by Stanley Fish has released his list of the all-time best American movies. His #1 choice, The Best Years of Our Lives, is spot-on. I saw the movie in a film class at college and it blew me away. Not my #1, but one of the very best. He also puts Red River on the list, which might be in my Top 5- kudos for that unlikely, but dead-on choice. I need to rewatch that masterpiece…
There are a bunch of movies on the list that are now on my Netflix cue. The guy’s got good taste.
But nothing- NOTHING- could prepare me for his favorite movie of the last twenty years- apparently the best movie since Raging Bull, and one of his Top Ten…
What?!
Don’t get me wrong, I love Groundhog Day. The movie is one of the most impossible movies NOT to like. It definitely makes my Top Ten Movies Impossible to Hate list. But Top Ten Movies Of All Time?! I can pick three other Bill Murray movies that would be higher than this!
As the first commenter says in the original article- “Do you really believe American Cinema peaked in the 40s and the one moment of inspiration since has been Groundhog Day?”
This will completely and utterly justify my choice of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure as the #1 Movie of All Time, when I get around to my own list.
(Hawkes, I’m looking forward to a feisty, hilarious rebuttal!)
A fine choice, Stanley.
I had a friend in high school who watched this movie at least once a week for two years. According to her, it got better every time.
A fine choice, Stanley.
I had a friend in high school who watched this movie at least once a week for two years. According to her, it got better every time.
It 400000% gets better every time! I will give you my movie critic guarantee that if you rent groundhog day today you will SEVERAL times while watching it say to yourself (or possibly aloud) “I’ve never noticed that before!” and “wow, that’s so much funnier now that I’m a grown-up.” And really, why do the greatest movies have to be depressing and crazy and intense? Why can’t one be a musical and one be a brilliant comedy? Every second of GD is crafted brilliantly to captivate and entertain and amuse, plus, when the movie’s over you feel AWESOME, who can ask for anything more?
It 400000% gets better every time! I will give you my movie critic guarantee that if you rent groundhog day today you will SEVERAL times while watching it say to yourself (or possibly aloud) “I’ve never noticed that before!” and “wow, that’s so much funnier now that I’m a grown-up.” And really, why do the greatest movies have to be depressing and crazy and intense? Why can’t one be a musical and one be a brilliant comedy? Every second of GD is crafted brilliantly to captivate and entertain and amuse, plus, when the movie’s over you feel AWESOME, who can ask for anything more?
Also, read the second comment on the NY Times list and do yourself a solid and rent “Top Hat”
Also, read the second comment on the NY Times list and do yourself a solid and rent “Top Hat”
Sigh. I have to side with Victor. This movie makes my eyes bleed just thinking about it. Damn you TBS for putting it on back to back!!
Sigh. I have to side with Victor. This movie makes my eyes bleed just thinking about it. Damn you TBS for putting it on back to back!!
I like Hawke’s comment:
And really, why do the greatest movies have to be depressing and crazy and intense? Why can’t one be a musical and one be a brilliant comedy?
I’ve never seen Groundhog Day, but you make an interesting point, Hawkes, because I also would skew my picks toward the dramatic.
I think Fish just likes to be controversial. He has also written that despite his love of literature, there is no real use for the humanities besides a thought game that human beings use to amuse themselves.
I like Hawke’s comment:
And really, why do the greatest movies have to be depressing and crazy and intense? Why can’t one be a musical and one be a brilliant comedy?
I’ve never seen Groundhog Day, but you make an interesting point, Hawkes, because I also would skew my picks toward the dramatic.
I think Fish just likes to be controversial. He has also written that despite his love of literature, there is no real use for the humanities besides a thought game that human beings use to amuse themselves.
And by the way, Hawkes, your comment makes me want to rethink my movie picks.
And by the way, Hawkes, your comment makes me want to rethink my movie picks.