Study of Bread

Last winter my mom bought me a mixer for my 30th birthday and introduced me to the craft of baking. I've always enjoyed baked goods, especially fresh bread, cookies, or donuts. When I was finally able to see the process unfold, I was very eager to embark upon a new hobby. That winter from Christmas until early Springtime I had become an avid cookie maker. I enjoyed the entire process, from the ingredients, the mixing, the baking, and of course the eating. I discovered my favorite recipes were the butterscotch cookies, sugar cookies, and chocolate chip cookies. However the baking phase ended by early spring and was replaced by my gardening phase.

After a 2nd successful gardening season, I was ready to re-embark on a new phase of baking. Once again for my 31st birthday my mom bought me a bread-maker. (She herself has become a highly skilled baker, especially with breads and cakes over the past few years.) The bread maker was a very impressive machine; it was both a mixer and an oven in one. However I only made a few loaves in it, until my mom suggested I upgrade to her Kitchen Aid heavy duty mixer. (This was because she got a new one for Christmas and gave me her old one). She explained to me the free reign there was in using the mixer over the bread-maker. I thus gave my bread maker to Philip and begun to experiment with her mixer, which we've often called "The Weapon".

The Bread Making Process

I've quickly learned the difference between cookies and bread is the magical ingredient of yeast. Yeast is what makes the bread rise. It brings air into the dough, which then provides a soft and fluffy quality. However bread making requires much more patience than cookie-making. This is because the dough needs times to rise.

Step 1: The first step in standard bread making is to mix the ingredients. Of course each recipe is different and depends on the type of bread you want to make; however the staples of most bread usually require flour, water, salt, and yeast. Additional ingredients could be sugar, eggs, milk, olive oil, honey, and spices. Also it is a handy tip to activate the yeast with water before mixing and put it in a crevasse within the flour mixture.

Step 2: The second step is the kneading of the mixture which can either be done by hand or thru appliances. (In my case I use the Kitchen Aid mixer; aka "The Weapon"). The purpose of this is to disperse the ingredients and unite the mixture into the shape of a round ball. It's a very sticky process, and takes time for the dough to turn, stretch, and expand. Once the dough is united as a firm ball, it is ready for the rising stage.

Step 3: The rising is perhaps one of the most tricky parts of the process and requires multiple variables, such as temperature and humidity. This stage is where the dough fills with air and doubles in size. The dough should be placed in a large greased up bowl with a cover over it such as a towel. It is also important that it be placed in a warm spot such as in the oven or the microwave. It often takes 1-2 hours for the dough to double in size.

Step 4: The next step is my favorite part of the process, which is the shaping of the dough. Depending on what type of bread you're going to make, it needs to be rolled, flattened, stretched, or shaped a certain way. This is best done on a table covered with flour. After which comes the toppings, glazing, and fillings depending on the type of bread your going to make (I believe this is a step of it's own, vital to making good bread). Another handy tip at this point is to give the shaped bread some more time to expand which is called proofing.

Step 5: The final touches such as slashing, glazing, topping, and fillings are what makes the bread distinctive and much more enjoyable. Slashing the top of the dough, allows the bread to rise in the oven without additional cracks. Glazing and toppings are what give the bread an enjoyable crust. Examples include butter, egg-wash, sugar, flour, poppy seed, honey, etc. Fillings also depend on the type of bread, whether a sweat or a meal it brings more flavor to it. Examples include cheese, sugar creams, guava, fruit, and meats.

Step 6: The last step of the process is baking the bread in the oven. This usually takes 20 to 30 minutes and normally requires the oven temperature to be over 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spraying the oven with some water or a tray of ice provides steam which gives the bread a crispy crust. The longer the bread is in the oven, the harder it will be. (it's the same case with cookies; people who prefer soft cookies/bread should remove it from the oven sooner). Once finished allow some time to cool, but not too long, because the best time to enjoy fresh bread is when it's nice and warm.


