"Nothing is written"

Here are the latest cross-offs from the film list:

5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)

So the best of these was quite obviously Lawrence of Arabia. I enjoyed The French Connection and The Wild Bunch quite a bit, but neither will be added to my favorite films list.

I am embarrassed that I had not seen Lawrence of Arabia (1962) until now. The film basically defines the term epic, and nothing I can say about it will really add to what has been written about this sprawling film. (Here is a summary of the film.) Recently, Premiere named Peter O'Toole's performance as T.E. Lawrence as the #1 greatest performance of all time. It is a truly strange performance, too. O'Toole manages to create a complex character that is adventurous, dark, humorous, and effete.

I hope that I have the chance to see Lawrence of Arabia in the theater someday, because I can see that it really does require a giant screen. Until that happens, I feel like I have not seen the true movie. As Roger Ebert wrote in his Great Movies column, "You can view it on video and get an idea of its story and a hint of its majesty, but to get the feeling of Lean's masterpiece you need to somehow, somewhere, see it in 70mm on a big screen. This experience is on the short list of things that must be done during the lifetime of every lover of film."

Now, after having seen it, I agree entirely. But it is one of those movies that will increase in esteem in my mind as more time passes and I have more time to think about it. But I will keep my eyes open for a "revival" showing in the theater.