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Okay, Nate tagged me on this meme and I figured I spent so long on it I may as well post it on the blog too! It's supposed to be "movies that stick with you."

I'm going to define "stick" to mean that these movies stick in my mind as making a huge impact on me when I first saw them, or have been a regular and influential part of my life in some way. I decided to narrow down the possibilities by only choosing from movies I gave a 5-star rating on Netflix. I'm sure if I looked at my 4-star ratings, there would be plenty of choices, but it's far too overwhelming.

The Age of Innocence
This was probably my first Scorsese movie, which I saw in the theater when I was a freshman in high school. It may still by my favorite Scorsese to this day. It stars my favorite actor, Daniel-Day Lewis, whose intensity lends so much to each of his movies. I especially loved the ending of this tale about a married man who falls in love with another woman. My appreciation of it grew even more after I read the novel and realized what a perfect adaptation it was. I remember the theater, the credits, and the emotions it stirred in me. I believe it was after this movie that I determined I was born during the wrong time period.

Before Sunset
There's something about seeing a movie by oneself. I think people don't do it often enough, and I think it definitely impacts one's viewing. As a high schooler, I naturally enjoyed the easy dialog between Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke as they spent one day in love with each other in Before Sunrise. But in Before Sunset, so much has changed, and the questions of what might have been come to the forefront as the two characters are reunited after several years and only have a few hours together. This one really got to me, even though I only saw it once.

Buffalo '66
Vincent Gallo may never surpass what he accomplished in this movie about a guy who is released from prison and goes back home to visit his family, who don't know where he has been. He kidnaps a girl and masquerades her as his wife to make himself look successful to his parents. He also wants to hunt down the man responsible for his time in prison. But the look into Gallo's home, at his parents, at his emotional stuntedness, and at the odd relationship between him and Christina Ricci are what make this movie so great. Gallo writes, stars, directs, and scores this movie, and it's easy to tell it's close to his heart. He does a lot of interesting things, such as a bowling alley tap routine and some interesting camera work in an important scene, that will always stand out in my memory.

Cache
I watched this movie on a tiny little screen while on an elliptical machine in a fitness center, but the impact was still amazing. A man receives anonymously sent video tapes of his house, and is forced to confront his past when he tries to discover who might have sent them. I love way the story unfolds and the wonderful way Daniel Auteuil carries the film. But I will never forget the shocking scene in this movie that made me gasp and almost fall off the elliptical machine. And the conversations I had with people who had and hadn't seen the movie are a part of my experience as well, and indicate to me that this movie will stick with me for many years.

Dark City
It's a popular one, but a good one. You've probably seen it. The sci-fi, the darkness of the city, the lightness of Shell Beach, the instantly classic characters of the strangers, Jennifer Connelly singing in a night club, William Hurt with his accordian, and a wonderful Rufus Sewell as the possibly guilty every-man.... it's all so great.

The Decalogue
Leave it to me to list a movie that's actually ten-in-one, but after the experience of Kieslowski's work, how could one separate them? My heart ached as I watched film after film of the sins of man and the effects of them. Thank goodness he felt sorry for his audience, or maybe needed a boost himself, and gave us at least one happy ending. I love the differences and the connections of the pieces. As I try to pinpoint something to talk about, my brain is filled with so many striking images that I don't know which ones to share.

East of Eden
While my tendency would be to shout out about James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause, which is one of the ultimate teenage movies, my mind is drawn to the flowing music and beautiful images of East of Eden, about Cal, who competes with his brother for the love of his father, but can never seem to please him. This movie shows off Dean's acting best, and the rest of the cast is wonderful as well. The Cain and Abel aspect of the movie predicts an unhappy end, but the way it gets there is so different than I would have expected. I remember only liking it a little bit when I first saw it, but with each repeat, I like it more. ...And my sister and I love to imitate brother Aaron's laugh when he's on the train.

Fargo
Could this have been my first Coen brothers movie? It may have been. I did not get it the first time I saw it, but knew that it would stick with me anyway. As I went back to it many times over the years, the movie moved up and up and is possibly my favorite movie now. You've probably already seen it. But it's not just the "you betcha"s that get me, nor the foot in the woodchipper. It's Marge Gunderson and Jerry Lundegaard. It's character, morality, consequences, and the interractions between these two characters and other people. It's more than that, but I'll keep things short.

The Great Dictator
I've only seen this movie one time. But one can't deny the greatness of Charlie Chaplin, especially when he plays a barber who is mistaken for a dictator inspired by Hitler. I am not sure how much I remember of the beginning of this movie, but I definitely remember the end. From the laughter caused by Chaplin's German to the tears that came during the final speech, I think I went through the ringner while watching this movie. To me, this movie, released in the middle of WWII, said so much, from the satire to the proclamations it made. And it showed that comedy can be just as influential as any other genre - it's how well it's used.

Hamlet
I guess a lot of movies stick with me from my high school years. This was the first movie I drove a far distance to see, in 70mm, complete with an intermission. The scale, the sets, the costumes, the look, and Branagh all amazed me. He's made many Shakespearean movies, many of which are very good, but to me, even though his Hamlet might have been a little older, it's his best Shakespeare as well as my favorite Shakespearean adaptation.

It
The silent movie of my childhood was It, starring Clara Bow and Antonio Moreno. It's about a girl who is a clerk at the local department store, who catches the eye of the wealthy department store owner. Their relationship is a study in class as well as a fun experience of mistaken assumptions, and features a piano score that makes me smile every time I hear it. Also, this movie may well be worth watching simply to see William Austin's supporting role as the goofy Monty Montgomery.

Moulin Rouge!
Sometimes what makes a movie stick is just how a particular scene is visually striking. Well, when the visual stimulation lasts for a complete 127 minutes, how can it not stick? I remember falling in love with the music, and laughing with it. But I also remember that the quick editing and visual intensity had me gasping in appreciation. Some people hate this movie because of the simple and uninspired story. I love it because it's the most simplistic story told in the most complicated form. And Ewan McGregor is dreamy. Yes I went there in the middle of this serious list.

Oscar and Lucinda
I'm not sure how to explain my love of Oscar and Lucinda, which is basically a 19th century love story between an unlikely pair of people who share a love for gambling. It stars a younger Ralph Fiennes as a priest and Cate Blanchett as an heiress. Their love of the wager leads to a seemingly impossible venture, to transport an all-glass church to the Australian Outback. It may possibly be the gleam in the actors' eyes, but the two are completely infectious, and I fall for this movie every time I see it.

The Sound of Music
I know, what a commercial choice, but I can't think of another movie that has captured my heart for music in the same way. On top of that, it's practically perfect in every way, just like Mary Poppins, which could easily show up on this list if it were longer.

The Up series (7, 7 Plus Seven, 21 Up, 28 Up, 35 Up, 42 Up, 49 Up)
This may be another cheat, but the Up series sticks with me because I've stuck with it. Exploring the phrase, "Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man, " this series follows the lives of real people as they grow up. It starts with children at the age of seven, acquainting us with them, their dreams, their plans, and their lives in general. Then, every seven years, documentarian Michael Apted catches up with the same children, following what directions their lives have taken. Learning about people's backgrounds, passions, expectations, unexpected events, regrets, and the like is all so fascinating. I felt like I grew to know so many of the people, and sometimes at random, I think about them while out shopping or walking on the track. I hope, hope, hope, that in three years, I'll be able to watch 56 Up.