In honor of Tenet opening in select theaters this week, we’re gonna take a look at and rank the Best Ever Movies That Start and End with the Same Letter. Let us know @siftpop what your ranking is!
When thinking of Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt, rarely are you also thinking about the 2007 housing market collapse. However, The Big Short brings them all together in a film where hedge fund manager Michael Burry (Bale, and also one of the few characters whose name is not changed) decides to short, or effectively bet against, the U.S. housing market and create a market of credit default swaps on mortgages and collateralized debt obligations the loans are combined to. This sets off a chain of events leading to Jared Vennet (Gosling) selling some of the default swaps Burry has created to Mark Baum (Carrell) and his hedge fund team, and leading Charlie Geller and James Shipley (John Magaro and Finn Wittrock) to enlist their old mentor Ben Rickert (Pitt) to help them join the default swap market themselves, to the point where they are all effectively doing what most consider unthinkable: bet against the United States economy. Don’t worry if what I’ve told you has confused you, because with the help of people like Margot Robbie, Selena Gomez, the game of Jenga and many a fourth wall break, you don’t need a masters in business to understand what is going on. With three distinct acts showing the moments before, during, and after the housing bubble bursts, including its aftermath on both our main actors and numerous characters met on the way, you’ll begin to understand just what led to the economic downturn of the first decade of the new millennium. (Joseph Davis)
Say what you will about the questionable ending or occasional silliness, but Signs is one of writer-director M. Night Shyamalan’s tensest movies. It tells the story of a widower, Graham (Mel Gibson), his children Morgan and Bo (Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin, respectively), and his brother, Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), who find crop circles in their cornfields and learn that this is happening all over the world. The performances from all four leads encapsulate the familial bonds of their characters, ensuring that you end up caring about the outcome of their ordeal, and this helps make the movie a family drama every bit as much as a sci-fi horror-thriller. It also beautifully deals with themes of grief and faith as the family tries to remain intact, working not only to make it through the invasion, but to also traverse the void that the loss of Graham’s wife has caused. As far as the horror element goes, there are some terrific jump scares, and what is, without a doubt, one of the best scenes in a Shyamalan movie, which is Graham’s late-night trek into his cornfield. This sequence builds suspense to a near unbearable level and shows that when Shyamalan is good, he’s REALLY good. You also can’t forget the scene with the news footage of the alien sighting, or the sequence in the basement near the film’s ending. Just like Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense, Signs is a horror movie that’s both unsettling and healing, emphasizing the director’s ability to create a film that can take graceful steps between emotions and scares. (Vincent Abbatecola)
In my personal opinion, Ad Astra may be the most underrated film of 2019. Starring Brad Pitt as Roy McBride, he is sent on a mission to Mars that is in connection to a mission to Neptune that was commanded by his long lost father Clifford (Tommy Lee Jones) in a neat-future world where humanity has expanded into the solar system and strives to answer a question that has been asked for centuries: are we alone? While it does play fast and loose with science at times (I may not be an astrophysicist, but I have played my fair share of Kerbal Space Program), the biggest thing this film has going for it is that it makes one think what it means to be human and what if we really are alone in the universe. It also dives deep into being able to let go when a core belief of ours, something that consumes us for our whole life, turns out to be wrong, and if we can let go. This movie is a masterpiece in disguise, and I would ask that you give it the chance it deserves. (Joseph Davis)
