Top 11 Classic Banks Films from Phoebe
Phoebe comments on many of my posts here at EB.com (awesome!) but what really caught my eye was her hilarious post on Tumblr after I posted the Me in Nine Gifs. “SHE KNOWS. ABORT MISSION. ABORT ABORT ABORT. HIDE EVERYTHING.” I do know, guys. I know and I'm grateful. And with that, I give you Phoebe’s lovely guest blog about her favorite 11 films of mine. Thank you. I am humbled. Xx EB
Heyy! I’m Phoebe and I’m here to make a fool of myself. I bet Elizabeth’s team is kicking themselves for asking me to write this right now, but it’s too late, muahaha. I tried not to turn this into blatant fangirling but I don’t think I succeeded. So, here is my Top Eleven (yeah, I’m different like that) Classic Banks Films*, and then some.
*This blog post is also known as: When you play the game of fangirling over Elizabeth you watch these films or you die. There is no middle ground.
In no particular order:
People Like Us. I watched this the other day and it is incredible. Elizabeth’s character Frankie is sexy, flawed and strong. I really loved this movie; it’s a great story and Liz is fantabulous in it.
Wet Hot American Summer. This movie is crazy hilarious and just plain crazy. My sides hurt for days after watching it!
Seabiscuit. Liz is perfect in this film (when is she not?) but she really shows off her acting chops in this dramatic story about the racehorse that stopped the nation (and stopped my heart more than once in this flick.)
The Next Three Days. INTENSE. That’s how I would describe this. Intense, brilliant, compelling, thrilling.
Lovely, Still. One of Elizabeth’s lesser known films, it’s a sweet love story with a twist and it’s really good! ;)
Heights. OK. JUST. GO. WATCH. IT. It’s one of those everyone-is-interconnected films but it’s done so differently to the usual and it’s so great and gritty and wonderfullll.
The Hunger Games. (Can I keysmash on your site, Elizabeth? Yes? No? Cool beans? Whatever. I am.) kjsldglkjhsg this movie. I don’t know what rock you’ve been living under if you haven’t seen it but you really need to see it. Effie’s always been my favourite character and EB truly brought her to life perfectly – and if I’m saying that you better believe it because I will talk fiercely about Effie for hours.
Our Idiot Brother. Miranda is one of my favourite characters Banks has played. She’s bossy and uptight but she’s also adorable and funny and real. This movie is guaranteed to make you smile.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Look at the title. Do I really need to tell you more? This movie is great! It’s funny, sexy and ultimately a really sweet romance. Go watch it.
Man On A Ledge. H.B.I.C. Banks with a gun. That is all.
Slither. I’ll admit, the first time I watched this movie I didn’t know whether it was supposed to be funny or scary or what. Apparently it’s meant to be both, and it really is.
Special mentions to: Role Models, The 40 Year Old Virgin (that bath scene, you guys!), Invincible, Spiderman, W. and Sexual Life.
Oh, and of course, the other actors in these films are brilliant too. ;)
So, what’s your Top 11 and why? Join me in my insanity!
If you want a chance to guest blog for Elizabethbanks.com, here it is! Come on over to my profile, and send me a private message telling me why your guest blog will be the shiz. I might just pick you next.
Photo credits: IMDB, Universal Pictures/Ace Showbiz
Join the Discussion!
29 comments
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That said I nominate Miranda a journalism student, to do a guest interview of Elizabeth. :^) -
I doubt anyone will be Phoebe in the Guest Blog category. She's a natural writer and loves to do it.
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Ane: Nice to meet you too! I hope PP comes to Spain! Movies need to just come out the same time everywhere, I think! And ooh yeah, I'm a big fan of Haymitch/Effie.
Andrada: that's annoying, but hey, you'll get back from a great holiday and life back home post-holiday won't suck quite so much if you get to see Pitch Perfect. ;)
Captain Average: Nice ratings! Definitely give TNTD a try, Banks is really, really amazing in it. I'm sure once I see Pitch Perfect it'll go on my list.
EB Israel: Same!
Kate: Heeee! Thank you bb. You're perfect too. :) -
I don't know whether to scream or cry so I'm just going to sit here and do both. Phoebe, you are perfect. -
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People Like Us was greatly underrated and Elizabeth gets to do some real stretching in it. I gave it a B+
I only saw Wet Hot American Summer for the first time last week, so a lot of the things it pioneered (in terms of scattershot parody and improvizational humor) didn't affect me as much as they might have had I seen it before dozens of films that have done silmilar things since, but Elizabeth was still hilarious (Mmmmmm, BBQ Sauce!).
Seabiscuit is another film where eleizabeth gets to show her dramatic chops. IIRC, I gave it an A-.
The trailer for The Next Three Days did nothing for me, but maybe I should reconsider that.
I'll have to check out Lonely, Still and Heights (thanks for the recommendations).
With The Hunger Games, there were two things that had to work brilliantly for me to really enjoy it: the way Rue's arc was handled and the way Effie was handled. Both were brilliant. I gave the film an A.
