August 11, 2006
Favorite Movies To Fall Asleep To
Let's face it... the only thing I like more than watching movies...is falling asleep while watching movies. I've fallen asleep to four star, one star and all kinds of movies in between. Improbably, I've even caught some zz's during seemingly impossible-to-doze-through films like Blue Velvet, X-Men, and Battlefield: Earth (which by many is considered to be one of the loudest --and lousiest-- films
ever made.)
Now, this doesn't mean that I hate these movies (on the contrary, some of them on are on my list of "favorite movies ever.") It's just that once they get going, they often times trigger a sense of relaxation and allow me to slip into the warm embrace of slumber.
Here goes the list:
10) Citizen Kane
What! The greatest movie of all time? Yes, it's true. Gregg Toland's deep focus b/w photography first pulls me in to the wonderful universe of Orson Welles' mind; then tucks me in for a hour-long siesta.
9) Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
It must be the slow, rhythmic creaking of the boat acting much like a giant sea-faring cradle and rocking me to sleep.
8) Insomnia (both versions)
There is some obvious irony involved in this but I've never made it though either the original version of the American remake. Maybe I just feel so sorry for the main character and I decide to nap for him.
7) Eyes Wide Shut
I love Stanley Kubrick but his long, static shots and low-key dialogue are a recipe for me shutting my eyes widely.
6) Breakfast at Tiffany's
I don't recall ever making it past the opening credits so I don't now what puts me out. So it's probably either the Henri Mancini theme or the typeface they use.
5) Leon: The Professional
It must be the dulcet tones of Jean Reno that causes me to saw some serious logs. The huge fight scene at the end usually wakes me right up though.
4) The English Patient
Never seen it. I'm gone after the first few minutes. The plane crash at the beginning occurs at the same time of my own crashing.
3) 12 Monkeys
Don't know why, but this one makes me go down like I got hit by some sort of trank-dart EVERYTIME. Terry Gilliam movies must closely simulate my own dream universe, because my brain is fooled everytime and puts my body to sleep. Brazil and Time Bandits also have put me out before.
2) 2001: A Space Odyssey
Seems like a slam dunk for my first place slot. Kubrick. Outer space. H.A.L.'s soothing monotone. Close, but not quite....
1) Blade Runner
When I wake up in the middle of the night and I can't fall back asleep, I pop on Blade Runner on my computer and the dreamy visuals and Vangelis' etherial soundtrack puts me back into slumber land. It never fails.
Good night and good luck (uh, I'm just saying that...I'm not referring to the movie. Although, it seems like a good candidate for this list.)