Elia Kazan: On the Waterfront (1954)

Yes, I must admit that Elia Kazan's 'On the Waterfront' (1954) is a dull choice. But then you must admit that it is a classic. It is a magnificent movie.

The story of mob violence and and corruption among longshoremen is not perhaps a film that could be done nowadays? No one would dare? The producers would not give the permission?

Anyway the film is done and it is perfect in it's own genre. It's very beautiful in it's black and white world (literally). The plot is very touching.

And the casting is -once again- very fine. Lee J. Cobb, Karl Malden, Rod Steiger and Eva Marie Saint. Every on them is fantastic.

And yes, the one and only Marlon Brando shows what he really is. He is not the man in 'The Island of Dr Moreau' (1996), not at all. He is one of all times actor. It can be The Best? Brando's Terry Malloe is flesh and blood. There's nothing too much in it. That's not easy.

Sean Penn: The Pledge (2001)

When 'About Schmidt' (2002) came out everyone told that there is the new Jack Nicholson. Nicholson wihtout his old tricks. Perhaps so but otherwise that movie was quite boring. I didn't like it at all.

But 'The Pledge' (2001) is something else.

First of all the story is fine. It makes you think and wait what to come. Search of the criminal is one thing and the pledge is another. There's nothing too much in that plot.

And then there is Jack Nicholson indeed. He makes a great role cause he's a professional but now he doesn't do too much. He is wonderful.

Bob Fosse: Cabaret (1972)

Bob Fosse was sure a choreographer but he made also few films. Strangely one of them is fantastic but the others are a bit lame.

The One is naturally Cabaret (1972). The story is great, music is fine and the whole look wonderful. And then comes the touch of Fosse: choreography (and it's filming). It's impressive and it's funny.

The film itself makes you laugh and it makes you cry. So this must be a good film!

One reason is casting. Liza Minelli is so beautiful and skilful in this film that it makes you wonder where did she disappear? Why didn't she made more wonderful movies? There is 'The Sterile Cuckoo' (1969), 'New York, New York' (1977) and 'The Muppets Take Manhattan' (1984) but otherwise.

And then there is the one and only Master of Ceremonies Joel Grey. You couldn't think any better than him! Why is his filmography so short? I simply love his acting.

Ingmar Bergman: Det sjunde inseglet (1957)

Ingmar Bergman is a Moviemaker if someone is. And he has done many dull movies that you can't watch without rewinding.

But then he has many great films that you can just watch and wonder and admire. 'Det sjunde inseglet' ('The Seventh Seal') (1957) is one of those movies. And perhaps the best?

The story of searching the truth, the story of man's possibilities and the story of God. And playing chess. It's not possible to think this film without Max von Sydow and his wonderful acting. You suffer and you laugh. The film is very dark and it has sunshining. Can that really be true?

Jacques Tati: Mon Oncle (1958)

Jacques Tati is one of my absolute favourite among European moviemakers. Tati created a rare, rich and unique career although he finished only five feature films. Tati's favourite subjects were to study human and modern times with a bit of irony. He found humour in every day life, behaving of man and nowadays things: machines, fashion, architecture, furnitures, consumerism and cars.

Tati thought much movies sound and soundeffects. The dialogue was not so important. He was a perfect movieman. All of Tati's films are masterpieces in their own genre but you can start to study Tati for example with his Cannes and Oscar awarded movie 'Mon Oncle' (1958).

Jon Avnet: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

The year 1991 seemed to be really great year in American movie. Many fine films were released in that year. One of those was (little surprisingly) 'Fried Green Tomatoes' (1991) directed by Jon Avnet. Story of an unhappy middle-aged woman who becomes a friend of even older woman is not a film that you (= thirty something heterosexual man) could think to love.

The movie is a little mysterious story of two strong women who live in South, Alabama. It has flashbacks in a wonderful way to open the story more and more. There are the question of woman and abusive husband, young death, friendship and love. All that but the movie is not too sweet. It makes you think, it touches you and it makes you laugh.