Happy Thursday everyone! This is another entry to the weekly Thursday Movie Picks that’s spearheaded by Wandering Through the Shelves Blog. Here’s the gist:
The rules are simple simple: Each week there is a topic for you to create a list of three movies. Your picks can either be favourites/best, worst, hidden gems, or if you’re up to it one of each. Every last Thursday for the first nine months of 2015 I’m running the All in the Family Edition and today the theme is…
Father/Son Relationships (Biologically Related)
Well, for this edition, I decided to pick three movies that I didn’t include in my Father’s Day Special post. Besides, I think this post should focus on biologically-related father & son stories. So here are my three picks:
Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade (1989)
No doubt it’s my absolute favorite of the Indiana Jones trilogy and it’s largely because of the wonderfully entertaining father/son story. When Dr. Henry Jones Sr. suddenly goes missing whilst in pursuit of the Holy Grail, Indy set off to search for him and together they end up working together to stop the Nazis. It’s absolutely perfect casting to have Sean Connery to play the role, despite only being 12 years older than Harrison Ford. Both of them are equally charismatic and somehow have the perfect personality and quirks that make them a perfect match as father and son. All the highlights of the movie feature the two of them, usually in a state of peril or impossible predicament that they somehow manage to come escape from. I can’t think of a better chemistry between two actors and that’s what makes them so entertaining to watch. But it’s not just all fun and games, there’s some genuine dramatic moments that truly test the bond between the two of them and challenge Indy’s own personal belief.
Frequency (2000)
Family bond can transcend time and space. A rare atmospheric phenomenon somehow enables a NYC firefighter to communicate with his son 30 years in the future via HAM radio. There are films that deal with time travel and the huge ramification of changing the past. The sci-fi logic might be questionable but what I love about this film is the father/son relationship that’s genuinely moving and beautifully acted. The film started off more as a drama but the third act becomes more of a thriller as the two work together to solve a murder case. Both Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel are fantastic as the father and son, there’s a palpable & heartfelt bond between them despite not sharing a screen pretty much the entire movie.
Nebraska (2013)
This black-and-white dark comedy tells the story of an senile, alcoholic man who insists on making a trip from Montana to Nebraska in order to claim a million-dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize. His estranged son ends up traveling with him as his stubborn dad simply refuse to believe that the sweepstakes letter was a shameless piece of scam. Despite their testy relationship, the journey gave them a chance to reconnect. Bruce Dern and Will Forte are both excellent in their roles, I’m especially impressed by the latter as I’ve only known him as a comedian. There are some extremely goofy scenes such as when the son tried to help his dad find his missing tooth around a railroad track, but there are some poignant moments between the two. It’s another wonderful family dramedy from Alexander Payne.
What do you think of my picks? Have you seen any of these films?
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FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Great selections, Ruth. I also enjoyed BIG FISH and of course, FIELD OF DREAMS for this.
I guess one could include the biggie here, too: THE GODFATHER.
Oh I considered Big Fish, that was a great film I saw recently. Well those two and The Godfather would make an excellent trio Michael!
Everybody’s loving Frequency today! I haven’t seen it in years but I liked it when I did and it fits so well. I’m going to have to revisit it. Indy & the Last Crusade is a brilliant choice, my favorite of the series is the first but this is a close second and that’s thanks to the chemistry between Ford and Connery. Haven’t gotten around to Nebraska yet.
Hi Joel! I’m glad to see that, Frequency is such an underrated film starring two underrated actors. I will forever love the third Indy film because of those father/son pairing. Nebraska is a good one, quirky and goofy at times but overall a wonderful drama.
Frequency is so underrated. It’s got a unique premise that could’ve fallen hard on its gimmick but it managed to work. I thought it was a really good film. Nebraska is great as I just love that moment where Will Forte’s character finally grew some balls and punched that guy who insulted his dad.
Indeed it is! That’s why I included it here. It could’ve been cheesy and mawkish but it was so well acted that it’s emotionally gratifying. Ahah yeah, I like Stacey Keith in that flick but his character is such a jerk!
Nebraska! That is so perfect — why didn’t I think of that? 🙂
Glad you like that one Irene, somehow I thought of that one right away.
Nice one Ruth!
I’m a bit confused as to who plays the father and who plays the son in ‘Frequency.’ Lol they both look the same age but if I see the movie maybe that will make more sense. . . .
And great choice with Indy and ‘Nebraska.’ Esp the latter. That was a really neat little modern black-and-white film. Loved it. Love Alexander Payne.
