Gerry’s Top 10 Movies…EVER

Lists are a pretty frequent trend on the internet and I am merely hoppin’ on the trolly by contributing one of my own. However, I believe it’s hard to read someone else’s opinions on movies when you have no clue where they are coming from. Well, since I do my fair share of ranting about film on POWSO, I figured it would be only fitting to provide you all with my top ten favorite films of all time. I just want to make one minor disclaimer: I am simply presenting ten films that are MY personal favorites. I don’t think these are the most important films technically, culturally or historically. They just each speak to me for one reason or another and I love them all.

10. Toy Story (1995) – Directed by John Lasseter

Great characters, great storytelling and a marvel in animation. This movie is a terrific model for the traditional three act movie script. It’s timing, execution and emotional points are all perfect. While I am also a huge fan of Toy Story 2, and pretty much anything Pixar does, I had to go with the one that started it all. I saw it when I was in third grade and I’ve been hooked ever since. I use to carry a pull-string Woody around with me when I was younger.

9. The Conversation (1974) – Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

How does a director follow up a movie like The Godfather? Francis Ford Coppola answers this question with the story of an isolated introvert in his film, The Conversation. Gene Hackman stars as Harry Caul in this often overlooked mystery/thriller. It features some of the most incredible sound design I have ever heard as Caul, a paranoid middle-aged man, investigates a murder through his own audio surveillance company.

8. The Dark Knight (2008) – Directed by Christopher Nolan

Usually when someone puts a movie that is barely a year old in their top-ten list you begin to question the list’s integrity. However, it’s hard to argue that The Dark Knight will not go down in history as the best movie about a comic book character ever made. It also happens to be about my favorite comic book character, Batman. Guided by Christopher Nolan’s superb direction, the film delivers a compelling crime drama with memorable performances across the board. Few films can hold my full attention for their entire runtime, but this one had me from the opening scene and did not let up until the end credits.

7. A Fistful of Dollars (1964) – Directed by Sergio Leone

Yes, I know that this movie is basically a shot-for-shot remake of Kurosawa’s Yojimbo that merely replaces the samurai with a cowboy. However, this film began the illustrious career of Sergio Leone and his incredible Dollar’s Trilogy while introducing us to Clint Eastwood’s Man-With-No-Name character. Shooting an American Western in Spain gives Leone’s films a mythical, almost surreal quality that is only enhanced by Ennio Morricone’s memorable score.

6. Blade Runner (1982) – Directed by Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott’s eerily accurate adaptation of one of my favorite books is also one of my favorite films. A moody and beautiful piece of cinema, not to mention eerily accurate in some of its predictions of the future. I saw this film for the first time a couple of years ago and I remember thinking that George Lucas was completely full of shit when he said that he couldn’t do the Star Wars prequel films until he had the proper computer technology. The effects are breathtaking.

5. Vertigo (1958) – Alfred Hitchcock 

Count me in the group that considers Vertigo to be Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece. It features my favorite actor (Jimmy Stewart) and it was the first film I ever saw that I felt like absolutely everything in frame was at the will of the director. When you watch this film you know you are watching a master at work. The film also work as a powerful commentary upon the way in which men behave in relationships: obsessors or controllers.

4. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) – Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr.

While nearly all the Rankin/Bass stop-motion films have a special place in my heart, this one stands above the others for one reason: Snow Miser. He is such a great character and has this whimsical charm that I am forever endeared to. 

3. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – Directed by Frank Capra

This film use to not even rank on my top-ten list. Then someone asked me if there was any film that just made me happy to be alive and I immediately thought of Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life. I have never seen an actor give a more powerful performance than Jimmy Stewart gives in this film. He breaks my heart every time I see it. It wouldn’t be Christmas without this movie. 

“Remember George, no man is a failure who has friends.” I may have teared up just writing that quote…

2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) -Directed by Irvin Kershner

Star Wars pretty much sums up my childhood. I was a fanboy. Action figures, video games, books, Taco Bell collector’s cups…Yes, I had it all, but The Empire Strikes Back is still a great film even without all of the merchandise attached. I still wish I was as cool as Han Solo and I still dream of visiting Cloud City some day.

1. The Aviator (2004) – Directed by Martin Scorsese

It feels odd to tell people that, not only my favorite Martin Scorsese film, but also just my general favorite film of all time is The Aviator. What can I say? This film speaks to me a in a strange way. It creates a world that is a fusion of both fantasy and reality while simultaneously addressing many themes that I can easily identify with. Every time I watch this film I feel like I just went to a three hour therapy session. Leonardo Dicaprio is easily my favorite actor of the current generation and I adore the work of Martin Scorsese. Everything about this film just comes together in a package that seems specifically addressed to me.

The Enchanted World of Rick Goldschmidt: An Interview with the Rankin/Bass Historian

Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass. While those two names may not be immediately familiar to many, I can practically guarantee that you are aware of their work. They were the creative minds behind Rankin/Bass, a company responsible for stop-motion holiday classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Mad Monster Party and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. They also worked in traditional animation, producing more holiday specials like Frosty the Snowman and even the 1980’s animated series, Thundercats.

