A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Best Tom Hanks Films

Recently, Tom Hanks’ newest film, NEWS OF THE WORLD, was released to positive reviews. The film has been in the discussion of one of Hanks’ best works, which then of course sent the Reel Speak machine into high gear…bringing us to The Top 10 Best Tom Hanks Films. 

 

Hanks, who is often considered to be one of the world’s most popular and best actors, producers, personalities, and statesman who always gives it his all…got his start on the small-screen, playing one-half of a comedy duo in BOSOM BUDDIES (1980-1982). His work there captured the attention of director Ron Howard, who cast Hanks in his mermaid-comedy SPLASH in 1984. It was Hanks’ breakout film role, and he followed that up with a string of comedies in the Eighties that would define the decade, with notable films such as BACHELOR PARTY (1984), THE MONEY PIT (1986), DRAGNET (1987), and THE ‘BURBS (1989). In the 1990’s, he moved into a new era of serious films, teaming up with established directors such as Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, and Paul Greengrass…a move which earned him critical acclaim and Oscar gold. Worthy mentions include ROAD TO PERDITION (2002), THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004), THE TERMINAL (2004), and THE GREEN MILE (1999). With such an extensive catalog of films that have now spanned close to 40 years, narrowing down his best films to just ten is a challenge. These are the films that not only have a great Hanks performance, but have stood the test of time. 

 

 

 

So let’s get to infinity and beyond…

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. TOY STORY (1995)

Pixar’s first feature film that changed the industry and the way we look at animated films. Hanks provides the voice of Woody the toy cowboy, who has his world turned upside-down with the arrival of the fancy new space-ranger toy, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). It can be argued that this isn’t really a Tom Hanks movie since he doesn’t appear physically and we only hear his unmistakable voice, but the amount of heart and soul Hanks puts into Woody makes him one of the most endearing characters in cinema of the last 25 years. It’s impossible to look at Woody or quote him without hearing Hanks. 

 

 

 

9. SAVING MR. BANKS (2013)

 

Hanks plays Walt Disney and Emma Thompson plays P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, in this often overlooked gem. One of the best films of the year in 2013 which earned plenty of acclaim and nominations, it’s a short-and-sweet story of the creative process that would end in an all-time cinema classic, and the tough road Disney and Travers took to get there. It’s a story of the creative process that works not just for Disney lovers, but for those of us who find it difficult to share our passions and lives with the rest of the world. 

 

 

 

8. FORREST GUMP (1994)

 

Hanks won his second of two consecutive Oscars for his role of Forrest Gump, the lovable below-IQ aw-shucks guy who finds himself in some of history’s biggest events. Robert Zemeckis directed this Best Picture winner which became a pop culture icon and continues to have a presence in social media memes. Over the years this film has become everyone’s favorite punching bag, but there’s little arguing its presence in our culture today, even after 27 years, which is the mark of any good film. It has a timeless nature to it; feeling like a fable that would be spun around a campfire. 

 

 

 

7. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993)

Hanks did two romantic comedies with co-star Meg Ryan and the late great director Nora Ephron in the Nineties, with this hit the best of the two. Hanks plays a grieving widow and Ryan a lost reporter, who find each other through the help of their family and friends. A story about handling loss with a lot of heart, it has one or more gimmicks that shouldn’t work but do…making for a minor classic that is charming, witty, and a perfect movie for date night. 

 

 

 

6. BIG (1988)

Hanks earned his first Oscar nomination in this comedy-fantasy about a boy who becomes a man overnight. Directed by the late great Penny Marshall, Hanks is hilarious while maintaining an element of seriousness. The film is funny and makes another gimmick work well. To this day, the Walking Piano scene still resonates and is often referenced and imitated. 

 

 

 

5. CAST AWAY (2000)

 

Hanks famously lost over 50 pounds to play a lone castaway on a remote island after surviving a plane crash, and earned another Oscar nomination. Robert Zemeckis directed this drama which not only serves as a survival tale, but as a life-lesson in the basics of humanity. Hanks puts in one of his best and committed performances, with many of the films’ scenes (and volleyballs), surviving into social media popularity. 

