“Jaws” Indeed!
As we are slowing navigating our way out of this #quarantinelife, I have found the time to re-visit some of my favorite films.
For this edition of “Cult Movie Monday”, find a nice place to relax and get ready to bite into ten great movies that begin with the letter “J”!
As the picture above shows, Steven Spielberg has gotten comfortable as we begin with a film that changed the way we went to the movies!
10 – “Jaws”
In 1975, 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 this timeless shocker:
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 a great film with 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 – with an Oscar-winning performance by Cuba Gooding Jr.
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 Maguire.
A terrific movie with Tom Cruise at the top of his game.
Speaking of that performers at the top of their game, 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!
The two sequels are equally as entertaining – and bloody – as Keanu and the other creatives on the film are building a fully realized world that John Wick inhabits…really terrific storytelling.
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/
Enough fighting – time to eat!
7 – “Julie & Julia”
Meryl Streep’s performance as Chef Julia Child is one f there best ever, and the film “Julie & Julia” tells her fascinating story, intercut with the story of a young Blogger who cooks one of the Chef’s recipes every day for a year!
See the trailer and lots of trivia about his movie by clicking here:
I never got to meet Julia, but I did meet another “J” – the legendary Joan Rivers!
6 – “Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work”
Joan was my friend, so I had to include her on my “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 one 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.
Next on the “J” list is another Spielberg film that raised the bar on what special effects could accomplish in film:
5- Jurassic Park!
This 1993 action spectacular imagines a world where dinosaurs exist!
Checkout the trailer here:
The first time you see the Dinosaurs takes your breath away – gorgeous special effects set against a very real story with terrific acting from the entire cast. Oh, and then we meet some of the “less friendly” Dinosaurs as well…
A terrific action thriller with a larger message – and a great thrill ride as well!
Next up on my “J” list is the 2019 Best Picture nominee that they said couldn’t be made:
4-JoJo Rabbit
The initial reaction to the premise was shock: how could a film tell the story of a friendship between a young boy –
AND HITLER?!?!?!
Well, Writer/Director Taika Waititi, who also starred as Hitler, found a way to tell a compelling and insightful story about the horror of WW2.
Waititi very deservedly won an Oscar for Best Screenplay, and the film is a real masterpiece.
Click here to see the trailer and more about the film:
Another offbeat but compelling film stars an iconic action figure:
3-JCVD
Jean-Claude Van Damme gives a searing performance – REALLY! He plays himself: an over-the-hill action star trying to make a comeback – and the film includes one of the most honestly compelling scenes I’ve ever seen – check out the trailer for this neglected gem:
Jean-Claude is mesmerizing in the film – a great performance. Click here to see more fun trivia about the film!
Next up, a hit TV series goes to the big screen in all its painful glory:
2- “Jackass”
It seems like a lifetime ago when 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:
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Let me know what you think of movies with the letter “J” – and here are more as well!
Categories: 70's Cinema, Academy Awards, Action Films, Books / Media, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Japan, Movies, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, Talent/Celebrities, Tokyo!
johnrieber 
What an in-depth review of movies! Thank you for all the great tips and trailers. There are three at least on the list that we want to try out. I really enjoy your comments and behind-the-scenes peeks at the films and their characters and directors!
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Thank you for commenting , it is much appreciated!
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A great choice of movies John..Most I have watched more than once…Julia v Julia I haven’t seen but will check it out and JoJo Rabbit … I just didn’t like it…Jean Claude Van Dam, I could watch his films back to back…I still can’t like and couldn’t find the little box you suggested, WP thought it was my browser changing browser didn’t help either at a loss as to what it is at the moment…:) I di love the post though 🙂
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Julie and Julia is one half of an amazing movie…Meryl Street and Stanley Tucci bring the story of Julia Child to life in an incredible way…
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I can’t wait to watch it…I love Meryl Streep she is a fine actress …
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I think you will LOVE it…it tells the story of how she became the Julia Child of culinary fame and it’s fascinating…the Amy Adams part is a bit annoying to wade through however!
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You pick the best movies, John! Jaws and Jurassic Park are the best of scary. I think even Hitchcock would agree.
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Yes, the build of suspense on both is beautifully done, which really makes them both so much more powerful…great to hear from you as always!
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Exactly! You’re welcome, John.
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I love Jaws and Jurassic Park and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve rewatched them. JoJo Rabbit is on the top of my to watch list.
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Yes, both of those are so easy and fun to re-watch – thanks for commenting, always great to hear from you!
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I still can’t swim at night, John, not even in a swimming pool. I watch Jaws when I was very young and I never got over my fear of swimming in the dark. Jurassic Park is a great movie and you snuck in Body Heat [which begins with a B – wink!]
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Jaws & Jurassic Park are classics & I love Julie & Julia! I know a lot of people like John Wick, but it’s not my cup of tea.
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You have to be in the mood for that one to be sure1. Thanks for commenting!
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A few I haven’t seen, though I am looking forward to JoJoRabbit. I’m with Cindy on Jackie Brown, and would also add Oliver Stone’s ‘JFK’, ‘Jean De Florette’, and Jeremiah Johnson.
Best wishes, Pete.
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All great choices Pete…JFK is a great film – talk about a Directorial flourish on display!
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Out of all these I have only ever seen Jerry Maguire and Jurassic park
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Some are more of a acquired taste – but if you like over the top action, then John Wick is worth trying!
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Other than Jackass and JCVD, I like all your J choices today, John! If I had to add to your list with my favorite J movie, it would be Jackie Brown or The Jungle Book. 😉
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Both great choices! Did you ever see JCVD? His monologue in the middle, straight to camera, is incredible….
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Nope. I should give it a go.
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