The Five - Female Leads

The Five – Female Leads

By: Cameron Galvin

Compiled by: Cameron Galvin, Emma Mayeux

The lead actor/actress is often overlooked in a powerful film and we believe those performances deserve some recognition. In this edition of the “Daily Top Five” we will examine some of the best female leads throughout cinema. We wanted to leave the criteria super open and anything was on the table, it just had to have a strong female performance. As always, only five can make the list and with that some will be left out. Those honorable mentions are: The Hunger Games, Wonder Women, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

5. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

This in-depth film follows the incredible 10 year story of hunting down Al Qaeda’s leader, Osama Bin Laden. Maya (Jessica Chastain) is a CIA operative who is first designated with the task of interrogating terrorists following the attacks on Sept. 11th. Throughout the years she quickly works her way up, following different leads in the pursuit of finding Bin Laden. After many struggles an wrong turns she finally finds him in 2011 and is confident she is the only one who knows. The ending we all know is coming, the takedown of Bin Laden by Navy Seals all thanks to Maya’s intel. A strong performance from Chastain left you with the emotion of actually being a part of the process. A film definitely worth watching and a performance that cannot be overlooked, Chastain hit this one out of the park.

4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Everyone knows the amazing end of the first ever Star Wars Film A New Hope, and if you don’t I feel sorry for you. The cool story all of us nerds were hoping for, just how did they get the plans to blow up the death star? Rogue One shows us the brave mission the Rebellion goes on to steal the plans of the Empire’s super weapon so they can destroy it. The team, led by Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) is the daughter of the scientist who designed the weapon. She and a few other rebels stop at nothing with a culminating high intensity battle scene at the Empire base to ultimately destroy the weapon. The performance of Jones is outstanding and watching her beat up and shoot the bad guys, has you the edge of your seat. All you want to do is to see her succeed and the ending sure gets sad when she gives her life to save the entire galaxy. Jones no doubt is added to the list of awesome Star Wars characters and she gives you the deep feeling of hope.

3. Alien (1979)

In the distant future the crew of a space vessel must travel to an unknown planet in response to a distress call. One crew member is attacked by an unknown lifeform and the crew realizes the life cycle has just begun. The crew is now fighting something they are clearly overmatched for and it all falls in the hands of Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). Her absolute will power has anyone cheering her on as the evolution of this Alien lifeform is tearing the crew and ship to shreds. An emotional rollercoaster, Weaver goes through moments of toughness to breaking down and almost giving up. After hunting the alien down weaver finally prevails blowing the alien into space. A cheerful ending, until you realize she is still stuck in space. Never the less a great performance and one of the first in a long list of strong female leads kicking butt.

2. Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 (2003, 2004)

These are obviously a package deal, in the saga of one of the toughest women characters’ journey of revenge. After awakening from a four-year coma, a deadly assassin (Uma Thurman) seeks revenge on the team that betrayed her, including the man she loved Bill. A classic Tarantino saga, these films follow one another until the ultimate and satisfying ending of her finally killing Bill. Thurman is the ultimate badass, killing hundreds of inferior assassin’s along the way, all with her samurai sword. This film is not for the faint of heart, the gruesome deaths by Thurman are just awesome. A hidden truth behind all the violence, that there is nothing sweeter than revenge. Thurman was definitely one of the scariest female leads I’ve ever seen and will forever think of her as the badass assassin.

1. Silence of the Lambs (1991)

I think most people would agree with this as the number one! This dark film hits you on another level, with an ending that has some relief to a tough story. Clarice Sterling (Jodie Foster) is an FBI trainee that wants to move up the ranks quickly and she finally gets the case of hunting down a sadistic serial killer. In order to do this she must seek help from incarcerated cannibal killer (Anthony Hopkins). The performance from Foster is astounding; she gives you such a real feeling. The deep emotions of the crime victims she sees are unlike any other. She truly digs deep into the crazy mind of a serial killer and flirts with the idea, to catch one you must think like one. The dramatic and relieving ending of Foster finally catching and killing the serial killer is a masterpiece. Foster delivered an Oscar winning performance in a film that no one will ever forget.   