 

 

 

4. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (1992)

 

The late great Penny Marshall directed this comedy-drama about the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was created to fill in the gap while America’s men were off fighting in WWII. While this isn’t really a Hanks film since he doesn’t have the lead role, he makes his presence felt in every scene. Hanks plays Jimmy Dugan, a former pro ball player (who loves to pull the cork a little too much), who is asked to manage one of the new teams. Reluctant at first, Dugan eventually commits to his new team. Hanks shows toughness and eventually heart, and helps the film earn its status as one of the best ever made about the game.

 

 

 

3. PHILADELPHIA (1993)

 

Perhaps the most important film Hanks has made. Hanks plays attorney Andrew Beckett, who is fired from a prestigious Philly law firm due to his contraction of the AIDS virus. Beckett then hires attorney Joe Miller (Denzel Washington), to take his old bosses to court. Directed by Jonathan Demme of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991), PHILADELPHIA gives us an intimate look at the gay community and the prejudices they faced when AIDS came into their lives. Hanks once again shed the pounds for the role, and puts in a startling performance that more-than earned him his first Oscar win. 

 

 

 

2. APOLLO 13 (1995)

 

Ron Howard helmed this thriller about the real-life story of Apollo 13, the doomed manned-mission to the Moon which never landed due to an explosion while only half-way there. Hanks is teamed with Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and Kathleen Quinlan in a drama that is so gripping and emotional, that we are 100% caught up in the fate of the astronauts even if we know the outcome. Made during an era before CGI started to dominate visual effects, APOLLO 13 has stunning visuals and a tremendous score by the late great James Horner. Nominated for nine Oscars and a winner of two. 

 

 

 

1. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)

Steven Spielberg’s WWII, multi-nominated epic about a small platoon of soldiers on a mission to find one man in Nazi-occupied France just days after the D-Day invasion. Hanks leads the mission that he does not believe in, and strikes a balance of hard-nosed military man that still has ounces of humanity deep inside. The battle scenes are harrowing with the D-Day invasion ranking amongst the best depiction of war ever to see the big screen, and Spielberg balances it all out with his gentle touch…delivering the horrors of war and capping it off with a lesson that should have us re-thinking the way we live our lives. Hanks is excellent, with his emotional breakdown near the end of the film a startler…and his ensemble supporting cast of Edward Burns, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Jeremy Davies, Vin Diesel, Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper, Giovanni Ribisi, Ted Danson, Paul Giamatti, Dennis Farina, Nathan Fillion, Harve Presnell, Ryan Hurst, and Bryan Cranston add to the enormity of the movie. There are scenes here that are hard to believe, and plenty to take with us long after the credits roll. The mission was a man, and Hanks accomplishes this with everything he has. 

REEL SPEAK'S TOP 10 BEST TOM HANKS FILMS

1. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
2. APOLLO 13
3. PHILADELPHIA
4. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
5. CAST AWAY
6. BIG
7. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
8. FORREST GUMP
9. SAVING MR. BANKS
10. TOY STORY 

A Reel Retro Review: KISSES FOR MY PRESIDENT (1964)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

 

Last week, history was made when Kamala Harris was sworn in as America’s first female Vice President; a position that is first-in-line in Presidential succession. The idea of a woman in the Oval Office has been played with in Hollywood and TV for decades, with Curtis Bernhardt’s 1964 comedy KISSES FOR MY PRESIDENT one example of how not to do it. 

 

Leslie Harrison McCloud (Polly Bergen), is elected as America’s first President. She moves into the White House to assume her duties with her husband Thad (Fred MacMurray), and two children. As President McCloud begins her stressful, time-consuming days, Thad struggles to find something to do with his time. 

