Best Films of 1964

Director: George Sidney
His 26th Movie
My 5th movie watched from the director

The movie was probably billed as an Elvis Presley spectacle but Ann Margaret steals the show throughout. It's really her movie. Besides her the final race sequence is pretty fun, but then the movie ends with one of the most horrendous quick-edit endings that had me spinning. It twice as jarring as the end to "The Karate Kid", a movie well-known for such an ending.

Added to Lists:

Top Performances - Ann-Margret

Vincent Price delivers a classic performance (excellent voice-over work included) in this kitchy 50's style sci-fi movie that actually has a decent twist near the end.

An odd foreign-movie-style-but-English-speaking heist movie with an awesome opening that seems out of place from the rest of the film.

Dean Martin essentially plays himself in this goofy comedy. Novak is beautiful as usual, but Felicia Farr actually stands out above her!

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
His 50th movie
My 20th movie watched from the director

Added to Lists:


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Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA; Charlottesville, NC, USA; Baltimore, MD, USA

Director: Robert Rossen
His 10th (and Final) Movie
My 3rd movie watched from the director

Beatty and Fonda are pretty strong in this, but it's Seberg's movie the whole time. She is incredible, making it impossible to keep your eyes off of her, with her beauty, but also with her performance. It's one where you never know what she is going to do, in basically every scene. Also, Gene Hackman surprised me, showing up late in the film and delivers a strong one-scene-only performance.
It's a mysterious movie that never gives us the full answers to our questions. There are some confusing scenes that seemed unnecessary and the ending was pretty rough.

Added to Lists:
Top Ten Performances - Jean Seberg
Top Ten Performances - Warren Beatty
Favorite Sapphic Scenes
Best One-Scene-Only Performances - Gene Hackman

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Locations: Rockville, MD, USA

Classic Sophia Loren fare

O'Toole and Burton bring in powerful performances in this epic movie about the battle between monarchs and the church.

Director: Sidney Lumet
His 8th Movie
My 13th movie watched from the director

This is a Sidney Lumet classic I finally got to watch. It's appropriately intense and full of solid performances, including a very serious role from Matthau. The decisions being made and the ultimate decision brings the most intensity to the movie. It's just kind of tense the whole way through, but builds very nicely. The final moments help make it great. It's strangely controlled yet daring for a 1960s movie.

Added to Lists:
Top Ten Films - Sidney Lumet
Top Ten Performances - Henry Fonda
Top Ten Performances - Walter Matthau
Bombs in Movies that Weren't Bombs

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Location: Washington D.C., USA

Possibly the best of the Beatles movies, and just a joy to watch

One of my favorite Antonioni films. Beautifully shot film that proves to be very influential

The first is still the best, it's a classic comedy; but it's also one that wouldn't hold up if released today - See: Steve Martin remakes

Hepburn is the fairest of them all, whether speaking cockney or singing about dancing all night.

The first entry into the greatest western trilogy is the weakest but still exciting as it conquers new territory in the genre, even if it is essentially a remake of 'Yojimbo'.

What starts off as an intro song to a musical, turns into a song that never ends. It's melodramatic, whimsical and beautiful in its coloring of costumes and sets.

Kubrik's satire is so beautifully orchestrated and shot you forget it's intended to be a silly comedy or is it really a drama that is sadly a comedy?

Is there a better musical involving live action and animation, plus penguins?

Arguably still the best, with nearly every scene iconic.