The Five - LGBTQ Films

Written by Hannah Ehrlich

Compiled by Hannah Ehrlich, Okechi Apakama and Kyley Warren 

With the rise of LGBTQ movies in recent years, we made a list of our top 5 favorite ones, number one being the favorite. Though there are a lot of good options to choose from, we decided to focus on the most diverse ones, providing you with different genres throughout the LGBTQ community. Some honorable mentions that didn’t make the list include, Boys Don’t Cry, Carol, Dallas Buyers Club, The Birdcage, and Brokeback Mountain.

5. Love, Simon

The high school love story we had no idea we needed, is how this movie would best be described. Simon Spier is hiding his true identity from everyone in his life, except an anonymous student at his school who also happens to have the same secret. We watch as Simon searches to find out who he is emailing that shares his secret. In the process of all this, Simon must also decide how to reveal his secret to those in his life, that he’s gay.

4. Blue Is The Warmest Color

Sacrificing three hours of your life to read closed captions on this groundbreaking French film will be one of the best decisions you make. Adèle, who is played by actress Adèle Exarchopoulos, goes through a rough few years of self-discovery when she meets Emma, who is played by Léa Seydoux. Adèle is young and naïve, so when she meets Emma she falls madly in love. The two show us what it means to fall in love and fall out of love. The raw depiction of a relationship will have you rooting for both of them to find love in one another.

3. Moonlight

The life of a young man named Chiron will show you the realistic viewpoint of what it means to be a minority within a minority. The coming of age story takes place in a broken down neighborhood in Miami where Chiron lives with his drug-addict mother. Relying on the support of others in the community, Chiron isn’t shown how to explore his sexuality or even given the opportunity to do so. The connection he makes with a few members in his community will touch your heart as you root for his success during each downfall.

2. The Miseducation of Cameron Post

The coming of age movie where no changing is necessary is this movie. Chloe Grace Moretz plays Cameron Post, a high schooler who is caught in a relationship with a friend. Cameron gets sent to a Christian conversion camp where she meets others who are in her same shoes. The way that Cameron normalizes her sexuality on screen, helps normalize sexuality off screen.  She doesn’t have to give herself a label or have a coming out to be who she is. The way that each character is who they are naturally and effortlessly makes the movie beautiful.

1. Call Me By Your Name

May be the most romantic movie of the decade. The connection between 17-year-old Elio Perlman and his professor father’s grad-student assistant 24-year-old Oliver is electric. Taking place in Northern, Italy the two do things like biking through the city to swimming in the backyard, developing a lustful relationship over the course of one Summer. Their connection and hidden relationship leave us guessing what will happen next as the two fall madly in love.

The Five - Best Picture Oscar Snubs

The Top Five Best Picture Oscar Snubs

Written by Cameron Galvin

Complied By Cameron Galvin and Brionna Raum

The Oscars are right around the corner and we are getting excited for the drama. In this edition of the Phoenix Film Festivals ‘Top Five,’ a look at some of the best films to not get nominated for best picture. These films were deserving of a nod because of how iconic or different they were. During our decision making process we set the rule that this would be a list of the pictures not nominated for best picture, but may have been nominated for other categories. Films that didn’t receive any nominations were a whole other list entirely. As always there are some that don’t crack the top five; The Town, The big Lebowski, Scarface, and Interstellar.

5. Memento (2000)

One of the more unique film ever made, follows a man with short-term memory loss attempting to track down his wife’s murderer. This film has two story lines, one moving forward in time, while the other tells the story backwards revealing more each time. Just Nolan’s second movie ever directed, it was one that many people might have not understood for the time it came out. Aside from the different story technique, this movie features great performances, great cinematography, and good music throughout. A movie, which should have gotten a nomination for how influential it was.

4. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

The same year as Memento, we believed this was another film that deserved the nod. Probably one of the toughest films ever made, follows four individuals living in Coney Island with big aspirations. The problem is drug addictions holding them back. Features graphic drug use and sexuality, along with language make this a hard film to watch. However, it has a lot of truths to it, which makes it so iconic and a must see. The ending will leave you speechless and will never forget. The drug-induced utopia of these four that is shattered because the addiction runs two deep is a scary life lesson this film tackles.

3. The Dark Knight (2008)

Nominated for 8 and won 2, this film still did not get the best picture nomination. Christopher Nolan’s second Batman movie definitely lived up to the hype around it. Set within a year of Batman begins; they set out to clean the streets of Gotham until the sadistic criminal mastermind known as the Joker shows up. This film really has it all, the amazing performances of Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, who did win the Oscar for best supporting actor. The score brings it all together and the cinematography, a nice mix of special effects and real shots. This is much more than a superhero movie. A piece that looks at the basic concept of good vs. evil, but also digs into the psychological issues of the characters.

2. American Gangster (2007)

A biographical feature that examines the stories of two very different people. The rise of Frank Lucas, an African American that establishes himself as one of the biggest heroin dealers in New York City. Because of his unique style it allows him to beat out the competition and anger them. The other storyline follows dedicated and honest policeman Richie Roberts. In a time with dirty cops all around Richie is devoted to bringing the cops and drug dealers down, including Frank Lucas. The performances of the two were worthy of Oscar nominations as well. The film has great music and the production value makes it feel like you aren’t even watching a movie. What makes this feature so iconic is the story of an iconic African American rising up to power in a world not used to it. A must see gangster film that should have gotten the nomination.

1. Se7en (1995)

A film that should be at the top of most lists follows two crime detectives’ desperate hunt for a serial killer who justifies his crimes for the world’s ignorance of the Seven Deadly Sins. A film that was probably ahead of its time, is now considered a classic and favorite to most. The emotion of the two cops is real as the younger cop (Brad Pitt) focuses on trying to get in the mind of a serial killer in order to catch their own. While the older wiser cop (Morgan Freeman) researches the Seven Deadly Sins to understand the killer’s motives. Finally the killer reveals himself (Kevin Spacey) to show off his final victim, which happens to be Pitt’s wife. An ending that throws everyone for a loop and an iconic line that is quoted in movies or shows all the time “What’s in the box?”  Helped pave the way for the style David Fincher uses in all of his films.

The Five - All Hail Lady Streep

Written by Brionna Raum

Compiled by Brionnna Raum and Cameron Galvin

Well it’s officially OSCARS WEEK and we are getting all kinds of excited over here at festival headquarters. On today’s compilation of THE FIVE, we are giving some well-deserved attention to a woman who shattered the early expectations of her career, garnering 21 Oscar nominations over the stretch of her career, and winning not one, not two, but three Oscars for Best Actress. Yes, we are talking about the one and only, Meryl Streep. As a multi-faceted and ever growing actress, we believe Meryl Streep represents the kind of artistry and dedication to craft that the Academy Awards are meant to honor. So, without further ado, we present to you the top five Meryl Streep movies for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. Some honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the cut: Silkwood (1983), The Iron Lady (2011), and A Cry in the Dark (1988).

5. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

In a role supposedly based on Vogue Magazine Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, Meryl Streep portrays the mysterious and decisive Miranda Priestly in David Frankel’s American comedy-drama The Devil Wears Prada. This role has become iconic for Streep in more ways than one, but one great aspect of her performance in this film is her ability to demonstrate the longevity of her career as a dynamic female actress. While it is common for men to receive sexy, powerful roles in the later years of their acting careers, it is unfortunately far less common for women to receive such roles. However, Meryl Streep successfully breaks the mold in that regard with her powerful performance in this film.

