Nice picture of Art accompanying the article. And Happy April 1, everyone!

We caught up with Garfamudis by phone (he moves from house to house like a wanted felon, which he may very well be)

Art Garfamudis = Mafia Drug Tsar

Seriously why would anyone ever go to Washington DC or New York City if they didn't have ball parks. It's not like there is anything else interesting to visit.

You know, when Marge Schott was mentioned, I just KNEW it was gonna turn sexual. I'm glad Art didn't disappoint.

Garfamudis: He should be overweight and wear a three-piece suit with a watch fob on the vest. He should smoke a big stogie, of course. And have a pinky ring. You gotta look the part. Embrace what you are, I always say. Oh, and he should have a mistress. Maybe a younger woman who aspires to be a singer; and he should do everything in his power to help her singing career no matter whether she’s good or not and maybe she faces public humiliation when he pushes her too far. But he presses on, because he’s a can-do guy who won’t take no for an answer from anybody.

"You just don't know Charlie. He thought that by finishing that notice he could show me he was an honest man. He was always trying to prove something. The whole thing about Susie being an opera singer, that was trying to prove something. You know what the headline was the day before the election, 'Candidate Kane found in love nest with quote, singer, unquote.' He was gonna take the quotes off the singer."

#5 gets it... Greatest movie ever made.

Greatest movie ever made.

Really??? I've tried to watch it like 4 times, can't get through it. I recognize a lot of the innovations in cinematography, but just not a great watch. I liked that RKO### film about the making of Citizen Kane, though.

I sort of wish Kane would fall off the top of those "Greatest" lists. I love it -- it is one of my top three favorite movies of all time -- but nowadays everyone comes to it with this expectation of "wow, I'm about to see the Greatest Film Every Made," many of whom probably wouldn't be all that interested in it if it weren't on the top of a list. The result: inevitable disapointment or confusion of some kind on the part of new viewers.

I wish they could just stumble on it like I did, totally ignorant of the fact that it's supposed to be The Greatest Film of All Time. I was just flippin' channels and thought Ruth Warrick looked hot for an olden-times lady.

Casablanca was a movie I came into with big expectations, and it delivered. But I'm hesitant to see Citizen Kane for exactly the reason Craig mentions.

One of the STATS books from 1998 includes a Primerian discussion about Kane. It featured Bill James, David Pinto, and some others.

I just had a similar experience with "Breathless". I have heard about it for 30 odd years and when my son finally "forced" me to watch it, I was left mildly disappointed. I can appreciate the camera work, acting, the absolute "Coolness" factor and just how ground breaking it was at the time. But in the end, it was a great film noir done in French to me but it didn't leave me breathless.

I pimp Some Like It Hot all the time and I always fear the "Citizen Kane" expectations problem.

the thing about Citizen Kane, at least the reason it's universally named the GOAT, is that it was COMPLETELY revolutionary. It broke many of the rules the studios had put in place as to what the cinematography should look like, how the story should be constructed, how the dialogue should sound, etc. You really have to have seen a lot of pre-1940 Hollywood movies to notice it, but that's generally why its always put at the top.

also, since by now everyone knows what Rosebud is even before seeing it, it sort of takes away the big reveal, which is part of the genius of it.

the thing about Citizen Kane, at least the reason it's universally named the GOAT, is that it was COMPLETELY revolutionary. It broke many of the rules the studios had put in place as to what the cinematography should look like, how the story should be constructed, how the dialogue should sound, etc. You really have to have seen a lot of pre-1940 Hollywood movies to notice it, but that's generally why its always put at the top.

Yeah, I think that's it, and I think it's a mistake. It should be recognized as the most revolutionary movie of all time, I can certainly see that. But, to me, "best" is about watchability, and maybe cultural resonance. Movies like Casablanca, or the Godfather, or the Wizard of Oz, can be watched and enjoyed over and over, and are. And the sheer impact on our culture, quotability, etc. is much, much greater.

I knew Charlie Kane. He was no Hearst. Or Murdoch.

16. Art Garfamudis Posted: April 01, 2008 at 11:55 AM (#2726287)
I knew Charlie Kane. He was no Hearst. Or Murdoch.


YOU'RE NOT REAL!!!!!!