Despite their storied portfolio, most know little about the company behind these classics. Aside from their projects with immediate name recognition, Rankin/Bass has produced 13 feature films, 13 animated series and over 30 television specials. This includes lesser known projects like Willy McBean and His Magic Machine One, The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold and The King Kong Show to name a few.

Well, luckily one man has undertaken the responsibility of researching, documenting and compiling everything a Rankin/Bass fanboy like me would ever want to know about his childhood heroes.

Dubbed the Rankin/Bass Historian, Mr. Rick Goldschmidt has published two lengthy books on the company (The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass, The Making of the Rankin/Bass Classic: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer), operates the official Rankin/Bass website and keeps fans in the loop with all things Rankin/Bass on his frequently updated blog . I was fortunate enough to snag a special interview with Mr.Goldschmidt at his home in Oak Lawn, Illinois, where we discussed how he obtained the title of Rankin/Bass historian, the influence that Rankin/Bass has had on modern media professionals, the status of current Rankin/Bass projects, as well as his thoughts on recent stop-motion films.

Goldschmidt never dreamed of becoming the Rankin/Bass historian. He started off as a casual fan of the company’s work. A graduate of Columbia College in Chicago with a degree in illustration, Goldschmidt began his professional career as an artist doing freelance work. Initially he adopted realism as his art style, but he became increasingly fascinated with cartoons and animation. Around this time he decided to contact established cartoonists Jack Davis (MAD Magazine, Mad Monster Party) and Paul Coker (MAD Magazine, Frosty the Snowman). Simultaneously, his visits to film conventions as a movie memorabilia collector yielded the discovery of obscure films and projects from Rankin/Bass. Goldschmidt noted the incredible volume of work Rankin/Bass had completed, and with this new-found knowledge he decided to write a comprehensive book on the company and all of their projects. Goldschmidt began contacting those associated with the company, including Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass themselves.

With the publication and success of The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass, Goldschmidt became the authority on all things related to the company. He is frequently interviewed for special features on Rankin/Bass DVD releases, he has developed a relationship with the collector website Time and Space Toys as a consultant on the creation of Rankin/Bass products and he even fields inquiries from Arthur Rankin himself. The company just has so much history and even Rankin needs clarification on when they released certain films and television specials.

In spite of their history of success, some may ask what relevancy does this company have now? Aside from some cheery Christmas nostalgia and Rankin/Bass marathons on ABC Family every December, cynics might assume that there is little left this company or its legacy has to offer. The reality could not be further from the truth.

I was initially overwhelmed by the incredible amount of movie, music and television memorabilia Goldschmidt has in his home. However, one piece in particular immediately caught my eye. On his living room wall is a framed photo of a mock Life Magazine from Toy Story 2. Everyone’s favorite pull-string cowboy Woody graces the cover with his trusty horse Bullseye. The photo is signed by John Lassester, Andrew Stanton and many other creative heads at Pixar. How did Goldschmidt acquire such a photo? The minds at Pixar actually cite Rankin/Bass as one of their major influences in terms of storytelling and character composition. Take a peep at a “Making Of” book from almost any Pixar film and you’ll find Goldschmidt’s book among the works cited. According to Goldschmidt, Buzz Lightyear’s nemesis Emperor Zurg’s transformation to a good-guy by the end of Toy Story 2 is an homage to Rankin/Bass’s philosophy of always reforming the story’s villain by the end of the film.

Aside from those at Pixar, other filmmakers such as Tim Burton, Henry Selick and even Rob Zombie cite Rankin/Bass as an influence on their work. And film isn’t the only realm of influence that Rankin/Bass permeates. Musicians such as The Misfits and Buckethead are all open fans of Rankin/Bass animation. The influence of this single company stretches generations and mediums, giving artists a solid foundation for strong storytelling, unique characters and memorable music.

With Burton and Selick still having their hand in the world stop-motion, I asked Goldschmidt about his thoughts on the current state of stop-motion films. He said that he generallyfinds that they look too clean, too polished. Goldschmidt argues that part of stop-motion’s charm is it’s inherent stutter; it’s a quality that gives a it a distinct personality. Without it, what’s to separate it from the barrage of computer animation flicks released every year? It is interesting to note that Selick had this problem with Coraline. In an interview I conducted with Selick last year, he stated that he frequently told his animators to make things, “less pretty” so that the film would not lose its charm. In a time where it seems as if cutting-edge technology is slowly killing this unique art form, Goldschmidt and his work helps us understand its lasting importance and wide-stretching influence.

So what projects do Goldschmidt and Rankin/Bass have on their plate for the future? This September features a special edition DVD release of Mad Monster Party that includes a remastered print of the film as well as three informative documentaries included in the special features. Goldschmidt gave me the opportunity to take a gander at the documentaries prior to their release and they are sure to be a treat for Rankin/Bass fans, as well as those interested in stop-motion as an art form.