4. The Post (2017)

This more recent film from director-producer Steven Spielberg stars Meryl Streep as the first female publisher of a major american newspaper, and Tom Hanks as the Executive Editor of that newspaper, The Washington Post. The film follows their attempts to publish the Pentagon Papers, which were documents on the United States government’s involvement with the Vietnam War. The film received 6 nominations at the 75th Golden Globes, and Meryl was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress. This film was significant in its ability to portray the responsibility of journalists to report the truth, but how that is often far easier said than done.

3. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

With the performance that won her her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Meryl Streep plays Joanna Kramer in director Robert Benton’s family legal drama. This film addresses issues salient to the audience to which it was premiered, namely, rising American divorce rates, gender roles in the family, and the work-life balance. Meryl Streep reportedly insisted on portraying her character as more sensitive and vulnerable than she was written, which turned out in the end to be very crucial to the story. At the very early stages of her career, it was incredibly impressive that she won an Academy Award and she has continued to hone her craft since that time.

2. The Deer Hunter (1978)

Winning the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1979, director Michael Cimino’s The Deer Hunter tells the story of three Russian-American steelworkers who went through incredible experiences fighting in the Vietnam War. Perhaps the most iconic aspect of this film is it’s featuring of Russian Roulette in the story, which turned out to be very controversial after the film’s release. Meryl Streep plays Linda, the fiance of one of the steelworkers, and wrote much of the character into the story herself. For this performance she received the first of her 21 Academy Awards nominations.

1. Sophie’s Choice (1982)

Topping our list today we have director Alan J. Pakula’s film Sophie’s Choice, starring Meryl Streep, with the performance that won her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Sophie’s Choice follows the story of Sophie, a Polish immigrant and holocaust survivor, living with her tempestuous lover Nathan and a young writer, Stingo. Throughout the film elements of Sophie’s past are revealed, and lovers’ issues arise. The part of Sophie was originally written for someone else, but Meryl was so determined to get the part that she pursued Pakula relentlessly. Sophie’s Choice is also a wonderful representation of Streep’s uncanny ability to master accents, as she maintains a polish accent throughout the film. While there’s no way to know how the film would have been different had Meryl not been cast as Sophie, we think it’s safe to say that her performance in this movie was phenomenal, and well deserving of the accolades it received.

The Five - 80s High School Comedies

The Five – 80s High School Comedies

Written by Cameron Galvin

Compiled by Cameron Galvin and Brionna Raum

High school was a time in which we all wish we could go back too. Unfortunately we can’t, but we have movies to help us remember. Deciding on high school comedies was way too much of a broad topic. Therefore, our crack team of film enthusiast has come up with the idea to break it up by decade. For this list, the films have to be about high school and had to have been made in the 80s. As always some films didn’t make the cut and they deserve some recognition. Weird Science, Teen Wolf, and Pretty in Pink.

5. Risky Business (1983)

Tom Cruise is a good student who finds himself with his parents’ house all to himself for the weekend. Looking for some fun he decides to order an escort for the night. It isn’t until he takes his father’s Porsche out for a joyride and has an unfortunate accident, that the weekend goes bad. Needing money, he and his new friend come up with unorthodox way to raise the money. Filled with funny laughs throughout and some great action, this piece has the hearts of us all. It makes everyone think back to the times they had their parents’ house all to themselves.

4. Sixteen Candles (1984)

Being a teenage girl is hard enough; dealing with a crazy family and other obstacles on your “sweet sixteen” is the worst. Molly Ringwald stars in this comedic classic about a girl that has the worst sixteen birthdays ever. She has a crush on the hottest boy in school, and the geekiest boy in school is in love with her. Not to mention her entire family forgets her birthday because of her sister’s wedding going on the same weekend. A journey to womanhood can sometimes be rough, but sixteen candles show us everything great and horrible about high school and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

3. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

This film follows a group of Southern California high school students with different agendas on how to just get out of there alive. Some are looking for love, the others are looking to party, and one is just trying to coast by. The center of the movie no doubt goes through surfer stoner Jeff Spicoli, a teen who cares only about girls, drugs, and good waves. An epic showdown between him and his teacher Mr. Hand is the ultimate truth to any trouble maker dealing with a hard ass. The great thing about this film is the subtle growth that each kid goes through during the confusing time of being a teenager. A classic that no one will forget.

