ted making various lists for this blog it occurred to me that there are a significant number of films with the word American in the title. It turns out that in all there are almost 100 such films. Interesting to see the comparison to any other nationality in film names: (again someone out there has a ton more time than me). Before reading further think of how many (or how few) you can name.
So here is my list of a few outstanding ones, including one of my Top 10 favorite overall movies - American Beauty. Sometimes a movie just hits all the right chords and even when you see it a second or third time it is still as good - or maybe even better. This was Kevin Spacy's finest work (one of the best actors in the last 15 years) and although Annette Benning's character is really despicable you just love her in the part. Lots of favorite scenes, but I will go with the one at the drive-up window at the fast food place.
There are some really bad movies in this category - like American Virgin (stars the hottie - Mena Suvari - from American Beauty who also played in American Pie and American Pie 2 - obviously an All-American girl), The American Mall or American Ninja but for the most part if you put the word, "American" in the film title the movie ends up being at least watchable. Not sure there is any correlation but that has been my experience with the category. On the other hand, one of the worst rated movies I can find (and I have not seen it) is Proud American, given a 1.4 (out of 10) on IMDB. I guess I won't be tracking that one down.
The Top Ten includes a few absolute all-stars. There are three that stand out for me.
1 - American Beauty - Won five Oscars - Best Actor, Best Picture, Best Director, and nominated for three more. One of my top 10 films all-time. There is at least one day in everyone's life when we feel like Lester Burnham. A comment that sums up this film, "This is definitely a knife-to-the-heart movie -- the kind whose potent effect is easy to feel yet hard to describe." A great write-up in a prior post by Mark Pickett
2 - American History X - Along with Kevin Spacey I really enjoy Edward Norton, Jr. movies. I haven't see the Incredible Hulk yet and I can hardly imagine him in that part but he was terrific in this one. As great as Spacey was in Beauty, Norton was as great in this. The subject matter isn't easy - Neo-Nazism - but this is a really well acted film. The mixed use of B&W and color works very well. You really want Derrick to convince Danny (wonderfully played by Edward Furlong) but you sorta know it isn't going to happen. The movie has been criticized for being too Hollywood with a very tough issue and being too much of an "emotion jerker." Some might even say formulaic (Marquis?). To me the words that describe it are powerful and hard to forget. Very watchable film.
3 - American Graffiti - One of the greatest movie depictions of a time period (the 60's) ever made. Music of the day was used beautifully. Has been called the movie that launched a thousand careers. Directed, somewhat surprisingly by George Lucas. Starred Richard Dreyfuss (he looks SO young - this was a year before his best film, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz), Ron Howard (he had already been Opie), Cindy Williams and MacKenzie Phillips. Other bits by Harrison Ford (great hat), Joe Spano and Suzanne Sommers. I saw this again recently and really enjoyed it.
The next group are quite good but not spectacular - (and are not in any particular order):
American Gangster - A Denzel film. One of our neighbors worked in Harlem for the NY City schools during this time period and knew some of the people portrayed in the movie. He says it was pretty authentic. I thought it was entertaining. Russell Crowe and Chiwetel Ejiofor co-star. Ejiofor is a relative unknown who starred in an excellent off-beat movie called Dirty Pretty Things about the illegal organ trade in London.
The Ugly American - Some say Brando's best film but I think it was Bedtime Story, which was the original Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (he plays the Steve Martin part - never thought of him a comedic actor but he is brilliant). Should have made my Political Thrillers list in hindsight.
The American President - Sappy and silly, but Michael Douglas and Annette Benning make this a very fun and enjoyable movie. As "ugly" as she was in American Beauty, she is just that cute and adorable in President. Douglas comes across as fairly presidential. A Rob Reiner Film. Martin Sheen makes a great chief of staff.
An American Crime - Disturbing but well executed "true story" of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski and the murder she committed. Not for the faint-hearted.
Everybody's All-American - Excellent cast - Jessica Lang, Dennis Quaid, John Goodman, Timothy Hutton. Quaid played the x-jock part really well. Set in Louisiana. Aaron Neville has a bit part as "the man with the gun."
An American In Paris - Fred Astaire was considered first for the part but it went to Gene Kelly instead. He then discovered Leslie Caron to be his co-star and this musical went on to win Oscar for best picture. George Gershwin did the music. The film ends with a 17 minute dance routine said to be among the best ever on film.
An American Tail - Fievel at his finest. The animated story of Russian Jewish mice who immigrate to America to find a new better life, believing the streets are lined with cheese and that there are no cats in America. Ha! Loosely based on the graphic novel, Maus. Spielberg (director) was accused of plagiarism as a result. This was his first animated film.
In the Honorable Mention Category go two excellent documentaries, and one biopic.
