Did you know there have already been movies with the same title as “Once Upon a time in (insert place)” ? If not, don’t feel bad. I didn’t either until now. With Once Upon a Time in Hollywood coming to theaters this week, we have assembled our top ten movies with six word titles and there are so much more than you would expect.
I’m really not one for older movies. By older movies, I usually classify that as before the original Star Wars. (I realize that comment just made half of you feel ancient, and I’m sorry for not being sorry.) For being a 1967 movie, it was way ahead of its time. Filled with an unforgettable mystery case, amazing talent both onscreen and off, messages about racism that transcend even most things put out today, this movie is an absolute watch for anyone at all regardless on stance of movies. For sake of keeping the experience fresh, I’ll leave you with only a few details: a black detective works a case in a racist, hostile, Mississippi town with a racist sheriff. It has one of the most universally-recognized top movie lines ever with, “They call me Mr. Tibbs!” And it won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, and was nominated for 7 overall. This is one of the best examples of a movie that truly defines amazing cinema. (Aaron Schweitzer)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is probably the last movie that comes to mind when one thinks of “John Ford and John Wayne Western.” The story is told in flashbacks by an aging senator, played to perfection by James Stewart, about when he first journeyed west as a young lawyer. The idealistic young man quickly forms a rivalry with the local outlaw Liberty Valance and an alliance with the local townspeople, including John Wayne’s character Tom Doniphan. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a fascinating story. It’s a cynical, demystifying, and deconstructionist look at the classical, clichéd western stories of old, ironically and perhaps intentionally told by the very people who helped build that image. There are so many themes and motifs explored in the 2 hr runtime that it could take a full book to flesh them all out. The most famous quote from this film is “When the facts become legend, print the legend.” I’ll say here no legends necessary: the fact of the matter is that The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is simply one of the greatest American Films ever made. (Isaac Horvat)
Before the plunge into the amazing and absurd which is Thor: Ragnarok, Taika Waititi teamed up with Jermaine Clement to create the Mockumentary Comedy, What We Do in the Shadows (2014). The movie follows a film crew documenting the afterlives of a colorful cast of vampires in their flat in New Zealand. The writing of this film is high calibur and the jokes are delivered with perfect comedic timing by all of the given performers. The viewer is hard pressed to find any line in the movie not delivered with the utmost timing and care. Jermaine and Taika’s love for comedy is well illustrated throughout the film and you can really feel the care taken with their excellently written material. Vladislav, played by Jermaine Clement is a Bram Stoker’s esque vampire that is strongly based off of Dracula. He has some truly laugh out loud hilarious moments, that will make you laugh simply thinking about them. The same can be said about Viago (Taika Waititi), who is the spitting image of an Anne Rice Vampire. His choice of vocals used and the timing of each of his jokes are nothing less than excellent. (Joseph Vargas)
Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory is one of my childhood films. Every thing about it just makes it the perfect family film. Gene Wilder brings the right amount of being eccentric to the role of Willy Wonka to not make it seem like the character has disturbing motivations. The subject of greed is a big part of the story which is nicely conveyed. Veruca Salt wants everything she sees. The movie is able to tell the subject of greed to kids. The musical numbers are able to just put a big smile on your face while watching the film with its catchy tunes. The film is just so enjoyable to any age, it is hard to find any faults in this smile fest. It is hard to find a movie that teaches both kids and parents on certain subjects convincingly like Willy Wonka. Gene Wilder is the main star in the film. He brings it all together to make this film “a pure imagination.” (Eric Moss)
Anchorman is one of the funniest films of all time. Infinitely quotable and full of characters that you will remember for years to come. Each actor has their moment to shine in this ridiculous look at news reporting and the misogyny of the 1970s. Ron Burgundy is often remembered as the defining character in Will Ferrell’s career – rightfully so. He is such a star that we sometimes forget just how incredible everyone in the cast is. Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner, all with their individual quirks, make up Ron’s team. Christina Applegate, Chris Parnell, Fred Willard, and Kathryn Hahn all get their fair share of laughs as well. Applegate, in particular, is hilarious as Veronica Corningstone, the woman who has come in to break up the men’s party that is the Channel 4 News Team. I have watched this film no less than 50 times and I will enjoy it just as much on the 51st time. NEWS TEAM ASSEMBLE!! (Logan Van Winkle)
High school is a formative time in life for many teenagers. Friends are made, emotions are discovered, and experiences are had. Films such as Mean Girls, Fast Times At Ridgemont High, and The Breakfast Club successfully illustrate high school life and the effects it can have on teenagers. One of the best high school films ever made is 10 Things I Hate About You, a clever and modern take on Shakespeare’s classic The Taming of the Shrew. The film is brilliant for it’s writing, performances, and soundtrack. Viewers get to see early glimpses of future talented actors such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Heath Ledger. Many people still consider Ledger’s role in this film to be his most iconic besides his in The Dark Knight. I believe the argument could be made that 10 Things I Hate About You is the best and most adequate film to show high school life by showing the differing social groups contained in such institutions. (Dylon Turner)
