Keyword: dying and death
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Top Gun
Not every action movie needs to reinvent the wheel, but Top Gun manages to feel fresh anyway, thanks largely to Tony Scott’s confident direction. You can tell a lot about a movie from its tagline, and “Up there with the best of the best.” gives away the game in the best way. The setup is…
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Platoon
Some movies announce themselves with noise; Platoon (1986) prefers to earn its reputation the slow way, one convert at a time. You can tell a lot about a movie from its tagline, and “The first casualty of war is innocence.” gives away the game in the best way. Strip away the craft and the premise…
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Saving Private Ryan
Every so often a drama film comes along that refuses to be filed away neatly, and Saving Private Ryan is exactly that kind of stubborn, memorable outlier. Even the marketing knew what it had: the tagline “The mission is a man.” sets the mood before a single frame plays. Here’s the hook, in brief: As…
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Life Is Beautiful
When Roberto Benigni set out to make Life Is Beautiful in 1997, the goal wasn’t just another comedy entry — it was something sharper, stranger, and considerably more memorable. You can tell a lot about a movie from its tagline, and “An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all.” gives away the…
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Rashomon
There are films you watch once and forget, and then there’s Rashomon — a 1950 crime from director Akira Kurosawa that has kept audiences talking long after the credits roll. You can tell a lot about a movie from its tagline, and “The husband, the wife… or the bandit?” gives away the game in the…
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Ikiru
There are films you watch once and forget, and then there’s Ikiru — a 1952 drama from director Akira Kurosawa that has kept audiences talking long after the credits roll. You can tell a lot about a movie from its tagline, and “A big story of a little man which will grip your soul…” gives…
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The Prestige
Not every drama movie needs to reinvent the wheel, but The Prestige manages to feel fresh anyway, thanks largely to Christopher Nolan’s confident direction. Even the marketing knew what it had: the tagline “Are you watching closely?” sets the mood before a single frame plays. Strip away the craft and the premise is simple —…
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Jaws
Some movies announce exactly what they are within the first few minutes. “Jaws” (1975) is refreshingly upfront about its ambitions. That reputation, as it turns out, is well earned. Everything the film wants you to feel is right there in its tagline: “The terrifying motion picture from the terrifying No. 1 best seller.” Much of…