2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Every high school student needs a day off once in a while. Wise guy Ferris Bueller is determined to have his and live it up to the fullest. Along with his girlfriend and best friend they set out to have an action packed day in the City of Chicago. Of course first, they have to pick up his father’s prized classic Ferrari. With his principal on the hunt and dodging his parent’s throughout the day the kids pull off the ultimate sick day by racing home at the last minute. This masterpiece has everything you could ask for, even a dancing scene in the middle of a parade. Every kid grows up wanting to have a legendary sick day like the king Ferris Bueller.

1.  The Breakfast Club (1985)

It’s no surprise this classic is at number one. All the thrills of being a high school teenager are compacted into 8 hours. Five high school students meet in Saturday detention and find out they have a lot more in common than they think. Each sharing their stories of how they got there and the problems they face within their lives. The film has ups and downs; the students go from sitting in silence, to crying at points, and then smoking pot and dancing to loud music, basically just being normal teenagers. The ultimate message in this film is that no matter if you are the popular kid or the looser of the school. All teenagers have the same problems that they need to figure out. A classic that will always be a favorite and everyone wishes they had a detention as cool as this one.

The Five - Female Directed Movies

The Five - Female Directed Movies

By Emma Mayeux

Compiled by Emma Mayeux and Cameron Galvin

It’s no secret that film is a male dominated industry, but female directors are increasingly making names for themselves every year. In 2018, women comprised only 20% of all directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the top 250 domestic grossing films in the USA. This list is dedicated to five female directors who have showcased their talents through their films. Honorable mentions go to Wonder Woman (2017) directed by Patty Jenkins, Big (1988) directed by Penny Marshall, and Lost in Translation (2003) directed by Sofia Coppola.

5. The Hurt Locker (2009)

This film earned Kathryn Bigelow an Oscar for best director, making her the only woman to ever win this award. The Hurt Locker follows an elite army bomb squad unit in Iraq who must escape death in a war torn city. Bigelow showcases the psychological affects to war and how each soldier responds differently to trauma. The Hurt Locker is tense, something is constantly going wrong as these soldiers attempt to find the bombs in time. This film offers a raw, grim portrayal of war and steers clear of glorifying real life violence that American soldiers face. She is able to demonstrate a realistic portrayal of modern day American soldiers and how their trauma follows them throughout their lives. Bigelow does not hold back, showing the audience the horrors of war, making her film one of the greatest war films of the 21st century.

4. American Psycho (2000)

This horror thriller follows the life of Patrick Bateman, a mild mannered investment banker who is a serial killer on the side. Mary Harron adapted this gory story from Bret Easton Ellis, which was notorious for its graphic descriptions of murder. On initial release, this film faced swarms of protests against violence in the media in response to the Columbine shootings. Anti violence and feminists groups deemed Harron’s film misogynist and encouraged businesses to not let her film in their establishments. Harron, however, made sure that her film was not senseless violence towards women. Unlike in the novel, Harron’s film shows the murders from the perspective of Bateman’s female victims. She explained that this was because “the perspective in those murder scenes wasn't through Patrick Bateman but the women.” American Psycho is now seen as a classic satire on corporate capitalism, violence in the media, and America’s materialistic culture.

