Love this as a July 4th post Tom, but I think you left off the real winner (even if I do say so myself), the 2003 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, and Cannes Fipresi Prize winner, AMERICAN SPLENDOR. https://youtu.be/WccCSUTDyXQ?si=fdHS5eCJHvoXkDz1 which I initially had considered AMERICAN MOVIE director Chris Smith for but the prospect of spending so much time again with a big challenging personality was not was what he was up for at the time.
Re: American Beauty, it's a very curious aspect of American culture I've noticed as of late, that we really really REALLY hate realtors. I guess they're a lot like used car salesmen (must be dealt with to obtain key piece of American dream, universally agreed to be outright lying about the quality of their wares so they can lock down their commission) but tbh I think it's probably a misogyny thing -- how often do you see male realtors in popular culture?
I was going to play the "you forgot American XYZ" game but, unfortunately, the only film I've seen that could make this list* is AMERICAN SICARIO, a geezer-teaser ""starring"" Danny Trejo that I watched as part of a project to see every movie with a character named Vasquez in it. Would not recommend!
*assuming you're deliberately ignoring THE American President, AN American in Paris, etc.
The first male realtor who comes to mind for me is Phil Dunphy in Modern Family – loveable goofball but also the butt of half the jokes in the show. Not sure whether that confirms what you’re saying but I definitely agree that Carolyn was done a little dirty.
Thanks for the not-rec about American Sicario! I would be lying if I said I had thought through the importance of title syntax for making the list... might have to do an update next year, and add a load more in (An American Werewolf in London, etc etc).
Ke Huy Quan's lovable goofball character in "Love Hurts" is a realtor, and he has a feud with a blowhard rival realtor played by one of the Property Brothers. Recency bias here, of course (and please note that I was the quite literally the only person who liked, let alone loved, this admittedly kind of dumb movie) -- but it's interesting that when the screenwriters picked an incongruous job for a male action hero, they jumped straight to real estate. Curiously one of the other big wannabe-Wick movies from this decade, "Nobody," has the retired assassin's WIFE be a realtor -- one who outearns him, no less! -- with the overt plot function of emasculating him.
This is pretty funny. Back in the day I made an "'American' movie" list on, I think, IMDb but maybe Amazon, either way I ain't gonna disinter it from it's late Aughts oblivion, but it not only surprised me how crazy diverse of a list it turned out to be, but despite the joke commenters told me it was useful to them.
In fairness to David O. Russell, a terrible human being from all accounts, "Flirting With Disaster" is an undersung contender for the funniest movie of the 90's. I think he gets great performances from his actors. Probably by messed-up methods, admittedly.
Love this as a July 4th post Tom, but I think you left off the real winner (even if I do say so myself), the 2003 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, and Cannes Fipresi Prize winner, AMERICAN SPLENDOR. https://youtu.be/WccCSUTDyXQ?si=fdHS5eCJHvoXkDz1 which I initially had considered AMERICAN MOVIE director Chris Smith for but the prospect of spending so much time again with a big challenging personality was not was what he was up for at the time.
Yikes, sorry! I'll have to update this next year (or perhaps I can line some more additions up for Thanksgiving, hmm...)
Re: American Beauty, it's a very curious aspect of American culture I've noticed as of late, that we really really REALLY hate realtors. I guess they're a lot like used car salesmen (must be dealt with to obtain key piece of American dream, universally agreed to be outright lying about the quality of their wares so they can lock down their commission) but tbh I think it's probably a misogyny thing -- how often do you see male realtors in popular culture?
I was going to play the "you forgot American XYZ" game but, unfortunately, the only film I've seen that could make this list* is AMERICAN SICARIO, a geezer-teaser ""starring"" Danny Trejo that I watched as part of a project to see every movie with a character named Vasquez in it. Would not recommend!
*assuming you're deliberately ignoring THE American President, AN American in Paris, etc.
The first male realtor who comes to mind for me is Phil Dunphy in Modern Family – loveable goofball but also the butt of half the jokes in the show. Not sure whether that confirms what you’re saying but I definitely agree that Carolyn was done a little dirty.
Thanks for the not-rec about American Sicario! I would be lying if I said I had thought through the importance of title syntax for making the list... might have to do an update next year, and add a load more in (An American Werewolf in London, etc etc).
Ke Huy Quan's lovable goofball character in "Love Hurts" is a realtor, and he has a feud with a blowhard rival realtor played by one of the Property Brothers. Recency bias here, of course (and please note that I was the quite literally the only person who liked, let alone loved, this admittedly kind of dumb movie) -- but it's interesting that when the screenwriters picked an incongruous job for a male action hero, they jumped straight to real estate. Curiously one of the other big wannabe-Wick movies from this decade, "Nobody," has the retired assassin's WIFE be a realtor -- one who outearns him, no less! -- with the overt plot function of emasculating him.
Maybe there needs to be a definitive ranking of all the "Love" movies too – Love Actually, Love Hurts, er... Love, Rosie?
Is Nobody worth watching? Been on my list for a year-plus
Justice for Wet Hot American Summer
It was going to have an honourable mention in the American Pie section but I think it got cut, sorry!
🙃☺️
This is pretty funny. Back in the day I made an "'American' movie" list on, I think, IMDb but maybe Amazon, either way I ain't gonna disinter it from it's late Aughts oblivion, but it not only surprised me how crazy diverse of a list it turned out to be, but despite the joke commenters told me it was useful to them.
Cool idea for a 4th of July movie list!
I'm deeply concerned that you didn't make time for "American Ninja".
It would have been unfair on the other films as it would have been such a clear shoo-in, of course
In fairness to David O. Russell, a terrible human being from all accounts, "Flirting With Disaster" is an undersung contender for the funniest movie of the 90's. I think he gets great performances from his actors. Probably by messed-up methods, admittedly.
Fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com
Yeah, I also liked The Fighter a lot, I have to admit