 

The bulk of KISSES FOR MY PRESIDENT concerns itself with Thad finding his way in his new lifestyle; a lifestyle that is typically reserved for First Ladies. The early goings are not unexpected, as Thad gets lost in the spacious White House mansion, finds himself in a bedroom and office with feminine decorations, and discovers that he would have a lot of time on his hands. It’s an expected theme of male insecurity, and at first it seems the film is right on track. 

 

Director Curtis Bernhardt, whose career stretched all the way back to the silent era, doesn’t seem to realize the monumental importance of a woman in the Oval Office, and shifts most of the focus of the film to Thad. While we do see the pressures that Leslie has to endure, which range from a Central American dictator (Eli Wallach), to a corrupt Senator (Edward Andrews), her problems only seem to be there to trickle down to Thad; the more time Leslie has to spend putting out fires, the more upset Thad seems to get. 

 

Despite the misguided message, the film is still quite funny. The script is very sharp and witty, and comedy sequences between Thad and the dictator are a hoot. Fred MacMurray gets the best lines, although his character can’t seem to shut up for more than 10 seconds. Polly Bergen is a force on the screen; exhibiting strength and fortitude while getting harangued by insecure men for most of the film. Eli Wallach, only two years before he would face off against Clint Eastwood in THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (1966), shows his talent for comedy. 

 

KISSES FOR MY PRESIDENT is certainly dated by today’s standards, and the film ends on an outrageous note that is sure to send anyone with a love for progress into a minor rage. The film is definitely a product of its time, and although Thad is showing feelings and behavior that would be expected, they go to places that make the film feel like it was made 200 years ago. This is worth a look as an example of what not to do, and how far we have come. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: Rent it 

 

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Reel Facts: Fred MacMurray would star in several Disney films, and would go on to play Steve Douglas in TV’s MY THREE SONS (1960 – 1972). He passed away in 1991 at 83. Polly Bergen also had a successful run on TV, hosting THE POLLY BERGEN SHOW which ran from 1957 to 1958. She would later appear on TV’s THE SOPRANOS and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. She passed away in 2014 at 84. 

 

A Reel 25: FROM DUSK TILL DAWN

 “If you try to run, I’ve got six little friends and they can all run faster than you can.”

 

This month marks the 25^th anniversary of FROM DUSK TILL DAWN. 

 

Directed by stylish director Robert Rodriquez off a script by Quentin Tarantino, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN follows the path of carnage by the Gecko brothers (Tarantino and George Clooney), who after kidnapping a preacher and his family (Harvey Keitel and Juliette Lewis), find themselves in a strip club where the employees reveal themselves to be vampires.

 

The film was brought to life by first-time producer Robert Kurtzman, who in the 1990’s was a successful special effects supervisor with horror films such as WES CRAVEN’S NEW NIGHTMARE (1994), and ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992) under his belt. The job of writing the script would go to Quentin Tarantino for his first paid writing assignment. Tarantino’s script was originally thought to be a sequel to the horror/comedy DEMON KNIGHT (1995) as part of the TALES FROM THE CRYPT film trilogy. That trilogy would go in another direction, and Robert Rodriguez would come on board to direct. It would be his third feature, having broken out in 1995 with DESPERADO. 

 

The film would be George Clooney’s feature film debut, having made a name for himself on the TV ratings monster ER. In addition to Clooney, Tarantino, Keitel, and Juliette Lewis…the rest of the impressive cast would include Salma Hayek, Cheech Martin, Danny Trejo, Fred “the hammer” Williamson, Michael Parks, John Saxon, John Hawkes, and the late Kelly Preston. 

 

Despite the heavy violence (and a ban in Ireland), FROM DUSK TILL DAWN opened at No. 1 at the U.S. box office, and was a modest hit thanks to its small budget. Despite mixed reviews, the film would become a cult favorite over the years, and would catapult the careers of Rodriguez, Tarantino, and Clooney. Clooney would win Best Actor at the Saturn Awards, Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, and MTV Movie Awards. The Saturn Awards would also name it Best Horror Film of 1996. The film would inspire a television series and would be followed-up by two direct-to-video prequel films. 

