For this month’s top 10, The Outlook talked to Professor Robert Scott, a Senior Specialist Professor in the Department of Communication. Currently, he is teaching Audience Studies, Co-Curricular Practicum in Television, Communication Foundations, Screenwriting, and Topics in Film. Because of his interest in film, we talked to him about his top 10 favorite movies. Films are a great way for people to connect and create conversation. Besides his interests in film, Scott is also being the faculty advisor of Hawk TV.
- “The Apartment” (1969)
Among my heroes are filmmakers, writers, and great storytellers, but the one who stands out the most is Billy Wilder — a singular talent who did it all, and did it all exceptionally well across multiple genres. There aren’t many that can pull that off so seamlessly. My favorite Wilder films include “Double Indemnity,” “The Lost Weekend,” “Some Like It Hot,” “Stalag 17,” and “Sunset Boulevard,” but this week it’s “The Apartment” with Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. Next week it may be another; they seem to run on a rotation of my all-time favorites.
- “The Godfather” (1972)
It was Francis Ford Coppola who I wrote about in my application essay for film school. There are numerous visual techniques and approaches to story and relationships from “The Godfather” that I still find compelling. This is another film worth studying for its cinematography, editing, music, and performances.
- “Jaws” (1975)
My family was staying on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off Cape Cod when a very young Steven Spielberg directed this iconic thriller. This was my first time near a film set — and even as a young boy I was instantly hooked. It’s another example of strong personal connections as I know most of the locations and I’ve spent much of my life on the ocean traveling and fishing.
- “Casablanca” (1942)
This Michael Curtiz film featuring Humphrey Bogart and the mesmerizing Ingrid Bergman should be offered in every film school as a study in story structure, character development, and unforgettable dialogue. I am a big fan of quality writing — and the screenplays of notable writers such as William Goldman, Nora Ephron, Aaron Sorkin, Robert Towne, and Paddy Chayefsky — yet this script by Julius Epstein and Howard Koch is in a league all its own.
- “Awakenings” (1990)
Penny Marshall directed this poignant film, based on a true story, featuring Robin Williams as a neurologist who experiments with treatments to cure his catatonic patients, including a young man played by Robert De Niro. Movies are such a wonderful tool for escapism and emotional release.
- “Nevada Smith” (1966)
Growing up, the only actor in my mind who was cooler than Robert Mitchum and Paul Newman was Steve McQueen. I had favorite McQueen films — including “Bullitt,” “The Great Escape,” “Papillon,” “The Thomas Crown Affair,” and “The Getaway” — but I was particularly drawn to “Nevada Smith.” This story of a young man who goes to great lengths to track down the individuals who brutally murdered his parents still resonates with me, so much so that I am often still drawn to revenge-themed films with powerful, driven lead characters.
- “Cool Hand Luke” (1967)
Paul Newman, one of the most believable actors (and the best-looking man of all time), stars as an individual serving time in a Southern prison who is constantly scheming his escape plans. The story is about non-conformity, camaraderie, humanity, “failure to communicate,” and so much more.
- “Thunder Road” (1958)
I have fond memories of watching specific films with my father when I was young, films that would often inspire household performances and awkward impressions. This classic starring Robert Mitchum as a cool, fast-driving bootlegger was one of them.
- “The Usual
Suspects” (1995)
This dark and riveting crime thriller from Bryan Singer features captivating performances and the kind of suspense and misdirection reminiscent of stylized film noir dramas. There were a number of notable crime films from this era — especially “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Out of Sight,” “L.A. Confidential,” “Goodfellas,” “The Boondock Saints,” “Hard Eight,” and anything by Quentin Tarantino — that were favorites of my crowd from film school.
- “Swingers” (1996)
This Doug Liman film, written by Jon Favreau, has come to symbolize my life in Hollywood during the 1990s — the music, the clothing, the dancing, the friendships, the aspirations. This was the height of the swing revival and I know all the locations in the film. Dancing at The Derby with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on stage was a major part of my social life and this fun low budget effort captures the era well.
