Matt's Top 100 Movies: #7

The countdown to the (obvious) #1 movie continues as today I unveil my 7th favorite movie of all-time. You've already seen it on Luke's list. Now it's my turn to give this great, award-winning movie its due on my list.

7. The Departed (2006)
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg
Directed By Martin Scorcese

When you gather the amount of star power this movie has, one of the greatest directors ever, and a screenplay that moves, deceives, and captivates a viewer like this one does, you're bound to have a movie that is considered one of the best ever. This movie has all that and more.

I don't know what made me want to see this movie. In fact, couldn't even tell you when I saw it. But what I do remember saying after watching it was "Damn". That's it. Just one word. I didn't mean it in a bad way. In fact, I meant it in a couple of ways. First, by the ending that I will not spoil in case you haven't seen the movie. And secondly, because I didn't really want the movie to end.

From the start, you know you're in for something good. You're in for a movie lathered in Boston accents and tough-talking cops. There will be plenty of cursing and plenty of bad behavior, legal and illegal. You know just by the cast that you're in for great acting performances and thanks to a guy like Martin Scorcese, you also know you're gonna have a well-made movie. But it's the story and how it unfolds that really sets this movie apart.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, an intelligent and overall good kid who comes from a family of criminals. He's an outlier no doubt, and becomes even more of one when he decides he wants to be a cop. So after excelling in the training academy, he applies for a job with the Massachusetts State Police but because of his background, they pretty much have no choice but to make him an undercover cop who will work on the force's big fight against organized crime, spear-headed by mob boss Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson. In other words, get in tight with him and help the police take him down.

WATCH BILLY'S JOB INTERVIEW

On the flip side, you have Matt Damon's character Colin Sullivan, who also trains in the Academy and is assigned to the Special Investigations Unit. The unit is solely focused on taking down Costello. Thing is Colin has known Costello since he was a kid and entered the criminal underground at a young age, making him a mole. So what you have in essence is two undercover cops working for two different operations. It makes for great scene after great scene as each try to outwit the other.

The movie takes lots of twists and turns, all leading up to its amazing ending, which is easily one of the best endings I've seen in a movie. You don't see it coming and more importantly, it's a very satisfying ending. It leaves no cliffhanger and does the movie justice.

I have to make it a point to talk about the acting, which is absolutely amazing. Damon, DiCaprio, and Nicholson are great. They are solid actors in every movie they are in and they do not disappoint here as well. They bring the perfect intensity to every scene and just ooze of the Boston swagger needed for the roles they are given. Supporting actors like Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Anthony Anderson (yes, even him) and Vera Farmiga do a nice job as well, sometimes providing comic relief or adding some levity to certain situations.

But the standout performance in my mind in the movie is Mark Wahlberg. I've never been a Wahlberg fan when it comes to his acting. As a person, he comes off as a nice guy. And clearly as a producer, he is outstanding. He has hit after hit on HBO these days. But his acting has always left something to be desired in my mind. This role single-handedly changed my mind though about this acting ability. Maybe it was the fact that this role was perfect for him but whatever it was, he killed this part. Much like Christoph Waltz in "Inglorious Basterds", I can't imagine this movie without Wahlberg's cocky, tough-talking, character Dignam.

WATCH MY FAVORITE SCENE OF WAHLBERG

This movie went on to win 4 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, a well-deserved win for Scorcese, who had been nominated 6 other times. This movie in my mind has no flaws. Not its length, not its music ("I'm Shipping Up To Boston" = perfect), not its structure, not its cast, and not its ending. Nothing. It is a great movie and one I find myself watching anytime it's on TV and not blinking until it's over. If you like a lot of action, suspense, drama, and even some comedy, here's a movie to see. Now.

TRAILER



FUN FACTS

This is the movie with the most uses of the word "fuck" and its derivatives (237) to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Mark Wahlberg based his performance on the police officers who'd arrested him about two dozen times in his youth, and the reactions of his parents who had to come bail him out with their grocery money.

