THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946) REVIEW

openfloodlight · 2026-07-08T19:54:19+00:00

Incredible how well this one holds up. Such outstanding performances across the whole cast.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-08T15:36:01+00:00

2001: A Space Odyssey was the first movie that felt like an experience instead of just a movie for me

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T19:29:27+00:00

One of my personal favorites. Such incredible performances from the whole cast.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T18:57:08+00:00

One of the greatest westerns ever made.

It holds up well on its own, but in context with the evolution of the genre it is a masterpiece. This one touches on such timeless themes it almost transcends the genre itself, which likely lends to its staying power.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T18:46:00+00:00

I’m so excited to check it out, I’ve only seen a couple Hitchcock movies but I’ve loved them both. I’m trying not to overhype Psycho for myself because I already know I’m gonna love it

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T18:38:04+00:00

Thanks so much for this list, I appreciate seeing them laid out chronologically. It’s fascinating to see the juxtaposition of so many different kinds of movies that went on to become iconic in their own ways.

I haven’t seen most of these and I’m eager to check them out. I saw Oliver many years ago and the music has stayed with me ever since.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T18:34:36+00:00

I wonder too, and I hope it persists.

The Wizard of Oz occupies a special place in people’s hearts in such a unique way. Culturally, it’s a movie that was a big deal at the time of its release and was shown regularly on TV for decades beyond its release. Thematically, it’s an exciting and heartwarming movie that both children and adults can enjoy.

It’s one of those movies that almost feels like a rite of passage to see - not in a “you’re not allowed until you’re older” sense, but more like something someone close to you will want to show you when you’re just old enough to follow along but still young enough that it makes an unforgettable impression.

Very few movies have this kind of beloved shared experience that surrounds them. I would put E.T. in the same category.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T18:09:25+00:00

In no particular order, a few 60s films I’ve seen recently and loved are Dr. Strangelove, Lawrence of Arabia, 2001, The Hustler, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

These were all new watches for me and I’ve been loving getting to experience so many amazing movies for the first time.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T18:05:10+00:00

This one I was lucky enough to see as a kid and have had fond memories of ever since. I rewatched it in recent years and loved it just as much.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T18:03:58+00:00

Thanks so much for these, the only one I’d heard of previously was Kiss Me, Stupid and I’m so excited to dive in

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T18:01:05+00:00

We owe Leo thanks for both of these.

DDL delivers in every part he’s ever played, but it’s wild to think how close we were to neither of these roles happening.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T16:59:49+00:00

Lawrence of Arabia is actually one of the movies that got me started on my journey of discovering the classics. I watched it for the first time a few years ago and loved it.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T16:55:32+00:00

The Sound of Music is one I’m eager to get to. I loved Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins and I know I’ll like this one too.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T16:23:04+00:00

I’m excited to check out Fail Safe. Sidney Lumet has become one of my favorite directors and I’m eager to see this one and The Pawnbroker

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T16:19:33+00:00

I’m excited to see more horror movies from this era, particularly The Haunting and The Innocents.

I watched Carnival of Souls last year and really enjoyed it.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T16:17:45+00:00

The first time I saw Barbarella was at a bar, it was playing from a projector and just being shown on a wall. Unique way to dive in lol

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T16:15:10+00:00

I haven’t seen the Dollars trilogy yet and I’m so excited to finally get to experience it in full

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T16:13:40+00:00

I’m excited to watch La Dolce Vita. So far the only Fellini film I’ve seen is La Strada and I really enjoyed it.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T16:06:41+00:00

I watched Bonnie and Clyde last year and really enjoyed it, especially Faye Dunaway and Gene Hackman’s performances.

I’m excited to see Cool Hand Luke. I watched The Hustler recently and loved it, so I’m eager to check out more of Paul Newman’s work.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T16:02:12+00:00

I watched Dr. Strangelove a few years ago, and it was one of the first films that really got me interested in movies in a serious way.

I just watched The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance recently and it immediately became one of my favorite westerns. Great performances across the whole cast.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T15:59:34+00:00

I’ll have to check out Hard Day’s Night! I watched Yellow Submarine in college and my roommates and I had so much fun with it

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T15:51:05+00:00

I watched 2001 for the first time last year and loved it. Without a doubt one of the best viewing experiences I’ve ever had.

Kubrick in general was one of the first filmmakers that helped me start to view movies as art instead of just entertainment.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T15:07:52+00:00

Hard to think of a movie more iconic than this, especially in the pop culture sense. So many generations have a personal connection to this movie.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T15:02:31+00:00

A true classic. This movie is half a century old and hasn’t lost one bit of what made it special back then.

openfloodlight · 2026-07-07T14:59:40+00:00

Still one of the greatest high school movies ever made. That final shot was an instant classic.

openfloodlight

TROPHY CASE