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40. GRIZZLY (1976)

A gloriously inept rip-off (almost scene-by-scene) of “Jaws.” Truly laughably stupid in ever way. The better you know that shark flick, the funnier it is.
Verdict: I watched it with the assistance of the guys from RiffTrax. Here, check it out for yourself!

41. MY MAN GODFREY (1936)

I’ve never been as fond of this as many are, but William Powell can do no wrong, and he’s miraculous in it. Everyone else was too grating for me to care about, even the normally lovable Lombard.
Verdict: See it for Powell. He is, as always, a complete and utter joy and makes the movie, as he does every movie he’s in.

42. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)

What a freaking masterpiece this is. Dazzling visuals, intelligent and nuanced writing, a magnificent score, and superb performances. I know I’m supposed to revere Gregory Peck’s Oscar winning turn in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” but I don’t. Peter O’ Toole’s performance is imbued with genius and HE WAS ROBBED.
Verdict: One can’t help but not, in contemporary reviews, that one is supposed to be all bothered about “race-swapping” in the casting of this film (e.g. Alec Guinness playing an Arab). But since race-swapping is everywhere nowdays in all manner of productions, all I can say is…just shut up. Guinness is terrific and so is Anthony Quinn. Deal.

37. SHANE (1953)

Good movie, but I don’t think it deserves its lofty reputation. Gorgeous, thanks to the ever-looming Grand Tetons, it’s got very good performances, especially from Alan Ladd and Jean Arthur, who manage to have a relationship of real depth entirely in subtext. But it’s slow and some the writing is very labored.
Verdict: Overrated, and do they really need to say Shane’s name every damn second?

38. HOPE AND GLORY (1987)

I saw this in the theatre back in the day and remember liking it but thinking that it didn’t affect me as much as I thought it would. Watched it again, lo these many years later, and thought the exactly the same thing. Good WWII movie, with an unusual and compelling child’s point of view, but it’s lacking the emotional punch it seems like it should have.
Verdict: If you haven’t seen it, it’s definitely worth watching.

39. AMERICAN FICTION (2023)

One of those movies that starts out better than it ends up, but it’s a very worthy effort, if for no other reason than Jeffrey Wright’s wonderful performance. The race relations material is trenchant and witty, the indictment of academia and culture works pretty well too. The family stuff is pretty trite, and distracts from the quality to be found elsewhere in the movie.
Verdict: Writer/director Cord Jefferson tries to do too much, but well worth seeing for Wright’s work. He’s terrific.