3. You Were Never Really Here (2018)

This film directed by Lynne Ramsay flew under the radar in 2018. It follows Joaquin Phoenix’s character, a hitman, as he suffers the consequences from a job gone wrong and must save a young girl from a sexual predator. Ramsay commits to her own style by employing an unnerving score, unique cinematography, and surrealist elements. The audience is left wondering what is reality and what is fantasy throughout the film as the main character struggles to grasp his own reality. Ramsay ignores standard action movie conventions, by making the hitman an empathetic human. He cares for his mother, abused children, and comforts one of the antagonists as he dies. You Were Never Really Here mimics the shattered psyche of the main character by forcing its audience feel his hallucinations and his past through flashbacks and its eerie score. Ramsay’s film is hyper stylized and unapologetic about its eccentricity.

2. The Babadook (2014)

The Babadook is an Australian horror film directed by Jennifer Kent about a dark entity called the babadook that haunts a widow and her troubled son. The babadook is first introduced as a friendly storybook character, but takes a dark turn. When Amelia, the mother, tries to destroy the book, the babadook invades their lives. This film isn’t about a scary monster, however, it’s about grief. After five years, Amelia is still unable to move on from her husband’s death. She carries around her grief and guilt, blaming herself for her husband’s death, while struggling to control her son’s violent outbursts. The real monster is not the babadook, but Amelia’s resistance to let go of her husband and forgive herself for his death. Kent communicates Amelia’s struggle to reconcile with her husband’s death through the babadook, making the monster even more terrifying. The end to this film is unexpected and subverts monster movie tropes, really sticking to its main message of grief and loss. Kent offers a refreshing horror film with an underlying theme, and ditches the conventional jump scare tactics.

1. Lady Bird (2017)

Greta Gerwig takes her turn behind the camera in her coming of age film, Lady Bird. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird follows the life of a high school senior as she desperately tries to leave California in hopes for a drastically new life. Christine, aka Lady Bird, navigates through her last year of high school, facing the challenges of love, friendships, and sex. Gerwig creates a relatable representation of American teenagers who are not kids, but not yet adults either. Lady Bird tries the whole movie to run away to New York, only to realize how much she did not value her family when she had them. Gerwig shows the conflict that all young adults must face when leaving home. She shows the excitement of change and the despair of loss of connections with friends and family. Lady Bird is a modern coming of age film that deals with the loss of youth and newly discovered maturity that all teenagers face, defining a generation.

The Five - Michael B. Jordan Movies

The Five – Michael B. Jordan Movies

Welcome to another edition of Phoenix Film Festival’s The Five. On today’s slate is the top five Michael B. Jordan movies. For this list we looked at the top films featuring Jordan over any medium. That includes straight to DVD releases, feature film releases, and made for TV releases. There were a good amount of movies to choose from but a few of them did not make our list, here are some of them: The Awkward Moment (2014), Red Tails (2012), and Fahrenheit 451 (2018).

5. Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox (2014)

Our list begins with an animated feature that went straight to DVD for its release. This movie is a marvel as far as Superhero storytelling goes, along with a strong cast of dynamic characters. Jordan shines as Cyborg as he handles this voice over role with a conviction. It is the only voice over movie on this list but it is well-deserved.  His role wasn’t a major one but it was integral to plot so it makes the list.

4. Chronicle (2012)

This box office surprise is next on our list at four. The plot is about three teens discovering they have superpowers, but their lives soon start spinning out of control. This is a very underrated film to say the least. If you need a different change of pace from the superhero movies of today you should make time to watch this flick. This movie was one of the first films to put Jordan in the Hollywood spotlight. His charming performance as Steve really showed some individuals in Hollywood that Jordan has big screen potential.

3 Fruitvale Station (2013)

This retelling of a true story really put Jordan on the map. This film was written and directed by first time filmmaker Ryan Coogler and it was about the last day of an Oakland native Oscar Grant. This was Jordan’s first lead in a movie and he did not disappoint. He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Oscar Grant. The performance felt so real and relatable, it isn’t hard to see why. It might have been the start of the next best actor/director combo with himself and Ryan Coogler.

