Let’s talk for a minute about how, at the end of this post, I will finally be able to say that this 100 Movies project is complete.
The first time I posted about this project was in April 2009. That’s nearly three years, friends! I lasted longer than the now defunct link to Yahoo’s 100 Movies to See Before You Die, the list this project was based upon way back when.
I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to give up. “Bah,” I’d rationalize to myself. “No one reads these posts anyway. No one will notice if I don’t complete the task.”
No one except me.
Isn’t that what’s important here? I think I’m inspired more by my own actions than by any of the movies I was seeking inspiration in. Despite the fact that somewhere along the line I lost interest in doing this, I still did it. Despite the fact that I received virtually no feedback (even from my own husband, who repeatedly did not want to watch these movies with me!), I still did it.
I’m glad I did. It was sometimes grueling to motivate myself to watch these somewhat serious films, but it was worth it. I learned a lot along the way about what it takes to make good cinema. I learned why some of the greats are considered great. I learned that I’m not a western or war movie fan (with a few exceptions). I learned that some movies aren’t very inspiring (oops). Above all, I learned that I can finish a task — ANY task — if I persevere.
Captain von Trapp: You are the twelfth in a long line of governesses who have come here to look after my children since their mother died. I trust you will be an improvement on the last one. She stayed only two hours.
I don’t even know where to begin with one of my favorite movies of all time. There is so much inspiration here. Is it standing up to the Nazis? Is it following your heart? Is it the very heart of this 100 Movies project (persevering)? Is it Julie Andrews herself? Yes, plus the fact that every song in this movie is amazing. Nearly every song has a lesson. “I have confidence in me!” “When I’m feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things!” “Follow every rainbow till you find your dream!”
Carl Denham: Why, the whole world will pay to see this.
Captain Englehorn: No chains will ever hold that.
Carl Denham: We’ll give him more than chains. He’s always been king of his world, but we’ll teach him fear. We’re millionaires, boys. I’ll share it with all of you. Why, in a few months, it’ll be up in lights on Broadway: Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Beast captures a beautiful woman. He must be contained. Yadda yadda yadda. The real inspiration here? Stop-motion animation. Stop-motion animation. Stop-motion animation. Yes.
[the Beatles are late for a rehersal]
TV Floor Manager: They’ll be here.
TV Director: Yes, well, if they aren’t on this stage in precisely thirty seconds there’ll be trouble? Do you hear me? Trouble.
[exactly three seconds after he stops speaking, the Beatles calmly amble on stage]
John: [to director] Standin’ around, hey? Some people have it dead easy.
I thought it would be appropriate to wrap up this project with one of my very favorites. God, I love The Beatles. (As if Beatles Week wouldn’t be tip-off enough.) I think it’s quite a feat to make a movie about Beatlemania that actually captures the ridiculousness of it all with wit and an actual, albeit silly, storyline. My high school friends and I used to quote this to one another. “Don’t be cheeky” was a staple in our lexicon. And how can you argue with the premise of this movie? A day in the life of a Beatle. As the character of Paul’s grandfather says in the film, “Look, I thought I was supposed to be getting a change of scenery. But so far, I’ve been in a train and a room, and a car and a room, and a room and a room.”