It’s hard to not talk about iconic action movies and not mention the 1988 classic, Die Hard. A film directed by John McTiernan and staring Bruce Willis, Die Hard takes the character of John McClane, an NYC cop visiting his estranged wife during Christmas time in an attempt to save his marriage. The couple attends a party at the high-rise business his wife works for, which is soon taken hostage by a terrorist organization that takes control of the entire building. It is up to everyman John McClane to save the hostages and his wife before it’s too late. While there’re plenty of great things about this movie, the big stand out is Alan Rickman as one of the greatest villains of all-time, Hans Gruber. What makes this turn even more impressive is the fact that this was indeed his film debut (crazy!). If you haven’t seen Die Hard, what are you waiting for? This action thriller will have you laughing, clinching your seat, and gasping for air with excitement. (Ben Davis)
It’s crazy, it’s outlandish, and it’s almost too insane to be true! How can a character like this actually exist? Well, as someone who saw the man himself actually speak following the release of his biopic, I can tell you Leonardo DiCaprio did Jordan Belfort proud – which I’m not sure is entirely a good thing! This may be a 3 hour epic, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. It’s a true insight into the insanity that was the 90’s stockbroker world, one that many of us couldn’t really begin, or want, to fathom. A playground of sex, drugs, and bad decisions – it’s just fun to experience this atmosphere of ego and misappropriation, with none of the consequences. Plus, let’s not forget, this was the world’s introduction to the incontrovertible Aussie star, Margot Robbie. Now a household name, who would have thought that the femme fatale, second wife would end up becoming an Oscar nominated powerhouse only a few years later! If you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for! Pour yourself a scotch and get ready for a truly wild ride. (Alice Micheli)
Spartacus, in my professional opinion, may be the best Stanley Kubrick movie ever. Starring Kirk Douglas (who sadly passed away earlier this year at age 103) in his second Kubrick film after they teamed up for Paths of Glory. This epic tells the story of Spartacus, the slave turned gladiator turned revolutionary as he marches against the mighty Roman Empire. This movie does a great job in comparing life amongst the Roman elites and the army of slaves led by their unexpected leader as tensions escalate from one famous battle to another, finally culminating in one of, if not the, most iconic scenes in cinema history. While it may feel like a slog to get through at over 3 hours (compared to Paths of Glory’s hour and a half), every second feels necessary to tell the tale that is the legend of Spartacus. (Joseph Davis)
Go back to Jersey, sonny. This is the City of the Angels, and you haven’t got any wings. As we begin to talk about L.A. Confidential, the first thing we have to talk about is the cast. Not only is this peak Russel Crowe (1997), but this movie also stars Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger (in an Oscar-winning role), Danny DeVito, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, and Kevin Spacey. Now, I know that last name can be complicated, but can you think of a bigger acting tour-de-force? Set in the 1950s in a corrupt LAPD department (and semi-noir), you have three distinctly different cops: the celebrity, the newbie prodigy, and the bad boy (Crowe). With a huge case involving sex, drugs, and corruption (the holy trio of noir cop movies), these three will work together against all odds to bring the truth to light. This movie currently holds the #124 spot on IMDb’s top 250 movies, but in my opinion that is still way too low. L.A. Confidential is a sure win in every category of filmmaking! (Aaron Schweitzer)
When you think of horror, what are the truly iconic moments that stick in our collective minds? Is it a possessed girl’s head spinning on her shoulders? Is it that same girl crab walking down the steps? Is it an old priest and young priest showing how compelling Christ can be? Or is it a demonic voice jumping from this young girl’s lips talking about a mother doing something I cannot write about here? Oh wait…those are all The Exorcist! This film is one of the most influential and expectation defying projects in the history of film. Horror getting a Best Picture nomination along with 9 other nominees with a chuck being for acting? Horror making hundreds of millions of dollars? Whether it is the creepy atmosphere, the impressive score, the mind-blowing effect, the top-notch direction, or the affecting and moving performances across the board, The Exorcist is a marvel of the cinema. (Shane Conto)
