Time For More “Cinema A – Z!”

Grab a seat and settle in at the cinema! It’s time to have some fun with movies that begin with the letter “F”, all part of my “A-Z” of film!

Remember, while these are ten GREAT movies with an “F”, they are not in any order – all ten are favorites of mine, so mix and match and watch them all! 

10 – “The Full Monty”

It has one of the most unexpected hits of 1997 – the story of 6 unemployed workers in an industrial city in England who, in an act of desperation, decide to “get their kit off” and go “the full monty” to make money!

Here is the trailer:

Robert Carlyle, who was riveting in “Trainspotting”, is joined by Mark Addy from “Love Actually” and Tom Wilkinson, who sadly just passed away.

While it was sold as a raucous comedy, it was actually a deeply felt look at the emotion that comes from being unemployed, losing self-respect and fearing loved ones will leave you. Oh, then they have to learn to dance and it is, indeed, hilarious! A wonderful film that is re-watchable at all times!

Speaking of a film I can re-watch forever, what about Frances McDormand as the smart Cop who solves a murder?

9 – “Fargo” 

Frances McDormand won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1996 for her work in this brilliant thriller – check out the trailer:

William H. Macy was also outstanding as the used car salesman who unwittingly sets off a murder spree – you can click here to see more about the film and two others that featured empowered women in lead roles:

From one classic movie to another – and I’m serious, this next movie was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar in 1987!

8 – “Fatal Attraction”

Yes, it’s a pulp classic, but it’s also a great film! Check out the iconic trailer:

Glenn Close was also Oscar-nominated for her performance, a brilliant portrayal of a woman who “won’t be ignored!”

Here is some great trivia for you:

Did you know that the boiling bunny was real? That’s just one fascinating bit of trivia about this great film, and you can see a lot more here:

Glenn Close gave an amazing performance, and next up is another terrific one as well – by Michelle Pfeiffer:

7 – “The Fabulous Baker Boys”

This 1989 musical drama tells the story of two brothers – The Fabulous Baker Boys – who perform together in Seattle bars, wedding receptions, or wherever they can book a gig for “piano duos.”

They decide to hire a singer – and their world changes forever – check out the trailer:

Michelle Pfeiffer is terrific as the “singer with spunk” who quickly shakes things up between the brothers – who are played by real life brothers, Jeff and Beau Bridges….

This is a great film – terrific performances, a sharp script that is funny honest and heartbreaking at times.

Next up is a gritty crime drama from 1973 starring one of Hollywood’s legendary bad boys:

6 – “The Friends Of Eddie Coyle”

Robert Mitchum gives one of his great, late career performances as Eddie Coyle, a “worker bee” in the world of Boston mob life, who is facing prison time and quickly running out of options…check out the classic movie trailer:

Criterion has a great new blu-ray with a pristine copy of the film – a great action drama – and if you want a full night of “mobster middle men”, this makes a great double bill with Al Pacino in “Donnie Brasco” – see more about that here:

There are many great action movies, and Director John Woo made a couple of the best, like this one:

5 – “Face/Off”

This 1997 action thriller is a classic!

John Travolta plays an FBI Special Agent trying to find a biological weapon placed in Los Angeles by a sadistic terrorist-for-hire and criminal mastermind, played by Nicolas Cage.

Oh yeah, and then they trade faces!

Check out the trailer:

You know when they say it’s “so crazy you can’t make it up?” Well, this movie is that! And as terrific as John Travolta is in the film, he’s no match for the “subtle” acting of Nicolas Cage, who chews up the scenery in the most wildly entertaining way!

I love Nicolas Cage as an Actor because he will put it all out there – and I really do wish that Tim Burton’s Superman film starring Cage had become a reality:

There is a terrific documentary that tells that story – see the trailer here:

In 2002, Director Todd Haynes told the story of a frustrated housewife in the 50’s – who befriends a black man as her own husband discovers Conneticut’s gay underground:

4 – “Far From Heaven”

Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid and Dennis Haysbert star – check out the trailer:

Director Haynes evokes the tone and style of a classic Douglas Sirk 50’s melodrama, as he tackles the issues of sexuality and racial tension in a bucolic northeast town:

Julianne Moore is, as always, dynamite in the film – a great drama in the classic 50’s style…now, if you want to celebrate movies “of their time”, then how about this!

3 – “Fuzz”

Yes, the early 70’s were full of action comedies like this one starring Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch as Boston cops out to stop a mad bomber!

Check out the trailer to see Burt Reynolds in a Nun’s habit!

“Fuzz” is good, old-fashioned 70’s movie fun, with offbeat humor that winks to the audience – along with fun action scenes.

Allegedly, Raquel Welch hated Burt Reynolds at the time and refused to do scenes with him! Sadly, we lost the Actress last year…you can see an appreciation of her work here:

Any list of “F” films has to include the 1971 Best Picture, which has one of the greatest action sequences ever captured on film!

2 – “The French Connection”

Gene Hackman also won an Oscar as Best Actor for his portrayal of the NY Cop Popeye Doyle, who tries to break up a french drug ring!

The action centerpiece involves a car chasing a subway train – and Director William Friedkin operated the camera from inside Hackman’s car because it was too dangerous to ask the Director Of Photography to do it!

Click here for more trivia about this movie, and for my list of Gene Hackman’s ten greatest performances:

Finally, I wrap my list with one of the funniest yet most honest looks at high school life – because it was based on a real “year in the life” of a high school!

1 – “Fast Times At Ridgmont High”

Writer / Director Cameron Crowe made his films like “Jerry Maguire” and “Singles”, but prior to that, he wrote a book in 1979, and what a book it was! According to IMDB.com:

Crowe (then 22) returned to high school as a senior to research his book on teen life. Fast Times at Ridgemont High, became a best-seller and Universal Pictures, which had optioned the book while it was still in galley form, signed Crowe to write the screenplay.

Here is the trailer:

The trailer sells it as a “sex comedy” but it’s so much more: you really feel they got what 80’s teens went through, from trying to fit in to trying to get a girlfriend, to – well, let’s let Jeff Spicoli elaborate:

I love discovering obscure movies and the Artists who create them, and share them on list like this….like this one from my “A” list:

Greg Kinnear’s portrayal of Actor Bb Crane is fascinating – see more about it – and all of my “A” list films here:

If you want to see some classic “B” movies, try this one:

“Body Heat” is a great film noir, smoldering and sensual, with a script that darts and weaves as the net around William Hurt closes. Here are more of my favorite “B” movies as well:

I also posted on ten great “C” movies, like this cult classic:

“Chuck & Buck” was joined by a wide range of great movies that began with the letter “C” – see them here:

I also posted a list of ten films that began with the letter “D”, like this one:

A great slice of 90’s pulp! That’s just one of the amazing movies with the letter “D” – see them here:

My most recent post was for “E” movies, and how can you go wrong with this one?

The “subtle” charms of “The Exorcist” are just one of the “E” gems, see them here:

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Let me know how many of my “F” films you’ve seen!

Categories: 70's Cinema, Action Films, Art, Classic Rock, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Movies, New York, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, Talent/Celebrities

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