Charly (1968)

IMDb plot summary: An intellectually disabled man undergoes an experiment that gives him the intelligence of a genius.
Directed by Ralph Nelson. Starring Cliff Robertson, Claire Bloom, Lilia Skala, and Leon Janney.

Despite Flowers for Algernon being adapted multiple times to stage, screen, and radio, I've actually never seen/heard any of them, nor have I read the short story, so while I had a general idea of what happened here, this was my first chance to really discover the full story. This one feels... lacking. It *feels* like a short story expanded into a longer version, and as such it seems to be rushed, particularly toward the end, where we don't really have much, if any, time to grapple with the fact of what's coming. The majority of the film is spent setting up the climactic turn of events, and I wish the film had been more evenly distributed between the story beats. I'm not sure what the film as set up here is attempting to tell me -- ignorance is bliss? Scientists shouldn't try to mess with the human brain? I feel like it's trying to say something significant but isn't sure itself what that is. That being said, this messy film does have some nice moments. The few scenes we do get of Charly coming to grips with his fate are well-crafted and exepertly put us inside his head, and watching his story unfold is interesting. Just messy in hindsight.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Charly < Nine Lives
Charly > The Toy That Saved Christmas
Charly > The Deer Hunter
Charly < Yankee Doodle Dandy
Charly < Blade Runner
Charly < Company (1997)
Charly < Twist of Faith
Charly > The Thirteenth Floor
Charly > Dazed and Confused
Charly < Biloxi Blues
Charly < The Man in the Iron Mask
Final spot: #1896 out of 3065.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

IMDb plot summary: Four teenage mutant ninja turtles emerge from the shadows to protect New York City from a gang of criminal ninjas.
Directed by Steve Barron. Starring Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Josh Pais, and David Forman.

This is... harmless, I guess. As far as movies clearly made for children go, this one isn't nearly as obnoxious as it could have been, though it is almost ridiculously simplistic. I think it was a bonkers design choice from day one of these characters' inception to have one turtle with a red mask and one with an orange, because they look way too similar and I kept mixing them up.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles < Laura
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles > The Toy That Saved Christmas
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles < Ocean's Twelve
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles < A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles < The Importance of Being Earnest
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles > American Graffiti
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles > The Last Temptation of Christ
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles > Kinsey
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles > Big Business
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles > Double Jeopardy
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles > Graveyard of Honor (1975)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles > Band of Outsiders
Final spot: #2203 out of 3064.

The Party (1968)

IMDb plot summary: A clerical mistake results in a bumbling Indian film star being invited to an exclusive Hollywood party instead of being fired.
Directed by Blake Edwards. Starring Peter Sellers, Claudine Longet, J. Edward McKinley, and Denny Miller.

As a straight farce, this is fine. Has some good moments, builds to a nice conclusion. The moment where the toilet paper just unrolled all the way had me cackling. But it's all spoiled by the fact that for *no* reason inherent to the plot (as if that would justify it), Peter Sellers is in brownface playing an Indian character. It's not like this movie is astonishingly great outside of that, but it is a little piece of "ew" that is found throughout and makes it less enjoyable.

How it entered my Flickchart:
The Party < Laura
The Party > Gone With the Wind
The Party < Ocean's Twelve
The Party < A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
The Party > Band of Outsiders
The Party > Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
The Party > Teacher's Pet
The Party < 101 Dalmatians (1961)
The Party < The Aristocats
The Party > The Peanut Butter Falcon
The Party > 12 Days of Terror
The Party > The Christmas Toy
Final spot: #2125 out of 3063.

Hang 'Em High (1968)

IMDb plot summary: When an innocent man barely survives a lynching, he returns as a lawman determined to bring the vigilantes to justice.
Directed by Ted Post. Starring Clint Eastwood, Inger Stevens, Eg Begley, and Pat Hingle.

As far as westerns go, this one is all right. It does some interesting things looking at the ethics of vigilante justice, which is much more interesting to me. And it's kind of a downer of an ending, also an interesting route. As much as I disagree with Clint Eastwood's politics as an older actor, I really respect the way he was often willing to play in (and direct) movies where the vigilante hero isn't automatically the good guy.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Hang 'Em High < A Night to Remember
Hang 'Em High > Gone with the Wind
Hang 'Em High > Ocean's Twelve
Hang 'Em High > Suspiria (1977)
Hang 'Em High > Gattaca
Hang 'Em High < For Your Consideration
Hang 'Em High > The Hangover
Hang 'Em High < Music Within
Hang 'Em High < John Dies at the End
Hang 'Em High > Blackmail Is My Life
Hang 'Em High > The Misfits
Hang 'Em High < Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Final spot: #1598 out of 3062.