 

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This Blogger had never been the biggest fan of FROM DUSK TILL DAWN; it’s a film that always felt vulgar for the sake of being vulgar. But there is no denying the film’s popularity over the years. It has become a constant entry in many people’s Halloween or horror-marathon watch-lists, and there is a fair amount of fun to be had in all the ridiculousness the film offers. There is a certain amount of curious joy found in seeing a young Tarantino and Clooney before they would become Hollywood royalty, and respect has to be given to the film for helping them, and Rodriguez along for what they were to do next. 

 

“…I just rammed wooden stake in my brother’s heart because he turned into a vampire, even though I don’t believe in vampires…”

A Reel Retro Review: THE CANDIDATE (1972)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

 

The political arena has always provided excellent settings for Hollywood, ranging from comedy, drama, scandals, crooked politicians and battles over ideals and morals. Some of the best stories come from watching an every-day-man enter that dog-eat-dog world of politics, with one prime example being Michael Ritchie’s 1972 comedy/drama THE CANDIDATE. 

 

Marvin Lucas (Peter Boyle), an election specialist, recruits attorney Bill McKay (Robert Redford), to runs as a Democratic candidate against the popular incumbent Republican Senator Crocker Jarmon (Don Porter). 

 

Directed by Michael Ritchie from a script by former speechwriter Jeremy Larner, THE CANDIDATE follows McKay in his bewildering first steps into American politics. His introduction to that world is shaky right away; McKay is not expected to win, and only has to put in a good showing so as not to embarrass the Democrats. Lucas is playing the long game here, and McKay knows it…but he goes along with it for the sake of doing some good. 

 

Dropping an average joe into politics can make for some good drama and funny moments. While THE CANDIDATE does have those, it differs from the standard template because McKay is well-equipped to hold the office. He works as a small-town lawyer dedicated to helping workers and families, and he sees the Senate seat as a chance to continue his work on a larger scale. The hitch is, while McKay may be perfect for the job, he is ill-equipped to handle the rigorous campaign trail. It’s a battle of McKay’s goals vs. the rough path he has to take to get there. 

 

Michael Ritchie keeps the pacing tight and the atmosphere light. The laughs are sparse, but when they do come, they work well. The script is sharp and reflects the writer’s first-hand knowledge of the campaign trail. Ritchie gets excellent performances from his entire cast; Redford at his usual brilliant self and Boyle in a rare serious role.

 

The campaign trail for McKay gets complicated as his numbers grow, and he suddenly finds himself in a position to actually win the darn thing. THE CANDIDATE ends on a high note, and it would have been interesting to see what McKay would have done next. In today’s world where politics is so angry, this is a fine look at how fun it can be. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it. 

 

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Reel Facts: Screenwriter Jeremy Larner would win an Oscar for Best Writing. He had previously worked as a speechwriter for Senator Eugene J. McCarthy. Director Michael Ritchie would go on to direct THE BAD NEWS BEARS (1976), and Chevy Chase’s FLETCH movies. Actress Natalie Wood makes a cameo appearance as herself. 

A Reel Review: The Best & Worst of 2020

Every January since 2010, Reel Speak compiles lists of the Best and Worst Films of the year that had just wrapped up. This time it’s different, as the year that was 2020 wound up being the worst year in film of all time. The mishandled pandemic shuttered our beloved movie theatres, with some never to return…sending many anticipated films either to home streaming or to a future date in 2021. Despite very few films to see or review, there was still some happenings worth looking back on. 

 

This Blogger saw a grand total of six (6) films in the theatre in 2020. The best of the little bunch was Pixar’s ONWARD, with the horror thriller THE INVISIBLE MAN an easy second. Aaron Sorkin’s historical drama THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 was also excellent. 