Types of Bread

There are many types of bread which can fall into some basic categories such as white, wheat, rye, flat, etc. (Below is a list of the categories and examples of breads that fall into that category. Also note that many of these breads can fall into multiple categories)

• White Bread: This is perhaps the most common type which uses a light colored flour
• Baguette (French) Long thin loaf of bread with crispy crust and soft middle
• Ciabatta (Italian) Crispy crust, soft middle; ideal with Pasta
• Bagel (Polish) Ring-shaped bread, deep-fried, and often topped with seeds
• Bread Rolls: Soft circular shaped rolls
• Breadsticks (Italian) Very thin slices of bread
• Cottage Loaf (British) Odd shaped spherical loaf of bread
• Donuts: Bread rolls, shaped, deep-fried, and glazed and filled with sweets
• Cinnamon Rolls: Bread rolls, shaped and glazed with the disctintive flavor of cinanaomn. 
• Pretzel: (Germany) Distinctively shaped thin bread, topped with salt and seeds
• Zopf (Switzerland) Braided dough brushed with egg yolk and a sweet taste
• Victorian Milk Bread (British) Standard loaf of sweet milk laced bread
• Stromboli: (Italian) Thinly sliced bread filled with Mozzarella and Basil
• Brown Bread: This type of bread uses whole grain wheat flour which gives it a darker brown color
• Multigrain Bread: Made with multiple grains of whole wheat flour and seed toppings
• Whole Wheat Bread: Uses flour that is primary milled from whole grain wheat
• Rye Bread: This type of bread uses rye grain as well as mixtures of wheat which gives it a much stronger taste that the standard brown or white bread
• Landbrot (German) Loaf of bread made with rye wheat and topped with flour
• Pain de Seigle (French) Thinly sliced bread with rye wheat
• Pumpernickle (German)
• Flatbread: This is basically a type of bread that does not use yeast

• Pita Bread (Greek) Thin and chewy with a hollow center. Very popular among Middle Eastern countries and also key component in my favorite type of food, Gyros
• Crumpet (British) Circular flat roll with spongy texture
• Piadina (Italy) Thin bread often folded as a sandwich wrap
• Pizza (Italy) Thin bread that is flattened and topped with pasta sauce, cheese, veggies, spices, and meat
• Roti (Indian) An extremely thin slice of bread that is unleavened made from wholemeal flour
• Tortilla (Mexican) An extremely thin slice of bread made from ground wheat flour
• Naan (Indian) Extremely thin, oven-baked and broiled bread
• Quickbread: Perhaps the easiest to make bread, it basically substitutes the ingredient of yeast with baking powder or baking soda; ( I would hardly consider these things as bread)
• Cookies
• Muffins
• Pancakes
• Cake
• Brownies
• Biscuits
• Cornbread
• Banana Bread
• Arepas (Venezuelan, Colombian) Cornmeal based and deep-fried
• Broa (Portuguese) Cornmeal based, baked
• Empanadas (Venezuelan, Colombian) Cornmeal based; filled with meat, cheese, or potatoes 
• Sourdough Bread: This distinctive bread incorporates a starter fermentation process; which gives more texture to the dough; in some cases the dough has to rise for several days before cooking

• Miche (French) Rounded loaf with distinctive sourdough texture
• Pain de Campagne (Italian) Rounded loaf with springy texture, chewy crust, and tangy flavor; often topped with flour
• San Francisco Sourdough (American) 
• Pane Di Semola (Italian)
• 49er Flapjack (American) Crepe made with sourdough
• Rugbrod (Danish) Used with Rye Wheat and a long fermentation
• Crisp Bread: Flat and dry type of bread containing mostly flour (Once again hard to consider crackers as bread)
• Cracker 
• Crisp Bread (Scandanavia) Traditional crisp bread consisting of Rye
• Enriched Bread: Bread that is flavored and infused with additional ingredients
• Carrot Bread
• Pumpkin Bread
• Cheese Bread
• Walnut Bread
• Tomato Bread
• Chocolate Bread
• Potato Bread
• Raisin Bread
• Dill Bread (Swedish) infused with dill, onion, and cream cheese

My Favorite Bread Recipes

I've been baking regularly for about a month now, and my interest in this new hobby continues to grow. I suppose this passion comes from my mom who is always in the kitchen cooking up a storm since we were young. It's always been a great family bond for us to work together in the kitchen. I find that the hard time and work it takes to cook makes the food all the more enjoyable. In a way it's an art-form that can only be perfected through practice and meticulous patience.

