by Henry Carlson
“Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King”
The “Lord Of The Rings” trilogy included some of the first movies that really stuck with me. In particular, “The Return Of The King” stuck out; I was in complete awe of the sheer scope of the movie. Everything from the plot to the production behind the scenes enthralled me and gave me a real appreciation for the hard work and care that goes into a movie of that magnitude.
“Killing Them Softly”
On my first viewing of “Killing Them Softly” I paid little attention, but then the ending completely warped my mind. On subsequent viewings, I found more and more small details that only furthered my appreciation of the craftsmanship of the film. What seems at first to be a movie about a hitman taking down two low-profile robbers reveals itself to be a harsh commentary on the foundational ideas and motives behind the founding of America and the 2008 recession.
“The Big Lebowski”
My favorite of the Coen Brothers filmography, “The Big Lebowski” is a surreal and absurd movie that captures the strangeness of life. I have long admired the Coen Brothers intricate storytelling and this film is a prime example of it.
“Lawrence Of Arabia”
A truly monumental movie, “Lawrence Of Arabia” sparked a deep interest in history for me as a young child. Sitting at a run time of three hours and 48 minutes, the movie tells the story of T.E. Lawrence, a British archeologist who came to be seen as a prophet by the native Bedouin tribes of Arabia during World War I. This movie captivated me and its ending beautifully captures the strange nature of life and the harsh truths of reality.
“Interstella 5555”
Since Daft Punk is my favorite music duo, “Interstella 5555” instantly had my attention. It is basically a movie-length Daft Punk music video. The animated movie has no dialogue and story is instead relayed through music and visuals. The soundtrack is the entire album “Discovery” by Daft Punk, which is also one of my favorite albums.