 

The worst part of 2020 wasn’t only disappointing because there were no movies to see, but also because the big-name films we did get fell woefully short of our expectations. Christopher Nolan’s TENET was a boring convoluted mess, while David Fincher’s MANK went off the rails one too many times. And of course, we never can finish a year without another disaster from DC Comics…and this time we had Patty Jenkins’ WONDER WOMAN 1984 taking the honor of the worst film of the year. 

 

And 2020 couldn’t go out the door without taking some of our beloved actors, actresses, and filmmakers with it. The most impactful parting was Chadwick Boseman, whose role in Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER had made such a cultural impact that the news of his passing stopped the world cold. 

 

Other notable departures included Sean Connery, Kirk Douglas, Ian Holm, Max von Sydow, Kenny Rogers, Jerry Stiller, Fred Willard, Joel Schumacher, Carl Reiner, Kelly Preston, John Saxon, Wilford Brimley, Ben Cross, Michael Lonsdale, Bryan Dennehy, Irrfan Khan, James Lipton, and STAR WARS alums David Prowse and Jeremy Bulloch. 

 

2020 had more downs than ups and an absence of normalcy, but that absence should help us appreciate it more when it does return. It was a long intermission, but the curtain will rise again. The best is yet to come. 

A Reel Retro Review: THE SWAN (1956)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

 

 

When the name of the late great British actor Sir Alec Guinness (1914-2000) is recalled, everyone thinks of his role as Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi from STAR WARS (1977), and its two sequels. What is often overlooked is that Guinness had a successful Hollywood career for nearly 20 years before he flashed a lightsaber into fame, and was successful in Britain even before he came to Hollywood. His first Hollywood film was THE SWAN from 1956. 

 

In 1910, Princess Alexandria (Grace Kelly), is pressured by her mother Beatrix (Jessie Royce Landis), to marry her distant cousin Crown Prince Albert (Guinness). As Albert visits her estate and tries to court her, he discovers that Alexandria has fallen in love with the house tutor, professor Nicholas Agi (Louis Jordan). 

 

A closed quarters romance with a touch of comedy, THE SWAN spends most of its time with Albert trying in vain to win Alexandria’s heart. The good professor in the meantime has already fallen for her, but is being a gentleman about it…even after Albert discovers that he may be the odd man out. Conflict arises, shenanigans occur, and the characters circle around each other trying to sort it out. 

 

Based on the play by Ferenc Molnar, THE SWAN is a talkie with very little action. The drama is light and the laughs well-timed, but it’s roots as a stage production are obvious, with many scenes staying in one place for what seems like an eternity. Director Charles Vidor keeps the film moving well, only letting things drag in a few places. The script does keep its focus on Alexandria’s dilemma; her union with Albert would enable her family to regain the throne; a position that her family feels was robbed from them during the days of Napoleon. Does she choose Albert for the security of her family, or does she choose true love with Nicholas? That is the hook of the story and it works well. 

 

Filmed over 20 years before STAR WARS, Alec Guinness is charming and funny and a complete delight. Grace Kelly, starring in her second-to-last film before her real-life royal marriage, owns the film as the emotionally vulnerable would-be Queen. 

 

The film is a lot of fun to take in, but the ending is quite bittersweet…wrapping up in a way that is unexpected. It’s not really a twist, but it does smash any possible expectations for a romantic comedy coming out of the 1950’s. It’s an ending that could be disliked, but by far it doesn’t derail a delightful film. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

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Reel Facts: THE SWAN was released on the same day Grace Kelly became the Princess consort of Monaco. Louis Jordan would play the villain Khan in the James Bond film OCTOPUSSY (1983). Sir Alec Guinness would appear in over 30 films after THE SWAN, including an Oscar-winning performance in THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI in 1957. 

A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Films to Watch in the Winter

Winter has come. Not the winter illuminated by lights and tinsel, but the one where the skies are grey, the trees are bare, the wind bites and the ground is white. For many lovers of cinema, it’s a perfect time to think warm thoughts…leading to movies that show the sun shining with perhaps a shoreline. That’s fine and good, but winter can still provide the setting for some great storytelling. Perhaps it’s the harshness and bleakness of the season with the occasional displays of beauty, or the promise of life after death, or maybe it’s the opportunity to snuggle up in a blanket with a loved one and a beloved hot beverage…a comfort that feels so much better when watching a film that truly embraces what it means to be cold. And with that, here comes Reel Speak’s Top 10 Best Films to Watch in the Winter. 

