Jan 1, 2011

New Year Resolutions 2011

 So, it's 2011, folks! January. Hmm. Another January. Didn't we just have one? Anyway, January is the perfect time for new beginnings, ambitious promises and innovative improvements. Thus, here are my twelve New Year resolutions for 2011...

Each month, I will watch a classic film - and not just any classic, one of those that I've been meaning to watch for ages, but never had the guts, because I've been so sure I wouldn't like them anyway. Or maybe I just never found the right mood or moment for them. However, they are movies that every self-respecting filmoholic should see, so I'm practically forcing myself to watch them. I had it coming, because I DID asks nicely first... And anyway, I'm doing myself a favour, because I'll probably end up liking at least some of these films. And afterwards I can hold my head a bit higher amongst all the hardcore moviefans.


These are the movies I'm planning to see:

January: Sunset Blvd. (1950)
February: Mulholland Dr. (2001)
March: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
April: The Deer Hunter (1978)
May: 8 ½ (1963)
June: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
July: Citizen Kane (1941)
August: A Clockwork Orange (1971)
September: Blade Runner (1982)
October: Goodfellas (1990)
Nobember: Scarface (1983)
December: Manhattan (1979)


So, what do you think? Did I make any good choices here? Will this be a pain in the rear or a merry little picnic? I myself am feeling quite excited about this. And only a bit worried. About March, mostly. Oh well, a month at a time!

10 comments:

Helinä Laajalahti said...

Nice idea! I made a bit similar promise by promising to myself that at the end of the year I have watched at least 90% of the films in IMDb's Top 250 list - this means going through also many classics.

You made good choices. I've seen most and liked also most of them. Many of them are not very easy films, but hey, who says watching films should always be easy? ;-)

June said...

What a great promise! Probably should try to make one myself, something that kind :) Too many classics are still unseen.

I think your list is great, I haven't seen all of them but I do think that everyone should know all Kubrick's films! They are definetely eccentric and not for all people to like, but as Paivi said - who says watching films should always be easy ;)

Eeva said...

Paivi: Your promise sounded great, too! I also picked most of these from IMDb's list, but I still have a loooong way to go before I reach that 90 %...

bubble: I'm embarrassingly ignorant when it comes to Kubrick's films... But soon I'll be less ignorant. ;) I too often tend to go with the easier films, but it's good to challenge yourself once in a while!

Anonymous said...

Nice choices, I've already catched all of them and none of them disappointed even though I'm not that big of a Fellini fan. With Blade Runner you have to remember that it's one of the first sci-fi films made with a large mythology based on Philip K Dicks books, and a lot of new movies in that genre are based on ideas already found in it.
Happy New Year!

Harri said...

Good choices, I've seen nine of them (and planning to see the rest someday).

Mulholland Dr. is my favourite film, so I'm looking forward to your opinion. It's not the easiest film to like, and it's quite easy to dislike it but ah, it's so excellent. (Actually I'm maybe going to show it to my friends in our the night of movies -marathon tomorrow. :D)

Allen's Manhattan is great and definitely a classic, but I really recommend you to watch Annie Hall. It's easier, funnier and the film that made me fell in love with Woody's neurotic and stuttering but still lovely character. One can't really not to like it, and when it comes to romcoms, Annie hall is on the first place of my top list.

Eeva said...

5plitreel: Didn't know that about Blade Runner, thanks for informing me! I guess some of these films definitely require a little research done, to orientate yourself into watching them.

Harri: I'm really, really hoping I'll like Mulholland Drive! At least a little. ;) So I'll try to forget my last, unpleasant Lynch experience and watch the film with an open mind!

And yes, Annie Hall was the other Allen film I considered, but ended up choosing Manhattan. But as I've heard so much good about it, I'll probably manage to watch it without having to blackmail myself with New Year resolutions. :D

Anonymous said...

Tihii, great list, great resolution!

I'm going along with Harri: Manhattan is essential but before I saw it, I'd maybe watch Annie Hall. Though it doesn't really matter, they're both perfectly lovely <3.

Instead of Mulholland Drive, I'd probably suggest Blue Velvet or Lost Highway, which is a sort of a pre-film to it.. They're all great.

You have 2 very early on performances from Meryl Streep on your list ^_^. I like that.

Eeva said...

cinefiliaa: I won't watch Manhattan until December, so I have loads of time to check out Annie Hall first! I'm hoping I'll finally get over the anti-Allen attitudes that the recent films have created in me...

I've actually seen Blue Velvet, and I'm afraid it wasn't my cup of tea, at all. And it kind of made me hesitant about watching other Lynch's films. But hopefully i'll get more out of Mulholland Drive.

Oh and it's a real shame I haven't yet seen those Meryl Streep movies beause I ADORE that woman!

Anonymous said...

And she is SO adorelicious, if you know what I mean ^_~.
The best actress of her generation, and in my book, one of the best in 50 years of cinema history! Hell, maybe whole~

Eeva said...

"Adorelicious" is probably the best word ever to describe her. I'd like to be Meryl Streep when I grow up!