Ray Liotta was the original choice for the role of Dignam but had to reluctantly decline due to other commitments. Denis Leary was offered the role of Dignam in this film, but turned it down due to scheduling conflicts with his television show, Rescue Me.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

Oliver Queenan: Congratulations on passing the detectives' exam, and welcome to the Special Investigation Unit.
Dignam: Whoop-de-fuckin'-do.

Billy Costigan: You didn't come here to talk, alright. You came here to get arrested!

Billy Costigan: Look at it this way: You're a black guy in Boston. You don't need any help from me to be completely fucked.

Oliver Queenan: You're a worker. You rise fast.
Dignam: Like a 12-year-old's dick.

That's all for #7. On to movie #6

TEASE for movie #6: A comedic actor goes serious in this 1990's movie, earning him a Golden Globe.

HAKUNA MATATA

Matt's Top 100 Movies: #8

After a week off to refresh the batteries, I am back to blogging and revealing my #8 and # 7 movies. I will still do them in separate posts even though I will reveal them in the same week. I left you with the tease that the #8 movie was the only one added to my top ten since I created the same list back in 2008. Well, I hope you've got your guesses in because time has run out.

#8 The Hangover (2009)
Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha
Directed by Todd Phillips

So you wanna have a bachelor party? What better place to go than Vegas! But what if it was so crazy that you literally couldn't remember one thing from the previous night? And there's your simple but genius premise behind one of the funniest movies I've ever seen.

When I saw the promos for this movie, I was intrigued but with my hate for how much movies cost these days, wasn't really rushing to the theater to see it. That is, until literally every one of my friends asked me "Have you seen The Hangover?" I said no and they all told me to immediately go see it. After about 15-20 people saying this in a span of about a week, I scrounged up enough coins and saw it. And well, needless to say, I was not disappointed.

There are lots of reasons to not like, but love this movie. First off is the way it unfolds. I've said this tons of time throughout this countdown but I am a big fan of movies that don't necessarily go in order OR take place in a short time frame. This movie does both. The movie is only over a span of 2 days and it starts near the end. Genius. This way, we already know where the movie is going but by no means do we know how it got there. And the uncovering of the facts is what makes this movie so hilarious.

Now if you're going to make a movie like this, it can't be predictable. If so, it wouldn't be funny. Director Todd Phillips and the writers had to think of just about any drunk escapade they have been on and multiply it by 100. If it seemed too far, then it probably wasn't for this movie. Among the things in their hotel room when they wake up are a baby, a chicken, a tiger, stolen statues, burned chairs, and more. Yeah, try connecting those dots.

SEE WAKING UP VIDEO HERE

From there things only get better as they try to piece their night together. With every twist and turn comes another hilarious discovery. Whether it be their trip to the hospital, the chapel, Mike Tyson's house or stealing the cop car, you can't help but laugh at how this night unfolded. Yes, it's extreme but that is what makes it so great. These 4 guys (who were drugged as we later find out) did Vegas right, which is 100%. What happened in Vegas was going to stay there, just as any good bachelor party should be.

I can point out numerous scenes too that literally have you laugh out loud. Things like "Black Doug", Mike Tyson singing "In The Air Tonight", the guys getting tased to avoid jail time, and Mr. Chow jumping out of the trunk of their car completely naked. Right when you think things may be getting back to normal, the movie find another way to make you crack up. That's the mark of a great comedy. Never let up with the jokes. Sometimes it was great one-liners. Other times, it was physical comedy. It didn't matter. The funny never stopped...even in the stuff that didn't make the movie.



But what I think really puts this movie over the top is the relationship between the 3 guys. Going into the movie, this isn't your typical buddy comedy. For one thing, Alan is not really friends with either Stu or Phil. He's just the socially-challenged brother of the bride. But no doubt, Alan becomes the star of this movie. Don't get me wrong. This movie needs Bradley Cooper's Phil as the confident and cool one who keeps them on the right track despite not knowing what that track is. It also needs Ed Helms' Stu, very intelligent and practical but also one to freak out very easily in weird situations. Oh and his great singing voice.



