Eric Quinn

#63 Empire of the Sun 624 points, 17 lists "P-51! Cadillac of the sky!" Box Office: 66.7M Rotten Tomatoes: 75% Metacritic: 62 Awards: 2 National Board of Review Awards, 6 Academy Award nominations, 3 BAFTA wins and 3 nominations, 2 Golden Globe nominations, 1 Grammy Award nomination Its Legacy: Considered one of Spielberg’s most profound works. One of the first films for both Christian Bale and Ben Stiller. Was the influence for Tropic Thunder. Part of a World War II Spielberg trilogy with Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. Gave Joe Pantoliano a paycheck. Commentary: In 1993, Steven Spielberg directed Schindler’s List, his greatest, most important work ever. His masterpiece I would argue. Yet it took a while to actually come out, with Spielberg himself doubting his abilities. And in a way, he would do a practice test before that masterpiece with the 80s film Empire of the Sun. Starring baby Christian Bale in one of his first film roles, this is a powerful loss of innocence tale, about a rich kid who not only learns about the harshness of the world, but loses nearly everything he holds dear. It’s a tough watch, but Spielberg still ensures we have fun moments of sentimentality, peppered with great moments of aircraft and epic scope all throughout the film. It’s not as heavy-hitting nor as big a juggernaut as Schindler or Saving Private Ryan, but this would be a very underrated gem for many Spielberg fans and has gained a bigger following over the decades. From Bale fans, from WWII enthusiasts, from Spielberg buffs, and people who just like a good movie.

#64 JFK 608 points, 11 lists "Back, and to the left... back, and to the left... back, and to the left." Box Office: 205.4M Rotten Tomatoes: 84% Metacritic: 72 Awards: 2 Academy Awards and 6 nominations, 2 BAFTA Awards and 2 nominations, 1 Golden Globe Award and 3 nominations, 1 DGA Award nomination Its Legacy: Brought the story of Jim Garrison to the limelight. Became one of the most controversial movies of all time, with tons of editorials and publications denouncing Stone's film. The first of three Oliver Stone films about presidents. Caused the passage of the JFK Act in 1992. Spoofed and parodied in Seinfeld, The Critic, and Family Matters. Gave Laurie Metcalf a paycheck. Commentary: Yet another bold and controversial release from Warner Bros., this absolutely crazy thrill ride, daring to conspire against the Warren Commission and what really happened to John F. Kennedy would ultimately become one of the most politically divisive films to ever come out. Others think Oliver Stone is a crazy person, others think he’s relaying the truth and putting out necessary information into the world. Some say it’s necessary, others think it’s damaging to society. And honestly, this will likely always be the case. The conspiracies that are tied into Kennedy, his assassination, the Warren Commission, and so on, will always be fiercely debated and often through a lot of toxicity. But what is generally agreed upon is that, regardless on how you feel about Stone’s ramblings, that this is a damn good movie. Lush cinematography, dynamic editing and direction, an incredible ensemble cast, and an engrossing story that gets you hooked through the film’s riveting energy and constant twists. And luckily for me, I don’t give too craps about JFK and who killed him, so I can enjoy this movie without any guilt on this promoting conspiracies. Yay! But in all seriousness, while the question on whether it’s ethical to watch problematic movies like these will always be up for debate, this will always be in the conversation. Both in its ideas shared and in the fantastic filmmaking on display.