 

Holiday movies are the easy, and natural go-to when we’re talking Winter films. THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004) is buried in snow and would be a perfect choice to the match the atmosphere of snow falling outside. This list however will focus on the non-holiday films, with the ones that use the snow and cold not just as a set dressing but as part of the story. Many films have done this over the years, ranging from whodunits (WIND RIVER), fantasy (THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA), sci-fi (SNOWPIERCER), tragedy (MISERY), and family films (ICE AGE). For documentary lovers, there’s always THE MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (2005), and for classic film lovers…there’s the Charlie Chaplin-led GOLD RUSH (1925), and the cold-as-hell, Russia-set DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965). Here now are Reel Speak’s picks for the films that use the cold so well, it’s practically a character. 

 

 

So bundle up…

 

 

10. ALIVE (1993)

Frank Marshall directed this survival drama about the true story of a Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashes in the Andes mountains in 1972. The hook of the story is that the survivors eventually turned to cannibalism to survive, an element in the film that is not portrayed as gross as it sounds. The cold and harsh winter of the Andes mountains is a heavy factor, as the rugby team, mostly comprised of youths, are woefully unequipped to handle the conditions. 

 

 

9. STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)

Only the first act of the first STAR WARS sequel, often considered to be the best in the franchise, takes place in the snow…but what an act it is. Shot on location in Norway in difficult conditions, EMPIRE uses the remote ice planet of Hoth as a place for characters to re-establish and grow, and suffer the might of the evil galactic Empire striking back. The battle scene is one of the best ever to put to film and still holds up to this day, and the icy winds can certainly be felt. And in a subtle, yet clever bookend…Han Solo (Harrison Ford), finishes the film frozen. 

 

 

8. THE REVENANT (2015)

Alejandro Inarritu directed this Oscar winner about a frontiersman (Leonardo DiCaprio), stranded out in the wilderness on a revenge mission. Filmed in various snowy locations using only natural lighting, REVENANT makes the harsh winters look beautiful and dangerous…while serving as an adversary. 

 

 

7. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (2013)

Joel and Ethan Coen brings us this black comedy about a struggling 1960’s folk singer (Oscar Isaac), who has no manner of luck at all. Davis spends most of his time out in the cold streets and subways of NYC, drifting from place to place without a winter coat…which makes us feel all the more sorry for him. Audiences can’t help but to ask why Davis doesn’t throw in the towel, but a love for music keeps him going…despite how cold it gets. 

 

 

6. FROZEN (2010)

Most Wintertime films can be pretty bleak, so why not throw in a family film to lighten things up. This box office hit, Oscar winner, and cultural smash literally uses the snow as a character. Winter never looked so beautiful or was more fun on the screen. 

 

 

5. FARGO (1996)

The Coen Brothers also helmed this black comedy with an intricate scheme involving kidnapping, extortion, and murder…which was an Oscar nominee, cultural hit, and inspiration for a TV series. Taking place during a winter in Minnesota and North Dakota, FARGO makes excellent use of the weather, where snow is used to bury things and the cold making things tough for the crooks and cops. 

 

 

4. GROUNDHOG DAY (1993)

The late great Harold Ramis directed his former GHOSTBUSTERS co-star Bill Murray in this comedy about a weatherman (Murray), doomed to relive the same day over and over. Winter doesn’t come into play too much in this cultural smash, but over time the film has become a standard, annual revisit on every February 2^nd. 

