Greatest Films (JQKA of diamonds) 6th of an ongoing series

Jack of Diamonds, Shichinin no Samurai, Akira Kurosawa (dir)
Always high on lists of greatest all time films, and for good reason. A simple story, well executed. Birthed a few very good imitators (the western version, The Magnificent Seven, and the Roger Corman produced space version, Battle Beyond the Stars). If you haven't seen it for yourself, get thee to a rental store (or netflix queue). There's a lot more to this film than swords and samurai. Words are inadequate when faced with a Kurosawa film, see this movie if you haven't, and if you have, watch it again.

Queen of Diamonds, Ladri Di Biciclette, Vittorio De Sica (dir)
This is the choice that reveals me as someone who has taken a few too many cinema classes. It's one of those films that you 'should' like. It's a film that has flaws and drags at times. But the moments that are real, the moments that transcend, and the sea change in how characters are represented on screen that this film represents all conspire to elevate this film to one of the most important films of all time. When watching this film, think about how different it is from all that preceded it.

King of Diamonds, Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese (dir)
What do you mean I haven't included Goodfellas on this list yet? Oh right, here it goes, slotted in amongst the classics. It is a classic, it's a violent, profound, funny, compelling sprawling messy terrific ride. (and if I didn't list this film I would have to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life worrying that Joe Pesci was creeping up on my ready to do violence to my person, wouldn't want that)

Ace of Diamonds, Citizen Kane, Orson Welles (dir)
Another predictable pick. I'm a hack. But, this really is a great film. Every time it's on TCM I can't not watch it. My favorite scene is watching the young Orson play the old Kane as he smashes the posessions in that awful room after his second wife leaves him. That scene encapsulates everything that is right with this film and everything that film has the potential to convey. The camera sits steadily from a low perspective, as if the inner child that Kane releases with his tantrum has left his body and is now you the audience viewing his fit of violence. Also Welles' physicality in the scene perfectly describes an aged, formally strong, now beaten man who has no words, no thought, just rage. It's a perfect melding of camera, script and performance and carried all on the shoulders of one oversized personality portraying another oversized personality.



UPDATE:

For ease of navigation, and just in case anyone comes to any of these individual posts randomly, I'm adding a link to each of the nine posts within each posts.

Summary
2-10 of Hearts
JQKA of Hearts
2-10 of Clubs
JQKA of Clubs
2-10 of Diamonds
JQKA of Diamonds
2-10 of Spades
JQKA of Spades
Jokers