There are certain films that make many Historians and Critics all time top five list. They make mine as well. These five films are Citizen Kane, Casablanca, and The Godfather.
It is difficult to label anything the greatest of all time because that's a lot of pressure on a single product. However, these films truly are flawless. Citizen Kane occupies #1 on AFI's renewed 100 greatest films of all time. On said list, The Godfather made #2 and Casablanca #3. Other top tens were Schindler's List, The Wizard of Oz and Lawrence of Arabia.
Casablanca is easily the most quotable film I've ever seen. AFI agrees on its 100 movies 100 quotes list. This single film had six quotes on an all time list voted by the best of the best. Among the best are "Here's lookin' at you kid", "Play it again Sam", and "I think thsi is the start of a beautiful friendship".
Possibly the greatest romance film of all time. Today those films are inevitably comedic in nature. This film is much more tragic and realistic to lost love in a lifetime. Humphrey Bogart is considered one of the best actors of his time, the golden age of Hollywood mind you. Is it any wonder he starred in this masterpiece?
We move now to The Godfather, the quintisential mob movie. Goodfellas gfave it a run for its money, but I'd waste the whole blog tlaking about that. The Godfather embodies the rise, prime, and fall of a crime family known as the Corleone's. Vito's death was the dagger.
Filled with realistic violence and mafia problems, The Godfather Part One's three hours flew by and hit you over the head the first time you watched it. The one big criticism this film has gotten mainly from protesters, thank you very much amendment number one, is that the movie romanticizes the ugliness and grit that is the Italian mafia.
It couldn't be further from the truth. The many brutal deaths within the family, the betrayal of trust, and the loneliness Michael Corleone feels in the end by losing everytbody he cared about is very realistic. Almost every aging crime boss will die in prison from a heart attack of some sort. Granted, Vito's attack came from chasing his Grandson through the gardens but the effect was still the same. The Godfather rocks!
Last but certainly not least Citizen Kane. This is a movie with perfect storytelling. I will give no spoilers but I must warn all who watch it, watch it. Don't talk to other people you may watch it with. You better watch it alone. I learned this the first time. The movie can be confusing if you don't pay attention. If you do, well......
All three of these movies have iconic legacies not only in America but throughout the world. I thank God every day for TCM and AMC because those are the only channels I was able to find and record these Bucket list films. I have yet to delete Citizen Kane. I have to watch it one more time before I let it go. It's like my kid. All three of these movies were my kids. I hate the delete button. Watch these movies everybody!
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