One of the things we like about Esquire
Now, we’re not so insecure around here that we think Esquire should completely define our taste in movies, but this is a pretty good list. You could do a lot worse than putting these on your Netflix list. Face it, aren’t you already tired of Judd Apatow and Adam Sandler already anyway?
There are some good surprises on here–movies that we liked but haven’t got their just desserts–such as Runaway Train
and Lone Star
Don’t. Watch films. Movies are mere entertainment best consumed in paperback form. Films, on the other hand, utilize a comprehensive medium to make you think and feel. As pretentious as this sounds, it pays to develop a “faculty” for film. I use this word because the definitive prospectus has already been curated for you by the Criterion Collection. Once a movie makes the Collection, it’s a film. While they’ve let trash like Roger Vadim in the club, groovymen don’t mind. Purists may prefer the Janus collection after perusing strictlyfilmschool.
Guy Ritchie may not be with Madonna any more, but to our way of thinking, that’s her loss. He’s written and directed two of the most entertaining “caper” flicks of all time. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, is a clever (and hilarious) insta-classic. But Snatch is even more complex and entertaining.
The plot’s a lot more convoluted that can be explained here, but it involves diamond smuggling, fixed illegal boxing matches, and a tribe of Irish gypsies. Brad Pitt is one of the gypsies who is hired to throw a fight and he’s hilarious. It’s his very best role—even better than 12 Monkeys. The guy can actually act.
An added bonus is the character names: “Boris The Blade,” “Franky Four Fingers,” “Bullet Tooth Tony,” and “Brick Top.” Love it.
Put it on the top of your Netflix queue now.