What's impressive to me about Citizen Kane is that I went into it with a grudge, knowing of its legendary Greatest-of-All-Time status and somewhat resenting it for that reason, and as soon as I finished the movie, my reaction was pretty much: "####, they weren't kiddin'." It's not my favorite movie, but I can't see leaving it outside of my top 20 by any stretch of the imagination.

As long as I've successfully managed to derail this thread into a Citizen Kane discussion, what would everybody's top films list look like? Here's my top five (the only number I've ever managed to narrow the list down to and keep it in the order I want, after that I have no idea how to order it):

1. Apocalypse Now
2. The Third Man
3. The Godfather/The Godfather Part II
4. GoodFellas
5. Sunset Blvd.

also, since by now everyone knows what Rosebud is even before seeing it, it sort of takes away the big reveal, which is part of the genius of it.

I don't think that kills it. If you don't realize that it's a MacGuffin by the time you've gone that far in the movie, you're missing too much other good stuff.

Little known fact about Art Garfimudis: One day back in 1896, he was crossing over to Jersey on the ferry. And as he pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in. And on it there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on. She was carrying a white parasol. Art only saw her for one second. She didn't see him at all. But he'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that he hasn't thought of that girl.

Her name was Marge Schott.

As long as I've successfully managed to derail this thread into a Citizen Kane discussion, what would everybody's top films list look like? Here's my top five (the only number I've ever managed to narrow the list down to and keep it in the order I want, after that I have no idea how to order it):

1. Apocalypse Now
2. The Third Man
3. The Godfather/The Godfather Part II
4. GoodFellas
5. Sunset Blvd.

Good Question. Just browsing the AFI top 100, not in order.

Agree on Godfather I (didn't like II nearly as much) and Sunset Boulevard. I'd add the Wizard of Oz, the Searchers, and either Casablanca or the French Connection.

I guess I'll go 6, since you really had 6.

1. The Godfather
2. The Wizard of Oz
3. The Searchers
4. Sunset Boulevard
5. Casablanca/The French Connection

Since I guess we're limiting ourselves to American/Hollywood movies, I'll go with ...

1) Citizen Kane
2) Godfather, Part I (I prefer Part II, but Part I had more of an impact)
3) Dr. Strangelove
4) Vertigo (American-made, if by a British director)
5) Casablanca

Since I guess we're limiting ourselves to American/Hollywood movies.

Ah, by no means. My top 10-15 would include The Leopard, Fanny and Alexander and Scenes from a Marriage, The Conformist and, of course, the movie from which I got my handle, Le Samouraï.

Ah, by no means.

well, in that case ...

1) Le Grande Illusion
2) Citizen Kane
3) Godfather, Part I
4) Dr. Strangelove
5) Strangers on a Train

If we stay American...

1) Casablanca
2) The Third Man
3) Bridge over the River Kwai
4) Duck Soup
5) Children of Men

Princess Mononoke is 1 or 2 if we expand the criteria to foreign films.

Children of Men

Wow, I thought it was ok, surprising really, but nowhere in my top several hundred. I think I watch a lot of movies though, probably 3-5 week for several years now and I've never really had a good top X list. I don't know if it's because I watch a lot, or despite watching a lot. I also think a lot of people put 'important' films on their lists, to give them some credibility so I tend to ignore them.

Seven Samurai for example was great, I've watched it multiple times, I agree it's important - but if I had to only watch 5 more films until I died, it would not be one of them.

I do love Goodfellas though, probably because I'm Italian and wanted to be a gangster growing up. Hell, I still want to be one.

1. Back to the Future
2. The Big Lebowski
3. Blazing Saddles

Wow, I thought it was ok, surprising really, but nowhere in my top several hundred.

I loved it. I don't expect it to be on anyone else's list, but I'm a fan of not too distant future distopia flicks and this one is my favorite and really moved me the first time I saw it. And it's not really in my top 5 if I include Japanese films.