 

 

3. THE THING (1982)

John Carpenter directs and Kurt Russell stars in this sci-fi horror thriller about researchers in Antarctica fighting off an alien with the ability to assume identities. It’s a gore-fest that smartly plays with our heads in trying to figure out who is an imposter at any given time, and the fear-factor is ramped up knowing that the crew can’t go anywhere…surrounded by ice, wind, and extreme cold. And don’t dare dismiss the original version from 1951, which is just as good if not better. 

 

 

2. THE SHINING (1980)

Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel, which follows the Torrance family as they act as caretakers for a hotel deep in the Colorado mountains. As the snow piles up outside, so do the supernatural threats on the inside. There is nothing more terrifying than a closed-quarters story, especially when isolation is in play, and the Torrance family is stuck in the hotel, surrounded by ghosts and endless snow. 

 

 

1. THE GREY (2011)

Liam Neeson leads the way as a big-game hunter with a crew of oil workers stranded in the wilderness of Alaska after a plane crash…left to face the harsh elements while being hunted by wolves. The weather is an adversary just as formidable as the wolves are to the survivors, who are likely to kill each other at some point. Director Joe Carnahan explores life and death with several layers at work, and no one can watch Neeson plunge into an icy river without feeling the chills. If the cold weather has the ability to bring out life amongst death, then this is the film to see it unfold. 

Reel Speak's Top 10 Films to Watch in the Winter

1. THE GREY
2. THE SHINING
3. THE THING
4. GROUNDHOG DAY 
5. FARGO
6. FROZEN
7. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
8. THE REVENANT
9. STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
10. ALIVE

 

 

 

 

A Reel Retro Review: IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER (1955)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

Cinema’s fascination with war films in the 1950’s and 1960’s was close to an obsession, with over 200 films produced during that time. Most of, if not all of them, featured the all-American boys with flag-waving bravado marching to victory. One of the more fascinating stories, or sub-genre of the war films is what happens to those boys once they finally come home. Such is the territory for Gene Kelly’s 1955 musical comedy, IT’S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER. 

 

After coming home from WWII, three friends: Ted (Kelly), Dan (Doug Hallerton), and Angie (Michael Kidd), come home from the war and ready themselves to re-enter civilian life. They promise to re-unite at a bar in ten years’ time, and after the decade passes, they get together and discover their old friendships were not as easily re-kindled. 

 

Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, IT’S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER takes a light look not just at soldiers re-adjusting to civilian life, but at friendships that can fade after so much time passes. After coming home, the three go their separate ways with different results; Ted is a gambler and boxing manager and still a bachelor, Dan is an ad executive whose marriage is failing, and Angie owns a diner and has wife and three kids. 

 

After getting together the three find they don’t like each other very much, and things are further complicated when Ted takes a liking to Jackie (Cyd Charisse), an attractive ad executive working for a TV show in town related to Dan’s work. Eventually, Ted’s shady dealings with the underworld threatens his boxing managerial career, and Jackie later conspires to bring the three old friends together on the TV show. There are many characters going in several different directions, but the storylines are well organized and intersect nicely. 

 

The script and dialogue are razor sharp, and the zingers come at us at warp speed. Pacing is tight and quick, and the jokes and gags very funny. The musical numbers are a thrill with Kelly pulling off some amazing feats; including tap-dancing with roller skates (!) and trash-can lids on his shoes. The songs range from a thrill a second to melancholy. 

 

The entire cast puts in great performances outside of their singing and dancing. Gene Kelly is a treat as always, and his co-stars Doug Hallerton and Michael Kidd also a delight. Cyd Charisse steals the show with her quick wit and clever one-liners. 

 

IT’S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER is a lot of fun to take in, even though the film has a touch of cynicism to it, which was rare for its time. It’s a post-WWII film that stands out among a crowd, and offers food-for-thought when it comes to reuniting with old friends. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

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Reel Facts: IT’S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER was nominated for two Oscars: Best Story & Screenplay and Best Scoring of a Motion Picture. Co-director Stanley Donen was mostly known for directing SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954), whose choreography was done by FAIR WEATHER co-star Michael Kidd.