Steven Spielberg's next film, The Good Big Giant, is released this Wednesday in theaters. For its 30th feature film, the editorial team voted for its favorite films.
The master of entertainment has behind him an impressive filmography, 29 feature films, and among them a good bunch of already cult films. Her next baby is awaited by the entire editorial staff of JustFocus, two months after being screened in Cannes. Among the highs (E.T. remains his biggest success in France) and the lows (the two recent War Horse and Bridge of Spies did not exceed one million admissions), the editorial staff of JustFocus debated for the occasion what are the best films of Spielberg.
Here are our top 5 works of the king of entertainment, to see or review
5. Minority Report
Released in 2002 after the semi-failure of A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Minority Report also takes place in a futuristic universe, with a crazy starting idea: imagine a special unit that would be able to predict crimes, and thus intervene with that evil does not happen. This unit is under the command of John Anderton, played by a Tom Cruise at the top of his form. But the day the Precogs , the beings who can predict the future, see Anderton himself commit murder, he knows he has no choice but to flee. The interest of the film is then twofold: it is a film with an extremely interesting subject from every point of view (sociological: how to live in a society where crime can be stopped in advance, philosophical: can we be sure that the crime will be committed, cinematographic: is the end of a story necessarily inevitable), but also a good action movie. While the previous A.I. could seem unevenly paced (it's not Kubrick who wants), Minority Report never runs out of steam, going from twists and turns to twists.
To see if: you want to see Tom Cruise at the top / you like puzzle movies (like Nolan's)
4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
We could not miss the one whose whip and hat haunt our memories. His music still resonates in our heads, and makes us want to travel the world in search of the most coveted treasures. Indiana Jones the adventurous archaeologist (or vice versa) is perhaps among the best-known figures in American cinema. If the editorial staff of JustFocus preferred the third part of the adventures of Indy, released in 1989, it is because it closes a trilogy in apotheosis (the second was a little less good, and we will not talk about the Crystal Skull whose sequel is in the works…) while allowing to officiate a return to the roots for Spielberg: the theme of the father, so dear to the director, is thus put forward thanks to Henry Jones Sr., played by Sean Connery, ex-James Bond. Taking place before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark, this final opus puts Indiana Jones on the trail of the Holy Grail, the relic of relics, which would have the power to make immortal. In short, a good dose of adventures as we like them.
To see if: you like the adventures of Benjamin Gates (who is also a little inspired by Jones, minus the hat) / you hear the air of John Williams every time you are told about Superman
3. Jurassic Park
Another crazy idea of friend Steven Spielberg: what if we managed to resurrect the dinosaurs ? A childhood dream that manages to make reality John Hammond, the creator of Jurassic Park. Paleontologists Grant and Sattler visit the island to check that there is no danger. But what could we expect to play with prehistoric DNA? The Velociraptors and Tyrannosaurs manage to escape. The director's biggest global success was released in 3D, exceeding a billion dollars in revenue. A mix of children's and horror movies, Jurassic Park marks a date with its incredible special effects. Released in 1993, the animation of dinosaurs and the use of animatronics (for the triceratops scene) impress all the Hollywood gratin, and have thus advanced digital techniques (which will then make The Lord of the Rings, and will give Kubrick the desire to write his A.I., unfinished and finally shot by… Steven Spielberg).
To see if: you like dinosaurs (obviously) / if you like brave dads (or if you are a big child)
2. Schindler's List
In line with Spielberg's historical films, here is the one that is for the writing of JustFocus the most touching. The subject, the Jewish genocide, directly concerns our American friend, who, to tell his story, focuses on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German who saved 1100 Jews by making them work in his factory. Steven Spielberg has throughout his career directed several memorable historical films (this one but also Saving Private Ryan, Munich, Lincoln and produced the excellent series Band of Brothers), but what makes Schindler's List special is once again the desire for testimony and memory. Played by Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes (the villain, a chilling role), it is like all films about the Holocaust subject to controversy, but is nevertheless a good document on this period.
To see if: you liked The Pianist, another film about a surviving Jew / you want to see what Voldemort gives in the role of a Nazi
1. Arrest me if you can
This title seems at first glance quite explicit: we are dealing with a chase, as can be an episode of Tom and Jerry or more recently Mad Max: Fury Road. What this title does not reveal, however, by its simple reading, is how breathless this chase will be. Even if the end of the plot will be revealed from the start, like an episode of Colombo, the viewer will not be able to help but wonder how it happens and will want to remedy everything. Released in 2002, it is one of Steven Spielberg's greatest films, mixing drama and comedy, and is not without reason the favorite of the editors.
The pitch is simple: it's the story of a young man, Franck Abagnale Jr. Who, before celebrating his 19th birthday, will pretend, in turn, for an airplane pilot, a doctor and then a lawyer while creating checks to be able to live according to his different statuses. Meanwhile, an FBI agent specializing in bank fraud, Carl Hanratty, will be on his trail. If the story is not the most inventive there is, the fact that it really happened gives it spice up. Especially since the two protagonists are played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, two actors who have shown over time that, just like Franck, they can brilliantly play in all costumes. To this must be added the presence of the brilliant Christopher Walken who plays Franck's father and who brings all the dramatic aspect. The film will never cease to make us understand that if Franck does what he does, it is above all for one reason: the love he has for his father. The game of the cop and the thief in all its glory.
To see if: you are nostalgic for Leonardo's angel's mouth (but has it really aged?) / Do you trust us;)
And you, what is your favorite Steven Spielberg movie?
The Good Big Giant: Trailer – In theaters July 20