This is too tough and my list changes every time. I gave myself 2 minutes to brainstorm; I guarantee I missed some. I probably don't have anything younger than 25 years old on the list because I need to see things several times before I'll rate it.
I'll pick my favorite by category, it's the best I can do.
Comedy: Some Like It Hot over Duck Soup, Night at the Opera, Young Frankenstein, Sleeper
Noir: Double Indemnity over Sunset Boulevard in a very close vote. Edward G. tips the scales and Barbara Stanwyck is a tremendous actress.
Western: Red River over The Shootist (which I never saw til recently). The Searchers is growing on me but I need to give it a full sit-down. That TBS/TNT thing with Robert Duvall, Costner and Annette Bening is really good. Duvall is just terrific.
Mob: Godfather 1 over Goodfellas. I love some parts of GFII better than GFI but there are parts that I don't much like (Diane Keaton's whining in the abortion scene)
SciFi: The Day the Earth Stood Still over 2001, Forbidden Planet in a close one. Anne Francis and the theremin almost tip the scale for FP. :)
Swashbuckler: The Adventures of Robin Hood over the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Love Story: Casablanca uber alles. Nothing wrong with Annie Hall
Drama: Citizen Kane over Key Largo (love that Edward G.) narrowly
Mystery: North by Northwest (the characterizations are so tremendous) over The Third Man, Strangers on a Train, Rear Window, Psycho
Sport: Raging Bull
Grand Adventure: Lawrence of Arabia -- I saw that for the first time about 3 years ago and have seen twice since. You must see it on the big screen.
Can't think of the right classification: Taxi Driver

Seven Samurai for example was great, I've watched it multiple times, I agree it's important - but if I had to only watch 5 more films until I died, it would not be one of them.

There you go. If I could only see one more film before I died, it would be this one. It was my favorite movie before I even dreamed of coming to Japan, and learning more about Japanese culture, history, and cinema has only deepened my appreciation of it.

On a related note, Takashi Shimura is one of the great underrated actors. Watch Seven Samurai and Ikiru, and then marvel that he made Ikiru before he made Seven Samurai.

I think I watch a lot of movies though, probably 3-5 week for several years now and I've never really had a good top X list.

I have the same problem with pretty much everything. I can't name my favorite top 5 pop songs, or movies, or video games, or really anything. I can name tons of great examples, but I'm more of a threshold guy than a ranking guy.

2) The Third Man"

Both the American and British Film Institutes claim The Third Man belongs to their own country. I've always thought of it as British. Either way, it's great.

1. Citizen Kane
2. Vertigo
3. Ran
4. Casablanca
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
6. Cries and Whispers (not a movie to watch if you're looking for a fun night)
7. On the Waterfront
8. The Lady Eve

I've never seen either Godfather, but if I had they'd probably be there somewhere.

I've never seen either Godfather,

Is that even legal?

the thing about Citizen Kane, at least the reason it's universally named the GOAT, is that it was COMPLETELY revolutionary. It broke many of the rules the studios had put in place as to what the cinematography should look like, how the story should be constructed, how the dialogue should sound, etc. You really have to have seen a lot of pre-1940 Hollywood movies to notice it, but that's generally why its always put at the top.

I get the same sense musically with both Sgt. Pepper and the White Album, moreso the latter. Within the rather straightforward context of pop and/or rock at the time, they were groundbreaking. Today? They're still good, but without the context it's hard to appreciate them as much as they should be.

I get the same sense musically with both Sgt. Pepper and the White Album
Yeah, I can see the parallels easily. My kids are surprised by some of my likes and dislikes in music -- one kid is very much into the realm of what I would consider "Classic Rock" and the other moderately so. They can't understand why I like "Brown Sugar" but pretty much dislike Rolling Stones music that followed and sounds just like it. For me, it's because BS was a new(ish) sound when it came out and the rest of the songs are just repeats, if you will excuse my hyperbole. They, of course, do not have the context, and don't see any difference in quality between BS and let's say, "Start It Up".

1. Bull Durham
2. Major League
3. Field of Dreams
4. The Natural
5. The Kid from Left Field

Is that even legal?

I haven't either, despite the fact I'm sure I'd really enjoy it, as well. My problem is that any time I'm with a few friends and we want to watch a movie, no matter who the group consists of, most or all of them have already seen it (likely multiple times) and would rather watch something new. So I have to watch it on my own and I don't have a problem with that, but since it's almost certainly the movie I haven't seen that I most want to see, I'm waiting for a perfect time to watch it that hasn't come.

