First 5 Friday

My friends and I have spent many hours and more than a few 'adult beverages' considering how you would rank certain things. What is the best in some random category. I have decided that this is a pursuit that needs to be continued. So, this is a new feature for Sneaky Daddy. First 5 Friday. Now, in honor of my first First 5 Friday, I have decided on a list that is more autobiographical than truly an attempt at truth. I hope you enjoy and throw your own First 5 in this category.

Lane's First 5 Best Movies

Hi Fidelity-Kind of a kindrid spirit to my constant search for the top five of...well...anything. Sneaky Momma is happy that I am finally excercizing that need in another way. (Is that why you suggested this, Jill?)..hmmm.

Anyways, back to this admittably weird choice for a First 5 in anything. Why? It is a great tale about a guy that was about my age going through what a lot of us do. You know, kind of like saying what's this all about? He is a record store owner who wants to make his own company fly. His label is called Top 5 Records. (Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it?) His ex decides to dump him to date a Tim Robbins character. So, he goes through is top 5 best relationships. (Just as a reminder, if you don't like this one, make you're own damn list.)

Batman Dark Knight-This is probably here because of the performance of Heath Ledger. As far as I'm concerned it was one of the greatest performances of this decade. The bad guys in this movie were, to be honest, the two most interesting bad guys in the Batman series. It was pretty much a roller coaster the whole movie. I guess my test for a movie is that I actually have to keep myself from continuing to talk about it over and over for greatness.

Forrest Gump-Hugely positive, partially sad, and definitely a classic movie. When it came out, you knew it was going to be one of those once in a generation type movie. Tom Hanks was insanely good as a partially limited southern boy who continues to find himself in situations of where greatness is called for....and he continually comes through. He is a man that doesn't know the meaning of the word quit or failure...or a lot of other simplistic words that your average five year old would know. Sometimes, as he shows, being ignorant in your limits is an advantage. In not knowing your ceiling you can sometimes push through.

Unforgiven-"It's a hell of a thing to kill a man...take away all he's got...and all he ever will have." I like westerns and this is the best of the bunch. There really isn't anybody who is real good or real bad. Just a whole lot of shades of gray. Clint Eastwood plays a former bad man (when drunk) who married someone who changed him into a quiet unassuming farmer. His wife dies and an opportunity for easy money brings him out of this life. He decides to take a job in which he has to kill two outlaws...sober. It is sobering...and sometimes painful to watch. But, in my humble opinion, it's a western masterpiece.

Saving Private Ryan-The greatest war movie of all time. A movie that literally changed how movies were made. It was an amazingly real and poignant movie. Still have no idea how it DID NOT win an Oscar for best picture. Seriously, American Beauty? Those morons lost what little respect I had following that decision. Anyways, back to the movie. I have used this movie in many ways as far getting the point across for Veteran's Day. Again, Tom Hanks plays the lead part, this time Captain Miller. A great cast that tells the tale of a unit in charge of getting one soldier out of the throes of post D-Day France. Finally, after the fourth time I saw this movie I made it through without a tear. Truly Powerful.

Hope y'all enjoyed the list.

-----Lane