The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968)

IMDb plot summary: Ukrainian Archbishop Kiril Lakota is set free after twenty years as a political prisoner in Siberia. When the Pontiff suddenly dies, Lakota's genuine character and unique life experience move the College of Cardinals to elect him as the new Pope. But Pope Kiril I must now deal with his own self-doubt, the struggle of his friend Father Telemond, who is under scrutiny for his beliefs, and find a solution to the crisis in China.
Directed by Michael Anderson. Starring Anthony Quinn, Laurence Olivier, Oskar Werner, and David Janssen.

What an intriguing story. It definitely conjures up this enormous larger-than-life feel, helped by its including both an overture and an entr'acte despite having no musical numbers. Though perhaps not technically an epic, it definitely plays in that territory and includes those meandering philosophical discussions that fit so well there. It's a slow thoughtful film that ultimately finds itself in the difficult situation of needing to actually resolve the problems its character faces, despite those resolutions seldom being so quick or so easy. Still a worthwhile watch, but even in nearly 3 hours of film, its ending feels rushed because of the enormity of its questions.

How it entered my Flickchart:
The Shoes of the Fisherman > Laura
The Shoes of the Fisherman < An American Werewolf in London
The Shoes of the Fisherman > Starship Troopers
The Shoes of the Fisherman > Gone in 60 Seconds
The Shoes of the Fisherman > The Miseducation of Cameron Post
The Shoes of the Fisherman < Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation
The Shoes of the Fisherman > The Emperor Waltz
The Shoes of the Fisherman < The Thief of Bagdad (1924)
The Shoes of the Fisherman < Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
The Shoes of the Fisherman < Fright Night (2011)
The Shoes of the Fisherman > Death by Hanging
Final spot: #834 out of 3061.

Short Term 12 (2013)

IMDb plot summary: A 20-something supervising staff member of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Stephanie Beatriz, and Rami Malek.

This is one of those films that I feel digging under my skin and getting to me years from now. It's an astonishingly good series of performances from everyone involved, but especially Brie Larson, and it hits home as a teacher, even though most of my students are not in these situations. There's a beautiful amount of nuance in this script as well, touching on a lot of different themes and how our past can affect how we deal with those themes. Just a really solid drama.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Short Term 12 > Laura
Short Term 12 > An American Werewolf in London
Short Term 12 < Vertigo
Short Term 12 > The Wolf of Wall Street
Short Term 12 < Days of Wine and Roses
Short Term 12 > Synecdoche, New York
Short Term 12 > Lolita (1962)
Short Term 12 > Star Trek (2009)
Short Term 12 < Good Will Hunting
Short Term 12 > Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Short Term 12 < The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Final spot: #486 out of 3060.

Blow Dry (2001)

IMDb plot summary: In 2000, a small town hosts The British Hairdressing Championship, where a former 2-time winner, his son, his run-away wife and his runaway wife's lady lover reside (not all on speaking terms).
Directed by Paddy Breathnach. Starring Alan Rickman, Natasha Richardson, Rachel Griffiths, and Rachel Leigh Cook.

Despite being about a rather unusual artistic endeavor, this film regardless feels very familiar in its format and in the beats and dynamics at play. Where it succeeds is in the charisma of its stars, particularly Natasha Richardson and Alan Rickman, and watching this made me deeply sad that we have lost both of them. They're so excellent here, really bringing the heart to what could have been a much blander film. But with them, it's a sweet and enjoyable flick.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Blow Dry > Nine Lives
Blow Dry < An American Werewolf in London
Blow Dry < Starship Troopers
Blow Dry > Kinky Boots the Musical
Blow Dry > The Spy Who Loved Me
Blow Dry > Lord of the Flies
Blow Dry > The Theory of Everything
Blow Dry < A Chorus Line
Blow Dry > Aliens
Blow Dry < Winnie the Pooh
Blow Dry < Full Metal Jacket
Blow Dry < Star Trek: Generations
Final spot: #1165 out of 3059.