So I have to watch it on my own and I don't have a problem with that, but since it's almost certainly the movie I haven't seen that I most want to see, I'm waiting for a perfect time to watch it that hasn't come.

Make sure you watch it in its original theatrical form first. Avoid any edited versions for free-TV. Also, there is a composite version out there, which puts the scenes from I & II in chronological order. It is fine in its own way, but you should see the original way first. Also, read the book, it's great too.

I think waiting for the perfect time is a mistake, since it will never come. Just watch it, even if you have to do it over a night or two, it's a really good movie. Really good story, nice acting. Feels authentic, it's just nice.

Puzo had his moments.

I love Citizen Kane, but the beginning always distracts me because they used San Diego's Balboa Park for a bunch of the exteriors of Xanadu. I'm always sitting there thinking "Hey! That's the arboretum and the reflecting pool! I wonder if they'll show the Model Train Museum!"

I've never seen either Godfather

At least you recognize that Godfather III should just be ignored.

5. The Kid from Left Field

That's not even the best Gary Coleman made-for-TV movie with a title that starts with "The Kid".

You need to plant your pole at a more acute angle.

Have you thought about trying decathlon?

"read the book, it's great too"

Sorry, this is just wrong. Mario Puzo couldn't write anything more sophisticated than a grocery list. The whole subplot with the girl whose **** is so big only Sonny Corleone is man enough to fill it is just laughably, embarassingly bad porn.

But bad books often make great films.

Favorite/"best" films:

Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Wizard of Oz, City Lights, Singin' in the Rain

Top films of the last 25 years:

Brazil, Memento, Eternal Sunshine etc

Order is randomized.

The two best sci-fi films ever were made by the same guy: Alien and Blade Runner. Although Alien is arguably hybrid sci-fi/horror. It doesn't matter, it's still my favorite movie of all damn time. Perfect in every way. You can stow your 2001: A Space Odyssey pimping somewhere else, bub.

Count me as one who, though duly impressed with Citizen Kane, prefers Casablanca in every way. The sheer fun, rewatchability, QUOTABILITY of that film is unequaled in cinema history.

You can stow your 2001: A Space Odyssey pimping somewhere else, bub
If you like coherent story lines, I can see the hate. :) A serious question, have you seen it on the big screen? It is mind-blowing in that setting. I haven't seen Blade Runner, I know I should.

I didn't think of Cartoon Division: I only saw Yellow Submarine once so I can't count it. I have a great affection for Roger Rabbit. I saw Spirited Away once and really, really liked it but would need to see again to move into the rankings. I know I'm missing some things here.

FYI, I saw "In Bruges" this weekend. Really, really good hitman morality movie. Fockin' Bruges, if you've seen it.

Didn't we do this 4 months ago?

1. Lawrence of Arabia
2. The Godfather
3. Manhattan
4. The Third Man
5. Crimes and Misdemeanors
6. Lost in Translation
7. Yojimbo
8. Together
9. Stagecoach
10. There Will Be Blood (not sure if it's really there yet, but maybe!)

I also prefer Casablanca to Citizen Kane. Citizen Kane is awfully good. I watched Casablanca on a flight ... I felt like running down the aisles and slapping five with everyone else about a dozen times.

A serious question, have you seen it on the big screen? It is mind-blowing in that setting.

No, I've never seen it anywhere except the small screen. Though that doesn't really bother me...I like letterboxing and I don't get thrown off by a small viewing window.

I don't HATE 2001 at all, although it's rather self-indulgent (I'm talking about the interminable "Blue Danube" sequence, not the psychedelic ending). I just think it gets elevated to the top of the sci-fi pantheon unthinkingly, because it so openly makes a stab at being "high art" and because it has Kubrick's name attached to it. Whereas Alien is gritty, terrifying, and downright ugly at times (and is also working in a more disreputable genre), but is every bit as cerebral and breathtakingly executed.

FWIW, the best Kubrick films are Paths Of Glory and Barry Lyndon. I'm probably the only person on the planet who feels that way.