#65 A Star is Born (2018) 602 points, 15 lists "I just wanted to take another look at you." Box Office: 436.2M Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Metacritic: 88 Awards: 1 Academy Award and 7 nominations, 1 BAFTA Award and 6 nominations, 2 Critics Choice Awards and 7 nominations, 1 Golden Globe Award and 4 nominations, 4 Grammy Awards and 3 nominations, 4 National Board of Review Awards Its Legacy: The most financially successful iteration of A Star is Born. The directorial debut of Bradley Cooper. Kickstarted Lady Gaga's movie career. Six million copies of the soundtrack have been sold worldwide. "Shallow" would become one of the highest-selling songs of all time with 10.2 million sales and streams. Lady Gaga became the first woman in history to win an Oscar, BAFTA, Grammy, and Golden Globe in one year because of her contributions to this one movie. The tenth most profitable film of 2018. Gave Sam Elliott a paycheck. Commentary: With four different versions, all spanning from the 1930s to the 2010s, A Star is Born is one of the few movies that people actually like seeing remade time and time again. Every film that comes out is a unique time capsule of the time period. A time capsule of celebrity culture, the evolution of music, and the complexities of gender power dynamics and romantic relationships. This most recent iteration, courtesy of director and star Bradley Cooper, is no exception to this. And to many of you (though not all of you), this is the best of them all. It’s a film with the same plot as all the others. A star on top of the world, struggling with his demons with alcohol, falls in love with a starlet who wishes to have fame. The young woman’s popularity and star rises while the former superstar fades into obscurity, resulting in dangerous shifts in their relationship.with each other, their family, and their vices. But this time, this one focuses on having more complexity and backstory and tragedy, framed under the perspective of Jackson Maine, the star who loses his popularity. This may seem like a bad idea at first glance. Why give more attention to the man when the previous films put the woman in the spotlight? However, it was for the best. It not only allows a stronger relationship between Cooper’s Jackson Maine and Lady Gaga’s Ally, but also showcases how inner demons can hurt yourself and everybody in your life. It creates a stronger relationship between the two that keeps us invested. Plus Cooper makes sure to still give Ally dimension and agency. Even outside of that greater depth, we also have plenty of the same great insights and commentary on the star system that made the other films iconic, phenomenal music, and plenty of heartbreak as we just wish these two could stay together. But alas, we all know that in this story, no matter how much we hope it can change, one star has to go away so another can be born. Of course the question I’m sure many of you have is whether or not this was the highest-ranked version of the story? I can’t say anything just yet, but that answer may--or may not--surprise you.

#309 - Rush Hour (80 points, 3 lists) #308 - America America (80 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #21) #307 - The Devil's Advocate (80 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #10) #306 - Damn Yankees (81 points, 3 lists) #305 - The Goodbye Girl (82 points, 3 lists) #304 - Sucker Punch (82 points, 2 lists, avg. ranking #37) #303 - Project X (82 points, 2 lists, avg. ranking #29) #302 - Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Johnny Belinda (82 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #19) #301 - Justice League vs. The Fatal Five (82 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #9) #300 - Three Kings (83 points, 3 lists)

Moderation Please do not partake in such fanboy war nonsense and bait other users like this. There was absolutely no need to make such a post like this.

#319 - Police Academy (76 points, 4 lists) #318 - Falling Down (76 points, 3 lists, avg. ranking #66) #317 - The Yakuza (76 points, 3 lists, avg. ranking #61) #316 - The Invisible Guest, You're A Big Boy Now (76 points, 1 list) #315 - The Polar Express (77 points, 3 lists) #314 - The Flight of Dragons (77 points, 1 list) #313 - True Romance (78 points, 6 lists) #312 - The Island (78 points, 3 lists) #311 - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (79 points, 3 lists) #310 - House of Flying Daggers (79 points, 2 lists)

Quorum Updates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem T-2: 59.28% Awareness Blue Beetle T-18: 32.42% Awareness Golda T-25: 12.5% Awareness Gran Turismo T-25: 28.63% Awareness The Iron Claw T-144: 13.86% Awareness Migration T-144: 15.73% Awareness Madame Web T-198: 20.23% Awareness Meg 2: The Trench T-4: 51.62% Awareness Final Awareness: 100% chance of 10M, 89% chance of 20M, 68% chance of 30M, 42% chance of 40M, 32% chance of 50M Tentpole Awareness: 100% chance of 40M, 50% chance of 50M The Equalizer 3 T-32: 43.86% Awareness T-30 Awareness: 100% chance of 20M, 93% chance of 30M, 73% chance of 40M, 53% chance of 50M My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 T-39: 30.78% Awareness T-30 Awareness: 86% chance of 10M, 59% chance of 20M Original - Low Awareness: 100% chance of 10M

Yo I now have a mighty need for that. We need this out here like yesterday.

I'm not even all that in love with his thrillers, but it would be nice to see a small movie for once. And he's the only guy who can make a small movie into a big hit.