But again, the star of this movie is Zach Galifianakis' Alan character. I had never even heard of Galifianakis before this movie so I had no idea what kind of comedy style he had. I'm glad I didn't though because I think that made the movie that much better for me. You could not have a better person play this character. Someone who means well but doesn't know much. Someone who lacks common sense and is just not normal. Someone who is so lovable that is hard to hate. Throughout the movie, Alan not only has the best lines, but the best scenes in general. Safe to say without his comedy in this movie, it doesn't crack the top 10.

WATCH BEST OF ALAN HERE

But it's not just me who loves this movie. It is the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all-time (the sequel is second on that list). It also won the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Comedy or Musical in 2009, a shocking result considering movies like this one don;t normally even get nominated. But even 65-70 old men and women could understand the comedic genius in this film. The backdrop of Vegas combined with a bachelor party and a group of drugged guys who can do no right makes for a crazy adventure when written and acted well. And that's exactly what happened here.




FUN FACTS

Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis's songs ("Stu's Song" and "Three Best Friends", respectively) were improvised.

No effects or prosthetics were created for Stu's missing tooth. Actor Ed Helms never had an adult incisor grow, and his fake incisor was taken out for the parts of filming where Stu's tooth is missing.

In real life, Mike Tyson owns seven tigers.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

Alan Garner: I'm not supposed to be within two hundred feet of a school... or a Chuck E. Cheese.

Sid Garner: Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Except for herpes. That shit'll come back with you.

Alan Garner: The Doug we're looking for is a white.

TEASE for movie #7: The director of this film not only deserved his Oscar for it, but had been waiting for it for a long, long time.

Hakuna Matata

Matt's Top 100 Movies: #9

91 movies have been revealed. 9 more to go. As I've said before, a lot of the movies I have picked are not Oscar winners or even critically acclaimed. This movie though, #9 on my list, is exactly that. A movie that makes you think and a movie that may even make you a better person with each and every watch.

9. Crash (2004)
Starring Brendan Fraser, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Esposito, Larenz Tate, Ludacris, Thandie Newton, Terence Howard, Ryan Phillippe, Matt Dillon, Michael Pena, Bahar Soomekh, Shaun Toub, Loretta Devine
Directed by Paul Haggis

The tagline to this amazing movie is "Moving at the speed of life, we are bound to collide with each other." Think about that for a little. The tagline is not referring to you and me. No, the "we" there is referring to us as a society. A society that is full of people of different races, classes, education levels, religions, backgrounds, and more. No matter how hard we may try, if we just truly live our lives, we are bound to run into someone who is not like us. For most of us, that's no big deal. But for lots of others, it brings about stereotypes, prejudices, and thoughts that have no place in a welcome and accepting society. "Crash" looks at those people and how it impacts our everyday lives.

Trying to explain this plot even in summary is hard to do if you haven't seen the movie. The best way to do it is to write that this is a movie about a dozen characters who stories/lives inter-weave over a span of 36 hours. Many of the encounters are not pleasant, as all of the characters seem to have preconceived notions about another character, and mainly due to their race. Opinions change as the movie goes on but only after events that keep this story moving and connect these people in ways they never thought they would be connected.

I can point to lots of reasons why this movie is one of my favorites. The first of which is its exploration into racism. Besides some cupcake classes I took in college, the classes I enjoyed most outside of my major were my two sociology classes. I am fascinated in why people do the things they do and how people become who they are. Whether it be because of their background or because of recent events, it's just an interest of mine. Of course, it's not my business but for me, learning how people got to where they are in their lives and how they operate is a way for me to become a more well-rounded person.

So when this movie discusses racism, it caught my attention immediately. And it's not just Black and White. Not, this movie show interactions between Hispanics, Asians, and Iranians along with Blacks and Whites. In every case when someone from one race sees the other, stereotypes are mentioned. One race feels threatened by the other even though there is nothing to be threatened by. Stereotypes are broken by some of the race but then reinforced by other in the same race. It's truly remarkable how this movie is so careful to not dial in on just one race but at the same time, not hold anything back in how people perceive others this day and age.