Six strangers arrive at a hotel on the border of California and Nevada in 1969. We take a small look into the lives of these six characters to see how and why they have ended up at the ‘Royale’, and what the night has in store for each person. Bad Times at the El Royale is a movie that kind of came out of nowhere last fall, and has slowly been getting talked about by people as it’s been playing on HBO lately. It’s from Director “Drew Goddard” (Cabin in the Woods.) It’s cast is incredible, you have (Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman, and Chris Hesmworth) who all do amazing jobs in this film, it’s difficult to say that there is a weak performance here. As time kept moving forward, I felt more invested by every minute, even to in the last 10 minutes, I was still learning new insights on the pasts of these characters. I’m hoping as time goes on, people think of Bad Times at the El Royale as a modern day “Classic”. Definitely one of my favorites to pop in on a rainy day. (Alex Henderson)
I have always had an affinity for British entertainment and especially for British comedy. I still enjoy having my BritBox subscription so I can watch some of my favorite shows growing up like Are You Being Served? But the fantastic troupe of Monty Python have always taken the cake for me. The absurdist yet bitingly dry humor perfectly vibes with my sensibilities. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is (for me) the best piece of their collective work as it is pulled together by the Terrys. The mixture of crazy animation, meta humor that blurs the lines of film and fantasy, and lampooning of one of the greatest legends ever creates a perfect comedic experience. I cannot help but laugh about loudmouthed peasants “being repressed”, a lively discussion of coconuts and sparrows, a bunch of dirty vagina jokes, a deadly rabbit, a stubborn knight who never knows when to give up, a group of knights with strange names and fascinations for fine shrubbery, flame-throwing enchanters with a strangely ordinary name, witch hunting, plague victims, giant animated monsters, a quiz game to the death, Trojan rabbits, annoyingly rude Frenchman, but I can go on forever. Hell, I couldn’t even make it through the credits without laughing hysterically! But it is that ending that might be the most memorable. Not because how absurd it is. Not the hilarity of it. But it is because I sat there in awe for 5 minutes wondering when it would truly end. I have never experienced a film that just ended out of… (Shane Conto)
Between E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park,” and others, Steven Spielberg has made many unforgettable contributions to the science-fiction genre, and one such entry is his 1977 film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It’s a film where his focus on broken families becomes noticeable, which connects with his personal experiences and can be seen in many of his films. This is one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, and is also every bit as much a family drama as it is a thrilling adventure of discovery. This isn’t a film that’s all about spectacle, but is instead a deep study of the story’s characters and how they’re impacted by the life-changing events of the film. In the middle of all of this, you’re given glimpses of the visual magic for which Spielberg will become known later on. He treats us to an unforgettable finale that exemplifies the visual-effects magic that we would see throughout his decades-long career and into today. It’s appropriate that one of Spielberg’s first films deals with visitors from another world because his talent isn’t anything less than otherworldly. (Vincent Abbatecola)
Indiana Jones and adventure go hand in hand. It’s fun, exciting, mysterious, often has a good dose of humor and has a hero that you can’t help but cheer for. A lot of trilogies (yes trilogies..) have a hard time sticking the landing, but I think Crusades is one of the best Number 3’s in the game. It takes all of what you knew and loved about Indiana Jones, and then lets you discover him so much more. From where he gets his hat, and name, to his code as an archeologist. You also get Sean Connery as Indy’s dad, which is just plain awesome. The chemistry between the two is pure delight. With a cast of characters old and new, some outstanding set pieces and brilliantly placed humor in situations that keep you surprised, this film truly is a treasure. AND the soundtrack from John Williams is an awesome listen capturing the mythical nature of their final search. I could gush about this film all day, I’m just glad they knew how to close out the trilogy in the best way possible. Lalala… Crystal Skulls doesn’t exist… (Evan Lucken)
Honorable Mentions:
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Guns, violent action, star studded cast, and Johnny Deep at his apex; Once Upon a Time in Mexico brings the mariachi trilogy to a satisfying conclusion with some of the best action sequences of the early 2000’s. Robert Rodriguez brings his unique grindhouse style and flair to this project and executes it with gleeful fun. I can’t help but smile with delight at how over the top and fun this movie is to watch. It knows what it is, and it plays right into it! As mentioned previously, this is Johnny Deep at his apex. He steals this movie away with his charismatic performance as Agent Sands, a CIA agent who will work both sides in order to come out on top. If you haven’t seen this film—or the trilogy for that matter—it gets a high recommendation from me! (Ben Davis)
Once Upon a Time in America
With Once Upon a Time in Hollywood releasing, why not discuss one of the other famous Once Upon a Time in blank films, Once Upon a Time in America. Sergio Leone is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time who became famous for his work in the western genre. But that is not the focus of today’s TED Talk. This TED Talk will discuss the film that killed Leone’s career and is a perfect example of the horrors of studio tampering. A film that runs 4 hours in its purest form, tells the tale of greed, deception, and the American Dream that line all great gangster films. Leone brings expert filmmaking, a finely threaded nonlinear story structure, and a gorgeous love letter to New York. Robert DeNiro and James Woods carry this crime epic with their expert acting. The studio cut this film down to 2 hours upon its original release and reordered the scenes. This betrayed the film that Leone made. For all of you cinephiles out there, do yourself a favor and block out a whole morning, afternoon, or evening and give this epic a chance. (Shane Conto)
Also See:
The Man Who Knew Too Much, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, All Quiet on the Western Front, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Back to the Future Part III, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Back to the Future Part II, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Born on the Fourth of July, You Can’t Take it with You, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, How to Train Your Dragon 2, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, The Old Man & the Gun, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back