Rear Window 1954 AFI Top 100 #42/48

Rear Window, starring Grace Kelly, James Stewart and Thelma Ritter has everything you could want in a crime mystery. The plot for this moving is simple, L.B. Jeffries (Stewart) is a New York based photographer who breaks his leg nabbing that must have shot and is wheelchair bound in his tiny apartment for 7 weeks! To pass the time he takes to watching his neighbors through his rear window. You have the ballet dancer (torso girl) who practices in her dancing in her under, the newly weds who sleep on their balcony to escape the heat, the songwriter who plays the same song over and over, the strange artist, the salesman and his invalid wife, and Miss Lonely heart. Their is also a cute little dog that is raised and lowered from the second story apartment in a basket. He is criticized by his physical therapist Stella (Thelma Ritter) and his girlfriend Lisa Carol Fremont (Grace Kelly).
One the wife of the salesmen goes missing, Jeffries suspects foul play and he gets both Stella and Lisa in on the action to solve this mystery. Grace is magnificent in this film, and the plot is simple yet plays off the basic human fear. It is not wonder many have used the plot in other works such as an episode of the Simpsons and in the movie Disturbia. I rate this movie 8.5/10 stars!

Prefontaine

I thought this movie was pretty good and inspirational. I am a Jared Leto fan but I wasn't the biggest fan of his performance here... This is a great story about how one person can change what they want to change and that hard work can definitely pay off.
It follows the life of Olympic distance runner Steve Prefontaine from Oregon. It shows him growing up and trying (and not doing so well) to participate in other sports only to realize running is for him. it following him through his first Olympics and all his hard work and risks to get some rights for amateur athletes. It continues through to the tragic, and early end, for this young athlete.

The Nines (2006)

The Nines is a trilogy that stars Ryan Reynolds, Melissa McCarthy, and Hope Davis. These 3 characters play multiple roles in each of the trilogies. The first story, "The Prisoner", is about a popular TV actor who is place under house arrest, the second, "Reality TV", follows the struggle of a TV producer to launch a new series staring his close friend, and the thirg, "Knowing", involves a video game designer seeking help for his family who is stranded in the middle of nowhere due to car trouble. The stories all come together in the end with a surprise "twist".

I thought this movie was unique and very good. It keeps you guessing until the end and makes you want to watch it again to catch everything once you know how it all comes together. The cast does an amazing job, including the young Elle Fanning! A movie you have to watch to fully appreciate.

The Shining (1980)

Based on a novel by Stephen King and directed by Stanley Kubrick, "The Shining" stars Jack Nicholson, Shelly Duvall, and Danny Lloyd.
Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is a writer looking for a retreat to write his next book. He intervies for a job to be the winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. (The reason the hotel has a winter caretaker, during what you think would be peak ski/tourist season is that there is too much snow fall to allow for affordable upkeep of roads to people can get there).
Jack lands the job and he and his wife, Wendy Torrance (Shelly Duvall) and their young son Danny (Danny Lloyd) prepare to spend the winter in isolation at the Overlook. Shortly after their arrival, the cook notices something with Danny, notices that he posses "the shining" which gives him the ability to see things, disturbing things, others can't. He is also told to avoid room 237. Danny roams around the hotel on his big wheel and has episodes of "shining".
Not long after they arrive at the hotel, once the snowfall is enough to snow the family in, Jack begins to lose his mind while writing his novel. It is in this novel that the sentence "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" is writtin. It is Danny's "shining" ability that will keep his family safe from his father...
Unfortunately, this movie isn't on the list of top 100 films, although i think it could be. It is frightening, without being gory. Jack Nicholson does and excellent job of beeing incredibly freeky, and Danny Lloyd puts in an amazing childhood performance.

If you like "The Shining", you should check out the video for "The Kill" by 30 Seconds to Mars. This video is like watching parts of the shining in under 5 minutes. Band members go for a stay in a hotel where they are the only guests. The ride around the hotel on skateboards, see a beautiful women in a hotel room bathroom, and see a distrubing act involving a person dressed as a plushy. Very interesting video to a very excellent song. The vidoe can be viewed on YouTube.

Some Like It Hot (1959) Top 100 #14 > #22

"Some Like It Hot" starring Marylin Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis hit theaters in March 1959. This movie is set during the roaring 20's while prohibition is taking place. The movie starts in Chicago where Jerry (Jack Lemmon) is a bass violin player and Joe (Tony Curtis) is a saxophone player. They are struggling to keep work. They land a job that is to send them on a road trip. They are going to borrow a friend's car to make it to the gig. Unfortunately, the car is located at the location of the 1929 St. Valentine's Day masacre. Joe and Jerry witness this event and are now the target of the mob desperate not to leave any witnesses alive.
Joe and Jerry come up with the hairbrained idea to join an all women's band bound for Miami. Joe/Josephine and Jerry/Daphne board the train for Miami. Once there, Joe decides to persue one of the band members, Sugar (Marylin Monroe) and Daphne decides to persue a rich man.
Their plan seems to be working well until the mob shows up for a convention.

This movie possessed an original premise. I am thinking it was a very unique idea for a 1950's movie. The movie is set in black and white and keeps your attention for the most part with all the action and comedy involved in grown men trying to pass as women. Though, as I find with a lot of older movies, it did struggle at times to keep things movie along and keep my interest. I do appreciate what was done with this film and I would give it an over 7 out of 10 stars. Afterall, if you really pay attention to the films on the list and think of what the criteria are to make the list you really do appreciate this one. This movie was 14th on the original list and fell to 22 on the 10th aniversary list.

Best 100 movies

The American Film Institute has a list of the best 100 movies of all time.  You can see this list by following this link: List of top 100 movies.
This list includes the movies selected in both 1998 (original list) and 2007 (revised list).  23 movies fromt the original list were replaced in 2007.  
I am making it my goal to watch all of these movies, most of which I have not seen yet.  Many are much older than I am.  As I watch these movies I will reveal what I think about them.  It will take me some time to get through them all, but with the help of Netflix, it will be done.  Have I mentioned that I love Netflix!