#66 Dial M for Murder 599 points, 13 lists "In stories things usually turn out the way the author wants them to; and in real life they don't... always." Box Office: 6M Rotten Tomatoes: 89% Metacritic: 75 Awards: N/A Its Legacy: Hitchcock's final film for WB until The Wrong Man in 1956. The film that killed 3-D. Ranked #48 on AFI's Top 100 Thrills and #9 on AFI's Top 10 Mysteries. Remade as a TV movie, remade in 1998 with Michael Douglas' A Perfect Murder, and remade four times in India. Referenced, recreated, parodied, etc. in shows like 77 Sunset Strip, Frasier, Archer, and more. Gave Grace Kelly a paycheck. Commentary: In the late 40s through the mid 50s, one of the strongest eras of Alfred Hitchcock was his time working at Warner Bros. This is not the last time his name will be brought up, but Dial M for Murder, his last within that string of films beginning with Rope, is certainly one of the strongest. This classic thriller based on the famed stage play is a perfect trifecta of great direction, great writing, and great acting. This is a movie where all the events are laid out to the audience. Which sounds like it would result in a boring movie. But thanks to some fantastic staging and blocking by Hitchcock, as well as a well-devised screenplay that deconstructs the whole narrative and murder mystery, it ultimately doesn’t matter. It’s still suspenseful, as we wonder how our morally dubious protagonist will get out of this. That is, if he gets out of this. Because while he may seem safe, there’s always that underlying drama. This is all executed perfectly by a slew of great performances, like Ray Milland as the man enacting revenge, John Williams (no, not that John Williams) as the inspector who is secretly a few steps ahead, and real-life Disney Princess Grace Kelly as the woman who could possibly be on death row. It’s considered one of Hitchcock’s best, most famous works, being remade and referenced and parodied countless times since its 1954 release. And with it boasting some of the best aspects of Hitchcock as a filmmaker, that will certainly not change any time soon.

#67 Life of Brian 583 points, 11 lists "He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy! Now, piss off!" Box Office: 20.7M Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Metacritic: 77 Awards: N/A Its Legacy: Cited as one of the funniest comedies ever made and one of the most blasphemous movies ever made. Picketed and protested upon its initial release. Earned a spin-off book, an oratorio, and numerous parodies. Appeared on numerous "best comedy" and "Best British film" lists by Total Film, Channel 4, The Guardian, BFI, Time Out, and Empire. Gave Eric Idle a paycheck. Commentary: One of the most controversial comedies ever made, this parodic take on the story of Jesus, courtesy of Monty Python, almost feels like a film that shouldn’t have happened. Funding almost dried up until George Harrison of all people saved the day, and numerous religion groups cited this film as a form of blasphemy and the film was banned in numerous countries. Given the highest level of age rating at best in other markets. It’s miraculous, frankly, the similarly-themed Jesus Christ Superstar, which came out around the same time, lasted as long as it did. Yet while some were offended, most were just excited to see another Monty Python feature. And since controversy sells, Life of Brian would become a box office success and almost immediately cited as one of the funniest comedies ever made. Within the satire and silliness that people have always loved about the Monty Python franchise, there’s still a sense of poignancy that does help make this a bit more palatable for those who follow Christianity. In fact, John Cleese has mentioned that many pious individuals have mentioned how much they love the movie and appreciate the film’s jabs at religion and the double standards found within it. Over the decades, Life of Brian is still considered the magnum opus of Monty Python and the film’s controversial subjects and humor still makes this hotly debated and frequently discussed among cinephiles and religious groups. And in many ways, this kind of discussion makes this a cut above most silly comedies and has ensured this is a movie that will always have an important place within the realm of comedy cinema.

#68 Speed Racer 576 points, 13 lists "Cool beans." Box Office: 93.9M Rotten Tomatoes: 41% Metacritic: 37 Awards: 1 MTV Movie Award nomination, 3 Teen Choice Awards nominations, 1 Golden Raspberry Award nomination Its Legacy: One of the best live-action anime adaptations ever made. Has a dedicated cult following and oft-considered a Wachowski classic. Sadly featured tons of animal cruelty. Gave John Goodman a paycheck. Commentary: The Wachowski sisters’ epic return to cinema with this anime adaptation was both one of the most hotly-anticipated films of 2008 even if nobody actually showed up to see it. There was tons of excitement at the idea of seeing the directing duo return to cinemas after that original Matrix trilogy and Speed Racer’s flashy trailers and non-stop advertising made everybody aware of it. There were nearly 5,000 toys and products sold by dozens of promotional partners, more Hot Wheels than you could ever dream of, and a bunch of video games. WB had faith this was going to be the next big thing. But at the end of the day, it wasn’t the next big thing. Very few checked out the film, largely because it came out right inbetween Iron Man and Indiana Jones, and those who did were largely mixed on the final product. It was all set to be a forgotten relic of blockbuster culture. A film that nobody had enthusiasm for and lost tons of money for the studio. And while the latter is obviously true, little did we all know there would be tons of enthusiasm 15 years after release. The movie has frequently been re-evaluated as an underrated gem, citing it as a blockbuster that was a refreshing breath of fresh air. Both at the time, and even today. Beginning in the 2000s, blockbusters had focused on realism, grit, and being ultra-serious. They all had fantastical premises and concepts for sure, but they wanted audiences to be in grounded realities. Speed Racer moved far away from that. With bright colors, oddball futiristic locations, and a goofy, yet still sincere tone, this was a film that embraced the silliness and fantasy that blockbusters largely ignore out of fear of being considered silly or kiddie. And with the unique visual eyes of Lana and Lily, this was a vision that was 100% realized. And while some were not ready for it at the time, this has now gone on to be a fan favorite and a singularly unique piece of cinema within the Warner Bros. canon. Not bad for a movie nobody saw.

