The Godfather (1972)

Genre: Dramas, Crime Dramas, Classics

Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton

My Rating: 5/5

I was fairly new to Hollywood when i watched this movie, having seen action films like Rambo, Terminator etc.. during my childhood. Having heard about Marlon Brando as a big actor in Hollywood, when i saw the opening scene in which a business man talks about his daughter's health condition to the Don, his acting was so good that i immediately mistook him for Marlon Brando. Such was the acting by all the characters in the movie that makes it a powerful and engaging movie.

This movie truly is the godfather of all the mobster movies. Though it is almost a three hour movie, i can still watch this anytime. There are some memorable quotes in the movie like "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse", "A man who never spends time with his family can never be a real man" etc.. to name a few. The real strength of the movie was that each and every character played their role to perfection. Marlon Brando as the wise and ageing Don trying to keep his family business together, Al Pacino as the youngest son who doesn't want to be involved with the family's mafia business, the eldest son- i could really connect to him - an angry reckless guy, Robert Duvall as the lawyer who acts as an advisor to the Don's family, and the character Clemenza, everyone stands out. I think maybe this is one of the earliest movies where mobs are shown as the lead characters and yet you tend to love the movie. Kudos to director Francis Ford Coppola, uncle of actor Nicholas Coppola(known as Nicolas Cage in Hollywood).

Mr. Smith goes to Washington (1939)

Genre: Classics, Dramas

Cast: James Stewart

My Rating: 5/5

They don't make films like this anymore. And, you don't get to see people like Mr. Smith anymore.

James Stewart, one of my all time favorite actors plays an innocent and naive politician caught in the web of corrupt politics in America's capital. It just made me wonder how far one can go to stand up for his ideologies and principles that are just stupid and naive in the eyes of the others (politicians in this case. may be he thought all politicians are idiots and argued his case ;) )

Based on who you are, this film would either make you think about your childhood days and worry about the
innocence lost or just mock at the unrealistic scenes yet feel some void deep inside..

Field of Dreams (1989)

Genre: Dramas, Sports

Cast: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

"If you build it, he will come". Kevin Costner, a corn field owner hears a voice while walking through his corn field. You need not be a baseball fan to watch this movie. Everyone would be able to relate to this movie in one way or the other. I don't think i have enough words in my vocabulary to write about this movie. Anyways, i will give it a try.

This movie is about how far you will go to do something that "you think" you believe in while others don't. It made me think how everyone's version of heaven can look like if one does exist. Costner, after hearing that voice, decides that he has to build a baseball field by clearing out some portion of his corn field. But, after it was built, nothing happens and he soon has financial trouble and has to decide if he should grow corn again. Later, his family notices a famous baseball player who has been dead for a long time, playing in the field. He then brings along few of his friends to play with him. Costner, however realises his work was not done yet and undergoes so many adventueres which though unbelievable, would make you want to be able to believe in something with your whole heart.

Interesting fact- the baseball field shot during the movie in Iowa is now a big tourist attraction and has been visited by many annually.

12 Angry Men(1957)

Genre: Dramas

Cast: Henry Fonda

My Rating- 5 of 5 stars

I thought this movie was a western(which i am a fan of) by the name, but it really didn't matter, for it is one of my all time favorite movies. Personally, I cannot sit in a room for a continuos period of time, but to my surprise, i saw this entire movie that takes place in a single room without any boredom.  So, you would think that already being a 1950s movie, and with a single room setting, this movie would move at a turtle's pace, but i assure that you would be surprised to see that it matches the 21st century movies for pace.

The premise is that of a jury of 12 men who have to come with a verdict on a murder trial of a boy charged with stabbing his father to death. It is initially shown that all of them are positive that the boy is guilty and would come to a quick verdict. But, Henry Fonda, one of the jurors, questions that the evidence against the boy might be circumstantial and there may not be enough proof against him. The difficulty here is that all the jurors should come to an unanimous decision or the case would be tried again.The room shown in the movie is supposedly very hot and you could see the men sweating and growing impatient while trying to reach a verdict.

The unique nature of the movie is that they do not show the courtroom trial or the accused or any witnesses, we know about all these from the jurors' discussion. Yet, You would never feel that you missed the courtroom scenes.

The remainder of the movie is about whether Mr. Fonda succeeded in convincing the other jurors.