In regards to baking I hope to continue to master this hobby in the many years to come. I find it to be the perfect partner to my other favorite food hobby; gardening. Thus I will continue to bake thru the wintertime and garden in the summertime. The thing I love so much about baking is that it's a very cost-efficient. All I basically need is flour, salt, and yeast, and can make numerous rolls at a time. There are still so many types I still want to experiment with. These are some of my favorite thus far;

• Ciabatta/Baguettes (Long thin loafs with crispy crusts and soft middles)
• Glazed Donuts
• Pepporoni/Mushroom Pizza
• Pan de Jamon (Bread filled with ham, bacon, cheese, and olives
• Roscon de Bocadillo (Bread filled with cheese and guava)
• Calzones (Bread filled with Pizza ingredients)
• Pita Bread (Used for Gyro Meat)
• Sweet Bread Rolls

Top 25 Favorite Movies

Just as I updated my top music list, I've decided to update my top movie list as well; it was posted here in my blog 6 years ago, 2009: Top 25 Movies. Ever since I was a young teenager I grew a higher appreciation for movies (making them and watching them). From the story, to the filming, the acting, the directing, the soundtrack, the setting, etc,. I love all its facets. To this day I consider myself somewhat of a cinefile with a solid knowledge of movies. I've collected many over the years and still try to watch one almost every night if I can. I've incorporated a great rating system through the IMDB website (Internet Movie Database) always rating a new movie I see on a scale of 1-10. Therefore I feel this list can be somewhat regarded as I have seen many movies and have put some careful thought into these top 25. Although it is a personal list to me, most of these films have critical acclaim. They are each classics that I try to watch at least once a year.



25. Cold Mountain

Director: Anthony Minghella
Year: 2003
Genre: Drama, Romance, Historical
Featured Actors: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, Brendan Gleeson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi
Music: T-Bone Burnett, Gabriel Yared, Jack White, Sting, Elvis Costello, Allison Krauss
Plot Setting: Set during the civil war, a confederate soldier deserts the war to reunite with his lover on Cold Mountain.
Academy Awards: 7 Oscars Nominations; 1 win for Renee Zellweger as Best Supporting Actress

Significance: This is a new addition to my previous list, that has risen the ranks over the years. I first saw it several years back however my appreciation for it has significantly grown over time. It has all the elements of a masterful movie; setting, plot, acting, music, etc. I especially enjoy the folksy style to the film, it's historical setting, and especially it's musical soundtrack.

24. Dazed and Confused

Director: Richard Linklater
Year: 1993
Genre: Comedy
Featured Actors: Jason London, Adam Goldberg, Matthew McConuaghey, Cole Hauser, Parker Posey, Ben Affleck
Music: Foghat, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, Black Sabbath, Bob Dylan, Aerosmith
Plot Setting: Set on the last day of school, in a small town in Texas, 1976. The film takes place entirely in one day, with multiple character plots intersecting. The general premise is high school initiation as well as partying and coming of age.
Academy Awards: 0

Significance: To me this movie portrays summertime and that exciting feeling of youthfulness and high school days. It's filmed in such a unique style, a small country town, with so many characters and a great rock n roll soundtrack that captures the 1970s of American culture. It's a comedy that has become a classic cult film for it's unique filming style. It has been one of my all time favorites since I first watched it with my friends in college.


23. The Lion King

Director: Roger Allers
Year: 1994
Genre: Animation, Musical
Featured Actors: Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg
Music: Hans Zimmer, Elton John
Plot Setting: Set in an animal pride of Africa, a young cub must take his father's place as king of the pride.
Academy Awards: 4 Oscar Nominations; 2 wins for Best Original Score- Hans Zimmer and Best Original Song- "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by Elton John

Significance: It was one of my favorite movies growing up as a kid, and took me on an emotional roller coaster. Comedy, Drama, adventure, and sheer entertainment. The music is no doubt it's defining feature. It was a groundbreaking film for it's time that has become a modern day Walt Disney Masterpiece. It played a very influential role on me as a kid and to this day it remains one of my all time favorites.

22. Pan's Labyrinth

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Year: 2006
Genre: Fantasy, Historical
Featured Actors: Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdu, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil
Music: Javier Navarrete
Plot Setting: Set in Spain 1944, in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, a young girl gets caught up in real life fairy-tale.
Academy Awards: 6 Nominations; 3 wins for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup

Significance: This Spanish foreign film has a rather somber style to it as it infuses a historical setting with a tale of fantasy. The premise is quite gloomy; a young girl without a father, a sick mother, a ruthless father-in-law, and living in the forefront of a Spanish rebellion. However her imagination brings her hope in such a dark place. Whether it's purely imagination or not, is never specified however it's a film that is very open for interpretation.


