Q

Quigley Down Under (1990)

Rated PG-13

Directed by Simon Wincer (Harley Davidson and The Marlboro Man, Free Willy, The Phantom)

Budget - $21,000,000

Box Office - $21,413,105

Ok.  So, I could pad this list with lots of fluff.  I could've added "Quicksilver".  It's an 80's movie starring Ren McCormack and Jimmy Jump as bike messengers.  But the truth is, I never watch it.  It bores me.  I could add "The Quick and The Dead".  Dirty whore Sharon Stone,  the great Gene Hackman, General Maximus, and the guy I believe is the greatest actor of the new generation, Leo.  But, the truth is, I never watch it.  It bores me.  Stone is unwatchable.  Lastly, I could throw in "Quiz Show".  Redford directing Ralph Fiennes and John Turturro.  It is good.  But, it would be a lie to call it a Frank Movie.  Nope, the fact is: of the letter "Q", the only Frank Movie is "Quigley Down Under".  Here's why:

1.  It's culturally defining.

The Sharps .45/110 Buffalo Rifle that Tom Selleck uses in the film has become so attached to the film that they now call them "Quigley guns".  The unbelievable long-distance accuracy that his character exhibits in the film has caused modern-day US Army snipers to dub a particularly long-distance and accurate kill, "A Quigley."  That's amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73hl--IMoWU

 

2.  Alan Rickman.

 

Ok.  His defining role is as Hans Gruber, and it should be.  Greatest movie villain of all time.  But, his role as Elliot Marston is a pretty close 2nd. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sHU9g6Ka50

 

 

3.  Crazy Cora.

 

Most of you reading this will identify Laura San Giacomo as Kot De Luca in "Pretty Woman" or, dare I suggest, Maya from "Just Shoot Me", but here best role was in "Quigley".  Not even close.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKSZ5vvLwjI

 

Roger Ebert agreed

 

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/quigley-down-under-1990

 

 



P

The Professional (1994)

Directed by Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita, The Fifth Element)

Rated R

110 Minutes

Budget $16,000,000

Box Office $45,284,974


Why it's a Frank Movie:

1.  Stansfield.

I could do a whole blog post on the best roles of Gary Oldman; he is a Frank Actor.  Lee Harvey Oswald, James Gordon, Vlad Dracula, Carnegie, Mason Verger, Zorg... just to name a few.  And none of those are as villainous or despicable as DEA agent Stansfield.  He is utterly hateable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1qiDrNHjXI

 

 

2.  They shoot Clinton.

 

It's merely inferred, and it's purely fiction, but I love the fact that the subject of their 1st practice "clean" is a Bubba-inspired character.  And from a French guy...

 



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gD05qjgKN4

3.  It's not pedophilia, I swear...

The story, written by director Besson, is based on his real life - he fell in love with a 15 year old when he was 32.  I know, it's very, very troubling.  But, Jean Reno plays just enough of a Forest Gump to ensure that the relationship doesn't across sexual. 

p.s.  Natalie Portman's first role and, for me, her best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y58l5z73rsI

Runner-up:  Presumed Innocent (1990)

Directed by Alan J. Pakula (All The President's Men, Sophie's Choice, The Pelican Brief)

Why it's a Frank Movie:

1.  Following my brother's graduation from undergraduate school, he was headed to law school, I made a quick inspiration purchase: a copy of Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird", to inspire him in his next venture.  I really wish that I had gotten him the Blu-ray of this film.  Why else learn the law, if not to be able to take advantage of corrupt government officials, lampoon corrupt character witnesses, and if all of that fails... steal evidence.  And, for the record, in a film that stars Harrison Ford, Bonnie Bedelia, and Brian Dennehey, Raul Julia steals the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rva_JBOkpOs

2.  Greta Scacchi.

She's hotter than the surface of the sun.  I can't understand why she wasn't used in more Italian or Italian-American roles then, and I still question that now.  She's tasked to play a vexing Jezebel, and Pakula cast the perfect actress for the role.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2d1-ZxrFaY

Honorable Mentions:  Platoon (1986), Point Break (1991), Primal Fear (1996).

O

Oblivion (2013)

Rated PG-13

Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy)

Budget - $120,000,000

Box Office - $286,168,572

Ok.  $120M Tom Cruise vehicle.  Summer Blockbuster.  This is way too mainstream to be a Frank movie.  Nonetheless, it is.  Here's why:

1.  The Oblivion universe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFiG0dz45mQ

The whole set-up is fantastic.  Earth has been literally wrecked, but it seems so cool.

2.  Vika...

yum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd0Ha2oU3nI

3.  The twist...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7oFtXAryD8


Not many of the critics that I like enjoyed it at all.  I still can't figure out why.


Runner-up:  Ocean's Twelve(2004)

Rated PG-13

Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Sex, Lies and Videotape)

Reasons that it's a Frank movie:

1.  I like all of The Oceans films.  11 is a reimaging of a damned good Sinatra flick.  It's also very much a Clooney/Pitt vehicle.  The thing that I like about 12 is that it is much more ensemble-driven, the character development of the peripheral characters is amazing.  Legendary.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YquUIdh2fsI

2.  Great villain.  Although Andy Garcia and Al Pacino are heavyweight antagonists, they are nothing to Francois Toulour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQl1hc5Imi4

Honorable Mentions:  The Omen (1976), Office Space (1999), Old School (2003)