Living in a world where every other new movie is a remake of a sequel of a sequel of a remake, and the major music labels seem to want to make kids beg for change after buying albums with only two good songs, I look to the past.
It's not regression. It's celebration.
I won't address music in this column because I'll say things that will make people look up my address so they can firebomb my house, and I really think a decent amount of people have an appreciation for the music of our past (though the "Living on a Prayer" sing-along is getting VERY old).
Movies, on the other hand, are another story. Almost every preview in this day and age is welcomed with moans and groans. This is why I tend to rent, buy or borrow movies that are at least 20 years old -- if not older.
Yes, that means skipping everybody's beloved late-80s and 90s films.
To aid in the process of finding the best older movies to watch, I've put together a list of recommendations. On a side note, if you're looking to the past, a basic rule of thumb applies: Humphrey Bogart is god and a much better pop culture icon than Oprah friggin' Winfrey. Watch anything he is in.
To the list.
1. Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) -- Might as well start with a Bogart. It also has Walter Huston acting and John Huston directing (Boo-yeah!). This is an excellent allegory of greed, as three prospectors dig it up in Mexico. And it was the creator of a great line of pop culture: "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges."
2. The Caine Mutiny (1954) -- OK, another Bogart. Here, he's a rather mentally unstable ship's captain who gets relieved of command by his subordinates during a typhoon. A good 'ole fashioned court martial ensues, with a truly memorable performance by the defense attorney, played by Jerry Paris (director of Police Academy 2 and 3). You'll want a quart of strawberries and a handful of marbles while watching this one. Uh, you'll just have to see.
Alternate choice: The Maltese Falcon (1941) -- The last Bogart film I'll mention, I swear. If you prefer the film noir, detective-style drama, this is a very healthy alternative. And the last line may be the greatest in cinema history: "Huh?"
3. Il Buono, il Brutto, il Cattivo (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, 1966) -- I decided that director Sergio Leone would have wanted me to use the Italian name. If you only watch one Western in your life, it should be this one. For starters, it's Clint Eastwood. But let's not forget -- let's NOT forget -- the other two main actors: Lee Van Cleef as Angel Eyes/Setenza and Eli Wallach as Tuco. The trio takes you on a ride that can be exciting, funny, disturbing and sad. It's got it all, including a bathtub quick-draw, an alcoholic Civil War captain who gets his dying wish and a scorching trudge through the desert. Also, the first 10 minutes of the film, in true cinematic brilliance, introduces the Ugly and the Bad using zero dialogue.
4. Yojimbo (1961) -- Akira Kurosawa's samurai-style homage to the American Western. Toshiro Mifune (a god of Japanese acting) is a wandering samurai who finds himself involved in a town's gang war and plays both sides against one another. Mifune's character is quite sarcastic and serves as an amusing show as he makes a fool of both gangs. You may recognize the premise of this film, as it was re-made twice: once by Sergio Leone, as A Fistful of Dollars and much later as Last Man Standing, starring Bruce Willis. If you've enjoyed either of those, you are required to watch Yojimbo. Also recommended is anything Kurosawa ever did, including Sanjuro (more quality, biting Mifune humor), Seven Samurai and Throne of Blood (a samurai version of Shakespeare's Macbeth!).
5. Any John Carpenter film, 1986 and earlier -- I just have to include this. He's well-known for Halloween (1978) and Christine (1983), but there's more. Escape from New York (1981; Kurt Russell's first round as everybody's favorite criminal, Snake Plissken) is early 80s action at its finest. The Thing (1982) came out around the same time as E.T., and just didn't catch on as it should have. It's got paranoia, Wilford Brimley and more quality Kurt Russell. The Fog (1980) has the killer ghosts of fishermen who attack when, well, the fog rolls in. And it's got horror queen Jamie Lee Curtis. I extended the date to 1986 to include Big Trouble in Little China. It's a spoof of the typical cheesy 80s action/adventure film and another great Kurt Russell performance that also includes Kim Cattrall, James Hong and Victor Wong. Finally, if you can get your hands on it, watch Assault on Precinct 13 (1976). A street gang attacking a police station. And some excellent one-liners.
Now, you probably think I'm a crazed Kurt Russell fan, which I'm not (although I think he's a quite an underrated actor).
But seriously, these are good recommendations. Check 'em out. Go to the video store, dust 'em off and read the back to see which ones sound most interesting to you.
A film can be the greatest thing ever, but if it's not your style, then it's not your style. That said, watch them anyway.
And if you pick up the Treasure of the Sierra Madre DVD, don't forget to watch the Bugs Bunny cartoons in the extras.