Good Will Hunting is a special movie to me. Not only does it take place in Boston and make a direct reference to one of the greatest moments in Red Sox history (I’m a big Red Sox fan, so I always enjoy that), it also is a deeply emotional, raw, character-driven masterpiece. A film like this, with a character like Sean (Robin Williams) has a lot of power to move and affect viewers. Case in point, I visited the bench in Boston Public Garden on which Will and Sean have a particularly important conversation a couple of years ago and people were lined up just waiting to recreate the iconic moment. But it’s just a bench, right? Well, not really. It’s a microcosm of the film’s themes about how you are more than the worst thing you’ve done, You’re more than your worst impulses, and there is always hope for reconciliation and peace. It’s a timeless message which has lasted 23 years and will likely last much, much longer. (Robert Bouffard)
This list is all about films that start and end with the same letter, and while The Dark Knight fits the bill, it’s the middle of the amazing Christopher Nolan Trilogy that brought the caped crusader back to the silver screen after nearly a decade. It’s more grounded, and relies more on the crimes that could exist in the real world, only slightly reaching into the fantasy by the sheer scope of the set pieces. The Dark Knight, the best of the trilogy, pits Christian Bale’s Batman against his greatest foil, The Joker, played of course by the amazing and tragically gone too soon, Heath Ledger. From beginning to end, we get the excitement of heist, intense chases, character drama and a master plan that could only be concocted by the chaotic anarchist Ledger brings to life. What makes The Dark Knight truly rise above is it’s attempt to complete most of its effects in camera, and when you watch the truck flip, or the hospital explode, it gives a real sense of gravity to the struggle between the Bat and the Joker. The film is an all-time great and regardless of the view count, it will always leave a smile on your face. (Evan Lucken)
Honorable Mentions:
Django Unchained
The D is silent. But it still counts. In Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, playing off classic spaghetti westerns as well as blaxploitation films of the late 20th century, Jamie Foxx plays the title character, a slave who is freed and embarks on a quest to save his enslaved wife (Kerry Washington). Alongside him is the brilliant Christoph Waltz as Dr. King Shultz as they match wits and guns against Calvin Candie (a career best turn from Leonardo DiCaprio, yes, I said it). One-liners, plot twists, and plenty of blood follow suit as Django fights for his love. If all this isn’t enough, there’s also Samuel L. Jackson in a brilliant performance as pro-slavery house servant named Stephen. The thrilling story, clever mashing of genres, memorable characters at every turn, and action scenes that are as beautiful as they are brutal, all make this my favorite Tarantino flick to date. So, if you somehow haven’t gotten around to this one yet: get to it, little troublemaker. (Reid Williams)
The Patriot
The Patriot is underrated on almost every level. It tells the story of a colonist (Mel Gibson) who reluctantly joins the war effort to harry the British Army with guerilla tactics. It’s often overlooked when it comes to Mel Gibson’s catalogue, has a sneakily great John Williams score, and is my personal favorite Roland Emmerich directorial entry. The American Revolution as a whole is underrepresented when it comes to TV and film, with this and TURN being the only things that come to mind.
The secret sauce is the stellar cast. Gibson is the perfect tortured hero and Heath Ledger, years before his career-defining role as the Joker, handles some of the film’s most emotional moments convincingly. With a great supporting cast boosted by Tom Wilkinson, Jason Isaacs, Donal Logue, Chris Cooper, and a young Logan Lerman in his film debut, there are plenty of familiar faces.