Youtube Clip

But it's more than the fact they we explore racism. It's the amazing screenplay written by Paul Haggis (who wrote "Million Dollar Baby" as well). Despite having over a dozen "main" characters, you get to know each and every one of them so well that you never feel like any are racist but instead creatures of habit because of the way they have lived or live now.

Take for instance Matt Dillon's character. An LAPD cop that has been on the job for 20 years. On the surface, he is incredibly rough and what he does at a traffic stop near the beginning of the movie is downright wrong. But later, you see a different dimension of him as he takes care of his sick Dad, who has a bladder problem that keeps Dillon up all night. When he asks for help, he is denied by the HMO simply because his Dad does not qualify. The stress this puts on him causes him to grow angry and lash out. I could go on but the scene is too powerful to just put into words. Instead, just watch it.

Matt Dillon Scene

You see, we live in a very cynical world. A world that too often judges people way too quickly, you know, the book by its cover if you will. It's a terrible thing. Any many times, it is those judgements that start stereotypes and those stereotypes do not die. Just think. If people would give everyone a fair chance at the start, there wouldn't be all this hatred. Unfortunately, that is not the case in this world. Instead, we are stuck with a lot of people with a lot of prejudice hatred in their hearts simply because they are unwilling to accept change or accept others for being different than themselves.

This movie does do a great job of showing how people can reform themselves though. Granted this movie to an extreme but in many cases, that is what it takes for people to change their perceptions of others. It wasn't overnight White people began accepting Black people. It took people like Jackie Robinson to convince White people that Blacks aren't inferior. It took many others in many other races to do the same. Every day, even I have to deal with the constant racial jabs, whether harmless or harmful, simply because people are still somewhat uncomfortable being around someone that is different from them. Yeah, I dish it out at times as well but trust me, it gets old hearing it from the same people all the time. They mean nothing by it but ultimately, they just continue a stereotype or prejudice and that's sad.

For example, Ryan Phillippe's character is one many would relate to as someone who upholds the law and respects all people, no matter their race. But yet, there are demons inside him and prejudices/stereotypes in him that show up at a time when they did not need to. (SPOILER: If you have not seen this movie, don't watch this clip.)

"Crash" calls attention to this phenomenon through these characters and through these stories. You find yourself lost in this movie. Since it is only over a 36-hour period, you are not overwhelmed. Instead, you are kept in the loop of their intertwining stories and able to form your opinions of each character in their particular situation. And while each of them have something about them you should dislike or despise, there is a moment with each character in this movie where you feel sympathetic for them. You relate to their situation in some way. You've been there and felt that. That's the mark of a great movie.

It is hard for me to not put this movie higher honestly. If I could teach one college class, it would simply be a study of this movie. There are so many things to discuss that a whole quarter or semester on it may still not be enough. Because it's about more than just racism. It's about social classes, a broken healthcare system, a corrupt justice department, immigration, crime, and more. And thanks to the great performances by the actors in this movie (there's a reason I listed 14 in the "starring section"), you never feel like you're watching a movie. Instead, you are watching Los Angeles in the year 2004 and all its racist glory. You are watching people speak their minds and stand up for what they believe in. You are watching stereotypes be broken and reinforced. You are watching people change their perceptions and lives being changed.

There is still a lot of change that needs to be done in this world. Trust me, I would know. This movie tries to call attention to the problem. It's now up to each one of us to address it within ourselves and others.

TRAILER

Knowing this movie like I do, this trailer just makes me want to see the whole movie right now. Great stuff.



MEMORABLE QUOTES

Graham: It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.

Cameron: I mean, sooner or later, you gotta find out what it's really like to be black.
Christine: Oh, fuck you man! Like you'd know! The closest you ever came to being black, Cameron, was watching "The Cosby Show".
Cameron: Yeah, well, at least I wasn't watching it with the rest of the equestrian team.

