Best Movies Alphabetically "F" Great Movies that begin with F (part 2 of 2) Review

More great movies to rent, buy, enjoy, share.  These begin with the letter F and are part of my series of great movies by the letters.  I figure if you wander into a video store or look up movies in a movie guidebook....listing them alphabetically may help steer you to some movies worth experiencing. Pt. 2 of  2

Flirting With Disaster (1996) Directed by David O. Russell

Seeing Alan Alda and Lily Tomlin as aging sixties flower children, and Mary Tyler Moore and George Segal as a neurotic jewish couple is only the beginning of the off-beat delights this very different contemporary comedy delivers. Directed by David (Three Kings) O. Russell the film is about Ben Stiller who after becoming a father, realizes after talking to a psychology grad student Tea Leoni, he must find and meet his birth parents to find inner peace. He takes the psychology grad student, and wife (Patricia Arquette)along on his quest.

Floating Weeds (1959), aka Ukigusa or Drifting Weeds, directed by Yasujiro Ozu

Ozu's first color film is a remake of a 1934 silent film he did. You'll gain a completely different kind of perspective by spending a few hours in an Ozu film. Yeah I guarantee it. This one is about a group of traveling actors who visit a remote island. The leader of the troup visits his illegitimate son and former lover after years of separation. Ozu films are unique, subtle, and nearly perfect works of art.

Forbidden Games (1951), aka Les Jeux Interdits or The Secret Game, France, directed by Rene Clement

One of the most poignant and beautiful anti-war films ever made. Two children play-act war and the ways of adults amidst the real carnage of World War 2. Youn refugee Brigitte Fossey sees her parents and pet dog killed. She meets a slightly older boy whose family takes her in. Then the children decide to bury the dead pets in the same respectful way that people are buried. They even steal crosses from the cemetery. A unique, memorable film.


42nd Street (1933) Directed by Lloyd Bacon

The classic back-street musical featuring brilliant choreography by Busby Berkley still works. Sucessful Broadway director, Julian Marsh, produces a new show, in spite of his poor health. The show is backed by a rich old codger in love with the star of the show Dorothy Brock, but she's still in love with her old partner. On the night before the premiere of the shot Dorothy breaks her ankle and one of the chorus girls, Peggy Sawyer tries to take over her part. Drama, memorable songs including Shuffle off to Buffalo, 42nd Street, Your Getting to Be a Habit with Me, It Must be June and Young and Healthy are from Harry Warren and Al Dubin. It was directed by Lloyd Bacon and starred, Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Bebe Daniels, Dick Powell and a young Ginger Rogers. There's a colorized version of the thing so you have absolutely no excuse not to find it and watch it.


Frankenstein (1931) Directed by James Whale

Super atmospheric monster movie combining Shelley's novel with the silent film The Golem. Collin Clive is the definitive mad scientist creating a man out of the parts of dead bodies, but Fritz his assistant inadvertently gives Dr. Victor Frankenstein a criminal brain and the man come to life is a monster (Karloff). Despite age, lack of music score it is still an fascinating entertaining at times powerful film. Long-censored footage, restored in 1987, enhances the impact of several key scenes, including the drowning of a little girl.


Freaks (1932) Directed by Tod Browning

Still controversial and horrifying nearly 70 years after it was unleashed on unsuspecting audiences. ( It was banned and disowned by it's studio and sold to Dwayne Esper who distributed it as an exploitation feature). The final 10 minutes will still give most nightmares. Real circus geeks were the stars of director Tod Brownings most bizzarre and horrifying feature. The freaks are actually extremely warm and sympathetic characters, abused and mis-understood by ‘normal' people. Browning took a big chance and basically lost, (making just a few more features afterwards and almost forgotten now) when he made this feature. Do not miss this gem.

French Connection (1971) Directed by William Friedkin

A superb Gene Hackman performance, an under-rated one from Roy Scheider and an exciting, realistic car chase are 3 reasons why this one is here. I love the location filming, the documentary feel, the characters we spend some time with are far from perfect which makes them a lot more interesting than most movie heroes we get stuck with. The French Connection took the true story of the biggest drug bust of its era (1962) and updated it slightly changing the names of those involved. It used authentic locations, tough street slang and language (remember the first major studio film to use the F word was 1970's Mash -- and hey Epinions still hates us using it) were not elements audiences were overly familiar with (as they are now). The relentless in your face narrative perspective is tough and macho. The French Connection does with it's style and acting and direction what a special effects film would later do-- It pounds at the audience without mercy. It's in your face much like Popeye Doyle's style of interrogation.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963) directed by Terrence Young

For some this remains the best Bond of them all. Dr. No started it all, but the low budget and rough edges showed through on that one. Here with a slightly higher budget and a smoother, cockier Connery we had a Bond film that was classy, perhaps a bit too reserved for some but it delivered the goods, some thrills, a little sex, some humor and Connery, Sean Connery. The formula was firmly established with this one and the next changes would involving adding a little more sex, some more gadgets and stripping away some but not all of the sophistication, and reserve.