21. To the Wonder

Director: Terrance Malick
Year: 2012
Genre: Drama, Romance
Featured Actors: Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Rachel MacAdams, Javier Bardem
Music: Hanan Townshend, Richard Wagner, Johann Sebastian Bach
Plot Setting: An intertwining romance of ups and downs and a priest struggling with his faith.
Academy Awards: 0

Significance: This art film from Terrance Malick is quite brilliant and no doubt a very underrated film. It took me several times to watch it, understand it, and admire it. It is unlike anything I've ever seen before, more like a dream sequence than an acutal linear plot. The filming is constantly in motion to the backdrop of beautiful classical music. It's an emotional film with minimal dialogue. It's a realistic film that accentuates human expressions and interactions. Each actor provides a raw and revealing performance that makes this such a passionate film. What makes it so special to me is the up close portrayal of real life emotions such as love and doubt. This film is also very open for interpretation.


20. Almost Famous

Director: Cameron Crowe
Year: 2000
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Featured Actors: Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Patrick Fugit, Jason Lee, Anna Paquin, Zooey Deschanel, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Music: Nancy Wilson, Simon and Garfunkel, The Who, The Beach Boys, The Allman Brothers, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Lynryd Skynyrd, Thunderclap Newman, Elton John, David Bowie, Cat Stevens
Plot Setting: About a young aspiring rock journalist as he ambitiously covers a rising band in the peak of the 1970s rock and roll era.
Academy Awards: 4 Oscar nominations; 1 win for Best Original Screenplay- Cameron Crowe

Significance: This was another movie I discovered during the later years of my college time as I began to appreciate classic rock. For anyone who enjoys the classic rock era of the 60s and the 70s then this movie is a must-watch! It's a semi auto-biograhpy written and directed by Cameron Crowe, who gives a first hand account of what is what like to be behind the stage of these mega rockstars of the time. The soundtrack in this film is impeccable, it's defining feature no doubt. It consists of classic hits of the 70s as well as some original songs from the made-up band Stillwater. Beyond the music is a very well written and well acted story. It is full of moments of heightened comedy as well as heightened drama and has been one of my favorites for some time now.


19. Midnight in Paris

Director: Woody Allen
Year: 2011
Genre: Romantic, Comedy, Fantasy
Featured Actors: Owen Wilson, Rachel MacAdams, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Marion Cotillard, Adrien Brody
Music: Stephane Wramble, Cole Porter, and various French jazz artists
Plot Setting: A romantic writer visiting Paris, daydreams about the city during the 1920s.
Academy Awards: 4 nominations; 1 win for Best Original Screenplay-Woody Allen

Significance: This is a recent addition I saw a couple years ago and loved it instantly. It is such a unique film by Woody Allen that thrusts so much art and culture into a very clever story. It's a character driven piece with great acting from the original characters as well as the portrayed artists of the 1920s. The music is also quite sensational, a mixture of French jazz and Cole Porter. The film is full of clever undertones and themes, and is ultimately a homage to the beauty of Paris. Woody Allen succeeded in creating a modern day masterpiece with this original comedy/romance/fantasy.


18. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Director: Charlie Kaufman
Year: 2004
Genre: Romantic, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Drama
Featured Actors: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst
Music: Jon Brion, The Willowz, The Polyphonic Spree
Plot Setting: Two failed lovers erase their past memories of one another, only to regret the decision.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 2 awards; 1 win for Best Original Screenplay- Charlie Kaufman

Significance: I remember I first watched this film in theaters with my good friend Jaybo, and I was instantly inspired by it's unique plot. I could relate to many elements of the film, and the character of Kate Winslett, always reminded me of a girl I was into at that time. I knew it would take several times of watching it to better understand the complex story. The basis is unlike anything I've seen before, two lovers who want to erase their memories of one another. Sure it's somewhat of a fantasy however it's not the technology yet the characters that drive the story. There is great acting all around in this film which strengthens it's overlapping plot. The music is also a key component, that incorporates a sense of transcendence. The film has a very surreal and romantic style to it which makes it quite masterful in my opinion. After all we spend most the time inside someone's mind and that format always make for a beautiful film.


