Top 150 Movies in my 50 years - 120-111

120. Begin Again - Director John Carney has strung together three terrific movies in a row with music as the theme and this is the middle one that came out in 2014. A brilliant songwriter (Keira Knightley) about to head back to England and a down-on-his-luck record producer (Mark Ruffalo) meet by chance and make wonderful music together in New York. It is imperfect at times and the music is simple, but there are so many rich scenes. 

119. The Hurricane - I was captivated by William Nack's amazing 1992 story on Rubin "Hurricane" Carter in Sports Illustrated and was anxious to see the movie in 1999. While some of the facts were fudged, as usual in the films such as this, it did not disappoint with Denzel Washington producing one of his best performances as a boxer who was wrongly-convicted of a triple murder. "Hate put me in this place. Love's gonna bust me out."

118. Guardians of the Galaxy - The 2014 film from Marvel Studios is an action/comedy romp with a motley crew of superheroes, led by Peter Quill (Chris Pratt). Bradley Cooper provides the voice for the cheeky raccoon-like character Rocket, whose buddy "Groot" steals the film. It's just a load of fun and can't wait for the sequel which is out soon. 

117. Saturday Night Fever - The 1977 musical drama popularized disco and made Welcome Back Kotter's Vinny Barbarino (John Travolta) into a major superstar. The dance scenes are tremendous and Tony Mareno's partner Karen Lynn Gormley shines. The Bee Gees' music, especially "More Than a Woman," is key to the film. 

116. Life is Beautiful - Roberto Benigni won Best Actor in 1997 and directed this Italian comedy-drama. Benigni plays a Jewish man who uses his imagination and humor to save his son from death at a German concentration camp. It was the first film that I enjoyed thoroughly despite dealing with subtitles and the ending is both sad and triumphant.

115. Elizabethtown - Cameron Crowe's most under-rated film stars Orlando Bloom as a young man, embarrassed by a huge failure in business, who must deal with death in many different ways. His journey leads him to the realization of what life is all about. Kirsten Dunst has never been cuter as a friendly stewardess. Some think her character was not real, that she was supposed to be an angel that saves Bloom. So many great scenes. 

114. Goodfellas - Martin Scorsese's brilliant 1990 mob drama starred Ray Liotta, along with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, and was based on the book by Nicholas Pileggi named "Wiseguy." Pesci won Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards and will always be remembered for one incredible scene. It is a great film and many would rate it higher, but it is just not one I watch over and over. 

113. 50/50 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, one of my favorite actors, plays a young man who is forced to deal with a rare form of cancer. Anna Kendrick is adorable as a young hospital therapist finding her way and Seth Rogan's humor does not screw up the movie, which was nominated for a Golden Globe. It is an emotional journey and the story is very intelligently told. 

112. National Lampoon's Vacation - The 1983 road trip romp was the first of the series and by far the best with Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo loading up the Family Truckster and heading to Wally World. When it came out, it was unique and one of the best comedies ever, but many have passed it along the way. Chase's encounter with Christie Brinkley is sure memorable though. 


111. Chasing Amy - Kevin Smith's off-beat film stars Ben Affleck as a comic book artist who falls in love with his lesbian friend (Joey Lauren Adams) and both go through soul-searching issues. Basically, it's just about how difficult love and relationships are. Some critics thought it was too stereotypical and narrow, but in my mind it was thought-provoking, unique - sometimes crude - and hilarious.