Post Tagged with: "Garden State"

10 Movies Like Silver Linings Playbook

February 13, 2013 at 2:58 am

10 Movies Like Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook was one of the best movies of 2012.  It’s just a shame I didn’t get a chance to see it early enough to include it in my final 2012 movie rankings. Regardless, there is already a place reserved for the Blu Ray when it’s released.  Right next to the movies mentioned below.  Emotional dramas.  Character driven stories.  Human tales.  Highly entertaining movies that blend romance with personal growth seamlessly.

Movies that won the critical praise of fans and the Academy.  Silver Linings Playbook is nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture.  Combined the 10 films below share 52 Oscar Nominations and 15 wins.  7 out of 10 were nominated for Best Picture.

Odds are, one or two of your personal favorites are among these films if you loved Silver Linings Playbook.  Basically what I’m trying to say is…  It’s one of my favorite shelves.

HONORABLE MENTION: The Pursuit of Happyness, Juno, Stranger Than Fiction, The Blind Side

PATCH ADAMS

Equal parts funny and tragic.  This true story is full of moments that touch your heart.

The 71st Academy Awards:

Nominated for: Best Original Musical or Comedy Score

ALMOST FAMOUS

Cameron Crowe made a career out of making movies like Silver Linings Playbook.  They aren’t all mega hits but there are two that I adore and Almost Famous is one of them.

The 73rd Academy Awards:

  • Best Original Screenplay

Nominated for: Best Supporting Actress (x2), Best Film Editing

GARDEN STATE

From a screenwriting perspective, this movie really hit home when I saw it.  I love the tone of the film and the way it’s paced.  I’ve been developing a script for a little less than a year I describe as ‘my Garden State’.  Seems a bit odd to call it that on a list full of Oscar winners but I loved this movie.

THE DESCENDANTS

Another man who makes his living writing movies like Silver Linings Playbook is Alexander Payne.

The 84th Academy Awards:

  • Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Editing

SIDEWAYS

Alexander Payne again.

“I am NOT drinking any f@$king merlot!”

XTRA | All Time Best: ‘Why so angry’ movie moment

The 77th Academy Awards:

  • Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress

LOST IN TRANSLATION

A charming tale from Sophia Coppola.

The 76th Academy Awards:

  • Best Original Screenplay

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director

AS GOOD AS IT GETS

One of Jack Nicholson’s finest performances also happens to be one of Helen Hunt’s as well.  Both come together in a brilliant story about love and the inspiration it ignites.

The 70th Academy Awards:

  • Best Actor
  • Best Actress

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Editing, Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay

JERRY MAGUIRE

Cameron Crowe again.  When it comes to writing great characters, Mr. Crowe has the quan.

The 69th Academy Awards:

  • Best Supporting Actor

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Editing, Best Original Screenplay

FORREST GUMP

Easily one of the best dramas of all time.  Forrest Gump simultaneously captures your imagination and your heart as you follow him on an unbelievable journey.

The 67th Academy Awards:

  • Best Picture
  • Best Director
  • Best Actor
  • Best Film Editing
  • Best Visual Effects
  • Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominated for: Best Supporting Actor, Art Direction, Cinematography, Makeup, Original Music Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

GOOD WILL HUNTING

Gus Van Sant.  Another phenomenal director who creates fantastic dramas.  Good Will Hunting continually inspires the screenwriter in me whenever I see it.  (Which is at least twice a year.  At least.)

XTRA | Movies That Changed Everything: Good Will Hunting

The 70th Academy Awards:

  • Best Supporting Actor
  • Best Original Screenplay

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, Original Music Score, Best Song

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The Athletic Nerd’s Movie Power Rankings 1-15

September 19, 2011 at 6:44 am

The Athletic Nerd Movie Power Rankings

Go to any major sports website and you will find Power Rankings.  A popular ranking system that lists every team in a league from best to worst.

Since I work for a sports network, it makes perfect sense to take that system and rank my favorite movies of all time.

Except I’m doing things a little differently.  These won’t be updated weekly. (That would be ridiculous) However, you will find links to stories I’ve written on the films in addition to trailers and bonus posts.

