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Cinema Fanatic’s Favorite Fifteen Films of 2020
Again, sorry for the delay on this post. If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram (oldfilmsflicker on both), then you’ve likely already seen this list, but along with the list I’ve written at length about each of my favorite films from 2020, what resonated with me, and why I loved them so. You can see the whole list of how all 2020 releases ranked here.
Movie Quote of the Day – 12 Years A Slave, 2013 (dir. Steve McQueen)
John Tibeats: God damn you! I thought you knowed something!
Solomon Northup: I did as instructed. If there’s something wrong, then it’s wrong with your instructions.
Movie Quote of the Day – The Magnificent Seven, 1960 (dir. John Sturges)
Calvera: What I don’t understand is why a man like you took the job in the first place, hmm? Why, huh?
Chris: I wonder myself.
Calvera: No, come on, come on, tell me why.
Vin: It’s like a fellow I once knew in El Paso. One day, he just took all his clothes off and jumped in a mess of cactus. I asked him that same question, “Why?”
Calvera: And?
Vin: He said, “It seemed to be a good idea at the time.”
Movie Quote of the Day – Bullitt, 1968 (dir. Peter Yates)
Walter Chalmers: The Organization. Several murders. Could do us both a great deal of good.
Bullitt: Look, Chalmers, let’s understand each other. I don’t like you.
Walter Chalmers: Come on now, don’t be naive, Lieutenant. We both know how careers are made. Integrity is something you sell to the public.
Bullitt: You sell whatever you want, but don’t sell it here tonight.
Walter Chalmers: Frank, we must all compromise.
Bullitt: Bullshit!
Movie Quote of the Day – Junior Bonner, 1972 (dir. Sam Peckinpah)
Elvira Bonner: You and Ace. Maybe you’re the lucky ones, drifting the way you do.
Junior Bonner: Maybe.
Oscar Vault Monday – The Towering Inferno, 1974 (dir. John Guillermin)
Believe it or not, the Irwin Allen produced The Towering Inferno was not only nominated for eight Academy Awards, it won three of them. This star-studded ensemble disaster flick was not the first of its kind, but it is definitely one of the best. I remember when I first watched it, I was dubious of its merit and wondered about its Oscar pedigree, but in the end, I was sucked in by it and entertained from start to finish. If you look at a lot of the other Oscar nominated films from 1974 – and the 70s in general – The Towering Inferno is like a breath of fresh air made of pure entertainment. I hate the notion that Oscar nominated films need to be serious or arty or what have you. This is cinema in all its glory. The Towering Inferno’s Oscar nominations were as follows: Best Sound, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography (won), Best Film Editing (won), Best Original Song (won), Best Original Dramatic Score, Best Supporting Actor Fred Astaire and Best Picture. The other films nominated for Best Picture that year were Chinatown, The Conversation, Lenny and winner The Godfather Part II.
Movie Quote of the Day – Baby the Rain Must Fall, 1965 (dir. Robert Mulligan)
Henry Thomas: It’ll all work out.
Georgette Thomas: Oh, I’m sure it will.
Movie Quote of the Day – Love with the Proper Stranger, 1963 (dir. Robert Mulligan)
Rocky Papasano: Man, do you look wild.
Angie Rossini: Thank you.
Rocky Papasano: No, I mean it – I really mean it.
Angie Rossini: Look how surprised he sounds.
Rocky Papasano: You look so – what am I gonna tell ‘ya? You look like a woman.
Angie Rossini: How can you manage to make even a compliment sound like a slap in the face?
Rocky Papasano: What did I say? You look like a woman! I apologise – excuse me. You look like a man.
Movie Quote of the Day – Shame, 2011 (dir. Steve McQueen)
Sissy Sullivan: I make you angry all the time and I don’t know why.
Brandon Sullivan: No. You trap me. You force me into a corner and you trap me. “I’ve got nowhere else to go.” I mean, what sort of fucking shit is that?
Sissy Sullivan: You’re my brother.
Brandon Sullivan: So what? I’m responsible for you?
Sissy Sullivan: Yes.
Brandon Sullivan: No, I’m not.
Sissy Sullivan: Yes you fucking are.
Brandon Sullivan: No. I didn’t give birth to you. I didn’t bring you into this world.
Sissy Sullivan: You’re my brother, I’m your sister. We’re family, we’re meant to look after each other.
Brandon Sullivan: You’re not looking after me; I’m looking after myself.
Sissy Sullivan: I’m trying. I’m trying to help you.
Brandon Sullivan: How are you helping me, huh? How are you helping me? How are you helping me? Huh? Look at me. How are you helping me? You come in here and you’re a weight on me. Do you understand me? You’re a burden. You’re just fucking dragging me down. How are you helping me? You can’t even clean up after yourself. Stop playing the victim.
Sissy Sullivan: I’m not playing the fucking victim. If I left, I would never hear from you again. Don’t you think that’s sad? Don’t you think that’s sad? You’re my brother.
“Shame,” “Tyrannosaur” and “Tinker Tailor” Lead British Independent Film Award Nominations
So many films on this list that I’ve yet to see, but definitely want to. Hopefully we’ll see a little bit of an overlap between these nominations and the Oscars. Mostly I’m thinking for Steve McQueen, Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, though Shame‘s NC-17 rating may still be a hurdle the film’ll need to overcome stateside. I’d also like to see a Best Actor nomination for Gary Oldman. I still haven’t seen Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but boy is he overdue. He’s never even been nominated! That’s a travesty that must be remedied soon.
The winners are decided by an independent jury comprised of people from within the British film industry. This year’s jury includes: Josh Appignanesi (Director / Writer), Lucy Bevan (Casting Director), Edith Bowman (Broadcaster), Mike Goodridge (Editor), Ed Hogg (Actor), Neil Lamont (Art Director), Mary McCartney (Photographer), Molly Nyman (Composer), Debs Paterson (Director / Writer), Tracey Seaward (Producer), Charles Steel (Producer), David Thewlis (Actor), Ruth Wilson (Actress) and Justine Wright (Editor). The winners be announced on December 4th. Full list of nominees after the cut.
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