100 Greatest Movies Any Guy Must See in His LifetimeTuesday, March 17th, 2009 The Ultimate Kennedy’s Movie List I’ve never had any particular vices that I’m aware of, with one exception: movies. Before children, my wife and I would go out nearly every Friday and Saturday evening to watch the latest flicks. When we can get a “date night” now, we still usually see a movie. It was and is about the only thing that completely captures and keeps my attention. Movies effectively shut-off my rather active brain. I become absorbed in movies, so they’re a “release” from my day-to-day, busy world. Watching sports can be a release as well, but so many of the regular season games are just so inconsequential — it’s hard to imagine game number 18 of your favorite NBA team sticking in your brain longer than a truly great movie. Game number 112 of your favorite MLB team also starts to pale in comparison. The World Series, the NBA Finals, the Super Bowl, the World Cup, the Olympics, and so on… I’m with you – they’re worth watching and do stick with you. But, for everyday, ordinary sporting events, I’d rather go to the theater or pop-in a DVD any time. While I’m a voracious reader of books, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and so forth, movies bring stories to life like no other medium. And because movies have the ability to “take me away,” I’m willing to forget about some of the ridiculous opinions from actors and actresses. Yes, I’m contributing to their incomes, I suppose, when I could be voting with my wallet, but if I stopped watched all movies or listening to all songs by people I disagreed with politically, there wouldn’t be much left. As I’ve mentioned in previous Kennedy’s magazines, gentlemen set aside their differences and conduct themselves civilly. Just because Sean Penn’s a raging politically maniac, in my opinion, doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s a talented actor, nor does it mean I won’t occasionally appreciate his movies. But when he opens his yap about wealth redistribution or “negotiating” with terrorists, I simply turn him off. Another interesting thing I’ve noticed with movies over the years is how guys tend to remember movie lines so well. My 5-½-year-old son already does this with such ease it’s a little frightening, but my 7-½-year-old daughter… not so much. I’m not sure if it’s gender-based or genetic, but I know that getting a group of guys together for any extended period of time, often leads to movie line recitation. Why? I have no earthly idea. “We all go a little mad sometimes” – Norman Bates in Psycho. So just… “Fuh-get about it!” – Donnie Brasco. With that in mind, I thought I would compile the 100 Greatest Movies Any Guy Must See in His Lifetime. I’ve listed below my top 40 favorites of all-time and why, plus the “Second 60,” and encourage you to add to it (Note: we’re looking for serious submissions, so explain your movie’s inclusion when you submit it). This is a deeply subjective process, so I’m hoping with your input we’ll be able to create the Ultimate Kennedy’s Movie List. Now, don’t worry if you haven’t seen every movie below. The point is to have a handy list of movies you ought to see and start checking off your list as you go. There are clearly movies to “take your mind off of things,” and there are movies that do that AND teach us lessons about life. The ones worth re-watching are the latter. Below, in alphabetical order, are ones I enjoy, own and reach for every now and then: Braveheart – because fighting for what’s right is worth more than any one of us. Caddy Shack – because it’s the funniest sports movie of all time. Dead Poet’s Society – because as funny as Robin Williams is, his most serious roles are the most memorable, and this one’s a gem. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb – one of the greatest political satires ever… on second thought, it IS the greatest. Field of Dreams – because playing catch (spending time) with dad is something to cherish, and we romanticize hope, even if it does make for bad business strategy. Glory – because another classic war film of epic proportions isn’t enough. Godfather I and Godfather II – because business lessons abound in these epic tales and every man secretly thinks the Mafia (assuming it exists, that is) is pretty cool on some level… you also get Robert De Nero in the second one. Goldfinger and Dr. No – because these are the best Bond movies ever, and every guy secretly wishes he were James for at least one day. Common… admit it. No one’s listening right now. Good Will Hunting – because this is a terrific tale of a kid from the wrong side of the tracks showing others up with his intelligence, plus Robin Williams, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck make for a great cast. Goodfellas – because mob movies simply resonate with guys. Grumpy Old Men – because when we’re old and lonely some day, only having a buddy will do and this is the best, senior “buddy” film. Heat – because Robert De Nero, Al Pacino, and Val Kilmer in this plot would have been brilliant, whether or not Michael Mann (of Miami Vice fame) directed them. Hoosiers – because it’s the most inspirational basketball movie of all time. It’s a Wonderful Life – because honor and loyalty get validated in the end, and Jimmy Stewart is an American icon. Jerry Maguire – because having faith in one man to make a difference is how it’s always done, even in the world of professional sports… and we can’t make a great movie list without including something from Tom Cruise’s repertoire… but only one, for that’s about all we can take. Life is Beautiful – because any Kennedy’s man would do the same thing, and Roberto Benigni’s Oscar celebration is a classic. Love Actually – because ensemble casts with multiple plots all about different types of love, wrapped around the Christmas season, is pretty damn terrific… even IF at first glance it appears to be a chick-flick (fear not, it isn’t). Monty Python and the Holy Grail – because it’s still hysterical after dozens of watching and has the added benefit of annoying most wives. My Dog Skip – because dogs are man’s best friend for a good reason, and this film is the closest one to ever capture