Tuesday Ten

With the off day, here's a list of 10 movies everyone should see. And 10, that when High Def DVD is released, I'll be buying:

1. Maltese Falcon
The best gumshoe movie ever made. If you've never seen Humphrey Bogart, see this one. Sydney Greenstreet is fabulous as is Peter Lorrie. Get Casablanca if you are more of a "romantic" or want to impress your significant other.

2. The Graduate
Coming of age in the 60's. Great music, Katherine Ross, "Plastics!" and that last shot of the Ben and Elaine on a bus.

3. Jaws
A movie about three men confronting fear. It has as much to do with a shark as Field of Dreams has to do with baseball.

4. Star Wars
The Gee Whiz Kid from nowhere with long hair and a groovy car destroys the godless, monotone evil empire by relying on faith. No wonder Ronald Reagan won 3 years later.

5. The Sting
You can watch this movie 10 times and still pick up little tips on where the movie is going. Next time you watch it, listen to Salino's footsteps in the alley when chasing Hooker. That should tip you off to who Salino really is.

6. Dr. Strangelove
I almost went with Clockwork Orange for my Kubrickian choice. But Slim Pickens' "YEE HAW!" beats Malcom McDowell's "Singing in the Rain!" every day.

7. Rope
Gotta have Hitchcock in here. Rear Window and Psycho get more press, but this "play-on-film" is just brilliantly shot. And the way the murderers dispose of the murder weapon is priceless.

8. Usual Suspects
I still don't know if a single word Verbal Kint said to Detective Kujan was true.

9. High Noon
Like "Falcon," a must see if you've never seen Gary Cooper. The "Last Good Man" defeats the faceless evil that comes from the limitless horizon.

10. The Shawshank Redemption
Tell me this. Who gets redeemed? Andy Dufrense or Red? Only ruined by the final shot. It doesn't matter that Red finds Andy. It only matters that Red made up his mind to "get on livin'." "Good Will Hunting" has the same ending, but gets it right.

And five more for every guy to see before high school is over:

1) Fast Times at Ridgemont High
American Pie sucks compared to this. Would not get made today given the statutory rape scene and the "abortion without parental consent" scene.

2) Fletch
Vastly underrated. Just ask Dr. Rosenpenis.

3) Caddyshack
Duh.

4) Animal House
Duh, again.

5) Stripes
"No, we're not homosexual, but we are willing to learn."

6) Blazzing Saddles (Bonus)
If you don't fall over laughing when Cleavon Little sings, "I get no kicks from champagne..." you have no concept of humor.