Rick: Saddam? His name's Saddam? Oh, that's real good, Bruce. Yeah, I'm gonna pin a medal on an Iraqi named Saddam. Give yourself a raise, will you?

Officer Ryan: You think you know who you are?
(Officer Hansen nods)
Officer Ryan: You have no idea

I apologize for the lack of embedded clips but apparently "Crash" clips are being cracked down on in that regard. Whatever though. On to #8. Here's your tease:

Tease for #8 - The only one of my top ten movies to be released after I made my initial movie list in December 2008.

Hakuna Matata

Matt's Top 100 Movies: #10

Here it is. The beginning of the end. The final ten movies in my top 100. It's not a shock that we're here so quickly. It is a shock though that more people besides Luke and I have actually took the time to go on this journey with me. So let me take this time to say thank you...and that you must have a lot of free time because I can think of 100+ better things to do with your time.

Anyways, my top 10 are movies that well, are legendary status. They are movies that are go-to in any situation. Bored, sad, angry, happy, drunk, sober, tired, etc... It truly doesn't matter. They are the movies that come on TV and until it's over, I'm not moving. The movies I quote from and in some cases, live from. The movies that I carry a little piece of each one of them with me since I've seen it. You won't find a ton of Oscars among the ten but you will find lots of laughs, tears, smiles, and thought-provoking messages. So with that said, let's start the top ten.

10. Cool Runnings (1993)
Starring Leon, Doug E. Doug, John Candy
Directed by Jon Turteltaub

I've stated again and again my disdain for sports movies. They are simply too cliche, corny and deviate from the truth too much when they don't need to. Well call me a hypocrite because while Cool Runnings does do a bit of all of those three things, it is one of my favorite movies and forever will be.

Some of why this movie is among my favorites is when I saw it. I was either 7 or 8 years old so I was highly impressionable. If a movie made me laugh a lot, I was going to like it. If a movie had great characters, I was going to like it. If had great music, good action, and a great ending, I waa going to like it. Well, this movie had all of that and much, much more. So much that I'm pretty sure this movie has actually gotten better with time.

Many of you have probably seen the movie (if not, what's wrong with you?) so I will spare you all the details of the plot. But I will summarize it shortly. 3 Jamaican sprinters who fail to qualify for the Summer Olympics join a pushcart derby driver to create a bobsled team to compete in the Winter Olympics. After recruiting a former U.S. Bobsled star to coach them, they arrive in Calgary much to the chagrin of other nations who think they are out of their league. What they lack in experience though, they make up for with determination. After a rough start, they prove others wrong and become fan favorites and national heroes in their homeland.

So why put this movie in my top ten? Well, let's start with the aforementioned plot. It's a good one and based on a true story. That's right. This actually happened. There was a Jamaican bobsled team. It almost seems like an oxymoron. But that fact is what drives this movie. You never forget the fact that these guys are out of their element. They are used to heat and are now in the frigid cold. They are used to running on grass and dirt and now running on ice. And they are used to the easy-going nature of Jamaica and not the competitive nature of the Winter Olympics. They have to overcome challenge after challenge and yes, there are trials, but also, there are triumphs.



What makes this movie great too is the great mix of comedy and drama. Because this is a PG Disney movie, you don't get crude humor. No, you get humor that is just simply funny. Great one-liners and witty insults. Great "a-ha" moments as the Jamaicans adapt to their surroundings. And great, well, John Candy and Doug E. Doug. Both steal the comedic spotlight in this movie. Candy does it with his sarcastic, tough guy attitude. Doug with his laid-back, free spirit kind of attitude. Both have numerous hilarious scenes that keep the movie flowing with funny, even in the most tense or serious of moments. As a kid, that comedy kept the movie light right when you thought it was getting too serious. And now as an adult and someone who doesn't mind a "too serious" moment, those lines remind me that you can never take life too seriously. Both characters are among my favorites of all-time.