why. North by Northwest – because it’s Hitchcock’s best and Jimmy Stewart showed us his range. Saving Private Ryan – because honor and duty are precious, and every Kennedy’s man aspires to live a “worthy life.” Scarface – because it’s the ultimate rags-to-riches story, albeit without too many morals. Scent of a Woman – because another underdog tale isn’t too many for this list. Schindler’s List – because only through learning what must not happen again, do we have a chance for it not to repeat. Shawshank Redemption – because a good buddy movie is worth admiring. Star Wars (episode IV) – because in a galaxy far, far away, creative storytelling was thrust upon us like never before. Swingers – because Vince Vaughn is a comic genius and good banter movies are hard to find. The Gladiator – because honor, truth and courage need to be shown more often –but why couldn’t Russell Crowe be an American actor instead of an Aussie? The Hunt for Red October – because this is perhaps Sean Connery’s finest performance… we just wish Harrison Ford could have played “Jack Ryan” in this one, too. The Incredibles – because it’s perfectly acceptable to be exceptional in a world where so many try to knock us down to the lowest common denominator… and it’s brilliantly animated. The Passion – because nothing else has ever come close to capturing how events must have occurred over 2,000 years ago. The Patriot – because we shouldn’t forget men like this once existed – of course, they still do, but we need to tell their heroic tales more. The Terminator and Terminator II – because these are two of the best sci-fi movies ever made. The Untouchables – because prohibition might have been bad public policy, but Robert De Nero (as Capone) and Kevin Costner (as Ness) make for great acting… oh, and Sean Connery’s thrown in there, too. We Were Soldiers – because it’s a true story and it’s like watching William Wallace fight for us in the early days of Vietnam. Wedding Crashers – because Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are the modern-day Laurel and Hardy. Hollywood: cast them together more often if you know what’s good. Other truly quality movies that don’t quite make our top 40 all-time list include the following (in alphabetical order): A Bridge Too Far; Blade Runner; Blazing Saddles; Boiler Room; Bull Durham; Casino; Children of Men; Christmas Story; Cinderella Man; Clerks; Cool Hand Luke; Die Hard; Dirty Harry; Enter the Dragon; Escape from New York; Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; First Blood: Glengarry Glen Ross; Grosse Pointe Blank; Happy Gilmore; Lethal Weapon; Mad Max; National Lampoon’s Animal House and Vacation; Ocean’s Eleven (the original one); Office Space; Old School; Patton; Raging Bull; Raiders of the Lost Ark; Raising Arizona; Rambo; Rocky; Rudy; Something About Mary; Spartacus; Stripes; Talladega Nights; The Bank Job; The Blues Brothers; The Bourne Identity; The Bridge on the River Kwai; The Dirty Dozen; The Empire Strikes Back; The Fugitive; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; The Guns of Navarone; The Kingdom; The Man Who Would Be King; The Matador; The Right Stuff; The Sting; The Usual Suspects; This is Spinal Tap; Three Kings; Tombstone; True Lies; Unforgiven; Wall Street; and Young Frankenstein. War movies, gangster movies, fantasies, and raunchy comedies, as my wife likes to put it. That’s what guys tend to like. Probably, no surprise to you. There’s a bit more range in my “Second 60,” but she comes pretty close to summarizing The 100 Greatest Movies Any Guy Must See in His Lifetime: The Ultimate Kennedy’s Movie List. While this is by no means a definitive list, it occurs to me that several actors appear multiple times in the lists above. They represent some of the best at their craft of all-time. Kennedy’s men, for sure. “I think… it’s not all bad.” – Grand Canyon. 5 Responses to “100 Greatest Movies Any Guy Must See in His Lifetime”Leave a ReplyComments (5) |
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March 29th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I can’t believe you left “Remember the Titans” out of the list. Any guy that played high school or college football or developed some real close friendships during the hard training for a team sport had to be pumped during that movie!! I just figured I would put my “two cents” in.
March 30th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I can’t believe The Clockwork Orange and Pulp Fiction did not the list. I understand they might be a little “weird” for some people, but those are two all-time classic movies any guy should watch with his buddies at least once.
And if “weird” makes some people uncomfortable, here’s a comedy to take you away and make you laugh: The Party with Peter Sellers.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Not sure which I’d bump but Pulp Fiction has to be on the Must See list of any man.
Where else can you learn conversation survival tactics like dialogued in this script??
BTW…
Had my first Kennedy experience yesterday. Can hardly wait for my first post 5pm cut while sipping some johnny walker!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Can’t believe you left off
Apollo 13 — Should be the signature Kennedy’s movie. Chicks are there to raise the kids or to take showers with. Success comes after facing down impossible odds.
Back to the Future — Still delivers laughs every time you watch it.
Blazing Saddles — The funniest movie ever made.
Dirty Harry — “I got’s to know!”
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off — Not following the rules pays off big time.
Patton — True test is when you flip channels and you’ll stop and watch this one over and over.
Tin Cup — Bonding at the Waffle House — the best golf movie ever.
And the one you should really be admonished for missing.
Slap Shot — The true man’s man movie.
Where you and I absolutely agree. . .
Caddy Shack
Godfather et al
Goldfinger, Dr. No
Goodfellas
Scarface
The Hunt for Red October
Where you and I absolutely disagree. . .
Glory — Matthew Broderick sucked
Jerry Maguire — C’mon!
September 28th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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