With a degree from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and more than twenty years of experience working in the film industry before becoming a teacher in 2008 , West Ranch English teacher Mr. Blaugrund has earned a reputation as the resident movie fanatic on campus. From his participation in West Ranch TV features to the movie paraphernalia in his room, Mr. Blaugrund does not keep his passion for movies a secret. Let us explore the top five ranked movies of his extensive list of favorites.
First Place
At the top of Mr. Blaugrund’s list are the classic ‘70s movies “The Godfather” and “The Godfather: Part II,” both directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The films follow Michael Corleone, the son of a Mafia don, who would prefer to avoid getting involved in his family business. However, Corleone is forced to become the head of his crime family when his father is attacked by hitmen sent by one of his enemies. Both movies are considered masterpieces by millions and won a combined total of nine Academy Awards.
“It has all of the melodrama of a family saga combined with the jazzy elements of the underworld and the kind of things even Shakespeare knew made great drama: violence, betrayal, brotherly conflict, shame, vengeance, etc.” Mr. Blaugrund explained.
Second Place
“Yellow Submarine,” a 1968 animated film directed by George Dunning, placed second on the list. When the beautiful Pepperland is overrun by the music hating Blue Meanies, the Lord Mayor of Pepperland enlists the help of The Beatles to restore Pepperland’s music-loving spirit through their classic songs.
Since first watching the movie as a young child, Mr. Blaugrund has seen the movie countless times, including occasionally showing it to his classes. While The Beatles do not voice their own characters, Mr. Blaugrund believes the movie nevertheless “captures the optimism and sheer joy of their music most closely” and is “an explosion of animated creativity combined with songs by the greatest rock band in history.”
Third Place
As a first grader, Mr. Blaugrund’s mom took him out of school to see a Marx Brothers’ film at a local revival theater. 1930 film “Animal Crackers” certainly left an impression on six-year-old Mr. Blaugrund: “From then on, I was hooked on movies.”
Mr. Blaugrund believes this movie best represents the “unique chaotic brilliance” of the Marx Brothers “I love how each brothers’ unique personalities and skills combine to create pure comedic anarchy that is both silly and deeply and unapologetically insubordinate to all levels of authority,” Mr. Blaugrund expressed.
Fourth Place
In fourth place, we have “Blazing Saddles,” a ‘70s comedy film directed by Mel Brooks. The movie follows Bart, a newly appointed black sheriff, as he gains the trust of the townspeople and fights against racist bandits sent by a railroad company to ruin the town. The film calls out casual and overt bigotry by ridiculing it, using broad humor and satire to demonstrate the uselessness and evil of racism.
During a screening of the film in 1982, Mr. Blaugrund watched the movie for the first time with his parents. “It’s the funniest movie ever made and also one of the most effective indictments of racism in film history.” Mr. Blaugrund shared.
Fifth Place
Last but not least, Mr. Blaugrund provided an additional list of 25 movies equally ranking in fifth place: “Annie Hall, Fame, Barry Lyndon, One Two Three, Airplane, A Shot in the Dark, The Graduate, Sleeper, MASH, Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, All About Eve, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Tootsie, Rushmore, Taxi Driver, A Clockwork Orange, Notorious, Peter Pan, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Parasite, Hannah and Her Sisters, Sunset Boulevard, Pulp Fiction and so on and so on and so on.”
While we won’t be able to cover all of these films, we do have students on campus who can tell us more about what makes these movies so great.
“Singin’ in the Rain” is a 1952 musical about two lead actors navigating the transition between silent films to “talkies.” West Ranch junior Paige Lorton shared her favorite aspects of the movie. “For me, I think it’s very beautiful; it’s Technicolor, I think. It has some very beautiful scenes, like the dancing scenes are really pretty and colorful.” Lorton mentioned, “Singin’ in the Rain” was filmed with a three-strip Technicolor process that emerged in the 1930s.
Another movie in Mr. Blaugrund’s top five, “Barry Lyndon,” follows an Irish rogue, Redmond Barry, and his uprising and downfall as an adventurer. “The love of his life is gone. He’s a liar and a cheat. [And] he’s trying to make his way to the top,” West Ranch junior Maxx Dos Santos summarized. “He does whatever he can to be successful, even if that means being a crook, and the cinematography is so beautiful. Every scene looks like a painting.”
In addition, Dos Santos appreciated the costumes, lighting, makeup and actor performance of Marisa Berenson, Barry Lyndon’s wife. Barry Lyndon is widely considered a classic and a cinematic masterpiece.
Compared to other media, Mr. Blagrund feels that “film encompasses every great art form in one place: visual composition and lighting, music, performance, and great storytelling.” Cats, make sure to add these films to your watchlist!