The Athletic Nerd Movie Power Rankings

Signs

M. Night Shyamalan’s film inspired me to become a better screenwriter.  There are definitely a ton of people out there who disagree with my number 1 pick but I stand by it.  I feel like writing every single time I see it.

The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan created the greatest superhero movie of all time.

The Matrix

All three films are included in this pick.  Many people loved the first film but hated the trilogy as a whole but I disagree.  I didn’t love Revolutions but Reloaded was incredible.  Plus, you really can’t deny how amazing the first film was.  Outstanding.

A Few Good Men

My favorite screenplay.  I could watch those intense courtroom exchanges every single day.

Good Will Hunting

When it comes to compelling characters, Will Hunting ranks very high for me.

The Shawshank Redemption

I don’t think I’ve ever met a human being who didn’t like this movie.  Just saying.

Dumb & Dumber

My #1 favorite comedy.  The most quotable movie of all time amongst my circle of friends.

Toy Story

The first full length computer animated film is still the best.  Then they went and followed it up with 2 stellar sequels.

The Lord of the Rings

An unbelievable filmmaking achievement.  I watch every second of the trilogy AND the billion hours of special features at least once a year.

The Sandlot

A classic baseball movie.  For a movie nerd obsessed with sports, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Goodfellas

Of course Martin Scorsese has a place on this list.

A Beautiful Mind

I love fascinating characters and John Nash’s story is brilliantly brought to life by Russell Crowe and director Ron Howard.

Inception

Christopher Nolan.  His dream invading caper changed the way I’ll look at original screenplays forever.  The best movie of 2010.

Gladiator

It’s always a proud moment when your favorite movie wins the Oscar.  Russell Crowe appears twice in the top 15!  Not bad.

Garden State

I almost ignored this movie due to lack of interest.  That would have been a huge mistake on my part.

http://theathleticnerd.com/movies/rainy-sundays-the-sandlot
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All Time Best: Movie Character You Want To Be Friends With

October 21, 2010 at 8:57 am

All Time Best: Movie Character You Would Want To Be Friends With

This was a fun post to write.

Among my friends, it was a pretty good debate as to who the champion might be.

Would Billy Madison still be fun once he graduated from teacher’s college?

Could it be Frodo? Or is Sam a better friend overall.

Chewbacca?  A co-worker of mine summed up the Star Wars alum well:

“He’s got your back.”

All Time Best: Movie Character You Want To Be Friends With

How bad ass would it be if your best friend was Optimus Prime?  Can you imagine piling into a vehicle on your way to the bars and he yells

“Roll out!”

All Time Best: Movie Character You Would Want To Be Friends With

Hmmmmm…

Perhaps, the winner is Frank the Tank.

“I can see Blue…  He looks glorious!”

All Time Best: Movie Character You Want To Be Friends With

At the same time, arguments can be made for Vince Vaughn’s Bernard as well.

While we’re on the topic…  How about Wedding Crashers?

What about Stifler?  Would he get annoying over time? Is E.L from Road Trip a better pick or is that just Stifler again?

On an obscure note, I’ve always been a fan of Jesse from Garden State.  Who wouldn’t want a friend who’s filthy rich thanks to silent velcrow and bombs around mansions in golf carts.

Would you rather be friends with Marty Mcfly or Doc Brown?  Marty would stay up later but what if the flux capacitor breaks down?

“Where we’re going we don’t need roads.”

All Time Best: Movie Character You Would Want To Be Friends With

Terminator? Dutch?

Slater from Dazed and Confused?

Anyone from The Hangover?  Mike Tyson as Mike Tyson from The Hangover?

What about Red from The Shawshank Redemption?

In the end, arguments can be made for all of these characters and thousands of others I probably overlooked.

Still, I’m pretty happy about my pick.

It’s hard to argue that a fantastic friend to have would be:

Van Wilder

All Time Best: Movie Character You Would Want To Be Friends With

Van Wilder (who also drives a golf cart… ) would have been a blast to hang out with in college.

True, having Chewy around would be a fantastic conversation starter but I’m basing my opinion on someone from earth for the purposes of this post.

Wait!!!

I think I’ve changed my mind…

Just looking at that Chewy pic of him pitching makes him the real winner here.  How could you not want him as a friend?