17. Saving Private Ryan

Director: Steven Spielberg
Year: 1998
Genre: War, Drama, Historical
Featured Actors: Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Matt Damon
Music: John Williams
Plot Setting: During WWII, after landing in Normandy a band of soldiers searches France for a paratrooper to send home.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 11 awards; Won 5 including Best Director- Steven Spielberg, Best Cinematography, Best Sounds Effect, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing.

Significance: I remember first watching the shocking opening scenes of this film at my grandma's house when I was a teenager. It was the first time I really got an idea of what it may have been like to fight in WWII, our deadliest war in human history. It gave me a fond appreciation of those soldiers and their courage in such a terrible time. The film is a total epic, especially the opening invasion of Normandy, which goes on for like 20 minutes. The film is shot in such a raw vivid way that truly captures the gloom of World War 2. It's yet another classic American culture film from Spielberg, with a powerful score from John Williams. It went on to win many awards and rightfully so.


16. American Beauty

Director: Sam Mendes
Year: 1999
Genre: Drama
Featured Actors: Kevin Spacey, Anette Bening, Chris Cooper, Allison Janney, Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley, Thora Birch
Music: Thomas Newman
Plot Setting: A middle class family man going through a mid-life crisis, decides to make some changes.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 8 Oscars; Won 5 including Best Picture, Best Actor- Kevin Spacey, Best Director- Sam Mendes, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography

Significance: I first began to appreciate the artistic quality of this film in college, when we studied it in one of my classes. Every scene is carefully and brilliantly choreographed as is it's settings and color schemes. The story is also quite original about a suburban father and husband, who has just hit a dead end in his life. To make matters more interesting are his cheating wife, his ungrateful daughter, and his strange neighbors. It's a very realistic story that is loaded with top quality drama and great acting. Mendes offers a very simple story about middle class America and makes it look as beautiful as possible. Which of course rightfully earns it's title, American beauty.


15. Titanic

Director: James Cameron
Year: 1997
Genre: Drama, Romance, Historical
Featured Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates
Music: James Horner, Celine Dion
Plot Setting: A fictional romance set during the tragic sinking of the Titanic
Academy Awards: Nominated for 13 oscars; won 11 including Best Picture, Best Director- James Cameron, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direciton, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Effects, Best Visual Effects, Best Music- James Horners, Best Song- "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion

Significance: This movie is a total romantic epic masterpiece, and I did not come to this realization until just last year. It goes above and beyond and just about every category that makes a movie great. There is a great story, a fictional romance set during the historical and traumatic sinking of the Titanic. To witness what this terrible event may have been like is quite vivid thanks to an incredible set design, costumes, and visual effects. The acting is also quite passionate as we see a romantic affair unfold in the midst of this majestic voyage that ends in tragedy. The music takes the film to a higher level with a great score from James Horner, and an emotional song from the powerful vocals of Celine Dion. It's a perfect film that takes the viewer on emotional waves of wonder and awe.


14. Fantasia

Director: Joe Grant
Year: 1940
Genre: Animated, Musical
Featured Voice Actors: Deems Taylor
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach, Pytor Tchaikovsky, Paul Dukas, Igor Stravinsky, Ludwig van Beethoven, Amilcare Ponchielli, Modest Mussorgsky, Franz Schubert
Plot Setting: Animated series of short segments, that give homage to classic music through visual stimulants
Academy Awards: Won 2 Oscars for Visual Achievement and Sound

Significance: I was very young when I first saw this film, however it's influence on me was very significant. I came to appreciate the art of music through this film, especially the importance of classical music. I enjoyed every segment, beginning with it's abstract images to it's short stories. There is hardly any dialoge whatsoever in this film, yet rather a visual story driven by it's music. My favorite segment as kid was always the Pastoral Symphony, where a mythological world of centaurs, fauns, angels and Greek gods are portrayed in a festive manor. This segment always made me so happy and hopeful. To contrast this segment however was the Night on Bald Mountain, where the horrific devil would call his demons upon the world. This horrific scene was however silenced by the bells of angels and the heavenly hymns Franz Schubert. All in all it was a groundbreaking film which to this days serves as a masterpiece of visual-musical animation.


