I could hit you with some movie picks. Maybe flex a bit, prove I’m cultured. We could all jerk off and talk classics. Then, like I said, 15 minutes from now, you don’t give a fuck. So lets play fast and loose and I’ll hit you with: Quick Picks: 4 Okay Movies.

Two years from now you’ll be in a hotel room. You’ll recognize one of these movies and you won’t flip the channel. Why did you stop flipping? Surely you don’t put stock in blogs. No one of consequence ever has. Bemused, you’ll continue watching. And slowly, this movie, from this list, will give you just enough to stay put.

LORD OF WAR
Nic Cage is some sort of Russian expat. He lives in New York. He cooks at his family’s restaurant, and his family pretends to be Jewish. Sooner rather than later, Nic Cage is a hard hitting international arms dealer. With his bro Jared Leto at his side, Nic Cage pulls some crazy stunts in his rise to the top. Along the way, Ethan Hawke and the original Bilbo prove to be worthy adversaries, yet ultimately, they are bested.
Unfortunately sometimes the gun running game does hit back. At one point, Jared Leto dies (sawed in half by hollow points). That’ll happen if you bring your conscience to West Africa. Despite the Nic Cage voiceover this movie can be remarkably poignant. Its got some good acting, its got the Jeff Buckley version of Hallelujah, its got lessons, and its got one nipple (pink).

THE GREAT SANTINI
This movie is rad. Forget the bit about the hotel room and go check out this movie. I’d assume it’s on Netflix. If that call to action fell flat for you, here’s a YouTube clip. It’s Robert Duvall playing one on one vs his son.

If you skipped that link you’re a damn idiot. I can’t see any reason to skip this clip. If its because you think I lack rapport, I guess that’s fair, but go out on a limb for me papi.  Click the link. It will enrich you.

THE LADYKILLERS (2004)

This movie has redeeming qualities out the ass. Whillst watching, stick to these guidelines:

• Don’t focus on Tom Hanks’ accent
• Don’t be put off by the disgusting body functions of the Farmers Insurance guy.
• Don’t get shook when a Wayans brother makes you laugh.
• Don’t worry about the limited scope
• Don’t ever ask yourself why this movie was made.

Stick to this checklist and you’ll enjoy the hell out of this movie. Its hapless riverboat Oceans 11 meets Greek tragedy meets contemporary flare and hilarity with good music.

MY LEFT FOOT
This movie is fucked. Daniel Day Lewis (DDL) is an Irish cripple who draws pictures with one of his feet.  As his body fails him, his foot is the only faculty he’s able to maintain mastery over. Via the indomitable will of the unbroken human spirit, he begins creating artwork. His art becomes his self expression–his only cathartic medium. This movie explores what it means to be human and proves to us there is no such thing as a simple character–whether they be crippled, Irish, or otherwise. This film stuck with me. I remember the anguish and the frustration. I remember the inescapable hopelessness of an impoverished family and the story of their son, broken and betrayed by an unyielding fate. I remember the cruel incongruity of body and mind.

In time, Day-Lewis is accused of masterminding an IRA terrorist attack on a Belfast pub. Needing a patsy, British intelligence forces pin the attack on DDL and coerce a full confession. Sentenced and sent to British prison, he is housed with actual IRA masterminds. It is then that he learns the nature of the IRA separatist movement is ugly, chaotic, and reactionary. Ultimately his dad is also arrested and jailed for the same crime. His dad dies, and eventually DDL captivates a nation in his quest for freedom. He is cleared of the false charges, roll credits.

For all its twists and turns, this movie is simply riveting. It is humanity at its most compelling. The only downside is a run-time approaching 6 hours.

-Dick Stock