“Jaws” Indeed!
That’s right, find a nice place to relax and get ready to bite into ten great movies that begin with “J”!
The picture is a big giveaway of course, so let’s get right to it – a film that changed the way we went to the movies!
10 – “Jaws”
42 years ago, Bruce the Shark terrorized movie audiences in a way that had never happened before: it was the first time in cinema history that a film opened in thousands of theaters across the country on the same day!
Here is the trailer for the suspense masterpiece they saw:
From the moment crowds lined up across America, movie distribution changed forever…”Jaws” was also a monumental achievement for its young Director, Steven Spielberg.
The movie stands the test of time as well, and 42 years later, people still respond to the shark, the music, and of course, THAT LINE:
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
Roy Scheider’s reaction after seeing the shark for the first time is priceless – see more trivia about this great thriller by clicking here:
Tom Cruise has also had his fair share of box office hits, but one stands out for a classic line as well:
“Show Me The Money!”
9 – “Jerry Maguire”
Cameron Crowe directed this great romantic comedy about a disgraced Sports Agent with one shot at redemption – check out the trailer:
Cuba Gooding Jr. won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Renee Zellwegger has never been better as the only person who supports – and then falls in love – with Jerry.
A terrific movie with Tom Cruise at the top of his game.
Speaking of that, what about Keanu Reeves?
8 – “John Wick”
What a great action thriller! Keanu stars as John Wick, who just wants a quiet life – but then someone made the mistake of messing with his dog…here is the trailer:
Reeves is an accomplished martial artist, and the fight scenes in this film are brutal and real – and yes, this is one bloody ride!
Reeves has been making a wide range of films lately, so I also want to recommend a film he directed just a few years ago:
Click here to see more about this terrific martial arts film that Keanu directed as well as starred in:
https://johnrieber.com/2013/07/28/keanu-reeves-kung-fu-fight-club-man-of-tai-chi-47-ronin/
Director Danny Boys made a film about Apple founder Steve Jobs last year, but to be honest, I enjoyed this one more:
7 – “Jobs”
Ashton Kutcher does a great job as the single-minded visionary who changed the way we use a phone, listen to music and so much more!
Here is the trailer:
This film deserved more attention, and Kutcher does a terrific job capturing the nuances of a very complicated genius.
Another genius was someone I was lucky enough to work with for years:
6 – “Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work”
Joan was my friend, so I can include her on a “J” list! This incredible documentary is honest, candid and of course hilariously funny, because she’s Joan Rivers! Here is the trailer:
My wife and I worked for years with Joan and Melissa, including this year at the Cannes Film Festival, where we shot a “Fashion Review”.
Joan was one of the most compassionate, warm and caring people I’ve ever had the honor to know. Here is a short tribute I posted when she passed away:
https://johnrieber.com/2014/09/04/rip-joan-rivers-a-world-class-person-is-gone/
The documentary is an amazingly candid look at her life – worth every minute you spend with her.
Time now for a controversial movie that was “of its time”:
5- “Joe”
Peter Boyle starred in this very controversial 1970 film about a man who was fed up with a changing world.
Here is the trailer:
Boyle plays a blue collar worker who sees the “hippies” taking over, and decides to fight back – it struck a chord at the time, as you can see by the advertising they took out to promote the controversy.
Movies like this resonate with me because they capture our country at the time, a chance to understand our history better.
here’s another film that captured a sense of the times:
4 – “Juno”
Diablo Cody burst onto the scene with this black comedy about a young woman who ends up pregnant – here is the trailer:
“Juno” is beautifully written and acted, and I was recently reminded of just how good it is – a real gem.
OK, I’ve gone a long time without dipping into the wild world of “Women in prison” films – but that is about to end!
3- “Jackson County Jail”
The “women in prison” genre has many great titles, but Actress Yvette Mimieux gives this film a certain gravitas – she plays a woman who is falsely arrested and then….well, see for yourself in the trailer:
A young Tommy Lee Jones stars as well – this is a great example of the “Women in prison” genre, as is this one:
“Chick In Chains!”
How can you beat that? Here is a look at more classics of the genre:
Next up, a hit TV series goes to the big screen in all its painful glory:
2- “Jackass”
15 years ago, Johnny Knoxville and the boys took their hit MTV show to the big screen, with an absolutely hilarious film – here is the trailer:
No plot, just offensive stunt after stunt after “abuse to the body” stunt – inventive, hilariously profane, and I can watch it every single day!
Finally, we go from jackasses to the world’s greatest “sushi master”:
1 – “Jiro Dreams Of Sushi”
This Tokyo sushi bar costs hundreds of dollars for a single meal, you are fed in twenty minutes, and the Chef may or may not want you to look at him – and it’s so popular you can’t get in – here is the trailer:
Jiro is a Sushi Master, but this is also a touching and poignant story of an obsessive Chef who doesn’t quite know how to communicate with his young son…a great documentary about food and family – see more here:
There’s a look at ten great movies beginning with “J”, and if you missed any of my previous posts, you didn’t see this classic film – that begins with a “B”:
“Body Heat” is a great cult film noir, and you can see 59 other great movies when you click on my “Movies A-F” list here:
Don’t worry, gangsters haven’t been forgotten, even if Marlon Brando always forgot his lines:
Yep, that’s why Robert Duvall “wore” his lines on set! It’s just one of the great “G” movies, which you can see here:
“The Godfather” is a classic, and so is this:
Before Paddy Cheyefsky wrote the brilliant “Network” he tackled medical malpractice with “The Hospital” – just one of ten great films that begin with “H” – see them all here:
If you missed my list of “I” movies, then you didn’t see this obscure Robert Altman thriller:
See more about “Images” here:
Let me know what I left off the “J” list!
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johnrieber 
That’s great you had a positive experience with Joan. I thought she was hysterical and a pioneer. I’m sorry she is gone!
J movies. ‘Jackie’ was a good film. Portman did a great job. I second Pete’s list, too.
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As always, far too many films to make a list of ten, and I want to include offbeat stuff as well – I admit that many of the films on this list weren’t Oscar-nominated – I thought Natalie Portman was Best Actress for her portrayal of Jackie!
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A great list, John. It is full of your usual alternative choices, many of which I have never seen. I have to add something of course, so for this letter I choose ‘Johnny Mad Dog’, and Tarantino’s finest, ‘Jackie Brown’.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Don’t know Johnny, Pete, but yes, Jackie would look nice on any list! I added a few that may not be great films but are unique and worth a detour….always so many great choices, I’m still mad at myself for leaving “Boogie Nights” off the “B” list – may have to do a post of overlooked alphabet choices!
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