100 Performances (1): 1910s/1920s

Okay - here's the deal: I've decided to throw together a list of the 100 best movie performances, choosing 10 from each decade. Quite the undertaking, right? I know. I'll start with a combined list of performances from the 1910s/1920s, and then lead arduously up to the present over the next several months.

10.) Gosta Ekman as "Faust" in Faust (1926): Although this interpretation of "Faust" is wonderful, with breathtaking imagery and some fantastic special effects, it is Ekman's portrayal of the battered alchemist that makes it a classic. He manages to play Faust as both the embittered old man and the desperate young man with equal gravity. It's hard to root for a character who sells his soul, but this sympathetic performance will cause you to do just that.

9.) (?) as "The Nurse" in The Battleship Potemkin (1925): This propagandist tale of mutiny and civil unrest is still particularly potent due to its human qualities. The infamous "Odessa Steps" sequence, in which Russian Imperial soldiers fire upon a crowd of civilians in a detached, mechanized fashion, is brilliant. One of the many casualties is a kindly nurse, played with gaze-averting perfection by (?). The role is brief, but powerfully affecting. Her horrific demise (so brutal I won't show it on this blog) will stain your sensibilities, her expression forever frozen in your soul. (I currently can't find the actress's name. Help, anyone?) 

8.) Harold Lloyd as "The Boy" in Safety Last! (1923): Many of the silent era's best performances are hysterically funny, and Lloyd's starring role in Safety Last! is one of them. From fantastic falls to tickling trips, this is a physical comedy treasure. The film's most memorable sequence follows "The Boy" climb up the side of a skyscraper. It's a nail-biting scene, particularly knowing that Lloyd performed all of his own stunts, and most of them without the comfort of a safety net. Wow - safety last, indeed.   

7.) Gustav Frohlich as "Freder" in Metropolis (1927): It's safe to say that if director Fritz Lang had improperly cast the pivotal role of "Freder" in his science-fiction masterpiece Metropolis, it may not have endured in our hearts and imaginations 85 years later. Yet here we are, part of a culture that still celebrates this film, and joins Frohlich's Freder on his exquisite journey of self and societal discovery.

6.) George O'Brien as "The Man" in Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927): A powerhouse performance related through exaggerated realism, O'Brien's "The Man" never ceases to shock, to incite, or to captivate. Watching this character succumb to the lowest depths of human evil, and then try to climb back to altruism, is a revelation.

5.) Buster Keaton as "Johnnie Gray" in The General (1926): I can't get enough of this movie, and Keaton's hilarious buffoon "Johnnie Gray" is the main reason. Playing an out-of-luck underdog who just wants his sweetheart's approval (all it takes is enlisting in the confederate army!), his sympathetic awkwardness is one of the best comic performances ever.

4.) Lillian Gish as "Lucy Burrows" in Broken Blossoms (1919): Sweetness and gentility radiate from her every movement and gesture, humming through the silence like rain on a tin roof. It's impossible not to feel brokenhearted with a portrayal as stunning, as touching, as this one. Gish would have many excellent performances in her career, notably her authoritative turn in The Night of the Hunter (1955), which pitted her against a menacing Robert Mitchum. However, if you're looking for an incredible silent performance, one that still manages to speak volumes, check out Broken Blossoms.    

3.) Lon Chaney as "Erik, The Phantom" in The Phantom of the Opera (1925): Known as "The Man of 1000 Faces," Lon Chaney was one of silent cinema's most versatile stars. Although known for many great roles (his Quasimodo in 1923's The Hunchback of Notre Dame is fantastic), it's debatable that his turn as "The Phantom" (oddly named "Erik" in the credits) is his best. It's a rare performance - one that shocks and disgusts, yet cries out for humanity. I love it.

2.) Max Schrek as "Count Orlok" in Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922): Holy crap, is this a great performance. Any role as iconic as this one, that still manages to be eerie and cold and haunting after 90 years, deserves a slot this high on my list. Schrek's vampire is one of the creepiest portrayals the silver screen has to offer, and will chill you to the marrow.

1.) Charlie Chaplin as "The Tramp" in The Gold Rush (1925): Certainly an enduring character from an undeniable genius, Chaplin's "Tramp" is easily my favorite film performance of the 1910s/20s. What makes it so great is simple - he's unimaginably funny, and also totally realistic. It's a thoroughly convincing performance, with each second he's on screen providing a commanding comic presence. If you've never seen a Chaplin movie, then this is a terrific place to start. While Chaplin went on to make much better films, this performance may be his very best.           

Top 10 Novels of the 2000s

Yes! It has been a mighty long while since I’ve last updated this blog, but getting married, starting a new job, and moving across the country will do that to you. At long last (because I’m sure you’ve been on pins and needles this whole time), I give to you my list of the ten best novels published in the last decade. Enjoy! 

 

10.) Feed by M.T. Anderson (2002): "We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck." Well, if cyberpunk is what you're after, then look no further than this angst-riddled sci-fi gem by M.T. Anderson. It's an excessively intellectual novel, but one that packs an emotional punch. Set in a future where everyone talks like an idiot and bodily cysts are the latest fashion craze, "feeds," which are essentially accessible Internet browsers, are implanted into the brains of most people on the planet - linking them all together in a muddled stranglehold of constant advertisements, communication, and information. It's a dark story, drenched in cynicism and heavy on social commentary, but it's incredibly entertaining.  