13. The Godfather Series

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Year: 1972 and 1974
Genre: Crime, Drama
Featured Actors: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert de Niro, Robert DuVall, Diane Keaton, James Caan,
Music: Nino Rota
Plot Setting: The story of an Italian-American crime-syndicate set in New York City during the 1950s and 1910s.
Academy Awards: Part 1 was nominated for 11 oscars; and 3 wins for Best Picture, Best Actor- Marlon Brando, and Best Adapted Screenplay- Francis Ford Coppola; Part 2 was nominated for 11 Oscars; and 6 wins for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor- Robert DeNiro, Best Director- Francis Ford Coppola, Best Adapted Screenplay- Francis Ford Coppola, Best Art Direction, and Best Music

Significance: I've decided to group the 2 films of this series into one since both were very acclaimed (leaving out Part III which wasn't near as good). I had always known and heard of this classic crime film, yet didn't come to understand and appreciate it until my time in college. What I instantly came to admire was it's portrayal of family, history, and Italian culture. It's quite an unusual film in that it is told from the perspective of the criminals. Both films are very long with detailed plots, that take several times to watch to fully appreciate. There is an unusual sophistication to this movie, that makes it so groundbreaking. The acting is no doubt it's driving force, as the story is very character-driven. The music is also it's defining feature, most notably the theme song from Nino Rota. Both these films provide a higher quality of detailed drama which is a great reflection of Coppola's direction. It's clear to see this was a very passionate project for him as it has become a staple of Hollywood culture.


12. Shawshank Redemption

Director: Frank Darabont
Year: 1994
Genre: Crime
Featured Actors: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, James Whitmore
Music: Thomas Newman, Mozart
Plot Setting: In 1947 a man is wrongfully convicted of murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment at the Shawshank penitentiary in Maine.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 7 Oscars

Significance: What makes this film so special is the incredible story by the famed novelist, Stephen King. The story spans over 30 years beginning with Andy Dufrane's wrongly sentencing, to his survival and time spent in the Shawshank penitentiary. In the end he is able to get the ultimate redemption, which makes for a very happy ending. The film does the book justice, through the great acting of Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, as well as a very good set. One of my favorite scenes, besides the end where he gets his redemption, is the musical segment of Mozart. Dufrange plays the "Letter Duet" an excerpt of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro over the speaker for all the inmates to hear. At this moment everyone is frozen and subdued by this beautiful music, making for such a magnificent scene.

11. Children of Men

Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Year: 2006

Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Featured Actors: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine
Music: John Tavener
Plot Setting: Set in a Dystopian future, Britain is the only country that endures during a time of human infertility.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 3 Oscars

Significance: It was my cousin Jennifer who first introduced this movie to me, and I was blown away almost instantly upon watching it. The concept is very original, a Dystopian future where human have been unable to reproduce for the past 20 years. The filming does an incredible job at establishing a gloomy state of things with subtle special effects and settings. It also incorporates great thrill in it's long continuous single-shots that take the viewer thru some intense action. The soundtrack is laced with some great classic rock pieces as well as some more emotional ones. The acting is also quite convincing. This story is doused with political and spiritual symbolism and has become one of my all time favorites.

10. Motorcycle Diaries

Director: Walter Salles
Year: 2004
Genre: Drama, Historical
Featured Actors: Gael Garcia Bernal, Rodrigo de la Serna
Music: Gustavo Santaolalla
Plot Setting: 1950s biopic based on the motorcycle journey by Ernesto Che Guevara with his friend across Latin America.
Academy Awards: 2 Oscar Nominations; 1 win for Best Original Song "Al Otra Lado del Rio" by Jorge Drexler

Significance: This movie really opened my eyes the first time I saw it when I lived in Chicago. I didn't know so much about the story of Ernesto Che Guevara other than he was a cool symbol of counter-culture. However here was a true adventure this young man went on to step outside his comfort zone and see the world. And what he saw was injustice and this trip forever changed him into becoming the Marxist Revolutionist we know him as today. The movie does a phenomenal job of capturing the self-discovery that occurs, as well as a sense of companionship for others. Everything about this movie is superb; the acting by Gael and Rodrigo, the beautiful minimalist guitar from Gustavo Santaolalla, to the incredible settings of South America. It's a very inspiring film all together.


