My 5 Favourite Films So Far (Monocle Wasp)

So here is a list of my top 5 films, not including miniseries. You have to appreciate how extremely difficult it is to choose just five, there are so many films I love anyway here is the list as it stands at the moment, they aren't in any particular order but I do rate A Single Man as my favourite film of all time (so far).

A Single Man

Synopsis: It follows the day of an English professor (George)after the the one year anniversary of his long time boyfriend (Jims) sudden death.

That may make it sound like a simple film and maybe it could be considered that on the surface but it has so many beautiful and rich undertones making it an amazing and in-depth viewing experience.

 There are so many things to love about this movie, it boasts an amazing cast with Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode and Nicholas Hoult to name a few and considering all of those cast members are in my opinion amazing actors and actresses it is a great start. Then there are fantastic cameos from Lee Pace (who was completely underused and if you don't know who Lee Pace is I implore you to watch the series Pushing Daisies or the movie The Fall) and one of the most gorgeous men I have ever seen Jon Kortajarena who is usually doing modelling but he is great in this also Ginnifer Goodwin who I love in Once Upon A Time and He's Just Not That Into You.

Now while the casting is amazing the filming of this is something to be absolutely adored and admired and should serve as an inspiration to all filmmakers. Tom Ford is the director and one of the writers of this masterpiece and I am hoping that he will do it again very soon. His use of colours and saturation is absolutely inspired and it is a marvelous way of showing emotion without stating it outright.

Subtle. Beautiful. Breathtaking. Emotional. Inspiring.
Please, watch it, you won't be sorry.

Notable Scene: For me it is when he is taking the phone call saying that Jim has died, Colin Firth
does some of his most superb acting in this scene. It isn't over the top but you can feel and
see the grief overcoming him.

The Mummy

Synopsis: A librarian (Evey), her caddish brother (Jon) and a man from the French Foreign Legion (Rick)are thrown together in an archeological dig that results in the unleashing of a vengeful mummy.

Sure this may sound like a terrible idea for a movie with a high probability for it to turn in a cheesy B-grade movie but it was far from it.

Again I have to mention casting because it is always an incredibly important factor for me. In this instance we have the wonderful Brendan Frasier (I could watch this man in anything but Blast from the Past is a great watch and the underrated Mrs Winterbourne) along with Rachel Weisz who I think is one of the most beautiful women in the world (if you want to see her in another great role I suggest The Constant Gardener) and John Hannah who is so damn lovable in everything he is in whether it is in a romantic role like Sliding Doors or as a hardened cop in Rebus. Again there is a wonderful support cast with Arnold Vosloo playing the "bad guy" and he is absolutely amazing in it and Oded Fehr who, apart from being gorgeous, makes a fantastic fit as an ancient guardian to the mummys tomb. Also special mention to Kevin J O'Connor who plays the money hungry and untrustworthy Beni with fantastic comedic delivery.

I just love this film and I imagine most of my adoration comes from the strong nostalgic feeling it invokes. It was the first film I would watch, rewind (back in VHS days) and replay all over again and this system would go on for days upon days until I could even recite the Egyptian parts. Sure it's not as meaningful and artistic as other films but it is fun and has high rewatchability.

Notable Scene: Evey haggling for Ricks life at the gallows. I also love all the interactions Rick and Beni have.

Ever After: A Cinderella Story

Synopsis: A retelling of Cinderella where Danielle loses his father shortly after he marries the Baroness Rodmilla and afterwards have to endure a life of hardship. Then she has an chance meeting with Prince Henry, after which they continue to challenge and inspire each other.

I just love this feel, it is the movie I go to whenever I need a cheer up or when I want a easy and happy story to watch. Drew Barrymore is perfect as the modern day Cinderella with a great mix of sweetness and kickassery! Also Angelica Huston is brilliantly cast as the evil stepmother, manipulative and selfish with moments of humanity breaking through in small doses. Dougray Scott was an unexpected delight as Prince Henry, the faces he makes and the delivery he gives some lines are perfection.

If you enjoy Disney or like happy endings that are well earned then this
is the film for you.

Notable Scene: Where Danielle finally sticks up for herself and the line:
"I would rather die a thousand deaths than see my mothers dress
on that spoiled, selfish cow"

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Synopsis: Robin Hood returns from the Crusades to find his father murdered and corruption in his beloved homeland. Together with a group of downtrodden citizens they try and distribute the wealth back to the poor and suffering.

The casting in this is absolutely superb, I consider this Christian Slaters best role but then again I have always been partial to Will Scarlet, however I love his connection to Robin in this version, part of why it is my favourite take on the legendary tale. Kevin Costner makes a brilliant Robin (but no Monkey Fuss he is not as much of a star as Christian Slater haha <personal joke>), Morgan Freeman is incapable of doing a bad job of acting and then we come to Alan Rickman. Alan Rickman has to be one of the greatest actors our generation has had the pleasure to watch, he takes hold of every role he is in and he shines as the villain of this tale. Not to mention that his character (the Sheriff of Nottingham) has some of the best lines in the film including my favourite "Wait a minute. Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it? That's it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas."

I can't even pinpoint all the brilliant things that this film brings, it is just the best telling of Robin Hood which says a lot because I love the Errol Flynn version and also the hilarious Robin Hood: Men in Tights. The filming was extraordinary, the cameo by Sean Connery was inspired and the use of Bryan Adams is nothing to shake a spoon at!

Notable Scene: The scene where Robin and Little John are fighting at the river

The Wedding Singer

 Synopsis: Robbie Hart a wedding singer loses his love of singing at weddings when is jilted at the altar, his heartbreak starts to disappear however when he helps Julia (a waitress) plan her own wedding.

Possibly my favourite comedy of all time, there are an endless list of brilliant lines, a brilliant 80's soundtrack to accompany it and a cast that gives it their all. Adam Sandler is almost unrecognizable in a role where he doesn't act like a child trapped in a grown mans body (don't get me wrong I love Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison) but this was a refreshing change of pace for him. Drew Barrymore excels as the "girl next door" type and continually manages to look sexy and cute at the same time (Teach me oh Barrymore!). Not to mention Steve Buschemi who is one of the greatest actors and is a complete scene stealer in the small parts he has.

It's a sweet storyline with a love story I adore and just some amazing comedy moments that can get me out of the deepest of depressing flunks. I just can't recommend it enough

Notable Scene: "The best man, the better man"- greatest best man speech of 

ALL TIME.

There are so many more that I want to mention but I will leave that for

a future post but these ones are, to me, perfection itself.