I didn't think of Cartoon Division: I only saw Yellow Submarine once so I can't count it. I have a great affection for Roger Rabbit. I saw Spirited Away once and really, really liked it but would need to see again to move into the rankings. I know I'm missing some things here.

Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are my Japanese picks (head nod to Akira). It's hard for me to pick among Disney flicks, but Lion King and Monster's Inc. probably would be my two. Does The Simpsons Movie count? Unlike every stoner I know, I did not like the Hobbit. I loved Shrek when I first saw it, but have grown weary of it since (thank you sequels). A Scanner Darkly was entertaining and trippy, but not really great. I hate to limit it to a just a few artists, but I'm having trouble thinking outside of the Disney/Pixar/Miyazaki bubble.

That's not even the best Gary Coleman made-for-TV movie with a title that starts with "The Kid".

Whatever. Where else can you see a Padres-White Sox World Series?

In no apparent order...

1. My Life to Live
2. Pickpocket
3. The Wages of Fear
4. Cleo from 5 to 7
5. Balthazar

I too have never seen any of the Godfather movies. Or Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings.

Favorite Film - It's between It's a Wonderful Life & Citizen Kane, which kind of compliment each other. Capra builds up the everyman, Kane tears down the giant.
Favorite family film - Babe
Favorite action - Spartacus
Favorite Film Noir - Double Indemnity (if LA Confidential doesn't count as noir)
Favorite mystery/suspense - Vertigo (Hitchcock films would make up the top 20)
Favorite foreign film - The Seven Samurai (though I think The Icycle Thief is genius, and ruined The Bicycle Thief for me)
Favorite guilty pleasure - Dumb & Dumber
Favorite sports movie - Hoosiers
Favorite Biblical movie - The Passion of the Christ

What do you guys think of "The Exorcist"? I saw it for the first time the other night. A little creepy, but far from frightening (I had read the book beforehand). I think it might be another candidate for "groundbreaking"

what would everybody's top films list look like?

1 - the women
2 - beaches
3 - the last seduction
4 - deceived (the goldie hawn flick about the bad husband and how she gets him back)
5 - tie - the jennifer lopez and the julia roberts flicks and bout every lifetime movie about chicks killing the husbands who beat them up/put them down/gave them no emotional support/ran off with other women or men

heh

ok, now for the real list

1 - who framed roger rabbit
2 - dirty rotten scoundrels
3 - bull durham
4 - the princess bride
5 - any movie with fred and ginger

Godfather
Casablanca
Lion in Winter
Lawrence of Arabia
Schindler's List

1 - Touch of Evil
2 - Assault on Precinct 13 (The original)
3 - Hold That Ghost
4 - House on Haunted Hill (The original)
5 - Sullivan's Travels
6 - Hold That Lion!
7 - Attack!
8 - What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
9 - The George Raft Story
10 - St. Valentine's Day Massacre
11 - Billy the Kid vs Dracula
12 - Citizen Kane

almost every one of you just lists all these GRIM freaking movies. don't any of yall LIKE comedies? i mean, they aren't ALL chick flix you know

I really enjoyed his work with Paul Simon. It's a shame that he's had to turn to writing for ESPN to make a living.

don't any of yall LIKE comedies?

I have Duck Soup fourth.

In no particular order...

54
Boxing Helena
Good to Go
Bad Timing
Carnal Knowledge
Catch-22

I forgot LA Confidential on my best "recent" (last 25 yrs) list.

BBC, many of us, even those who do love comedies, tend to give them short shrift on lists like this. Not really sure why. Probably the best double feature I ever saw was Some Like it Hot & Tootsie...a roll-in-the-aisles laugh fest. Unless the best was Miracle of Morgan's Creek & Hail the Conquering Hero...perhaps Preston Sturges, not Orson Welles, is the pre-eminent American cinematic genius.