It's more than the comedy though. It's the drama. I did not know the true story of this team going into the movie so everything from them qualifying to crashing in the end was all new to me. So everything from them making enough money to get to Calgary to getting a sled to qualifying for the actual event all had me on the edge of my seat. The drama wasn't just the bobsledding action though. It also was prevalent in the relationships between some of the characters. There are pasts that are not forgotten and grudges that have not been let go. Not to mention also the lack of respect the bobsledders are getting form the rest of the world. All of this adds to what is already a compelling story as these characters must not just overcome the adversity on the track but also off the track.



There are lots of great scenes in this movie. But no doubt, the best scene of them all is the last one. While it not 100% factually true (they did not carry the sled and there was no slow clap. Instead, they walked down the ice to the finish to sporadic applause), the way the writers decided to depict that event is incredibly inspiring. As a kid, I remember thinking for maybe the first time in my life, they won even by losing. It's a mantra that I've tried to keep with me since. I've lost a lot in my life, especially when it comes to sporting events. That includes teams I have been on and teams I root for. In every loss though, I try not to think of the negative but instead, only on the positive. Find a way to learn from the loss. Find a way to turn the bad from it into something good. Yes, it's easy for a coach to tell you that but when you see it actually done as in this movie, it really hits you. These guys inspired not just a nation, but a world that chasing your dreams is okay. They showed a world that the impossible is possible if you try. They did not win gold, but they won the hearts of everyone watching.



It is those types on moments in movies and in real life that I will never forget. How I felt watching that as a kid and how I feel watching that scene now truly inspires me. Because it is a Disney movie, it is complete with the inspirational music and the many facts that are tweaked just for dramatic effect, but unlike other Disney sports movies, this one hits me. This one makes me feel something. This one works. And I'm glad I have a friend in Luke who shares my love in this movie as well and look forward to it making his list.

TRAILER

I like the trailer. Think it is a good mix of inspiration and comedy. It also brings up a good point that I did not mention which is how this movie resonates with my belief in standing out in a crowd when standing up for what you believe in.



MEMORABLE QUOTES

Irv: "Our Father, who art in Calgary, Bobsled be thy name. Thy kingdom come, gold medals won, on Earth as it is in Turn Seven. With Liberty and Justice for Jamaica and Haile Selassie. Amen"

Sanka: "I am feeling very Olympic today, how about you?"

Irv: "I told the owner of the bar that these guys were mentally disturbed, so he's not going to press any charges."
Sanka: "Yeah! Sled god does it again!

Sanka: "All I'm saying, mon, is if we walk Jamaican, talk Jamaican, and *is* Jamaican, then we sure as hell better bobsled Jamaican. "

That's it for #10. Don't forget to check out Luke's blog as he uncovers his #10 movie. Check back next week on both blogs for #9. Just for fun, I'll leave a tease for each movie in my top ten. For #9...

TEASE FOR #9: Won the Academy Award for Best Picture

Until next time, Hakuna Matata.

Matt's Top 100 Movies: Luke's List (11-20)

So far through this countdown, I'm pretty sure Luke has mentioned more movies on his list that I have NOT seen than movies that I have seen. My hope though was that in these last 20, that trend would change and I could give a great reaction to each of his movies.

But of course, that hope was dashed in movies 20-16 from Luke. Not only did he put more movies that I had not seen, he only put movies that I had not seen. Thankfully, I have seen 4 of the 5 in movies 11-15. So this reaction post has some meat to it but it also has a lot of veggies (I know that makes no sense) so read at your own risk.

20. Mr. Holland's Opus

-- I remember this trailer when I was younger and then, I thought it boring. The commercials on TV were also boring. So needless to say, when the movies actually came out, I had no want to see the movie. And even though Luke has ranked it so high on his list, I still don't want to see this movie. And this coming from a guy who has a passion for music. Sorry but no thanks.

