6.29.2008

The "Anytime" Movie List

Inspired by Pollyprissypants' post, I got to thinking what movies I considered my "anytime" flicks. You will noticed from the below list that a lot of them are musicals. What can I say, they are the best thing to have playing in the background in your apartment while you bake. The others on the other hand, well, let's just say they mesh well with my "anytime" mood. Unlike Pollyprissypants, I decided to put them in order:

10. Anastasia
Perhaps it's the magical songs that add to a very classically staged musical that's animated. A fantasy twist to a famous and tragic moment in history tacked on with the wonderful casting of John Cusack, Meg Ryan, Kelsey Grammer, Bernadette Peters, Christopher Llyod, Hank Azaria and Angela Landsbury. This film would in no way make it to my all-time top 10 films, but there is always a warmth to it when I watch and I find myself singing along (if I'm in my kitchen, I may be dancing... you don't know!)

9. The Commitments
This film also has an equal "anytime" soundtrack - one where no matter what my mood, popping in the soundtrack brings me to my happy place. And in this place, it really is the working man's music that makes this film a comfort to watch anytime... mixed of course with crude Irish humour :)

8. Shaun of the Dead
Though not the first nor the last collaboration between Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright, Shaun of the Dead's blend of many genres makes this the perfect film to place on anyone's "anytime" list. Why? Want some comedy? These gents have perfected it. Looking for a little romance? You see the fall and rise of it here. Is there room for drama? Pegg will surprise you. Yeah, but what about zombies? Funny you should mention that 'cause we got them by the droves!

7. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Do I really have to go into it?

6. Guys and Dolls
As I mentioned, (and this is only the tip of the ice berg) but musicals, to me, make the best anytime movie viewing. Why? Because they don't require a lot of attention. The mood and songs tell you the story and you don't even have to listen to the lyrics. What makes this musical great to watch (or at least be around) over and over again is its Broadway feel... that and Brando and Sinatra!

5. On the Town
A fantastic Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra film with a supporting cast that you just fall in love with! The songs are fun and singing along with it just makes this girl happy. It's worth noting that this MGM musical was one of the first (if not, THE first) musicals to be filmed on location and managed to combine sound stage numbers with the wonderful backdrop of New York City in 1949.

4. Firefly/Serenity
Taking a short break between rampaging musicals, I present you with one of the smartest sci-fi films ever. And yes, I say films because Firefly (the short-lived TV series that preceded the film Serenity) really was 14 movie-quality episodes. It was an amazing show that had the ability to make it through to at least 3 amazing seasons followed by maybe 2 or 3 more solid seasons that would've still been better than most of the crap out there.

3. Singing in the Rain
Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds - COME ON! This musical is the ultimate musical as it takes place when the silent film era was dying and being taken over by talkies, thus bringing musicals to the big screen. Most of the songs were not written specifically for this movie but were taken from other musicals and blended in the film (much like Moulin Rouge - a film that would've been in my "anytime" movie list 5-7 years ago). When one thinks movie musicals, this is your go-to film.

2. The Empire Strikes Back
This is my favourite movie of all time so I may be copping out (and being bias) when I give my reasoning for placing this on my "anytime" movie list but it really is THE GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME!

1. Jaws
I consider this movie a masterpiece where the musical score tells the story as much as seeing what's on screen. There is one part in the film that gets me everytime (and I bet those who are reading this know exactly which scene I may be referring to). When Hooper is under water investigating the abandoned fisherman's boat and the head of said fisherman floats into frame... everytime I know to expect it and everytime I jump.