Ryan McNeil
It’s my birthday again.
If ever there’s a day where it’s permissible to have cake for breakfast, it has to be today, right?
If you’ve been around this site for a little while, you may or may not remember that I have an annual birthday tradition. Someone I know once suggested that I make a list of things I want to do before my next birthday and seal the list in an envelope. Then, the next year I was to open the envelope on my birthday, see what I’d managed to serendipitously do (since most of the list is almost immediately forgotten), and then make a new list.
Over the years, I have morphed the idea into making a little watchlist for myself – choosing 21 titles I hope to watch by my next birthday. I might watch ’em, I might not.
The bad news is that over the last few years, I have only ever managed to get through six or seven of the twenty-one. The good news though is that looking through older lists, I’ve managed to get to more as ime goes on.
Out of last year’s twenty-one, I got through seven:
BREATHLESS
EAST OF EDEN
PRIMER
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
CHARIOTS OF FIRE
RULES OF THE GAME
ACE IN THE HOLE
I wonder if this is the year I finally get to double-digits. The new list is below.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to try not to get soaked in a rainstorm.
THE HUDSUCKER PROXY
VIVRE SA VIE
48 HOURS
KISS ME, STUPID
KUNDUN
EYES WITHOUT A FACE
GIANT
BATTLE ROYALE
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO
ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA
GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
DEFENDING YOUR LIFE
THE STATION AGENT
THE THREE COLOURS Trilogy
THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
DANCER IN THE DARK
TASTE OF CHERRY
SANJURO
THE FALL
LEGENDS OF THE FALL
Dude, you’ve never seen Glengarry Glen Ross? I don’t think I can look at you the same way anymore. (Well, at least until you see it.)
Happy birthday! I just saw imdb page too, and you have the same birthday as Morgan Freeman and Marilyn Monroe (I get why you use that photo now). Great idea for birthday. And from your list, I’ve seen My Neighbor Totoro and Dancer in the Dark. All worth seeing!
Some really amazing choices in there. The Station Agent is wonderful.
If you decide to prioritize them, you should definitely check out The Station Agent, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Dancer in the Dark, and Glengarry Glen Ross. I haven’t seen all the picks on your list, but these definitely stand out as must-sees. It’s a very strong group, though you can probably skip Legends of the Fall.
Ditto what Dan said
Happy Birthday Ryan!!
I’ve seen 13 of your 21 and there is a lot of good stuff in there. Hopefully you will enjoy going through some of them. But I haven’t even heard of The Station Agent till today. I might have to check that out myself(Next year’s Blind Spot maybe?).
Happy Birthday!
I’d happily lend you my copy of Battle Royale, which one of only two films on that list I’ve seen (the other being Hudsucker Proxy, which I saw ages ago on an airplane and don’t remember half of it).
Give yourself Irene Jacob this year.
Wow… you’ve got some serious film-watching to do with that list. I’ve seen 14 of these films including the Trois Couleurs trilogy. Battle Royale is in my Blind Spot list for this year.
I definitely recommend Once Upon a Time in America. Just make sure it’s not the shortened 2 1/2 hour version.
That’s a lot of shame, Ryan. At least watch the Three Colors Trilogy, My Neighbor Totoro and Taste of Cherry so I don’t have to instate an intervention. Heck, I’d gift these films to you (if you promised to watch them…and if I had the money).
(Also, it’s Joan of Arc.)
Happy Birthday! The Three Colours trilogy is amazing, as is My Neighbour Totoro (I have so many Totoro goodies from Japan my room is like a shrine to Totoro). Ooh and Vivre Sa Vie is still my favourite French New Wave film I watched last year. Have a great year watching some of these movies!
Thanks for the well wishes everyone – it’s been a wonderful weekend.
I’d comment back to everyone individually, but that would make me more familiar with these titles I’ve jotted down…and the point of the exercise is to forget.
Happy birthday, Ryan! I remember you doing this last year, but I forgot about it until now. Funny how that works. You’ve got a lot of good ones on the list, hopefully you manage to get through some of them!
Happy late birthday, Ryan! I love your tradition even if I’ve, um, heard of exactly four films here. I’m crossing my fingers for you to get to double digits, though!