Here it is again:

All Time Best: Movie Character You Want To Be Friends With

Nice.

What’s your pick?

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10 Flicks: Lazy Day Movies

March 2, 2010 at 9:50 am

10 Flicks Movie Lists

Every once in a while, when you’re really in the mood to watch a good movie, there’s nothing like a good drama.

These are the types of movies you plan to watch days in advance.  Endearing classics starring Tom Hanks that you look forward to watching.

Lazy day dramas

Honorable Mention: Jerry Maguire, Good Will Hunting (Mostly because I’ve spoken about the films many times on this site already.)

Cast Away

“Wilson!!!!”

There aren’t many actors out there who can carry an entire movie by themselves.  Even fewer can pull it off the way Tom Hanks does in Cast Away.  I have a concept for a movie which features one actress.  I haven’t written it yet because I’m still trying to find a way to fill out the rest of the movie.  Cast Away is a great example of how to keep things interesting and entertaining.

About Schmidt

“Dear Ndugu”

Jack Nicholson carries this movie in a similar way.  I think movies like this depend entirely on an endearing lead character.  I could watch Jack in anything.  I remember buying this movie for exactly that reason.  I wasn’t disappointed.

The Pursuit Of Happiness

“Don’t ever let somebody tell you… You can’t do something.”

Will Smith is my favorite actor.  From Fresh Prince all the way up to the blockbuster action movies that established him as a box office guarantee.  However, he’s proven time and time again that he can shed the tears needed to capture audience’s hearts.  The Pursuit Of Happiness is an amazing and uplifting story that’s perfect for a quiet evening at home.  (Or a Rainy Sunday for that matter.) Extra points for being a true story.

Patch Adams

“Why don’t you like me? You’re a prick and I like you.”

Robin Williams leads the way in this drama that again gets extra points because it’s based on a true story.  You never really know where this movie is heading the first time you see it but the journey is absolutely fascinating.

Apollo 13

“We just lost the moon.”

Thought I was going to go with “Houston we have a problem” didn’t you?  I saw Apollo 13 during the old ‘Network Premiere’ era.  I remember vividly being completely frustrated during every single commercial break.  I’m a young guy, I didn’t know what happened.  I needed to know and again, Tom Hanks delivered.

Mr. Holland’s Opus

“Enough of us already think “time” is a magazine.”

I’m not sure why this movie makes me sad but it does.  Regardless, it’s still an unbelievable and original story.  I’m a big fan of stories that span multiple decades.  Some of the most memorable movies in history tell their stories in this way.  Do you think we’ll start seeing some 80′s, 90′s and 00′s in the near future?

Forrest Gump

“Sometimes, there just aren’t enough rocks.”

If there is a definitive movie that spans multiple decades, it’s Forrest Gump.  Tom Hanks makes his third and most important appearance to this list.  I looked around for my copy today and then I realized that I don’t even own it!  That’s a big problem.  I think Forrest Gump is my favorite drama of all time.  I’ll put some thought into it but I think it would be the winner.

My Life

Michael Keaton’s performance really makes you take a step back and examine your own life.  Sounds pretty intense for a list like this but it’s important to remind yourself where you are lucky in life.  This movie is a perfect way to inspire those thoughts.

Garden State

“I thought you killed yourself?  That wasn’t you?”

If you haven’t seen this movie and you’re looking for a good quirky and well written drama, look no further than Garden State.  Essentially, it’s about a man who returns home after a long absence for his mother’s funeral but the movie is so much more than that.  It’s so interesting and thoughtful but who am I kidding?  You’ve already seen it right?

Almost Famous

“I’m always home. I’m uncool.”

I’m really big on originality.  Don’t get me wrong, I love sequels and remakes and big budget franchises but you won’t find any of them on a list like this.  This list is reserved for amazing characters and touching stories.  I keep going back to Almost Famous when I think about new characters and how they fit in my stories.  Every single person in this film is interesting in unique ways.  Not to mention it’s an incredible movie.  If you’re going to watch any film on this list, I’d recommend you start with Almost Famous.

XTRA | Rainy Sundays: The Beauty of Lazy Day Movies

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