Goldschmidt has plans to publish a second edition of his book, The Enchanted World or Rankin/Bass, for the 2010 holiday season. This new edition will include all the new information he’s amassed about the company in their last ten years as well as the inclusion of several new, full-color photos.

I have always loved Rankin/Bass and I probably always will. It wouldn’t be Christmas to me if I didn’t watch their television specials every December. My interview with Goldschmidt left me with a greater understanding and appreciation of the company’s work. Their simple, yet classic approaches to storytelling, as well as their utilization of the stop-motion medium, have left their mark on many of today’s most influential artists. Yes, I know I am a fanboy, but Goldschmidt works to make others aware of the company’s influence, not just in the interests of nostalgic man-children like myself.

Be sure to check out Goldschmidt’s blog for updates on the world of Rankin/Bass and keep an eye out for the Mad Monster Party DVD come September 8, 2009.

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DVD Win! – Rankin Bass’ Animated Hobbit

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DVD Win! – Rankin/Bass’ Animated Hobbit

The success of Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of the Lord of the Rings trilogy introduced J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world to an entire new generation. With Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labrynth) attached to direct a version of The Hobbit for the silver screen, don’t expect Middle Earth to disappear from the cultural lexicon anytime soon.

I am sure whatever Mr. Del Toro has planned, it is going to be great. He is a very talented director and I cannot wait to see what he does with one of my favorite books of all time (I actually like The Hobbit more than Lord of the Rings). For those unfamiliar with the storyline, The Hobbit is about Bilbo Baggins (uncle to Frodo) and his journey with a group of dwarves across Middle-Earth to reclaim treasure from the dragon Smaug. The story also features everyone’s favorite wizard, Gandalf, and introduces the ring of power as well as its creepy keeper, Gollum. While I eagerly await Mr. Del Toro’s adaptation it should be noted that there has already been an adaptation of The Hobbit and I am quite the fan of it.

Stop-animation company Rankin/Bass (best known for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) released their translation in 1977. While intended for children, the cartoon hits all of the major points of the original novel and manages to create its own unique charm.

I first came across this version of the Hobbit back when I was but a wee nerd in Velcro shoes. My brother and I were wandering around an indoor swap-meet when I was five years old and we came across a bin of VHS tapes on sale. While my little hands firmly held onto a copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, my brother looked on disapprovingly. Amongst the saturation of amphibian ninja videotapes he found a copy of the Rankin/Bass Hobbit cartoon.

Being a fan of the book and using his magical powers of older brother persuasion, he convinced me that a cartoon with wizards and goblins would be far more enjoyable than the shameless corporate synergy that was Vanilla Ice and his “Ninja Rap.” Or maybe he just told me that it had some cool sword fighting.

Either way, I went home that day and got lost in Tolkien’s fantasy world. I loved the songs, the characters and general sense of adventure found throughout the entire film. Although the goblins and Gollum creeped me the hell out, I wanted nothing more than to wander Mirkwood forest with an invisibility ring and take down some giant, strangely androgynous spiders. Regardless of the gender confused spiders, this cartoon got me hooked on Tolkien and his characters at a very young age.

Unlike Secret of the Ooze, I can pop The Hobbit into my DVD player even today and still genuinely enjoy the film. I still find the film’s animation style extremely unique and unlike anything else I’ve seen. The use of line on the faces of each dwarf, hobbit and goblin add an additional layer of dimension and texture. This gives each of them such individual personality that they cease to be just drawings on paper, but living, breathing characters. I still have yet to see any style match the one in this interpretation of The Hobbit.

The voice acting is also top-notch and serves to make each character distinct and unique. Orson Bean, an actor whose credits range from Miracle on 34th Street (the original), to Being John Malcovich, to a recent episode of How I Met Your Mother, voices Bilbo Baggins himself. His humble and vulnerable tone perfectly matches that of the hobbits described by Tolkien in his novel. Aside from Bean, each voice perfectly matches the tone and character of Tolkien’s universe the same way that Bean does. That is, except for those damn spiders.

Rankin/Bass also enlisted the services of folk singer Glenn Yarbrough to record some original songs. Are they kind of hokey? You bet your ass, but they also have this unique charm and they manage to get stuck in your head all day.

However, Tolkien elitists probably won’t like the film. There is no inclusion of Beorn, the film changes the way in which Gandalf saves Bilbo and company from the trolls, there are no moments depicting the hallucinations of wood elves in Mirkwood Forest and there are plenty of other slightly altered plot details that would seriously upset purists. However, the film’s unique animation style, catchy music and solid voice acting serve the same purpose as the original novel: to construct an engrossing and captivating fantasy world.

The cartoon was a jumping off point for myself into the realm of Middle Earth. As soon as I felt that I could handle it, I read The Hobbit book itself and continued to read it every summer through high school. I went on and read the Lord of the Rings books, saw all the films and, if you get a couple of beers in me, I’ll admit that I’ve purchased a fair number of Lord of the Rings action figures. Warner Bros. has released the film on DVD and if you see it around at your local store, available for download online or at the bottom of an indoor swap-meet bargain bin, I highly suggest you give it a shot.