origins vol 6...bonus top 20 movies list...

my time at St. John's University (NY)—(there is a St. John's in Minnesota) was like a hostage crisis. Still under the shackles of radioactive material and visits to my P.O my otherwise pleasant experience at Jamaica High School was coming to an end. My choices for continuing education were short, due to the P.O. and all, and my interest in it was bordering on non-existence, but i lived in a household where college was the next move, even if you didn't think it was the right idea. At least not right away...

i had become interested in journalism while at Jamaica and had always felt a knack for writing. i used to write stories in 5th grade off of creative writing flash cards that would be in excess of 7 or 8 pages, epic tales, complete with sound effects. i wrote song lyrics for three different friend or brother related bands or projects. So when i was introduced to journalism i took a liking to it. As i approached the time to pick a school i stood at a crossroads. One direction was telling my father that i thought i would be better off taking a year off, really honing in on what it was i wanted to study then work the year, making some cash for tuition and living expenses, taking the SATs several more times (i took it once) and finding the perfect school for me. The other was choosing the best of the bunch from the local fare, within price range. That was St. John's and i went into the journalism program. i just didn't have the hair on my balls yet to challenge the parental authority, and was in no shape to try...

i spent five years at SJU, changed majors—hence the extra year, worked on the staff of The TORCH, the official student newspaper of St. John's, as well as smaller roles with other SJU publications such as Spectator and the Yearbook. Working at the newspaper i found my love for commentary and distaste for actual journalism. i found myself beginning to find my voice as a screenwriter and would go on in later years to continue to feed that beast. As i have written before, my time at Tower Records was more of a college experience to me then SJU was, but that's not to say it wasn't an experience worth recalling fondly. There are plenty of stories to tell about The TORCH office and darkroom, the sports we created, the games of three man in the darkroom, the show mes, the late nights what have you, and i may end up getting to them in one or another, whether it is here in this forum or tucked away in a novel or a short story somewhere, waiting to be flush out. But i'll spend this space writing of my time in the Yearbook/Spectator/Sequoia office next door to The TORCH office and the games, nay, tournaments of Spades (where i recorded two Bostons with Chris McTigue, and we called one of them—we dug graves in Spades) and my getting to know among others, one Gus Sanchez...

When Gus isn't fulfilling the quota of Hispanics for the state of North Carolina or perfecting the art of rolling up his sleeves so he looks like a disaffected college professor, he writes insightful pieces on all manner of pop culture, politics and being lost in space. i awoke today to find his newest work, his Top 20 Films Since 1992 on Facebook. The piece was inspired by a YouTube link he included showing Quentin Tarantino announcing his favorites from the last 17 years, seeing as though it has been 17 years since his debut—Reservoir Dogs. I left a few comments under his note that stoked a deep discussion on the value of Paul Thomas Anderson's 'There Will Be Blood', and then jetted to the beach for a run, some time in Mother Ocean, hit some golf balls because i suck and need the work, and then had a run in with a shirtless derelict entering a library (more below), all the while trying to compile my own list. A daunting task to say the least, but my love of film and my desire to create a working screenplay and film at least once, informs me a bit on this subject...

first off, i'm under the assumption that the list can include films from 1992, and secondly it should be said that i am very much behind in films that i should have seen over the past two or three years. Lastly, i have found it very difficult to narrow down the list to 20 so i will start with a list of films that definitely make the list without a bat of an eye...

The Player—Here is a film that is on my all time list, and yet almost never ends up in discussion as such in most circles. Robert Altman is considered one the greatest American Directors of all time. I think that is overstating things drastically. Other than MASH, I have never been floored by one of his film, except this one. A perfect noir set in Hollywood starring Tim Robbins and Hollywood...

Reservoir Dogs—This film created the American interest in Hong Kong films and the copycatting of the genre. This was an homage, and it is perfect. Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill 1 & 2 could be on this list, but this one is a lock...

Fight Club—

Boogie Nights—The movie that took Marc Walberg from joke, to big Hollywood swinging dick—literally. This film brims with incredible performances from John C. to PS Hoffman to Julianne Moore, Melora Walters, Burt Reynolds, Cheadle, Baker, Molina, etc and packs a tale of yay and woe for the ages. All discussion of PT Anderson aside, this is his best work...

Glengarry Glen Ross—i have never heard the expression 'fuck or walk' before the Mamet inspired Alec Baldwin soliloquy. What a writer and what a group of actors. Another all-time lister, no doubt...

Fargo—My favorite Coen Brother film is Miller's Crossing, but this one will always do. My only other comment regarding Gus' list was lost by some mysterious deletion, only to say that 'The Big Lebowski' has raised it status due to a growing cult status, but it just doesn't meet the standard of Macy banging on his steering wheel in a downright tizzy and then going about the business of de-icing his windshield...

Requiem For a Dream—i will never do drugs, never, i promise.

Being John Malchovich— i just want to know how Charlie Kaufman feels about raising the bar so high you might as well take up needlepoint...

Royal Tennenbaums—Life Aquatic could be here, but this is the one you use to describe Wes Anderson's style...

Brick—Great noir set in a modern day high school with Joseph Gordon Levitt shedding every bad thing he ever did prior. Stop what you are doing and see this movie...

Memento—Incredible debut by Christopher Nolan and a new respect for Guy Pearce. Killer story, killer set up, killer twist...

this is where it gets complex 9 spots but too many films. In no order and with the aforementioned Pulp, Kill and Life Aquatic included; Mulholland Drive, Bottle Rocket, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, The Game, Wonder Boys, Rushmore, Snatch, Shawshank Redemption, The Departed, What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, American Splendor, Babel, Syriana, Usual Suspects, Dazed and Confused, Big Night, Out of Sight, Traffic, Layer Cake, You Can Count On Me, Slums of Beverly Hills, American Beauty, Half Nelson, Usual Suspects, Saving Private Ryan, Munich, Trainspotting, and The Hangover...

i'm probably missing some here too, its all subjective, but there you go, rip into it...