About Me: Red Georges

Well, I’m Red, and I guess if there is one thing to know about me, it’s that I am horrible at filling out these “About Me” sections. I live in Lincoln, NE and have lived in the state for most of my life, although I grew up in a much, much smaller community. I am in the Army National Guard, and I’m anxiously awaiting an upcoming deployment in January 2011. Other than movies (obviously), I spend a good chunk of my time with sports. While I can’t say that I play as much as I used to, I still follow most sports on a pretty close basis, and football nearly religiously.

10 Favorite Movies (In no specific order)

Lord of the Rings trilogy- While I did say no specific order, these movies completely outshine everything else in my eyes. Really, the movies that made me fall in love with cinema and want to explore all its wonders. I’ll accept that they aren’t perfect, but you’d be hard pressed to find a movie out there that is. An epic tale that was maybe the most game-changing movie of the Aughts, I really can’t ever see a movie removing this trilogy from it’s throne.

Godfather Part I & II- A staple of pretty much everybody’s top movie lists, the storytelling here is absolutely perfect. There’s not much that I can say that hasn’t been said already.

Lawrence of Arabia-  One of the first true great epics. Visuals that groundbreaking at the time, and are still stunning today. I know a four hour movie is too long for most people nowadays, which is a real shame, but if the movie is created properly, time should be no issue.

Seven Samurai- Another loooong epic, albeit just a decade older. Wonderful characterizations, and although it wasn’t one itself, it changed westerns forever.

Star Wars- Um, duh?

4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days- Quite possibly the best movie overall that I’ve seen when it comes to actual movie making. While tough for some to develop an emotional connection with the characters, which I don’t see how, it’s a movie that can be absolutely gut-wrenching and an amazing study on friendship, as well as a number of other things.

A History of Violence- Not only an entertaining movie, but a movie that is so deeply layered that you discover something new with every watch. Look up all the interpretations that are available on the net. The results are astounding. A movie this entertaining that is a study on Marxism? Oh, and having Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello as a married couple is genius.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail- Winner of a small little tournament that we did over the summer to decide the Greatest Comedy of All Time, this movie gives you one liner after one liner, but does so in a way that none of the movie ever becomes old or worn-out.

Tommy Boy- Had to throw in another comedy in this, and despite LoTR’s recent attempts, this still remains probably the most-watched movie of my life. Whether it be watching it after coming home from school, possibly in school while I was supposed to be paying attention, during the holidays, this movie always has found a way to turn itself on. Chris Farley at his all-time best.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford- One of the best movies to be released in the past 10 years, this is a movie that delivers in every faction of the game. An ensemble that gets better and better with every passing year, this movie is brilliantly acted, magically shot, and woven together into film that is artistically superb.

5 Favorite Actors

Robert Downey, Jr.- The man can simply do everything. I’ve said it before, but if he had a role where he had to play a pregnant, one-legged alcoholic nun, he’d be able to pull it off.

Viggo Mortensen- Two movies in my Top 10 favorite movies and you thought he wouldn’t be here? Shame on you. (And for anybody who is about to say Alec Guiness, 1. Touche; and 2. This is my list and I don’t care.

Brad Pitt- A man that to me has shown that he is so much more than just a pretty face. His role in Jesse James was easily one of the most difficult roles of recent memory, and he absolutely nails it. He’s a very versatile actor that while known by everybody, has his talents very underappreciated.

Bill Murray- While he has turned into more of a dramatic actor with his recent memories, this guy was comedy gold during his 80′s and 90′s movies. Peter Venkman is quite possibly the greatest comedy character ever created.

Peter Sarsgaard- Didn’t see that one coming, did ya? DID ya?! It always makes me sad to see how underused he is in films, especially today. While he does face a bit of typecasting every so often, he still brings 110% to each role, but never lets him become bigger than the role itself. An actor that always makes everybody else around him better.

5 Favorite Actresses

Do I even have to who my first and obvious choice is?

Laura Linney- Oh, Laura, quite possibly my favorite thespian to watch. I doubt she’s ever been given a line that she’s hasn’t been able to deliver.

Cate Blanchett- Galadriel, Bob friggin Dylan (a member of the opposite gender if you didn’t know), Queen Elizabeth, Katharine Hepburn, as well as several other iconic roles. Who else could pull that off?

Julianne Moore- Gingers stay together.

Chloe Sevigny- While she does tend to say with the indie fair, including that one scene that pissed off quite a few people at Cannes, she is a queen among those ranks.

Guilty Pleasure

Oh how there are so many. There really is. And for that reason alone, I’m giving you a one-two combo that relate well to one another. “Daredevil” and “The Punisher” (Thomas Jane type). I never really understood why these two movies received SO much hate. I’m not exactly the most well-versed guy in comic lore, but even if these movies were exact true copies of their original form, they are still entertaining as hell.