Ahah well Frequency a time-travel kind of movie, that explains why the two actors look about the same age. Glad you’ve seen Nebraska, I wanted to include a classic film here but since Nebraska is in b&w I guess that counts somehow 🙂
You know, the moment I left the comment I thought about it and yeah, that makes sense. 😉 lol.
It’s a really good film Tom, you should watch it. It’s more about the relationship and family and less about the sci-fi stuff.
I still haven’t seen Nebraska. YAY, we share Frequency! I love that you included The Last Crusade, too…great choices all the way around!
High five on Frequency! Nebraska is a good one Drew, worth a look definitely. As for Indy, well it’s one of my fave franchises of all time!
Ok, these are all great picks. seen em, love em. Here are three to twist your view a little: “The Quick and the Dead” (Leonardo DiCaprio and Gene Hackman), Flesh and Bone (Dennis Quiad as the son instead of the father and James Caan), Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (Mark Hamill and David Prowse/James Earle Jones).
Thanks Richard! Oh wow I totally forgot Leo was Gene Hackman’s son in that flick. I haven’t seen Flesh and Bone yet but Star Wars has been quite a popular choice for this topic and it doesn’t get more iconic than that one!
Ah! Indy and Nebraska! I was thinking about Nebraska too, but it didnt quite fit my sub-theme 🙂
Oh I’m curious what you subtheme is 🙂 So I take it you haven’t seen Frequency yet?
I’ve heard so many great things about Frequency, sadly I’ve never gotten around to it. It should be right up my alley, mixing sci-fi with some heartfelt drama. Nebraska … heheh, I started on the first 5 minutes but something came up and I never finished it. 😀
Frequency is a wonderful yet underrated film, I hope you give it a shot! Nebraska is good too, esp if you like Payne’s work.
Another pick for Indiana Jones. Great film.
Indeed it is, glad you’re a fan too!
haha. This must the fifth time I’ve seen Frequency mentioned in this Thursday Movie Picks episode. Looks a popular choice.
Nebraska! I was going to pick it for the next theme (B&W movies released after 1970). Amazing choice! I love it.
I’m thrilled to see Frequency being a popular pick, it’s an under-appreciated film. Oooh Nebraska would be a great pick for B&W movies released after 1970!
Love Dr. Jones Sr. and Jr. but I haven’t seen the other two films yet, I’ve always wanted to see FREQUENCY but never got around to it. I second Michael on THE GODFATHER and I also like Gibson and Ledger father and son in THE PATRIOT.
Frequency is a good one Ted, you might like that one. Oh right, I LOVE the father/son relationship in The Patriot, good call!
I have to admit that I haven’t seen any of those! Eep. I did a post on father-son movies a while ago but as you can see I have cheated a bit because mine is a top 10: https://wherethewildthingsare14.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/my-top-10-onscreen-father-son-relationships/
Hi Abbi, that’s a great top 10 list! Now you should add these three to your must-see list, especially Indiana Jones!
All good shouts Ruth. Frequency doesn’t get talked about enough; a far better film than it’s given credit for. Fine work!
Yay, glad to hear you like Frequency too, and yes it’s massively under-appreciated that’s why I have to include that here.
These are perfect picks Ruth. I also like the relationship between Cuba Gooding Jr and Laurence Fishburne in Boyz in tha Hood
Thanks Mikey! I still need to see Boyz in the Hood since I like Mr Fishburne!
Like the others, I liked Frequency, too. There was a decade where Dennis Quaid was the father of the year. I especially liked Day after Tomorrow with Jake Gyllenthal.
Ahah Dennis Quaid has played a ton of fatherhood roles hasn’t he? I almost forgot about Day After Tomorrow, so Jake played a dad in that?
Dennis playedJjake’s dad. Emma Rossum was cute. It’s a better than average disaster flick I could get into.
I should rewatch that again, yeah I remember liking it too.
I haven’t seen Frequency but I adore the relationship between Indie and his father – by far my favourite movie in the set. I really enjoyed Nebraska too and would love to see it again.
You should check out Frequency, took me a while to see it but it was so worth the wait. Indy 3 is my fave too, too bad the fourth one is so atrocious.
Cool picks. I would include Bill Nighy and Domhnall Gleeson in About Time.
Oh I still need to see that, love those two actors!
They’re amazing in it!
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I haven’t seen Frequency, but I really like your other picks, especially Indiana Jones. Connery and Ford are so great together!