I think Papa Nolan's best two movies are Dunkirk and Oppenheimer, so I guess I'm down if he did another WWII movie. It's also way more interesting to me than him doing sci-fi again as I feel those movies are where his shortcomings are most prominent (yes that includes Inception and Interstellar. No that doesn't mean I think those movies are bad ). Though at the end of the day, it'd be cooler if he did something like Prestige or just something outside of the sandboxes he's best known for. I'm sure in the end he'll just go back to sci-fi again, but I guess I can't stop him.

Discuss, but please be nice about it.

Ehh. I mean "You've Got a Friend in Me" is a classic, but I feel his music might not be everybody's cup of tea.

#329 - Performance, Joe Versus the Volcano (71 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #30) #328 - Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (71 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #13) #327 - Gorillas in the Mist (72 points, 3 lists, avg. ranking #69) #326 - Finian's Rainbow, The Lake House, Fanny (72 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #29) #325 - Rachel Rachel (73 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #28) #324 - Camelot (74 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #27) #323 - Justice League: Gods and Monsters (74 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #12) #322 - Looney Tunes: Back in Action (75 points, 5 lists, avg. ranking #53) #321 - Cats Don't Dance (75 points, 2 lists, avg. ranking #46) #320 - Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (75 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #26)

#338 - Ed Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show (68 points, 3 lists, avg. ranking #62) #337 - San Andreas (68 points, 2 lists, avg. ranking #44) #336 - The Hangover Part II, Reign of the Supermen (68 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #14) #335 - Batman: The Killing Joke (69 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #32) #334 - Friday the 13th (70 points, 3 lists, avg. ranking #64) #333 - A Time to Kill (70 points, 2 lists, avg. ranking #66) #332 - The Mule (71 points, 3 lists, avg. ranking #77) #331 - The Sea Wolf (71 points, 2 lists, avg. ranking #65) #330 - The Book of Eli (71 points, 2 lists, avg. ranking #53)

There's a Michael Jackson biopic show currently on Broadway, and the show ends with Michael going on the Dangerous Tour that started in 1992 and everything all happy, ignoring...everything that happened the year later. Feels pretty obvious, especially with the Jackson estate involved, that this is how the movie will end and will basically be a greatest hits movie like all the other successful music biopics with none of the real-life drama. I'm sure there will be tons of discourse online about them ignoring all of Michael Jackson's horrible actions, but also I doubt most people would care and just want to enjoy the nostalgia. (for the record to everybody here, this post isn't an invitation to argue about Michael Jackson and his actions, so like...don't.)

That's a Lionsgate movie, so I have my doubts.

Indiana Jones and the Hamburger of Stress

It may seem like it scored well, but you also have to recognize that having your awareness score in the 50s generally isn't very good the week of release. It can ensure a movie will do at least 10M+, 20M+, and sometimes even 30M+, but once you want to go higher than that, things get super unlikely. Only 44% of movies that score in the 50s in awareness got a 40M opening or higher, and only a third got above 50M. That's not a great metric. In fact, the only movies to get above 60M with a Quorum awareness in the 50s are Ant-Man 3, Venom 2, Black Adam, and Guardians 3. I wonder what connects all those movies? 🤔 I know it sounds great for a movie to have more than half of survey respondents know that it exists, but it's way better to be in the 60s or higher, when movies typically open above 50M or higher. There's an art to understanding this as the data gains more and more depth, though I understand the confusion here.

I just think it’s funny to say “you’re an X” when somebody posts something. It’s a silly thing that people can get a giggle out of.

You have cult following written all over it.