#77: All The President’s Men

Patrick Umsted — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:24:32 +0000

All The President’s Men is the type of detail oriented and tedious film I enjoy too much. I love the feeling of being a part of the situation. I was the third reporter on this story being overloaded with information and details that make sense but do not lead to any rational conclusion.

This film could easily have been further fictionalized to provide more excitement, but in reality, the reliance on the minutia created a higher level of suspense than any higher level of physical danger ever could. Only a few times do we catch wind of the danger all of the characters are subjected and even then it’s a passing subplot to the importance of “story”.

Sadly, we seldom see films of this vein any longer. Partially due to our unwillingness to sit through a two-hour movie on process but mostly because Michael Bay would never fit a half naked woman blowing up aliens into the plot successfully.

[note: I am not a movie critic or a writer of any sort. This entry is only my quick opinion on the movie in question. Click here to see the entire 100 Films in 2010.]

New Year’s Resolution #1

Patrick Umsted — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:55:58 +0000

My first New Year’s resolution is less of a resolution and more of a goal. I will watch every single member of AFI’s 100 top movies. Before I even start this task, I can claim credit for 51 films. Many of the 51 films are my absolute favorite films and films I have watched dozens if not hundreds of times. I, however, will view these movies again. Here are the rules I have arbitrarily concocted up for my goal.

1) AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies(10th Anniversary) will be list used.

2) All 100 hundred movies must be watched regardless of previous viewing or difficult acquisition.

3) All effort must be made to watch these movies in order from 100 to 1.

4) Rule 3 can be disregarded if Netflix does not offer the next movie in line on demand. In these cases, the next available movie offered by Netflix on demand must be watched. Movies skipped must be added to the top of the snail mail queue.

5) After viewing each movie, I must write at least a 200 word brief on the film. This should not be construed as a review or a synopsis, but rather my reaction to the film.

6) All 100 films must be finished by December 31, 2010.

Below are the first 10 movies on my journey:

100) Ben-Hur

99) Toy Story

98) Yankee Doodle Dandy

97) Blade Runner

96) Do The Right Thing

95) The Last Picture Show

94) Pulp Fiction

93) The French Connection

92) GoodFellas

91) Sophie’s Choice

As I go through the list, I will keep a ranking of my own based completely and solely on my enjoyment of each individual film. Think of it as King of the Mountain. The first movie I watch will, by default, be my favorite movie until another film knocks it off its vaunted pedestal.

Good luck to me.

patrickumsted.com » 100 Films

#77: All The President’s Men

New Year’s Resolution #1