9.) Bone by Jeff Smith (2004): This 1,332-page epic is the literary embodiment of pure, unbridled imagination. I could tell you the plot, but explaining the ins and outs of a graphic novel that exceeds 1,000 pages would be exhausting. Heck, even telling you the basic premise would be difficult. Therefore, I leave you with simply this - Bone is one of the most captivating graphic novels I've ever read, with terrific images, humor in abundance, and fantastic characters. If you have the time and the dedication, reading it will be an absolute joy.   

 

8.) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (2005): While each Harry Potter entry has its own particular merit (although the 5th installment tests my patience), Half-Blood Prince is without doubt the high-note of the series. With all the frenetic action of books 4 and 5 (which feel more like endurance tests than literature), and all the promised Armageddon of book 7, its easy to dislike the quiet subtlety of this 6th chapter. But really, this is the novel where Rowling displays all the cunning, all the creativity, her writing skills have to offer. The slow unfolding of the plot is delicate and beautiful, with each storyline dropping effortlessly together in perfect synchronicity. The new characters are fascinating (notably Professor Slughorn, a frazzled figure with a terrible secret), and the old ones are more intriguing than ever (especially Dumbledore, whose charisma and heroism are practically forces of nature). This novel is the deep breath before the plunge of the series' final book. Let its calm, meditative mystery wash over you like placid waters in an untouched cave.    

 

7.) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2003): Well, if the literature of the 2000's accomplished anything, it reinvigorated our cultural infatuation with mysteries. In this quirky novel by Mark Haddon, our narrator isn't a grizzled film noir private eye, but a teenage boy with severe autism. Our victim of fatalistic foul play isn't a bookie who owed money all over town, but the neighbor's pet poodle. Our femme fatale isn't a smoky blonde with wide hips and curious intentions, but the memory of a dead mother. This is a completely engrossing story - it will hook you with its inventive design and flawless execution.   

 

6.) The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006): One of the most poignant, bravest books of the last decade is The Road, a succinct father-and-son tale that takes place just after the apocalypse. Its style is unique without being alienating, and its premise is cliched yet undeniably inventive. This dichotomy is the driving force of the novel, and results in a captivating experience for those reading it. It's a frightening book, but one that fails to disappoint.    

5.) Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub (2001): By combining the abundant imagination of King's Dark Tower universe with the flowery prose of Straub, these two authors have given contemporary fiction one of its richest novels. Black House is a superb tale of fantasy and horror, one ripe with literary allusion, superb storylines, and incredibly rich characters. Set in the evergreen tangle of northern Wisconsin, the book focuses on Jack Sawyer (the main character of previous King/Straub collaboration The Talisman, which technically makes this book a sequel, but that hardly matters), a detective wunderkind who has to solve a series of grisly murders taking place in his quiet town. Don't let the simplicity of this premise fool you, though. From scenes of unimaginable horror to moments of tear-inducing laughter, with characters as real and skillfully molded as any of western literature's best, this novel will continually surprise you with its freshness and originality. For those who don't like King, this would be an excellent place to start.    

4.) That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo (2009): What separates this book from the other entries on this list is perhaps the single thing that makes it so special - its unblemished simplicity. In That Old Cape Magic, Russo has perfected the art of crafting characters, of molding storylines, with an artistry of ease and an air of confidence that is astonishingly fresh. If you like an enjoyable read, with a limited number of pages and yet an unlimited depth of heart, look no further. 




3.) Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer and Rags Morales (2004): This whirlwind of plot twists, characters, and emotional intrigue is arguably the most satisfying graphic novel of the last decade. The book's true success is its ability to humanize such iconic DC superheroes as Superman, the Green Lantern, and Batman & Robin by placing them in a hugely tragic conundrum. What said conundrum actually is I'll not say (like any good mystery, much of the fun is getting enveloped in the unexpectedness), but it has the ability to knock these heroes off their golden pedestals, tumbling them down into a labyrinthine abyss of confusion and dejection. This deliciously post-modern yarn is exciting, heart-wrenching, and totally compelling.    

 

2.) Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (2003): How Larson managed to couple whimsy and horror so harmoniously, so blessedly perfect, I'll never understand. What I do know is that Devil in the White City is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read, and certainly my personal favorite piece of narrative non-fiction. Placed in the grimy beehive of late 19th century Chicago, the novel divides itself between architectural genius Daniel Burnham and sadistic serial killer H. H. Holmes. The novel is a beautiful study in both stark contrast and allegorical comparison, with Larson relishing the parallels between two of history's most intriguing characters. 



1.) The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen (2001): The number one slot can be occupied by no other novel than this hugely engrossing tale of grim personal failure, intellectual melancholia, and unnerving family politics. Franzen’s book is more than just a cynical skewering of Americana, though. With each character introduced and each storyline blossomed, the novel continually reinvents itself in ironic (and satisfying) ways. Its pre-9/11 publication date makes it a veritable rarity of contemporary western fiction – it unwittingly avoids the cultural paranoia, malaise, and sentimentality of a majority of popular literature that would soon follow. The Corrections is unexpectedly avant-garde; from the carefully crafted prose that harkens back to modernist days of sparkling descriptions and simple situations, to the refreshingly insightful characterization of each main character. This glimpse into the horrors and tribulations of personal collapse will stay with you long after the book itself has been returned to the shelf.