100. Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993)

We are currently in a time where the traditional biopic is fading. Lincoln (which just missed this list) started a change. You can learn more about some figures by examining one period closely rather than trying to get every event into one film. The recent Mandela biopic shows how the old formula just doesn't seem to work, while Selma (which is on this list) is one of the examples of how this can work.

Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould takes a different approach. While trying to tell the story of reclusive pianist Glenn Gould, director Francois Girard tried, well, every approach.

Does this film get deep into what made Gould tick? No. I don't think that was possible. But what it does is give a sense of Gould as a performer. The multiple approaches and multiple points of view give a rounded sense of what it was like to be effected by him. Ultimately, the film makes this list by giving a sense of the effect music (through this musician) can have on us all.

The End of the Tour (2015)

I remember in 1981 when Siskel and Ebert went bananas for My Dinner With Andre. A movie about a dinner conversation! As a 13 year old, I did not know what to think. When I finally caught up with the film, I was bound to be disappointed. I probably wasn't the right age to connect with the film. I need to rewatch the film now that I am in my 40s. I probably will connect with the film a bit more.

Now here comes a film detailing a conversation over a few days between reporter David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) and author David Foster Wallace (Jason Siegel). I've been reading how fascinating the conversation is between these two, and all I could think during the film was that neither of these guys were remotely as interesting as Andre Gregory. Or his dinner companion in My Dinner With Andre, Wallace Shawn.

The early portion of the film is in nearly recent time which establishes that Wallace committed suicide. Then the film goes back to the few days Lipsky spent with him in 1996 on a book tour. We hear repeatedly how amazing the book is. There is no evidence provided in the film of the author's brilliance. There is no evidence of how he ended up so despondent he took his life.

What we have is a guy who lives in Illinois and goes to Minnesota and is fascinated with what snobs would refer to as low culture. But there is no insight provided. So Wallace comes across as a fundamentally decent normal Midwestern guy. I live in Ohio. I have conversations with fundamentally decent normal Midwestern guys on a daily basis. Those conversations would not make for a movie either.

I cannot describe how bored I was watching this film. Nothing happens. Nothing is talked about. The most interesting thing is that they go to a movie at the Mall of America. (The movie is Broken Arrow.) And that's the film. This is the most overrated film of the year. Grade: D+

100 movies, 1990-2014

So why do this list? Limitations.

I have read other lists of best films of all time. But the reality is that I graduated from high school in 1986. While I am aware of many of the films of the time before my adulthood, I am aware of too many films before then that I have yet to see.

Meanwhile, my favorite book has printed its final edition. I have purchased Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide every year since 1984. The last year it published was 2015, covering films up to May 2014. So this was the time for me to proceed.

I first started with a list from my graduation date. Instead, I decided to use the nice round figure of 25 years. Hence, 1990 to 2014. I started putting this list together a year ago. I only just found out that Entertainment Weekly is celebrating its 25th anniversary. This is just a coincidence.

I plan to do a post for each movie as a countdown. The point is to one by one, cover and discuss 100 great recent movies. Of course, the ranking isn't critical. Even making the list anywhere means it is in my opinion a great film.

Sunday 10/18/15

...and we are back. I've been without my own computer for most of the fall, and been doing some soul searching this year, so I haven't been writing. But I miss writing, and the best way to start writing is to start writing.

I have put together a list of the best movies for the past 25 years. But that is for another post.

I also plan to start writing about my other entertainment passions in TV and music. In music, I have a bit of obsession with the music charts, so that might inspire some columns. But let's talk about my TV interests. Here are the shows that interest me at this time:

I wrote a column earlier this year about the state of ESPN. I'm not sure I want to take that on further. It has gotten worse since that column. If it weren't for Pardon The Interruption, I'm not sure how much I could watch anymore. The air talent at ESPN is the weakest it has been since the 80s.

There are three reality shows I watch regularly: The Voice, Survivor, and The Amazing Race. I'm not sure I will write much on The Voice, as the singers are a matter of taste. I am fascinated by the politics of Survivor. And the more genuine competition of The Amazing Race is actually my favorite.

There are no current dramas that I watch regularly. One older comedy in The Big Bang Theory consistently makes me laugh, and as a longtime fan of The Muppets I have enjoyed the new show.

But for regular laughs, I look to late night. I have been a big fan of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for years. I figured I would jump to CBS with Colbert, But a funny thing happen in the 6 months between Colbert leaving Comedy Central and him premiering on CBS. Larry Wilmore appeared.

So my loyalties stay with Comedy Central's shows. Trevor Noah is still finding his footing on The Daily Show. But the show kept its writing staff and some of his correspondents. Jessica Williams in particular in still comedy gold. The Nightly Report shows off Larry Wilmore, who has found his footing and is covering Jon Stewart's territory.

So that's TV. Now for the next column, back to the movies ...