Subset's Classic Movies for a Long Weekend
The long President’s Day weekend is here and is the perfect opportunity to decompress and dust off a classic film or two. We asked the subSpace blog team what some of their favorites are and ended up with quite the varied and eclectic list.In no particular order, here are some of our top recommendations to fill an evening to two of relaxation and popcorn.Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - For when you need a healthy dose of sarcasm and mischief from a lovable ragtag group in impossible situations. Ferris lives the adventures some of us only dream of. It's a reminder to put yourself out into the world and live in the moment. But it is also a coming of age tale as Ferris realizes these days are coming to an end as high school ends and adult life begins. A laugh out loud, feel good classic. A Fistful of Dollars (1964) - The first in the unofficially titled Dollars Trilogy (followed by “For a Few Dollars More” and “The Good the Bad and the Ugly”), and the first lead role for Clint Eastwood. The storyline and direction are heavily based on the Japanese samurai film "Yojimbo", and is full of action, camp and an iconic soundtrack. IMHO the best of the trilogy and worth the watch.Some Like it Hot (1959) - Politically correct this film is not. At its first test showing in Hollywood, audience members walked out midway through the picture. The film’s lead, Jack Lemmon expressed his concerns for his career to Director/Producer Billy Wilder, who assured him “it’s just not the right crowd”. The following week the film was tested in a different neighborhood with the opposite reaction. The audience laughed so much that it resulted in a re-edit of the movie with more dead space between dialogue so that subsequent jokes were not drowned out by audience laughter. A comedy classic for any lazy weekend.Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): This first-installment in the Indiana Jones series was conceived as Steven Spielberg’s homage to the past — classic movie reel serials from Hollywood’s golden age. It didn’t take long for throwback to become trendsetter. The action-adventure tale ushered in a new era of blockbuster, mixing in romance, fight scenes, truck chases and even sprinkling the supernatural. No other film pulls off the simultaneous categorizations of masterpiece and Saturday afternoon popcorn flick quite like this one.Sunset Boulevard (1950): Billy’s Wilder’s second entry on this list, Sunset Boulevard defined meta, from its legendary opening shot to its iconic closing line. A movie about movies, part satire, part neo-noir, part black comedy. A movie so self-aware, it had an actual silent film star playing its aging silent film star. Settle in for cynical take on industry, fame, and the struggles of the spotlight.North by Northwest (1959): Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense thriller, is basically an outline for much of Tom Cruise’s filmography. Cary Grant, sets the tone for running and airplanes on the silver screen. The film's set pieces, filming locales and special effects have influenced practically every action movie since its release. Arguably, Hitchcock at his most enjoyable. A climax of fisticuffs on the literal face of Mount Rushmore makes for a topical and monumental addition to your President’s Day weekend.The Breakfast Club (1985): John Hughes perfectly captures what it’s like to have the world, or a mean principal, against you. The Breakfast Club takes you to a place of deeper understanding of the reality that we are all walking in different shoes. This movie is a must-watch on a long weekend. The story is a feel good, relatable classic filled with the perfect amount of nostalgia. Roadhouse (1989): You want a ROUNDHOUSE KICK your way into the weekend? Then grab a 6 pack of Miller Lite and fire up the American classic “Roadhouse.” Let Dalton (Patrick Swayze) defend your right to party and have a swell old time at the Double Deuce. This movie is basically a metaphor for life, when things get you down, remember Dalton's words of advice, "Be Nice," even when others are insulting your mother. Supporting appearance's by Wade Garrett (Sam Elliott's finest work) really bring this whole cast together. If this inspires you to achieve your dream as the greatest cooler in the business, and it doesn't exactly work out, remember one last piece of advice from Dalton, "there is always barber college."