9. Reds

Director: Warren Beatty

Year: 1981
Genre: Drama, Historical
Featured Actors: Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, Paul Sorvino, Maureen Stapleton
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Plot Setting: Depicts a group of American journalists as they cover the Russian Revolution and return to t
he United States to establish an American Communist political party.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 12 Oscars; 3 wins for Best Supporting Actress, Maureen Stapleton; Best Director, Warren Beatty; and Best Cinematography.

Significance: It was during my year in Chicago 2008 when I was first inspired by this political, romantic, and historical film. At the time I was very much into liberal politics, free thinking, adventure, and revolution; this film was the total embodiment of all that. It was also a romantic story set during a historical period which always makes for great cinema. The acting was incredible, the music was riveting, and the story and setting were truly eye-opening. It's no question a very long film, and probably not for your average viewer, however the substance material is loaded with historical and political detail that is just way too juicy to ignore. I think this movie is a home-run on all fronts.


8. Schindler's List

Director: Steven Spielberg
Year: 1993
Genre: Historical, Drama
Featured Actors: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley,
Music: John Williams
Plot Setting: Set during the Holocaust in Poland, an Austrian business man takes advantage of the Jewish labor camps to make a profit.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 12 Oscars; 7 wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Musical Score

Significance: I remember it was during my senior year in high school when I first saw this film and realized the horrors against humanity that occurred during the Holocaust. The style of the film has a raw gloom to it, filmed in black and white to capture the depressive setting. The musical score by John Williams is also very emotional and strikes at the nerves every time you hear those sad violins. It's a very insightful historical drama with great acting, directing, and general filming. This film is not your typical feel good Hollywood story yet rather a storm of emotions, which in my opinion makes it a true work of cinematic art.


7. Forrest Gump

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Year: 1994
Genre: Drama
Featured Actors: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Fields
Music: Alan Silvestri
Plot Setting: Tells a fictional story of a mentally challenged person as he partakes in numerous historical settings throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 13 Oscars; 6 wins for Best Picture, Best Actor- Tom Hanks, Best Director, Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects

Significance: I believe it was at my grandma's in Michigan when I first saw this film and was inspired by the story. Just to see the adversity that Forrest Gump endured, and his general optimistic attitude towards everything. It also gave me my first historical glimpse into the 1960s counter-culture movement from the music, to the Vietnam War, the hippies, the politics, and so much more. The story is a great character piece, driven by solid acting and a truly original story. It's always one of my favorite feel-good movies and also has an amazing soundtrack.

6. Braveheart

Director: Mel Gibson
Year: 1995
Genre: Drama, Historical
Featured Actors: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Brendan Gleeson
Music: James Horner
Plot Setting: Historical depiction of the Scottish Wars of Independence led by William Wallace against the British Empire during the middle ages.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 10 Oscars; 5 wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup

Significance: This was another film I remember watching for my first time at grandmas and feeling inspired by the historical setting. To witness how soldiers use to fight wars back in the middle ages was truly eye-opening. This film was a major inspiration of many of the amateur action movies I made with my brothers and friends, including sword fights and open battle fields. The film is a historical epic and a home run on all fronts, the acting, the setting, and the music is truly heart felt.

5. Amadeus

Director: Milos Forman
Year: 1984

Genre: Drama
Featured Actors: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Plot Setting: A biopic of the early rise of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart during the Golden Age of Romantic Classical music in Vienna 1790s and his scheming counterpart Antonio Salieri.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 11 Oscars; Won 8 oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor- F. Murray Abraham, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Make-up

Significance: This was yet another film I most remember watching at my grandmother's house at a very early age. (Which makes about 5 on this list that were first watched and influenced at her house). It's a dramatic interpretation on the mystery behind Mozart's life and especially his death, suggesting it was a plotted scheme by his jealous counterpart, Salieri. The film is loaded with great artistic insight and musical moments. To hear F. Murray Abraham describe the genius of Mozart is without question some of the finest parts of the film. It's a true cinematic masterpiece on every front and is always a Christmas tradition to watch.


