I have a (blog) microphone…

…so you have to listen to everything I have to say!

Actually, that's not true. You could just not read this. But, I hope you do. It's been nice getting comments and conversations from people who have been reading the blog since it started. Plus, this is about sharing what's been going on with me while I've been at sea, so, here you go.

I've been watching a lot of movies and tv shows onboard for the past 6 months. There are lots of lively discussions about favorite movies, genres, actors, directors, and the rest. So much so in the past few weeks, I was prompted to post my top movies on the blog. Hopefully, this will prompt some more lively exchanges of dialogue. Please keep in mind that these are my favorite movies currently. I'm not making a qualitative judgement about these films. I'm just saying I enjoy them and I hope you enjoy reading about them.

10) Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid

"Boy, I've got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals."

I love a good buddy movie (who doesn't?) and this is a great one. Great acting and a plot that has the advantage of being a heist movie, western, and love story all wrapped up in one.

9) The American President

"We had a nice couple of minutes together. She threatened me, I patronized her. Didn't have anything to eat, but, I thought there was a connection."

Aaron Sorkin is my favorite screenwriter. His ear for dialogue, comedy, drama, and ability to create situations where smart people disagree with each other is exceptional. Also, this movie stars Annette Benning, my celebrity crush, so there's that. This movie is also an understated vehicle for Michael J. Fox.

8) Major League

"I look like a banker in this."

I've always been a Charlie Sheen fan. I especially think he's a very gifted comic actor in addition to all of his other accomplishments. I've stuck by this assertion even with all of his recent transgressions in the public sphere. What can I say? I like the guy and this is a very, very funny movie. Furthermore, this is my favorite sports movie. The baseball sequences are extremely well shot.

7) The Princess Bride

"Tyrone, you know how much I love watching you work, but, I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder, and Guilder to blame for it; I'm swamped. "

In my opinion, this is a timeless movie that is often overlooked when making lists of favorite comedies. Superbly written and directed with memorable characters as well as being endlessly quotable, this movie has it all. Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Revenge. Giants. Monsters. Chases. Escapes. True Love. Miracles. And, don't worry, it's not a kissing movie.

6) A Few Good Men

"I have no responsibilities here whatsoever."

Another masterpiece from the pen/typewriter/word processor of Aaron Sorkin. This time an adaptation of his stage play by the same name. Tom Cruise (another possible blog post topic…who is the bigger movie star, Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks?), Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Keifer Sutherland, and of course, Jack Nicholson (with one of the greatest monologues in cinema history) round out the star studded cast. A movie that will make you laugh, cry, think, and probably verify the polarity of your moral compass. 

5) Leon

"This...is from...Mathilda."

Eurpoean director Luc Besson (The 5th Element, The Transporter, Taken, etc) is famous for making action movies. This is his masterpiece, in my opinion. Released in the United States with a different title (The Professional) and editing sequence (the US version is about 20 minutes shorter), I highly recommend the European version. Natalie Portman (her first major motion picture) and Jean Reno (an almost exclusively comic actor in France) combine for some extremely powerful screen time sharing a deeply emotional and largely misunderstood relationship that stems from Reno (who plays a hit man) rescuing Portman when her family is killed in a drug hit. Add in Gary Oldman for some top shelf psycho acting and incredibly filmed action sequences that I've come to expect from Besson and you have screen magic. Don't forget Danny Aiello as a clichéd Italian-American mob boss. The end credits even utilize a Sting song. Perfection.

4) Grosse Point Blank

"Some people say forgive and forget. Nah, I don't know. I say forget about forgiving and just accept. And…get the hell out of town."

I could probably make a fairly long list of my favorite John Cusack movies, but, this is the only one that makes this list. This movie combines many of my favorite things: Detroit, John Cusack, comedy, and action. I've been a fan of this movie for so long I own it on VHS. Cusack is incredibly talented both as an actor and as a screenwriter. Further, he tends to put childhood friends of his in his movies (check out the small role played by Jeremy Piven as Cusack's high school buddy prior to well-earned fame in his starring role on "Entourage") which is something I find charming. This may also be one of the most quotable movies on this list.

3) The Town

"No matter how much you change you still have to pay for the things you've done. So I've got a long road. But, I know I'll see you again, this side or the other."

Some movies come into your life at the right time. Characters, music, plot points, and locations that you can relate to. That's what happened with The Town for me. The story of Doug MacRay figuring out that the old way of life just doesn't work for him anymore and his lonely struggle to leave his lifelong comfort zone behind to make completely different life for himself is compelling on it's own merits. However, for me, I saw it at a similar time in my life and it truly became a part of me. The 3rd movie in my unofficial Ben Affleck Boston Trilogy which is preceded by Good Will Hunting and Gone Baby Gone. I would also recommend the book on which Affleck's film adaptation is based, Prince of Thieves.

2) Big Trouble In Little China

"This is Jack Burton in the Pork Chop Express, and I'm talking to whoever's listenin' out there."

Kurt Russell absolutely makes this movie happen. He wills the movie forward with the character of Jack Burton by sheer macho charisma. In the DVD commentary, director John Carpenter says that after they finished post-production, he and star Russell were positive they had a blockbuster on their hands. As it turns out, it's a cult classic…with the emphasis on classic.

1) Heat

"I am never going back."

I am a huge fan of Michael Mann movies. With films including: Heat, Miami Vice (he was also a creator of the visionary television show), Collateral, Ali, The Insider, and Manhunter (the first screen appearance of Hannibal Lecter), he is probably my favorite director of all time. Heat is his crime masterpiece. The movie is absolutely superb on so many levels:

• Sound editing (i.e., the final shootout at the bank), cinematography (color palates…this is a beautiful film)
• Set design (no sound stages were used…everything set in the movie is an actual location in Los Angeles)
• Dialogue (written by Michael Mann based on interviews with police officers and convicted criminals)
• Characters (Waingro is one of the greatest guys-you-love-to-hate ever)
• Star power (Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino share their first scene together in this movie, Val Kilmer,  Tom Sizemore, AshleyJudd, Jon Voight…the list goes on and on)

I could go on here, but, I'm not sure there is enough room in cyberspace for all the praise I have for this film.

Fletch

"Aw, c'mon guys, it's so simple! Maybe you need a refresher course. HEY! It's all ball bearings now!"

I like this movie so much, it's actually higher than #1. It's my favorite movie of all time. Chevy Chase at his wise cracking, prat falling, above-average-height-having best. This movie spawned many a drinking game, sequel, and quote fest. I live vicariously through characters in film and Fletch is my hero. You have to see it to understand.