I’ve been watching movies since I can remember. If memory serves correctly, I’ve seen three silent films in my life—the Phantom of the Opera (1925), The Artist (2011), and now Wings. Wings is the first Best Picture winner in history, taking home the Oscar in 1928. It remains the only silent film (to date) to … More Wings (1927)
A common theme I have been talking about in many of the Golden Age films is that the characters in some of these films are just not interesting. Whether they are in terrible stories or played by actors I didn’t find appealing, I’ve found myself wondering how so many of these films would go on … More The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Mrs. Miniver won the Best Picture in 1941, some two years after World War II started. The film’s plot follows Mrs. Miniver (Greer Garson) and her family as they struggle to adapt to a world entrenched in war. Before the war breaks out, the story is pretty standard stuff, the husband works, the son is … More Mrs. Miniver (1941)
For most of my life, I only knew James Stewart for one role: George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life. I learnt that he had many other iconic parts in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Vertigo, yet it amazed me to see how many Best Pictures he was cast in over the years. James … More You Can’t Take It with You (1938)
When it came time to sit down and watch The Greatest Show on Earth, I was curious about what was in store for me. This 1952 Best Picture winner featured Charlton Heston and James Stewart, two brilliant actors whose work I am very familiar with. Behind the lens was Cecil B. Demille, whose Ten Commandments … More The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
Grand Hotel was the Best Picture winner for 1932, the fifth movie in history to win such an honour. Given that the date of this review is 2021, we are close to celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first award ceremony, which means I still have time to learn how the Academy used to think. … More Grand Hotel (1932)
Every time I sit down to watch a new Best Picture winner, I say to myself that the worse has to be over, right? Well, much to my surprise, there are still a handful of duds left, and Cavalcade is one of them. This 1933 winner focuses on the lives of two families who suffer … More Cavalcade (1933)
After the opening sequence of Gigi, I was terrified. I’ve watched my fair share of musicals lately and prayed this would not make me want to pull my hair out (again). Thankfully Gigi was not at all what I expected and turned out to be one of the better Best Picture winners I’ve seen from … More Gigi (1958)
The Broadway Melody was released in 1929, the year my grandmother was born, and became the Academy’s second ever Best Picture winner. What was truly remarkable about this particular film was it became the first motion picture with sound to win the award. Sadly, despite all the pomp and circumstance, The Broadway Melody is the … More The Broadway Melody (1929)
In January 2021, I watched a handful of Best Picture winners and decided that it was time to focus on watching the remaining 69 movies I needed to see to complete the list. By the time you read this review, I’ll have watched and reviewed over 70 of those films, with some amazing stories and … More An American in Pairs (1951)
Ten Stars or Less 