2. Creed I & Creed II (2015) (2018)

Coming in at number two is the Creed franchise. The first movie cemented Micheal’s status as a certified “A” lister.  He went under a huge physical transformation for his role, and he also performed all of his fight scenes because he did not have a body double. His emotionally driven performances in these movies perfect display Jordan immense range and dedication to the character. The second move did more of the same, it also showed us that the Coogler/Jordan combo is a real showstopper.  

1. Black Panther (2018)

At the top spot on our list is the cultural phenomenon that is Black Panther. Jordan performance was nothing short of spectacular as he played an adversary (N’jadaka/Eric “KIllmonger” Stevens) to Chadwick Boseman’s T’challa/Black Panther. He was grounded, charismatic and made the audience actual care for a villain. There was an incredible scene with Jordan and Boseman’s Black Panther and Killmonger said “bury me in the ocean with my ancestors that jumped from the ships. Because they knew death was better than bondage.” The movie has received worldwide praise and is the benchmark for the beginning of Jordan’s prime of his career.      

The Five - Arizona Movies

The Five - Arizona Movies

Written by: Brionna Raum

Compiled by: Brionna Raum & Cameron Galvin

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to go to Hollywood to make a successful film. (Okay, maybe that's not really a popular belief anymore. Roll with us). There have been many successful films made right here in Arizona, where nearly 365 days of sunshine provide for great shooting conditions, and our beautiful desert landscape lends iconic settings. On today’s edition of THE FIVE, we have compiled for you the top five films made and set Arizona. Enjoy a bit of filmmaking history in Arizona, as well as a star studded list of films!

5. Everything Must Go (2010)

Starting off our list we have chosen Dan Rush’s Everything Must Go, starring Will Ferrell. This film was shot in Phoenix and Scottsdale, making use of the unique suburban scapes of the valley. The story follows Ferrell’s character Nick, who is fired from his job following incidents related to his alcoholism. His wife leaves him and locks him out of their house, causing him to put his life back together starting with selling everything he has on his porch. This film is an honest story of the journey through addiction, and it’s Arizona setting is a great plus.

4. Raising Arizona (1987)

This hilarious Coen Brothers film has earned a spot on our list, not least because it has “Arizona” in the title. Starring Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter, Raising Arizona is a crime comedy film about an ex-con and an ex-police officer who get married and want to have a baby but are unable to, so naturally, they kidnap one. The Arizona setting is great for this movie and the lawless wild-west themes of its fast-paced crime.

3. Bus Stop (1956)

In what has been called her best-ever performance, Marilyn Monroe stars alongside Don Murray in Joshua Logan’s film Bus Stop. Set in Arizona and shot in Arizona and Idaho, this film is the earliest made Arizona film on our list. Monroe was nominated for the Golden Globes Best Actress for her performance in this film, and was involved with the production of the film as head of Marilyn Monroe Productions. The film was also nominated for the Golden Globes Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical).

2. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Director couple Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris shot Little Miss Sunshine over the course of 30 days in Arizona and Southern California. While technically set in Albuquerque, the fact that it was shot within the scenic backdrop of Arizona combined with its excellent craft as a film has earned it a place on our top five today. Little Miss Sunshine follows the road trip of a dysfunctional yet endearing family on the way to California for the youngest family member to compete in a beauty pageant. This film was met with exceptional critical acclaim, not to mention that it spawned an iconic internet meme (pictured above).

1. Jerry Maguire (1996)

Earning our number one spot today for Arizona films is Cameron Crowe’s film Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise. Jerry Maguire is a story of a sports agent who comes to a disturbing conclusion about his career. This film was shot in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tempe, but certainly the most Arizona thing about it is its use of the Arizona Cardinals as a major plot point. If you love Tom Cruise, football, and Arizona, this is a great movie for you. If you don’t love all those things….we don’t know what to tell you.