

    10 Top 10 (2008): mystery #5 

Academy Award Winner: Best Cinematography, Black and White—Robert Krasker (2x nominee) 

overall:  recommended

The Philadelphia Story (1940) - "This classic romantic comedy focuses on Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a Philadelphia socialite who has split from her husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), due both to his drinking and to her overly demanding nature. As Tracy prepares to wed the wealthy George Kittredge (John Howard), she crosses paths with both Dexter and prying reporter Macaulay Connor (James Stewart). Unclear about her feelings for all three men, Tracy must decide whom she truly loves." 

length: 1h, 52m  |  source: TubiTV  |  directed by George Cukor  |  why I watched: it's been an age since I've seen it (previously reviewed here), and I wanted a nice classic comedy

IMDb: 7.8/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 100% / 92% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: playful, classic Hollywood polish

notable quote: "The prettiest sight in this fine pretty world is the privileged class enjoying its privileges."

my notes: I like this one. There is real growth in the characters from the start to the finish, and everyone treats each other with respect. The child actor, Virginia Weidler (Dinah Lord), was a joy—she added content to the story, and her character was developed and well-played. 

themes: love, forgiveness

overall: strongly recommended

 

[the title quotation is from The Third Man]