Prodigious Filmdom 5: Ridley Scott Movies

Brandon Vick lists his five favorite Ridley Scott movies on this edition of Prodigious Filmdom 5.

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If you don’t know who Ridley Scott is, then you don’t love movies. You may not even watch movies at all. Actually, you probably just hate fun altogether. His vision over his long, illustrious career is certified groundbreaking. Ever heard of Blade Runner? Thelma & Louise, anyone? What about all of those damn Alien movies? All Ridley Scott. What he’s been able to create is stunning, and at 80 years old, he appears to be just as sharp as he’s ever been. I’m here to tell you about my favorite Scott films, so let’s begin with the easiest one on the list, shall we?

GLADIATOR

My favorite movie of all time. That’s all I got to say about that. We actually did a podcast episode on Gladiator on Drinking With…Steven McCash. You can check that out here.

ALIEN

Scott became a sci-fi master with this monster classic. Creating an unbearable atmosphere of fear, dread and suspense, all while in space where no one can hear you scream. Its minimalism is much appreciated, and tension stays high throughout while being shocked by the unknown. Plus, it gave us the character of Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) who has become a staple of badassdom in cinema. Scott has tried since to recreate this magic, but no such luck.

MATCHSTICK MEN

A con movie for the ages. Inside the sneaky yet superb storytelling, Scott captures the electricity of Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell. Just like the characters they play, they are more than just a one-trick pony. This ingenious, stylish film doesn’t distract with deception, but makes each jig that much more enjoyable than the one before. Scott makes it fun to be fooled.

THE MARTIAN

Scott can’t give up on sci-fi and he shouldn’t because this is one of his best space ventures yet. In this unvarnished, optimistic journey about going home, its exuberance can’t be contained and for good reason. This intelligent, stirring  film lets hope, fear, & humor all find a common place among our neighboring red planet. Scott captivates behind the camera and undeniably understands Mark Watney is his story, thus he finds one hell of a storyteller in Matt Damon. It splendidly plays to all of his strengths: confident, sarcastic, smart, and witty.

AMERICAN GANGSTER

Welcome to a world where the intricacies of crime and ego corrupt and captivate all at the same time. Scott goes gangster in this authentic, stylish tale of the rise and fall of Frank Lucas. As Lucas, Denzel Washington delivers one of his best, most ferocious performances. Remember when his character went up and killed Tango (Idris Elba) on the street in broad daylight? He ain’t fucking around. The consequences eventually catch up with Lucas, but in Scott’s excellent execution, he makes the cops and the audience really work for it. It’s so worth it.

Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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