Our Idiot Brother was criminally undderrated. Elizabeth and Paul Rudd had great chemistry. I laughed a lot when I saw this one. B+
Zach and Miri Make a Porno is one of Kevin Smith's best films (right up there with Clerks and Chasing Amy). Elizabeth has never been funnier - or sweeter (in the non-cloying, non-saccharin sense). A
Man on a Ledge. What you said! Like Henry rollins, I like female characters who, as he puts it Can. Take. You. Down. In this, Elizabeth is one of them. B+
Slither is one of my favourite movies. Elizabeth and Nathan Fillion have astonishing chemistry and James Gunn (one of my three favourite interviews of all time) nails the satire-that-works-as-an-example-of-the-genre thing perfectly. A+
To your list I have to add Pitch Perfect in which Elizabeth and John Michael Higgins steal the movie from the likes of Rebel Wilson, Anna Kendrick and Anna Camp as a couple of ultra low-rent commentators on acappella competitions (for one of those ultra high numbered cable stations that have a lot of air to fill) who are completely unfiltered and just total pigs. I gave the film a B+, but Elizabeth and John get an A+. It's worth paying full price just for them - and the rest of the movie is pretty darned good, too. -
I have to wait until December as well. I think it's not out in the UK until the 14th, and that's the day I'm going away on holiday. So December might turn out to be January. Such a bummer! -
Hi, Phoebe! :)
Well... I understand you. You have to wait until December, I don't even know when Pitch Perfect comes to Spain (if it comes). But I waited to watch "What to expect when you are expecting", so I can wait for this one too!
I have only seen The Hunger Games, Man on a Ledge, Our Idiot Brother, Slither, What to expect when you are expecting, Spiderman and Role Models... "only" :) But I want to see all these films too, specially People like us.
My favourite character is definely Effie Trinket. I loved her in the movie and the relationship she had with Haymitch. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who is looking forward to see more of that relationship in Catching Fire :)
And... time for presentations, I'm findthenameofthewind on tumblr. A pleasure to meet you xD -
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Thanks Vicki! I hope you get to see Pitch Perfect on Monday! :) I feel I'll be one of the ones jamming in the theatre too.
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<3's Seabiscuit and Hunger Games. Great list, Phoebe! I really hope to see more of your work. I'm saddened you won't get to see Pitch Perfect until December. I can sympathize. I'm stuck waiting on my crazy music friends to figure out a day we can go together. Hopefully seeing it Monday and I cannot wait! I have the strangest feeling we'll all be jamming along in the theater. (<- yes, we are THOSE people)
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Aww, thank you so much everyone! I hope I get the chance to write another guest blog. I'm glad you liked it. :)
You're all making me excited to see Pitch Perfect. It's not out until December here! *pout* -
Cute post! Congrats, Phoebe! I agree with everything on this list, especially People Like Us (which is now one of my all-time favorite movies) and The Hunger Games of course because let's face it, Effie= flawless beotch. I would have added Pitch Perfect as an honorable mention! I just saw it Wednesday night, and Elizabeth's character had me dying! :) -
Wonderful list! I'd probably add What to Expect When You're Expecting (Elizabeth and Rebel Wilson are hilarious in that film) and Definitely, Maybe :) -
Great post,
´Defitively, Maybe´ it´s a nice film too.
And I knew that, sometime, I had to comment about ´Heights´ with Glenn Close and Liz. To work with Glenn Close must be... without words
Ah, And I love ´Slither´. It´s such a shame that the film wasn´t a big sucess, g r e a t f i l m -
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First of all, congrats Phoebe! You did such a fabulous job with this post, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm really hoping EB will ask you to write again sometime in the future. I'm so happy for you!
Wholeheartedly agree with your list but I would also add What to Expect When You're Expecting. This is one of those movies that I could watch over and over again. And there ain't many on my list. Elizabeth's character brings out all the fun in this.
I haven't got the chance to watch Lovely, Still yet but I will get to it as soon as possible.
Heights is one of my favorite movies from that list! And not just because Elizabeth's character is a photographer (ok, so maybe I am a bit biased and there is a connection there) but also because both her and Glenn Close do a remarkably good job in it. I just love it!
People Like Us is another favorite of mine. That movie is just flawless, from the cast, to the acting, to the storyline.
Oh and she needs to stop playing characters that die, my heart seriously can't take it anymore lol No, but really. -
I wld also include Catch Me if You Can in the Honorable Mention too. Altho I haven't seen all these movies, I do luv her in the Invincible! that NY accent in Philly!
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Congratulations Phoebe! It was so cool she/they picked you to be the first person site person to write a guest blog! And you didn't let she/them/us down, if was wonderful and reflected your usual charming sweetness. :^) (Phoebe crush!)
When you watched 'People Like Us' did you listen to the commentary track with Director Alex Kurtzman, Chris Pine, and Lizz? I ask because it will tell you a whole lot about Elizabeth and her acting process, as well as being very, very, funny! -
Loved it, Phoebe! Awesomely witty with just the right amount of gush. EB is lucky to have such clever (not to mention gorgeous) fans! I hope you'll write lots more guest blogs. I could go for one on her 10 funniest 30 Rock lines...maybe you should write that one next!
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This is so so good phoebe, how you managed to control your fangirling while doing this is amazing! Hope Elizabeth lets you blog here more often this was brilliant!:) Glad she knows how amazing she was in all of these films! love love loved it thanks for writing this phoebe!:) -
Awesome Phoebe, can't wait to read more from you!
I have to admit, I haven't seen Zack and Miri. I'll get on that now. ;) -
Yay Phoebe! Just when I thought you couldn't be more awesome, here you are being super awesome! I went through the list nodding my head enthusiastically and agreeing with all your choices. Among my faves are People Like Us, which made me sob so hard in the movie theater I lost my ability to breathe for a while there; Zack and Miri make a Porno, a guilty pleasure that leaves me giggling madly (granny panties!); and Seabiscuit. I watched that one about 7 times in the last week or so. What can I say? Elizabeth and the horse are scene stealers :) Also shoutout to Pitch Perfect because even if Gale Abernathy-McKadden had a few lines, she was memorable and hilarious! Thanks for sharing! -
Thank you everyone! :)
Jack: enjoy the films!
Elvira: I concur. Elizabeth should let me blog here all the time. ;) And oh yes, WTEWYE and The Uninvited are great! It was so hard choosing even 11 films to include.
Steph: Thanksss :) ps: cool beans.
Aly: Thank you!
