The Great American Movie

Submitted by Eric on Wed, 06/13/2007 - 22:36

It has come to Cosmodrome’s attention that the AFI (American Film Institute) will unveil a new list of the 100 greatest American films in a June 20th, star-laden broadcast on CBS (the first list was announced in 1998). So as we countdown the hours and minutes until we hear the new list (and hear the string of obligatory celebrity soundbites that, according to the AFI’s website, will include the likes of Peter Bogdonavich, Eva Mendes, and M. Night Shyamalan), we would like to do some of our own reflecting about great American movies.

There are many directions that our discussion might go. How do tastes in cinema evolve (both in regards to the AFI and ourselves on a personal level)? What value (if any) do these lists and canons actually have? And when we talk about the greatest American films, should these be movies that reveal some truth about this country we live in, movies that are not just shot in America or financed by U.S. dollars but that address the historical themes of America?

I hope we will be able to touch on many of these issues in our discussion, and I think things gets most interesting at the places where these concerns intersect. So how to get this discussion started? Rather than launching a pre-emptive strike on the AFI by posting my own list of the100 American greatest films (a list which I have never created and don’t know if I could), I instead would like to focus on one particular movie I love and that seems indispensable to any canon of American cinema. Others can disagree with my choice, suggest their own films, or take a completely different approach.

6/13/07: Eric Hoyt on MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS

6/14/07: Jon Lefkovitz on HIS GIRL FRIDAY

6/14/07: Jeff Deutchman on MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO

6/18/07: Eric Hoyt on ACE IN THE HOLE

6/19/07: Nihal on L.A. CONFIDENTIAL

new rambo movie!!!!!!!

Submitted by DanteBronte on Thu, 06/14/2007 - 22:51.

i love how the new rambo trailer was removed [Ed. note: it's still posted.] from youtube by Nu Image/Millennium Films, as opposed to "a third party."

i was in a staging of meet me in st louis when i was in 6th grade. i was in the chorus line. this was before my big break the following year as mr brownlow - the nice old man - in Oliver!. and i must stay, not only did i think that MMISL was a rogers and hammerstein musical, i also thought it blew. i would never see the movie. ever. i was once open minded to things like this, but exposure to the culture and the world has ossified my brain into completely rejecting this kind of crap. and anyway, i think eric's partial to this movie because he's from a state like kansas, and the ringing of the trolley bell strums his midwestern heart strings. loser!

100

Submitted by Felipe on Tue, 06/19/2007 - 15:22.

What?! No embedded video in the Cosmodrome comments? Thought this video would be a good contribution to the 'discussion'...

naw, we got that

Submitted by Dan on Wed, 06/20/2007 - 00:32.

the LIST

Submitted by Jeff on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 16:40.

AFI's list has been posted.

As expected, they've done a little bit of catching up with regard to elevating the classics to where they belong on the list. Vertigo, Raging Bull, The General and The Searchers all climbed into the Top 20. On the other hand, as expected, there is still a crippling dependence on Best Picture winners and nominees. I'd have thought that some of the self-seriousness originally attached to Schindler's List might have waned by now, but it remains in the Top 10. It is also worth noting that according to the AFI, the most important movies to be released since 1996 (the original list's cap-date) are Titanic, The Fellowship of the Ring, Saving Private Ryan, and The Sixth Sense. The first three could have been easily predicted, but the third is not exactly a welcome surprise.

reply

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 12:28.

I'm sure St. Louis in 1904 wasn't really the same as its depicted here...but it should have been! Only the most jaded cynic imaginable could not be charmed by this film.

teeth whitening

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 06/30/2010 - 03:48.

That's great to know about, I

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/15/2010 - 03:59.

That's great to know about, I like this movie.
Custom Logo Design | Web Design | Brochure Design | Logo Service

Cleaning Dog Teeth

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 17:18.

I have been involved with several companies that have developed and marketed successful products in the health food industry, ranging from liver detox to a wonderful product that helps improve the ability of children with autism to function better. I am now involved with the research staff at VitaHound labs. Our mission is to develop nutritional supplements that dramatically improve dog health despite the deficiencies of being feed the modern dog diet. Our current product is for cleaning dog teeth. This product significantly improves a dog's oral health, restoring healthy teeth and gums, easing inflammation and most importantly decreasing the chances of chronic diseases.

thankssss

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 07/30/2010 - 01:58.

Nice blog.

küçük sırlar dizisi

küçük sırlar dizisi son bölüm izle

bedava dizi izle

kılıç günü dizisi

Hiym

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 07/31/2010 - 14:39.

What was interesting was people, no matter their relationship with me or Sex izLe length of time, already had a few distinct impressions of me: namely, intelligence and some sort of sassy attitude attached. Naturally,Porno izle that pleased me, as that was how I would have liked to be portrayed. This is the time you compare the notes you wrote Porno Seyret about yourself to what others mentioned. Now, Canlı Seks most of the adjectives are going to Porno izLe be positive because of the nature of my relationship to Sikiş Seyret these people, but it’s interesting to note less uplifting Sex VideoLarı adjectives: diminutive, girly, frivolous. Harsh as they sounded, it actually proved Porno izLe to be a very valuable critique. I fired off an e-mail to AJ and asked him to explain what he meant, and he proceeded Sikiş izLe to give me a detailed critique that mentioned that CanLı Seks Tv pitfalls in choosing a name like “lealea” — that I had to be aware that some will think of it too childish or girly. Sikiş izLe He mentioned I could get over that by extending my Sikiş personality as part of my brand and it would Porno justify the name. And I went about and did just Adult Porno that.

Post new comment

We used to make shirts. Yeah we've still got some.

The Great American Movie

new rambo movie!!!!!!!

100

naw, we got that

the LIST

reply

teeth whitening

That's great to know about, I

Cleaning Dog Teeth

thankssss

Hiym

Post new comment

Recent comments

User login

Friends

Most Popular

All time:

Syndicate