by Michael Lyons
Well, we seem to say it a lot lately in late December, but, again - What. A. Year.
As all of the events of 2022 whirled past us, movie fans could always find something to celebrate, as some notable films marked anniversaries this year. Here is a look back at just some of them before we close the calendar:
The Avengers (2012) - Ten Years
Big Marvel Cinematic Universe movies seem so commonplace today that it's hard to believe that a decade has gone by since this first merging of several-super hero films. Even though the franchise has grown, changed, expanded, and brought many different thoughts from fans, there's no denying this movie still packs a big ol' entertaining wallop.
Treasure Planet (2002) - Twenty Years
Released over Thanksgiving weekend of 2002, when it faired poorly at the box office, many were quick to dismiss this as "Disney's Holiday Turkey." So unfair. This science-fiction take on Treasure Island features brilliant character animation and pure heart and emotion that sneaks up on you. An underrated gem, a "treasure," indeed.
Unforgiven (1992) - Thirty Years
Who better to helm a revisionist Western movie than Clint Eastwood? The director and star's brutal take on the genre deservedly won the Best Picture Oscar that year, and is still impactful three decades later.
Tootsie (1982) - Forty Years
So funny. That is the only way to describe this brilliant comedy. Dustin Hoffman is perfect as a struggling actor so desperate for work that he disguises himself as a woman to get a role on a soap opera and becomes a star.
Not only filled with great humor but also messages about how different genders are perceived and perceive life. Plus, the scene where Bill Murray calls Dustin Hoffman "a slut" is still classic!
The Godfather (1972) - Fifty Years
Still one of the greatest films of all time. Francis Ford Coppola's Corleone crime family saga is perfect storytelling and much more than a "mob movie." It's a tale of the seductive nature of power, how that power can be corrupted, and how the power of family creates an indestructible bond. There is a reason this movie is still discussed half a century later.
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - Sixty Years
If not the best, then one of the best film adaptations of a book ever made. Gregory Peck embodied the role of lawyer Atticus Finch in this translation of Harper Lee's novel about a lawyer who defends a black man in small-town Alabama when the man is wrongfully accused of rape. Set against the backdrop of not just the small-town South but coming-of-age understanding, To Kill a Mockingbird, the book, and this film, seem to become more powerful and relevant as the years pass.
Casablanca (1942) - Eighty Years
They don't get more iconic than this. In one of the defining roles of his career, Humphrey Bogart is Rick, the cynical ex-patriate who owns a nightclub in Morocco that gets caught in the crosshairs of World War II as he unexpectedly encounters his one-time love, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman).
So many unforgettable scenes and lines of dialogue ("Of all the jin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine," "We'll always have Paris," "Here's looking at you, kid," "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.").
Casablanca is a story of the power of alliances and how we can never escape our past. It's the gold standard of the age of the silver screen.
As we head into the long holiday weekend, look ahead, reflect and take some time to remember these and other wonderful films that reached milestones in 2022.
Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Is one of your New Year resolutions to read more? Then check out my book, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance, available at Amazon with signed and personalized copies for sale at Words From Lyons !
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