1 - lawrence of arabia "no Dryden, this is going to be fun ..."
2 - dr strangelove "Mr President, WE MUST NOT ALLOW A MINESHAFT GAP!!!"
3 - apocalypse now "someday this war's gonna end ..."
4 - Barton Fink "You're a sick ####, Fink!"
5 - Network "He's saying life is ########, and it is, so what're you screaming about?"

just to chum the waters a bit, color me unimpressed with casablanca, i saw it recently for the first time and was just underwhelmed. it was written by 6 different writers and it shows. the lines are quotable but they just feel like lines, i didn't believe in the characters and the decisions they made at all ... whole thing felt inorganic

1 - Touch of Evil
5 - Sullivan's Travels
8 - What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

1 should be on my Noir (I suppose) list.
5 -- only got turned on to Sturges in the last few years. Ball of Fire (Stanwyck, Cooper) should have been in my short Comedy list. My wife just cracks up at the nasal-y professor.
8 -- That's one creepy movie. There's a woman in our gym at work who reminds me of the Bette Davis character physically. She's really nice but that's a freaky look she's got going on.

What do you guys think of "The Exorcist"?
The movie has grown on me over the years, I like it a lot, even if it's not in my Top 100. I read the book when it came out. I was about 21 at the time and it freaked me out. I finished about 2:00 AM and tried to sleep -- I stayed awake for hours. Even though I was in my atheist stage, I kept the shades up so I could see Old Scratch if he was looking in my window.

1. The Shawshank Redemption
2. This is Spinal Tap
3. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
4. Rain Man
5. Forrest Gump

Anybody who hasn't seen The Godfather or its first sequel should be patient...FFC and co. recently finished a new restoration of the trilogy and it's rumored that it will be revived theatrically coinciding with a new DVD release. Needless to say, as somebody wasn't born until 17 years after the first movie was made, I'm excited as hell.

I've never seen either Godfather, but if I had they'd probably be there somewhere.

All these years I thought I was the only one who'd never seen any of the Godfather movies. Favorite movies...

1. Brief Encounter
2. Pandora's Box
3. Wings of Desire
4. The Wizard of Oz
5. A Hard Day's Night
6. The Hidden Fortress
7. The Unbearable Lightness of Being
8. Double Indemnity
9. Loves of a Blonde
10. Le Rayon Vert

I can't believe The Grapes of Wrath is being skipped over. Everything about it was magnificent. It's a superior film to Stagecoach.

I can't believe The Grapes of Wrath is being skipped over. Everything about it was magnificent.
"Then it don't matter. I'll be all around in the dark - I'll be everywhere. Wherever you can look - wherever there's a fight, so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever there's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there. I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad. I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready, and when the people are eatin' the stuff they raise and livin' in the houses they build - I'll be there, too. "

By the time he gets to "a cop beatin' up a guy", I'm in full tear mode.

I really enjoyed his work with Paul Simon. It's a shame that he's had to turn to writing for ESPN to make a living.

And now I hear The Sounds of Silence.

Where have you gone, Art Garfamudis?
The Onion turns its lonely eyes to you.

Just to throw in a few lonesome titles: "28 Up" (et al), "Notorious," "The Red Balloon," "Big Business" (Laurel & Hardy), "The Incredibles," "The Shop Around the Corner," "L'Atalante," "Little Red Riding Rabbit," "The Best Years of Our Lives," "100 Years at the Movies" (Chuck Workman clipfest).

Now that this thread is dead, I can admit I love watching the first two Blade movies.

No, I'm serious. And I thought Underworld was great too.

I was surprised to not see more love given to Shawshank Redemption, I've rarely met a person who didn't absolutely gush about that movie.

Add me to the list of people who haven't seen the Godfather all the way through, I've seen bits and pieces of it, and it's possible that along with the Mad satire version of it, that I've seen enough to know the story, but I'm waiting for a time when I can really watch it and be in the right mood. Heck I have new movies that I own that I haven't bothered to watch (300 at the top of that list) because I'm not in the proper frame of mind.

My age shows with my first pick.

1. Star Wars IV: A New hope. It's hilarious how much my 10 year old nephew and his friends absolutely love Star Wars, they are playing with the toys in the same way that me and my friends did when we were kids (although none of them are attempting to make a movie with action figures, outside of baseball this was my other passion when I was young)

My five year old thinks Luke is the bee's knees. I don't have the heart to tell him all the action is with Han and Vader.