19. Crazy Heart

-- There is one, and only one reason I want to see this movie: Jeff Bridges. He has forever been an actor I respected. So when he won the Oscar for this performance, it made me want to see what all the fuss was about. But I'm not a big fan of the premise of this movie. First off, country music. Secondly, the storyline is kind of been there, done that. And thirdly, I've never seen a good Maggie Gyllenhaal performance. But one day, I hope to give this a shot because you don't get nominated for a Best Picture Oscar for being a bad movie.

18. Gone Baby Gone

-- A movie that sort of intrigued me when it was in theaters but not one I ever thought about seeing. Ben Affleck has proven he can write a good movie and from all accounts, can direct a good movie too. Thing is, I haven't seen any of them. I need to change that. I would probably see "the Town" first but this is one I wouldn't mind checking out. For Luke to put it on his list though brings about no bad comment from me. Heard nothing but good things.

17. Rain Man

-- I know, I know. I should have seen this movie by now. It is an American classic and an Oscar winner. But you have to consider a couple things. This movie came out in 1988 so it wasn;t exactly a must-watch when I was 2 years old. And secondly, there are lots of Amercian classics. I've seen a lot but I know I have more to see. And I like to think I have time to do it. So kudos for Luke for seeing this one and ranking it so high. But again, nothing really to say here.

16. A Christmas Story

-- I do however have something to say here. Again, have not seen this movie from start to finish but that's simply because I can't make it the whole way. It's just not good. I don't find it funny or heartwarming. As much as Luke says it's not Christmas until he see this movie, it's not Christmas for me until I moan and groan that they continue to show it on repeat for a whole day on TBS. Seriously, a "Home Alone" marathon I understand. Grinch, Frosty and Rudolph, let's do it. But this movie is simply not good. But of course, that's just my opinion.

15. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy

-- Well done sir. Come on, you think a guy in my profession wouldn't like a movie like this? It's flat out hilarious. As Luke writes, what may makes this movie so great is it's quotability. All through college and to this day, I have met people who quote the movie as much as I do. It's pure comedy genius. And kudos to every main character. Not Just Will Ferrell, but Carell, Rudd, Koechner, Applegate and Willard. Just great stuff.

14. Good Will Hunting

-- If you've been reading my list, you know my take on this fine movie. I just saw it a few months ago and am really glad I did. Luke couldn't be more right when he says this movie is about more than just an intelligent janitor. It hits you on so many levels and thank to fantastic acting from all of its main characters, you feel it on all of those levels. It ranked #38 on my list but I have no problem with Luke listing it this high. When I see it again, it may end up this high as well.

13. The Hangover

-- Probably the only movie I went to go see simply because EVERYONE who had seen it texted me to go see it. I mean, literally, every person I know would text me and ask if I had seen it or just ask me to my face. After a couple weeks of just thinking people were getting paid to say this, I went and well, I understood and agreed with their assessment. Luke is dead-on when he says this movie makes you laugh in different ways. It's a mix of everything, not just one. I will say it makes me sad to think this is the final comedy on his list. Luke's a funny guy and loves a good laugh so it does sort of shock me to see this movie be the comedic finale to his countdown.

12. Life is Beautiful

-- Luke mentioned a few years ago that he liked this movie and well, I was a bit taken aback because well, I hadn't heard of it. I wasn't following Oscar nominations bak in 1997 so I don;t remember its success there and I truly don't remember any buzz about it. I have met people who do like the movie though so that encourages me that Luke is not crazy for putting this on his list. But #12...wow. Whenever I do see it, it better be good because this is a lofty ranking, Critics love it. Luke loves it. We'll see.

11. The Dark Knight

-- This movie narrowly missed my top 20 so you know I hve no problem with this movie landing just outside of Luke's top 10. Much like Luke, Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker ranks right up there as one of the best performances I've ever seen. There is simply not one fault to this movie. Yep, not even Maggie Gyllenhaal's mediocre acting. It is easily the best Batman movie ever and I can only hope "The Dark Knight Rises" rises above this one instead of falling flat like sequels to great movies tend to do.

Alright all, that's my reaction. My unveiling of #10 will be coming very, very soon. So check back in the near future and find out where I begin the top 10!