It’s a long one, but an entertaining war epic worth your investment. (Jake Bourgeois)
Dawn of the Dead (78)
When there’s no room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth. A perfect and bone chilling tagline for the 1978 version of Dawn of the Dead. George A. Romero had the daunting task of following up his 1968 horror masterpiece, Night of the Living Dead. He subjectively surpassed his success with this eerie, topical and even sometimes comical horror film. In this film, society as a whole is crumbling due to the exponential growth of zombies and four survivors find a shopping mall to hold up in. While at the start they are full of glee once they have secured their location, but then a sense of mundaneness starts to trickle into their lives. There are whole portions of the film where they appear to even forget that there is a zombie threat at all and you start to assume the same mentality as well. The survivors seem to have grown accustomed to this lifestyle they have carved out for themselves and even start to take their situation for granted in a sense. The character that best encapsulates this personality change is one of the S.W.A.T. members, Roger. He starts out being extremely level headed and once they stumble upon the mall, Roger starts to crack at the seams. His calculated mindset is thrown out the window and he grows a bit crazed at the possibility of the resources at his fingertips. Dawn of the Dead does a great job of exploring the zombie-like nature of consumerism and George A. Romero really had his finger on the pulse of society. (Joe Vargas)
Dazed and Confused
What are the trademarks of the work of Richard Linklater? Will there be a plot that cannot be summed up in an elevator pitch? Will there be a stacked cast of future talent? Will there be relatable and engaging dialogue that hooks the audience. Yes…those all sound about right. One such film that perfectly encompasses all of those trademark features is the early entry in Linklater’s filmography, Dazed and Confused. This is a film that is energetic and captures the spirit of high school and leaving for summer like no other film before it. From the iconic sleazy cool of McConaughey, to the unrelenting brutishness of Affleck, to the catty and biting snark of Posey, to the relatability and charm of London, we get all of the teenage perspectives. This film is one that really catches a moment in time deep in this celluloid bottle. (Shane Conto)
Hitch
If you are a man and having a hard time getting a relationship with the woman of your dreams, you would hire the professional “date doctor” Hitch! Will Smith plays, you guessed it, Hitch, who makes a living teaching men how to woo women. Of course, when it comes to the man himself, his own game doesn’t help him out at all. Smith is always entertaining as Hitch, but the breakout of this film is Kevin James as the awkward Albert Brennaman, hoping to get the girl of his dreams (Amber Valletta). He held his own right there with Smith–if not better at some point. The chemistry between Smith and his love interest, gossip columnist Sara Melas (Eva Mendes). It was the right amount of funny. It wasn’t anything slapstick, overtop. They knew how to spread out the laughs without overdoing it. It was just right. Makes sense, right? I’m sitting here, thinking this is probably the first romantic comedy I’ve watched and thoroughly enjoyed. Also, I’m a big Will Smith fan, so of course, I’m biased. (Chantal Ashford)
Yesterday
I always love asking the question “What if..?” because it’s a fun way to escape reality, and this movie takes this premise and runs with it. Yesterday is the story of a man who wakes up in an alternate timeline where he discovers that “The Beatles” never existed. After discovering this, he decides to publish the songs himself and gets famous from them. It’s a simple premise where the movie just enjoys playing with this idea which makes it very entertaining. I really enjoy Himesh Patel’s performance in this movie and I hope to see him appear in more films moving forward. He actually covers the songs himself on the soundtrack and I personally think he did a really good job. If you love The Beatles and enjoy movies with a fun premise, then Yesterday is a movie that’s just a good time that I don’t think you’ll regret. (Alex Henderson)
The Illusionist
“I love magic.”
Harry Potter’s words don’t just fit his feelings on the wizarding world, but mine on magic as well. From watching magicians perform, to pop culture magic, I’m enthralled by magic of any kind. The Illusionist is no exception.
The second most popular film featuring magicians to hit theaters in 2006 (looking at you The Prestige), this one is set in 19th century Austria and follows the romance of Edward Norton’s titular illusionist Eisenheim and Jessica Biel’s Sophie. The tricks pulled off with some Hollywood magic have a fantastical feel and you root for the star-crossed lovers to get their happy ending.
Trying to stay ahead of Eisenheim’s tricks and unravel how the film will conclude makes for an entertaining experience. (Jake Bourgeois)
Also See: Dawn of the Dead (04), Enemy of the State, Face/Off, Ferris Buehler’s Day Off, Legends of the Fall, Love and Basketball, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Never Say Never Again, Nixon, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, One Hour Photo, Rush Hour, Sapceballs, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sideways, Sixteen Candles, Smokin Aces, Sneakers, Stripes, Super Troopers, Superman Returns, Swing Kids, Swingers, Terms of Endearment, The English Patient, The Fifth Element, The Host, The Iron Giant, The Passion of the Christ, The Prince of Egypt, Willow, xXx, Yankee Doodle Dandy.