EFC II #160 – Star Wars (1977)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#160 – Star Wars (1977)
Dir. George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, David Prowse, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, James Earl Jones

The one hundred and sixtieth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, one of the all time greats, the film that changed the landscape of cinema, from the mind of George Lucas, Star Wars.

Recorded in May 2017.

Oscar Wins: Best Visual Effects (John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune, Robert Blalack), Best Art Direction (John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Roger Christian), Best Original Score (John Williams), Best Film Editing (Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas, Richard Chew), Best Costume Design (John Mollo), Best Sound (Don MacDougall, Ray West, Bob Minkler, Derek Ball)

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Connie: Yes, it’s a classic.

Luke: Yep, no brainer, one of the all time great films, it changed everything.

EFC II #159 – American Graffiti (1973)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#159 – American Graffiti (1973)
Dir. George Lucas
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Cindy Williams, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Mackenzie Phillips, Harrison Ford, Wolfman Jack

The one hundred and fifty-ninth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, George Lucas’ love letter to the cruising teen culture of the early 1960s, American Graffiti.

Recorded in May 2017.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Connie: I honestly don’t know, but I’m glad I watched it.

Luke: Yeah, for its time it feels quite unique and is a highly charming snapshot of a certain era of teen culture.

EFC II #158 – The Lady from Shanghai (1947)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#158 – The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
Dir. Orson Welles
Starring: Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth, Everett Sloane, Glenn Anders, Ted de Corsia, Erskine Sanford

The one hundred and fifty-eighth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, the Orson Welles directed mystery starring himself and Rita Hayworth, The Lady from Shanghai.

Recorded in May 2017.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Yeah, it’s quite remarkable how good Orson Welles’ films turn out even after heavy studio interference. Worth a look.

EFC #157 – Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#157 – Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008)
Dir. Sacha Gervasi
Starring: Steve “Lips” Kudlow, Robb Reiner, Chris “CT” Tsangarides, Slash, Tom Araya, Lemmy, Scott Ian, Lars Ulrich

The one hundred and fifty-seventh installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, Sacha Gervasi’s intimate documentary of an ageing rock band still trying to make the big time, Anvil! The Story of Anvil.

Recorded in May 2017.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Yes, it’s one of the best documentaries I’ve seen, that is both a compelling story of ageing underdogs and a heartwaming look at creative passion.

EFC II #156 – Toy Story (1995)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#156 – Toy Story (1995)
Dir. John Lasseter
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, Erik von Detten, Laurie Metcalf

The one hundred and fifty-sixth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, John Lasseter’s groundbreaking computer animated classic, Toy Story.

Recorded in August 2015 & May 2017.

Oscar Wins: Special Achievement (John Lasseter)

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Connie: Yes, it’s great and the first of its kind.

Luke: Yes, it started a whole new form of storytelling, and still holds up twenty years on as not just a great animated film, but a great film, period.

EFC II #155 – The Usual Suspects (1995)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#155 – The Usual Suspects (1995)
Dir. Bryan Singer
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Benecio Del Toro, Stephen Baldwin, Pete Postlethwaite, Kevin Pollak, Chazz Palminteri, Suzy Amis, Giancarlo Esposito

The one hundred and fifty-fifth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, Bryan Singer’s acclaimed crime mystery film, The Usual Suspects.

Recorded in May 2017.

Oscar Wins: Best Supporting Actor (Kevin Spacey), Best Original Screenplay (Christopher McQuarrie)

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Connie: Yes, it’s a really good mystery film.

Luke: Yeah, it’s not a surefire, incredible must see movie for me, but you definitely should see it if you haven’t, it’s very well put together and highly entertaining.

EFC II #154 – Les Vampires (1915)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#154 – Les Vampires (1915)
Dir. Louis Feuillade
Starring: Musidora, Édouard Mathé, Marcel Lévesque, Jean Aymé, Frederik Moriss, Fernand Herrmann, Louis Leubas, Delphine Renot, Delphine Renot, Germaine Rouer

The one hundred and fifty-fourth installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, Louis Feuillade epic, crime thriller serial, Les Vampires.

Recorded in May 2017.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Yes, it has plenty of minor flaws, but is a seminal piece of work in the crime thriller genre of film, and holds up incredibly well for the epic seven hour film serial that it is.

EFC II #153 – Mad Max (1979)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#153 – Mad Max (1979)
Dir. George Miller
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward

The one hundred and fifty-third installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, George Miller’s dystopian cult classic, Mad Max.

Recorded in May 2017.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Yes, it’s not a great film, but it’s quite a unique one and has some real flashes of something special, it’s worth the time.

EFC II #152 – The King of Comedy (1983)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#152 – The King of Comedy (1983)
Dir. Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Tony Randall, Diahnne Abbott, Sandra Bernhard

The one hundred and fifty-second installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, Martin Scorsese’s black comedy, starring Robert De Niro as an aspiring comedian, The King of Comedy.

Recorded in April 2017.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Yes, I was really surprised by this one, an excellent film.

EFC II #151 – His Girl Friday (1940)

The Epic Film Challenge II
#151 – His Girl Friday (1940)
Dir. Howard Hawks
Starring: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy, Alma Kruger, Gene Lockhart, Clarence Kolb, Abner Biberman, John Qualen, Helen Mack

The one hundred and fifty-first installment of the Epic Film Challenge II, Howard Hawks’ rapid fire screwball comedy, His Girl Friday.

Recorded in April 2017.

Is it a film you must see before you die?

Luke: Yes, if only on the incredible delivery of such rapid fire dialogue, which is unbelievably impressive.