4. Star Wars Trilogy (Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi)

Director: George Lucas
Year: 1977-1984

Genre: Science Fiction
Featured Actors: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fischer
Music: John Williams
Plot Setting: Set in a galaxy far far away this science fiction tale depicts an intergalactic clash between a corrupt empire and a rebel alliance.
Academy Awards: Star Wars was Nominated for 11 Oscars, won 7 Oscars for Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects, best Music, Sound Effects. Empire Strikes Back was nominated for 4 Oscars; won 2 Oscars for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. Return of the Jedi was nominated for 5 Oscars and won 1 for visual effects.

Significance: These movies were no doubt the greatest creative influence on my childhood. It was my mom who introduced them to Philip and I, as we rented them from the video game store. I must have been 8 or 9 when I first discovered the world of Star Wars. I instantly fell in love with the creative science fiction stories. The special effects were a little dated when I first saw them in the mid 90s, however still revolutionary for the 1970s. Yet it was more the story and the fictional universe of Star Wars that inspired me to be creative. Whether writing, drawing, making movies most of that inspiration can always be derived from that original trilogy.

3. Land Before Time

Director: Don Bluth
Year: 1988
Genre: Animation
Featured Actors: Gabrielle Damon, Candace Huston
Music: James Horner, Dianna Ross
Plot Setting: The age of dinosaurs is coming to an end, and a group of children are separated from their parents and most find their way to the Great Valley
Academy Awards: None

Significance: This was one of my most early influential films on my childhood. It was such a sad story yet had such an incredible adventure and a happy ending. The soundtrack was my favorite part of the film, so emotional. Especially Dianna Ross' song "If We Hold on Together" which always use to get to me. I remember this film led to a huge interest in the study of dinosaurs when I was a kid. Also quite coincidentally it happened to be produced by Lucasfilms the same people who made Star Wars.


2. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Fellowship, Two Towers, Return of the King)

Director: Peter Jackson
Year: 2001-2003
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Featured Actors: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Motensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving
Music: Howard Shore
Plot Setting: Fictional setting of Middle Earth where an alliance of men, dwarves, elves, and hobbits must unit to destroy a ring of power before it falls into the wrong hands.
Academy Awards: Fellowship was nominated for 13 Oscars; and won 4 Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Music, and Best Visual Effects; Two Towers was nominated for 6 Oscars and won 2 Oscars for Best Sound Editing and Visual Effects. Return of the King was nominated for 11 Oscars and won 11; Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Music Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.

Significance: I didn't know of this classic fantasy tale until these movies were released in high school and I was instantly inspired by them. Just the sheer magnitude of the fantasy, the setting, the story, and all it's characters. The films did an incredible job of capturing the Middle Earth universe, the soundtrack was amazing, as were the special effects. The trilogy is full of so many awe-inspiring moments such as the Final Charge at the Battle of Helms Deep, or Theoden's charge into the Battle of Peleanor Fields. The reason I have it above Star Wars is because there is more poetic and artistic quality in this overall production.


1. Gladiator

Director: Ridley Scott
Year: 2000
Genre: Drama
Featured Actors: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Djimon Houston
Music: Lisa Gerrard, Hans Zimmer
Plot Setting: Set in ancient Rome, a General becomes a slave who becomes a gladiator who defies an entire empire.
Academy Awards: Nominated for 12 Oscars; Won 5 for Best Picture, Best Actor- Russell Crowe, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects

Significance: It was the first DVD I ever bought and perhaps the first dramatic picture that I appreciated for it's artistic quality. I was in high school when I bought the DVD and I remember my dad and I spent the entire night figuring it out as it was a new technology. I enjoyed everything about this film from the action packed story-line, the dramatic acting, and especially the soundtrack. I use to listen to the soundtrack many nights before soccer games or track meets. And the film was also one of the early inspirations that got me into film making. I also think the film has one of the most beautiful endings of any other film. It has remained one of my all time favorite films for a very long time now.

Honorable Mention

V for Vendetta
Sideways
Phantom of the Opera
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Shakespeare in Love
Black Swan
There Will be Blood
Les Miserables
Harry Potter Series
Back to the Future
Remember the Titans
Training Day
The Illusionist
O Brother Where Art Tho
Doctor Zhivago
The Graduate
Lost in Translation
The Pianist


Omissions from 2009 List (Also Honorable Mentions)

Scarface
Raging Bull
Pulp Fiction
Annie Hall