American Drug War: The Last White Hope. Tracks the longest war in US history; and I don't think we are winning.
American Movie - Very funny (and sad) documentary about a guy trying to make an extremely low-budget horror film.
American Splendor - The biography of Harvey Pekar, played ably by Paul Giamatti..
Not on my list but still decent films:
The Quiet American - either of them; the one with Audie Murphy & Michael Redgrave or the newer one with Brendan Fraser and Michael Caine.
An American Werewolf in London - John Landis film (Animal House). Not that funny but still good.
Knute Rockne: All American, Jim Brown: All American and Jim Thorpe: All American - All good Saturday afternoon TV football films. Pat O'Brien as Knute (with Ronnie Reagan as The Gipper) and Bert Lancaster as Thorpe. Loved both as a kid. Jim Brown was directed by Spike Lee.
American Pie. I don't know about the sequels b/c I didn't see AP II or AP III (also called American Wedding). The best part of the original was a bit part for Eugene Levy - one of those guys you start laughing at just when you see him.
American Gun - with Forrest Whitaker, Donald Sutherland. About guns' effects on various lives.
Next Post - Unsung Comedies - a library full
Chiwetel Ejiofor is an actor I wouldn't consider so unknown-- at least in Hollywood anymore. He was in Inside Man as Denzel's partner, Children of Men as the main antagonist, and my favorite role for him: the bad guy in Serenity (you never learn his name). He's one of my favorite actors that most movie "laypeople" have never heard of before and whose name I don't know how to say. But I think he's brilliant.
ReplyDeleteCan't say I agree with your assessment of American Werewolf in London, a truly great film and not made as a comedy. It's the only werewolf film where you actually see, and therefore understand why the wolf howls. As an added bonus it has Van doing Moondance. Others I would add to the list: The Great American 4th of July and Other Disasters (1982) from Jean Shepherd with Matt Dillon, a great humorous slice of 50s Americana; Cry Uncle, aka American Oddballs (1971) John Avildsen with Alan Garfield; My American Cousin (1985) Canadian film, sweet and engaging; Secret Life of an American Wife (1968) Walther Matthau and Anne Jackson. Kind of unimaginable that you left these off the list. Whatever were you thinking?
ReplyDeleteAmerican History X is probably my favorite "American" movie. Great acting, great cinematography (sp?), great plot, great everything
ReplyDeleteMy top 4:
ReplyDelete1. American History X
Avery Brooks (Benjamin Sisko on DS9) is fantastic as the tough but inspirational school principal. Fairuza Balk, who plays Norton's fanatical girlfriend is amazing. Man, thinking about it now... every part is very well acted.
Some random history about this movie (from IMDB):
Edward Norton was said to have re-edited the film to lengthen his screen time. Director Tony Kaye then attempted to get his name removed but violated a Directors' Guild of America rule that states that directors that use pseudonyms (such as "Alan Smithee") must not talk about why they had their name removed - which Tony Kaye had done in ads in Variety. Kaye sued the DGA and New Line Cinema for $200 million stating that the DGA rule violated his first amendment rights.
2. American Pie
My favorite line: "Hey Stiffler!? How's the pale ale?"
Trivia from IMDB
When submitting his script to studios, screenwriter Adam Herz titled it, "Untitled Teenage Sex Comedy That Can Be Made For Under $10 Million That Most Readers Will Probably Hate But I Think You Will Love". It was later changed to "East Great Falls High", then "Great Falls", and finally, "American Pie".
3. An American Tale
Dom DeLuise.
But there are noooooo cats in America and the streets are paved with cheeeeeeese. There are nooooo cats in America so set your mind at ease.
4. American Beauty
A couple tidbits you might not know about the original script... (IMDB)
After the film was complete, director Sam Mendes and editor Tariq Anwar decided to scrap a short fantasy opening and the lengthy epilogue in which Jane and Ricky are tried for Lester's murder, choosing instead to increase the three teens' screen time throughout the film; many of the cast and crew were caught completely by surprise when they saw the finished film.
In the script, Lester was supposed to go ahead and have sex with Angela, but it was decided that it would be better to have him stop just short of doing so - in spite of the filmmakers' concerns that they might be making the change out of uneasiness with having the main character actually go that far.
Excellent comments and additions to this post.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know either of the added tidbits from the wolf.
And, to Dr. Alston: you mean I am supposed to think about this stuff? Again, your film knowledge surpasses mine. Have heard of a couple of those films but haven't seen them. New ones to go in search of!
I think Michael Douglas is extremely believable in his role in The American President, which is why I can watch that movie again and again. When he speaks in the press room towards the end responding to his opponent's "My name is Bob Rumson, and I'm running for President!" speech, with "My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I AM the President," I find myself staring at the screen mesmerized. Such pwnage of Bob Rumson.
ReplyDelete